Structure evolution and dielectric behavior of polystyrene-capped barium titanate nanoparticles

Polystyrene-capped barium titanate (BaTiO3) nanoparticles with sizes of 11 nm and 27 nm were prepared using amphiphilic star-like diblock copolymer templates. The crystal structure evolution of these nanoparticles over a wide temperature range (10-428 K) was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld refinement indicates that the abrupt structural transitions observed in micron-sized powders become broad as particle size is reduced to a few tens of nanometers. The orthorhombic phase (Amm2) is observed in the range of 10-388 K, coexisting with the rhombohedral phase (R3c) at lower temperatures and with the tetragonal phase (P4mm) at higher temperatures. At room temperature (300 K), polystyrene-capped BaTiO3 nanoparticles, both 11 and 27 nm sizes, primarily adopt the tetragonal phase, transforming to the cubic phase ( Pm3m) at 398 K during heating. The phase evolution of the nanoparticles correlates well with their dielectric behavior. With the Landauer-Bruggeman effective approximation, the dielectric properties at room temperature for the BaTiO3 core were calculated and the results are in agreement with the size effect of BaTiO3 nanocrystals

Extensional and Non-extensional Functions as Processes

Following Milner's seminal paper, the representation of functions as processes has received considerable attention. For pure λ-calculus, the process representations yield (at best) non-extensional λ-theories (i.e., β rule holds, whereas η does not).In the paper, we study how to obtain extensional representations, and how to move between extensional and non-extensional representations. Using Internal π, Iπ (a subset of the π-calculus in which all outputs are bound), we develop a refinement of Milner's original encoding of functions as processes that is parametric on certain abstract components called wires. These are, intuitively, processes whose task is to connect two end-point channels. We show that when a few algebraic properties of wires hold, the encoding yields a λ-theory. Exploiting the symmetries and dualities of Iπ, we isolate three main classes of wires. The first two have a sequential behaviour and are dual of each other; the third has a parallel behaviour and is the dual of itself. We show the adoption of the parallel wires yields an extensional λ-theory; in fact, it yields an equality that coincides with that of Böhm trees with infinite η. In contrast, the other two classes of wires yield non-extensional λ-theories whose equalities are those of the Lévy-Longo and Böhm trees

Utility of nintedanib for severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a single-center retrospective study

Mitsuhiro Abe,1 Kenji Tsushima,1,2 Masashi Sakayori,1 Kenichi Suzuki,1 Jun Ikari,1 Jiro Terada,1 Koichiro Tatsumi1 1Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba city, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; 2Department of Pulmonary Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, School of Medicine, Narita city, Chiba 286-8686, Japan Introduction: The INPULSIS-ON trial demonstrated that nintedanib reduced decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and low pulmonary function (%FVC < 50%) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, there is no sufficient evidence in real world.Objectives: Reveal the utility and adverse events of nintedanib for severe IPF patients.Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. Patients who met the eligibility criteria of the INPULSIS trial (%FVC ≥ 50%; %DLCO [diffusing capacity of the lung carbon monoxide % predicted] ≥ 30%) were classified as Mild to Moderate Group (n = 34); patients who did not meet the criteria were classified as Severe Group (n=17).Results: The body mass index (24.7 ± 3.4 vs 22.4 ± 3.6 kg/m2; P = 0.021) were significantly low in Severe Group. Main adverse events (diarrhea, nausea, liver disorder, and acute exacerbation) tended to be more in Severe Group than in Mild to Moderate Group; however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.76, 0.14, 0.18, and 0.67, respectively). The continuation rates over 12 months tended to be higher in Mild to Moderate Group than in Severe Group (77% vs 44%; P = 0.027). Log-rank test revealed that the prognosis was significantly better in Mild to Moderate Group than in Severe Group (P = 0.014). In the Severe Group, patients who were able to continue nintedanib for more than 3 months had significantly better prognosis compared to those who could not (P = 0.007).Conclusion: The benefit from nintedanib was reduced in patients in Severe Group when compared to those in Mild to Moderate Group; however, the prognosis is expected to improve with control of side effects and long-term administration. It is more important to control the side effects in Severe Group. Keywords: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, nintedanib, triple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, INPULSIS trials, forced vital capacit

Utility of nintedanib for severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a single-center retrospective study [Corrigendum]

Abe M, Tsushima K, Sakayori M, et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2018;12:3369–3375.On page 3372, last paragraph of “Results” section should read from “In Severe Group, patients who were able to continue nintedanib for more than 3 months (n = 4) exhibited significantly better prognosis compared to those who could not (n = 13) (P = 0.007) (Figure 6).” to “In Severe Group, patients who were able to continue nintedanib for more than 3 months (n = 13) exhibited significantly better prognosis compared to those who could not (n = 4) (P = 0.007) (Figure 6).”Read the orginal article &nbsp

Neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome in bipolar disorder with psychosis

Satoshi Ueda,1 Takeshi Sakayori,1 Ataru Omori,2 Hajime Fukuta,3 Takashi Kobayashi,3 Kousuke Ishizaka,1 Tomoyuki Saijo,4 Yoshiro Okubo1 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; 2Tamachuo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 3Kurumegaoka Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 4Saijo Clinic, Tokyo, Japan Abstract: Neuroleptics can induce not only physical adverse effects but also mental effects that produce deficit status in thought, affect, cognition, and behavior. This condition is known as neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome (NIDS), which includes apathy, lack of initiative, anhedonia, indifference, blunted affect, and reduced insight into disease. Although this old concept now appears almost forgotten, neuroleptics, whether typical or atypical, can make depression or bipolar disorder resemble other more refractory conditions, readily leading to mistaken diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The authors describe three cases of NIDS superimposed on depressive phase in bipolar disorder with psychosis, where the attending psychiatrist’s failure to recognize NIDS prevented patients from receiving effective treatment and achieving remission. All cases achieved remission after reduction of neuroleptics and intensive therapy, including electroconvulsive therapy, for bipolar depression. The concept of NIDS was originally introduced for schizophrenia, and it has rarely been highlighted in other diseases. In recent years, however, atypical antipsychotics are being more often administered to patients with bipolar disorder. Psychiatrists, therefore, should also remember and exercise caution regarding NIDS in the pharmacotherapy of bipolar disorder with and without psychosis. The authors believe that the concept of NIDS needs to be reappraised in current psychiatry. Keywords: neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome (NIDS), bipolar disorder, psychosis, atypical antipsychotics, electroconvulsive therap