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The present study has concerned on some electrochemical reactions in non-aqueous electrolytes containing 1,3- substituted imidazolium cations, having unique planar(aromatic) structures and properties such as forming hydrogen bond, which are expected to provide pseudo-capacitance in the application for electrochemical capacitor systems. The pseudo-capacitance of ruthenium oxide can be obtained in these electrolytes. The composite electrode of ruthenium oxide nano-particles dispersed with large surface area activated carbon support provides capacitance available in practical system. The tuning of capacitance by molecular design of imidazolium cation is also possible. The intercalation of imidazolium ion into interlayer space of graphite is promoted by the well-defined crystalline graphite and appropriate solvent such as acetonitrile. Such dependence of solvent species for pseudo-capacitive reactions is somewhat in relation to the solvation status of imidazolium cation.

Abstract??This paper presents a study carried out by a group of Japanese researchers to critically review past researches and discussions on the multifunctionality of paddy rice cultivation, with the aim of describing the current status of the subject and providing options and potentials for future research and practices. The review was of over 200 documented articles on the major external functions. The results of this study revealed that the importance of multifunctionality is well perceived in Japan. The methodologies to measure and estimate the magnitude have been established for most functions. However, there is a need for more cases, to integrate all the functions at the local or regional scale to represent site-specific characteristics of multifunctionality. There is also a need to develop management practices to sustain and enhance the positive multifunctionality of paddy rice cultivation while minimizing negative effects to the environment, which may be brought into the agricultural policies. Except for Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, there are slightly different notions on multifunctionality in other monsoon Asia countries, but the gap in this notion is reducing following recent international activities.

The purpose of this study was to obtain further information regarding cellular differentiation and proliferative characteristics of dedifferentiated Liposarcoma (DDL) arising in the retroperitoneum and mesentery for accurate diagnosis and prognostic criteria. The patients included 20 men and 12 women, mean age, 60 years (range, 33 to 80 years). Twenty-seven tumors were located in the retroperitoneuenn and 5 in the mesentery. Tumor size ranged from 9 to 51 cm (mean, 24 cm). Follow-up was available on all patients and ranged from 4 to 243 months (mean, 64 months). Twenty-four (75%) patients developed local recurrences, 3 (9%) had distant metastasis, and 16 (50%) died of the disease. The predominant histology of dedifferentiation (DD) included fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFR) in 15 (47%), myxofibrosarcoma (myxoid MFR) in 5 (16%), mixed type in 10 (31%), and a whorling pattern in 2 (6%). Divergent differentiation, such as osseous, osteosarcomatous, chondrosarcomatous, and leiornyosarcomatous, was observed in 9 (28%). Immunoreactivity for vimentin, desmin, CD34, neurofilament, a-smooth muscle actin, p53, and MDM2 was observed in 32 (100%), 14 (44%), 8 (25%), 13 (41%), 14 (44%), 19 (59%), and 18 (56%) of DD areas, respectively. On the basis of a histological grading using MIB-1 (MIB-1 index range, 3% to 80%; mean, 27%) to replace mitosis counts (1 to 35/10 high-power fields [HPF]; mean, 13/10 HPF), 16 tumors each were classified as low-grade (grade 2) and high-grade (grade 3). The mixed type with poorly differentiated areas including scattered lipoblasts could be mistaken for myxoid liposarcoma but lacked the C/EB Phomologous protein-translocated in liposarcomat (CHOP-TIS) fusion genes specific for myxoid liposarcoma. Period to the first recurrence and histological grade using the M311-1 index were associated with overall survival. Identification of DD areas, especially a poorly recognized variant of the mixed type, careful follow-up to detect early recurrence, and histological malignancy grading combined with proliferation indices are important in providing an accurate prognosis for all patients with retroperitoneal and mesenteric liposarcoma.

