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We applied a non-destructive tooth dosimetry technique using L-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to assess radiation doses in cattle due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) accident, which occurred 10 years ago. The radiation exposure of cattle in the area affected by the FDNPS accident was estimated retrospectively with X-band and L-band EPR devices. Characteristic radiation-induced EPR signals were obtained from the teeth of the cattle in Fukushima, confirming their exposure. The estimated doses to the teeth were found to be consistent with the dose trends estimated for individual cows, while considerable uncertainties were seen in the doses of some tooth samples. This variation might be due to errors in the accuracy of the method but also might reflect the actual exposure because the cattle may have been exposed to higher areas of radioactivity in their quest for food and/or due to irradiation from absorption of the isotopes with localization in or near the teeth. However, at a minimum, these results confirm that L-band EPR can be used for non-destructive qualitative assessment of radiation exposure to animals using their teeth, which could be very valuable. Possible causes of the uncertainties should be investigated to enhance the value of the use of this technique.

While it is recognized that some medical workers could receive significantly higher radiation doses to their hands than the routinely monitored personal doses, accurate retrospective dosimetry of their hand exposure is still challenging. To solve this issue, a combination of electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement and fingernails is worth to be investigated. However, the application of fingernail ESR dosimetry requires establishing an effective protocol to eliminate the background signal (BKG) which changes due to mechanical stress and other unclear factors, so that the radiation doses would be precisely evaluated from the radiation-induced signals (RIS) only. Thus, the authors investigated possible applications of antioxidants to remove or reduce the BKG in fingernails. In the present study, the effectiveness of chemical treatment using the dithiothreitol (DTT) reducing reagent was examined in irradiated and unirradiated fingernails. Chemically and non-chemically treated fingernails were subsequently exposed to 20 Gy of 137Cs &gamma, rays and the time changes of the BKG and RIS were confirmed in two different storage conditions: vacuum chamber and freezer. The results show that the non-chemically treated fingernails displayed significant intra-individual variations in the peak-to-peak intensities of both BKG and RIS. RIS from chemically and non-chemically treated samples showed correlations after freezer storage, signals were more stable than the samples stored in the vacuum chamber. Moreover, while the BKG of non-chemically treated samples demonstrated higher levels than those chemically treated, the intra-individual variations were further reduced by the DTT treatment. Our results imply that the use of an antioxidant for hand washing of medical workers prior to starting their work could be effective in reducing the pre-existing free radicals in their fingernails. This also suggests a practical application of hand exposure monitoring using fingernails as a part of radiological emergency preparedness in occupations where radiation or radionuclides are used. Research for finding safer and easier-to-handle antioxidants is to be focused on in future studies.

For precisely estimating dose and elapsed time after an unrecognized high-dose radiation exposure in radiological emergency, applicability of the continuous-wave optically stimulated luminescence (CW-OSL) signals from Mg2SiO4:Tb (MSO) was investigated. Small disks of MSO were irradiated with β-rays from a Sr-90 source and their CW-OSL signals were analysed. The CW-OSL curves obtained by stimulation with a blue light (λ = 458 nm) at 5, 10, 20, 50 and 1119 h after irradiation indicated that they have short- and long-life components; each component was empirically deconvoluted to the sum of two exponential functions. Through repetitive regression analyses on those curves, a practical method for estimating the dose and elapsed time after an unrecognized radiation exposure was proposed. Results of blind tests indicated that the accuracy of absorbed dose estimation using this method was satisfactory while the estimated elapsed times were accompanied with considerable uncertainties.

Since the past two decades, watershed management practices such as construction of stone bunds and establishment of exclosures have been widely implemented in the semi-arid highlands of northern Ethiopia to curb land degradation by soil erosion. This study assessed changes in soil erosion for the years 1990, 2000 and 2012 as a result of such watershed management practices in Agula watershed using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation factors were computed in a geographic information system for 30 × 30 m raster layers using spatial data obtained from different sources. The results revealed significant reduction in soil loss rates by about 55 % from about 28 to 12 t ha−1 per year in 1990–2000 and an overall 64 % reduction from 28 to 10 t ha−1 per year in 1990–2012. This change in soil loss is attributed to improvement in surface cover and stone bund practices, which resulted in the decrease in mean C and P-factors, respectively, by about 19 % and 34 % in 1990–2000 and an overall decrease in C-factor by 29 % in 1990–2012. Considerable reductions in soil loss were observed from bare land (89 %), followed by cultivated land (56 %) and shrub land (49 %). Furthermore, the reduction in soil loss was more pronounced in steeper slopes where very steep slope and steep slope classes experienced over 70 % reduction. Validation of soil erosion estimations using field observed points showed an overall accuracy of 69 %, which is fairly satisfactory. This study demonstrated the potential of watershed management efforts to bring remarkable restoration of degraded semi-arid lands that could serve as a basis for sustainable planning of future developments of areas experiencing severe land degradation due to water erosion.

