Search

Background No easy-to-use fall risk assessment tools have been devised to assess occupational fall risk in older workers. Aims To develop an Occupational Fall Risk Assessment Tool (OFRAT) and report its predictive validity and reliability in older workers. Methods The baseline fall risk assessment was completed by 1113 participants aged ≥60 years who worked ≥4 days/month in Saitama, Japan. Participants were followed up for falls during occupational activities for 1 year, and 30 participants were assessed twice for test–retest reliability. The following assessment measures were summed to form the OFRAT risk score: older age, male sex, history of falls, physical work participation, diabetes, use of medications increasing fall risk, reduced vision, poor hearing, executive dysfunction and slow stepping. The scores were then classified into four grades (0–2 points: very low, 3 points: low, 4 points: moderate and ≥5 points: high). Results During follow-up, 112 participants fell 214 times during work. The negative binomial regression model showed that participants with higher grades had a higher incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] for falls than those with very low grades (low: 1.64 [1.08–2.47], moderate: 4.23 [2.82–6.34] and high: 6.12 [3.83–9.76]). The intraclass correlation coefficient for risk score was 0.86 [0.72–0.93], and the weighted kappa coefficient for grade assessment was 0.74 [0.52–0.95]. Conclusions The OFRAT is a valid and reliable tool for estimating the occupational fall risk in older workers. It may assist occupational physicians implement strategies to prevent falls in this group.

Objectives The aim of this AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial subgroup analysis was to examine rivaroxaban monotherapy benefits and their relation to the time between stenting and enrollment among patients after coronary stenting. Background Of 2,215 patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease in the AFIRE trial, rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (combination therapy) in terms of efficacy and superior for safety endpoints. However, thrombotic risk after antiplatelet therapy cessation remained a concern among 1,444 patients who had undergone coronary stenting >1 year before enrollment. Methods The benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy in coronary stenting subgroups were assessed for efficacy (a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring revascularization, or death of any cause), safety (major bleeding defined according to International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria), ischemic endpoints, net adverse clinical event, and time between stenting and enrollment. Results Efficacy and safety endpoints for monotherapy were superior to combination therapy, with HRs of 0.70 for efficacy (95% CI: 0.50-0.98; P = 0.036) and 0.55 for safety (95% CI: 0.33-0.92; P = 0.019). For ischemic endpoints, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.58-1.15; P = 0.240). The HR became smaller with longer time between stenting and enrollment (efficacy, P for interaction = 0.158; safety, P = 0.097). Conclusions In patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting, the benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy for efficacy and safety endpoints were consistent with those in the whole AFIRE trial population. The benefits became apparent with longer time between stenting and enrollment. (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease Study [AFIRE]; UMIN000016612 , NCT02642419 )

BackgroundRapid glucocorticoid (GC) tapering is recommended for lupus nephritis (LN) by 2019 EULAR/ERA-EDTA recommendations [1]. However, slower conventional GC tapering regimen is still common in the real world setting, and it is controversial whether a rapid GC tapering regimen is as effective as the conventional regimen.ObjectivesWe aimed to compare the renal outcomes between rapid and slower GC tapering regimens in patients with LN.MethodsWe retrospectively surveyed the medical records of 27 patients with proliferative LN (class Ⅲ or Ⅳ) at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital. These patients were divided into two groups (rapid GC tapering group and conventional GC tapering group) according to GC dosage at month 6. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association of GC tapering regimens with achievement of primary efficacy renal response (PERR) and complete renal response (CRR) which were defined by Furie et al. [2] at month 24.ResultsTwenty-seven patients (19 women and 8 men) with class Ⅲ or Ⅳ LN were included. The mean age was 43 years. The mean eGFR and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio at baseline were 66.7 mL/min/1.73m2 and 3.125 g/gCr, respectively. Concomitant class Ⅴ LN was present in 26.0%. The rapid GC tapering group (PSL≦10 mg/day at month 6) and the conventional GC tapering group (PSL>10 mg/day at month 6) were 11 and 16 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups except for use of cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil. Mean urine protein-to-creatinine ratio at month 24 were 0.46 g/gCr in the rapid GC tapering regimen group and 1.08 g/gCr in the conventional GC tapering regimen group (p=0.790). Achievements of PERR and CRR at month 24 were 54.0% and 43.8% in the rapid GC tapering group and 54.5% and 25.0% in the conventional GC tapering group, respectively. After adjustment of cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil usage and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio at baseline, adjusted odds ratio was 1.52 (95% confidence interval [0.126 to 18.29], p=0.743) and 2.99 (95% confidence interval [0.34 to 28.52], p=0.341), respectively.ConclusionOur results suggest rapid GC tapering regimen is as effective as conventional slower tapering regimen for patients with proliferative LN.References[1]Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Cheema K, et al. 2019 Update of the Joint European League Against Rheumatism and European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA-EDTA) recommendations for the management of lupus nephritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:713–723.[2]Furie R, Rovin BH, Houssiau F, et al. Two-Year, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Belimumab in Lupus Nephritis. N Engl J Med 2020;383:1117–1128.Table 1.Baseline patients characteristics.Rapid GC tapering group(n=11)Conventional GC tapering group(n=16)P valueAge – years41.7 ± 14.743.9 ± 16.20.863Female – no. (%)9 (81.8)10 (62.5)0.405Class Ⅲ LN – no. (%)6 (54.5)7 (43.8)0.704Class Ⅳ LN – no. (%)6 (45.5)9 (56.3)0.704Concomitant Class Ⅴ LN – no. (%)4 (36.4)3 (18.8)0.391Induction therapy (use of CY or MMF) – no. (%)10 (90.9)8 (50.0)0.042Serum creatinine – mg/dL1.15 ± 0.721.14 ± 0.800.882eGFR – mL/min/1.73m265.2 ± 39.067.8 ± 34.50.835UPCR – g/gCr3.29 ± 2.963.01 ± 3.250.604C3 – mg/dL41.1 ± 20.145.0 ± 21.50.639C4 – mg/dL6.8 ± 4.710.1 ± 8.00.346GC, glucocorticoid; LN, lupus nephritis; UPCR, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio; CY, cyclophosphamide; MMF, mycophenolate mofetilDisclosure of InterestsNone declared

