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Background Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) often experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aim To investigate gastric motility and autonomic nervous activity during sleep apnea. Methods The subjects of this study were 20 individuals with OSAS who experienced 10 or more sleep apnoea events per hour, as measured with a portable sleep polygraph. A percutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) and fast Fourier transformation analysis was carried out on the results. The mean amplitude was compared for bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed, and low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and the LF/HF ratio were measured. Oesophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed on each subject, and the presence of reflux oesophagitis (RE) was diagnosed according to the Los Angeles (LA) grade classification. Moreover, questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux disease (QUEST) was carried out. Results Normogastria was significantly decreased, and brady-, tachygastria, or both were increased during sleep apnea ( P < 0.01). There was no significant relation between LA grade classification of RE and severity of OSAS. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher during sleep apnea for patients with RE and OSAS, but the opposite for those with RE without OSAS. Decreased percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation and normogastria were independent risk factors for the severity of RE. Conclusions The present study suggested that, in addition to decreased pressure on the pleural cavity, factors affecting the development of RE might include abnormal gastric motility, low oxygen, and increased sympathetic nervous activity during sleep apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) often experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Aim To investigate gastric motility and autonomic nervous activity during sleep apnea. Methods The subjects of this study were 20 individuals with OSAS who experienced 10 or more sleep apnoea events per hour, as measured with a portable sleep polygraph. A percutaneous electrogastrography (EGG) and fast Fourier transformation analysis was carried out on the results. The mean amplitude was compared for bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed, and low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power and the LF/HF ratio were measured. Oesophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed on each subject, and the presence of reflux oesophagitis (RE) was diagnosed according to the Los Angeles (LA) grade classification. Moreover, questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux disease (QUEST) was carried out. Results Normogastria was significantly decreased, and brady-, tachygastria, or both were increased during sleep apnea ( P < 0.01). There was no significant relation between LA grade classification of RE and severity of OSAS. The LF/HF ratio was significantly higher during sleep apnea for patients with RE and OSAS, but the opposite for those with RE without OSAS. Decreased percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation and normogastria were independent risk factors for the severity of RE. Conclusions The present study suggested that, in addition to decreased pressure on the pleural cavity, factors affecting the development of RE might include abnormal gastric motility, low oxygen, and increased sympathetic nervous activity during sleep apnea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the results of our unpolarized inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the spin-triplet superconductor Sr 2 RuO 4 . Our measurements showed that incommensurate spin susceptibilities at q 0 =(0.3 0.3 0) exhibit c -axis anisotropy. This discovery supports the notion that magnetic anisotropy may induce p -wave superconductivity in this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri), calcitonin-immunoreactive cells of the digestive tract were distributed concentrically in a 1-mm region of the latter half of the mid-gut. In the mid-gut caecum these cells were also present, but were dispersed throughout the length. The total number of cells in both parts ranged from 280 to 1157, varying from individual to individual, although the number in the mid-gut caecum was only 100–200. These cells were morphologically typical gut endocrine cells. Considering their morphology and the characteristics of their distribution pattern, these cells may be related to some phenomena of digestive processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the fabrication of a niobium-titanium/niobium-tin superconducting magnet directly cooled by a cryocooler. Magnet design; Test results from cooling the coil; Conclusions.

