Pulmonary sarcoidosis as a cause of intermittent fever of unknown origin in a hemodialysis patient with renal cell carcinoma: A case report and literature review

Hemodialysis patients have weakened immune systems and can exhibit fever due to various causes. Herein, we describe the case of a 61‐year‐old hemodialysis patient who exhibited intermittent low‐grade fever after a pacemaker had been implanted 2 months before due to sick sinus syndrome. She had a medical history of subcutaneous sarcoidosis and uveitis. Active pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed based on elevated soluble interleukin‐2 receptor, elevated lysozyme level, and gallium‐67 scintigraphy uptake in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. She was also diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma via contrast computed tomography. However, because her C‐reactive protein level remained normal, the possibility of neoplastic fever was considered low. After the initiation of prednisolone administration, her fever gradually disappeared. Her serum soluble interleukin‐2 receptor and lysozyme level improved in parallel with the enlargement of the mediastinal lymph node and gallium‐67 scintigraphy uptake.     

滚石离散元数值模拟的参数反演

 离散元法(DEM)是数值模拟崩塌落石运动的一个有力方法,但确定离散元输入参数是个难题。提出一个基于已知落石轨迹的离散元参数的反演计算方法。落石轨迹可以通过现场落石试验或者野外实地调查实际落石过程获得。该方法的特征为反演得到的离散元参数可以间接反映边坡与落石冲击时的变形以及植被缓冲效应。建议的几个保证解的有效性得到验证,稳定性措施效果良好。室内落石试验结果和现场落石工程实录验证证明了该算法的有效性和实用性。     

Performance and durability of nanostructured (La0.85Sr0.15)0.98MnO3/yttria-stabilized zirconia cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

In this communication we report the fabrication of nanostructured (La_0.85Sr_0.15)_0.98MnO₃ (LSM)/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composite cathodes consisting of homogeneously distributed and connected LSM and YSZ grains approximately 100 nm large. We also investigate for the first time the role of the cathode nanostructure on the performance and the durability of intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. The cathodes were fabricated using homogenous LSM/YSZ nanocomposite particles synthesized by co-precipitation, using YSZ nanoparticles of 3 nm as seed crystals. Detailed microstructural characterization by transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that many of the LSM/YSZ junctions in the cathode faced the homogeneously connected pore channels, indicating the formation of a considerable number of triple phase boundaries. The nanostructure served to reduce cathodic polarization. As a result, these anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells showed high power densities of 0.18, 0.40, 0.70 and 0.86 W cm⁻² at 650, 700, 750 and 800 °C, respectively, under the cell voltage of 0.7 V. Furthermore, no significant performance degradation of the cathode was observed during operation at 700 °C for 1000 h under a constant current density of 0.2 A cm⁻².     

Novel method for estimating viable Salmonella cell counts using real-time PCR

A novel method for estimating viable Salmonella Enteritidis cell counts with 5'-nuclease real-time PCR was developed in this study. Our method was based on the increase kinetics of the target DNA region (invA) of the microorganism growing in a food/clinical sample in a culture medium during incubation. The index of increase in the target DNA region studied here was threshold cycle, CT. A test Salmonella strain was grown in buffered peptone water at the optimal temperature (39 degrees C). As Salmonella cells were grown, the value of CT decreased with time, generating a downward sigmoidal curve. The slope of the curve was constant at various initial cell concentrations. With higher initial cell concentration, the CT value evaluated from the slope at a given time was lower. With this relationship, a novel method for estimating the initial viable cell concentration of a sample was developed. Dead Salmonella cells or bacteria other than the target cell caused deviation in the CT curve. Incubation in a selective media suppressed the deviation caused by other bacterial cells. We think that this method could be applied to many other microorganisms cultivable in a suitable medium.     

Simulation study on the design of nondestructive measurement system using fast neutron direct interrogation method to nuclear materials in fuel debris

In order to measure the amount of nuclear materials in the fuel debris produced in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, we have designed a measurement system based on a Fast Neutron Direct Interrogation (FNDI) method. In particular, we have developed a fast response detector bank for fast neutron measurements by Monte Carlo simulations. The new bank has more than one order of magnitude faster response compared to the standard ones. We have also simulated the nondestructive measurements of the nuclear materials in homogeneously mixed fuel debris with various matrices which contain stainless steel (JIS SUS304), concrete, and various control-rod (CR) contents in the designed system. The results show that if the debris contains less than 1.0 vol% of CR component and more than 2.5 vol% of spent fuel component, the fissile materials in the debris can be measured by using the designed system.     

