Coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy is a novel technique in the structural analyses of particles that are difficult to crystallize, such as the biological particles composing living cells. As water is indispensable for maintaining particles in functional structures, sufficient hydration of targeted particles is required during sample preparation for diffraction microscopy experiments. However, the water enveloping particles also contributes significantly to the diffraction patterns and reduces the electron-density contrast of the sample particles. In this study, we propose a protocol for the structural analyses of particles in water by applying a three-dimensional reconstruction method in real space for the projection images phase-retrieved from diffraction patterns, together with a developed density modification technique. We examined the feasibility of the protocol through three simulations involving a protein molecule in a vacuum, and enveloped in either a droplet or a cube-shaped water. The simulations were carried out for the diffraction patterns in the reciprocal planes normal to the incident x-ray beam. This assumption and the simulation conditions corresponded to experiments using x-ray wavelengths of shorter than 0.03 Å. The analyses demonstrated that our protocol provided an interpretable electron-density map. Based on the results, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the proposed protocol and its practical application for experimental data. In particular, we examined the influence of Poisson noise in diffraction patterns on the reconstructed three-dimensional electron density in the proposed protocol.
Middle colic artery aneurysms are rare and most have been reported with rupture or symptom. We report the successful elective treatment of a middle colic artery aneurysm without symptom, which is very rare. It failed to perform transcatheter arterial embolization for anatomical reasons, and, thus, the patient, a 77-year-old man, underwent surgical resection in spite of a history of laparotomy. Although a common cause of middle colic artery aneurysms is segmental arterial mediolysis, the present pathological findings indicated that fragmented or degenerated elastic fibers may also play an important role like aortic aneurysms.
Deep femoral artery (DFA) aneurysms are rare. DFA is protected by the adductor canal, which may delay the diagnosis. Then, its early diagnosis may be difficult and it is possible to be misdiagnosis with incarcerated inguinal hernia, which occurs more often in elderly people. We report a very rare case of a treatment of an advanced elderly patient with an isolated ruptured DFA aneurysm that was preoperatively confused with an incarcerated inguinal hernia.A 97-year-old man was admitted to a neighboring hospital due to a painful mass of the right groin after transient consciousness loss and the patient was diagnosed with right incarcerated inguinal hernia by a nonenhanced computed tomography (CT). Although he was observed for 3 days, he suddenly lost consciousness again with a decrease in blood pressure. Thus, he was referred to our hospital due to the painful pulsatile inguinal mass after resuscitation from shock. As we diagnosed a ruptured DFA aneurysm by an enhanced CT, we emergently performed an excision of the aneurysm with revascularization of the right DFA. The postoperative course was uneventful without ischemic change of the lower leg.
The impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak have heavily affected Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member countries, which include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China (PRC), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The COVID-19 crisis and the resulting falls in demand and supply due both to uncertainty and policy measures such as lockdowns, "social distancing," and travel restrictions are having a severe impact on employment and education in CAREC member countries. In order to better understand these impacts, computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) of households were conducted in ten countries from the CAREC region (excluding the PRC). This paper estimates the impact of COVID-19 on employment, household business and education in schools in December 2020 compared with June 2020.
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