Sustained virological responses (SVR) by daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) therapy for genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients has been significantly affected by pre-existence of Y93 H resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in the non-structural protein 5A (NS5A) region. The aim of this study was to elucidate the dominancy of naturally occurring RAVs in viral quasispecies on treatment outcomes in patients with HCV. In total, 138 patients were prospectively selected from 152 patients treated with DCV and ASV, where evaluation of treatment outcomes at 12 weeks post-treatment was possible. Pre-treatment RAVs in the non-structural protein 3 and NS5A regions were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Invader assays, and the ratio of Y93H RAVs in viral quasispecies was measured by quantitative PCR-Invader assay. Among 25 patients detected the Y93H RAV, the Y93H ratio was 1-25% in 5 patients, 26-75% in 7 patients, and ≥76% in 13 patients. Overall, SVR at 12 weeks after the completion of treatment (SVR12) was 91% (125/138), and those with Y93H ratios of

– In this publication, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) provides updated guidance on radiological protection from cosmic radiation in aviation, taking into account the current ICRP system of radiological protection, the latest available data on exposures in aviation, and experience gained worldwide in the management of exposures in aviation. The publication describes the origins of cosmic radiation, how it exposes passengers and aircraft crew, the basic radiological protection principles that apply to this existing exposure situation, and the available protective actions. For implementation of the optimisation principle, the Commission recommends a graded approach proportionate to the level of exposure that may be received by individuals. The objective is to keep the exposure of the most exposed individuals to a reasonable level. The Commission also recommends that information be disseminated to raise awareness about cosmic radiation, and to support informed decisions among concerned stakeholders.

The summer precipitation (June–September) in the source region of the Yellow River accounts for about 70% of the annual total, playing an important role in water availability. This study divided the source region of the Yellow River into homogeneous zones based on precipitation variability using cluster analysis. Summer precipitation trends and teleconnections with global sea-surface temperatures (SST) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) from 1961 to 2010 were investigated by Mann-Kendall test and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. The results show that the northwest part (Zone 1) had a non-significantly increasing trend, and the middle and southeast parts (zones 2 and 3) that receive the most precipitation displayed a statistically significant decreasing trend for summer precipitation. The summer precipitation in the whole region showed statistically significant negative correlations with the central Pacific SST for 0–4 month lag and with the Southern Indian and Atlantic oceans SST...

Background/aims We compared the predictive abilities of the Abbott Real Time hepatitis C virus (HCV) assay (ART) with those of standard serum HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) detection methods in patients undergoing triple therapy, which involves treatment with a protease inhibitor combined with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Materials and methods In this study, 28 patients underwent triple therapy. The hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) level of each patient was measured at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 after the initiation of therapy using the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HCV assay version 1.0 (CAP/CTM v1.0) and ART. Results At week 8 after the initiation of therapy, the sustained virological response (SVR) rate among patients who tested negative and positive for HCV RNA using CAP/CTM v1.0, was 80.0% (20/25) and 33.3% (1/3), and using ART, it was 91.3% (21/23) and 0.0% (0/5), respectively. Although at week 8, the predictive capability of CAP/CTM v1.0 was 78.5%, ART was found to be a more accurate predictor of future SVR status with a rate of 92.9%. Conclusion These results indicate that the presence or absence of serum HCV RNA, evaluated using ART at week 8 after the initiation of therapy, may be useful for predicting therapeutic outcomes in patients receiving triple therapy.

An efficient flow system was constructed for the synthesis of PCBM, which involves flow [2+1] addition of C60 and the subsequent flow photo isomerization of the resulting fulleroid to PCBM by using a flow photo-reactor in combination with a Na lamp. With the present flow system, the scalable synthesis of PCBM (0.79 g/3.3 h) was achieved by the continuous operation for 3.3 h.

