Phase Noise Can Induce Stochastic Resonance?

We investigated stochastic resonance (SR) of ac-driven electroconvection (EC) in nematic liquid crystals by employing the phase noise of the ac field. The phase noise smoothly varies the threshold of EC, as the amplitude noise does it. Surprisingly, a kind of phase stochastic resonance (PSR) is discovered in appropriately colored phase noises; thus, it provides nonmonotonic behavior of the threshold in which a peak of the pattern amplitude of EC is found as a function of the phase noise intensity. The colored and white phase noises are discussed for understanding the PSR

Principle and clinical usefulness of the infrared fluorescence endoscopy

Since there is no infrared fluorescence materials in the living body, infrared fluorescence labeling materials are very useful for making a diagnosis of a micro cancer. We have developed an infrared fluorescence endoscope (IRFE) and indocyanin green (ICG)-derivative as infrared fluorescence labeling materials to evaluate gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions. The study aims were to apply an IRFE and to demonstrate its usefulness in detecting cancerous tissue using an antibody coupled with ICG-derivative. IRFE consisted of an infrared endoscope equipped with excitation (710-790nm) and barrier (810-920nm) filters and an intensified CCD camera. We have developed ICG N-hydroxy sulfo succinimide ester (ICG-sulfo-OSu) and 3-ICG-acyl-1, 3-thiazolidine-2-thione (ICG-ATT) as an infrared fluorescent-labeling reagent. ICG-derivative-labeled mouse anti-human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)antibodyandMUC1 antibody were employed in this study. Moreover, we examined the ability of a reinforcement agent, octylglucoside, to intensity fluorescence from the labeled antibody. Biopsy specimens of gastric cancer were stained with anti-CEA antibody by the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method. Among the positive specimens, freshly resected stomach from three cases were used for the infrared (IR) imaging analysis. The incubation of freshly resected stomach specimens with ICG-anti-CEA antibody-complex resulted in positive staining of the tumor sites by IRFE, and the IR fluorescent images correlated well with the tumor sites. The immunohistochemical studies suggested that the intensity of IR fluorescence of ICG-ATT-MUC1was stronger than that of ICG-sulfo-OSu. In tumor sections, the reinforcement agent intensified fluorescence, ever at low antibody concentrations. Therefore, we conclude that an anti-CEA (and/orMUC1) antibody with affinity for cancerous lesions and labeled with ICG-derivative can be imaged with this IRFE. Specific antibodies tagged with ICG-derivative with the reinforcement agent can label cancer cells and generate a strong enough fluorescent signal to detect small cancers when examined with an IR fluorescence endoscope

Pebbles and sand on asteroid (162173) Ryugu: In situ observation and particles returned to Earth

International audienceThe Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the C-type (carbonaceous) asteroid (162173) Ryugu. The mission performed two landing operations to collect samples of surface and subsurface material, the latter exposed by an artificial impact. We present images of the second touchdown site, finding that ejecta from the impact crater was present at the sample location. Surface pebbles at both landing sites show morphological variations ranging from rugged to smooth, similar to Ryugu’s boulders, and shapes from quasi-spherical to flattened. The samples were returned to Earth on 6 December 2020. We describe the morphology of >5 grams of returned pebbles and sand. Their diverse color, shape, and structure are consistent with the observed materials of Ryugu; we conclude that they are a representative sample of the asteroid

Rare Contents of an Internal Hernia through a Defect of the Broad Ligament of the Uterus

Herniation through a defect of the uterine broad ligament is a rare internal hernia that is difficult to diagnose definitively. Common hernia contents contain ileal loops. Herein, we report a rare case of internal herniation of both the ileum and fallopian tube through a defect of the broad ligament. A 52-year-old woman presented to our hospital with suprapubic pain and vomiting. She had a history of bowel obstruction following cesarean section. On abdominopelvic computed tomography, we suspected a closed-loop obstruction associated with bowel herniation in the right broad ligament. However, we could not identify an area of poor enhancement adjacent to distended small intestines. Emergency laparoscopic exploration revealed a viable ileal loop and incarcerated organ. Therefore, we switched to laparotomy that revealed the right fallopian tube as the ischemic organ. We reduced the hernia, resected necrotic right fallopian tube, and closed the defect of the broad ligament. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. Rare hernia contents might complicate preoperative clinical diagnosis. Laparoscopy is useful for establishing a definitive diagnosis and treating broad ligament hernias

