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Abstract: A liquid 3He target system was developed for experimental studies of kaonic atoms and kaonic nuclei at J-PARC. 3He gas is liquefied in a heat exchanger cooled below 3.2K by decompression of liquid 4He. To maintain a large acceptance of the cylindrical detector system for decay particles of kaonic nuclei, efficient heat transport between the separate target cell and the main unit is realized using circulation of liquid 3He. To minimize the amount of material, a vacuum vessel containing a carbon fiber reinforced plastic cylinder having an inside diameter of 150mm and a thickness of 1mm was produced. A target cell made of pure beryllium and beryllium–aluminum alloy was developed not only to minimize the amount of material but also to obtain high X-ray transmission. During a cooling test, the target cell was kept at 1.3K at a pressure of 33mbar. The total estimated heat load to the components including the target cell and heat exchanger cooled by liquid 4He decompression, was 0.21W, and the liquid 4He consumption rate was 50L/day. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The target station in the hadron experimental facility at J-PARC consists of a production target and a huge vacuum chamber in which several secondary-beam-line magnets can work. This vacuum chamber system aims to remove the vacuum beam pipe from the magnet gap, because the cooling of the beam pipe is the most serious problem in the high intensity beam facility. We have developed indirectly cooled radiation-resistant magnets for the hadron target station. Their coils are made of solid-conductor type mineral-insulation cables and stainless-steel water pipes. They have the great advantages that electric circuits can be completely independent of water pass. The mechanical strength and the insulation performance of the coil are significantly improved also because the insulation water pipes can be avoided from the water pass. A C-type sector dipole and a figure-8-type quadrupole magnet have been fabricated by using indirectly cooled radiation-resistant magnet technology, and installed in the vacuum chamber. We have succeeded to operate them in vacuum stably with the current of DC 1000 A by improving the end structure of the MIC coils and increasing their emissivity. These magnets have been used for the real beam operation without any serious problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Factors associated with positive mental health in children with chronic diseases remain unclear. Supporting the development of positive mental health in children with chronic diseases can enhance their mental health throughout childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with positive mental health among Japanese young adults with a history of chronic pediatric diseases., Design and Methods: Participants aged 18-25 years, with a history of chronic pediatric diseases, were recruited from a population of students at a university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. After the initial coding of each transcript, the researchers discussed and identified a set of main themes, categories, and subcategories., Results: Ten participants aged 19-22 years were interviewed. Their chronic diseases were diverse and included childhood cancers and allergic diseases. Seven themes (proactive coping, positive coping, negative coping, eudaimonia, hedonia, independence, and awareness) emerged from 21 categories and 70 subcategories identified. A thematic map was applied to two domains (protective factors and well-being factors) and to three inter-related constructs (individual, family, and community/society)., Conclusions: The findings indicated that within the well-being factors, meaning in life was prominent, and within the protective factors, stress coping was found to facilitate positive mental health among individuals with a history of chronic pediatric diseases., Practice Implications: In children with chronic diseases, support for finding appropriate coping strategies that enhance their optimism and symbiotic relationships in the community/society are important, including valuing little things in their lives, such as play and learning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has demonstrated survival benefits, although some treatment responders (defined as patients with non-progressive disease) are forced to discontinue treatment because of severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs). An association between treatment efficacy and irAEs has been reported. However, it is unclear which treatment responders are likely to develop severe irAEs. We aimed to examine risk factors for ICI-related severe irAEs in patients with NSCLC., Materials and Methods: Between February 2016 and October 2018, we retrospectively evaluated 42 patients with NSCLC at our institution who responded to ICI treatment. Tumor burden was measured as the sum of the unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions, according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1., Results: ICIs were discontinued in 15 of 42 treatment responders because of severe irAEs. Tumor burden was a significant independent predictor of severe irAEs (p = 0.03). The odds ratio of severe irAEs and tumor burden over 90 mm was 8.62 (95% confidence interval = 1.96-37.9, p = 0.004)., Conclusion: A high tumor burden was a risk factor for severe irAEs in patients with NSCLC who responded to ICI treatment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The present study constructed a short form of the Healthy Eating Behavior Inventory suitable for use in the Japanese culture (HEBI-J) and confirmed the scale's preliminary reliability and validity., Methods: In Study 1, Japanese adults (N=75) completed a free-response questionnaire about healthy eating behaviours. Thematic analysis was used to identify three factors-balance, pattern, and restriction-associated with healthy eating behaviours and 12 items related to these healthy eating behaviours. In Study 2, Japanese office workers (N=784) completed two questionnaires regarding 12 items of healthy eating behaviours and the dietary stages of change., Results: Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the three-factor model was appropriate (GFI=.94, AGFI=.90, CFI=.90, RMSEA=.08, SRMR=.53). Reliability was confirmed by alpha coefficients and the Spearman-Brown formula. Concurrent validity was confirmed by the relationship between the healthy eating stages., Conclusions: This study demonstrated the preliminary reliability and validity of the HEBI-J., (Copyright © 2015 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The first clinical experience of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Computed Tomography (NMR-CT) in Japan is reported here. The first series of patients include 37 with lesions in the brain, 5 in the thorax and 28 in the abdomen. The main advantages of NMR-CT are as follows: No ionizing irradiation exists. Sagittal and frontal tomograms are easily produced. Chemical status of tissue is shown by relaxation times (T1, T2) and proton density. Vascular structures are easily recognized and the blood flow can be estimated. Less bone artifacts are produced compared with X-ray CT. (XCT)