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:35:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-10-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T15:04:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1516-635X2017000400717.pdf: 161837 bytes, checksum: 46bd3a18130b3ef717d72076292c037b (MD5) Among the several factors required in breeding laying hens, debeaking is a factor that interferes with batch performance and affects animal welfare. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate three different debeaking procedures and to verify the best technique to be used. For this, the performance of the birds, the incidence of cannibalism, and in rearing phase, the quality of the eggs were evaluated. Dekalb White birds were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments, T1 (infrared radiation debeaking) T2 (hot blade debeaking) and T3 (V debeaking).The data was submitted to Analysis of Variance and compared by Tukey’s test (95%), using statistical software R. The frequencies of mortality and cannibalism were submitted to the Chi-Square test (Software R). It was observed that mortality was lower with IR debeaking in the breeding phase. Already in the rearing phase, the mortality was similar between the debeaking techniques and the cannibalism was null. The final mean weight (g), mean weight gain (g) and average daily weight gain in the rearing and egg quality variables were higher for V debeaking when compared to other techniques. It is concluded that V-debeaking provides better bird performance, resistance and shell thickness when compared to the infrared radiations and hot blade debeaking, in addition to subjecting the birds to less stress. São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCAT Unesp São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCA Unesp São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FMVZ Unesp Hendrix Genetics Ltda São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCAT Unesp São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FCA Unesp São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” FMVZ Unesp

