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A muon linac is under development for the precise measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment (g − 2) and electric dipole moment (EDM) with a reaccelerated thermal muon beam. An H− source driven by an ultraviolet light has been developed for the muon acceleration experiment. Prior to the acceleration experiment, a beamline commissioning was performed using this H− beam, since the accelerated muon intensity is very low. We successfully measured the magnetic rigidity, which is essential for identifying the accelerated muons. This H− source is capable of utilizing as a general-purpose beam source for other beamline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Machine perfusion (MP) techniques are expected to prove useful for preserving the organ viability and recovering organ function for organ transplantation. Furthermore, an accurate assessment of organ viability using MP is important for expanding the donor criteria. In this study, an ex vivo reperfusion model (ERM) simulating transplantation using diluted autologous blood under normothermic conditions was evaluated for its utility of MP under subnormothermic conditions for livers donated after cardiac death (DCD). Methods The liver preservation methods for DCD porcine livers were evaluated using the ERM. This investigation was performed using a novel perfusion system developed by our research group. Porcine livers were procured with a warm ischemia time (WIT) of 60 minutes. The organs were then preserved using subnormothemic machine perfusion (SNMP) or static cold storage (CS) for 4 hours. We also compared these tissues with SNMP livers procured under a WIT of 0 minutes. After the preservation, the livers were reperfused for 2 hours using the ERM with diluted autologous blood oxygenated by a membrane oxygenator under NMP conditions. Reperfusion was evaluated based on perfusion flow dynamics and outflow of deviating enzymes. Results In the early stages of reperfusion, pressure in the blood vessels increased sharply in the CS group. Furthermore, the amount of aspartate aminotransferase accumulation was lower in the SNMP group than in the other groups. These results suggest ischemia-reperfusion injury is suppressed in SNMP conditions. Conclusion An ERM has use in evaluating the utility of MP for the DCD liver. Highlights • An ex vivo reperfusion model was suggested using diluted blood under normothermic conditions. • Subnormothermic machine perfusion may reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury. • An ex vivo reperfusion model could evaluate function in a short period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxygenation is necessary for aerobic metabolism, which maintains adenosine triphosphate within the graft organ. In recent years, some studies have demonstrated that subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP) with hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers has the potential to improve oxygen metabolism. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of perfusate with human-derived hemoglobin vesicles (HbV) under SNMP in a pig model of donation after cardiac death. Materials and Methods In this study, pig livers were procured with a warm ischemic time of 60 minutes and were preserved in 3 groups for 240 minutes. The preservation conditions were as follows: 4°C cold storage (Group 1); SNMP with University of Wisconsin perfusate alone (Group 2); and SNMP (21°C) with University of Wisconsin solution and HbV (hemoglobin, 0.6 mg/dL) perfusate (Group 3). All livers were perfused for 120 minutes using pig autologous blood machine perfusion (reperfusion phase). We investigated the aspartate transaminase level and hemodynamics (portal vein resistance and oxygen consumption) in the preservation and reperfusion phases. A histologic study (hematoxylin-eosin staining) was performed after 240 minutes of preservation. Results The portal vein resistance of Group 3 was not increased in comparison with Group 2. During preservation, the oxygen consumption of Group 3 was higher than that of Group 2. However, the level of aspartate transaminase did not differ between Groups 2 and 3. Conclusion The present study revealed that perfusate with HbV increased the oxygen consumption of the donor liver during SNMP. Highlights • Hemoglobin vesicles (HbV) is a human-derived oxygen carrier. • We evaluated the effectiveness of perfusate with HbV. • Pig liver after cardiac arrest was preserved under subnormothermic machine perfusion. • The perfusate with HbV increased the oxygen consumption during machine perfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Subnormothermic machine perfusion (SNMP) shows some advantages for the preservation of grafts donated after cardiac death (DCD) and improvements in machine perfusion (MP) technology are important to enhance organ preservation outcomes for liver transplantation. In this study, we focused on purified subnormothermic machine perfusion (PSNMP) and volumes of perfusate removed to substitute for purification and replaced by modified University of