Region Of Segment Research Articles

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cell GZHMCi005-A from amniotic fluid-derived cells with duplication of chromosome 8p.

Cases in which the duplication of chromosome 8p (dup 8p) is observed are characterized by facial dysmorphism, agenesis/hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, heart defects and severe mental retardation. The frequency of dup 8p cases is higher compared to other chromosomes because of the Non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between two segmental duplication regions (SDs) containing olfactory receptor gene clusters, REPD (repeat-distal) and REPP (repeat-proximal), located in chromosome 8p23.1. Here we generated a human iPSC line from a patient's amniotic fluid cells with a 18Mb duplication in 8p23.3p22, which will serve as useful tools for studying dup 8p syndrome.

Modeling of Ceria Reduction in a Solar Thermochemical Reactor via DEM Method

Solar thermochemical reactor provides an attractive approach that utilizes the most common solar radiation as the thermal driving force to motivate the reaction between CO2 and metal oxides, which is also called metal oxide redox pair-based thermochemical cycles. The CeO2/CeO2-δ is widely used in the two-step redox process due to its advantages including fast-redox kinetics, high crystallographic stability of a wide range of reacting oxygen non-stoichiometry, and relatively high oxygen solid-state conductivity. In this work, a three-dimensional transient numerical analysis has been completed to study the performance of a CeO2 reduction reaction in a 1/8th segment region of a novel partition cavity-receiver reactor. The porous CeO2 catalyst was analyzed using the discrete element method (DEM) to capture the heat transfer and reactive performances. The catalyst textural properties (particle size and void fraction) and reaction conditions (gas flow rate and radiative power input) were investigated in the CeO2 reduction reaction. The results indicated that increasing the catalyst specific surface area and the temperature are beneficial to the O2 production and further CO2 conversion.

Uncommon severe blunt ocular injury associated with large retinal dialysis caused by a fishing sinker

Introduction. Severe ocular injuries caused by fishing equipment are relatively rare. The visual prognosis for fishing-related injuries depends on the involved ocular structures, the presence of complications, and surgical techniques applied. Case outline. A 40-year-old man reported a sudden severe sharp pain and a loss of vision in his left eye while he was pulling the fishing rod during recreational fishing. At admission, his best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the left eye was 1/60. Clinical examination revealed a laceration in the temporal quadrant of the bulbar conjunctiva 0.2?0.3 mm in size and a dark tumefaction under the conjunctiva in the same region. It was identified during primary surgical exploration as a fishing sinker 1 cm in size lodged under the lateral rectus muscle. The bulbar wall was intact and the fishing sinker was safely removed. Phacoemulsification with the implantation of an artificial foldable intraocular lens and 23G pars plana vitrectomy were performed. During vitrectomy, subretinal hemorrhage in the macular region and large retinal dialysis in the temporal segment were revealed. Vitrectomy was finished with silicone oil tamponade. One week later, the patient?s BCVA of the left eye was 2/60. Eight months after surgery, spontaneous resorption of subretinal hemorrhage in the macular region and the attached retina was observed. The patient?s BCVA was 3/60 due to the destruction of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium and the formation of epiretinal membrane. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a severe blunt ocular injury associated with large retinal dialysis caused by a fishing sinker.

Analysis of Subtelomeric REXTAL Assemblies Using QUAST.

Genomic regions of high segmental duplication content and/or structural variation have led to gaps and misassemblies in the human reference sequence, and are refractory to assembly from whole-genome short-read datasets. Human subtelomere regions are highly enriched in both segmental duplication content and structural variations, and as a consequence are both impossible to assemble accurately and highly variable from individual to individual. Recently, we developed a pipeline for improved region-specific assembly called Regional Extension of Assemblies Using Linked-Reads (REXTAL). In this study, we evaluate REXTAL and genome-wide assembly (Supernova) approaches on 10X Genomics linked-reads data sets partitioned and barcoded using the Gel Bead in Emulsion (GEM) microfluidic method. Our results describe the accuracy and relative performance of these two approaches using the reference-based assessment module of QUAST. We show that REXTAL dramatically outperforms the Supernova whole genome assembler in subtelomeric segmental duplication regions, and results in highly accurate assemblies. Nearly all of the REXTAL "misassemblies" identified using default QUAST parameters simply pinpoint locations of tandem repeat arrays in the reference sequence where the repeat array length differs from that in the cognate REXTAL assembly by 1000 bp.