During a space mission, astronauts are inevitably exposed to space radiation, mainly composed of the particles having high values of linear energy transfer (LET), such as protons, helium nuclei, and other heavier ions. Those high-LET particles could induce severer health damages than low-LET particles such as photons and electrons. While it is known that the biological effectiveness of a specified type of radiation depends on the distribution of dose in time, type of the cell, and the biological endpoint in respect, there are still large uncertainties regarding the effects of high-LET particles on the reproductive system, gamete, embryo, and fetal development because of the limitation of relevant data from epidemiological and experimental studies. To safely achieve the planned deep space missions to the moon and Mars that would involve young astronauts having reproductive functions, it is crucial to know exactly the relevant radiological effects, such as infertility of the parent and various diseases of the child, and then to conduct proper countermeasures. Thus, in this review, the authors present currently available information regarding the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of high-LET particles on the deterministic effects related to the reproductive system and embryonic/fetal development for further discussions about the safety of being pregnant after or during a long-term interplanetary mission. キーワード: space radiation; high LET; relative biological effectiveness (RBE), reproductive system; embryo; fetus; deterministic effect

There has been a recent upsurge of interest in the effects of ionizing radiation exposure on the circulatory system, because a mounting body of epidemiological evidence suggests that irradiation induces cardio- and cerebrovascular disease at a much lower dose and lower dose rate than previously considered. The goal of our project is to determine whether dose protraction alters radiation effects on the circulatory system in a mouse model. To this end, the use of wild-type mice is pivotal albeit without manifestation of vascular diseases, because disease models (e.g., apolipoprotein E-deficient mice) are prone to hormetic responses following protracted exposures. As such, here, we first set out to analyze prelesional changes in the descending thoracic aorta of wild-type mice up to six months after a single acute exposure to 0 or 5 Gy of 137Cs &gamma, rays. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that irradiation facilitated structural disorganizations and detachment of the aortic endothelium. The Miles assay with an albumin-binding dye Evans Blue revealed that irradiation enhanced vascular permeability. Immunofluorescence staining showed that irradiation led to partial loss of the aortic endothelium (evidenced by a lack of adhesion molecule CD31 and 4&prime, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) signals), a decrease in endothelial nitric oxide synthase and adherens junction protein (vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin) in the aortic endothelium, along with an increase in inflammation (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-&alpha, ) and macrophage (F4/80) markers in the aorta. These findings suggest that irradiation produces vascular damage manifested as endothelial cell loss and increased vascular permeability, and that the decreased adherens junction and the increased inflammation lead to macrophage recruitment implicated in the early stage of atherosclerosis.

Changes in land cover and land degradation alter natural ecosystems, thereby affecting the services these ecosystems provide. However, there have been few attempts to estimate the effects of land cover change and land degradation on ecosystem services at large spatial scales and under the strong influence of human activities. Here, we used the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative land cover maps (1992–2015) and the value transfer valuation method to estimate the changes in ecosystem services value (ESV) in response to land cover change in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Moreover, we estimated the loss of ESV due to land degradation by using the long-term (1992–2015) trend in the annual normalized difference vegetation index as a proxy for long-term biomass productivity decline. Our results revealed that, between 1992 and 2015, cropland increased by about 20 million ha, largely at the expense of forest and shrubland. The total estimated ESV of SSA was about US$9 trillion year−1, of which 55% was derived from cropland and deciduous forest, with comparable contributions. Land cover change resulted in a net increase in the total ESV by US$125 billion year−1 (1992–2015), albeit with an ESV loss of US$60 billion year−1 from the conversion of evergreen forest and shrubland. Overall, cropland expansion accounted for about 60% of the increase in the total ESV (US$125 billion year−1), thereby outweighing the decrease in ESV due to the decline in natural vegetation. Land degradation hotspots covered about 5% of SSA, resulting in a total ESV loss of about US$56 billion year−1, of which nearly 65% was due to the degradation of forests and croplands. Changes in ESV varied across sub-regions, climate zones, and countries, depending on the dominant land cover change and the extent of land degradation. Our results provide useful insights for making informed decisions towards sustainable use and management of ecosystems.

