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The rapid development in designs and fabrication techniques of superconducting qubits has made coherence times of qubits longer. In the future, however, the radiative decay of a qubit into its control line will be a fundamental limitation, imposing a trade-off between fast control and long lifetime of the qubit. Here, we break this trade-off by strongly coupling another superconducting qubit along the control line. This second qubit, which we call "Josephson quantum filter" (JQF), prevents the first qubit from emitting microwave photons and thus suppresses its relaxation, while transmitting large-amplitude control microwave pulses due to the saturation of the quantum filter, enabling fast qubit control. This device functions as an automatic decoupler between a qubit and its control line and could help in the realization of a large-scale superconducting quantum processor by reducing the heating of the qubit environment and the crosstalk between qubits. The trade-off between long lifetime and inevitable radiative decay to a control line has become a key limitation for superconducting qubits. Here, the authors break the trade-off by coupling another qubit to the control line of the first one to suppress its relaxation, while enabling fast qubit control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting circuits offer a scalable platform for the construction of large-scale quantum networks, where information can be encoded in multiple temporal modes of propagating microwaves. Characterization of such microwave signals with a method extendable to an arbitrary number of temporal modes with a single detector and demonstration of their phase-robust nature are of great interest. Here, we show the on-demand generation and Wigner tomography of a microwave time-bin qubit with superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture. We perform the tomography with a single heterodyne detector by dynamically switching the measurement quadrature independently for two temporal modes through the pump phase of a phase-sensitive amplifier. We demonstrate that the time-bin encoding scheme relies on the relative phase between the two modes and does not need a shared phase reference between sender and receiver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which examined the initial interface and silicide formation induced by magnesium adsorption on the Si(111)7X7 surface. Status of magnesium atoms at room temperature; Position of the Fermi level of the Mg[sub2]Si film; Step taken for the successive evaporation; Objective in the study of metal adsorption on semiconductors.

Information thermodynamics bridges information theory and statistical physics by connecting information content and entropy production through measurement and feedback control. Maxwell’s demon is a hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy. Here we realize a Maxwell’s demon acting on a superconducting quantum circuit. We implement quantum non-demolition projective measurement and feedback operation of a qubit and verify the generalized integral fluctuation theorem. We also evaluate the conversion efficiency from information gain to work in the feedback protocol. Our experiment constitutes a step toward experimental studies of quantum information thermodynamics in artificially made quantum machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a comprehensive comparison between terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy and conventional far-infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, including radiation source, detector, signal to noise ratio, bandwidth, availability, applications, and their own uniqueness. In terms of signal to noise ratio, THz time-domain spectroscopy is advantageous at low frequencies under 3 THz, while Fourier transform spectroscopy works better at frequencies above 5 THz. In addition, we provide a detailed discussion of the unique features of THz time-domain spectroscopy and its application to dynamic and time-resolved processes. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aceruloplasminaemia is a rare recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the multicopper ferroxidase ceruloplasmin, thought to be involved in cellular iron export. Primary intracellular iron accumulation characterises this disorder. We investigated a case of aceruloplasminaemia early in the course of the disease by structural and functional neuroimaging and correlated the results with the clinical findings. The patient, a diabetic 59 year old lady, presented with perioral dyskinesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed massive iron accumulation in the basal ganglia, notably sparing the pallidum, and along the cortical surface. However, most of these structures had preserved metabolic activity as evaluated by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Voxel based analysis of FDG-PET data showed a significant hypometabolism only in the heads of the caudate nuclei. Molecular genetic analysis revealed compound heterozygosity for two null mutations in the ceruloplasmin gene, a rather surprising finding for a very rare recessive disease, suggesting that aceruloplasminaemia could be somewhat more frequent than is commonly thought and could therefore be underdiagnosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cognitive and affective functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was examined. Methods: A total