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The Cβ–Cβ bond fission of a tantallacyclopentadiene moiety bridged over low-valent Ta(V)–Ta(III) dinuclear tantalum complex 2, having an infinite structure, was facilitated by the coordination of 1,10-phenanthroline (PHEN) to give a doubly η2-alkyne-bridged ditantalum complex (phen)Cl2Ta(μ,η2-C2Et2)2TaCl2(phen) (8), while the corresponding high oxidation Ta(V)–Ta(V) complex, Cl2Ta(μ,η4-C4Et4)(μ-Cl)TaCl3 (1), afforded Cl3Ta(μ,η4-C4Et4)(μ-Cl)TaCl2(phen) (7) with an intact metallacyclopentadiene structure. Characterization of 2 was confirmed by isolating a DME adduct 9 derived from a mixture of complex 2 and DME. In contrast, no Cβ–Cβ bond cleavage was observed for azine-coordinated ditantalum complexes 5 and 6 as well as their reduced species: PHEN was found to be essentially required for the transformation of the tantallacyclopentadiene.

Several motion-detection models have been proposed based on insect visual system studies. We specifically examine two models, the Hassenstein-Reichardt (HR) model and the two-detector (2D) model, before selecting model the more efficient motion encoders. We analytically obtained the mean and variance of stationary responses of the HR and the 2D models to white noise to evaluate performances of the two models. Especially when analyzing the 2D model, we calculated higher-order cumulants of a rectified Gaussian. Results show that the 2D model gives almost equal performance to that of the HR model in a biologically reasonable case.

A metathesis reaction of a W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W bond and an N[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond was observed by reacting a W-W triply-bonded W(iii)2 complex, (tBuO)3W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W(OtBu)3 (1), with benzo[c]cinnoline derivatives to form biphenyl-linked dinuclear (imido)tungsten complexes 2-4. When azobenzene was used as the substrate, a trans to cis isomerization induced by blue-LED light was essential prior to the metathesis cleavage of the N[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond by the W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W bond of (Me2N)2(TfO)W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W(OTf)(NMe2)2 (6), affording the corresponding imido-bridged dinuclear tungsten complexes 7-9.

A tungsten alkylidyne complex [{(OC6H2tBu2-4,6)2(SCH2CH2S)}W(≡CEt)X] (X = OtBu, 1a) with a bridged bis(phenolate) ligand was prepared from the alkoxy precursor (tBuO)3W≡CEt and the corresponding bis(phenol). The tert-butoxy ligand in 1a was substituted against chloride or trimethylsilylmethyl to give 1b (X = Cl) or 1c (X = CH2SiMe3). X-ray diffraction studies of 1a and 1c showed an octahedral cis α-configuration of the metal atom. Hydride abstraction from the β-position of the n-propylidyne ligand in 1a and 1c with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] gave high-valent cationic vinylidene complexes [{(OC6H2tBu2-4,6)2(SCH2CH2S)}W(═C═CHMe)X][B(C6F5)4] (2a: X = OtBu; 2c: X = CH2SiMe3), while protonation of 1a with [PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4] gave the cationic n-propylidene complex [{(OC6H2tBu2-4,6)2(SCH2CH2S)}W(═CHEt)(OtBu)][B(C6F5)4] (3a). The alkylidyne complex 1a was regenerated from the alkylidene 3a by deprotonation with Ph3P═CH2, whereas 1c was regenerated from 2c by nucleophilic attack by a hydride at the β-carbon of the vinylide...

A dibromobismuthine and a dibromostibine that bear 4-tBu-2,6-[CH(SiMe3)2]2-C6H2 (Tbb) groups were reduced with 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diaza-2,5-cyclohexadiene to afford the corresponding stable dibismuthene (TbbBi═BiTbb) and the distibene (TbbSb═SbTbb), respectively. The only byproducts obtained were easily removable tetramethylpyrazine and bromotrimethylsilane. Importantly, inorganic salts were not generated in this reduction: i.e., this is a unique inorganic-salt-free method for the synthesis of compounds with multiple bonds between heavier main-group elements.