Wisconsin-gluconate after the start of perfusion and investigated, in particular, the optimum perfusate purification volume. Several purification volumes under SNMP were compared. In addition, the perfusate purification during MP was indicated as a potential technique to enhance the organ quality of DCD grafts and extended-criteria donors. Methods The PSNMP at several volumes (0.5 L, 1.5 L, and 3 L) were compared with regular SNMP without any purification treatment (untreated control). In the PSNMP group, all perfusate was removed to substitute for purification of the perfusate by modified University of Wisconsin-gluconate solution after the start of perfusion. After removing the perfusate, new perfusate with the same components was perfused to preserve the porcine livers obtained under warm ischemia for 60 minutes using SNMP at 22°C porcine liver for 4 hours. Results The concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase in the untreated group were significantly higher during perfusion compared to those of the intervention group. There are no significant differences among the volume conditions of the purification groups. Conclusions The optimal volume of perfusate purification was confirmed with a simple experimental comparison between untreated and PSNMP conditions. Highlights • Purified subnormothermic machine perfusion (PSNMP) has been suggested to enhance the organ quality of grafts donated after cardiac death (DCD) and extended-criteria donors. This technique removes perfusate and replaces it with modified University of Wisconsin-gluconate after the start of perfusion as a means of purification. • The PSNMP is a promising preservation technique for DCD with regard to its ability to eliminate accumulated humoral factors and subsequently improve functional recovery of the liver during reperfusion. • The optimal volume of perfusate purification was confirmed with a simple experimental comparison between untreated and PSNMP groups of porcine livers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The normality dependence and the kinetics of flow behavior in the rice starch dispersion under strong alkali conditions were studied. Non-Newtonian flow (power-law) quantities n and μ (; σ, shear stress; , shear rate) of the samples stored (gelatinized) at 20°C for 10min after the addition of NaOH solution with the normality 0.090–0.175N, were measured by a cone-plate type rotational viscometer. For the flow analysis a care was taken for the ambiguity of the analysis range of flow data. The samples added with 0.14–0.16N NaOH displayed an apparently dilatant flow. As the normality of added NaOH increased, apparent viscosity η a was steeply enhanced in the vicinity of 0.14N and started to grow almost exponentially. Next, the storage time dependence of flow properties was investigated for samples gelatinized for 6≤t (min)≤230 after the addition of 0.146N NaOH solution. A Newtonian analysis of the flow () data indicated that viscosity η increased exponentially in the early stage (6≤t≤35) and did linearly in the middle. It was argued that the observed time dependence of viscosity could be described by a first-order reaction hypothesis combined with the fluidity (η −1) mixing rule with respect to ungelatinized and gelatinized fractions of starch. The application of this theoretical treatment to the present data suggested that the gelatinization process was composed of plural phases with different values of a rate constant. For the observed kinetic characteristic of alkali gelatinization, the discussions were presented on the basis of amylose complex formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Advancements in immunosuppressive therapy have enabled control of early acute rejection and improved long-term kidney transplantation (KT) survival. Chronic histopathologic changes influence graft survival rate. We examined tubulointerstitial changes at 1 year after KT, focusing on the progression of interstitial fibrosis and/or tubular atrophy (IF/TA). Methods: Using the Banff'' 07 classification, we assessed the histological findings obtained at 1 year after transplantation of 38 patients who underwent the procedure between January 2008, and March 2010. In 24 cases, we obtained scores for interstitial fibrosis (ci) >1 and/or tubular atrophy (ct) > 1. We classified the patients into two groups, namely, less than borderline changes (BCs) (t0, i0, or i1; group A) versus BCs and above (t > 1, i2, or i3; group B). We compared their baseline data, renal function, and pathological scores. Results: The mean serum creatinine levels were 1.06 mg/dL for group A and 1.32 mg/dL for group B. The “ct” grading according to the Banff'' 07 classification was 0.83 for group A and 1.50 for group B (both P < .05). No significant difference was observed with respect to the percentage of patients with IF/TA (Banff category 5). Conclusion: Patients more within 1 year after KT with BCs who show irreversible tubular atrophy by biopsy experience impaired renal function. The presence of BC at the first year may not be associated with IF/TA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]