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The initial flow past an impulsively started rotating and translating circular cylinder is asymptotically analysed using a Brinkman penalization method on the Navier–Stokes equation. In our previous study (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 929, 2021, A31), the asymptotic solution was obtained within the second approximation with respect to the small parameter, $\\epsilon$, that is of the order of $1 / \\lambda$. Here, $\\lambda$ is the penalization parameter. In addition, the Reynolds number based on the cylinder radius and the translating velocity is assumed to be of the order of $\\epsilon$. The previous study asymptotically analysed the initial flow past an impulsively started translating circular cylinder and investigated the influence of the penalization parameter $\\lambda$ on the drag coefficient. It was concluded that the drag coefficient calculated from the integration of the penalization term exhibits a half-value of the results of Bar-Lev & Yang (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 72, 1975, pp. 625–647) as $\\lambda \\to \\infty$. Furthermore, the derivative of vorticity in the normal direction was found to be discontinuous on the cylinder surface, which is caused by the tangential gradient of the pressure on the cylinder surface. The present study hence aims to investigate the variance on the drag coefficient against the result of Bar-Lev & Yang (1975). First, we investigate the problem of an impulsively started rotating circular cylinder. In this situation, the moment coefficient is independent of the pressure on the cylinder surface so that we can elucidate the role of the pressure to the hydrodynamic coefficients. Then, the problem of an impulsively started rotating and translating circular cylinder is investigated. In this situation, the pressure force induced by the unsteady flow far from the cylinder is found to play a key role on the drag force for the agreement with the result of Bar-Lev & Yang (1975), whereas the variance still exists on the lift force. To resolve the variance, an alternative formula to calculate the hydrodynamic force is derived, assuming that there is the pressure jump between the outside and inside of the cylinder surface. The pressure jump is obtained in this analysis asymptotically. Of particular interest is the fact that this pressure jump can cause the variance on the lift force calculated by the integration of the penalization term.

The initial flow past an impulsively started translating circular cylinder is asymptotically analysed using a Brinkman penalization method on the Navier–Stokes equations. The asymptotic solution obtained shows that the tangential and normal slip velocities on the cylinder surface are of the order of $1/\\sqrt {\\lambda }$ and $1/\\lambda$, respectively, within the second approximation of the present asymptotic analysis, where $\\lambda$ is the penalization parameter. This result agrees with the estimation of Carbou & Fabrie (Adv. Diff. Equ., vol. 8, 2003, pp. 1453–1480). Based on the asymptotic solution, the influence of the penalization parameter $\\lambda$ is discussed on the drag coefficient that is calculated using the adopted three formulae. It can then be found that the drag coefficient calculated from the integration of the penalization term exhibits a half-value of the results of Bar-Lev & Yang (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 72, 1975, pp. 625–647) as $\\lambda \\to \\infty$.

The molecular orientation behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is investigated by using in situ Raman spectroscopy under tensile tests. A versatile method of the tilt-angle correction for the orientation parameters is newly developed, where the molecular orientation in highly oriented specimens is assumed to be entropically favorable. The real-time changes of orientation parameters and orientation distribution functions are determined for the molecular chain axis of iPP during uniaxial stretching. The molecular orientation remains random in the elastic region, and increases after the first yield point. In the yielding region, a broad distribution of orientation toward an intermediate angle of 30-70° from the stretching direction is observed. This is interpreted as reorientation of the crystalline chains being hindered by rigid, bulky lamellar cluster units. After the yielding region, orientation toward the stretching direction proceeds rapidly, approaching highly oriented states.

