High-Resolution Detection of Translocation of Oral Bacteria to the Gut.

Ectopic enrichment of oral microbes in the gut is a notable alteration in gut microbial balance. These microbes are likely delivered from the oral cavity with saliva and food; however, evidence of oral-gut microbial transmission is insufficient and needs further investigation. In this observational study, we examined 144 pairs of saliva and stool samples collected from community-dwelling adults to verify the oral-gut microbial link and identify the relevant influencing factors on the increased abundance of oral microbes within the gut. The bacterial composition of each sample was determined using PacBio single-molecule long-read sequencing of the full-length 16S ribosomal RNA gene and amplicon sequence variant (ASV) analysis. Although the bacterial compositions of salivary and gut microbiota were distinctly different, at least 1 ASV was shared between salivary and gut microbiota in 72.9% of subjects. Shared ASVs accounted for 0.0% to 63.1% (median 0.14%) of the gut microbiota in each subject and frequently included abundant Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus parasanguinis. Their total relative abundance in the gut was significantly higher in older subjects or those with dental plaque accumulation. The gut microbiota with ≥5% of shared ASVs displayed a higher abundance of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Klebsiella and a lower abundance of Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Megamonas, and Parabacteroides. Our study presents evidence for the translocation of oral bacteria to the gut in community-dwelling adults and suggests that aging and dental plaque accumulation contribute to an increased abundance of oral microbes in the gut, which might be relevant to the compositional shift in the gut commensals.

Relativistic magnetic reconnection in laser laboratory for testing an emission mechanism of hard-state black hole system.

Magnetic reconnection in a relativistic electron magnetization regime was observed in a laboratory plasma produced by a high-intensity, large energy, picoseconds laser pulse. Magnetic reconnection conditions realized with a laser-driven several kilotesla magnetic field is comparable to that in the accretion disk corona of black hole systems, i.e., Cygnus X-1. We observed particle energy distributions of reconnection outflow jets, which possess a power-law component in a high-energy range. The hardness of the observed spectra could explain the hard-state x-ray emission from accreting black hole systems.

Enhancing laser beam performance by interfering intense laser beamlets.

Increasing the laser energy absorption into energetic particle beams represents a longstanding quest in intense laser-plasma physics. During the interaction with matter, part of the laser energy is converted into relativistic electron beams, which are the origin of secondary sources of energetic ions, γ-rays and neutrons. Here we experimentally demonstrate that using multiple coherent laser beamlets spatially and temporally overlapped, thus producing an interference pattern in the laser focus, significantly improves the laser energy conversion efficiency into hot electrons, compared to one beam with the same energy and nominal intensity as the four beamlets combined. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support the experimental results, suggesting that beamlet interference pattern induces a periodical shaping of the critical density, ultimately playing a key-role in enhancing the laser-to-electron energy conversion efficiency. This method is rather insensitive to laser pulse contrast and duration, making this approach robust and suitable to many existing facilities.

A large-aperture high-sensitivity avalanche image intensifier panel.

A large-aperture high-sensitivity image intensifier panel that consists of an avalanche photodiode array and a light-emitting diode array is presented. The device has 40% quantum efficiency, over 104 optical gain, and 80-ns time resolution. The aperture size of the device is 20 cm, and with the current manufacturing process, it can be scaled to arbitrarily larger sizes. The device can intensify the light from a single particle scintillation emission to an eye-visible bright flash. The image resolution of the device is currently limited by the size of the avalanche photodiode that is 2 mm, although it can be scaled to smaller sizes in the near future. The image intensifier is operated at a small voltage, typically +57 V. The device can be applied to various applications, such as scintillation imaging, night vision cameras, and an image converter from non-visible light (such as infrared or ultraviolet) to visible light.

Guiding of relativistic electron beams in dense matter by laser-driven magnetostatic fields.