of 570 AD patients were divided into two subgroups depending on waist circumference (WC) (normal versus achieving Japanese diagnostic criteria of MetS). Afterwards, the AD control subgroup was defined as those normal WC patients with no vascular risk factors (VRFs). The AD with MetS (AD-MetS) subgroup was defined as the MetS WC group who had two or more VRFs to qualify as having MetS. Cognitive and affective functions, insulin resistance, vascular endothelial function and white matter changes between AD-MetS and AD controls were compared. Results: Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Score -- Revised, Frontal Assessment Battery and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were worse in the AD-MetS group than in AD controls, but the difference was not significant. Some analyses were conducted twice, once including all patients and once including only late-elderly patients. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were found to be significantly higher for AD-MetS than for AD controls (all ages, late-elderly), as were those for apathy (late-elderly). Furthermore, both the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and reactive hyperemia index scores were significantly worse in AD-MetS than in AD controls, whilst white matter changes showed a tendency to be worse. Conclusions: Greater cognitive and affective decline occurs in patients with AD-MetS than in those without. Further, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial dysfunction are strongly correlated with AD-MetS before pathological white matter changes can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cognitive and affective functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease ( AD) was examined. Methods A total of 570 AD patients were divided into two subgroups depending on waist circumference ( WC) (normal versus achieving Japanese diagnostic criteria of MetS). Afterwards, the AD control subgroup was defined as those normal WC patients with no vascular risk factors ( VRFs). The AD with MetS ( AD-MetS) subgroup was defined as the MetS WC group who had two or more VRFs to qualify as having MetS. Cognitive and affective functions, insulin resistance, vascular endothelial function and white matter changes between AD-MetS and AD controls were compared. Results Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Score - Revised, Frontal Assessment Battery and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were worse in the AD-MetS group than in AD controls, but the difference was not significant. Some analyses were conducted twice, once including all patients and once including only late-elderly patients. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were found to be significantly higher for AD-MetS than for AD controls (all ages, late-elderly), as were those for apathy (late-elderly). Furthermore, both the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and reactive hyperemia index scores were significantly worse in AD-MetS than in AD controls, whilst white matter changes showed a tendency to be worse. Conclusions Greater cognitive and affective decline occurs in patients with AD-MetS than in those without. Further, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial dysfunction are strongly correlated with AD-MetS before pathological white matter changes can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: A novel TYPE of prion disease associated mainly with autonomic-sensory polyneuropathy was reported by us previously. Methods: Here the autopsy pathology for patient 1 (the sister) and the clinical characteristics of her younger brother (patient 2) are newly reported. Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) was performed on both patients and their father (normal control). Results: Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed a 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 that causes an additional variable 25 amino acids at the C terminal, from the mutation site to the premature stop codon at codon 203, in both patients 1 and 2 but not in their father. The autopsy of patient 1 showed remarkable prion protein (PrP) deposits in the sympathetic ganglion and peripheral nerves, correlated to her severe autonomic sensory failure. PrP deposits were also found in the central nervous system and peripheral organs such as the heart, lung, stomach, jejunum, ileum, colon, urinary bladder and adrenal gland. The symptoms and biopsy findings of patient 2 were nearly the same as those reported previously for patient 1. His cognitive function was well preserved, but autonomic functions were severely impaired. His biopsied samples showed PrP deposits in the sural nerve and nerve plexuses of the stomach and colon. Conclusion: The present unique 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 induced a 'PrP systemic deposition disease' such as pan-autonomic failure, sensory neuropathy and mild cognitive impairment with a specific pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expert panel on diabetic foot infection (DFI) of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot conducted a systematic review seeking all published reports relating to any type of treatment for infection of the foot in persons with diabetes published as of 30 June 2014. This review, conducted with both PubMed and EMBASE, was used to update an earlier one undertaken on 30 June 2010 using the same search string. Eligible publications included those that had outcome