Background As disease modified anti-rheumatic-drugs (DMARDs) were the mainstay in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the opportunity for general physicians to also prescribe DMARDs has recently increased in Japan. After DMARDs were initiated by specialists, subsequent drug prescription by general physicians during remission should be expected 1 . However, general physicians are more likely than rheumatologists to feel it difficult to accept patients taking even conventional synthetics (cs) DMARDs but not biologics and such discomforts may be potential barriers to cooperative management between specialists and general physicians 2 . One of the reasons is because some csDMARDs such as methotrexate and leflunomide may induce pneumonitis or worsen RA-related pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) as a rare but severe adverse event 3) . To minimise the risk, rheumatologists may choose low-risk csDMARDs smartly when the patients are concomitant with risk factors on ILD. Objectives To measure the physicians’ perspective toward the risk of each csDMARDs on drug-induced ILD and their attitude in prescribing the csDMARDs to a pre-existing ILD case. Methods A questionnaire was given in an internet survey to registered physicians who take care of more than ten patients with RA in Japan. Topics covered were i) how is the risk of each csDMARD for drug-induced lung injury compared to methotrexate, ii) which csDMARDs should be applied to a case with mild pneumonitis on the chest CT. Cross tabulation analysis and χ 2 test as a statistical analysis was performed. Results A total 184 physicians consisting of 66 rheumatologists (36%) and 118 non-rheumatologists (64%) responded. The physicians’ mean age was 45 years old. The rheumatologists tended to belong to rheumatology and take care of more than 200 RA patients per month in university hospitals. On the other hand, the non-rheumatologists tended to belong to general medicine and manage less than 50 patients per month in their clinics. The csDMARDs except for methotrexate were more significantly prescribed by the rheumatologists. All rheumatologists but 24% of non-rheumatologists had managed RA patients with exacerbated ILD. On physicians’ perspective toward the risk of each csDMARD, the rheumatologists considered that LEF was equal to or higher than MTX and that cyclosporine A (CyA), tacrolimus (TAC), salazosulfapyridine (SASP) was relatively safer (Figure A.). In cases with pre-existing ILD, more rheumatologists agreed to use the csDMARDs except for methotrexate and leflunomide. (Figure B.) R: rheumatologists, non-R: non-rheumatologists, MTX: methotrexate, LEF: leflunomide, CyA: cyclosporine A, TAC: tacrolimus, SASP: salazosulfapyridine, BUC: bucillamine, IGU: iguratimod Conclusions We can find the gap of risk perception about each csDMARDs between rheumatologists and non-rheumatologist and the difference of attitude in prescribing to patients concomitant with risk factors. Considerable consensus and additional enlightenment to general physicians should be necessary. References [1] Puchner R. Interface Management between General Practitioners and Rheumatologists-Results of a Survey Defining a Concept for Future Joint Recommendations. PLoS One2016Jan 7;11(1). [2] Garneau KL. Primary care physicians’ perspectives towards managing rheumatoid arthritis: room for improvement. Arthritis Res Ther. 2011;13(6). [3] Roubille C. Interstitial lung diseases induced or exacerbated by DMARDS and biologic agents in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic literature review. Semin Arthritis Rheum2014Apr;43(5). Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the second most common internal organ affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc). The rate of SSc patients who develop severe GIT symptoms is lower than 10%, although various degrees of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) may occur in as many as 40% of cases (1.2). Objectives To report an autopsy case of SSc with severe intestinal involvement and review the associated literature. Methods We will present the clinical features and autopsy findings of a SSc patient and literature concerning Japanese SSc autopsy cases associated with severe intestinal involvement, found Igaku-chuo and Pub-med on Internet. Results A 69-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with diffuse cutaneous SSc from skin sclerosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and mild interstitial pneumonia in January 2013. The antinuclear antibody was positive (1:160, speckled pattern), but the specific antibodies, including the anti-RNP, topoisomerase I, and centromere antibodies, were negative. In August 2015, at the age of 71, she was hospitalised for vomiting and abdominal pain. Plain abdominal radiograph showed dilation of the small bowel with air-fluid levels. Abdominal CT revealed large dilation of the small bowel in the absence of any mechanical obstruction. These findings were consistent with CIPO. Her symptoms soon improved by decompression with a long intestinal tube. But she experienced frequent relapse of CIPO. During the third hospitalisation in May 2016, an abdominal CT showed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) and free air in the peritoneal cavity. Medical management failed to control the CIPO. Her general conditions had gradually worsened with weight loss of 10 kg in 3 years. Home parental nutrition was initiated in January 2017. On May 2017, she developed severe pneumonia after vomiting, and her condition gradually deteriorated. She finally succumbed to her illness and an autopsy was performed. The whole alimentary tract except for the duodenum showed a thinning of the lamina propria and atrophy of the smooth muscular layers. Intimal proliferation and narrowing of arterioles were also noted. There was non-specific interstitial pneumonitis in the both lower lobes and diffuse alveolar damage in the both of upper lobes of the lungs. Vasculopathy was also seen in the lungs and heart. The cases in the literature are summarised in table 1. Vascular damage and/or smooth muscle atrophy were presented in all cases. M, male; F, female; yr, years; mo, months; GIT, gastrointestinal tract; IP, interstitial pneumonia; CIPO, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction; PCI, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis; 1) Intimal proliferation and narrowing of the small arteries Conclusions Vasculopathy in SSc involves small vessels, and it precedes fibrosis.3 The triggering event of vasculopathy is unknown, but the narrowing of intestinal arterioles causing hypoxia might be responsible for dysmotility of GIT. References [1] Sjogren RW. Gastrointestinal motility disorders in scleroderma. Arthritis Rheum1994; 37:1265–82. [2] MacMahan ZH, et al. Determining the risk factors and clinical features associated with severe gastrointestinal dysmotility in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res2017Nov 28 [3] Gabrielli A, et al. Mechanisms of disease Scleroderma. New Engl J Med2009; 360: 1989–2003. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background As Japan is a super-aged society, we have many chances to care for elderly patients in our hospital. Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (onset age >60 years) may present similar symptoms to those of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We consider that differential diagnosis of RA and PMR is more difficult in patients over 75 than those under 74 in clinical practice. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) was reported to be a helpful tool in the differential diagnosis of EORA from PMR. However, when elderly patients with negative ACPA complained of bilateral shoulder and/or girdle pain, it was difficult to differentiate PMR from RA. Objectives The study aimed to explore clinical features of RA and PMR at onset age 75 years. For the present investigation, we used a novel diagnostic tool to distinguish ACPA-negative elderly RA patients from PMR patients at initial presentation. Methods From April 2011 to December 2016, 21 RA patients and 24 PMR patients in our hospital, whose onset age was over 75 years, were recruited for this study. PMR patients did not have any evidence of giant cell arteritis. The diagnosis of RA was made based on 2010 ACR/EULAR RA classification criteria. The diagnosis of PMR was made based on 2012 EULAR/ACR classification criteria or Bird9s criteria. Data were obtained from medical records under informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test to compare median values and Fisher9s exact test to compare frequencies (IBM SPSS version 24). P Results RA patients (6 men and 15 women) consisted of fifteen ACPA+ (11 RF+, 4 RF–), six ACPA– (1 RF+, 5 RF–). PMR patients consisted of 12 men and 12 women. All of them were ACPA–/RF– and did not meet 2010 RA criteria. Twenty patients met 2012 PMR classification criteria, and 4 patients without bilateral shoulder pain met Bird9s criteria. Clinical features and statistical results are shown in the Table. Sixty-seven percent of RA patients and 13% of PMR patients had left-right differences in joint pain. Scoring was performed based on clinical findings. Tenderness and/or swelling joint counts among wrists, fingers, ankles, and knees = each 1 point, left-right difference =1 point, no bilateral shoulder pain =1 point, no girdle pain =1 point, no fever =1 point; the maximum score was 8. The mean score in RA patients was 4.8 (SD =1.44), whereas that in PMR patients was significantly lower at 1.5 (0.98) ( P Conclusions Pease et al studied RA at onset 60 years and over and PMR, and reported that arthritis of wrists and fingers was suggestive of RA 1 . However, in our study, small joint swelling was rare in RA patients 75 years and older. The scoring system we made might be useful for the differential diagnosis of ACPA-negative RA and PMR in elderly patients 75 years and older. References Pease CT, et al. Diagnosing late onset rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and temporal arteritis in patients presenting with polymyalgic symptoms. A prospective longterm evaluation. J Rheumatol 32: 1043–1046, 2005. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Unit step responses (USRs) of a USR-measuring system recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission have been computed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for various conditions of grounding and shield ring. The USR measuring system subject to analysis has a resistor divider of height 3.3 m and resistance 9 kΩ. It follows from FDTD-computed results that USR parameters are not much influenced by either the laboratory-floor conductivity σ or its relative permittivity er if σ is higher than or equal to 10 mS/m, and they are close to the USR parameters for σ = ∞. When σ is lower than about 0.1 mS/m, USR parameters are more influenced by σ and er. Variations in the partial response time Tα, the experimental response time Tn, the settling time Ts, and the overshoot β , due to the differences of σ and er, are 8 ns, 14 ns, 150 ns, and 50%, respectively. Even if the width of a horizontal metal sheet is extended from wg = 2 to 3 m, these variations are not much reduced. The extension of the width of a vertical metal sheet from wv = 1 to 2 m does not influence the USR parameters much, either. The installing height of a shield ring h influences the USR parameters: with decreasing h, Tα and Tn decrease while β and Ts increase. Note that the FDTD-computed USR for σ = 0.1 S/m and er = 10 agrees well with the corresponding measured USR.

