In situ high temperature powder x-ray diffraction technique using a sapphire single-crystal flat cell.

Understanding the behaviors of materials in their operating and manufacturing environments is essential not only in the scientific field, but also in the context of designing industrial materials for target applications. In this study, we developed a high-temperature x-ray diffraction (XRD) system, using a small microscope heating stage at the BL02B2 beamline in SPring-8. Newly designed sample cells composed of sapphire single crystals were employed to perform XRD experiments using powdered samples at high temperatures and under oxidization/reduction gas atmospheres, with a short sample exchange time. More specifically, XRD experiments were conducted under vacuum, air, inert gas (maximum temperature: ∼1400 °C), and reduction gas flow conditions (maximum temperature: ∼900 °C). In addition, to monitor the changes in the exhausted gas composition during the chemical reactions, the developed heating system was combined with in situ gas-analysis tools (a remote gas-pressure control system, gas chromatograph, and mass spectrometer), which allowed analysis of the gas-adsorption/desorption and solid-gas reaction processes. Several heating experiments, such as the observation of the reduction of Fe oxides, phase transitions of ZrO2 and BaCO3, and synthesis of BaZrO3, demonstrated the validity and usefulness of this system.

Nuclear and magnetic spin structure of the antiferromagnetic triangular lattice compound LiCrTe2 investigated by [Formula: see text]SR, neutron and X-ray diffraction.

Two-dimensional (2D) triangular lattice antiferromagnets (2D-TLA) often manifest intriguing physical and technological properties, due to the strong interplay between lattice geometry and electronic properties. The recently synthesized 2-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide LiCrTe[Formula: see text], being a 2D-TLA, enriched the range of materials which can present such properties. In this work, muon spin rotation ([Formula: see text]SR) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) have been utilized to reveal the true magnetic nature and ground state of LiCrTe[Formula: see text]. From high-resolution NPD the magnetic spin order at base-temperature is not, as previously suggested, helical, but rather collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) with ferromagnetic (FM) spin coupling within the ab-plane and AFM coupling along the c-axis. The value if the ordered magnetic Cr moment is established as [Formula: see text]. From detailed [Formula: see text]SR measurements we observe an AFM ordering temperature [Formula: see text] K. This value is remarkably higher than the one previously reported by magnetic bulk measurements. From [Formula: see text]SR we are able to extract the magnetic order parameter, whose critical exponent allows us to categorize LiCrTe[Formula: see text] in the 3D Heisenberg AFM universality class. Finally, by combining our magnetic studies with high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), we find a clear coupling between the nuclear and magnetic spin lattices. This suggests the possibility for a strong magnon-phonon coupling, similar to what has been previously observed in the closely related compound LiCrO[Formula: see text].

Author Correction: The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The importance of Antarctic krill in biogeochemical cycles.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are swarming, oceanic crustaceans, up to two inches long, and best known as prey for whales and penguins - but they have another important role. With their large size, high biomass and daily vertical migrations they transport and transform essential nutrients, stimulate primary productivity and influence the carbon sink. Antarctic krill are also fished by the Southern Ocean's largest fishery. Yet how krill fishing impacts nutrient fertilisation and the carbon sink in the Southern Ocean is poorly understood. Our synthesis shows fishery management should consider the influential biogeochemical role of both adult and larval Antarctic krill.

Quantum oscillations of electrical resistivity in an insulator.

In metals, orbital motions of conduction electrons on the Fermi surface are quantized in magnetic fields, which is manifested by quantum oscillations in electrical resistivity. This Landau quantization is generally absent in insulators. Here, we report a notable exception in an insulator-ytterbium dodecaboride (YbB12). The resistivity of YbB12, which is of a much larger magnitude than the resistivity in metals, exhibits distinct quantum oscillations. These unconventional oscillations arise from the insulating bulk, even though the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude follows the conventional Fermi liquid theory of metals with a large effective mass. Quantum oscillations in the magnetic torque are also observed, albeit with a lighter effective mass.

Changes in penile length after radical prostatectomy: effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy.

