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Double refractory gold ores (DRGOs), in which few percentages of carbonaceous matter are present and gold grains are encapsulated in sulfides, have been abandoned to develop due to economic loss caused by adsorption of Au(CN)2− on carbonaceous matter after cyanidation in spite of the relatively higher Au contents than in usual gold ores. To avoid using extremely toxic reagent like cyanide, alternative ligand was examined to extract Au and the affinity between Au complex and carbonaceous matter was concerned in the present work. Two double refractory gold ores with different graphitic degrees were selected to pretreat for sulfide and carbonaceous matter decomposition, and then thiourea and cyanide extraction were performed to compare the leaching characteristics. Bio-oxidation with iron-oxidizing bacteria and chemical oxidation with FeCl3 were used as pretreatment for sulfide degradation, followed by carbonaceous degradation with laccase. For DRGO with a high graphiticity carbonaceous matter and complete removal of sulfides by pretreatment, the extraction rate was over 80% for both cyanidation and thiourea leaching. Meanwhile, for a lower graphiticity carbonaceous matter-bearing gold ores, cyanidation showed a decrease in gold extraction rate due to preg-robbing of Au(CN)2− complexes, however, thiourea extraction showed the stable extraction. Thiourea leaching was suitable and superior in gold extraction from low graphitc degree carbonaceous matter-bearing gold ores after sulfide decomposition.

Limited studies have been conducted on the synthesis of one-part geopolymer involving coal gasification slag by alkali fusion and component additive method (AFCAM). The ratio of liquid-to-solid (L/S) is the key aspect that has a major impact on the one-part geopolymer's compressive strength (UCS). Our research aims to determine how different L/S ratios affect the microstructure and characteristics of one-part geopolymers. MIP analysis and hydration heat test were conducted to analyze the influence caused by different L/S ratios. The results showed that as the L/S ratio increased, the UCS of geopolymers decreased, and the setting time of fresh slurry increased steadily. Additionally, geopolymer with 0.25 as an L/S ratio (G-L/S-0.25) achieved a higher UCS at 48.31 MPa, whereas the total setting time was more than 23 h. The low L/S ratio produced more gel pores and less total porosity in the geopolymer matrix, which improved the UCS. Moreover, lower porosity suggested that the geopolymer sample had higher compactness and a better internal structure. It is found that the dissolution of the fusion product released heat in the first hour, and no coal gasification slag dissolution heat was detected after one hour. This suggested coal gasification slag showed low reactivity as the additive and was embedded in the geopolymer matrix after 28-day curing. The tested results showed that G-L/S-0.25 had a greater reaction degree. This study illustrated the effects of the L/S ratio on one-part geopolymer and provided a new thought to enhance the UCS of coal gasification slag-based geopolymer.

Abstract Background Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with duodenal cancer (DC). However, the efficacy and optimal extent of lymph node (LN) dissection have not been thoroughly discussed. Methods A total of 98 consecutive patients with DC who underwent surgical resection (pancreatoduodenectomy, n = 55; partial resection, n = 32; pancreas‐sparing total duodenectomy, n = 9) were retrospectively analyzed. The LN stations located upstream of the lymphatic flow were defined as Np stations according to tumor location, whereas the others were defined as Nd stations. The association between the dissection of each LN station and survival outcome was investigated using the efficacy index (EI; percentage of metastases to lymph nodes in each station multiplied by the 5‐year survival rate of metastatic cases). Results The survival of patients with LNM at the Nd stations (n = 6) was significantly worse than that of patients with LNM only at the Np stations (n = 20) (relapse‐free survival, median survival time [MST], 6.0 vs. 48.4 months, p

Enargite is typically associated with chalcocite. Owing to the similarity in the flotation behaviors of these minerals, both minerals are reported to concentrate in the conventional flotation circuit. However, inorganic arsenic in enargite can decrease the copper concentrate quality and increase the operating cost of processing this concentrate. Separating these minerals is important for cleaner copper production to avoid these effects. In this context, this study investigated the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment on the flotation behavior of chalcocite and enargite. Flotation tests of pure and mixed minerals indicated that H2O2 treatment reduced the floatability of chalcocite and enargite by forming sulfate and copper hydroxide on their surfaces. Despite the detrimental effect of the H2O2 treatment, there was a narrow window of H2O2 concentration for separating both minerals, in which enargite floated and chalcocite was depressed. This selective flotation behavior was caused by the rapid adsorption of potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) and lower surface oxidation of enargite compared with that of chalcocite.