A metathesis reaction of a W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W bond and an N[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond was observed by reacting a W-W triply-bonded W(iii)2 complex, (tBuO)3W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W(OtBu)3 (1), with benzo[c]cinnoline derivatives to form biphenyl-linked dinuclear (imido)tungsten complexes 2-4. When azobenzene was used as the substrate, a trans to cis isomerization induced by blue-LED light was essential prior to the metathesis cleavage of the N[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond by the W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W bond of (Me2N)2(TfO)W[triple bond, length as m-dash]W(OTf)(NMe2)2 (6), affording the corresponding imido-bridged dinuclear tungsten complexes 7-9.

We performed laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for partial colectomy with partial cystectomy in an 80-year-old woman with sigmoidovesical fistula secondary to sigmoid diverticulitis. LECS was designed for local resection of the stomach for gastric submucosal tumors using the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) technique. While conventional open abdominal surgery is very invasive, LECS has enabled surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery. Although there have been no reported cases in which the bladder was laparoscopically resected after sigmoidovesical fistula division, we were able to safely resect the fistula and preserve the urethral opening by performing laparoscopic and cystoscopic cooperative surgery. There are no previously reported cases in which LECS was performed for partial sigmoidectomy and partial cystectomy ; therefore, we report this as a valuable case, with a review of the literature. We hope that further studies involving more patients will lead to the establishment of this procedure.

A 49-year-old Japanese man visited our hospital with chief complaints of difficulty with and bleeding during defecation. After a detailed examination, he was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with multiple (five) colorectal cancers. The tumors were located in the right-sided, left-sided, and sigmoid colon, and the lower rectum. Regional lymph node involvement was observed, but no metastasis to other organs was detected. We, therefore, performed a laparoscopic total colectomy with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) lymph node dissection. We were able to perform minimally invasive and cosmetically acceptable surgery using laparoscopy instead of highly-invasive open abdominal surgery. Our search of the literature revealed no reported cases of laparoscopic total colectomy with lymph node dissection for FAP with multiple colorectal cancers, making the present case the first to be reported in the literature.

The motion detection mechanism of insects has been attracted attention of many researchers. Several motion-detection models have been proposed on the basis of insect visual system studies. Here, we examine two models, the Hassenstein–Reichardt (HR) model and the two-detector (2D) model. We analytically obtain the mean and variance of the stationary responses of the HR and the 2D models to white noise, and we derive the signal-to-fluctuation-noise ratio (SFNR) to evaluate encoding abilities of the two models. Especially when analyzing the 2D model, we calculate higher-order cumulants of a rectified Gaussian. The results show that the 2D model robustly works almost as well as the HR model in several sets of parameters estimated on the basis of experimental data.

A d0 niobium(V) complex, NbCl3(α-diimine) (1a), supported by a dianionic redox-active N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene (α-diimine) ligand (ene-diamido ligand) served as a catalyst for radical addition reactions of CCl4 to α-olefins and cyclic alkenes, selectively affording 1:1 radical addition products in a regioselective manner. During the catalytic reaction, the α-diimine ligand smoothly released and stored an electron to control the oxidation state of the niobium center by changing between an η4-(σ2,π) coordination mode with a folded MN2C2 metallacycle and a κ2-(N,N′) coordination mode with a planar MN2C2 metallacycle. Kinetic studies of the catalytic reaction elucidated the reaction order in the catalytic cycle: the radical addition reaction rate obeyed first-order kinetics that were dependent on the concentrations of the catalyst, styrene, and CCl4, while a saturation effect was observed at a high CCl4 concentration. In the presence of excess amounts of styrene, st...

We investigated a mechanism of improving adhesiveness depending on sintering temperature for printed silver (Ag) electrodes prepared from nanoparticle ink on an insulating polymer layer as the under layer. The adhesion strength significantly improved by sintering the Ag electrodes at a temperature above the glass transition temperature ( T g ) of the polymer layer. In the sample with improved adhesiveness, the interfacial fusion between the printed Ag electrodes and polymer layer was observed in a cross sectional scanning electron microscope image. Based on this mechanism, we have successfully demonstrated the improvement in mechanical durability of organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) with printed Ag electrodes. The degradation of the organic TFTs after applying bending stress was significantly suppressed by interfacial fusion.

