Oxidative etching mechanism of the diamond (100) surface

John Isaac Enriquez, Fahdzi Muttaqien, Masato Michiuchi, Kouji Inagaki, Masaaki Geshi, Ikutaro Hamada, Yoshitada Morikawa, Oxidative etching mechanism of the diamond (100) surface, Carbon, Volume 174, 2021, Pages 36-51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2020.11.057

DNA secondary structure is influenced by genetic variation and alters susceptibility to de novo translocation

<p>Abstract</p> <p><b>Background</b></p> <p>Cumulative evidence suggests that DNA secondary structures impact DNA replication, transcription and genomic rearrangements. One of the best studied examples is the recurrent constitutional t(11;22) in humans that is mediated by potentially cruciform-forming sequences at the breakpoints, palindromic AT-rich repeats (PATRRs). We previously demonstrated that polymorphisms of PATRR sequences affect the frequency of <it>de novo </it>t(11;22)s in sperm samples from normal healthy males. These studies were designed to determine whether PATRR polymorphisms affect DNA secondary structure, thus leading to variation in translocation frequency.</p> <p><b>Methods</b></p> <p>We studied the potential for DNA cruciform formation for several PATRR11 polymorphic alleles using mobility shift analysis in gel electrophoresis as well as by direct visualization of the DNA by atomic force microscopy. The structural data for various alleles were compared with the frequency of <it>de novo </it>t(11;22)s the allele produced.</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>The data indicate that the propensity for DNA cruciform structure of each polymorphic allele correlates with the frequency of <it>de novo </it>t(11;22)s produced (r = 0.77, <it>P </it>= 0.01).</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> <p>Although indirect, our results strongly suggest that the PATRR adopts unstable cruciform structures during spermatogenesis that act as translocation hotspots in humans.</p

Clinical study of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy

We experienced 63 patients with non-inflammatory disease who underwent single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (TANKO-LC). Herein we report the procedure of operation and the short-term results. We compared 63 cases of TANKO-LC with 109 cases of non-inflammatory conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (S-LC) within the same period. At first, our standard procedure was to insert multiple trocars in the abdominal cavity through a single wound ; now, we insert only a single trocar all cases. In the 63 cases investigation, 3 cases required trocar addition and one case converted to open surgery. Intra and postoperative complications were recognized in 2 cases (port-site infection). No significant complications were recognized. In comparing the TANKO-LC group and the S-LC group, the operation time was intentionally longer in the TANKO-LC group (TANKO-LC group : 118 min, S-LC group : 90 min), but there were no differences in the blood loss, the rates of intra and postoperative complications and the conversion rate. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard operation for gallbladder removal, but single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered a useful operation with the same low operative complication rate yet more satisfactory cosmetic results

Mg/O₂ Battery Based on the Magnesium-Aluminum Chloride Complex (MACC) Electrolyte

Mg/O₂ cells employing a MgCl₂/AlCl₃/DME (MACC/DME) electrolyte are cycled and compared to cells with modified Grignard electrolytes, showing that performance of magnesium/oxygen batteries depends strongly on electrolyte composition. Discharge capacity is far greater for MACC/DME-based cells, while rechargeability in these systems is severely limited. The Mg/O₂-MACC/DME discharge product comprises a mixture of Mg­(ClO₄)₂ and MgCl₂, with the latter likely formed from slow decomposition of the former. The presence of Cl in these compounds suggests that the electrolyte participates in the cell reaction or reacts readily with the initial electrochemical products. A rate study suggests that O₂ diffusion in the electrolyte limits discharge capacities at higher currents. Formation of an insulating product film on the positive electrodes of Mg/O₂-MACC/DME cells following deep discharge increases cell impedance substantially and likely explains the poor rechargeability. An additional impedance rise consistent with film formation on the Mg negative electrode suggests the presence of detrimental O₂ crossover. Minimizing O₂ crossover and bypassing charge transfer through the discharge product would improve battery performance

A Report of Four Cases of Intestinal Endometriosis

Four cases of intestinal endometriosis seen at our hospital are presented. The patients ranged in age from 35 to 43 years and developed abdominal pain, vomiting, and dyschezia due to stenotic lesions of the intestine. The sites of the lesions were the ileum in 2 cases, and the sigmoid colon and rectum in 1 case each. All cases had no history of bowel disease or laparotomy, and were not diagnosed preoperatively. These results suggested that evaluations of symptoms and clinical examinations are inadequate for an accurate diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis. The patients’ postoperative courses were uneventful, and there have been no recurrences. In conclusion, intestinal endometriosis should be considered in women of childbearing age who present with bowel obstruction, especially in women without a history of laparotomy

Self-assembled monolayer of light-harvesting core complexes of photosynthetic bacteria on an amino-terminated ITO electrode

Light-harvesting antenna core (LH1-RC) complexes isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were successfully self-assembled on an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Near infra-red (NIR) absorption, fluorescence, and IR spectra of these LH1-RC complexes indicated that these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were stable on the electrode. An efficient energy transfer and photocurrent responses of these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were observed upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm

Extension of the operational regime of the LHD towards a deuterium experiment

As the finalization of a hydrogen experiment towards the deuterium phase, the exploration of the best performance of hydrogen plasma was intensively performed in the large helical device. High ion and electron temperatures, Ti and Te, of more than 6 keV were simultaneously achieved by superimposing high-power electron cyclotron resonance heating onneutral beam injection (NBI) heated plasma. Although flattening of the ion temperature profile in the core region was observed during the discharges, one could avoid degradation by increasing the electron density. Another key parameter to present plasma performance is an averaged beta value $\left\langle \beta \right\rangle$ . The high $\left\langle \beta \right\rangle$ regime around 4% was extended to an order of magnitude lower than the earlier collisional regime. Impurity behaviour in hydrogen discharges with NBI heating was also classified with a wide range of edge plasma parameters. The existence of a no impurity accumulation regime, where the high performance plasma is maintained with high power heating  >10 MW, was identified. Wide parameter scan experiments suggest that the toroidal rotation and the turbulence are the candidates for expelling impurities from the core region

Figuring with subnanometer-level accuracy by numerically controlled elastic emission machining

Kazuto Yamauchi, Hidekazu Mimura, Kouji Inagaki, and Yuzo Mori, "Figuring with subnanometer-level accuracy by numerically controlled elastic emission machining", Review of Scientific Instruments 73, 4028-4033 (2002) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1510573