Free radicals are formed when human fingernails are exposed to ionizing radiation. These free radicals can easily be detected using an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique. Although recent works have made important contributions to the development of ESR technique with fingernails, the effects of multiple irradiations on sensitivity of the radiation-induced signal and the influence of heat in the drying process of the samples have not been explored adequately. The researchers of this study have investigated the potential effects of multiple irradiations and exposure to heat on the ESR signals of fingernails. As a result, the slope of the dose-response curves decreased which reflected in the decrease of the sensitivity after multiple irradiations of the same fingernails to doses 35 Gy or 70 Gy of 137Cs γ-rays. Furthermore, it was observed that heat exposure considerably affected the visual shape and peak-to-peak intensity of the ESR spectra. Heating to temperatures above 80°C resulted in a noticeable increase to the intensity of the ESR spectra – generating a new ESR signal that overlapped with the native background signal in unirradiated fingernail samples. The results of this study suggested that some potential confounding effects need to be accounted carefully if ESR dosimetry of fingernails is to be applied in real radiation accident situations.

The thermal and spatial stabilities of net optical densities (ODs) of a novel radiochromic polyvinyl alcohol-iodide (PVA-I) gel dosimeter were investigated in association with different levels of the degree of polymerization (DP) of PVA, which was necessary for the coloring process by irradiation. Four DP levels of PVA ranging from 500 to 3500 were used to compare the temporal change of net ODs under two different storage temperatures. As results, we concluded that the temporal changes in the coloring of the PVA-I gel dosimeter and its diffusion were independent of the DP of PVA.

The present study explored the influence of the varying concentrations of a proton generator, glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), promoting a cross-linking of the matrix to the dose-response of a PVA-GTA-I radiochromic gel dosimeter. This gel dosimeter was composed of iodide and polyvinyl alcohol crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GTA) and combined with additives of GDL and fructose. Six sets of gel samples with GDL concentrations ranging from 50 to 300 mM was irradiated with 1–10 Gy doses using 137Cs gamma-rays. Dose response and temporal stability of the absorbance in the gel dosimeter as a function of the GDL concentration were investigated. The dose-response data showed good linearities in the dose range of 0–10 Gy from all GDL concentrations measured 48 h post-irradiation. The sensitivity became higher with increasing GDL concentration, but smaller increments were observed at higher GDL concentrations and then completely saturated around 250 mM. The recorded sensitivities from the PVA-GTA-I gel dosimeters were 3–4 times higher than PVA-I and LCV micelle gel dosimeters. Temporal stability data showed a similar trend in GDL concentrations of 100–300 mM, where a sharp increase of absorbance was seen in the first 24 h and then small fluctuations were observed up to 168 h post-irradiation. Meanwhile, the samples with 50 mM of GDL showed a gradual increase in absorbance after 48 h post-irradiation. Higher GDL concentrations tended to increase the rate of auto-oxidation.

For the aim of managing the in-flight cosmic radiation exposure of frequent flyers, we have investigated an application of a recently developed electronic personal dosimeter (D-shuttle) for aviation dosimetry. In four long-haul flights between Japan and Germany, it was confirmed that the D-shuttle values were in the range of 25%–30% of the total H*(10) estimated by a route-dose calculation program JISCARD EX. It was found that the values obtained with D-shuttle on the chest were nearly the same with those in a hand luggage placed under the passenger seat, while the values obtained in a suitcase which was placed in the cargo area were notably lower than those in the cabin. According to these findings, it would be possible to monitor the annual aviation doses of frequent flyers by using the D-shuttle dosimeters kept in a hand luggage. Such continuous measurements will also be useful for verification of an unpredicted additional exposure from solar energetic particles.

D-methionine (D-met), a dextrorotatory isoform of the amino acid L-methionine (L-met), can prevent oral mucositis and salivary hypofunction in mice exposed to radiation. However, the mechanism of its radioprotection is unclear, especially with regard to the stereospecific functions of D-met. Radiation is known to cause injury to normal tissue by triggering DNA damage in cells. Thus, in this study we sought to determine whether the chirality of D-/L-met affects radiation-induced events at the DNA level. We selected plasmid DNA assays to examine this effect in vitro, since these assays are highly sensitive and allow easy detection of DNA damage. Samples of supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA mixed with D-met, L-met or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were prepared and irradiated with a Bragg peak beam of carbon ions (∼290 MeV/u) with a 6-cm spread. DNA strand breaks were indicated by the change in the form of the plasmid and were subsequently quantified using agarose gel electrophoresis. We found that D-met yielded approximately equivalent protection from carbon-ion-induced DNA damage as DMSO. Thus, we propose that the protective functions of methionine against plasmid DNA damage could be explained by the same mechanism as that for DMSO, namely, hydroxyl radical scavenging. This stereospecific radioprotective mechanism occurred at a level other than the DNA level. There was no significant difference between the radioprotective effect of D-met and L-met on DNA.