measures reported for both a treated and a control population that were managed either at the same time, or as part of a before-and-after case design. We did not include studies that contained only information related to definition or diagnosis, but not treatment, of DFI. The current search identified just seven new articles meeting our criteria that were published since the 33 identified with the previous search, making a total of 40 articles from the world literature. The identified articles included 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies with concurrent controls, and included studies on the use of surgical procedures, topical antiseptics, negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen. Among the studies were 15 RCTs that compared outcomes of treatment with new antibiotic preparations compared with a conventional therapy in the management of skin and soft tissue infection. In addition, 10 RCTs and 1 cohort study compared different treatments for osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Results of comparisons of different antibiotic regimens generally demonstrated that newly introduced antibiotic regimens appeared to be as effective as conventional therapy (and also more cost-effective in one study), but one study failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of a new antibiotic compared with that of a standard agent. Overall, the available literature was both limited in both the number of studies and the quality of their design. Thus, our systematic review revealed little evidence upon which to make recommendations for treatment of DFIs. There is a great need for further well-designed trials that will provide robust data upon which to make decisions about the most appropriate treatment of both skin and soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full-scale, four-story, reinforced concrete building designed in accordance with the current Japanese seismic design code was tested under multi-directional shaking on the E-Defense shake table. A two-bay moment frame system was adopted in the longer plan direction and a pair of multi-story walls was incorporated in the exterior frames in the shorter plan direction. Minor adjustments to the designs were made to bring the final structure closer to U.S. practice and thereby benefit a broader audience. The resulting details of the test building reflected most current U.S. seismic design provisions. The structure remained stable throughout the series of severe shaking tests, even though lateral story drift ratios exceeded 0.04. The structure did, however, sustain severe damage in the walls and beam-column joints. Beams and columns showed limited damage and maintained core integrity throughout the series of tests. Implications of test results for the seismic design provisions of ACI 318-11 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast time response, wide dynamic range neutron flux monitor has been developed toward the LHD deuterium operation by using leading-edge signal processing technologies providing maximum counting rate up to ~ 5 x 109 counts/s. Because a maximum total neutron emission rate over 1 x 1016 n/s is predicted in neutral beam-heated LHD plasmas, fast response and wide dynamic range capabilities of the system are essential. Preliminary tests have demonstrated successful performance as a wide dynamic range monitor along the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface termination of single crystalline diamond with fluorine and chlorine was investigated. The diamond was exposed to SF6 inductively coupled plasma for fluorination and to Cl2 plasma for chlorination. For the fluorine termination, the plasma treatment caused one monolayer of fluorine (measured with two angle photoelectron detection) and no carbonyl fluorides on the diamond surface. Furthermore no graphitization or roughening of the surface was observed. The plasma treatment with chlorine led to rough surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test fasting glucose association at four loci recently identified or verified by genome-wide association (GWA) studies of European populations, we performed a replication study in two Asian populations. We genotyped five common variants previously reported in Europeans: rs1799884 ( GCK), rs780094 ( GCKR), rs560887 ( G6PC2–ABCB11) and both rs1387153 and rs10830963 ( MTNR1B) in the general Japanese ( n = 4,813) and Sri Lankan ( n = 2,319) populations. To identify novel variants, we further examined genetic associations near each locus by using GWA scan data on 776 non-diabetic Japanese samples. Fasting glucose association was replicated for the five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at p < 0.05 (one-tailed test) in South Asians (Sri Lankan) as well as in East Asians (Japanese). In fine-mapping by GWA scan data, we identified in the G6PC2–ABCB11 region a novel SNP, rs3755157, with significant association in Japanese ( p = 2.6 × 10-8) and Sri Lankan ( p = 0.001) populations. The strength of association was more prominent at rs3755157 than that of the original SNP rs560887, with allelic heterogeneity detected between the SNPs. On analysing the cumulative effect of associated SNPs, we found the per-allele gradients ( β = 0.055 and 0.069 mmol/l in Japanese and Sri Lankans, respectively) to be almost equivalent to those reported in Europeans. Fasting glucose association at four tested loci was proven to be replicable across ethnic groups. Despite this