Normal Band Research Articles

The performance evaluation of hybrid roller bearings under lubricant contamination conditions

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the dynamic performance of hybrid roller bearings under lubricant contamination.Design/methodology/approachSome steel rollers in traditional cylindrical thrust roller bearings were replaced with ceramic rollers to assemble hybrid roller bearings. Friction experiments were conducted under lubricant contamination using alumina as the contaminant, and simultaneous vibration acceleration signals from the bearings were collected to evaluate their tribological and dynamic performance.FindingsUnder lubricant contamination, hybrid roller bearings with a sufficient number of ceramic rollers exhibit greater wear resistance compared to traditional all-steel bearings. There is a noticeable suppression of energy in both tangential and normal frequency bands of the bearings, with more pronounced suppression observed in higher frequency bands.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable insights for the development of hybrid ceramic bearings.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2024-0291/

[formula omitted] electronic structure and spin EPR-shift of [formula omitted] ion in diluted magnetic p-type [formula omitted][formula omitted]

In this correspondence, we deduce the non-parabolic band dispersion within the framework of effective mass representation (EMR) using k→⋅π→ perturbation theory in the presence of s.o interaction, magnetic impurity and external magnetic field. We measure the electronic parameters like Fermi energy, density of states, effective g factor and effective mass etc. in p-type Sn1−xEuxTe by taking into account a 6-level band structure with normal and bumped band edges. In the study, we use the experimental and simulated band gap values as functions of Eu+2 impurity and temperature. Apart from the general trend, the electronic parameters exhibit extreme behaviour near the band inversion point x=0.020 at T=300 K (Nayak et. al.2023), but in the range of impurity concentration and temperature considered; from x=0.0005 to x=0.001 and T=1.5 K to T=300 K, the behaviour is normal. Again, we follow the expression for spin-electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) shift (Ps) where the perturbation expansion of Green’s function is used in the presence of the above-mentioned interactions. To get around the problem of loss of translational symmetry in the presence of the magnetic field, Green’s function is redefined in terms of Peierl’s phase factor. Here we have made an extensive study of the shift of Eu+2 ion in p-type Sn1−xEuxTe for several impurity concentrations from x=0.0005 to x=0.001 in the temperature range T=1.4 K to T=300 K. Lastly, we analyze the EPR shift and other electronic parameters and their anisotropies in p-type Sn1−xEuxTe as functions of carrier concentration and Eu impurity from T=1.5K to T=300K. We report the EPR shift is 2.97×10−3 at T=300 K and 3.31×10−3 at T=1.5 K with anisotropy at p=5×1020cm−3 in contrast to the experimental observation of +(3.4±0.4)×10−3 in the same system. The discrepancy is attributed to the reduction in the density of available states at Fermi energy at the L-band caused by the simultaneous rise in that at the Σ− band noticeable particularly at/above high hole concentrations p≥5×1020cm−3.

HPR1000 pressurizer degassing system design and analysis

In the Hualong-1 Unit (HPR1000), the hydrogen (H2) concentration should be reduced to 15 mL (STP)/kg 24 h before reactor shutdown when the reactor vessel is scheduled to be opened. The traditional degassing method, i.e., letting down the reactor coolant through a chemical and volume control system, will take longer, and its operation is more complicated. To shorten the degassing time and simplify the operation, this paper proposes a pressurizer degassing system design for HPR1000 by applying the pressurizer as thermal degassing equipment. Then, the degassing system optimization analysis is carried out under a full range of steady operating conditions during shutdown, and the optimal size of the flow-limiting orifice plate is obtained. Meanwhile, in order to verify the transient characteristic during the degassing process to ensure operating safety, a dedicated transient degassing program based on an improved non-equilibrium multi-region pressurizer model and a transient degassing model is used to carry out a transient simulation analysis of this process. The transient simulation results show that, under bounding conditions of hot–zero-power operation, during the degassing process, the pressure of the pressurizer decreases by a maximum of 0.038 MPa and the water level increases by 0.016 m above the normal level. As can be seen, both the pressure and water level are within the normal operation band and shall not initiate any safety signal. Meanwhile, the entire transient process lasts approximately 24 min and then enters a stable degassing period. It takes approximately 5.2 h to remove the gas dissolved in the reactor coolant from 35 mL (STP)/kg to 15 mL (STP)/kg. The analysis shows that the pressurizer degassing system designed for HPR1000 is safe, effective, and reliable.