Efficient light field image coding method is proposed based on conversion to multi-view image, depth estimation, multi-view coding, and view synthesis. Firstly, compatibility of light field image and multi-view image is discussed, and then depth estimation method based on texture-edge-aware horizontal and vertical view matching and depth-smoothing is explained. Secondly, a view-synthesis method from up to four reference views is proposed, which adopts depth-base occlusion hole inpainting. Finally, by combining these methods together with a hierarchical bi-directional inter-view coding of multi-view image and depth maps, coding results are reported.

A novel electron gun with lanthanum hexaboride (LaB 6 ) thermionic cathodes with relatively low work functions is being developed by coating the metal surface with another When operated under thermionic emission mode, this tool provides both high brightness and high beam current simultaneously, has a long lifetime, and offers good stability during operation. Herein, we describe the basic design concept for a novel LaB 6 cathode involving infiltration of a carbide solution. Moreover, we experimentally measured the thermionicemission-mode work function of the rhenium surface modified with a LaB 6 single-crystal powder and carbide solution.

A 69-year-old man with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and fever was referred to our hospital. He had a history of asbestosis exposure. Computed tomography(CT)revealed a mass at the right subhepatic space, and an antibiotic was administered after a diagnosis of an abdominal abscess. However, the patient did not respond to the treatment, and finally, exploratory laparoscopy was performed. A sheet of combined white nodules surrounding the right lobe of the liver was found, and the mass was continuous with the covering particles. Biopsy of the mass and immunohistochemical examination was performed. The resulting diagnosis was diffuse epithelial malignant peritoneal mesothelioma(MPM). Postoperative systematic chemotherapy of pemetrexed and cisplatin was administered. Laparoscopy was useful to evaluate the distribution of the MPM, which led to adequate therapeutic determination.

A 90-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of vomiting.Gastroscopy revealed type 3 gastric cancer and gastric outlet obstruction(GOO).Abdominal computed tomography revealed thickening of the antral wall and suggested the presence of 3 perigastric lymph node metastases, but there was no ascitic fluid or distant metastasis.The clinical diagnosis was T4a(SE)N2H0CYXP0M0, Stage III B, according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma.Her general conditions including kidney and cardiac function were good, we considered that she was able to tolerate radical distal gastrectomy.We planned laparoscopic distal gastrectomy(LDG)and D2 lymphadenectomy after getting sufficient informed consent.The patient experienced an uneventful post-operative recovery, and was discharged in good health 11 days after surgery.

Oxaliplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer, has been associated with pathological evidence of sinusoidal endothelial injury in the liver. However, esophagogastric varices are a poorly recognized outcome of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. We report a 78-year-old man, whose past history of colon cancer was resection and treatment with mFOLFOX6 for 20 weeks, as adjuvant chemotherapy. After 3.5-year follow-up of the oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, he was diagnosed with esophageal varices without liver dysfunction, indicating that the hepatotoxicity caused by oxaliplatin could be prolonged after its administration. Patients who have received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy should be followed up carefully over the long term.

The patient was a 64-year-old man with esophagogastric junction cancer. We performed right thoracotomy-laparotomy for lower esophageal and cardiac gastric resection, D2 lymphadenectomy, and reconstruction of a gastric tube in October 2011. Histopathology confirmed T4aN1M1(LYM), Stage IV cancer(Japanese Classification of Gastric Carcinoma, 14th edition) with R0 resection. Because of preexisting alcoholic cirrhosis, postoperative chemotherapy was not an option. In March 2014, we performed left adrenalectomy for left adrenal metastasis, and in December 2014, we performed right adrenalectomy for metastasis to the right adrenal gland. The patient was prescribed 20mg/day of hydrocortisone postoperatively. Survival from the right adrenalectomy was 2 years and 2 months, and survival from the first operation was 5 years and 4 months, without recurrence. This case of esophagogastric junction cancer resection with bilateral adrenal metastasis is rare, with only one previously reported case in Japan.