We encountered a patient with an adult Bochdalek hernia discovered asymptomatically. A 77-year-old Japanese woman visited a local clinic with chief complaints of melena and difficulty in defecation. Based on the results of the detailed examination in our hospital, she was diagnosed with a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with a concurrent asymptomatic adult right-sided Bochdalek hernia. Because the tumor was large, laparoscopic abdominoperineal rectal amputation was performed after systemic imatinib therapy. During the surgery, we found a right diaphragmatic defect more than 13cm in long dia., through which the right hepatic lobe, colon, and greater omentum had prolapsed into the right thoracic cavity. No visceral adhesions were noted. No hernia sac was observed. Adult Bochdalek hernia is a relatively rare condition, and only three (incidentally discovered) cases of asymptomatic Bochdalek hernia, including the present case, have been reported in Japan. Here we provide a case report for the patient, who was followed-up without hernia surgery, plus a review of the literature.

症例は25歳，女性，未婚．2004年12月，左乳輪内側にしこり生じるも，自然消失．しかし，生理とともに再燃した．近医を受診したが，様子をみようといわれ不安になり，2月当院初診となった．触診，エコーで左乳輪下に膿瘍と思われるspaceあり，穿刺にて排膿なく，細胞診でも悪性所見なし．乳頭陥凹を認めず．発赤も軽く，切開せず経過観察となった．3月始め生理とともに発赤増悪し再来．エコーでspace拡大あり．切開排膿施行した．その後治癒と再燃を繰り返した．7月乳頭より圧迫にて排膿あり．3-0ナイロン糸を瘻孔開口部から挿入すると，乳頭より出てきた．そのまま糸をループ状に結紮，留置した．9月全身麻酔下に手術施行．通したナイロン糸をガイドに可及的に瘻孔を切除，乳頭内の責任乳管の開放と掻爬を行った．その後3カ月経過するも再燃を認めていない．

In this paper, a fundamental mechanism for creep-groan generation is investigated by adopting a simple yet effective caliper-slider experimental model. Contact condition, which is a function of three parameters, namely normal force, contact roughness, and material combination, is connected with the creep-groan phenomenon in terms of contact stiffness. Creep-groan generation is determined by analyzing the frequency characteristic of the generated vibration acceleration when the sliding commences due to a simultaneous application and release of force in the tangential and normal directions, respectively. As per the obtained results, creep-groan occurrence or absence in the employed experimental model may be classified into three regions based upon the value of the contact stiffness, i.e., occurrence, non-occurrence, and mixed regions. The results also indicate that creep-groan occurrence in this caliper-slider experimental model can be avoided by controlling the value of contact stiffness in an effective manner.

We developed a simple and sensitive method for determination of fluoride in human whole blood and urine using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fluoride was alkylated with pentafluorobenzyl bromide in a mixture of acetone and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). The derivative obtained was analyzed by GC-MS in the positive-ion electron-impact mode. The lower limit of detection for the compound was 0.5 mg/l for both matrices. The calibration curve for fluoride was linear over the concentration range of 1–100 mg/l. The precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated, and relative standard deviation was within 10%. Using this method, levels of fluoride in whole blood and urine were determined in a case of poisoning caused by hydrofluoric acid exposure.

Appropriate and robust behavioral control in a noisy environment is important for the survival of most organisms. Understanding such robust behavioral control has been an attractive subject in neuroscience research. Here, we investigated the processing of wide-field motion with random dot noise at both the behavioral and neuronal level in Drosophila melanogaster. We measured the head yaw optomotor response (OMR) and the activity of motion-sensitive neurons, horizontal system (HS) cells, with in vivo whole-cell patch clamp recordings at various levels of noise intensity. We found that flies had a robust sensation of motion direction under noisy conditions, while membrane potential changes of HS cells were not correlated with behavioral responses. By applying signal classification theory to the distributions of HS cell responses, however, we found that motion direction under noise can be clearly discriminated by HS cells and that this discrimination performance was quantitatively similar to that of OMR. Furthermore, we successfully reproduced HS cell activity in response to noisy motion stimuli with a local motion detector model including a spatial filter and threshold function. This study provides evidence for the physiological basis of noise-robust behavior in a tiny insect brain.