Abstract Background Small intestine carcinoma (SIC) cases in Japan have recently been treated with chemotherapy according to colorectal carcinoma classification, while papilla of Vater carcinoma (PVC) cases according to cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) classification. However, few research reports support the molecular genetic validity of these therapeutic choices. Patients and methods Here, we investigated the clinicopathological and molecular genetic factors of SIC and PVC. We used the data from the Japanese version of The Cancer Genome Atlas. Additionally, molecular genetic data on gastric adenocarcinoma (GAD), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRAD), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and CHC were also referred to. Results This study consisted of tumor samples from 12 patients of SIC and three patients of PVC treated from January 2014 to March 2019. Among them, six patients had pancreatic invasion. t‐Distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis showed that the gene expression pattern of SIC was similar not only to those of GAD and CRAD, but also to that of PDAC in the pancreatic invasion patients. In addition, PVC resembled the GAD, CRAD, and PDAC, rather than the CHC. The molecular genetic characteristics of the six patients with pancreatic invasion were: one had high microsatellite instability, two had a TP53 driver mutation, and three had tumor mutation burden values

Abstract Aim The appropriate extent of lymphadenectomy for pancreatic cancer of the body/tail has not been standardized worldwide. The present study evaluated the optimal extent of harvesting lymph nodes. Methods Patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas between 2007 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were subclassified into three groups depending on the tumor location: pancreatic body (Pb), proximal pancreatic tail (Ptp), and distal pancreatic tail (Ptd). The pancreatic tail was further divided into even sections of Ptp and Ptd. Patterns of lymph node metastasis and the impact of lymph node metastasis on the prognosis were examined. Results A total of 120 patients were evaluated. Fifty‐eight patients had a tumor in the Pb, 38 in the Ptp, and 24 in the Ptd. No patients with a Ptd tumor had metastasis beyond the peripancreatic and splenic hilar lymph nodes (LN‐PSH). All patients with metastasis to the lymph nodes along the common hepatic artery (LN‐CHA) or along the left lateral superior mesenteric artery (LN‐SMA) also had metastasis to the LN‐PSH. Recurrence after surgery occurred significantly earlier in this population. In a multivariate analysis, metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA (hazard ratio [HR] 3.3; P = .04) was an independent risk factor for overall survival. Furthermore, high levels of preoperative serum CA19‐9 (HR 10.9; P = .013) were a predictive factor for metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA. Conclusions Metastasis to the LN‐CHA or LN‐SMA was rare but a significant prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic body/tail cancer.

The development of efficient and inexpensive photocatalysts for the production of high-value chemicals from the photoreforming of biomass is a highly attractive strategy to establish the production of chemicals from sustainable resources. In this work, Fe-loaded montmorillonite/TiO2 composite (Fe-Mt/TiO2), pure TiO2, Mt/TiO2 and Mt/Fe-TiO2 were fabricated and further utilized as photocatalysts for the production of formic acid from glucose under visible-light irradiation. Among the as-prepared composites, the Fe-Mt/TiO2 exhibited the highest glucose conversion (83%), formic acid production (44%) and formic acid selectivity (53%). The effective heterojunction between Fe-Mt and TiO2 is proposed to describe the superior photocatalytic activity of Fe-Mt/TiO2, which effectively suppressed the recombination of the photogenerated electrons and holes during the reaction. Mechanism investigations suggested that the selective photocatalytic oxidation of glucose into formic acid by Fe-Mt/TiO2 mainly occurred through an α-scission reaction pathway, driven by the main active species as •O2− and 1O2. The research findings in this work suggested that the Fe-Mt/TiO2 composite can be applied as a low-cost, easy-to-prepare, reusable and selective photocatalyst for sustainable synthesis of high-value chemicals from biomass-derived substrates.