We studied the CuCl microcavity designed for the enhancement of the biexciton-photon coupling, in terms of spectrally resolved four-wave mixing. We observed the strong dependence of the spectrum on the polarization of the pump pulses and the polarization correlation between the pump pulses and the four-wave mixing signal, suggesting that the biexciton state is successfully formed in the CuCl microcavity. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Electrical properties of halogen-doped CdTe layers grown on Si substrates using iodine and chlorine dopants are presented. No change in electrical properties of the layers was observed with chlorine as a dopant. However, doping with iodine resulted in highly conductive n-type layers or highly resistive p-type layers depending upon the growth conditions, even though a similar amount of dopant was introduced into the growth chamber. Layers grown at 560°C, with a vapor-phase Te/Cd precursor ratio of 3.0, were p-type. The resistivity of the layers remained unchanged for low dopant supply rates, but increased abruptly when the dopant supply rate was increased beyond a certain value. On the other hand, layers grown at 325°C with Te/Cd ratios from 0.1 to 0.25 were n-type. A maximum free electron concentration of 1.3 x 10 17 cm -3 was obtained at room temperature. The types and conductivities of the grown layers were strongly dependent on the growth conditions.

We studied the effect of iodine doping of CdTe films on Si substrates grown by MOVPE at different growth conditions. A high resistivity film was obtained by adjusting the growth temperature, Te/Cd precursor flow ratio and the dopant flow-rate. Our results show the film resistivity does not change linearly with the dopant flow-rate. The resistivity remains low and similar to that of undoped value for low dopant flow-rate, but increases abruptly when the dopant flow-rate is increased beyond certain value. Photoluminescence measurements of the films confirmed the dopant incorporation in the crystal. We explained the result of resistivity change due to the compensation of excess shallow acceptors by deep intrinsic donors.