The anisotropic scattering effect to keff is studied for UO2 and MOX fueled BWR assemblies. The anisotropic scattering effect increases the assembly k∞ by 0.44% Δk for the UO2 assembly with 0% void fraction, and by 0.21% Δk for the MOX assembly with 0% void fraction. This is because the anisotropic scattering effect flattens the intra-assembly thermal flux, and the absorption rate in the surrounding water gap is decreased, but the absorption rates in the MOX fuel rods are increased compared to the UO2 rods. Therefore, the total decrease in absorption rates in the UO2 assembly is relatively large, and the k∞ is increased in the UO2 assembly. The dependence of the anisotropic scattering effect on the void fraction is investigated, and the significant difference of 0.62% Δk/k is found for the 0% and the 80% void fractions. The BWR assemblies with Gd rods are also considered. Furthermore, the usefulness of the transport cross section is investigated, and it is found that the transport cross section gives reasonable anisotropic scattering effect, though not satisfactory.

We devised a sensitive and simple method for determination of bromide in whole blood and urine from humans using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bromide was alkylated with pentafluorobenzyl p-toluenesulphonate in the mixture of acetone and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). The derivative obtained was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the positive-ion EI mode. The lower limit of detection for the compound was 1 mg/l. The calibration curve for bromide was linear over the concentration range from 2 to 100 mg/l. With use of this method, levels of bromide in whole blood and urine were determined in cases of poisoning by inhaled brominated hydrocarbons.

Normal human islet cells are an ideal source for pancreas-targeted cell therapies, but the availability of human donor pancreata for islet isolation is severely limited. To effectively utilize such scarce donor organs for cell therapies, it is crucial to develop an excellent isolation, effective cryopreservation, and efficient gene transfer techniques for the transportation of isolated cells. In the present study, we investigate the effect of University of Wisconsin (UW) solution and ascorbic acid-2 glucoside (AA2G) on the cryopreservation of human islets. We also evaluate the gene transfer efficiency of a lentiviral vector expressing the E. coli LacZ gene, Lt-NLS/LacZ, in human islets. Human islets were isolated with a standard digestion method at the University of Alberta. Isolated islets were transported to Japan for 40 h and then subjected to cryopreservation experiments. The following preservation solutions were tested: UW solution with 100 micro g/mL of AA2G, UW solution, 100% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and CMRL supplemented with 10% FBS. Following three months of cryopreservation, the islets were thawed and analyzed for viability, glucose-sensitive insulin secretion, proinsulin gene expression profile, and in vivo engraftment. The islets were also subjected to monolayer formation with 804G-cell-line-derived extracellular matrix (ECM), followed by Lt-NLS/LacZ transduction. The viability, morphology, glucose-sensitive insulin secretion, proinsulin gene expression, and monolayer formation efficiency of the thawed cryopreserved islets are significantly better maintained by the use of UW solution. When AA2G (100 microg/mL) is combined with UW, such parameters are further improved. The adequate engraftment of UW + AA2G-cryopreserved human islets is achieved in the liver of nude mice. Efficient Lt-NLS/LacZ transduction is identified in monolayered islets cryopreserved with UW solution with AA2G. The present work demonstrates that the combination of UW solution with AA2G (100 microg/mL) would be a useful cryopreservation means for human islets. Human islets monolayer-cultured with 804G-derived ECM are efficiently transduced with a lentiviral vector Lt-NLS/LacZ.

Development of liver-targeted cell therapies, such as hepatocyte transplantation and bioartificial livers, requires a large amount of functional hepatocytes as needed. To achieve this development, establishing an excellent cryopreservation method of hepatocytes is an extremely important issue. Therefore, we performed a comparative review of cryoprotective effects of various cryopreservation solutions using primarily isolated porcine hepatocytes. Porcine hepatocytes were isolated with a four-step dispase and collagenase perfusion method. The obtained hepatocytes with the initial viabilities of 76%, 84%, and 96% were assigned to the following four groups for cryopreservation at −80°C: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) + 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) + 12% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (group A), University of Wisconsin (UW) solution + 12% DMSO (group B), Cell Banker 1 (group C), and Cell Banker 2 (group D). The hepatocytes in each group were thawed at 3 days, 10 days, and 5 months of cryopreservation and subjected to comparative analyses, including viability, plating efficiency, LDH release, ammonia removal test, and lentiviral gene transfer. These parameters were the most favorable in the hepatocytes cryopreserved with UW solution. Approximately 5% of thawed cryopreserved porcine hepatocytes expressed LacZ activity after lentiviral transduction. Intrasplenic transplantation of UW solution-cryopreserved hepatocytes improved the survival of rats treated with D-galactosamine. UW solution maintained the functions of cryopreserved porcine hepatocytes.