Robust line feature matching based on pair-wise geometric constraints and matching redundancy

This paper presents a novel method for matching line segments in images based on pair-wise geometric constraints and matching redundancy. In this study, pairs of line segments satisfying angle and distance constraints are used as matching primitives. To ensure that each extracted line segment is paired with another line segment, the search region of each line segment is gradually grown until it is paired. Initial pair-to-pair correspondences between two images are established using four pair-wise constraints; next, line-to-line correspondences are obtained. To effectively solve the matching conflict in the results, a method of recording the result of line pair matching based on a double-layer matrix is proposed. Based on the double-layer matrix, an effective checking method for the line matching results based on the collinearity constraint and matching redundancy is presented. It fully utilizes redundancy information and considers the collinearity of fragmented line segments. Further, it can effectively separate correct and incorrect matches from the one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many matching results. The proposed method was tested on 12 image pairs from a benchmark of matched-lines, and compared with other state-of-the-art methods. The results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method due to its higher accuracy and greater recall in challenging cases.

In a pre‐pivotal diagnostic study, β‐amyloid plaque detection in the lens of the eye in MCI and mild AD patients was used to classify subjects as normal, MCI, and mild AD using Sapphire II

AbstractBackgroundThe Sapphire II platform is a clinical diagnostic device intended for aiding clinical evaluation and measurement of beta‐amyloid aggregation in anatomically defined regions of the anterior segment of the eye. It detects a specific fluorescent signature emission of ligand‐marked beta amyloid complex in the supranuclear region of the human lens. The current study results are Sapphire II scan to be used to classify patients as normal, MCI and mild Alzheimer’s disease and the utility of Sapphire II screening compared to b‐amyloid PET scans in MCI and Mild AD subjects.MethodA naïve Bayes classifier using a base model with the three most theoretically relevant parameters (τ1, τ2, φ). Sensitivity and specificity is assessed comparing the normal group to the collective MCI/Mild AD group. 48 participants; 28 MCI, 16 Mild AD patients and 4 Normal Control subjects were studied.ResultsThe Sapphire II naïve Bayes classifier with cross validation had sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 75%, and overall accuracy of 92%. Results based on 4 healthy controls only, with one of the control subjects tested positive in Sapphire II; additional testing on 10 healthy controls is in progressConclusionSapphire II offers a non‐invasive, safe, easy to use, community based inexpensive method for accurately classifying individuals as normal, MCI or mild AD dementia on the basis of the beta amyloid in the lens of the eye. Sapphire II may offer a practical alternative to PET amyloid scans for biomarker confirmed AD diagnosis. Evaluation of individual PET scans and cognitive testing suggests that Sapphire II is more sensitive than PET. ^Discussions with Dr. Tae Yeon Yoo, Ph.D. are gratefully acknowledged.

Seewis hantavirus in common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Sweden

BackgroundRodent borne hantaviruses are emerging viruses infecting humans through inhalation. They cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hemorrhagic cardiopulmonary syndrome. Recently, hantaviruses have been detected in other small mammals such as Soricomorpha (shrews, moles) and Chiroptera (bats), suggested as reservoirs for potential pandemic viruses and to play a role in the evolution of hantaviruses. It is important to study the global virome in different reservoirs, therefore our aim was to investigate whether shrews in Sweden carried any hantaviruses. Moreover, to accurately determine the host species, we developed a molecular method for identification of shrews.MethodShrews (n = 198), caught during 1998 in Sweden, were screened with a pan-hantavirus PCR using primers from a conserved region of the large genome segment. In addition to morphological typing of shrews, we developed a molecular based typing method using sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome B (CytB) genes. PCR amplified hantavirus and shrew fragments were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed.ResultsHantavirus RNA was detected in three shrews. Sequencing identified the virus as Seewis hantavirus (SWSV), most closely related to previous isolates from Finland and Russia. All three SWSV sequences were retrieved from common shrews (Sorex araneus) sampled in Västerbotten County, Sweden. The genetic assay for shrew identification was able to identify native Swedish shrew species, and the genetic typing of the Swedish common shrews revealed that they were most similar to common shrews from Russia.ConclusionWe detected SWSV RNA in Swedish common shrew samples and developed a genetic assay for shrew identification based on the COI and CytB genes. This was the first report of presence of hantavirus in Swedish shrews.