overall consistency, ethnic diversity in the pattern and strength of linkage disequilibrium certainly exists and can help to appreciably reduce potential causal variants after GWA studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has been widely performed. As a result, patients who need to undergo a complete physical examination for an elevated PSA level have been rapidly increasing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination has previously been reported to be effective for the detection of prostate cancer. Purpose: To evaluate the detectability of prostate cancer by performing MRI before biopsy, and to evaluate the relationship between detectability with MRI and cancer location, Gleason score (GS), and tumor size. Material and Methods: MRI was performed at 1.5 Tesla in 122 consecutive patients before biopsy. The detectability of prostate cancer, including sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) (b-2000 s/mm2), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, and biopsy, was calculated using whole-mount section histopathology as a gold standard. In addition, the relationship between the detectability on each MRI sequence and factors such as cancer location (peripheral zone vs. transition zone), GS (5-10), short-axis diameter (⩽4 mm, 5-9 mm, ⩾10 mm), and long-axis diameter (⩽9 mm, 10-19 mm, ⩾20 mm) were also evaluated. Results: The sensitivities of TRUS, T2WI, DWI, ADC map, and biopsy were 26.9%, 41.2%, 56.7%, 57.7%, and 75.1%, respectively, and the PPVs of those modalities were 73.0%, 83.0%, 86.4%, 87.2%, and 91.5%, respectively. There was no correlation between the sensitivity of each MRI sequence and cancer location. The sensitivity of each MRI sequence increased as GS and short- and long-axis diameters of cancer lesions increased. Conclusion: MRI before a biopsy has a high detectability of prostate cancer, particularly with tumor size of more than 5 mm in short-axis diameter or 10 mm in long-axis diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of dietary patterns in colorectal carcinogenesis remains unclear in Asian populations. Using 1999-2002 data, the authors investigated the association between dietary patterns and colorectal adenomas in 1,341 Japanese men who underwent total colonoscopy. Information about diet was obtained using a 74-item food frequency questionnaire prior to the colonoscopy. Three dietary patterns were generated by factor analysis: 1) a high-dairy, high-fruit and -vegetable, high-starch, low-alcohol pattern; 2) an 'animal food' pattern; and 3) a Japanese pattern. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of having colorectal adenomas with the adjustment for potential confounding variables including body mass index, smoking, alcohol, and leisure-time physical activities. A significant inverse association was found for the high-dairy, high-fruit and -vegetable, high-starch, low-alcohol pattern; the odds ratios for the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.70, 1.36), 0.71 (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 1.01), and 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.43, 0.90), respectively, compared with the lowest (p(trend) = 0.003). Similar associations were observed for larger adenomas or for each subsite of the colorectum. The Japanese and 'animal food' patterns were not clearly associated with colorectal adenomas. A dietary pattern including greater consumption of dairy products and fruits and vegetables with low alcohol consumption may be associated with decreased risk of colorectal adenomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of multi-layered Ba2Ca4Cu5O10(O,F)2 superconductor(F-0245) have been grown under a high pressure of 4.5 GPa. Single crystals with in-plane length of 500μm were typically obtained and flat shiny areas with more than 1mm2 were also observed on the surface of fractured samples. Tc values for these samples were determined by electrical resistivity measurements. These values were found to change from 70 K to 85 K by change of oxygen and fluorine contents in the starting mixture. The temperature dependence of resistivity showed characteristic of under-doped cuprate superconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis. Several studies have reported that coffee has a protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes. However, few of these studies used the standard glucose tolerance test to diagnose type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between coffee and green tea consumption and glucose tolerance status as determined using a 75-g OGTT. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study of 3224 male officials of the self-defence forces. Glucose tolerance status was determined in accordance with the 1998 World Health Organization criteria, and average intakes of coffee and green tea over the previous year were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. The figures obtained were adjusted for BMI, physical activity and other factors. Results. A total of 1130 men were identified as having glucose intolerance (IFG, IGT or type 2 diabetes). Compared with those who did not consume coffee on a daily basis, fasting and 2-h post-load plasma glucose levels were 1.5% and 4.3% lower in those who drank 5 cups of coffee or more per day respectively. The adjusted odds ratios of glucose intolerance for categories of <1, 1–2, 3–4 and ≥5 cups of coffee per day were 1.0 (referent), 0.8 (95% CI 0.6–1.0), 0.7 (95% CI 