Normal human hepatocytes are an ideal source of liver-targeted cell therapies, such as hepatocyte transplantation and bioartificial livers, but availability of human donor livers for liver cell isolation is severely limited. To effectively utilize scarce donor organs for cell therapies, it is of extreme importance to establish an efficient isolation technique and an effective cold preservation solution for transportation of isolated cells. A lateral segment of the liver was surgically resected from pigs weighing 10 kg and a four-step collagenase and dispase digestion was conducted. Isolated hepatocytes were subjected to 8-h cold storage on ice. The following preservation solutions were tested: 1) University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, 2) UW with 100 μg/ml of ascorbic acid-2 glucoside (AA2G), 3) 100% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 4) Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 100% FBS. The mean viability of porcine hepatocytes was 95.5 ± 2.5% when isolated in three independent experiments. Viability, plating efficiency, membrane stability, and ammonia metabolic capacity of cold-preserved hepatocytes were significantly better maintained by the use of UW solution. When AA2G (100 μg/ml) was combined with UW solution, such parameters were further improved. It was explained by inhibition of caspase-3 activation and retention of ATP at high levels of hepatocytes preserved with UW solution containing AA2G. The present work demonstrates that a combination of UW solution with AA2G (100 μg/ml) would be a useful cold preservation means for the development of cell therapies.

The effect of the moderator density distribution of annular flow on the fuel assembly neutronic characteristics in a boiling water nuclear reactor was investigated using the SRAC95 code system. For the investigation, a model of annular flow for fuel assembly calculation was utilized. The results of the assembly calculation with the model (Method 1) and those of the fuel assembly calculation with the uniform void fraction distribution (Method 2) were compared. It was found that Method 2 underestimates the infinite multiplication factor in the fuel assembly including the gadolinia rod (type 1 assembly). This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the capture rate in the thermal energy region in gadolinia fuel is estimated to be smaller when the liquid film of annular flow at the fuel rod surface is considered. A burnup calculation was performed under the condition of a void fraction of 65% and a volumetric fraction of the liquid film in liquid phase of 1. It is found that Method 2 underestimates the infin...

A space/time nodal diffusion code based on the nodal expansion method (NEM), EPISODE, was developed in order to evaluate transient neutron behavior in light water reactor cores. The present code employs the improved quasi-static (IQS) method for spatial neutron kinetics, and neutron flux distribution is numerically obtained by solving the neutron diffusion equation with the nonlinear iteration scheme to achieve fast computation. A predictor-corrector (PC) method developed in the present study enabled to apply a coarse time mesh to the transient spatial neutron calculation than that applicable in the conventional IQS model, which improved computational efficiency further. Its computational advantage was demonstrated by applying to the numerical benchmark problems that simulate reactivity-initiated events, showing reduction of computational times up to a factor of three than the conventional IQS. The thermohydraulics model was also incorporated in EPISODE, and the capability of realistic reactivity event an...

A three-dimensional time-domain core analysis code was applied to numerical simulations for an actual regional neutron flux oscillation observed in a commercial BWR core, in order to investigate potential nonlinear behavior in its coupled neutronic and thermohydraulic system. The present study shows existence of the nonlinear reactivity interaction between the fundamental and first azimuthal spatial harmonics modes of neutron flux distribution under the regional event. The spectrum analysis of the simulated data provides a unique result, that is, temporal harmonics peaks are excited at the even- and odd-order multiples of the characteristic resonance frequency in the fundamental and first spatial harmonics responses, respectively. The numerical simulation also shows that the strong nonlinearity of the coupled neutronic and thermohydraulic dynamics locally appears where the power unstably oscillates with large amplitudes, inducing the power shift and reactivity bias which are shown in the core-wide situati...

Severe toxicity in patients with a deficiency of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase(DPD), an enzyme that reduces fluoropyrimidine, is very rare, and reports on this condition are few. Accordingly, diagnosis is very difficult. The patient was 70-year-old man who was admitted for adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine(3,600mg/day)for rectal cancer. He was admitted to our hospital because of severe oral mucositis(grade 3)and hand-foot syndrome(grade 3). After hospitalization, he experienced complications with neutropenia(grade 4)and thrombocytopenia(grade 4). The patient died 25 days after the onset of chemotherapy. Despite the measurement of the DPD value in mononuclear cells of peripheral blood and urophanic uracil and dihydrouracil, we were unable to diagnose DPD deficiency. However, we suspected a partial deficiency of DPD on the basis of the clinical course.