Preoperative endoscopic tattoo marking improves lymph node retrieval in laparoscopic rectal resection: a retrospective cohort study

Purpose Harvesting at least 12 lymph nodes (LNs) is recommended for adequate tumor staging in colon surgery. Although preoperative endoscopic tattooing has been used for primary localization of tumors, its impact on LN retrieval in colorectal surgery remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the relationship between preoperative tattooing and LN retrieval after laparoscopic rectal resection. Methods We reviewed the records of 92 patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic resection from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. Patients were categorized into 2 groups according to whether preoperative endoscopic tattooing was performed. The rate of adequate LN retrieval (≥12) was compared. Results The tattooed and non-tattooed groups comprised 49 and 43 patients, respectively. In the tattooed and non-tattooed groups, the rates of adequate LN retrieval were 75.5% and 55.8%, respectively (P=0.046). Univariate analysis revealed that female sex, tattooing, LN metastasis status, pathological pathological stage (p-stage), and LN dissection were predictive factors for adequate LN retrieval. In the multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–9.73; P=0.027), tattooing (OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.03–7.94; P=0.043), and p-stage (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.04–10.75; P=0.043) were independent predictive factors for adequate LN retrieval after surgery. Conclusion This study revealed that preoperative endoscopic tattooing was statistically significantly associated with adequate LN retrieval in patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic rectal resection. Preoperative endoscopic tattooing should be considered to improve disease assessment and avoid stage migration

Salivary Biomarker Profiles and Chronic Fatigue among Nurses Working Rotation Shifts : An Exploratory Pilot Study

Although nurses' fatigue affects their well-being and patient safety, no effective objective measurements exist. We explored the profiles of salivary biomarkers associated with nurses' chronic fatigue across several shifts. This longitudinal study involved 45 shiftwork nurses and collected their saliva samples before two night and two day shifts for a month. Chronic fatigue was measured using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptom Index before the first night shift. Biomarker profiles were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis, and chronic fatigue levels were compared between the profiles. Cortisol profiles were classified into high- and low-level groups across two day shifts; the low-level group presented significantly higher irritability and unwillingness to work. Secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) profiles across the four shifts were classified into high- and low-level groups; the high-level group had significantly higher depressive feelings, decreased vitality, irritability, and unwillingness to work. Cortisol (two day shifts) and s-IgA (four shifts) profiles were combined, and (i) cortisol low-level and s-IgA high-level and (ii) cortisol high-level and s-IgA low-level groups were identified. The former group had significantly higher chronic fatigue sign and irritability than the latter group. The profiles of salivary cortisol and s-IgA across several shifts were associated with nurses' chronic fatigue

A Simple Flow Injection Analysis–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method to Reduce False Positives of C5-Acylcarnitines Due to Pivaloylcarnitine Using Reference Ions

Flow injection analysis–tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-TMS) has been applied in a first-tier test of newborn screening (NBS). Although isovalerylcarnitine (i-C5), which is a diagnostic indicator of isovaleric acidemia (IVA), is isobaric with pivaloylcarnitine (p-C5), 2-methylbutyrylcarnitine, and n-valerylcarnitine, these isomers cannot be distinguished by the FIA-TMS. There are many reports of false positives derived from p-C5 due to the use of pivalate-conjugated antibiotics. In this study, we developed a new FIA-TMS method to distinguish i-C5 and p-C5. We found that the intensity ratio of product ions for i-C5 and p-C5 was different in a certain range even under the same analytical conditions. The product ions with the most distinct differences in ionic intensity between the isomers and the collision energies that produce them were determined to be m/z 246.2 > 187.1 and −15 V, respectively. In addition to the quantification ion, a reference ion was defined, and the similarity of the i-C5 and p-C5 reference ion ratios (i-C5 score and p-C5 score, respectively) were used to estimate which isomer (i-C5 and p-C5) was responsible for elevated C5 acylcarnitine in dried blood spots (DBSs). As a result of analyses of 11 DBS samples derived from pivalate-conjugated antibiotics and four DBS samples from IVA patients using our method, it was found that our method was able to correctly determine the type of C5-acylcarnitine (i-C5 or p-C5) in the DBS samples. Implementation of this new FIA-TMS method into the current NBS protocol will allow for a reduction in false positives in IVA