High crystalline quality thick films of single crystal CdTe were grown directly on (211) Si substrates using MOVPE growth technique for gamma ray detector fabrication. A highest growth-rate of 65 mum/h was achieved at a substrate temperature of 600degC. Films were monocrystalline as confirmed from the X-ray diffraction pattern. Results from the 4.2 K photoluminescence measurement showed films were of good crystalline quality. The gamma detector was fabricated in a p-CdTe/n-CdTe/n+-Si heterojunction diode structure, which exhibited clear rectifying behavior with a low value of room-temperature reverse bias leakage current, typically 0.11 muA/cm2 at 100 V bias. The detector leakage current was reduced by three orders of magnitude from the room-temperature value at -30degC. The detector clearly demonstrated its spectroscopy capability by resolving energy peaks from the 241Am gamma isotope.

When an ultrasonic wave is applied to the end of a magnetic rod and a standing wave is generated, high frequency stress will be generated at the standing wave nodes according to the frequency of the ultrasonic wave. The change in magnetic moment generated by this high frequency stress can be easily observed with a detector coil. On the other hand, since stress is not generated at the positions of the antinodes, an induced electromotive force is not produced in the detector coil. Therefore, observation of the stress distribution in the sample rod with the detector coil is possible. Since this phenomenon is reversible, a standing wave may also be generated by applying high frequency voltage, using a detector coil as an excitation coil. In that case, the impedance of the excitation coil changes from the node to the antinode positions. Therefore, it is possible to measure the stress distribution in a sample using only an excitation coil. This paper is a report of research into the effect that the standing wave in a magnetic rod exerts on the impedance of an excitation coil.

The ammoxidation of propylene on Fe-Bi-P mixed oxide catalyst was studied at 500 °C by the pulse reaction technique, to examine the effects of P(P = 0–4) and P (P/P = 0–3) on the catalyst activity. Since the ammoxidation of propylene proceeds through consumption of oxygen from the catalyst even in the absence of oxygen, the reduction of catalyst progresses with the number of O2-free pulse, losing its activity. In the presence of oxygen, however, the conversion of propylene and the selectivities of acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, CO2, and CO vary with the pulse number, but settle to some steady values corresponding to P/P. It is also found that the conversion and the selectivities depend on the oxidation state of the catalyst, the latter also depending on P/P in the reactants, and that the catalyst working in the flow system may be being reduced to some extent.

Anisotropic fluid flow in single sheared fractures in granite is investigated numerically under normal stresses up to 90 MPa that are the extended stress conditions of the previous studies. Aperture distributions of the sheared fractures under the normal stresses generated numerically on the basis of direct measurements of contact area suggest anisotropy of connectivity in fracture aperture even under the normal stresses. Numerical simulation of fluid flow using the generated aperture distribution shows not only anisotropy in fracture permeability and that in preferential flow paths, but also the normal stress dependency in the anisotropy of fracture permeability. An investigation on contact ratio reveals the anisotropy and the normal stress dependency in aperture connectivity, which supports the results of flow simulation. These results suggest importance of the flow anisotropy in discrete fractures for investigating three‐dimensional flow properties in fractured rocks at a greater depth.

We report on an evidence of anisotropy in flow path in a single fracture on the basis of measurements of a contact area in a fracture with shear offset of up to 5 mm undergoing normal stress of up to 90 MPa. An area of contact in a fracture undergoing normal stress is measured by using a pressure‐sensitive sheet inserted between fracture surfaces. This method allows simple measurements of contact area in the stressed conditions. Our results show that contact area increases with an increase in normal stress, on the contrary, contact area decreases with an increase in the offset. These dependencies in a contact area suggests that an open area, i.e., aperture area, which is illustrated as an area except for contact area in a fracture, can change associated with normal stress even under the condition of 100 MPa. In addition, we observed that contact area distributes in the direction perpendicular to the direction of offset, which indicates an anisotropy in aperture distribution that become possible flow path in a fracture. Results of numerical simulation of fluid flow in a fracture support the anisotropy in aperture distribution and consequent anisotropy in fluid flow in a fracture. The anisotropy in aperture distribution suggests an anisotropy in fracture permeability since tortuousity in a flow path could be affected by the aperture distribution.

Uniform coating of the thick diamond-like carbon (DLC) on the cylindrical pipe, triangular prism and trench of aluminum alloy was studied with the hybrid processing system of plasma-based ion implantation and deposition. In this system, the RF pulse for plasma generation was applied to a substrate with the high-voltage pulse for ion implantation through a joint matching network and a single electrical feed-through. The DLC film with the thickness of a few μm was prepared using the toluene gas (C6H5CH3) and the negative high-voltage pulse (−10 to −20 kV, 2–4 μs and 1–4 kHz). The DLC film thickness profile estimated from the cross-sectional SEM observation was extremely uniform on the surfaces of cylindrical pipe and triangular pole. For the trench with the aspect ratio of 1, the film thickness of top surface was about 1.3 times larger than that of bottom and 1.9 times than the sidewall.

