Multidirectional Cylindrical Piezoelectric Force Sensor: Design and Experimental Validation

A common design concept of the piezoelectric force sensor, which is to assemble a bump structure from a flat or fine columnar piezoelectric structure or to use a specific type of electrode, is quite limited. In this paper, we propose a new design of cylindrical piezoelectric sensors that can detect multidirectional forces. The proposed sensor consists of four row and four column sensors. The design of the sensor was investigated by the finite element method. The response of the sensor to various force directions was observed, and it was demonstrated that the direction of the force applied to the sensor could be derived from the signals of one row sensor and three column sensors. As a result, this sensor proved to be able to detect forces in the area of 225° about the central axis of the sensor. In addition, a cylindrical sensor was fabricated to verify the proposed sensor and a series of experiments were performed. The simulation and experimental results were compared, and the actual sensor response tended to be similar to the simulation

Validating of the pre-clinical mouse model for metastatic breast cancer to the mandible

Metastatic breast carcinoma has a great tendency to spread to the mandible. It is concomitantly associated with bone destruction, food intake disorder, and a poorer prognosis. Appropriate animal models need to be developed for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the metastatic process of breast cancer cells to mandible and to test the effects of potential lead compounds. Here, we assessed the metastasis model of intracardiac injection using luciferase-transfected metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231Luc+) by determining the incidences of metastasis, mCT images, and histopathological results. A high bioluminescence signal mainly detected mandibular lesions with less frequent distal femora and proximal tibiae lesions. Extensive mandibular bone destruction occurred in nude mice grafted with metastatic breast cancer cells. This type of animal model might be a useful tool in assessing therapeutic implications and the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs for osteolytic cancers

Comparison of circuit patency and exchange rates between the original and generic versions of nafamostat mesylate in critically ill adults receiving continuous renal replacement therapy

Background Nafamostat mesylate is widely used as an anticoagulant in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The generic versions of nafamostat mesylate have identical main components to the original product. However, it is questionable whether the generic versions have the same efficacy as the original. Therefore, we compared the circuit patency and exchange rates of the original nafamostat mesylate and a generic version to determine which is more efficient as an anticoagulant in CRRT. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 1,255 patients hospitalized to receive CRRT who received the original version of nafamostat mesylate or a generic version between January 2010 and July 2018. We evaluated the filter lifespan, number of filters used per day, mean blood flow, and transmembrane pressure (TMP). Results The mean filter lifespan was 36.3±15.1 hours in the original product group and 22.2±16.2 hours in the generic product group, which was not a statistically significant difference (p=0.060). The mean TMP was 62.2±47.3 mmHg in the original product group and 74.5±45.6 mmHg in the generic product group (p=0.045). Conclusions This retrospective study suggests no meaningful difference in filter lifespan between the original and generic versions of nafamostat mesylate. However, TMP was lower in the original product group than in the generic product group

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) for patients with anxiety. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of anxiety by EA up to November 2022 were searched and collected from nine databases. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and adverse reactions were used as outcome indicators. The quality of relevant articles was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool. The quality of evidence for each outcome was classified as “low risk,” “unclear risk,” or “high risk.” RevMan 5.0 was used for data analysis. A total of 633 articles were identified from nine electronic databases; 37 RCTs were included, which measured anxiety changes by using EA alone compared to the control group. For the main outcome, EA significantly reduced the HAMA score [Mean difference (MD):−1.13 (95% CI:−2.55–0.29), I2:80%], and the quality of evidence was moderate. EA significantly reduced the SAS score (MD:−3.47 (95% CI,−6.57−−0.36), I2:88%), and the quality of evidence was moderate. Our meta-analysis shows that EA reduces HAMA and SAS. This study suggests that EA can relieve anxiety. For various uses, additional research is needed on its effect when combined with other treatments.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=345658, identifier (CRD42022345658)

Role of spinon and spinon singlet pair excitations on phase transitions in d−waved-wave superconductors

We examine the roles of massless Dirac spinon and spin singlet pair excitations on the phase transition in $d-wave$ superconductors. Although the massless spinon excitations in the presence of the spin singlet pair excitations do not alter the nature of the phase transition at $T = 0$, that is, the XY universality class, they are seen to induce an additional attractive interaction potential between vortices, further stabilizing vortex-antivortex pairs at low temperature for lightly doped high $T_c$ samples.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Verifying the relationships of defect site and enhanced photocatalytic properties of modified ZrO2 nanoparticles evaluated by in-situ spectroscopy and STEM-EELS