Superfluid stiffness and Josephson quantum capacitance: Adiabatic approach and topological effects

We bring forward a unified framework for the study of the superfluid stiffness and the quantum capacitance of superconducting platforms exhibiting conventional spin-singlet pairing. We focus on systems which in their normal phase contain topological band touching points or crossings, while in their superconducting regime feature a fully gapped energy spectrum. Our unified description relies on viewing these two types of physical quantities as the charge current and density response coefficients obtained for slow spatiotemporal variations of the superconducting phase. Within our adiabatic formalism, the two coefficients are given in terms of Berry curvatures defined in synthetic spaces. Our paper lays the foundation for the systematic description of topological diagonal superfluid responses induced by singularities dictating the synthetic Berry curvatures. We exemplify our approach for concrete one- and two-dimensional models of superconducting topological (semi)metals. We discuss topological phenomena which arise in the superfluid stiffness of bulk systems and the quantum capacitance of Josephson junctions. We show that both coefficients become proportional to a topological invariant which counts the number of topological touchings or crossings of the normal phase band structure. These topological effects can be equivalently viewed as manifestations of chiral anomaly. Our predictions appear experimentally testable in topological semimetals with proximity-induced pairing, such as in graphene-superconductor hybrids at charge neutrality. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Dominions and closed varieties of bands

We show that all subvarieties of the variety of rectangular bands are closed in the variety of $n$-nilpotent extension of bands. Ahanger, Nabi and Shah in [1] have proved that the variety of regular bands is closed. In this paper, we improve this result and provide its simple and shorter proof. Finally, we show that all subvarieties of the variety of normal bands are closed in the variety of left [right] semiregular bands.

Phonon modes controlled by primary chemical structure of partially fluorinated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) revealed by multiple-angle incidence resolution spectrometry (MAIRS).

Partially fluorinated dimyristoylphosphatidylcholines (DMPCs) involving double alkyl chains are employed to control the phonon generation in thin films, which is examined by infrared (IR) spectroscopy coupled with multiple-angle incidence resolution spectrometry (MAIRS). technique. Compounds having perfluoroalkyl (Rf) chains are known to exhibit phonon bands in IR spectra because of the strong dipole-dipole interactions. Since the phonon bands of an organic matter have a similar shape to the normal absorption bands, however, recognition of the phonon modes is difficult and confusing for IR spectroscopists. Here, we show that MAIRS works out for finding phonon modes in monolayers: the Berreman shift is readily captured by the MAIRS in-plane and out-of-plane (OP) spectra. By measuring the longitudinal-optic (LO) energy-loss function spectrum of a bulk sample, the degree of molecular aggregation in the monolayer is also revealed by comparing the OP spectrum of the monolayer to the LO one. In addition, partially fluorinated DMPC compounds having both hydrocarbon and Rf chains are prepared, and they are used to obstruct the self-aggregation of the Rf groups in the film. As a result, the phonon characteristics are mostly lost in the MAIRS spectra as expected.

Identification of Novel Hb Guiyang [HBA2: c.151C > A α2 50 (CE8) His- Asn] and Phenotype- Genotype Correlation of Abnormal Hemoglobins in Guizhou, Southwest China.

To analyze the composition of abnormal hemoglobin and the relationship between genotype and phenotype by screening abnormal hemoglobin in a subpopulation of Guizhou, China. Routine blood evaluation, capillary electrophoresis of hemoglobin, and mutation of α - and β - thalassemia genes were evaluated in 19,976 individuals for thalassemia screening in Guizhou. Sanger sequencing of HBA1, HBA2 and HBB genes was performed in samples with abnormal bands or unexplained increases of normal bands. The types of abnormal hemoglobin were obtained by sequence analysis. Abnormal hemoglobin was detected in 84 individuals (detection rate, 0.42%). Ten types each of α and β globin chain variants were detected, including most commonly Hb E, Hb New York and Hb Port Phillip. In this study, the abnormal Hb Mizuho was identified for the first time in a Chinese population, and a novel abnormal hemoglobin Hb Guiyang (HBA2: c.151C > A) was detected for the first time. Except for Hb Mizuho, other abnormal hemoglobin heterozygotes without thalassemia or iron deficiency had no significant hematological changes. This study enriched the molecular epidemiological data of abnormal hemoglobin in Guizhou, China and provided reference data for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of abnormal hemoglobin.

