Epitaxial Transition from Gyroid to Cylinder in a Diblock Copolymer Melt

An epitaxial transition from a bicontinious double gyroid to a hexagonally packed cylinder structure induced by an external flow is simulated using real-space dynamical self-consistent field technique. In order to simulate the structural change correctly, we introduce a system size optimization technique by which emergence of artificial intermediate structures are suppressed. When a shear flow in [111] direction of the gyroid unit cell is imposed, a nucleation and growth of the cylinder domains is observed. We confirm that the generated cylindrical domains grow epitaxially to the original gyroid domains as gyroid $d_{\{220\}}$ $\to$ cylinder $d_{\{10\}}$. In a steady state under the shear flow, the gyroid shows different reconnection processes depending on the direction of the velocity gradient of the shear flow. A kinetic pathway previously predicted using the self-consistent field theory where three fold junctions transform into five fold junctions as an intermediate state is not observed.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Macromolecule

Atrial tachycardia caused by a superior vena cava fibrillation with conduction block

AbstractAT caused by SVC fibrillationHere, we report a case of a 62-year-old man with a history of incessant atrial tachycardia (AT) for several years. An electrophysiological study revealed rapid and irregular activity in the superior vena cava (SVC), but the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) exhibited a relatively regular AT (atrial cycle length=240ms). CARTO mapping of the right atrium (RA) demonstrated that the earliest atrial activation occurred at the posterior septum of the upper RA (the SVC–RA junction). Intravenous administration of 20mg adenosine triphosphate (ATP) led to an acceleration of the SVC–RA conduction up to 1:1 conduction, and the atrial cycle length decreased, consequently converting the AT to transient atrial fibrillation (AF). Application of single radiofrequency energy at the earliest atrial activation site during tachycardia terminated the AT and achieved isolation of the SVC from the RA, despite the continued presence of fibrillation in the SVC. We speculated that SVC fibrillation with spontaneous conduction block at the SVC–RA junction was the cause of this AT

Effects of verapamil and lidocaine on two components of the re-entry circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe characterized pharmacologically the slow conduction zone of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) with regard to the late diastolic potential (LDP).BACKGROUNDWe showed that the slow conduction zone of ILVT could be divided into two components by LDP; that is, the distal component with a tachycardia-dependent conduction delay property and the proximal one without it.METHODSElectrophysiologic studies were performed in eight consecutive patients. The LDP was recorded during left ventricular (LV) mapping during ILVT. Entrainment was performed from the right ventricular outflow tract while recording LDP. The effects of lidocaine (1 mg/kg body weight) and verapamil (0.5 or 1.0 mg) were examined during entrainment.RESULTSThe LDPs preceding the Purkinje potential (PP) were serially recorded from the upper third to the middle of the LV septum along the narrow longitudinal line. The ventricular tachycardia (VT) cycle length increased after lidocaine (p < 0.05), and further after verapamil (p < 0.05). The increments in the VT cycle length after administration of the drugs strongly correlated with those in LDP-PP (r > 0.9 for both drugs). The interval from the ventricular potential to LDP was unchanged after administration of the drugs. In one patient, verapamil terminated VT by local conduction block between LDP and PP. The LDP-PP measured during entrainment increased after lidocaine, and further after verapamil, whereas the interval from the stimulus to LDP remained unchanged.CONCLUSIONSThe component distal to LDP is mainly calcium channel-dependent and partly depressed sodium channel-dependent. The proximal component is considered to be sodium channel-dependent (normal)