Although reports have shown evidence for penile length (PL) shortening after radical prostatectomy (RP), the association between neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (NADT) and PL after RP has yet to be determined. This study evaluates chronological changes in PL after NADT and RP. Stretched PLs (SPLs) of 143 patients, 41 of whom had undergone NADT, were measured before, 10 days after, and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after RP. Chronological erectile function and testosterone levels were then evaluated. SPL was shortest 10 days after RP in both the NADT (-) and NADT (+) groups and gradually recovered in length thereafter. SPL in the NADT (-) group was significantly longer than that in the NADT (+) group before RP. However, no significant differences in SPLs were found between both groups 6 months after RP. Although all subjects in the NADT (+) group had testosterone levels of <50 ng/dL before RP, such levels increased after RP. Before RP, the NADT (-) group was found to have significantly better erectile function than the NADT (+) group. However, differences in erectile function between the NADT (-) and NADT (+) groups after RP were not significant. This report is the first to show that among patients with prostate cancer, those who underwent NADT had greater PL recovery after RP than those who did not. Data regarding PL recovery after NADT and RP obtained in this study could be useful for patients with prostate cancer who plan to undergo such procedures.

High-throughput powder diffraction measurement system consisting of multiple MYTHEN detectors at beamline BL02B2 of SPring-8.

In this study, we developed a user-friendly automatic powder diffraction measurement system for Debye-Scherrer geometry using a capillary sample at beamline BL02B2 of SPring-8. The measurement system consists of six one-dimensional solid-state (MYTHEN) detectors, a compact auto-sampler, wide-range temperature control systems, and a gas handling system. This system enables to do the automatic measurement of temperature dependence of the diffraction patterns for multiple samples. We introduced two measurement modes in the MYTHEN system and developed new attachments for the sample environment such as a gas handling system. The measurement modes and the attachments can offer in situ and/or time-resolved measurements in an extended temperature range between 25 K and 1473 K and various gas atmospheres and pressures. The results of the commissioning and performance measurements using reference materials (NIST CeO2 674b and Si 640c), V2O3 and Ti2O3, and a nanoporous coordination polymer are presented.

Internal Medicine Residents' Beliefs, Attitudes, and Experiences Relating to Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Internal medicine residents are frequently called upon to provide palliative care to hospitalized patients, but report feeling unprepared to do so effectively. Curricular development to enhance residents' palliative care skills and competencies requires an understanding of current beliefs, attitudes and learning priorities. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews with ten internal medicine residents to explore their understanding of and experiences with palliative care. RESULTS: All of the residents interviewed had a sound theoretical understanding of palliative care, but faced many challenges in being able to provide care in practice. The challenges described by residents were system-related, patient-related and provider-related. They identified several priority areas for further learning, and discussed ways in which their current education in palliative care could be enhanced. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide important insights to guide curricular development for internal medicine trainees. The top five learning priorities in palliative care that residents identified in our study were: 1) knowing how and when to initiate a palliative approach, 2) improving communication skills, 3) improving symptom management skills, 4) identifying available resources, and 5) understanding the importance of palliative care. Residents felt that their education in palliative care could be improved by having a mandatory rotation in palliative care, more frequent didactic teaching sessions, more case-based teaching from palliative care providers, opportunities to be directly observed, and increased support from palliative care providers after-hours.

Suppression of phase transitions at low temperature by chromium substitution in vanadium spinel Fe(V1-x Cr x )2O4.

Synchrotron powder diffraction, magnetization, and specific heat measurements have been used to investigate the structural and magnetic phase transitions in the spinel-type vanadate Fe(V1-x Cr x )2O4 (0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1.0). We observed five different transitions in our polycrystalline samples. The canted-type ferrimagnetic phase transition accompanied by the lattice distortion was suppressed by Cr substitution (x = 0.2). Additionally, high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction revealed that the low-temperature orthorhombic phase appears in FeV2O4 below 30 K and disappears by subtle Cr doping. In contrast, for x ⩾ 0.7, we observed a different magnetic transition of possibly conical-type ferrimagnetic ordering that did not induce significant lattice distortion at the transition temperature. We performed structural refinements for low-temperature phases and suggest that the crystal system of Fe(V1-x Cr x )2O4 at 15K is an orthorhombic lattice for all x values. In the orthorhombic phase, a unique behaviour was observed, with the lattice constants a and b approaching each other as Cr doping increased. This behaviour can be explained by the change of orbitally ordered states of the Fe(2+) ions.

Pyrosequencing and de novo assembly of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) transcriptome to study the adaptability of krill to climate-induced environmental changes.

The Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, has a key position in the Southern Ocean food web by serving as direct link between primary producers and apex predators. The south-west Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, where the majority of the krill population is located, is experiencing one of the most profound environmental changes worldwide. Up to now, we have only cursory information about krill's genomic plasticity to cope with the ongoing environmental changes induced by anthropogenic CO2 emission. The genome of krill is not yet available due to its large size (about 48 Gbp). Here, we present two cDNA normalized libraries from whole krill and krill heads sampled in different seasons that were combined with two data sets of krill transcriptome projects, already published, to produce the first knowledgebase krill 'master' transcriptome. The new library produced 25% more E. superba transcripts and now includes nearly all the enzymes involved in the primary oxidative metabolism (Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) as well as all genes involved in glycogenesis, glycogen breakdown, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acids ß-oxidation. With these features, the 'master' transcriptome provides the most complete picture of metabolic pathways in Antarctic krill and will provide a major resource for future physiological and molecular studies. This will be particularly valuable for characterizing the molecular networks that respond to stressors caused by the anthropogenic CO2 emissions and krill's capacity to cope with the ongoing environmental changes in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean.

Ferro-to-antiferro orbital variation in vanadium spinel Fe1-xMnxV2O4.

We have synthesized the Fe(1-x)Mn(x)V(2)O(4) (0 ≦ x ≦ 1) system, and have investigated its structural and magnetic properties through synchrotron powder diffraction, magnetization and specific heat measurements. We have examined the local distortion for both the FeO(4) tetrahedron and VO(6) octahedron on the basis of structural refinements using the synchrotron diffraction data. We found that the behaviour of these local distortions and the temperature dependent magnetization changes continuously with respect to the Mn(2+) concentration, x. The local distortion of the FeO(4) tetrahedron derived from the orbital order of the x(2)-y(2) type below the ferrimagnetic transition temperature becomes smaller for x ≦ 0.6, and is absent for x > 0.6. The ferro-orbital order, leading to compressed local distortion of VO(6) below the non-collinear ferrimagnetic order temperature, is gradually suppressed with increasing x and changes to the antiferro-orbital order for x > 0.6, for which the long range orbital order of Fe(2+) disappears. We suggest that the two types of V(3+) orbital orders are strongly correlated with the non-collinear magnetic order, and that the ferro-orbital order is possibly stabilized by the orbital degrees of freedom of the Fe(2+) ions located at the A-site.

Anomalous magnetization behaviour in a single crystal of vanadium spinel FeV2O4.

Spinel oxide FeV2O4, having the orbital degrees of freedom at Fe(2+) and V(3+) ions, exhibits multi-step magnetic phase transitions and successive structural phase transitions at low temperatures. In order to clarify the magnetic properties of FeV2O4, we have measured the temperature dependence of magnetization, isothermal magnetization curves and specific heat using a single crystal of FeV2O4. Temperature-induced magnetization jumps below the 110 K were observed in the zero-field-cooled magnetization curves. Furthermore, we found that the behaviours of the isothermal magnetization curves were quite different between the zero-field-cooled and field-cooled conditions. We suggest that the change of the magnetic domain structure under the magnetic field associated with the orbital states of Fe(2+) ions is the possible origin of these intriguing and anomalous magnetic properties in a single crystal of FeV2O4.

Minimally invasive technique for decompression of lumbar foraminal stenosis using a spinal microendoscope: technical note.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar foraminal stenosis is a troublesome disease. Decompression of the whole length of the nerve root from the spinal canal to extraforaminal zone is often a surgical requirement due to the difficulty in identifying the nerve compression site before surgery, making preservation of the posterior elements difficult. The authors report a minimally invasive microendoscopic technique for lumbar foraminal stenosis to decompress the entire length of the nerve root from the spinal canal to the extraforaminal zone while preserving the posterior elements. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: A tubular retractor is inserted towards the base of the transverse process of the upper vertebra with the retractor tilted inward at a 45-degree angle or greater. Approximately one-third of the pedicle is resected caudally from the base of the transverse process to the spinal canal. After identification of the nerve root, compression factors around the nerve are excised from the spinal canal to the extraforaminal zone without damaging posterior elements such as the facet joints and pars interarticularis. RESULTS: We treated 6 patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis using this procedure. There were no complications during the operation, and satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: This microendoscopic technique proved to be useful for the treatment of lumbar foraminal stenosis.