Background:Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are associated with prognosis and commonly used as a component of disease activity measurements and core sets of outcomes in several connective tissue diseases. However, there is no single PRO tool that is universally accepted as the gold standard in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1], and the predictive validity of PRO tools for SLE-specific quality of life (QOL) has not been examined.Objectives:To examine the predictive validity of LupusPRO [2,3], one of PRO tools to assess the SLE-specific QOL, for damage accrual in patients with SLE using a longitudinal multicenter cohort study.Methods:Patients with SLE enrolled in the nationwide multicenter registry in Japan (LUNA) with ≥2 LupusPRO measurements were included. The SLE-specific QOL was assessed using the Japanese version of the LupusPRO questionnaire which contains both health-related (HR)-QOL and non-HR-QOL measures. The damage accrual was evaluated as an outcome using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). We examined the association between the LupusPRO score at baseline and longitudinal SDI scores using mixed-effects models adjusted for prognostic factors, such as age, sex, disease duration, disease activity, and medications.Results:Among 1295 patients (88.6% women, mean age 47.4 years), both the SDI scores and HR-QOL of LupusPRO were increased with the median follow-up of 2.0 years while the SLE disease activity index 2000 scores were decreased according to the treat-to-target strategy (Figure 1). Patients with higher HR-QOL of LupusPRO at baseline demonstrated a significantly lower increase in SDI (-0.005/year, 95% confidence interval: -0.007 to -0.004, p<0.001, Table 1). According to categorization of HR-QOL based on tertile, a similar dose-dependent effect of HR-QOL on longitudinal SDI was identified (2nd vs. 1st tertile category: -0.101/year, 95% confidence interval: -0.172 to -0.030, p=0.005; 3rd vs. 1st tertile category: -0.211/year, 95% confidence interval: -0.281 to -0.142, p<0.001, Table 1). Among HR-QOL domains, cognition, procreation, and physical health were significantly associated with total SDI score over time. HR-QOL was associated with both corticosteroid-dependent and -independent SDI scores. The association between HR-QOL and SDI was prominent in patients with the physician’s global assessment score <1 and with lupus low disease activity state. Non-HR-QOL was not significantly associated with SDI scores.Conclusion:Higher HR-QOL of LupusPRO was associated with lower increase in SDI scores. Because HR-QOL of LupusPRO measures seemed to provide unique information about the impact of disease that is not captured by physician-assessed measures, incorporating disease-specific QOL into a core set of outcomes in SLE may be warranted.REFERENCES:[1] van Tuyl LH et al. Patient-reported outcomes in core domain sets for rheumatic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015;11(12):705-12.[2] Jolly M et al. Disease-specific patient reported outcome tools for systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2012;42(1):56-65.[3] Inoue M et al. The Japanese LupusPRO: A cross-cultural validation of an outcome measure for lupus. Lupus. 2017;26(8):849-56.Figure 1.Score changes from enrollment. (A) SLICC/ACR damage index, (B) SLE disease activity index 2000, (C) Lupus patient-reported outcome: health-related quality of life.Table 1. The association between lupus patient-reported outcome and SLICC/ACR damage index scores.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Background:C-reactive protein (CRP), one of the inflammatory markers, has been previously reported to be relatively low in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, except in the presence of specific organ involvement such as serositis [1]. By contrast, CRP is a predictor of atherosclerotic diseases [2], which may be caused by SLE itself or medications for SLE and are frequently complicated with SLE as organ damage. However, it is unclear whether CRP predicts Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) progression in inactive SLE.Objectives:This study aimed to examine the association between CRP levels and organ damage in SLE patients with low disease activity.Methods:This multi-center, retrospective observational study used Lupus Registry of Nationwide Institutions (LUNA) cohort database. SLE patients who met Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) at registration were divided into two groups: those with serum CRP levels ≥ 0.07 mg/dL (high CRP group) or < 0.07 mg/dL (low CRP group) both at registration and in the first year. The cutoff for CRP levels was determined as the median value in patients who met LLDAS. SDI progression was defined when the score increased ≥1.Results:Among 106 SLE patients who met LLDAS, 55 were in a high CRP group and 51 were in a low CRP group. In the high CRP group, patients were older (median: 56.8 vs. 41.6, p = 0.002), had higher body mass index (median: 22.6 vs. 20.3, p < 0.001), and had higher SDI scores (median: 1 vs. 0, p = 0.03) at registration. Log-rank test showed that the probability of SDI progression within 2 years was significantly higher in the high CRP group (p = 0.007) (Figure 1). Furthermore, Cox proportional hazard model showed that high CRP group was significantly associated with SDI progression when adjusted for age, SLE disease activity index scores, and SDI scores at baseline (HR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.06-6.99, p = 0.04) (Table 1).Conclusion:CRP levels were associated with SDI progression within 2 years in LLDAS patients. Even in patients with inactive SLE, positive CRP levels may suggest the necessity to modify treatment for SLE or atherosclerotic risk factors.REFERENCES:[1] M Aringer. J Autoimmun. 2020: 110: 102374.[2] J Danesh, et al. N Engl J Med. 2004; 350(14): 1387-97.Figure 1.Table 1.UnivariateClinically importantVariablesHR (95% CI)p valueHR (95% CI)p valueClinical characteristicsAge, years1.02 (1.00 to 1.05)0.081.02 (0.99 to 1.05)0.16Female, %0.95 (0.33 to 2.78)0.93Disease duration, years1.02 (0.98 to 1.05)0.45BMI, kg/m21.00 (0.91 to 1.10)>0.99SLEDAI score1.05 (0.81 to 1.36)0.711.13 (0.86 to 1.48)0.39SDI score0.96 (0.64 to 1.43)0.830.74 (0.47 to 1.17)0.20High CRP, %2.81 (1.17 to 6.76)0.022.72 (1.06 to 6.99)0.04MedicationsCurrent PSL dose, mg/day1.00 (0.84 to 1.20)0.96HCQ, %0.49 (0.15 to 1.68)0.26Immunosuppressants, %0.73 (0.33 to 1.60)0.43BMI, body mass index; CRP, C-reactive protein; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; HR, hazard ratio; PSL, prednisolone; SDI, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index; SLEDAI, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity indexAcknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