Anatomy and Ultrastructure of the Cyprid Temporary Adhesive System in Two Species of Acorn Barnacle

Acorn barnacles are sessile as adults and select their settlement site as a cypris larva. Cyprids are well adapted to exploring surfaces in dynamic environments, using a temporary adhesive secreted from the antennules to adhere during this process. The temporary adhesive and the secretory structures are poorly characterized. This study used serial block-face scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional modelling to elucidate the anatomy related to temporary adhesion. The temporary adhesive glands of two acorn barnacle species, Balanus amphitrite and Megabalanus coccopoma, were located in the proximal region of the first antennular segment, contrary to previous descriptions that placed them in the more distal second segment. The temporary adhesive systems of these acorn barnacles are therefore similar to that described for the stalked barnacle, Octolasmis angulata, although not identical. Knowledge of the true location of the temporary adhesive glands will underpin future studies of the production, composition and secretion of the adhesive.

Developmental Genes and Malformations in the Hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus is a heterogeneous rostral forebrain region that regulates physiological processes essential for survival, energy metabolism, and reproduction, mainly mediated by the pituitary gland. In the updated prosomeric model, the hypothalamus represents the rostralmost forebrain, composed of two segmental regions (terminal and peduncular hypothalamus), which extend respectively into the non-evaginated preoptic telencephalon and the evaginated pallio-subpallial telencephalon. Complex genetic cascades of transcription factors and signaling molecules rule their development. Alterations of some of these molecular mechanisms acting during forebrain development are associated with more or less severe hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunctions, which may be associated with brain malformations such as holoprosencephaly or septo-optic dysplasia. Studies on transgenic mice with mutated genes encoding critical transcription factors implicated in hypothalamic-pituitary development are contributing to understanding the high clinical complexity of these pathologies. In this review article, we will analyze first the complex molecular genoarchitecture of the hypothalamus resulting from the activity of previous morphogenetic signaling centers and secondly some malformations related to alterations in genes implicated in the development of the hypothalamus.

Epidural Electrical Stimulation of the Lumbosacral Spinal Cord Improves Trunk Stability During Seated Reaching in Two Humans With Severe Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Quality of life measurements indicate that independent performance of activities of daily living, such as reaching to manipulate objects, is a high priority of individuals living with motor impairments due to spinal cord injury (SCI). In a small number of research participants with SCI, electrical stimulation applied to the dorsal epidural surface of the spinal cord, termed epidural spinal electrical stimulation (ES), has been shown to improve motor functions, such as standing and stepping. However, the impact of ES on seated reaching performance, as well as the approach to identifying stimulation parameters that improve reaching ability, have yet to be described.Objective: Herein, we characterize the effects of ES on seated reaching performance in two participants with chronic, complete loss of motor and sensory functions below thoracic-level SCI. Additionally, we report the effects of delivering stimulation to discrete cathode/anode locations on a 16-contact electrode array spanning the lumbosacral spinal segments on reach distance while participants were seated on a mat and/or in their wheelchair.Methods: Two males with mid-thoracic SCI due to trauma, each of which occurred more than 3 years prior to study participation, were enrolled in a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Reaching performance was assessed, with and without ES, at several time points throughout the study using the modified functional reach test (mFRT). Altogether, participant 1 performed 1,164 reach tests over 26-time points. Participant 2 performed 480 reach tests over 17-time points.Results: Median reach distances during ES were higher for both participants compared to without ES. Forward reach distances were greater than lateral reach distances in all environments, mat or wheelchair, for both participants. Stimulation delivered in the caudal region of the array resulted in improved forward reach distance compared to stimulation in the rostral region. For both participants, when stimulation was turned off, no significant changes in reach distance were observed throughout the study.Conclusion: ES enhanced seated reaching-performance of individuals with chronic SCI. Additionally, electrode configurations delivering stimulation in caudal regions of the lumbosacral spinal segments may improve reaching ability compared to rostral regions.