The one-point kinetic equations with numerical errors induced by the explicit, implicit and Crank–Nicolson integration methods are derived. The zero-power transfer functions based on the present equations are demonstrated to investigate the numerical stability of the discretized systems. These demonstrations indicate unconditional stability for the implicit and Crank–Nicolson methods but present the possibility of numerical instability for the explicit method. An upper limit of time mesh spacing for the stability is formulated and several numerical calculations are made to confirm the validity of this formula.

An analysis method for BWR regional stability is developed in frequency-domain. Conventionally, the energy spectrum of fundamental eigenfunction has been applied to the calculation of first-harmonic void reactivity instead of the spectrum of first-harmonic eigenfunction. In the present method, the fine energy spectra of first-harmonics are applied to the evaluation of void reactivity. The spectra are obtained by assembly calculation considering the geometric bucklings of spatial harmonics. The present method is applied to the Ringhals 1 benchmark test problem. Comparing the present method with the method without the spectrum of first-harmonic eigenfunction, we can estimate the effect of the spectrum on the frequency-domain modal analysis of regional stabilities in BWRs. The decay ratio (DR) of regional stability is also calculated by these two methods. It is found that the latter method tends to underestimate the absolute value of void reactivity by about 10%. By considering the spectra of first-harmonic ...

The purpose of this study is to investigate the life-cycle environmental assessment of urban sewage systems. LCE (life-cycle energy) is chosen as an indicator, and energy input to construction and maintenance of water treatment plants and drainage networks is estimated. Energy required for the production of input materials, machines and equipments, and for the construction of buildings is calculated based on a standard method of input-output analysis. Direct energy input to construction works and plant operation is estimated by using the standard construction work budget estimation manual of the Ministry of Construction and the actual plant operation data for the sewers in Fukuoka City. Although the calculation does not cover the entire life-cycle and the functions of sewage systems, it reveals that about 83% of the estimated total LCE is required for the operation of treatment plants and the remaining 17% for the construction of treatment plants and drains.

We demonstrate an actively and harmonically mode-locked short-cavity laser employing a 151-cm-long bismuth-oxide-based highly nonlinear erbium-doped fiber. Bit-error-free mode-locking operation can be achieved over the wavelength tuning range covering the CL-band.

We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine responding to XELOX chemotherapy, leading to a partial metabolic response(PMR). The patient was a 58-year-old male with multiple peritoneal dissemination of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. Chemotherapy with XELOX(L-OHP 130 mg/m² on day 1 , and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1-14)was performed. After 4 courses, a significant tumor reduction was obtained. This case suggests that chemotherapy with XELOX is a potential regimen for small intestinal adenocarcinoma.

A 55-year-old male had complained of melena.Colonoscopy revealed a type 2 tumor at the rectum.CT demonstrated hepatic lymph nodes and multiple liver metastases(stage IV).Low anterior resection was performed(tub2, RsRa, circ, type 2, pSS, pN1, sH3, cHN1, sP0, cM0: fstage IV).The patient was treated with mFOLFOX6 and sLV5FU2 after operation.CT revealed a partial response after 14 courses of systemic chemotherapy.sLV5 FU2 therapy was converted to capecitabine because he experienced bone marrow suppression.CT showed that the liver metastases had enlarged but the hepatic lymph nodes disappeared.Right portal vein embolization was performed.After 4 weeks, right hepatectomy and hepatic lymph node dissection were performed.Preoperative chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 seems beneficial as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy for hepatic lymph node-positive advanced colorectal cancer.