Radiotherapy using energetic carbon beams from the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) has been carried out at the National Institutes of Quantum Science and Technology (QST) since June 1994. Based on positive clinical results, carbon-ion radiotherapy was authorized as an Advanced Medical Technology by Japanese government from 2003 and it was subsequently approved for inclusion in the Japanese National Health Insurance system from 2016. For the widespread use of carbon-ion radiotherapy, design studies as well as related research and development projects were conducted to develop a compact accelerator facility from 2004. Based on these studies, five compact facilities were constructed in Japan. However, since the accelerators are large in size, construction of these facilities is currently limited to university hospitals or large medical centers, and hence development of a more compact accelerator is desired. To further promote widespread proliferation of heavy-ion facilities and concurrently to maximize the potential of heavy-ion therapy, a project to develop a compact superconducting accelerator, the Quantum Scalpel project, was proposed. The compact accelerator employs superconducting technology to reduce the footprint of the entire accelerator system and the accelerator can provide various therapeutic beams of helium, carbon, oxygen, and neon ions having the energy of 56-430 MeV/ u to advanced heavy-ion therapy. In this article, we report the design of the compact superconducting accelerator for the advanced heavy-ion therapy and describe the progress of related research and development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe heritable protein C ( PC) deficiency is quite rare, although heterozygous PROC mutation is the second leading cause of genetic predisposition to thrombosis in Japanese adults. The aim of the study was to search the optimal management, the paediatric onset and outcomes of PC deficiency were characterized in Japan. The genetic study, postmarketing survey of activated PC ( aPC) concentrate (Anact®C) and intensive review in Japan for 20 years enabled the analysis of the disease onset, genotype, treatment and prognosis. Symptomatic PC deficiency was determined in 27 Japanese children. All but two patients presented within 16 days after birth (three prenatal and six neonatal onsets). Postnatal-onset cases had normal growth at full-term delivery. Of the 27 patients, 19 suffered intracranial thrombosis or haemorrhage (ICTH) (three foetal hydrocephalies), 16 developed purpura fulminans (PF) and 10 had both at the first presentation. ICTH preceded PF in both affected cases. Low PC activities of 18 mothers and/or 12 fathers indicated 20 inherited PC deficiencies (2 homozygotes, 11 compound heterozygotes and 7 heterozygotes) and seven unidentified causes of PC deficiency. Nine of 11 patients studied had PROC mutations. Four unrelated patients (50%) carried PC nagoya (1362delG). No PC-deficient parents had experienced thromboembolism. Of the 18 patients with aPC therapy, two died and eight evaluable survivors had neurological sequelae. This first comprehensive study of paediatric PC deficiency suggested that perinatal ICTH was the major presentation, occurring earlier than neonatal PF. PC nagoya was prevalent in paediatric, but not adult, patients in Japan. Early maternal screening and optimal PC therapy are required for newborns at risk of PC deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with mutations in either TGF-β receptor type I (TGFBR1) or TGF-β receptor type II (TGFBR2), such as those with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, have craniofacial defects and signs of elevated TGF-β signaling. Similarly, mutations in TGF-β receptor gene family members cause craniofacial deformities, such as cleft palate, in mice. However, it is unknown whether TGF-β ligands are able to elicit signals in Tgfbr2 mutant mice. Here, we show that loss of Tgfbr2 in mouse cranial neural crest cells results in elevated expression of TGF-β2 and TGF-β receptor type III (TβRIII); activation of a TβRI/TβRIII-mediated, SMAD-independent, TRAF6/TAK1/p38 signaling pathway; and defective cell proliferation in the palatal mesenchyme. Strikingly, Tgfb2, Tgfbr1 (also known as Alk5), or Tak1 haploinsufficiency disrupted TβRI/TβRIII-mediated signaling and rescued craniofacial deformities in Tgfbr2 mutant mice, indicating that activation of this noncanonical TGF-β signaling pathway was responsible for craniofacial malformations in Tgfbr2 mutant mice. Thus, modulation of TGF-β signaling may be beneficial for the prevention of congenital craniofacial birth defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As one of the programs in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) project regarding R&D on superconducting coated conductor, three-phase superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) for 6.6kV application was developed and successfully tested. The developed SFCL was mainly comprised three-phase set of current limiting coils installed in a sub-cooled nitrogen cryostat with a GM cryocooler, circuit breakers and a sequence circuit. The whole system was installed in a cubicle. Two tapes of coated conductor were wound in parallel in each coil to obtain the rated current of 72Arms. After developing the whole SFCL system, short circuit experiments were implemented with a short circuit generator. In a three-line ground fault test, the SFCL successfully restricted the prospected short circuit current over 1.6kA to about 800A by the applied voltage of 6.6kV. The SFCL was installed in a user field and connected with a gas engine generator, followed by a consecutive operation. In this program, 600A class FCL coil, with which four coated conductor tapes were wound, was also developed. The coil showed sufficiently low AC loss at the rated current. With these results, the program attained the planned target of the fundamentals for the 6.6kV/600A SFCL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: One of the programs in the Ministry of Economy and Trade and Industry (METI) project regarding R & D on YBCO conductor is to evaluate the applicability of the developed conductor toward several applications. This paper focuses on a fault current limiter (FCL) as one of the expected power applications. YBCO tape conductors with ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) substrate are used in this work. In order to obtain high resistance of the conductor, which is preferable to an FCL, the thickness of the protecting layer made of silver was decreased as possible. Then high-resistive metal stabilizing layer is attached on the silver layer to improve stability. Obtaining the relevant current limiting performance on short sample experiments, model coils were developed to aim the 6.6kV-class FCL. Short circuit experiments were implemented with a short circuit generator. The coil successfully restricted the short circuit current over 17kA to about 700A by the applied voltage of 3.8kV, which is nominal phase-to-ground voltage. The experimental results show good agreement with computer analyses and show promising toward the application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes the design of a 66 kV high-Te superconducting fault current limiter (FCL) magnet and the test results obtained. The magnet mainly consists of a vacuum vessel, a nitrogen bath, a pair of current leads, cryocoolers, and six sets of coils wound with Bi2223 tape. The rated current is 750 A. The insulation voltage of the magnet is of the 66 kV class. In the final year of the project, all six sets of the coils are set connected in the cryostat and evaluation tests have been implemented. In the cooling test, sub-cooled nitrogen of 65 K was obtained, with homogenous temperature distribution in the cryogen. The rated current of 750 A was successfully obtained for both direct and alternating current tests. In addition, the magnet passed the simultaneous current and voltage application test. The dielectric test results showed that the magnet satisfied the insulation for 66 kV apparatus in the Japanese Electrotechnical Committee Standard. Finally, the magnet was combined with a rectifier bridge circuit to form an FCL. In a fault current limiting test with a short-circuit generator, the FCL successfully limited short circuit current up to 20 kV applied voltage. The obtained result was in good agreement with the design and the Electro-Magnetic Transients Program (EMTP) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain a high-intensity neutron beam for neutron scattering experiments, strong sextupole magnets with large apertures are useful as a focusing element. We have started the development of a Nb3Sn sextupole magnet for this purpose. The design field strength of the sextupole is 12780 T/m² and the aperture of the coil is 46 mm in diameter. As a first step of the development, three model coils have been made in order to learn about Nb3Sn technology and to evaluate the fabrication techniques. Single-pole tests of these coils have been performed to assess the conductor stability and training behavior of the Nb3Sn coils. This paper describes the design of the magnet, the fabrication of the model coils and the results of single-pole tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the items included in the Super-conductive AC Equipment (Super-ACE) project, being performed from 2000 to 2004, is development of a 66 kY/i kA class high-Tc superconducting (HTS) fault current limiter (FCL) magnet. This research focuses on fundamental technical items essential for a 66 kY class fault current limiter, that is, high current-capacity, high voltage-insulation, and sub-cooled nitrogen cooling. This paper describes the design of the magnet and the test results obtained. The magnet mainly consists of a vacuum vessel, a nitrogen bath, a pair of current leads, cryocoolers, and six sets of coils wound with Bi2223 tape. The rated current of the magnet is 750 Ap. The insulation voltage of the magnet is of the 66 kV class. In the final year of the project, all six sets of the coils are set connected in the cryostat and evaluation tests have been implemented. In the cooling test, sub-cooled nitrogen of 65 K was obtained, with homogenopu temperature distribution in the cryogen. The rated current of 750 Ap was successfully obtained for both direct and alternating current tests. In addition, the magnet passed the simultaneous current and voltage application test. Finally, the dielectric test results showed that the magnet satisfied the insulation for 66 kY apparatus in the Japanese Electrotechnical Committee Standard (JEC) standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined the findings of contrast-enhanced multidetector-row computed tomography (MD-CT) in patients with colonic perforation. Methods: Abdominal contrast-enhanced MD-CT findings in six patients with colonic perforation were reviewed retrospectively. Patients (three men and three women) were 74 to 88 years old (mean age = 78 years). Colonic perforation was confirmed by surgery. CT findings were correlated with surgical and pathologic findings. Result: The site of colonic perforation was suggested by the following combination of CT findings: free air, dirty mass, dirty fat sign, extraluminal fluid collection, bowel wall thickening, and interruption of colonic wall. The ruptured colonic wall was directly visualized in four cases (67%). Conclusion: Abdominal contrast-enhanced MD-CT may improve the accuracy of diagnosis and localization of colonic perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1999, a Japanese national project to realize commercially feasible SMES for designated applications has been promoted. Model coils for power system stabilization, load fluctuation compensation and frequency control have been fabricated and tested. In this paper, we introduce the present status of the project, including feasibility studies of an HTS SMES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]