Abstract Background Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a key marker for predicting the response of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and for screening Lynch syndrome (LS). Aim This study aimed to see the characteristics of cancers with high level of MSI (MSI-H) in genetic medicine and precision medicine. Methods This study analyzed the incidence of MSI-H in 1000 cancers and compared according to several clinical and demographic factors. Results The incidence of MSI-H was highest in endometrial cancers (26.7%, 20/75), followed by small intestine (20%, 3/15) and colorectal cancers (CRCs)(13.7%, 64/466); the sum of these three cancers (15.6%) was significantly higher than that of other types (2.5%)(P

In this work, iron oxalate from converter slag (FeOX-Slag) was produced by extraction of iron from converter slag using oxalic acid, followed by photo-reduction. The FeOX-Slag sample was subjected to various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in order to gain insights into its physicochemical properties. Also, to compare the photocatalytic activity of the FeOX-Slag, commercial iron oxide (Fe2O3) was used as a precursor to produce normal iron oxalate (FeOX-Fe2O3). The obtained FeOX-Slag was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), a model organic contaminant in wastewater, compared with the FeOX-Fe2O3. Using the produced FeOX-Slag, we were able to degrade RhB more than 98% within 90 min at a reaction rate constant of about 3.6 times faster than FeOX-Fe2O3. Photoluminescence results confirmed the less recombination of the electron–hole pairs in FeOX-Slag, compared to FeOX-Fe2O3, which may be due to the defect structure of iron oxalate by guest metal impurities. The higher separation and transportation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs cause the enhancement of the degradation photocatalytic RhB degradation activity of the FeOX-Slag. In addition, The FeOX-Slag showed higher light absorption ability than FeOX-Fe2O3, resulting in the enhancement of the RhB degradation performance. Thus, the optical properties and the results from the activity tests led to the proposal that FeOX-Slag may be used in a photocatalytic degradation process for RhB under light irradiation.

In this study, iron oxalate dihydrate (FOD-ore) was produced from iron ore by the process using oxalic acid to extract iron, followed by photo-reduction. Several techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (SEM-EDX), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the FOD-ore sample. To compare the photocatalytic activity of FOD-ore, commercial hematite (Fe2O3) was used as a precursor to creating iron oxalate (FOD). The FOD-ore was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), a model organic pollutant in wastewater. Using the produced FOD-ore, we were able to degrade more than 85% of RhB within 90 min at a rate approximately 1.4 times higher than that with FOD. FOD-ore demonstrated greater light absorption than FOD, resulting in improved RhB degradation performance. Moreover, the enhanced separation and transport of photogenerated electron-hole pairs can be attributed to the increased photocatalytic RhB degradation rate of FOD-ore, confirmed by photoluminescence results. Therefore, FOD-ore can be utilized as a potential photocatalyst in the degradation process for other organic pollutants under light irradiation.

Abstract The preoperative accurate diagnosis is difficult in the patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the roles of systemic inflammation responses and nutritional status indexes in IPMN. High-grade dysplasia was classified as a malignant neoplasm in the study. We retrospectively reviewed 155 patients who underwent pancreatectomy. The correlation between the clinical factors and several indexes of a systemic inflammation response and nutritional status was analyzed. Among the biomarkers, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) value of malignant IPMN patients was significantly lower than that of benign IPMN patients (P = 0.023), whereas PNI was not significant predictor for malignant IPMN. The multivariate analysis showed that a PNI 22.5 U/mL (OR 6.64, 95% CI 1.73–25.6, P = 0.006) were significant independent predictors of the presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM). Our scoring system developed based on these two factors. Patients with a score of 0 had no LNM and zero disease-related death. The present study suggested the roles of PNI on the IPMN patients who undergo curative pancreatectomy.

Abstract Background Intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasm (ITPN) is a rare and newly described entity defined as an intraductal, grossly visible, tubule-forming epithelial neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia and ductal differentiation without overt production of mucin. Because of its rarity, the clinical and molecular aspects of ITPN have not been fully investigated. Case presentation A 73-year-old woman presented to a local hospital with epigastric discomfort and pain. Abdominal multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) revealed a 2.5-cm hypovascular tumor in the pancreatic body with distal pancreatic duct dilatation and a slightly low-density area spreading over the ventral side of the pancreatic body. Endoscopic ultrasonography and fine-needle biopsy of the tumor revealed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. She was referred to our hospital 2 months later. MDCT performed at our hospital showed no significant change in the tumor size or pancreatic duct dilatation. However, the low-density area at the ventral side of the pancreas had shrunk; therefore, this finding was considered to have been an inflammatory change. Under a preoperative diagnosis of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, distal pancreatectomy was performed. The final diagnosis was ITPN with associated invasive carcinoma. Macroscopically and microscopically, the main pancreatic duct (MPD) had ruptured at the distal side of the tumor, and the fistula connected the MPD and extrapancreatic scar tissue. Conclusions ITPN with rupture of the pancreatic duct is extremely rare. In the present case, a sudden increase in the pancreatic duct internal pressure or acute inflammation likely caused the rupture of the MPD.