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of filtration leucocytapheresis (LCP) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods. LCP was carried out three times, with 1 week separating each session, in 25 drug-resistant RA patients.
Results. During each session, 96, 98, 61, 84 and 8% of the granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, platelets and erythrocytes, respectively, that entered the LCP filter were removed. The number of granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood significantly decreased during each session of LCP. However, there was no significant decrease in the number of circulating blood cells during the study period. On average, 110 × 10⁸ granulocytes, 5.23 × 10⁸ monocytes, and 20.5 × 10⁸ lymphocytes were removed during LCP therapy. Assessment of RA before and after LCP showed a substantial and rapid improvement in the tender joints counts, swollen joint counts, and patient's and physician's assessments. No adverse reactions or complications were noted. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased following LCP, although the change in the latter parameter was statistically insignificant. The concentrations of serum albumin, γ-globulin, IgG, IgM, CH50 and rheumatoid factor titres did not change during or after LCP. Careful analysis indicated that 16 of 25 patients with RA showed ≥20% improvement following LCP therapy.
Conclusions. Our results suggest that filtration LCP to remove leucocytes from the peripheral blood exerts an immunomodulatory effect in patients with RA.

We report a case of primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type of the urinary bladder. The patient, a 77-year-old woman, presented with a sense of urinary retention. An intravenous pyelogram and cystoscopy revealed a wide-based submucosal mass measuring 3 cm in the left wall of the urinary bladder. Histological findings of the tissue obtained by transurethral resection (TUR) showed a dense, monomorphic atypical lymphoid (centrocyte-like) infiltrate with reactive lymph follicles in the subepithelial tissue. Monocytoid and plasmacytoid features were readily evident in a population of these cells. Lymphoepithelial lesions involving the urothelium were also noticed in some areas. These features were strongly suggestive of primary low-grade lymphoma of the MALT type. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric studies, both of which showed a clear immunoglobulin restriction to lambda light chain and also by polymerase chain reaction-based assay using a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded TUR tissue sample, which showed a clonal Ig heavy-chain gene rearrangement. Clinical staging procedures revealed that the tumor was localized in the urinary bladder. The patient has not received chemotherapy and is alive and well with no evidence of recurrence, 3 years after TUR. This case demonstrates that these ancillary tests are worth performing for confirmation of B-cell clonality in TUR tissue samples showing dense B-lymphocytic infiltration.

Despite the many studies of genetic alterations in advanced lung carcinomas, few reports have analyzed early stage adenocarcinoma of the lung.

The incidence of follicular lymphoma in Japan is far lower than that in western countries, and no large-scale clinicopathologic studies on this neoplasm have been conducted in Japan. We reviewed histopathological specimens from 118 of 135 patients who had been diagnosed as having follicular lymphoma between 1968 and 1993. Prognostic factors influencing survival were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Factors that were independently significant upon multivariate analysis were incorporated into a predictive model. Ninety-three patients (78.8%) had a confirmed diagnosis of follicular lymphoma. Twenty-one of the remaining 25 patients were categorized as having other lymphoma subtypes, and four patients showed indefinite findings or those suggesting diseases other than lymphoma. Major characteristics of the 93 patients with follicular lymphoma were a median age of 53 years (20-85); 59 males (63%) and 34 females (37%); small cleaved cell type in 33 (35%), mixed cell type in 41 (44%) and large cell type in 19 (20%); stage I/II in 41 (44%) and stage III/IV in 50 (54%). Overall survival was 71% at 5 years, 58% at 10 years, and 43% at 15 years with a median survival of 13.3 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that two variables, age (>60) (P=0.001) and the serum LDH level (>1 x normal value) (P=0.026), were unfavorably significant prognostic factors influencing survival. The predictive model using these two variables identified three risk groups with estimated five-year survival rates of 88.5%, 56.8%, and 31.5%. Age and serum LDH were significant predictors of survival in Japanese patients with follicular lymphoma. Our predictive model may provide a basis for future therapeutic trials against follicular lymphoma in Japan.

To evaluate the proliferative activity of benign, borderline and malignant cutaneous melanocytic neoplasms, 30 cases of malignant melanoma (MM) and 41 cases of naevi were studied by immunostaining using a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA is a nuclear antigen expressed in the late G1 and S phase and serves as a marker of proliferating cells. Invasive MM and MM in situ showed much higher PCNA positivity rates than melanocytic naevi (invasive MM, 18.0%; MM in situ, 11.3%; ordinary melanocytic naevi, 2.6%). The PCNA positivity rate did not increase significantly with the thickness of MM. Among ordinary melanocytic naevi, junctional naevi had a higher PCNA positivity rate than compound or intradermal naevi. Mean PCNA positivity rates for Spitz's naevi and sporadic dysplastic naevi were within the range for ordinary melanocytic naevi, indicating the benign nature of both types of naevus. Contrary to some previous studies, MM in situ showed high proliferative activity, indicating that cells of MM in situ are actively proliferating. This study clearly demonstrates that MM and various types of naevi can be separated according to differences in proliferative activity defined by the PCNA labeling index.