The microsurgical anatomy of the lateral ventricles was examined in cadaveric cerebral hemispheres. The neural, arterial and venous structures in the wall of the lateral ventricles, the relationships of the lateral ventricles to the velum interpositum and third ventricle were examined. The relationships of the choroidal fissure and basal cisterns were also examined. The operative approaches to the lateral ventricles are reviewed and several clinical cases are presented.

The system effect of tritium arises from the interaction of tritium in the gas phase with water on the surface of piping materials. It has been reported that the system effect can be quantified by applying the serial reactor model to the piping system, connection of perfect mixed flow type reactors and plug flow type reactors, and that adsorption and isotope exchange reactions play the main roles in the trapping of tritium. In this study we made a calculation code of the system effect using the serial reactor model where 304SS, aluminum, copper or graphite is used for the piping material. Comparison of the calculated value using this code gives the good agreement with the experimental data taken at the cooperative experiment using a box made of stainless steel type 304 in Tritium Processing Laboratory in JAERI and that is called as the Caisson. It is observed that the isotope exchange reaction between tritiated water in the air and surface water on the 304SS surface controls the tritium trapping performance at the room temperature although HTO/HT ratio is around 0.1 in this experiment.

A temperature-sensitive ferrimagnetic thin film (TFF) with 1.5 μm thickness was obtained by vacuum deposition of [Fe/Zn/Mn/Zn/Fe] multilayers on alumina substrates and subsequent sintering and annealing. The composition of the TFF is MnxZn1-xFe2O4, The sputtering methods are the most typical procedures for obtaining magnetic thin films, while the new method has a low cost and does not require a special target like that used in the sputterig methods. The magnetization of TFF depends strongly on the sintering and annealing conditions. The TFF, which was sintered for 420 min in an atmosphere of oxygen with a partial pressure of 1% at 1200°C and annealed for 1 min in an atmosphere of argon at 400°C, exhibited a maximum saturation magnetization of about 105 emu/cm3 at room temperature. For the temperature change from 0°C to 60°C, the saturation magnetization of the TFF changed about 46%. TFF with sharp thermal response can be used as a micro-temperature sensor, a thermomagnetic transducer, an enzyme sensor, and a light-magnetic device. In this paper, the sintering and annealing conditions for the TFF are the focus of our attention.

A magnetic infrared sensor (MIS) is a device that converts radiated infrared rays into magnetic change by means of its energy. Photoelectrical sensors using photoconductive, photovoltaic, photoemissive and pyroelectric effects have hitherto been used as an infrared sensor. The MIS system constructed with a 1.0-μm-thickness ferrimagnetic Film (FMF) prepared by RF sputtering and a magnetoresistance element. When infrared rays are directed onto the FMF, it receives energy and the device’s temperature rises, causing magnetic change. After this minute change is read out by a magnetoresistance element, it is converted into voltage. This paper describes the structure of the MIS and its application to the measurements of human action patterns for a telecare system without a monitor camera that protects the privacy of old people living alone.

This paper shows our experimental results for the heating characteristics of magnetic wood. We made a separate heating board and a multiple-ply heating board, to both of which were adhered magnetic wood and an excitation coil. The results showed that the multiple-ply heating board, which was combined with coated magnetic wood and a spiral coil, had superior heating characteristics and heating efficiency.

The pressure broadening coefficient for O 2 in the a 1 Δ g state has been measured to be 2.006±0.064 MHz/Torr at 290 K with a submillimeter-wave spectrometer with a backward wave oscillator as radiation source, where the uncertainty indicates one standard error from a least-squares fit. The broadening parameter by nitrogen is also measured. The temperature dependence is examined in the range 246–290 K. These results are useful for deriving the altitude distribution of O 2 a 1 Δ g generated by a photochemical reaction from ozone in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere.

Incorporation of iron particles into carbon films was carried out by mixing an iron complex with polyimide in solution and by following carbonization. Iron in the polyimide film promoted the carbonization of matrix polyimide and increased the electrical conductivity of films. The growth of iron particles in carbon films and the change from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic behavior were observed with the increase of carbonization temperature.

Two types of boron containing polyimide (Kapton type) film were prepared either by adding dihydroxyphenylborane (DPB) to polyamic acid [mixing method] or by using diaminodiphenyl ether having a boron containing functional group (DDE–B) to prepare polyamic acid [substitution method]. Formed polyimide films containing boron were carbonized at 600–1200°C. By doping boron into the precursor polyimide, preferential formation of B–N bonds in carbonized films was observed and appreciable amounts of nitrogen were chemically trapped in the carbon film even after carbonization at 1200°C. The polyimide prepared by the substitution method gave uniform carbon films in composition and structure, though DDE–B is not simply synthesized and didn't polymerize to high degree. The polyimide prepared by the mixing method gave non-uniform carbon films, but the process was very simple and possible to increase boron content by using different boron compounds.

