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Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Dr. Ryohei Kakuchi and Ms. Kiho Matsubara at Gunma University, Japan, Prof. Kei Takahashi at Fukuoka Institute of Technology and The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Japan, Prof. Takeshi Matsuda at Hannan University, Japan, Dr. Noriaki Seko and Dr. Yuji Ueki at National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan. The cover picture shows the machine learning‐based optimization and interpretation of radiation‐induced graft polymerizations under emulsion conditions based on realistic information for monomers calculated by the state‐of‐the‐art semiempirical method. More information can be found in the Research Article by Kiho Matsubara, Kei Takahashi, Ryohei Kakuchi, and co‐workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key challenges for muographic studies is to reveal the detailed 3D density structure of a volcano by increasing the number of observation directions. 3D density imaging by multi-directional muography requires that the individual differences in the performance of the installed muon detectors are small and that the results from each detector can be derived without any bias in the data analysis. Here we describe a pilot muographic study of the Izu–Omuroyama scoria cone in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, from 11 directions, using a new nuclear emulsion detector design optimized for quick installation in the field. We describe the details of the data analysis and present a validation of the results. The Izu–Omuroyama scoria cone is an ideal target for the first multi-directional muographic study, given its expected internal density structure and the topography around the cone. We optimized the design of the nuclear emulsion detector for rapid installation at multiple observation sites in the field, and installed these at 11 sites around the volcano. The images in the developed emulsion films were digitized into segmented tracks with a high-speed automated readout system. The muon tracks in each emulsion detector were then reconstructed. After the track selection, including straightness filtering, the detection efficiency of the muons was estimated. Finally, the density distributions in 2D angular space were derived for each observation site by using a muon flux and attenuation models. The observed muon flux was compared with the expected value in the free sky, and is 88 % ± 4 % in the forward direction and 92 % ± 2 % in the backward direction. The density values were validated by comparison with the values obtained from gravity measurements, and are broadly consistent, except for one site. The excess density at this one site may indicate that the density inside the cone is non-axisymmetric, which is consistent with a previous geological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key challenges for muographic studies is to reveal the detailed 3D density structure of a volcano by increasing the number of observation directions. 3D density imaging by multi- directional muography requires that the individual differences in the performance of the installed muon detectors are small and that the results from each detector can be derived without any bias in the data analysis. Here we describe a pilot muographic study of the Izu-Omuroyama scoria cone in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, from 11 directions, using a new nuclear emulsion detector design optimized for quick installation in the field. We describe the details of the data analysis and present a validation of the results. The Izu-Omuroyama scoria cone is an ideal target for the first multi-directional muographic study, given its expected internal density structure and the topography around the cone. We optimized the design of the nuclear emulsion detector for rapid installation at multiple observation sites in the field, and installed these at 11 sites around the volcano. The images in the developed emulsion films were digitized into segmented tracks with a high- speed automated readout system. The muon tracks in each emulsion detector were then reconstructed. After the track selection, including straightness filtering, the detection efficiency of the muons was estimated. Finally, the density distributions in 2D angular space were derived for each observation site by using a muon flux and attenuation models. The observed muon flux was compared with the expected value in the free sky, and is 88 % ± 4 % in the forward direction and 92 % ± 2 % in the backward direction. The density values were validated by comparison with the values obtained from gravity measurements, and are broadly consistent, except for one site. The excess density at this one site may indicate that the density inside the cone is non-axisymmetric, which is consistent with a previous geological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to discuss the best coating technology of water-based coatings containing microcapsules, and the anti-aging and self-repairing properties of water-based coatings containing microcapsules. Urea-formaldehyde encapsulated Nippon water-based emulsion microcapsules were prepared, and water-based coatings containing microcapsules were prepared. The optical and mechanical properties of the coatings under different coating technologies were investigated. Under the best coating technology, the aging resistance and self-repairing performance of the coating film were investigated. Experimental results showed that coating technology had no effect on color aberration of the coating film. The coating technology with two coats of primer, three coats of topcoat, addition of microcapsules into primer, had excellent glossiness, shock resistance of 12.0 kg·cm, adhesion of 0 grade, and fracture elongation of 26.3%. Compared with the coating film without microcapsules, the coating with microcapsules had better aging resistance and self-repairing property, and the self-repairing rate was about 20.0%. Compared with the paint film with Dulux water-based emulsion microcapsules, the paint film with Nippon water-based emulsion microcapsules had a higher self-repairing rate. This study provides a technical basis for self-repairing water-based coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guidelines for the nutritional management of critically ill patients recommend the use of injectable lipid emulsion (ILE) as part of parenteral nutrition (PN). The ILE's impact on outcomes remains unclear. Associations between prescribed ILE and in-hospital mortality, hospital readmission, and hospital length of stay (LOS) in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were investigated. Patients who were ≥18 years old in an ICU from January 2010 through June 2020, receiving mechanical ventilation, and fasting for >7 days, were selected from a Japanese medical claims database and divided, based on prescribed ILE during days from 4 to 7 of ICU admission, into 2 groups, no-lipid and with-lipid. Associations between the with-lipid group and in-hospital mortality, hospital readmission, and hospital LOS were evaluated relative to the no-lipid group. Regression analyses and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and regression coefficients, and hazard ratios (HR) were adjusted for patient characteristics and parenteral energy and amino acid doses. A total of 20,773 patients were evaluated. Adjusted OR and HR (95% confidence interval) for in-hospital mortality were 0.66 (0.62-0.71) and 0.68 (0.64-0.72), respectively, for the with-lipid group relative to the no-lipid group. No significant differences between the two groups were observed for hospital readmission or hospital LOS. The use of ILE for days 4 to 7 in PN prescribed for critically ill patients, who were in an ICU receiving mechanical ventilation and fasting for more than 7 days, was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality.