0.6–0.9) and 0.7 (95% CI 0.5–0.9) respectively (p=0.0001 for trend). No clear association was observed between green tea drinking and glucose tolerance status. Conclusions/interpretation. Coffee consumption may inhibit postprandial hyperglycaemia and thereby protect against the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical processes following the electrical breakdown of water between planar and hemispherical electrodes separated by a sub-millimeter gap have been studied using electrical and optical diagnostics. The expanding plasma column after breakdown generates first shockwaves and at a later stage a vapor bubble which expands for about 200 μs and then decays with a time constant of 1 ms. The bubble decay time determines the dielectric recovery of the switch as has been shown with pulse-probe experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of benzene adsorbed on a Si(001)(2 × 1) surface up to saturation at room temperature (RT) has been studied by C 1s photoelectron diffraction (PED). Experimental C 1s PED patterns were measured for two regimes of photoelectron kinetic energies at ~ 100 eV and ~ 1000 eV. Simulation of PED patterns was made for three possible structural models predicted so far. Comparison of actual PED patterns and R-factor analysis leads to the conclusion that the so-called standard butterfly (SB) configuration of benzene is present and stable at the saturation coverage at RT. The present PED patterns were not very sensitive to geometrical parameters of absorbed benzene except for the bond length between the topmost carbons in the SB configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Laboratory and animal studies have shown a protective effect of green tea on cancer of different sites, but epidemiological evidence is limited and inconclusive. This prospective study in Japan examined the association between green tea consumption and cancer incidence.Methods: Subjects were 38,540 people (14,873 men, mean age 52.8 years; 23,667 women, mean age 56.8 years) who responded to a mail survey carried out between 1979 and 1981. A self-administered questionnaire ascertained consumption frequency of green tea using precoded answers (never, once per day, twice to four times per day, and five or more times per day). Follow-up continued until 31 December 1994. The study analyzed solid cancers (n = 3881); hematopoietic cancers (188); cancers of all sites combined (4069); and cancer of specific sites with more than 100 cases, i.e. stomach (901), colon (432), rectum (193), liver (418), gallbladder (122), pancreas (122), lung (436), breast (281), and bladder (122). Poisson regression was used to allow for city, gender, age, radiation exposure, smoking status, alcohol drinking, body-mass index, education level, and calendar time.Results: Green tea consumption was virtually unrelated to incidence of cancers under study. The relative risks of all cancers for those consuming green tea twice to four times per day and five or more times per day were 1.0 (95% confidence interval 0.91-1.1) and 0.98 (0.88-1.1), respectively, as compared with those consuming green tea once per day or less.Conclusion: Our findings do not provide evidence that regular green tea consumption is related to reduced cancer risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of the obesity and body-fat distribution with angiographically defined coronary atherosclerosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in a clinical setting. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and twenty men (median age, 59 y) and 212 women (median age, 67 y) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary heart disease at 5 cardiology departments between September 1996 and August 1997. Patients with disease duration >1 y were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: The body mass index (BMI) and the waist to hip circumference ratio (WHR) were used as main exposure variables, and either the presence of significant coronary stenosis or the Gensini's score (≥10 vs < 10) as an outcome variable, in a sex-specific multiple logistic regression analysis controlling for age, hospital, and other coronary risk factors. RESULTS: Among male patients, BMI was progressively higher with an increasing number of vessels involved (P trend = 0.05); the adjusted odds ratios for the presence of significant stenosis across quartiles of BMI were 1.0 (reference), 1.1, 1.9 and 2.5 (P trend = 0.02), and the positive association was more pronounced for younger patients. Among females, however, such associations were not evident. Employing the Gensini's score as an outcome gave similar results. WHR was not significantly associated with either outcome regardless of sex. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that BMI was predictive of coronary stenosis among male patients, but not among female patients. Unlike most previous studies, this study failed to detect a positive association with WHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. The azimuthal angle dependence and the temperature dependence of terahertz (THz) radiation generated from n-type (111) InSb and n-type (111) InAs surfaces irradiated with is similar to 80 fs near-infrared laser pulses are investigated. The azimuthal angle dependence shows that the contribution of the difference-frequency mixing (DFM) is not dominant for both materials at the excitation density of is similar to 1 GW/cm[sup 2]. At an appropriate azimuthal angle, the radiation due to DFM is excluded from the total THz radiation and the temperature dependence of THz radiation due to the surge current is observed. The increase of THz radiation with decrease of the temperature is found to be much more pronounced for InSb than for InAs. The different temperature dependence can be attributed to the different radiation mechanisms dominant for both materials. Especially, the temperature dependence of the THz radiation from InSb is well explained by the photo-Dember effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlated thermal diffuse scattering (CTDS), a direct structural technique using a simple oscillatory intensity variation in the medium energy electron diffraction, has been applied to the biatomic surface system of Si(111)(√3 x √3)-In. A problem with the application of CTDS to multicomposition systems arises from the element-specific atomic scattering factors. The difference in atomic scattering factors disturbs the diffraction phase originating from the path length difference and causes the shift from the true atomic position in Patterson analysis. In order to recover the true atomic position, a numerical calibration method has been introduced. With the aid of the calibration, structural parameters for the topmost three layers of the Si(111)(√3 x √3)-In surface have been determined with 0.1 Å accuracy. This shows that CTDS is applicable to multicomposition surface systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the influence of organic loading rate to a membrane reactor on the bio-fouling in a membrane separation activated sludge system. Flat-sheet type membrane module; Development of a mathematical model to simulate temporal changes of suction pressure, flux and filtration resistance; Consideration of accumulation, detachment and consolidation of bacterial extracellular polymers on the membrane surface.

Background: Whereas chronic atrophic gastritis is known to be an intermediate stage in gastric carcinogenesis, information is sparse about factors associated with this precancerous lesion except for Helicobacter pylori. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 566 men aged 50-55 years in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, we examined the relation of H. pylori infection, smoking, alcohol use, and dietary factors to the prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis as determined by serum pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II (I/II ratio < 3.0, and pepsinogen I < 70 ng/ml). Chronic atrophic gastritis was classified as severe when the pepsinogen I/II ratio was <2.0, and as moderate otherwise. Results: The overall prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis was 35.7% (202 of 566). The seropositivity of H. pylori was associated with a 10-fold increase in the risk of chronic atrophic gastritis, and the association was much stronger for moderate atrophic gastritis. Neither cigarette smoking nor alcohol consumption was related to the overall risk of chronic atrophic gastritis. Consumption of vegetables and fruits was each unrelated to chronic atrophic gastritis whether examined as a whole or separately for moderate and severe atrophic gastritis. Green tea was related to decreased risk of severe atrophic gastritis, although not statistically significant, whereas garlic consumption showed no protective association. Conclusions: The findings corroborate that H. pylori infection has an important role in the development of chronic atrophic gastritis in middle-aged Japanese men. Green tea consumption may be protective against the advance of atrophic gastritis. Vegetables, fruits, or garlic had no protective effect against the development of atrophic gastritis in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicts the crude fat content of longissimus muscle of beef cattle from a ratio of fat area to area of ribeye muscle calculated from computer image analysis. Analysis of image data taken from charge-coupled device camera and a film camera; Use of regression equations; Relationship between crude fat content measured with ether extraction method and fat area ratio calculated with computer image analysis.

Summary Background: Hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma is now considered a relatively safe procedure, owing to refined surgical techniques and management. Methods: Three hundred different types of hepatic resection performed in one hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The operative morbidity and mortality rates and long-term survival were assessed. Results: Tumours were extirpated by lobectomy or extended lobectomy in 48 patients, by segmentectomy in 53, by subsegmentectomy in 94 and by partial resection in 105. The overall hospital mortality rate was 4 per cent (13 of 300). No operative death occurred after lobectomy or extended lobectomy. Segmentectomy and subsegmentectomy were associated with high postoperative complication and hospital mortality rates. There was a significant difference in survival rate between patients with and without a cancer-free surgical margin of more than 1·0 cm. The overall 5- and 9-year survival rates were 51 and 9 per cent respectively. Rates were 56 and 24 per cent for lobectomy or extended lobectomy. Conclusion: For tumours of 2·1 cm or more in size lobectomy appears to carry the least risk of postoperative complications and death in hospital and best achieves a cancer-free surgical margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]