Noise analysis of the observatory superconducting gravimeter in the normal mode frequency range using gravity data of Ghuttu, Garhwal Himalaya, India

We present a study on gravity data from the Observatory Superconducting Gravimeter (OSG-051) located at MPGO Ghuttu in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. Ambient noise observed at this site is compared with other worldwide SGs and computed seismic noise magnitude for the OSG-051. Instrumental noise has been observed at frequencies ranging from ∼0.0239 to ∼0.03207 Hz in the form of parasitic mode for the lower and upper sensors of SG, whose quality factor has been estimated in different modes of oscillations. The signal is enhanced at noise reduction below 2.0 mHz using local barometric pressure data and modelled tidal effect of the site. Other seismic noise factors are discussed through data analysis of OSG-051. OSG-051 and trillium 240 Broad Band Seismometer data are analysed and compared in the seismic normal mode frequency band. Several observations have been made regarding noise sources that affect the gravity data in the seismic normal mode’s frequency band. Residual gravity data after removal of atmospheric pressure, tidal, and co-seismic effects, respond very well to long-period seismometers than any conventional seismometer. This characteristic and low noise level of the MPGO Ghuttu site makes it a suitable station for long-period seismometer studies.

Flow Sorting, Whole Genome Amplification and Next-Generation Sequencing as Combined Tools to Study Heterogeneous Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods have been introduced for immunoglobulin (IG)/T-cell receptor (TR) gene rearrangement analysis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma (LBL). These methods likely constitute faster and more sensitive approaches to analyze heterogenous cases of ALL/LBL, yet it is not known whether gene rearrangements constituting low percentages of the total sequence reads represent minor subpopulations of malignant cells or background IG/TR gene rearrangements in normal B-and T-cells. In a comparison of eight cases of B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL) using both the EuroClonality NGS method and the IdentiClone multiplex-PCR/gene-scanning method, the NGS method identified between 29% and 139% more markers than the gene-scanning method, depending on whether the NGS data analysis used a threshold of 5% or 1%, respectively. As an alternative to using low thresholds, we show that IG/TR gene rearrangements in subpopulations of cancer cells can be discriminated from background IG/TR gene rearrangements in normal B-and T-cells through a combination of flow cytometry cell sorting and multiple displacement amplification (MDA)-based whole genome amplification (WGA) prior to the NGS. Using this approach to investigate the clonal evolution in a BCP-ALL patient with double relapse, clonal TR rearrangements were found in sorted leukemic cells at the time of second relapse that could be identified at the time of diagnosis, below 1% of the total sequence reads. These data emphasize that caution should be exerted when interpreting rare sequences in NGS experiments and show the advantage of employing the flow sorting of malignant cell populations in NGS clonality assessments.

Magnetism and berry phase manipulation in an emergent structure of perovskite ruthenate by (111) strain engineering

The interplay among symmetry of lattices, electronic correlations, and Berry phase of the Bloch states in solids has led to fascinating quantum phases of matter. A prototypical system is the magnetic Weyl candidate SrRuO3, where designing and creating electronic and topological properties on artificial lattice geometry is highly demanded yet remains elusive. Here, we establish an emergent trigonal structure of SrRuO3 by means of heteroepitaxial strain engineering along the [111] crystallographic axis. Distinctive from bulk, the trigonal SrRuO3 exhibits a peculiar XY-type ferromagnetic ground state, with the coexistence of high-mobility holes likely from linear Weyl bands and low-mobility electrons from normal quadratic bands as carriers. The presence of Weyl nodes are further corroborated by capturing intrinsic anomalous Hall effect, acting as momentum-space sources of Berry curvatures. The experimental observations are consistent with our first-principles calculations, shedding light on the detailed band topology of trigonal SrRuO3 with multiple pairs of Weyl nodes near the Fermi level. Our findings signify the essence of magnetism and Berry phase manipulation via lattice design and pave the way towards unveiling nontrivial correlated topological phenomena.