New exact classical solutions of the Euclidean Yang-Mills equation are constructed. The exact solutions presented here are characterized by infinite values of topological charges and therefore they are in striking contrast to the well-known instanton and meron solutions which have finite topological charges.

A β+-thalassemia mutation at codon 24 (GGT→GGA) was discovered in a Japanese; this is the third type of β-thalassemia found in this population. The case, as well as the data from DNA sequencing analysis, are presented.

Characterization of β-thalassemia mutations were attempted for 29 Japanese families clinically diagnosed as having β-thalassemia. Following the identification of a mutation by cloning and sequencing, all families were screened for this particular mutation, using biotinylated allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. Seven different mutations were detected in 17 families: Six families had the frameshift mutation at codons 41/42, resulting from a 4 nucleotide deletion (TTCTTT+- - - - TT); four had the deletion at codons 127/128 (CA66CT+CCT); and three had the TATAbox mutation at nucleotide -31 (A →6). Four additional families had mutations at codon 24 (GGT →GGA), codon 26 (GAG→AAG), IVS-11-654 (C →T) and codon 110 (GTG → CCG), respectively. The newly discovered deletion mutation at codons 127/128, and mutations at nucleotide -31, and at codon 110 are peculiar to Japanese, and have not been found in any other ethnic group. The haplotypes of the β-globin gene cluster were also determined. Some of the haplotypes and β-thalassemia mutations are identical to those reported in the Chinese population. However, it is noteworthy that nearly half of the β-thalassemia mutations were unique to Japanese.

The oblique interaction of interfacial solitary waves is studied in an inviscid two-layer deep-fluid system. We first derive the interaction equations correct up to the second order in an amplitude parameter by employing a systematic perturbation method. We then solve the equations exactly to investigate the properties of the interaction process of two solitary waves. In the first order, the solution is represented simply by a superposition of two algebraic solitary waves, each being the solution of the Benjamin-Ono equation. In the second order, the effect of the interaction appears as a product of two solitary waves, in addition to the corrections to the the wave profile and phase shift. We find that in the leading order of the amplitude expansion, the phase shift of each solitary wave does not depend on the amplitude and in the next order it is proportional to the amplitude. The head-on collision of two solitary waves is also considered as a special case. It is worth remarking that there exist a few cases of experimental evidence, as well as a numerical calculation, supporting the analytical prediction of the backward phase shift exhibited in the head-on collision.

The lymph node cells from 11 strains of rats, differing in the genotype of the major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RT1), were examined on the basis of their proliferative response to the cell wall antigen of Streptococcus mutans. The 11 rat strains fell into three groups: high, intermediate, and low responders. To demonstrate the influence of the major histocompatibility complex on immune responsiveness to S. mutans, further experiments were performed using the RT1-congenic rat strains WKAH.1L(LEW), WKAH. 1AV1(ACI), and WKAH.1J(LEJ), which differ only in the genotype of the RT1 region. Although the background genes of each strain were of WKAH origin, WKAH.1L(LEW) and WKAH.1AV1(ACI) rats showed a low response whereas WKAH.1J(LEJ) rats showed a moderate response to the S. mutans cell wall antigen. The results indicate that the immune response is controlled by the class II gene(s) in RT1. Furthermore, the RT1.D locus products were shown to play an important role in the restriction molecule, since a monoclonal antibody, HOK7, directed to the RT1.Dk locus products reduced the proliferative response of lymph node cells.

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The standard management of primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) (stage II) has not been established despite the use of various treatment modalities. The present prospective trial of combined surgery and chemotherapy for the treatment of PGL (stage II) included 25 consecutive patients treated between July 1978 and December 1993. Twenty-one patients were treated with total gastrectomy and four with partial gastrectomy; this was followed by post-operative chemotherapy with m-VEPA (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone and doxorubicin), followed by consolidation chemotherapy with VEMP (vindesine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and prednisolone) or VQEP (vindesine, carbazilquinone, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone). Twenty-one of the 25 patients who completed post-operative chemotherapy were free of relapse 26-203 (median 94) months after the gastrectomy. Of the four patients who did not complete the projected chemotherapy, two relapsed and died of lymphoma. Another patient with recurrent lymphoma died in an accident, and the fourth patient was in remission at 54 months after surgery. The post-operative overall and disease-free survival rates at 10 years for the 25 evaluable patients were 81.6% and 92.0% respectively. Major surgical complications and treatment-related death after chemotherapy were not observed. PGL (stage II) appears to be curable when treated with gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy.