In order to elucidate the effect of emulsified water on boilover, an experimental study on large-scale boilover was conducted using Sarukawa crude oil, which is produced in Japan and contains about 0.3%(vol) water. A 1.9 m diameter pan was used in the experiments, and initial fuel depth was set at three different levels of 100, 200 and 400 mm. Radiation from the fires to outside targets, temperatures of the fuel and the flame, and fuel burning rate were measured, and direct and thermal images of flames were recorded. Boilover occurred after a period of long burning as expected, but the periods from ignition to boilover observed in the present study were shorter than those predicted on the basis of the results of previous studies. This result was inferred to be due to emulsified water in the fuel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fungi play an important role in the degradation of biodegradable plastics (BPs) in soil. However, little is known about their dynamics in the soil during the degradation of BPs. We studied the community dynamics of BP-degrading fungi during poly(butylene succinate -co- adipate) (PBSA) film degradation in two different types of soils using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. The Fluvisol and the Andosol soils degrade embedded PBSA films at high and low speeds, respectively. The number of PBSA emulsion-degrading fungi that increased in the Fluvisol soil was higher than that in the Andosol soil after embedding with PBSA films. We succeeded in detecting internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) regions those matched that of the fungi by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) in both soils. Our results suggest that fungal community analyses using PCR-DGGE in combination with BP degraders isolation techniques enables the monitoring of BP films-degrading fungi.

The article discusses the restoration efforts of the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music of a polychrome Japanese Buddhist wooden sculpture made from Japanese cypress (hinoki) during the Kamakura period of 1185-1333. Details are provided on insect damage to the sculpture as well as previous attempts to repair damaged wood using lacquer and clay. The authors go on cover how the figure was fumigated, brushed with a solution of acrylic emulsion, and polished.

This is a historical review of the discovery of naked charm particles and lifetime differences among charm species. These discoveries in the field of cosmic-ray physics were made by the innovation of nuclear emulsion techniques in Japan. A pair of naked charm particles was discovered in 1971 in a cosmic-ray interaction, three years prior to the discovery of the hidden charm particle, J/Psi, in western countries. Lifetime differences between charged and neutral charm particles were pointed out in 1975, which were later re-confirmed by the collaborative Experiment E531 at Fermilab. Japanese physicists led by K.Niu made essential contributions to it with improved emulsion techniques, complemented by electronic detectors. This review also discusses the discovery of artificially produced naked charm particles by us in an accelerator experiment at Fermilab in 1975 and of multiple-pair productions of charm particles in a single interaction in 1987 by the collaborative Experiment WA75 at CERN.

In summary, we have discussed PFC emulsions as oxygen carriers, and concluded as follows: PFC emulsions which are clinically usable at present, such as Fluosol-DA, have some negative points. For instance, there is the requirement of relatively high FiO2 level, short retention time in the blood stream, slow excretion rate from the organs, limited dosage for infusion, and so on. However, in the clinical cases of moderate acute anemia, the consumed oxygen in the PFC phase was nearly 30% of that in the hemoglobin phase in the administration of only 1,000 ml of Fluosol-DA. It strongly suggests that PFC emulsion can carry a considerable amount of oxygen to the tissues and play an important role in improving the tissue hypoxia. Moreover, we surgeons wish to say that there is a great difference for the surgeons' mental state during a surgical operation between the cases where no blood transfusion is allowed for a religious or other reason, and the cases where we may use Fluosol-DA depending on the patients' condition. In the former cases, surgeons will be under stress such that he or she might cause the patients to lose blood excessively. On the other hand, when the surgeon has something in reserve, that is, when he or she may use Fluosol-DA if needed, a good result will usually be obtained in the operation, even without actually using Fluosol-DA. One might be led to say that a key point for the success of operations is the surgeon's mental condition, freedom from anxiety.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Emulsion of adriamycin and lipiodol added with Gelfoam has been used for the transcatheter oily chemoembolization against hepatocellular carcinomas. This therapy resulted in significantly increased cumulative survival as compared with chemoembolization therapy using anti-cancer drugs and Gelfoam. However, it was revealed to have the following limitations: Insufficient efficacy against micrometastases and extracapsular invasion; impossible to perform sufficient treatment for patients with severe hepatic disorders; and there were cases in which lipiodol was hardly retained. In order to overcome the limitations described above, we have performed segmental hepatic chemoembolization simultaneously from the hepatic artery embolization simultaneously from the hepatic artery and portal vein. This method works on the basis of the fact that excess amount of lipiodol emulsion infused from the hepatic artery flows into the portal vein. Gelfoam embolization is also added in this method. Though subjects appropriate for this newly developed method are restricted, all the tumors in the objective segment of the liver can undergo necrosis. The efficacy is comparable to the effects of hepatectomy. In addition, since the other segments of the liver are able to be kept in reserve, this method is able to be applied to patients with severe hepatic disorders.