Simultaneous, laser-sintered, three-dimensional modelling of bony structures and soft tissue for surgical navigation of extended cholesteatoma.

AIM: To examine the usefulness of a three-dimensional model for surgical navigation of cholesteatoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A three-dimensional model was prototyped using selective laser sintering. Based on detailed computed tomography data, powder layers were laser-fused and accumulated to create a three-dimensional structure. The computed tomography threshold was adjusted to simultaneously replicate bony structures and soft tissues. RESULTS: The cholesteatoma, major vessels and bony structures were well replicated. This laser-sintered model was used to aid surgery for recurrent cholesteatoma. The cholesteatoma, which extended from the hypotympanum through the styloid process sheath and the internal carotid artery sheath, was removed safely via a minimal skin incision. CONCLUSION: The laser-sintered model was useful for surgical planning and navigation in a cholesteatoma case involving complex bony structures and soft tissue.

[Large saphenous vein graft aneurysm after coronary artery bypass grafting].

A 64-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 1994. Eleven years later, coronary angiography (CAG) showed a saphenous vein graft (SVG) aneurysm. In April 2008, the CAG demonstrated enlargement of the aneurysm. Enhanced computed tomography showed a large aneurysm measuring 53 x 44 mm in diameter of the SVG-right coronary artery (RCA) [#3] anastomosis. Off-pump coronary surgery to RCA and aneurysmectomy was planned through a median epigastric incision. However re-grafting was difficult because of severe adhesion and calcification of the coronary artery. We confirmed sufficient back flow from the distal coronary artery without hemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes under SVG clamp. Aneurysmectomy was then performed without coronary bypass. The patient was discharged 9 days after surgery and has been well for 8 months in outpatient clinic.

Period-phase map: two-dimensional selection of circadian rhythm-related genes.

Many genes related to the circadian rhythm, especially those involved in phase shifts induced by different environmental stimuli, still remain enigmatic. In this study, the authors monitored the expression of rat genes measured with multiple phase-resetting stimuli, and developed a technique to extract the candidate genes for the changes in circadian rhythm by the stimuli, from microarray data. First, the spectra for the time series of gene expression were estimated by fast Fourier transform, and then two fitting methods, the random period fitting method and the conditional curve fitting method, using the estimated periods as the initial values, were applied to the control and the stimulated expression data to estimate the periods and the phases. Finally, by comparing the two sets of periods and phases, the period change and the phase shift by stimuli were estimated to extract the candidate genes related to the master clock, by mapping the period change and the phase shift on a two-dimensional space, a period-phase map (PPM). As an indirect validation of the genes selected by our method, the significant enrichment of extracted gene clusters on the PPM was further evaluated, in terms of biological function. As a result, the gene clusters related to photoreceptors and neural regulation emerged on the PPM, thus implying the relationships in the stimulus response of the master clock that resides in the brain at the intersection of the optic nerves. Thus, the present approach is a feasible means to explore the oscillatory genes related to stimulus responses.

Side population cells have the characteristics of cancer stem-like cells/cancer-initiating cells in bone sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Several human cancers have been found to contain cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) having cancer-initiating ability. However, only a few reports have shown the existence of CSCs in bone and soft tissue sarcomas. In this study, we identified and characterised side population (SP) cells that showed drug-resistant features in human bone sarcoma cell lines. METHODS: In seven osteosarcoma cell lines (OS2000, KIKU, NY, Huo9, HOS, U2OS and Saos2) and in one bone malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) cell line (MFH2003), the frequency of SP cells was analysed. Tumourigenicity of SP cells was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Gene profiles of SP cells and other populations (main population; MP) of cells were characterised using cDNA microarrays. RESULTS: SP cells were found in NY (0.31%) and MFH2003 (5.28%). SP cells of MFH2003 formed spherical colonies and re-populated into SP and MP cells. In an NOD/SCID mice xenograft model, 1 x 10(3) sorted SP cell-induced tumourigenesis. cDNA microarray analysis showed that 23 genes were upregulated in SP cells. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that SP cells existed in bone sarcoma cell lines. SP cells of MFH2003 had cancer-initiating ability in vitro and in vivo. The gene profiles of SP cells could serve as candidate markers for CSCs in bone sarcomas.