Intense lasers interacting with dense targets accelerate relativistic electron beams, which transport part of the laser energy into the target depth. However, the overall laser-to-target energy coupling efficiency is impaired by the large divergence of the electron beam, intrinsic to the laser-plasma interaction. Here we demonstrate that an efficient guiding of MeV electrons with about 30 MA current in solid matter is obtained by imposing a laser-driven longitudinal magnetostatic field of 600 T. In the magnetized conditions the transported energy density and the peak background electron temperature at the 60-µm-thick target's rear surface rise by about a factor of five, as unfolded from benchmarked simulations. Such an improvement of energy-density flux through dense matter paves the ground for advances in laser-driven intense sources of energetic particles and radiation, driving matter to extreme temperatures, reaching states relevant for planetary or stellar science as yet inaccessible at the laboratory scale and achieving high-gain laser-driven thermonuclear fusion.

Impact of simulated three-dimensional perception on precision of depth judgements, technical performance and perceived workload in laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND: This study compared precision of depth judgements, technical performance and workload using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic displays across different viewing distances. It also compared the accuracy of 3D displays with natural viewing, along with the relationship between stereoacuity and 3D laparoscopic performance. METHODS: A counterbalanced within-subjects design with random assignment to testing sequences was used. The system could display 2D or 3D images with the same set-up. A Howard-Dolman apparatus assessed precision of depth judgements, and three laparoscopic tasks (peg transfer, navigation in space and suturing) assessed performance (time to completion). Participants completed tasks in all combinations of two viewing modes (2D, 3D) and two viewing distances (1 m, 3 m). Other measures administered included the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (perceived workload) and the Randot® Stereotest (stereoacuity). RESULTS: Depth judgements were 6·2 times as precise at 1 m and 3·0 times as precise at 3 m using 3D versus 2D displays (P < 0·001). Participants performed all laparoscopic tasks faster in 3D at both 1 and 3 m (P < 0.001), with mean completion times up to 64 per cent shorter for 3D versus 2D displays. Workload was lower for 3D displays (up to 34 per cent) than for 2D displays at both viewing distances (P < 0·001). Greater viewing distance inhibited performance for two laparoscopic tasks, and increased perceived workload for all three (P < 0·001). Higher stereoacuity was associated with shorter completion times for the navigating in space task performed in 3D at 1 m (r = - 0·40, P = 0·001). CONCLUSION: 3D displays offer large improvements over 2D displays in precision of depth judgements, technical performance and perceived workload.

Long-term wheel-running can prevent deterioration of bone properties in diabetes mellitus model rats.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term wheel-running on tibia bone properties in T2DM Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. METHODS: Ten five-week-old male OLETF rats were used as experimental animals and 5 Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats as controls. Half of OLETF rats performed daily voluntary wheel-running for 17 months (OLETF-EXE), while neither the remainder of OLETF nor LETO rats had exercise. At the end of experiment, in addition to serum biochemical and bone formation/resorption marker analyses, bone mass, trabecular bone microarchitecture and cortical bone geometry were analyzed in left tibia, and bone mechanical strength of right tibia was measured. RESULTS: Tibia bone mass, trabecular bone microarchitecture, cortical bone geometry and bone mechanical strength deteriorated in diabetic OLETF rats. However, such deterioration was obviously attenuated in OLETF-EXE rats, which maintained normal levels of blood glucose, HbA1c and blood urea nitrogen. CONCLUSIONS: Daily wheel-running could prevent the deterioration of bone properties in OLETF rats. This would be induced mainly by suppressing the development of T2DM. Regular physical exercise may be a potent strategy for preventing not only the development of diabetes but also the deterioration of bone properties in patients with chronic T2DM.

Whole-body vibration can attenuate the deterioration of bone mass and trabecular bone microstructure in rats with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, controlled study. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on bone mass and trabecular bone microstructure (TBMS) during the early stage in juvenile rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Studied at the Kio University in Japan. METHODS: Thirty-four 8-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: the SCI group, the sham-operation group (SHAM) and the SCI+WBV group. WBV started on the 8th day after SCI. After 1 or 2 weeks of WBV treatment, measurements of tissue mineral density, trabecular bone mineral content (BMC) and parameters of TBMS were obtained by scanning the proximal tibias with x-ray micro-computed tomography. Serum levels of osteocalcin (OC) and of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) were measured with ELISA. RESULTS: BMC, volume bone mineral density, bone volume (BV), BV fraction (BV/tissue volume) and connectivity density (Conn.D) of TBMS parameters were significantly higher in SCI+WBV rats than in SCI rats after 2-week WBV. The BMC and BV/TV of bone mass index correlated well with Conn.D, suggesting the preservation of Conn.D. induced by WBV. SCI+WBV rats showed a decrease in serum OC after 1-week WBV, but a quick recovery from that after 2-week WBV. There was no difference in serum TRACP 5b among the 3 groups throughout the experimental period. CONCLUSION: WBV treatment could attenuate the bone deterioration that occurs during the early stage in juvenile rats with SCI. In a clinic, this early WBV intervention may be an effective rehabilitation modality for preventing bone fragility in SCI patients.