The long-time viscous flow about two identical rotating circular cylinders in a side-by-side arrangement is investigated using an adaptive numerical scheme based on the vortex method. The Stokes solution of the steady flow about the two-cylinder cluster produces a uniform stream in the far field, which is the so-called Jeffery’s paradox. The present work first addresses the validation of the vortex method for a low-Reynolds-number computation. The unsteady flow past an abruptly started purely rotating circular cylinder is therefore computed and compared with an exact solution to the Navier–Stokes equations. The steady state is then found to be obtained for $t\\gg 1$ with ${\\mathit{Re}}_{\\omega } {r}^{2} \\ll t$ , where the characteristic length and velocity are respectively normalized with the radius ${a}_{1} $ of the circular cylinder and the circumferential velocity ${\\Omega }_{1} {a}_{1} $ . Then, the influence of the Reynolds number ${\\mathit{Re}}_{\\omega } = { a}_{1}^{2} {\\Omega }_{1} / \\nu $ about the two-cylinder cluster is investigated in the range $0. 125\\leqslant {\\mathit{Re}}_{\\omega } \\leqslant 40$ . The convection influence forms a pair of circulations (called self-induced closed streamlines) ahead of the cylinders to alter the symmetry of the streamline whereas the low-Reynolds-number computation ( ${\\mathit{Re}}_{\\omega } = 0. 125$ ) reaches the steady regime in a proper inner domain. The self-induced closed streamline is formed at far field due to the boundary condition being zero at infinity. When the two-cylinder cluster is immersed in a uniform flow, which is equivalent to Jeffery’s solution, the streamline behaves like excellent Jeffery’s flow at ${\\mathit{Re}}_{\\omega } = 1. 25$ (although the drag force is almost zero). On the other hand, the influence of the gap spacing between the cylinders is also investigated and it is shown that there are two kinds of flow regimes including Jeffery’s flow. At a proper distance from the cylinders, the self-induced far-field velocity, which is almost equivalent to Jeffery’s solution, is successfully observed in a two-cylinder arrangement.

Unconventional high temperature superconductivity as well as three-dimensional bulk Dirac cone quantum states arising from the unique d-orbital topology have comprised an intriguing research area in physics. Here we apply a special analytical approach using a mobility spectrum, in which the carrier number is conveniently described as a function of mobility without any hypothesis, both on the types and the numbers of carriers, for the interpretations of longitudinal and transverse electric transport of high quality single crystal Ba(FeAs)2 in a wide range of magnetic fields. We show that the majority carriers are accommodated in large parabolic hole and electron pockets with very different topology as well as remarkably different mobility spectra, whereas the minority carriers reside in Dirac quantum states with the largest mobility as high as 70,000 cm2(Vs) . The deduced mobility spectra are discussed and compared to the reported sophisticated first principle band calculations.

BackgroundSphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active phospholipid, which is derived from membrane lipid. It binds to the receptors, named S1P1–5, and regulates several signalling pathways involved in inflammation, cell survival, angiogenesis and cell migration. Concentration of S1P and expression of S1P receptors can vary according to local tissue conditions. RA is a chronic inflammatory disorder of joints and the concentration of S1P in synovial fluid is higher in RA patient than in OA patient. In vitro, S1P3 expression in RA synoviocyte is upregulated by TNFa treatment. On the other hand, it is not clarified whether S1P/S1P3 signalling pathway contributes to arthritis in RA.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to investigate the role of S1P/S1P3 signalling in inflammatory arthritis.MethodsCollagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced by subcutaneous injection of bovine type II collagen emulsified in complete Freund’s adjuvant in wild-type (WT) or S1P3-knock-out (S1P3-KO) 7–9 week-old DBA/1J mice. Arthritis severity were evaluated by visual scoring and histological analysis. The severity was assessed over time by using the arthritis score, in which each paw was scored on a scale of 0–4 and the scores of all four paws were cumulated, resulting in a maximum possible score of 16 per mouse. For histopathological examination, mice were sacrificed on the 42nd day and the hindlimbs were removed and fixed in 4% buffered formaldehyde. Paraffin embedded sections of the knee joints stained with hematoxylin and eosin were systematically scanned in a microscope and scored based on cell infiltration, cartilage destruction and bone erosion parameters. S1P3 mRNA expression was examined by realtime PCR method with total RNA extracted from knee joint capsules of CIA or normal WT mice. Murine primary fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) were obtained from CIA mice. We examined S1P3 expression after TNFa treatment and measured cytokine produced after S1P treatment with or without TNFa pretreatment in FLS.ResultsS1P3 deficiency resulted in modest symptoms of arthritis and a significant reduction in synovial inflammation and bone erosions in histological analysis. S1P3 mRNA expression in knee joint capsule in CIA mice was about five times as high as that in normal mice. TNFa treatment upregulated S1P3 expression and S1P treatment enhanced IL-6 production in WT-FLS significantly. TNFa-priming enhanced S1P-induced IL-6 production, which is significantly higher in WT-FLS than in KO-FLS. This effect was not observed in MCP-1 production of WT-FLS.ConclusionsS1P3-KO reduced severity of arthritis, inflammation and bone erosions in CIA. S1P3 mRNA was upregulated in inflamed joint capsule. S1P induces IL-6 production via S1P3 upregulation by TNFa in CIA-FLS. S1P3 inhibition could be a good target of the therapy for arthritis.References[1] Blaho VA and Hla T. An update on the biology of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors. J Lipid Res55:1596–608.[2] Zhao C, Fernandes MJ, and Bourgoin SG, et al. Specific and overlapping sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor functions in human synoviocytes: impact of TNF-alpha. J Lipid Res49: 2323–37.Disclosure of InterestNone declared

The influence of exercise intensity on information processing in the central nervous system was investigated using P300 and no-go P300 event-related potentials. Twelve subjects (22-33 years) performed a go/no-go reaction time task in a control condition, and again after high-, medium-, and low-intensity pedaling exercises. Compared to the control condition, P300 amplitude decreased after high-intensity pedaling exercise and increased after medium-intensity pedaling exercise. There was no change after low-intensity pedaling exercise. These results suggested that the amount of attentional resources devoted to a given task decreased after high-intensity exercise and increased after medium-intensity exercise. The findings also suggest that changes in P300 amplitude are an inverted U-shaped behavior of differences in exercise intensity. In addition, no-go P300 amplitude showed the same changes as P300 amplitude at different exercise intensities. This indicates that differences in exercise intensity influenced not only the intensity of processing the requirement for a go response, but also processing of the need for a no-go response. It is concluded that differences in exercise intensity influenced information processing in the CNS.

Photocatalytic activity of powdered GaN for decomposing water into hydrogen under light irradiation was investigated. It was found that GaN has activity for producing hydrogen from water containing electron donors (Na₂S-Na₂SO₃, CH₃OH) without a loading of a noble metal; the obtained H₂ yield was ca. 150 μmol for a 200 h-Xe lamp (300 W) irradiation. The activity was increased by adding NaOH in the reaction solution due to the photo-etching of GaN by NaOH and concomitant removal of the native oxide from the surface, as confirmed by XPS, XRD, and PL measurements. The band energy scheme for GaN suggests that the conduction band edge of GaN is positioned at 0.5 V higher than the redox potential of H⁺/H₂. This large energy difference (overpotential) makes the photocatalytic H₂ evolution over GaN from water possible.