A 87-year-old man had used to live in Shizuoka Prefecture. He got colonoscopy due to melena, and a type 1 tumor about 3 cm was detected in the rectum. He was diagnosed with rectal cancer. We performed a laparoscopic low anterior resection with lymphadenectomy. Histopathological findings shows tub1, pSM(7mm), med, INF a, ly1, v0, pPM0, pDM0, pN0(0/7), T1bN0M0, Stage I . Schistosoma japonica eggs were seen in submucosal of the rectum not around the tumor but also normal tissue. The eggs embolized microvessels. It has been 5 year since the operation, the patient has survived without recurrence.

This case involved an 80-year-old man. Screening with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in 2004 revealed Brunner’s gland hyperplasia (BGH), 5 mm in size, in the duodenal bulb. The size of the lesion increased and its shape has changed since then, as detected in subsequent EGDs. The lesion had increased in size to 15 mm with a depression and biopsy specimens revealed an adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection. Histopathological assessments indicated an adenocarcinoma arising from gastric foveolar metaplasia (GFM) adjacent to BGH. BGH stained positive for MUC6, and GFM and the adenocarcinoma stained positive for MUC5AC. Mutations of the GNAS gene were not detected in the GFM biopsied in 2007. On the other hand, common GNAS mutations (R201H) were detected in GFM and the adenocarcinoma in the endoscopically resected specimen in 2013. Moreover, mutant allele frequencies were higher in the carcinoma than in GFM. The patient remains disease-free for 4 years after endoscopic treatment. This case report further supports the notion that GFM may be a precursor lesion in the process of GNAS-mutated, gastric-type duodenal carcinogenesis.

A 58-year-old man underwent rectal resection(D2 dissection)for rectal cancer and liver/lung metastases in August 2009. Histopathological findings were Ra, type 2, 70×80mm, tub1tub2, int, pSI(peritoneum), INF b, ly1, v1, pN1(2/13), pPM0, pDM0, M1a(H1, PUL1), fStage IV . The lung metastasis had disappeared on chest CT after postoperative chemotherapy and we were able to perform radical resection of the liver metastasis by performing hepatectomy twice. In October 2013, anal pain appeared and a painful tumor approximately 2 cm in size was found in the 5 o'clock direction of the anus. Biopsy revealed a well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma similar to rectal cancer, and it was diagnosed as a fistula metastasis of rectal cancer.We performed chemoradiotherapy(S-1 120mg/day plus RT 60 Gy/30 Fr)as surgery was recommended but refused. As a result, the tumor reduced markedly in size. In December 2015, the tumor enlarged in size and the patient and family requested surgery. We, therefore, performed abdominoperineal resection. Currently, the patient is alive at 18 months after surgery with no recurrence.

This paper uses a physics-based TCAD degradation model to examine the accumulated stress damage of SiGe HBTs under pseudodynamic mixed-mode stress as a function of both electrical stress bias and temperature. The temperature dependence of mixed-mode stress damage is fully explored, beginning with impact-ionization calibration, and then by identifying and calibrating the dependence of scattering length and hydrogen diffusion parameters of the degradation model. After calibrating the model across electrical bias and temperature, the effectiveness and limitations of accumulated stress damage while varying electrical bias and while varying temperature are identified, and the implications of this aging model for circuit designers are discussed.

We investigate and compare the hot-carrier degradation of SiGe HBTs under both traditional mixed-mode electrical stress conditions and high-current electrical stress conditions using measured stress data and an in-depth analysis of the underlying degradation mechanisms. While large electric fields are the driving force in mixed-mode hot-carrier degradation, the Auger recombination process is shown to be the hot-carrier source under high-current stress conditions. Auger hot-carrier degradation shows a positive temperature dependence, unlike mixed-mode degradation, due to the temperature dependence of Auger recombination and its energy distribution function. We also use calibrated TCAD simulations to explain an unexpected stress threshold behavior that occurs due to the formation of a potential well in the neutral base region, and to explore a field-compression effect at the collector/subcollector junction that contributes to trap formation at the shallow trench isolation oxide interface.