Are we burying our heads in the sand? Preventing small bowel obstruction from the V-loc® suture in laparoscopic ventral rectopexy.

AIM: There have been increasing reports in the literature highlighting the complication of V-loc® associated small bowel obstruction in patients after laparoscopic ventral rectopexy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using clinical and experimental evidence, we demonstrate that bowel obstruction from the V-loc® following laparoscopic ventral rectopexy will still occur despite the technical recommendations to bury or cut its barbed end flush. CONCLUSION: The risk of bowel obstruction from the V-loc® following laparoscopic ventral rectopexy is not negated by burying or cutting its barbed end flush. We have proposed its pathogenesis to refute commonly held assumptions about its prevention.

Response measurement of single-crystal chemical vapor deposition diamond radiation detector for intense X-rays aiming at neutron bang-time and neutron burn-history measurement on an inertial confinement fusion with fast ignition.

A neutron bang time and burn history monitor in inertial confinement fusion with fast ignition are necessary for plasma diagnostics. In the FIREX project, however, no detector attained those capabilities because high-intensity X-rays accompanied fast electrons used for plasma heating. To solve this problem, single-crystal CVD diamond was grown and fabricated into a radiation detector. The detector, which had excellent charge transportation property, was tested to obtain a response function for intense X-rays. The applicability for neutron bang time and burn history monitor was verified experimentally. Charge collection efficiency of 99.5% ± 0.8% and 97.1% ± 1.4% for holes and electrons were obtained using 5.486 MeV alpha particles. The drift velocity at electric field which saturates charge collection efficiency was 1.1 ± 0.4 × 10(7) cm/s and 1.0 ± 0.3 × 10(7) cm/s for holes and electrons. Fast response of several ns pulse width for intense X-ray was obtained at the GEKKO XII experiment, which is sufficiently fast for ToF measurements to obtain a neutron signal separately from X-rays. Based on these results, we confirmed that the single-crystal CVD diamond detector obtained neutron signal with good S/N under ion temperature 0.5-1 keV and neutron yield of more than 10(9) neutrons/shot.

Photonuclear reaction based high-energy x-ray spectrometer to cover from 2 MeV to 20 MeV.

A photonuclear-reaction-based hard x-ray spectrometer is developed to measure the number and energy spectrum of fast electrons generated by interactions between plasma and intense laser light. In this spectrometer, x-rays are converted to neutrons through photonuclear reactions, and the neutrons are counted with a bubble detector that is insensitive to x-rays. The spectrometer consists of a bundle of hard x-ray detectors that respond to different photon-energy ranges. Proof-of-principle experiment was performed on a linear accelerator facility. A quasi-monoenergetic electron bunch (Ne = 1.0 × 10(-6) C, Ee = 16 ± 0.32 MeV) was injected into a 5-mm-thick lead plate. Bremsstrahlung x-rays, which emanate from the lead plate, were measured with the spectrometer. The measured spectral shape and intensity agree fairly well with those computed with a Monte Carlo simulation code. The result shows that high-energy x-rays can be measured absolutely with a photon-counting accuracy of 50%-70% in the energy range from 2 MeV to 20 MeV with a spectral resolution (Δhν/hν) of about 15%. Quantum efficiency of this spectrometer was designed to be 10(-7), 10(-4), 10(-5), respectively, for 2-10, 11-15, and 15-25 MeV of photon energy ranges.

Development of multichannel low-energy neutron spectrometer.