The evaluation of demagnetizing factors of water-based magnetic fluids is performed from the comparison between an experiment and calculation and it is concluded that a demagnetizing factor of about 0.1 is recommendable.

A project to import a large amount of liquid hydrogen (LH2) from Australia by a cargo carrier, which is equipped with two 1250 m3 tanks, is underway in Japan. It is important to understand sloshing and boil-off characteristics inside the LH2 tank during marine transportation. However, the LH2 sloshing and boil-off characteristics on the sea have not yet been clarified. First experiment on the LH2 transportation of 20 liter with magnesium diboride (MgB2) level sensors by the training ship "Fukae-maru", which has 50 m long and 449 ton gross weight, was carried out successfully inside Osaka bay on February 2, 2017. In the experiment, synchronous measurements of liquid level, temperature, pressure, ship motions, and accelerations as well as the rapid depressurization test were done. The increase rate of the temperature and the pressure inside the LH2 tank were discussed under the rolling and the pitching conditions.

To establish the worldwide storage and marine transport of hydrogen, it is important to develop a high-precision and long level sensor, such as a superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) level sensor for large liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks on board ships. Three 1.7- m-long MgB2 wires were fabricated by an in situ method, and the superconducting characteristics of twenty-four 20-mm-long MgB2 wires on the 1.7-m-long wires were studied. In addition, the static level-detecting characteristics of five 500-mm-long MgB2 level sensors were evaluated under atmospheric pressure.

Background: Since the incidence of HL in Japan is approximately one-third of that in western countries, there are few studies on validation of international prognostic score (IPS) in Japanese patients (pts) with HL. Patients and Methods: JCOG-LSG conducted 2 multicenter phase II trials for advanced HL, including ABVd (JCOG9305) and ABV followed by involved-field radiotherapy (JCOG9705). Because dacarbazine was highly emetic, and not approved for HL in Japan in those days, the dose of dacarbazine was reduced to a two-thirds (250 mg/m2) of that in original ABVD regimen in ABVd, and in ABV with increased dose of doxorubicin, dacarbazine was not utilized. Among the whole 200 enrolled pts, histopathological specimens from 181 pts were reviewed by 6 hematopathologists and consensus diagnosis of HL was made in 167 (92.3%), according to the WHO classification. Major eligibility criteria of the trials were age between 15 and 69, ECOG performance status of 0 to 3, and clinical stage of II, III or IV in JCOG9305, and IB, IIB, III or IV in JCOG 9705. Results: 5-year survival of the 167 patients was 88.3%. Histopathological distributions of 167 pts with HL were similar with those in western countries; 2 nodular lymphocytic predominance (1.2%), 115 nodular sclerosis (68.9%), 3 lymphocyte-rich (1.8%), 34 mixed cellularity (20.1%), 7 lymphocyte depletion (4.2%), and 6 unclassified (3.6%). IPS was poorly fitted for the overall survival (OS), mainly because of too good prognosis of patients with IPS-grade 6. Seven unfavorable prognostic factors for OS identified by the univariate analysis were male sex, high β2 microglobulin, B symptoms, high LDH, high alkaline-phosphatase, clinical stage of III or IV, and histopathological subtype (mixed cellularity or lymphocyte depletion). Excluding β2 microglobulin from analysis because of only 105 available data, male sex [HR 3.30 (95%CI: 1.15–9.52, p=0.027) ] and high LDH [HR 2.41 (95%CI: 1.07–5.43, p=0.034)] were significant independent risk factors in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our study suggests that male sex and high LDH might be important prognostic factors in OS of pts with HL. Simple prognostic model for HL, including sex and LDH, was suggested.

Background: Since the incidence of HL in Japan is approximately one-third of that in western countries, there are few studies on validation of international prognostic score (IPS) in Japanese patients (pts) with HL.