Base treatment and metal doping were evaluated as means of enhancing the photocatalytic activity of ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) via the generation of oxygen vacancies (O-vS), and the sites responsible for this enhancement were identified and characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. We confirmed that O-vS produced by base treatment engaged in photocatalytic activity for organic pollutant degradation, whereas surface defects introduced by Cr-ion doping engaged in oxidative catalysis of molecules. Moreover, we verified that base-treated ZrO2 NPs outperformed their Cr-ion doped counterparts as photocatalysts using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS). Thus, our study provides valuable information on the origin of the enhanced photocatalytic activity of modified ZrO2 NPs and demonstrates the practicality of in situ spectroscopy and STEM-EELS for the evaluation of highly efficient metal oxide photocatalysts

Identification of a novel mutation in a patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP Ia) is a disorder characterized by multiform hormonal resistance including parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance and Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). It is caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations within the Gs alpha-encoding GNAS exons. A 9-year-old boy presented with clinical and laboratory abnormalities including hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, PTH resistance, multihormone resistance and AHO (round face, short stature, obesity, brachydactyly and osteoma cutis) which were typical of PHP Ia. He had a history of repeated convulsive episodes that started from the age of 2 months. A cranial computed tomography scan showed bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia and his intelligence quotient testing indicated mild mental retardation. Family history revealed that the patient's maternal relatives, including his grandmother and 2 of his mother's siblings, had features suggestive of AHO. Sequencing of the GNAS gene of the patient identified a heterozygous nonsense mutation within exon 11 (c.637 C>T). The C>T transversion results in an amino acid substitution from Gln to stop codon at codon 213 (p.Gln213*). To our knowledge, this is a novel mutation in GNAS

Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Korean Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain Resulting from Neuropathic Low Back Pain

Study DesignA noninterventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study.PurposeWe investigated the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the quality of life (QoL) and functional disability in Korean adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).Overview of LiteratureAmong patients with CLBP, 20%–55% had NP.MethodsPatients older than 20 years with CLBP lasting for longer than three months, with a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score higher than four, and with pain medications being used for at least four weeks before enrollment were recruited from 27 general hospitals between December 2014 and May 2015. Medical chart reviews were performed to collect demographic/clinical features and diagnosis of NP (douleur neuropathique 4, DN4). The QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension, EQ-5D; EQ-VAS) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, QBPDS) were determined through patient surveys. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare PROs between the NP (DN4≥4) and non-NP (DN4<4) groups.ResultsA total of 1,200 patients (females: 65.7%; mean age: 63.4±13.0 years) were enrolled. The mean scores of EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and QBPDS were 0.5±0.3, 55.7±19.4, and 40.4±21.1, respectively. Among all patients, 492 (41.0%; 95% confidence interval, 38.2%–43.8%) suffered from NP. The prevalence of NP was higher in male patients (46.8%; p<0.01), in patients who had pain based on radiological and neurological findings (59.0%; p<0.01), and in patients who had severe pain (49.0%; p<0.01). There were significant mean differences in EQ-5D (NP group vs. non-NP group: 0.4±0.3 vs. 0.5±0.3; p<0.01) and QBPDS (NP group vs. non-NP group: 45.8±21.2 vs. 36.3±20.2; p<0.01) scores. In the multiple linear regression, patients with NP showed lower EQ-5D (β=−0.1; p<0.01) and higher QBPDS (β=7.0; p<0.01) scores than those without NP.ConclusionsNP was highly prevalent in Korean patients with CLBP. Patients with CLBP having NP had a lower QoL and more severe dysfunction than those without NP. To enhance the QoL and functional status of patients with CLBP, this study highlights the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating NP

Inositol and higher inositol phosphates in neural tissues: homeostasis, metabolism and functional significance

Inositol phospholipids and inositol phosphates mediate well-established functions in signal transduction and in Ca 2+ homeostasis in the CNS and non-neural tissues. More recently, there has been renewed interest in other roles that both myo -inositol and its highly phosphorylated forms may play in neural function. We review evidence that myo -inositol serves as a clinically relevant osmolyte in the CNS, and that its hexakisphosphate and pyrophosphorylated derivatives may play roles in such diverse cellular functions as DNA repair, nuclear RNA export and synaptic membrane trafficking.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65201/1/j.1471-4159.2002.01041.x.pd