Cuminaldehyde-3-hydroxy-2-napthoichydrazone: Synthesis, effect of solvents, nonlinear optical activity, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and DFT analysis

Hydrazones derived from essential oil components have attracted considerable interest because of their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and nonlinear optical applications. In the present work, a new essential oil component derivative (EOCD), cuminaldehyde-3-hydroxy-2-napthoichydrazone (CHNH), was synthesized. EOCD was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction showed a higher stability, phase-pure, and non-existent isomorphic phase transition in EOCD. Solvent studies indicated that the normal emission band was caused by the locally excited state and the large Stokes shifted emission originated because of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer. The EOCD possessed higher direct and indirect band gap energies of 3.05 eV and 2.90 eV respectively, as determined by the Kubelka–Munk algorithm. The outcomes of frontier molecular orbitals, global reactivity descriptors, Mulliken, and molecular electrostatic potential surface by density functional theory calculations revealed high intramolecular charge transfer, good realistic stability, and high reactiveness of EOCD. The hydrazone EOCD exhibited higher hyperpolarizability (18.248 × 10−30 esu) in comparison to urea. Antioxidant test results indicated that EOCD showed significant antioxidant activity (p < 0.05), as determined by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The newly synthesized EOCD showed no antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus. Additionally, the EOCD showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

Adaptive linear quadratic regulator for optimal structural control based on wavelet transform and genetic algorithm

PurposeIn real life, excitations are highly non-stationary in frequency and amplitude, which easily induces resonant vibration to structural responses. Conventional control algorithms in this case cannot guarantee cost-effective control effort and efficient structural response alleviation. To this end, this paper proposes a novel adaptive linear quadratic regulator (LQR) by integrating wavelet transform and genetic algorithm (GA).Design/methodology/approachIn each time interval, multiresolution analysis of real-time structural responses returns filtered time signals dominated by different frequency bands. Minimization of cost function in each frequency band obtains control law and gain matrix that depend on temporal-frequency band, so suppressing resonance-induced filtered response signal can be directly achieved by regulating gain matrix in the temporal-frequency band, leading to emphasizing cost-function weights on control and state. To efficiently subdivide gain matrices in resonant and normal frequency bands, the cost-function weights are optimized by a developed procedure associated to genetic algorithm. Single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) structures subjected to near- and far-fault ground motions are studied.FindingsResonant band requires a larger control force than non-resonant band to decay resonance-induced peak responses. The time-varying cost-function weights generate control force more cost-effective than time-invariant ones. The scheme outperforms existing control algorithms and attains the trade-off between response suppression and control force under non-stationary excitations.Originality/valueProposed control law allocates control force amounts depending upon resonant or non-resonant band in each time interval. Cost-function weights and wavelet decomposition level are formulated in an elegant manner. Genetic algorithm-based optimization cost-efficiently results in minimizing structural responses.

A RARE TREATABLE CAUSE OF ADULT ONSET SPASTIC PARAPARESIS

pastic paraparesis refers to weakness and stiffness of both lower limbs caused by lesions affecting the Pyramidal tract. It could be due to genetic or acquired etiology. Genetic causes include leukodystophies, Heriditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), metabolic disorders etc,. Acquired causes include B12 and folate deficiency , infections like HTLV-1 virus, HIV, neurosyphilis , vascular malformations and so on. Here we encounter a rare treatable cause of spastic paraparesis. A 28 year old male born out of 3o Consanguinous parents with normal developmental history came with insidious onset slowly progressive spastic paraparesis for the past 4 years. Initially at onset he noticed difficulty in getting up from squatting position, which was associated with stiffness of lower limbs. Then he noticed there was slippage of slippers while walking and he was aware about it. Physical examination revealed marfanoid Habitus ,increased tone and exaggerated reflexes involving both lower limbs .Motor power was MRC Grade 4/5 in both lower limbs in both proximal and distal muscles. Ocular Examination revealed Ectopia Lentis. MRI Spine screening was normal. MRI Brain revealed symmetric T2/FLAIR hyperintensities involving periventricular and deep white matter of bilateral frontoparietal region. Possibilities of Primary demyelinating diseases and genetic/degenerative leukoencephalopathies were considered. CSF examination was normal and oligoclonal bands were absent. Clinical Exome sequence testing was done in suspicion of Adult onset leukodystrophy which showed Homozygous MTHFR gene mutation on exon4. Plasma Homocysteine levels were elevated ( 60 µmol/L).Patient was started on Oral Vitamin B12 1500mcg/day, Folic acid and pyridoxine supplementation. Patient showed symptomatic improvement and is under follow up. MTHFR deficiency in adults is a mimicker of leukodystrophies and other white matter disease. It is a potentially treatable disease. Before considering degenerative diseases like HSP, treatable diseases should be considered.