In fair weather, a clear diurnal variation of atmospheric electric field (AEF), which is distinctly different from the global diurnal variation, i.e., Carnegie curve, was observed during the summer time (July and August) of the year 2010 and 2011 at the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan (3776 m in altitude). The variation of the AEF at the summit showed a local time dependent feature, which means that the AEF increased at sunrise and decreased at sunset. This local diurnal variation is known as a mountain variation. The intensity of AEF in the daytime reached 1.5–3 times larger than that in the nighttime. From the multipoint observations of cloud images and AEF, the mountain variation was found to be attributable to the AEF generated by the positively charged top of a horizontally extensive sea of clouds below the summit. Since the sea of clouds grows with the temperature rise, the AEF variation follows local time.

Conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater is being practiced in many regions of the world to bring more areas under irrigation, increase agricultural production and productivity, and also maintain overall system balance. Successful agricultural water management policies put the physical, hydro-geological, and socio-economic constraints on these integrated water supplies. To sustain these constraints, a linear programming (LP) model has been developed for optimal land and water resources allocation in various sectors of the Hirakud Canal Command, a multi-purpose irrigation project on the river Mahanadi in eastern India. To enhance the decision-taking ability of the Hirakud command area development authority, a menu-driven and user-friendly software has been developed by Visual-Basic that incorporates model-base, data-base, knowledge-base subsystems along with the user-interface. The model-base subsystem includes LP, groundwater balance, and evapotranspiration models. The data-base subsystem includes the meteorological, crop, and water resources data. The knowledge-base subsystem was developed from the knowledge derived from the results of the aforementioned models. Sensitivity analysis of the LP model parameters was performed by varying the parameters that affect the optimal cropping pattern and groundwater allocation. The result indicates that conjunctive use of 87% surface water and 13% groundwater is the sustainable water allocation policy of the command area. The model results also indicate that a 20% deviation in existing cropping pattern is the best alternative as it considered socio-economic need and also meets the entire food demand of the study area.

The therapeutic benefit of adding ribavirin (RBV) to 12 weeks of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) for patients who experienced failure of a previous nonstructural protein (NS) 5A inhibitor-containing regimen is unclear.A total of 29 genotype 1b HCV patients who had failed prior daclatasvir (DCV) plus asunaprevir (ASV) treatment were retreated for 12 weeks of LDV/SOF, with or without RBV. Antiviral efficacy and predictive factors associating with a sustained virological response at 24 weeks (SVR24) were evaluated retrospectively.SVR24 was achieved in 67% (10/15) of patients who received LDV/SOF with, and 64% (9/14) without, RBV. The SVR24 rates were 80% in patients with, and 58% without, mild fibrosis (FIB-4 3.25). The SVR24 rate was lower with unfavorable IL28B rs8099917 SNP genotypes; specifically, the TT, TG and GG had SVR24 rates of 78%, 50% and 40%. The SVR24 rate was lower with a poor response to prior DCV plus ASV, where relapse, viral breakthrough and no response had SVR24 rates 71%, 58% and 0%. The SVR24 rate was lower with the number of NS5A resistance-associated substitutions (RAS), where 2, 3, 4 and 5 RAS had SVR24 rates of 78%, 67%, 50% and 0%. A patient with an NS5A-P32 deletion, which shows resistance to next-generation NS5A inhibitors, was retreated with LDV/SOF with RBV and achieved SVR24.The addition of RBV to 12 weeks of LDV/SOF has little therapeutic benefit when retreating patients in whom a prior NS5A inhibitor-containing regimen had failed.

Floodwater harvesting (FWH) for artificial recharge of groundwater (ARG) and spate irrigation (SI) is the most widely practiced large catchment water harvesting technique. It has recently received renewed attention for research, improvement, and implementation. This chapter first introduces an innovative, locally adaptive, and improved FWH technique—floodwater spreading systems (FWS)—to guide policymakers and practitioners in the management of groundwater (GW) resources and efficient rain-fed agriculture in water scarce countries. This is done by evaluating the effects of a large-scale FWH system on a local aquifer. The chapter assesses the contribution of FWH to GW recharge and improved agricultural yield by introducing SI technique through FWH. In line with the GW modeling and recharge estimation, a three-year field study to investigate improved rain-fed agricultural yield in a FWS system using the SI technique is explained. Barley was tested as an indicator plant for crop yield. (Less)