Resin micromachining by roller hot embossing

The roller hot embossing is an efficient process of manufacture in which patterns are continuously transcribed on film, etc. Recently, the application of the embossing roll to the manufacturing processes of micro parts is paid attention. In this paper, we examined the development of the embossing roll with patterns of micron level and we tried to make the embossing roll mold by using the LIGA process. In this study, instead of producing embossing patterns directly on the roll surface, we fabricated a flexible thin mold with micro-patterns, which was then wrapped onto a cylinder to form an embossing roll, and tested the soft-mold roller hot embossing method. First, by optimizing UV exposure conditions of UV lithography, we prepared a resist pattern of numerous dots with a diameter of 10 μm, a sag height of 8 μm and a pitch of 20 μm. By Ni-electroforming this pattern, a 50 μm-thick thin mold was successfully fabricated. The 50 μm-thick mold was then wrapped onto a cylinder to form an embossing roll. In the roller hot embossing process, the 10 μm-diameter dot shape was successfully replicated on PET sheets.     

Structural Fluctuations of the Human Proteasome α7 Homo-Tetradecamer Double Ring Imply the Proteasomal α-Ring Assembly Mechanism

The 20S proteasome, which is composed of layered α and β heptameric rings, is the core complex of the eukaryotic proteasome involved in proteolysis. The α7 subunit is a component of the α ring, and it self-assembles into a homo-tetradecamer consisting of two layers of α7 heptameric rings. However, the structure of the α7 double ring in solution has not been fully elucidated. We applied cryo-electron microscopy to delineate the structure of the α7 double ring in solution, revealing a structure different from the previously reported crystallographic model. The D7-symmetrical double ring was stacked with a 15° clockwise twist and a separation of 3 Å between the two rings. Two more conformations, dislocated and fully open, were also identified. Our observations suggest that the α7 double-ring structure fluctuates considerably in solution, allowing for the insertion of homologous α subunits, finally converting to the hetero-heptameric α rings in the 20S proteasome.     

Development of an Open-Ended Coaxial Line Probe for Measurement of Dielectric Properties of Inorganic Materials at High Temperature

An open-ended coaxial line probe for dielectric measurements at high temperatures was developed. The probe, which was fabricated using stainless steel as the center and outer conductors and quartz wool as an insulator, can function well up to 800°C. The dielectric properties of the raw materials and resultant materials were measured using a network analyzer that was equipped with the open-ended coaxial line probe at high temperatures to clarify the formation reaction process of YVO₄:Eu³⁺ and Mg₂SnO₄:Mn²⁺ phosphors using a microwave heating method. The developed probe was confirmed to be effective for reaction-process analyses at high temperatures.     

Algorithm for detecting frequencies in multi‐sine signals by inductive generation

Prony's method is an approximation approach to decomposing a function into sum of exponents and thus is applicable to unknown frequencies estimation of signals. The concrete algorithms for estimating pure sine wave, triple tone, and quadruple tone have already been derived and presented. This paper aims at deriving the estimating algorithm for multi‐sine signals which consist of unknown sine waves. The new method of generating an algebraic algorithm for detecting unknown frequencies in the signals is derived by mathematical induction. The crux of the generation is dependent on the integer matrices induction. A handy method for generating the matrices is shown as well. Algorithms for the triple tone, quadruple tone, and the higher‐order tone are generated and verified. As a result, they are shown to be identical to the ordinary algorithms. Subjects on the application of the induced algorithm to practical frequency detection are discussed. The algorithm has both instantaneity in the time domain and higher resolution in the frequency domain, that is, the signal analysis by the algorithm can be performed without constraint of the uncertainty principle. An iterative solution for algebraic equation is dominant for calculation in the algorithm. Techniques for detecting frequencies in a multi‐sine of unknown order are also discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 160(3): 27– 38, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20404