Low surface energy self‐polishing polymer grafted MWNTs for antibacterial coating and controlled‐release property of Cu2O

AbstractMarine biofouling had been a headache when engaging in marine activities. The most effective and convenient method for dealing with this problem was to apply antifouling coatings. But now a single anti‐fouling system was hard to satisfy the requirement of anti‐fouling simultaneously. Therefore, it was particularly important to develop novel multi‐system anti‐fouling technology. In the work, a novel polymer coatings with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) segments in the main chain and hydrolysable side chain was designed and synthesized which showed low surface energy and self‐polishing performance, and then we creatively covalently immobilized the polyurethane on the surface of multi‐carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to form multisystem antifouling coating. The results showed that the polymer coating would produce hydrolysable regions in the hydrophobic PDMS segment to endure the polymer coating hydrophobic and hydrolysis properties when contacted with water. In addition, the self‐polishing rate and the surface energy could be regulated by varying its copolymerization, and the addition of MWNTs could kill the microorganisms and endowed the polymer coating itself enhanced antibacterial effect. Furthermore, considering the high specific surface area and physicochemical characteristics of MWNTs, it could be combined with antifoulant Cu2O through a polar or non‐polar combination as a carrier to control the release rate of Cu2O in coatings.

A non-helical region in transmembrane helix 6 of hydrophobic amino acid transporter MhsT mediates substrate recognition.

MhsT of Bacillus halodurans is a transporter of hydrophobic amino acids and a homologue of the eukaryotic SLC6 family of Na+ -dependent symporters for amino acids, neurotransmitters, osmolytes, or creatine. The broad range of transported amino acids by MhsT prompted the investigation of the substrate recognition mechanism. Here, we report six new substrate-bound structures of MhsT, which, in conjunction with functional studies, reveal how the flexibility of a Gly-Met-Gly (GMG) motif in the unwound region of transmembrane segment 6 (TM6) is central for the recognition of substrates of different size by tailoring the binding site shape and volume. MhsT mutants, harboring substitutions within the unwound GMG loop and substrate binding pocket that mimick the binding sites of eukaryotic SLC6A18/B0AT3 and SLC6A19/B0AT1 transporters of neutral amino acids, exhibited impaired transport of aromatic amino acids that require a large binding site volume. Conservation of a general (G/A/C)ΦG motif among eukaryotic members of SLC6 family suggests a role for this loop in a common mechanism for substrate recognition and translocation by SLC6 transporters of broad substrate specificity.

Modeling protein-protein interactions in axon initial segment to understand their potential impact on action potential initiation.

The axon initial segment (AIS) region is crucial for action potential initiation due to the presence of high-density AIS protein voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav). Nav channels comprise several serine residues responsible for the recruitment of Nav channels into the structure of AIS through interactions with ankyrin-G (AnkG). In this study, a series of computational experiments are performed to understand the role of AIS proteins casein kinase 2 and AnkG on Nav channel recruitment into the AIS. The computational simulation results using Virtual cell software indicate that Nav channels with all serine sites available for phosphorylation bind to AnkG with strong affinity. At the low initial concentration of AnkG and casein kinase 2, the concentration of Nav channels reduces significantly, suggesting the importance of casein kinase 2 and AnkG in the recruitment of Nav channels.

Topographic Relationship between Telangiectasia and Cone Mosaic Disruption in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2.

In this cross-sectional observational study, we investigated the relationship between photoreceptor layer disruption and telangiectasia in patients diagnosed with early stage macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). A total of 31 eyes (17 patients) with MacTel were imaged with adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Confocal AOSLO was used to visualize dark regions of nonwaveguiding outer segments, which we refer to as “photoreceptor lesions”. En-face OCTA images of the deep capillary plexus (DCP) were used in conjunction with confocal AOSLO to evaluate the topographic relationship between areas of capillary telangiectasias and photoreceptor lesions. Among seven eyes with early stage MacTel (stage 0–2 based on OCT), we identified ten photoreceptor lesions, all of which were located within parafoveal quadrants containing DCP telangiectasia on OCTA. Seven of the lesions corresponded to the intact ellipsoid zone on spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT), and three of these also corresponded to the intact interdigitation zone. This work demonstrates a topographic relationship between AOSLO photoreceptor lesions and DCP telangiectasias, and it also suggests that these lesions with normal SD-OCT appearance may represent areas of photoreceptors at risk for dysfunction. Thus, confocal AOSLO may have a meaningful role in detecting early photoreceptor abnormalities in eyes with MacTel.