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 161 (1-4), ISSN:0144-8420, ISSN:1742-3406

The Fukushima Daiichi accident highlighted the difficulty in making good decisions regarding post-accident actions for the protection of members of the public. Discussions are continuing between the authorities and the residents about ‘how safe is safe’. Although governmental officials have argued that 20 mSv per year is a safe level of exposure, many residents have expressed strong doubts, and one of their major concerns is the greater health risk of radiation exposure for children. For settling this controversy, the author has demonstrated risk projections for cancer mortality of female children (0 to 18 years old) resulting from four different levels of radiocaesium deposits on the ground. The results showed that, for female children, the cumulative lifetime attributable risk of cancer mortality due to 18-years external radiation exposure from radiocaesium in soil would be 0.9% for 134Cs and 2.4% for 137Cs for an initial annual dose of 20 mGy/year; when the initial dose was 5 mGy/year, the cumulative lifetime cancer risk would be 0.2% and 0.6% for 134Cs and 137Cs, respectively. These results indicate the critical importance of accurate information about the composition and behavior of major radionuclides released to the environment, as well as precise dose monitoring and risk coefficients, for proper decision-making regarding protective actions for members of the public.

According to an analysis of the Life Span Study cohort data conducted by the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the sex-averaged excess relative risk (ERR) of all solid cancers was 0.42 Gy-Eq-1. On the other hand, analysis of the atomic bomb survivors (ABS) cohort data at Hiroshima University indicated the ERR value was 0.28 Gy-Eq-1 in Hiroshima. In both cases, initial radiation doses were derived from the dosimetry system DS02, in which the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons was assumed to be a constant value of 10. To clarify the validity of the RBE, the authors investigated the possibility of different contributions of neutrons by using the ABS. Although there were no statistically significant differences among the estimated value of RBE (=65) and the ordinal value (=10), the corresponding ERR decreased by 30%, which might affect the interpretation of radiation health assessments.

Prosopis juliflora is a useful “multi-purpose” tree, but it invades rapidly in arid and semi-arid environments, causing livelihood degradation of local communities. A rain pulse under drought conditions has been reported to be an important factor to promote plant invasion. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of a rain pulse on the invading process of Prosopis juliflora and to propose a feasible plan to control the expansion of this species in Sudan. First, seed germination was examined under eight irrigation conditions, corresponding to 4–32 mm of rainfall. Most seeds imbibed in all the irrigation conditions, about half or more of the imbibed seeds germinated in 12 mm or more of irrigation. Twenty mm or more of irrigation induced seed emergence. Second, initial growth of germinated seeds was examined under ten irrigation conditions (1–32 mm rainfall) over 54 hours or 138 hours of cultivation. Radicle elongated most vigorously in 24 mm irrigation, and extended over 20 cm in length. Allo...

Wide soil water content and temperature variations affect crop yields for reasons ranging from rate of seed germination, seed development, to plant growth. This study aimed at evaluating the extent to which drip irrigation can reduce soil water content and temperature variations. An experiment was carried out in a 154 m2 glasshouse with Tottori dune sand of Japan. Two irrigation levels of 60 and 100% of evapotranspiration, and two dune sand covers of 2 and 5 cm on the drip lines were used. Soil water content and temperature variations were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced under the 5 cm dune sand cover but insignificantly reduced under the 2 cm dune sand cover. Minimum soil temperature was increased, and maximum soil temperature was decreased under the 5 cm dune sand cover. Irrigation level of 100% of evapotranspiration under 5 cm dune sand cover resulted in 20% dry matter yield increase of sorghum. Irrigation level of 60% of evapotranspiration under 5 cm dune sand cover resulted in no significant dry matter yield increase of sorghum. From this study, we conclude that the practical minimum depth of dune sand cover on the drip lines can be 5 cm. Key word: Irrigation level, sand dune soil, soil temperature, surface drip irrigation, water content.

Solar energetic particles (SEPs) sometimes induce powerful air showers that significantly increase the radiation dose at flight altitudes. In order to provide information of such a space radiation hazard to aircrew, a forecast model is developed for WASAVIES (Warning System of Aviation Exposure to SEP), based on the focused transport equation of solar protons and Monte Carlo particle transport simulation of the air shower. WASAVIES gives a simple and fast way to predict the time profile of dose rate during ground-level enhancements.