ポップアップアーカイバルタグおよび超音波発信器で調べたエチゼンクラゲの遊泳深度

The swimming depths of 12 individual Nemopilema nomurai with bell diameters of 0.8-1.6 m were investigated using pop-up archival transmitting tags and ultrasonic pingers, and the validity of the research method was evaluated. The N. nomurai studied frequently showed vertical movement, with the swimming depth ranging from 0 to 176 m, The mean swimming depths of most individuals were less than 40 m. The swimming depths of N. nomurai in the northern Japan Sea in the winter were mostly deeper than those of this species in the southern Japan Sea in the autumn. This result suggests that the range of the depths almost depends on the vertical structure of the ocean. Swimming depths during the nighttime were significantly deeper than those during the daytime. More specifically, during the daytime, the swimming depths in the afternoon tended to be shallower than those in the morning, while during the nighttime, the swimming depths after midnight were deeper than those before midnight.エチゼンクラゲ計12個体の遊泳深度をポップアップタグや超音波発信器により調べるとともに，調査手法の妥当性を確認した。エチゼンクラゲは活発な鉛直移動を繰り返していた。遊泳深度は0～176m の範囲で，ほとんどの個体の平均遊泳深度は40m より浅かった。遊泳深度は秋の日本海南部よりも冬の日本海北部の方が深くなる傾向があり，基本的に滞在深度範囲は海洋の鉛直構造に依存していると推測された。遊泳深度は日中よりも夜間の方が深かった。日中には午前より午後の方が浅く，夜間には前半夜よりも後半夜の方が深くなる日周性が確認された

The Echogenic Patterns of the Pancreatic Parenchyma in the Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Using the pancreas of the Japanese Macaque and human pancreas from autopsy cases, the echogenic patterns of the pancreatic parenchyma obtained by the ultrasonic endoscopy were compared with the histological findings. The parenchyma of the normal pancreas was observed as an echogenic pattern with homogeneous accumulation of small granular echoes. Such granular echoes are suggested to represent pancreatic acini on comparison with the tissue structure. This was confirmed by widening the pancreatic interstitium by infusing physiological saline into the main pancreatic duct. Such granular echoes became indistinct in the pancreas from autopsy cases due to autolysis. In the experimental pancreatic lesion produced by local injection of 1 % deoxycholic acid into the pancreas of Japanese Macaque, hemorrhage and fibrosis were noted 1 week later and fibrosis appears after 2 to 3 weeks. Hemorrhagic lesions were appeared as an area of high echogenicity, and fibrosis was appeared as an area of low echogenicity, with irregularity of the granular structure seen in the normal tissue

Atomic Bomb Fallout and “Black rain” at Manose District (Hirama-cho) Located Northeast of Nagasaki City

Plutonium atomic bomb (A-bomb) was exploded at 503 meters height above Nagasaki City on August 9, 1945. Many studies on radioactive contamination, radiation dose, effect to people and so on have been conducted until now. Local fallout from the A-bomb mainly spread a lot in the east direction centering on Nishiyama area located about 4 km east of the hypocenter. Like the Hiroshima A-bomb, black rain accompanied by radioactive materials fell shortly after the explosion, but relationship between local fallout fall zone and black rain fall area has not been sufficiently elucidated, which has enhanced the concerns on radiation exposure to the A-bomb survivor. Concerning the black rain due to the Nagasaki A-bomb, it has been said that black rain did not fall across a wide area in a comprehensive way, except for the heavily contaminated Nishiyama area, but fell at various areas with conditions of light rain and/or soaking after the explosion. Among many villages or towns, especially in the Manose District where is a small intermountain village about 7.5 km northeast of the hypocenter, it had always been heard and known that the residents living there encountered black rain and experienced hair loss. In this district, the hair loss of inhabitants occurred actually with high probability, but its reason has not been elucidated well. Therefore, in order to reevaluate the local fallout level in the Manose District by the A-bomb, residual long-lived radionuclides 137Cs and Pu isotopes were measured for soil samples collected at the Manose District including the surrounding areas in July, 2011. As a result, accumulated levels of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Manose District were not so high, each being nearly background (BG) level. The dispersion of local fallout Pu from the A-bomb was reconfirmed by 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios measured in soil samples at the same time, and was found to be primarily limited in the east direction, especially around the Nishiyama area. Those results were consistent with results obtained so far. Further researches are needed for understanding scientifically the cause of the high incidence rate of hair loss in this district.This research was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants Numbers 23406002 (April 2011-March 2014) and 26257501 (April 2014-March 2018)