Magnetisation transfer ratio combined with magnetic resonance neurography is feasible in the proximal lumbar plexus using healthy volunteers at 3T

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been used extensively to study pathological conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS). However, tissue damage is assessed qualitatively with little information regarding the underlying pathophysiological processes involved. Magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) is a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging method which is sensitive to tissue macromolecular content and may therefore have an important role in the study of pathologies affecting the PNS. This study explored the feasibility of obtaining reliable MTR measurements in the proximal lumbar plexus of healthy volunteers using MRN to identify and segment each lumbar segment (L2–L5) and regions (preganglionic, ganglionic and postganglionic). Reproducibility of the MTR measurements and of the segmentation method were assessed from repeated measurements (scan-rescan), and from the reanalysis of images (intra- and inter-rater assessment), by calculating the coefficient of variation (COV). In all segments combined (L2–L5), mean (± SD) MTR was 30.5 (± 2.4). Scan-rescan, intra- and inter-rater COV values were 3.2%, 4.4% and 5.3%, respectively. One-way analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference in MTR between the preganglionic and postganglionic regions in all lumbar segments. This pilot study in healthy volunteers demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining reliable MTR measurements in the proximal lumbar plexus, opening up the possibility of studying a broad spectrum of neurological conditions in vivo.

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and LncRNA-Associated DNA Methylation in Metformin-Treated and -Untreated Diabetes.

Metformin, which is used as a first line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has been shown to affect epigenetic patterns. In this study, we investigated the DNA methylation and potential lncRNA modifications in metformin-treated and newly diagnosed adults with T2DM. Genome-wide DNA methylation and lncRNA analysis were performed from the peripheral blood of 12 screen-detected and 12 metformin-treated T2DM individuals followed by gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) observed showed 22 hypermethylated and 11 hypomethylated DMRs between individuals on metformin compared to screen-detected subjects. Amongst the hypomethylated DMR regions were the SLC gene family, specifically, SLC25A35 and SLC28A1. Fifty-seven lncRNA-associated DNA methylation regions included the mitochondrial ATP synthase-coupling factor 6 (ATP5J). Functional gene mapping and pathway analysis identified regions in the axon initial segment (AIS), node of Ranvier, cell periphery, cleavage furrow, cell surface furrow, and stress fiber. In conclusion, our study has identified a number of DMRs and lncRNA-associated DNA methylation regions in metformin-treated T2DM that are potential targets for therapeutic monitoring in patients with diabetes.

Zebrafish Crb1, Localizing Uniquely to the Cell Membranes around Cone Photoreceptor Axonemes, Alleviates Light Damage to Photoreceptors and Modulates Cones' Light Responsiveness.

The crumbs (crb) apical polarity genes are essential for the development and functions of epithelia. Adult zebrafish retinal neuroepithelium expresses three crb genes (crb1, crb2a, and crb2b); however, it is unknown whether and how Crb1 differs from other Crb proteins in expression, localization, and functions. Here, we show that, unlike zebrafish Crb2a and Crb2b as well as mammalian Crb1 and Crb2, zebrafish Crb1 does not localize to the subapical regions of photoreceptors and Müller glial cells; rather, it localizes to a small region of cone outer segments: the cell membranes surrounding the axonemes. Moreover, zebrafish Crb1 is not required for retinal morphogenesis and photoreceptor patterning. Interestingly, Crb1 promotes rod survival under strong white light irradiation in a previously unreported non--cell-autonomous fashion; in addition, Crb1 delays UV and blue cones' chromatin condensation caused by UV light irradiation. Finally, Crb1 plays a role in cones' responsiveness to light through an arrestin-translocation-independent mechanism. The localization of Crb1 and its functions do not differ between male and female fish. We conclude that zebrafish Crb1 has diverged from other vertebrate Crb proteins, representing a neofunctionalization in Crb biology during evolution.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Apicobasal polarity of epithelia is an important property that underlies the morphogenesis and functions of epithelial tissues. Epithelial apicobasal polarity is controlled by many polarity genes, including the crb genes. In vertebrates, multiple crb genes have been identified, but the differences in their expression patterns and functions are not fully understood. Here, we report a novel subcellular localization of zebrafish Crb1 in retinal cone photoreceptors and evidence for its new functions in photoreceptor maintenance and light responsiveness. This study expands our understanding of the biology of the crb genes in epithelia, including retinal neuroepithelium.

Normal and glaucomatous outflow regulation.