The authors have developed a knee-ankle-foot orthosis with a joint unit that controls knee movements using a microcomputer (Intelligent Orthosis). The Intelligent Orthosis was applied to normal subjects and patients, and gait analysis was performed. In the gait cycle, the ratio of the stance phase to the swing phase was less in gait with the knee locked using a knee-ankle-foot orthosis than in gait without an orthosis or gait with the knee controlled by a microcomputer. The ratio of the stance phase to the swing phase between controlled gait and normal gait was similar. For normal subjects the activity of the tibialis anterior was markedly increased from the heel-off phase to the swing phase in locked gait. The muscle activities of the lower limb were lower in controlled gait than in locked gait. The ground reaction force in locked gait showed spikes immediately after heel-contact in the vertical component, and unusual patterns were observed at heel-contact in the sagittal and lateral component. Therefore, compared to locked gait, gait with the Intelligent Orthosis is smooth and close to normal gait from the viewpoint of biomechanics. Even in patients with muscle weakness of the quadriceps, control of the knee joint using the Intelligent Orthosis resulted in a more smooth gait with low muscle discharge.

Temperature-sensitive magnetic bulk cores and thick films have been fabricated for thermal sensors. These magnetic substances are used in large size instruments, but cannot be adapted for miniaturization. The authors have previously been proposed a temperature-sensitive magnetic thin film annealed in oxygen atmosphere, but the saturation magnetization is below 1/5 of a bulk core. Then a temperature-sensitive Mn-Zn ferrite thin film sensor device (TMS) was prepared by sputtering and annealing in argon atmosphere. TMS's saturation magnetization is nearly equal to that of an Mn-Zn bulk ferrite. The magnetization has a marked temperature dependence like that of a bulk core or a thick film. A TMS with a small heat capacitor responds sharply to a minute temperature variation, and is therefore expected to be applicable in pyromagnetic photosensors, photo pattern sensors, and enzyme sensors.

Endoscopical measurement of gastric mucosal blood flow seems to provide substantial advantages for noninvasive and repetitive scrutiny, especially in small animals. We employed a quartz probe 0.5 mm in diameter which was inserted into the gastric lumen through the forceps channel (0.8 mm in diameter) of the endoscope. Gastric mucosal blood flow determined with this probe in combination with laser Doppler velocimetry were sufficiently consistent and reproducible in the corpus as long as the tissue-to-probe distance was positioned in gentle contact with the gastric mucosa perpendicularly. Topical application of endothelin-1 produced a significant long-lasting decline in gastric mucosal blood flow, although laparotomy per se resulted in a slight decrease of the blood flow. Endoscopic measurement of gastric mucosal blood flow seems simple and reproducible with high potential for chronic studies.

The relationship between wood construction and DC magnetic characteristics for three types of magnetic wood was experimentally investigated. The results show that the magnetic characteristics of each type of magnetic wood are dependent on the magnetic materials, the density of the magnetic material and the construction of the wood. Furthermore, it was determined that the relationship between the fiber direction and the magnetic path direction of the magnetic wood influenced the wood's magnetic characteristics.

Among three types of proposed magnetic wood, powder-type magnetic wood can be made of recycled magnetic materials from IT devices, consumer electronics and waste wood. Because of its wood powder content, powder-type magnetic wood shows special characteristics different from those of typical magnetic materials. We focused on the relationship between humidity and magnetic characteristics of powder-type magnetic wood. The magnetic powder ratio, wood powder density and magnetic binder density were all examined as parameters for AC permeability.

The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene promoter contains a consensus sequence for the polyomavirus enhancer binding-protein 2 (PEBP2) transcription factor, which consists of alpha and beta subunits. There are at least two genes, alpha A and alpha B, encoding the alpha subunit. alpha B is the mouse homologue of human AML1 gene detected at the breakpoints of t(8;21) and t(3;21) myeloid leukemias. We examined alpha A1 (an alpha A-gene product) and alpha B1 and alpha B2 (two alpha B-encoded isomers) for their effects on the GM- CSF promoter. PEBP2 alpha A1, alpha B1, and alpha B2 proteins bound the PEBP2 site within the mouse GM-CSF promoter. PEBP2 alpha A1 and alpha B1 enhanced the expression of the GM-CSF promoter-driven reporter plasmid in unstimulated and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13- acetate/phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human Jurkat T cells. In contrast, the promoter activity was suppressed by alpha B2. Coexpression of alpha B1 and alpha B2 showed that the promoter activity could be determined by the alpha B1/alpha B2 ratio. Jurkat cell extract contained PEBP2 site-binding protein(s) that cross-reacted with antimouse alpha A1 antibodies. Northern blot analysis indicated the expression of human PEBP2 alpha A, alpha B (AML1), and beta genes in Jurkat cells. Although further studies are required to determine the precise role of PEBP2 in the GM-CSF promoter activity, the present findings suggested the importance of the relative ratio of different PEBP2 isoforms in regulating the levels of the promoter activity.