A multichannel low-energy neutron spectrometer for down-scattered neutron (DSN) measurements in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments has been developed. Our compact-size 256-channel lithium-glass-scintillator-based spectrometer has been implemented and tested in ICF experiments with the GEKKO XII laser. We have performed time calibration of the 256-channel analog-to-digital convertor system used for DSN measurements via X-ray pulse signals. We have clearly observed the DD-primary fusion neutron signal and have successfully studied the detector's impulse response. Our detector is soon to be implemented in future ICF experiments.

Characterizing a fast-response, low-afterglow liquid scintillator for neutron time-of-flight diagnostics in fast ignition experiments.

The characteristics of oxygen-enriched liquid scintillators with very low afterglow are investigated and optimized for application to a single-hit neutron spectrometer for fast ignition experiments. It is found that 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene has better characteristics as a liquid scintillator solvent than the conventional solvent, p-xylene. In addition, a benzophenon-doped BBQ liquid scintillator is shown to demonstrate very rapid time response, and therefore has potential for further use in neutron diagnostics with fast time resolution.

Bovine papillomavirus in Brazil: detection of coinfection of unusual types by a PCR-RFLP method.

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is recognized as a causal agent of benign and malignant tumors in cattle. Thirteen types of BPV are currently characterized and classified into three distinct genera, associated with different pathological outcomes. The described BPV types as well as other putative ones have been demonstrated by molecular biology methods, mainly by the employment of degenerated PCR primers. Specifically, divergences in the nucleotide sequence of the L1 gene are useful for the identification and classification of new papillomavirus types. On the present work, a method based on the PCR-RFLP technique and DNA sequencing was evaluated as a screening tool, allowing for the detection of two relatively rare types of BPV in lesions samples from a six-year-old Holstein dairy cow, chronically affected with cutaneous papillomatosis. These findings point to the dissemination of BPVs with unclear pathogenic potential, since two relatively rare, new described BPV types, which were first characterized in Japan, were also detected in Brazil.

Simultaneous treatment with azelnidipine and olmesartan inhibits apoptosis of Hl-1 cardiac myocytes expressing E334k cMyBPC.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We have previously reported 3 HCM patients carrying the E334K MYBPC3, and that heterologous expression of E334K cMyBPC in cultured cells induced apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to identify pharmacological agents that would inhibit apoptosis in HL-1 cardiomyocytes expressing E334K cMyBPC. METHODS AND RESULTS: E334K cMyBPC expression in cells increased levels of pro-apoptosis (p53, Bax and cytochrome c) and decreased levels of anti-apoptosis (Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL). While the beta blocker carvedilol (1 µM) normalized the level of p53 and Bcl-2 and the calcium channel blocker (CCB) bepridil (0.5 µM) normalized that of Bcl-2, both the CCB azelnidipine (1 µM) and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan (10 µM) normalized those of p53, Bax, cytochrome c, and Bcl-XL. Among those proteins, cytochrome c was the one which showed the highest degree of change. Both azelnidipine (0.1 µM) and olmesartan (1 µM) reduced the level of cytochrome c by 40.2 ± 4.3% and 31.3 ± 5.1%, respectively. The CCB amlodipine and the ARB valsartan reduced it only by 19.1 ± 2.1% and 20.1 ± 5.2%, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis and annexin V staining showed that treatment of cells with azelnidipine (0.1 µM) plus olmesartan (0.3 µM) or that with amlodipine (0.1 µM) plus valsartan (0.3 µM) reduced the number of apoptotic cells by 35.8 ± 10.5% and 18.4 ± 3.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Azelnidipine plus olmesartan or amlodipine plus valsartan inhibited apoptosis of HL-1 cells expressing E334K cMyBPC, and the former combination was more effective than the latter.

Determination of 63Ni and 59Ni in spent ion-exchange resin and activated charcoal from the IEA-R1 nuclear research reactor.

A radiochemical method has been adapted to determine (59)Ni and (63)Ni in samples of radioactive wastes from the water cleanup system of the IEA-R1 nuclear research reactor. The process includes extraction chromatographic resin with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) as a functional group. Activity concentrations of (59)Ni and (63)Ni were measured, respectively, by X-ray spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting, whereas the chemical yield was determined by ICP-OES. The average ratio of measured activity concentrations of (63)Ni and (59)Ni agree well with theory.