Evaluation of Apical and Molecular Effects of Algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Cerium oxide engineered nanoparticles (nCeO2) are widely used in various applications and are, also, increasingly being detected in different environmental matrixes. However, their impacts on the aquatic environment remain poorly quantified. Hence, there is a need to investigate their effects on non-target aquatic organisms. Here, we evaluated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of <25 nm uncoated-nCeO2 on algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Apical (growth and chlorophyll a (Chl a) content) and genotoxic effects were investigated at 62.5-1000 µg/L after 72 and 168 h. Results demonstrated that nCeO2 induced significant growth inhibition after 72 h and promotion post 96-168 h. Conversely, nCeO2 induced enhanced Chl a content post 72 h, but no significant changes were observed between nCeO2-exposed and control samples after 168 h. Hence, the results indicate P. subcapitata photosynthetic system recovery ability to nCeO2 effects under chronic-exposure conditions. RAPD-PCR profiles showed the appearance and/or disappearance of normal bands relative to controls; indicative of DNA damage and/or DNA mutation. Unlike cell recovery observed post 96 h, DNA damage persisted over 168 h. Thus, sub-lethal nCeO2-induced toxicological effects may pose a more serious threat to algae than at present anticipated.

On the Semigroup of Bi-Ideals of an Ordered Semigroup

The purpose of this paper is to characterize an ordered semigroup S in terms of the properties of the associated semigroup B(S) of all bi-ideals of S. We show that an ordered semigroup S is a Clifford ordered semigroup if and only if B(S) is a semilattice. The semigroup B(S) is a normal band if and only if the ordered semigroup S is both regular and intra regular. For each subvariety V of bands, we characterize the ordered semigroup S such that B(S) ∈ V.

Endoscopically observed outer membrane of chronic subdural hematoma after endovascular embolization of middle meningeal artery.

Embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) has been established for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Neuroendoscopic observation of the outer membrane of the hematoma was carried out after embolization. The treatment mechanism of embolization is discussed, focusing on the vasculature and inflammation of the membrane. Four patients with recurrent CSDH were included in this study. The MMA was embolized using Embosphere® particles in three patients. The outer membrane was observed with normal and narrow band images (NBIs). The net-like vessels were not obstructed in the whole area of the outer membrane, but in a patchy fashion of embolized areas surrounded by nonembolized areas. In two patients, the nonembolized areas showed a hemorrhagic inflammatory red color. Histopathological examination confirmed hypertrophic dura with leukocyte infiltration. Dilated dural arteries and proliferated sinusoid arteries were located in the deep and superficial border cell layers. These arteries were visualized as green and brown on NBI, respectively. In the embolized area, the red membrane turned pink, indicating ischemia and subsiding inflammatory hyperemia. In the third patient, the outer membrane was white in both the nonembolized and embolized areas in endoscopic view, and the net-like vessels were sparse in both endoscopy and histology, indicating a scar inflammatory phase. The membrane transition was not observed in the patient that did not undergo embolization. Endoscopic observation revealed that embolization of the MMA blocked both the dural and sinusoidal arteries. Ischemic transformation causing the suppression of inflammation of the outer membrane is a suggested mechanism of MMA embolization.

Coexistence of ground and excited state intramolecular proton transfer of the Schiff base 2-((E)-(naphthalene-3-ylimino)-methyl)phenol: A combined experimental and computational study

Prototropic behavior of the Schiff base compound, 2-((E)-(naphthalene-3-ylimino)-methyl)phenol (NMP), has been explored by photophysical/photochemical means and reported in this paper in a comprehensive manner. The study, comprising of absorption, steady state and time resolved fluorescence, 1H NMR, together with quantum chemical calculations, establishes that the probe undergoes intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) process in both ground and lowest excited singlet state. Resolution of the low energy absorption band of NMP in different solvents and observation of two different emission bands upon excitation at two different positions within the low energy absorption band indicates co-existence of two distinct species of the probe in the ground state, implying occurrence of the ground state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) process. Large downshifted 1H NMR peak at δ > 13 ppm suggests a strong intramolecular H-bonding in the ground state and goes in favor of the GSIPT process. Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of the probe has been confirmed by the existence of the large Stokes shifted emission band of the tautomer along with the normal (enol) emission band, especially in non-polar media. Observation of the single isoemissive point in the time resolved area normalized emission spectra (TRANES) in nonpolar solvents confirms existence of two distinct species (enol (N*) and tautomer (T*)) in the photoexcited state. Quantum chemical calculations using DFT/TDDFT have been performed to provide support to the experimental findings.

