Importance of the Volume Fluctuation Correction on Higher Order Cumulants

Initial volume fluctuation (VF) caused by participant fluctuation would be the background which should be subtracted from experimentally measured higher-order cumulants. STAR experiment has been applied Centrality Bin Width Correction (CBWC) to suppress VF. However, CBWC is not perfect method, there might be thus residual fractions of VF backgrounds. Recently, Volume Fluctuation Correction (VFC) was developed under the assumption of the independent particle production (IPP) model. In this talk, the importance of subtracting VF and validity of the VFC are studied by using simple toy models assuming IPP as well as UrQMD model. The results showed that VFC worked well in toy model but did not work well in UrQMD which imply that IPP model could be broken in UrQMD.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Proceeding of the 8th International Conference on Quarks and Nuclear Physics, Nov. 13-17 (2018), Tsukuba, Japa

STAR実験金+金衝突におけるnet-charge揺らぎを用いたQCD相図の探索

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201

STAR実験金+金衝突におけるnet-charge揺らぎを用いたQCD相図の探索

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201

Oshika T. Contrast sensitivity and foveal microstructure following vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

PURPOSE. To evaluate contrast sensitivity (CS) in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) following vitrectomy and to investigate the relationship between CS and foveal microstructures with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS. Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with ERM were included. We examined CS with a CSV-1000E chart, a logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and foveal microstructure by using SD-OCT before and at 6 months after surgery. From the CS data, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated. Based on the OCT images, we quantified the mean thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL), the inner nuclear layer (INL), and the outer retinal layer (outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer [ONLþOPL]). The status of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction (IS/OS) and external limiting membrane (ELM) was also evaluated. RESULTS. Vitrectomy significantly improved logMAR BCVA and AULCSF. Even in patients with poor improvement of visual acuity (changes in logMAR BCVA by surgery was 0.2), postoperative AULCSF significantly increased by treatment (P < 0.05). Postoperative AULCSF showed a significant correlation with preoperative (P < 0.05) and postoperative (P < 0.05) ONLþOPL thickness, whereas other parameters were not relevant. Postoperative logMAR BCVA significantly correlated with postoperative status of IS/OS (P < 0.05) and preoperative ONLþOPL thickness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. In patients with ERM, CS improved even though their visual acuity did not recover significantly by vitrectomy. CS was associated with the thickness of outer retinal layer

Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by chronic pravastatin treatment in patients with cardiovascular disease and renal insufficiency

SummaryBackgroundContrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is known to increase morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown statins prevented CIN after contrast media exposure, but optimal statin type and dosage are still unknown.PurposeThe aims of the present study were to evaluate whether chronic pravastatin treatment before scheduled coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention could reduce the incidence of CIN and to elucidate the factors related to CIN in patients with renal insufficiency.MethodsWe studied 431 consecutive patients with renal insufficiency. One hundred ninety-four patients were receiving pravastatin treatment as standard chronic treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Serum creatinine levels were measured at baseline (pre-procedure) and within 48h after contrast media exposure (peak post-procedure). CIN was defined as an increase in the serum creatinine values of ≥25% or ≥0.5mg/dl after contrast media exposure. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the important factors related to CIN using four variables: age, pravastatin, pre-procedure serum creatinine, and contrast volume.ResultsCIN was observed in 36 patients (8.4%). Patients without pravastatin (p<0.01), high level pre-procedure serum creatinine (p<0.01), and high contrast volume (p=0.034) had a significantly higher incidence of CIN. Logistic regression analysis revealed that pravastatin treatment (χ2=6.549, p=0.011, odds ratio=0.34), pre-procedure serum creatinine (χ2=6.294, p=0.009, odds ratio=2.78), and contrast volume (χ2=4.484, p=0.034, odds ratio=1.01) were independently related to the decreased risk of CIN.ConclusionsChronic pravastatin treatment before contrast media exposure was important for preventing CIN in patients with renal insufficiency. Also, reducing the dose of contrast media was important for preventing CIN in patients with high-baseline serum creatinine levels

Polyethylene Glycol-Based Synthetic Hydrogel Sealant for Closing Vitrectomy Wounds: An In Vivo and Histological Study

Purpose We conducted an in vivo study using Dutch pigmented rabbit eyes to test the usefulness of polyethylene glycol (PEG) sealant for the closure of sutureless sclerotomies in microincisional vitrectomy surgery (MIVS). Methods: Three-port, 23-gauge vitrectomy was performed on rabbit eyes. After air leakage was confirmed by the application of 0.625% povidone–iodine at the sclerotomy site, PEG sealant was subconjunctivally injected using a 27-gauge needle through conjunctival incisions to cover the sclerotomy wounds, following which it was polymerized by the application of xenon light for 60 seconds. Ophthalmological examinations and intraocular pressure measurements were conducted the day before and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after surgery. The eyes were enucleated for histological evaluation 7 days after surgery. Results: PEG sealant was rapidly polymerized by the application of xenon light after subconjunctival injection, and it firmly sealed the sclerotomies without air leakage, as confirmed by povidone–iodine dropping, in all cases. Conjunctival and scleral wounds closed with PEG sealant were successfully attached and remained intact till the end of the follow-up period. There was no sign of postoperative hypotony or infection in any eye, and no adverse effects of PEG sealant were found. In histological examination, linear scar formation and eosinophilic staining of collagen fibers were observed at the sclerotomy sites, while the sclerotomy tunnels appeared tightly closed. Conclusions: PEG sealant can be useful for the closure of sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy incisions in rabbits. Translational Relevance The PEG sealant may become an effective option for closing vitrectomy incisions including pediatric cases

Changes in aniseikonia and influencing-factors following successful macula-off retinal detachment surgery

This study investigated the changes in the severity of aniseikonia after surgery for macula-off retinal detachment (RD), and the relationship between aniseikonia and retinal microstructures. The study included 26 eyes of 26 patients undergoing RD surgery. Visual acuity was measured preoperatively, and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Degree of aniseikonia and OCT images were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The aniseikonia values (mean +/- standard deviation) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were -5.3 +/- 4.2%, -4.4 +/- 4.4%, and -3.1 +/- 3.2%, respectively. Significant improvement was observed from 3 to 12 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). Twelve months postoperatively, 14 eyes had micropsia, 1 eye had macropsia, and 11 eyes were free of aniseikonia. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the severity of aniseikonia at 12 months postoperatively was significantly associated with postoperative development of cystoid macular edema (CME) and epiretinal membrane (ERM), as well as area of preoperative RD. In conclusion, although aniseikonia was gradually relieved after RD surgery during a 1-year follow-up period, approximately half of patients had aniseikonia and almost all of them had micropsia. Aniseikonia was associated with presence of postoperative CME, ERM, and area of preoperative RD