腸管吻合においてステープル吻合器(以下EEA)と圧挫式無縫合吻合器(以下AKA-2)による縫合を実験的に作成し縫合不全の発生頻度,吻合部耐圧度,肉眼的観察,組織修複反応について検討し,創傷治癒の過程から安全性および信頼性を検討した.術前縫合不全の発生頻度は,腸管内非洗浄群ではAKA-2(54.5%),とEEA(11.1%)に比べて高かった.吻合部耐圧度は,術後2日目でAKA-2は100mmHg以下とEEAに比べて極端に低かった.吻合部の内翻腸管は,EEAでは血行が十分保たれていた.内翻腸管をリングで圧挫・把持するAKA-2では術後早期に内翻腸管は退縮し,血流低下による血行障害で,両腸管を翻転した癒合部が完成する前にリングが脱落するので,耐圧度が低下し,何らかの原因が加って内圧が上昇すると縫合不全の危険性が高まると考えられた.

The temperature dependence of the susceptibility of the narrow-gap semiconductor FeSi is calculated by taking into account the effect of the Fermi distribution function and that of the spin fluctuations based on the Ginzburg–Landau theory. The temperature dependencies of the Landau parameters are estimated by using the calculated density-of-states curve and the Fermi distribution function. By the Gaussian approximation, the mean square amplitude of the spin fluctuations is obtained self-consistently with the susceptibility. The observed huge maximum in the temperature dependence of the susceptibility is obtained.

A growth-assisted coprecipitation process is proposed to achieve highly magnetic Mn–Zn ferrite particles. In this method, first, the particles were synthesized by coprecipitation under optimum condition. Then, further enhancement in particle size was obtained by using the already prepared particles as seed. The average crystallite size of the particles prepared by the proposed method was 12 nm. Furthermore, the magnetization at 1 T applied field was 50 emu/g compared to 37 emu/g of coprecipitated particles. It should be noted that the Curie temperature of the particles remained similar to the coprecipitated particles suggesting that the composition of the Mn–Zn ferrite particles has not been affected by the modified synthesis technique. The gradient of the magnetization-temperature curve was enhanced as a consequence of the rise in magnetization. These particles could be used for the synthesis of temperature sensitive magnetic fluid with higher magnetization and magnetization-temperature gradient.

BACKGROUND Acotiamide hydrochloride (acotiamide), a novel selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, has proven significantly effective in treating functional dyspepsia (FD) in clinical trials, particularly in alleviating meal-related symptoms. In the present study, we examined the gastrointestinal prokinetic effects of acotiamide administered orally or intraduodenally in conscious dogs and investigated in vivo and ex vivo anti-AChE activity of acotiamide to clarify its mechanism of prokinetic action.Gastrointestinal motility was measured in conscious dogs with chronically implanted force transducers.Oral administration of acotiamide stimulated postprandial gastroduodenal and colonic motor activities. Measurement of gastrointestinal motility showed that acotiamide, like itopride and mosapride, enhanced gastric antral motility. Further, acotiamide markedly improved clonidine (an α(2) -adrenoceptor agonist)-induced hypomotility in a dog model of gastric motor dysfunction. The postprandial gastric antral motility enhanced by acotiamide was completely abolished on treatment with the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. Results of an in vivo experiment on anti-AChE activity showed clearly increased acetylcholine-induced gastric motility on intraduodenal administration of acotiamide, just as observed with the AChE inhibitor neostigmine. Further, in ex vivo experiment, intraduodenal administration of acotiamide significantly inhibited AChE activity in canine gastric antrum.Our findings revealed that acotiamide administered through the alimentary tract exerts gastroprokinetic action via cholinergic pathways by inhibiting AChE activity. These results may also confirm the mechanism of action in clinical efficacy of acotiamide on FD.

The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal duration of acid suppression required for the initial treatment of gastric ulcer, and to compare the acid-suppressive effects of omeprazole with the H2-blocker cimetidine in patients with gastric ulcer as determined by 24-hour measurement of intragastric pH. Cimetidine was administered daily to 31 patients, while omeprazole was administered daily to 16 patients and every second day to an additional 16 patients. Ulcers healed within 2 months of treatment in 16 of the 31 patients administered cimetidine. The pH 4 holding time (the proportion of the total 24-hour period of measurement during which intragastric pH was 4 or higher) was 51.9 ± 4.6% of the 24-hour period of measurement for these 16 patients. Patients with unhealed ulcers had significantly shorter durations of ‘pH 4 holding time’ (15.8 ± 2.9% of the 24-hour period). There was no difference in the ‘pH 4 holding time’ of the 24-hour period between those receiving cimetidine who had a curable ulcer within 2 months and those administered omeprazole on alternate days (57.5 ± 7.9%). These findings suggest that obtaining the optimal duration of acid suppression is necessary for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Omeprazole administered as an alternate-day regimen is useful not only for the prevention of recurrence, but also for the initial treatment of gastric ulcer.