A closer study of overloaded elution bands and their perturbation peaks in ion-pair chromatography

There is strong renewed interest in ion-pair chromatography (IPC) because of its great importance for separating new-generation biosimilar pharmaceuticals such as oligonucleotides. Due to the complexity of the IPC process, its mathematical modeling is challenging, especially in preparative mode. In a recent study, Leśko et al. (2021) developed a mathematical model for predicting, with good accuracy, overloaded concentration profiles for sodium benzenesulfonate, describing how the overloaded solute concentration profiles change from Langmuirian to complicated U-shaped, and then back again to Langmuirian profiles, with increasing concentration of the ion-pair reagent in the mobile phase.This study identifies and explains the underlying mechanism generating these complex peak shapes and band-shape transformations; this was only possible by visualizing and modeling the underlying equilibrium perturbations that occur upon injection in preparative IPC. In the 2021 study, the model was derived based on the concentration profiles obtained using a conventional UV detector principle, so the concentration gradients and perturbation zones of the mobile-phase components were not visualized. In this study, the necessary mechanistic information was obtained via complementary experiments combining two detection principles, i.e., refractive index detection and UV detection, with modeling efforts. The models correctly described the invisible equilibrium perturbations and how these formed internal gradients of the mobile-phase components. The models also explained the complex overloaded solute-band deformations reported in the recent study. In addition, a rule of thumb was developed for predicting experimental conditions that could result in deformed solute elution profiles and/or for avoiding these deformations. The latter is crucial for the practical chromatographer, since such U-shaped solute-band profiles are undesirable in preparative separation due to the broader elution zones, resulting in lower productivity than that of normal band shapes.

Food cue reactivity in successful laparoscopic gastric banding: A sham-deflation-controlled pilot study.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) offers a unique opportunity to examine the underlying neuronal mechanisms of surgically assisted weight loss due to its instant, non-invasive, adjustable nature. Six participants with stable excess weight loss (%EWL ≥ 45) completed 2 days of fMRI scanning 1.5–5 years after LAGB surgery. In a within-subject randomized sham-controlled design, participants underwent (sham) removal of ∼ 50% of the band’s fluid. Compared to sham-deflation (i.e., normal band constriction) of the band, in the deflation condition (i.e., decreasing restriction) participants showed significantly lower activation in the anterior (para)cingulate, angular gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and frontal cortex in response to food images (p < 0.05, whole brain TFCE-based FWE corrected). Higher activation in the deflation condition was seen in the fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus, lateral occipital cortex. The findings of this within-subject randomized controlled pilot study suggest that constriction of the stomach through LAGB may indirectly alter brain activation in response to food cues. These neuronal changes may underlie changes in food craving and food preference that support sustained post-surgical weight-loss. Despite the small sample size, this is in agreement with and adds to the growing literature of post-bariatric surgery changes in behavior and control regions.

Impact of Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction on 10-Year Mortality After Coronary Stent Implantation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

The long-term prognostic implication of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) after coronary stent implantation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) remains unclear. We assessed the incidence and size of PMI and the impact of PMI on 10-year all-cause and cardiac deaths using competing risk analysis in 1,095 patients, including 453 patients with DM. All patients had normal preprocedural creatinine kinase-myocardial band levels and underwent their first elective sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for stable angina pectoris. Comparing patients with and without DM, the incidence of PMI was 4.4% versus 5.9% (p=0.34) and the size of PMI (median of postprocedural peak creatinine kinase-myocardial band) was 34.6 versus 31.6IU/L (p=0.58). The cumulative incidence of 10-year all-cause and cardiac deaths significantly differed between patients with and without PMI only in patients with DM (log-rank p=0.03 and Gray's test p=0.014, respectively). In the multivariable analysis using the Fine-Gray model, PMI was a significant prognostic factor for cardiac death only in patients with DM (hazard ratio 3.82, 95% confidence interval 1.57 to 9.30, p=0.003). In conclusion, the incidence and size of PMI did not significantly differ between patients with and without DM. However, PMI was a significant prognostic factor for 10-year all-cause and cardiac deaths only in patients with DM who underwent elective sirolimus-eluting stent implantation.