The energy consumption and the associated carbon dioxide emission induced by construction are calculated and compared among three east Asian countries including Japan, China and South Korea, where rapid economic development is taking place. Economic development is accompanied by improvement of various social infrastructures such as buildings and transportation systems. This induces the increasing energy demand for the production and distribution of materials such as iron and cement which are used for construction, and thus causes increasing impacts on the environment. Based on the standard input-output model, the energy consumption induced by unit final demand of construction sectors are calculated for the base year 1990. The results reveal that the construction sector as a whole plays an important role for energy consumption in each of the three countries. The share of the energy demand induced by construction sector in the total national energy consumption is 18% in Japan, while those in China and South Korea are 31% and 16% respectively.

exo,endo (2a) and endo, endo (2b) isomers of the new bis-allylic Ru(IV) cationic complex [CpRu({eta}{sup 3}-C{sub 3}H{sub 5}){sub 2}] OTf (2) formed when (allyl)Ru{sup IV} complex CpRuBr{sub 2}({eta}{sup 3}-C{sub 3}H{sub 5}) (1) was treated with silver trifluoromethane-sulfonate (silver triflate, AgOTf) followed by the reaction with propene at 1 atm. The results of analogous studies with 2-butene and 1,5-dimethyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene were presented.

The global warming has become a grave concern for mankind. Necessity of energy conservation in our daily life is advocated and policies for saving energy have been discussed in relation to urban environmental management. Here, growing attention has been paid to our lifestyles. In addition, however, we must consider the large amount of energy that are consumed for the improvement of urban infrastructures. Most of it is used through the input of materials such as irons and cements for construction works. From this viewpoint, the present study aims to analyze the energy consumption pertinent to urban infrastructure provision. Firstly, a method for analyzing such energy consumption is developed on the basis of the input-output model. Input of energy for a unit production expressed in monetary terms is calculated by using national input-output tables available today. It is shown that the input energy has been decreased remarkably during the 1955-1989 period in Japan. Secondly, estimation is made on the total energy value of the existing stocks of various infrastructures in the country. Thus this study aims to conduct the quantification of the life cycle environmental impacts related to the provision of various urban infrastructures.

A 45-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of anemia. Gastric endoscopy showed a type IIa+IIc tumor at the anterior wall of the gastric angle. Based on the pathology of the biopsy specimen, poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma was diagnosed. Computed tomography scans showed regional lymph node swelling. Distal gastrectomy with a D2 lymph node dissection was performed. On pathology, the tumor was immunohistochemically positive for chromogranin A and synaptophysin. The Ki67 index was 70%. The tumor was diagnosed as poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach. He was treated with S-1 and CPT-11. Neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the stomach is rare and usually has a very poor prognosis. Thus, we are reporting this case of early poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach that was curatively resected and had 12-month survival without recurrence.

The patient was a 63-year-old male with multiple peritoneal disseminations of advanced gastric cancer. He underwent chemotherapy with a combination of S-1 120 mg/day (3 weeks administration and 2 weeks rest) and cisplatin (CDDP) 60 mg/m(2) (day 8). After 3 courses of this regimen, CT revealed no evidence of ascites. He then underwent laparatomy. Peritoneal dissemination appeared, and the findings were sT3, N0, H0, P1, CY1, M1(PLE), sStage IV. A bypass operation was performed. As second-line chemotherapy, he received combination chemotherapy with S-1 and paclitaxel (PTX) 60 mg/m(2) (div), 20 mg/m(2) ( ip) (day 1, 8). However, he complained of ascites after 16 courses. We tried weekly administration of PTX and tri-weekly administration of irinotecan (50 mg/m(2)) with S-1. This treatment was successfully continued for 20 courses. The adverse effect was anemia (grade 2). He died two years eight months after surgery. The chemotherapy with S-1/CDDP, S-1/PTX, and S-1/PTX/irinotecan was thought to be effective for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

We report a case of stage IV AFP producing cecal cancer responding to mFOLFOX6 leading to a partial response. The patient was a 72-year-old female with multiple liver metastases of cecal cancer. She underwent a right hemicolectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy in a non-curative resection. Final findings revealed cecal cancer, type 3, 60 x 55 mm, pSI (right ovary), pN3, sH3, sP0, cM0, fStage IV, respectively. After surgery, chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 was performed. After 4 courses, a significant tumor reduction (PR) was obtained. She died 1 year 2 months after surgery. This case suggests that chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 is a potential regimen for AFP producing colon cancer.

Iwai, Y., Ishidao, T., Miyamoto, S., Ikeda, H. and Arai, Y., 1991. Solubilities of nonane vapor in styrene-butadiene copolymers at 100 and 130 °C. Fluid Phase Equilibria 68: 197-205. The solubilities of nonane vapor in styrene-butadiene copolymers were measured with a sorption apparatus at 100 and 130 ° C for mass fractions of nonane ranging from 0 to 0.17. It is shown that the UNIFAC-FV model can be applied to predict the solubilities of nonane in styrene-butadiene copolymers.