Glaucoma remains only partially understood, particularly at the level of intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation. Trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm's canal inner wall endothelium (SCE) are key to IOP regulation and their characteristics and behavior are the focus of much investigation. This is becoming more apparent with time. We and others have studied the TM and SCE's extracellular matrix (ECM) extensively and unraveled much about its functions and role in regulating aqueous outflow. Ongoing ECM turnover is required to maintain IOP regulation and several TM ECM manipulations modulate outflow facility. We have established clearly that the outflow pathway senses sustained pressure deviations and responds by adjusting the outflow resistance correctively to keep IOP within an appropriately narrow range which will not normally damage the optic nerve. The glaucomatous outflow pathway has in many cases lost this IOP homeostatic response, apparently due at least in part, to loss of TM cells. Depletion of TM cells eliminates the IOP homeostatic response, while restoration of TM cells restores it. Aqueous outflow is not homogeneous, but rather segmental with regions of high, intermediate and low flow. In general, glaucomatous eyes have more low flow regions than normal eyes. There are distinctive molecular differences between high and low flow regions, and during the response to an IOP homeostatic pressure challenge, additional changes in segmental molecular composition occur. In conjunction with these changes, the biomechanical properties of the juxtacanalicular (JCT) segmental regions are different, with low flow regions being stiffer than high flow regions. The JCT ECM of glaucomatous eyes is around 20 times stiffer than in normal eyes. The aqueous humor outflow resistance has been studied extensively, but neither the exact molecular components that comprise the resistance nor their exact location have been established. Our hypothetical model, based on considerable available data, posits that the continuous SCE basal lamina, which lies between 125 and 500nm beneath the SCE basal surface, is the primary source of normal resistance. On the surface of JCT cells, small and highly controlled focal degradation of its components by podosome- or invadopodia-like structures, PILS, occurs in response to pressure-induced mechanical stretching. Sub-micron sized basement membrane discontinuities develop in the SCE basement membrane and these discontinuities allow passage of aqueous humor to and through SCE giant vacuoles and pores. JCT cells then relocate versican with its highly charged glycosaminoglycan side chains into the discontinuities and by manipulation of their orientation and concentration, the JCT and perhaps the SCE cells regulate the amount of fluid passage. Testing this outflow resistance hypothesis is ongoing in our lab and has the potential to advance our understanding of IOP regulation and of glaucoma.

Retroperitoneal Hepatocellular Carcinoma Rupture Mimicking an Adrenal Hematoma

The retroperitoneum is a posterior space of the peritoneum, which has many visceral and vascular structures. Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhages have variable causes, the most common of which are diseases of retroperitoneal organs. However, retroperitoneal hemorrhages may be caused by bare area injury. In this case study, a bare area was observed in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) of the retroperitoneum, the posterosuperior region of Couinaud liver segment 7 (bare area) is directly connected to the anterior pararenal space. The rupture or exophyte of the hepatocellular carcinoma on the bare area could invade the retroperitoneum, which may lead to inaccurate diagnosis of the condition. When the mass or the hemorrhage in the RUQ of the retroperitoneum is observed in computed tomography images, it is possible that ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma or a mass on the bare area of the liver, looks like a spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage in the RUQ area for example a right adrenal hemorrhage. Keywords: adrenal hematoma, hepatocellular carcinoma rupture, spontaneous retroperitoneal hermorrahge

Preliminary design of the top cap of DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead breeding blanket segments

Within the framework of EUROfusion R&D activity, a research campaign has been carried out at the University of Palermo, in close cooperation with ENEA labs, in order to preliminary design the top cap foreseen for the DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) breeding blanket segments. Due to the high heat and pressure loads acting on such component, its design results particularly demanding and a specific multi-physics approach is needed, covering several aspects from thermal-hydraulics to structural assessments. Preliminary detailed CAD model of the cap integrated into the upper region of the WCLL breeding blanket outboard central segment has been set-up, equipped with proper cooling circuits as well as manifold and attachment systems according to the design of the equatorial elementary cell. A detailed numerical model has been set-up with the aim of simulating the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the above-mentioned system. Finally, the thermo-mechanical response of the upper breeding blanket region has been evaluated in terms of stress and temperature distributions, verifying that the structural material maximum temperature stays below its limit value and that structural integrity is ensured by means of the fulfilment of design rules reported in RCC-MRx structural design code.