The present paper reviews activates relevant to the boiling water reactor (BWR) stability phenomenon, which has a coupled neutronic and thermal-hydraulic nature, from the viewpoint of model and code developments and their applications to the BWR stability solution methodology in Japan.

Expansion of pancreatic islet cell populations, especially the beta cells, using a currently available ex vivo gene transfer technology is important to develop cell therapies to treat Type I diabetes. In this study, we evaluated adenovirus mediated gene transfer efficiency in primarily isolated mouse islet cells in two types of culture conditions: freshly isolated suspended islets and cultured islets with monolayer formation. A recombinant replication deficient adenovirus vector encoding a green fluorescence protein (GFP) cDNA, Ad/ CMV-GFP, was used in the present transduction experiments. Rat 804G derived extracellular matrix (804G-ECM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) were used to facilitate monolayer formation of the isolated mouse pancreatic islets. Suspended islets were transfected with Ad/CMV-GFP at more than 95% efficiency. However, analysis of immunohistochemical stains for insulin and glucagon in thin sliced sections of the islets revealed that GFP expression was localized just in the outer cells of the islets, almost all of which were glucagon positive alpha-cells. The beta-cells existing at the inner area of the suspended islets were GFP negative. In contrast, under the condition of the islets in monolayer formation cultures, all of the islet cells including the beta-cells were efficiently infected with Ad/CMV-GFP. To achieve an efficient adenoviral gene transfer to the pancreatic beta-cells, monolayer formation of the islets is critical. Such culture conditions were facilitated by combining 804G-ECM with IBMX.

For liver-targeted regenerative medicine, embryonic stem (ES) cell–derived hepatocyte-like cells proffer great expectation. In vitro exposure to a combination of various growth factors, such as hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor-4, as well as cytokines, leads to differentiation of ES cells into hepatocyte-like cells. We sought to determine the in vivo environment that allowed engraftment of ES cells transplanted to the liver. Thus, we examined the effect of partial hepatectomy (50%) (PHT) and subsequent radiation (RT) of the male Balb/c mouse host liver on ES cell engraftment. ES cells (5 × 106) derived from 129Sv mice were transplanted into the residual liver. The controls were ES cells transplanted into a normal liver. Bromo-deoxy-residine (BrdU)-uptake was performed to evaluate the effect of hepatectomy and RT on hepatocyte regeneration. Mouse ES cells engrafted, forming teratomas in the normal liver without showing any mononuclear infiltration. A liver modified by PHT and RT facilitated engraftment of mouse ES cells compared with a normal liver. Hepatic RT significantly suppressed hepatocytic uptake of BrdU.

Purpose: To develop and evaluate the efficacy of diabetes-targeted cell therapies in humans, a reliable model in larger animals is highly desirable. This article reports the surgical technique of total pancreatectomy in pigs and the biochemical analysis of the characteristics of totally pancreatectomized pigs. Methods: Surgical total pancreatectomy was conducted in 23 pigs. Blood glucose, insulin, biochemistries, activity index, and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) were examined to assess the pathophysiological profiles of diabetic pigs. Results: A total of 14 pigs successfully underwent total pancreatectomy without requiring biliary reconstruction and were analyzed in the present study. Activity index was decreased from day 5 on and the mean survival of totally pancreatectomized pigs was 7.6 ± 2.7 days. No endogenous insulin secretion was confirmed in these pigs. Pigs which received total pancreatectomy demonstrated significantly higher levels of ketone bodies. IVGTT performed within 4 days after total pancreatectomy showed a spontaneous decrease in blood glucose levels despite an absence of endogenous insulin secretion. IVGTT on day 5 or later showed continued hyperglycemia in pigs with total pancreatectomy. Histological examination showed atrophy of hepatocytes and decreased glycogen storage in the liver and decreased mucus production of the small intestine. Conclusion: This article describes a porcine model of diabetes created by total pancreatectomy and it analyzes the pathophysiological profiles in the animals. The present study has suggested that IVGTT on day 5 or later after total pancreatectomy is a reliable method to evaluate the efficacy of cell therapies.