This article aims to analyse the study abroad and transnational experiences of Japanese women between the 1860s and the 1920s. First, this article analyses the tendencies, periods, agents (both government-funded and privately-funded), aims and subjects studied in female study abroad in the four stages during this period from school history materials of individual institutions which supported female study abroad. In its later stages, female study abroad tended to strengthen the function of raising leaders of girls’ and women’s education, while in its early stages it tended to introduce a variety of Western culture and academic knowledge. Second, the article focuses on the forms of government- and privately-funded study abroad for women by tracing the study-abroad experience of two women educators in the early 20th century. Within government-funded study abroad, academic disciplines studied and students’ experiences were controlled by the government and focused on building a national female educational system. However, privately-funded study abroad possessed wider aims. It allowed female students to study various academic disciplines and introduced new international trends for promoting women’s social participation. Most female students who experienced study abroad became pioneers of female education and/or social activities in Japan as a result of their transnational experiences.

The number of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) is currently increasing in both Korea and Japan. The 5-year survival rate of patients with PC 13.0%; however, resection with minimal invasion (tumor size: ≤10 mm) increases the 5-year survival rate to 80%. For this reason, early detection is essential, but most patients with early-stage PC are asymptomatic. Early detection of PC has been reported to require screening of high-risk individuals (HRIs), such as those with a family history of PC, inherited cancer syndromes, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, or chronic pancreatitis. Studies on screening of these HRIs have confirmed a significantly better prognosis among patients with PC who were screened than for patients with PC who were not screened. However, to date in Japan, most patients with early-stage PC diagnosed in routine clinics were not diagnosed during annual health checks or by surveillance; rather, PC was detected in these patients by incidental findings during examinations for other diseases. We need to increase the precision of the PC screening and diagnostic processes by introducing new technologies, and we need to pay greater attention to incidental clinical findings.

Photocatalysis is a remarkable methodology that is popular and applied in different interdisciplinary research areas such as the degradation of hazardous organic contaminants in wastewater. In recent years, clay-based photocatalyst composites have attracted significant attention in the field of photocatalysis owing to their abundance, excellent light response ability, and stability. This review describes the combination of clay with focusing photocatalysts such as TiO2, g-C3N4, and Bi-based compounds for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater. Clay-based composites have more active surface sites, resulting in inhibited photocatalyst particle agglomeration. Moreover, clay enhances the creation of active radicals for organic pollutant degradation by separating photogenerated electrons and holes. Thus, the functions of clay in clay-based photocatalysts are not only to act as a template to inhibit the agglomeration of the main photocatalysts but also to suppress charge recombination, which may lengthen the electron–hole pair’s lifespan and boost degrading activity. Moreover, several types of clay-based photocatalysts, such as the clay type and main photocatalyst, were compared to understand the function of clay and the interaction of clay with the main photocatalyst. Thus, this study summarizes the recent clay-based photocatalysts for wastewater remediation and concludes that clay-based photocatalysts have considerable potential for low-cost, solar-powered environmental treatment.

Removal of borate in mine drainages by co-precipitation with hydroxyapatite (HAp) was developed from a laboratory scale to a pilot scale. Weakly acidic initial pH facilitated to enhance dissolution of Ca(OH)2 and decrease the dissolved carbonate concentration, leading to efficient immobilization of borate and arsenate. The NH4H2PO4 lowered best the equilibrium B concentration among different phosphate sources, avoiding the lattice strain of HAp. The added molar ratio of P/Ca significantly influenced the decreasing behavior of the B concentration, showing the optimal value of 0.3. In case of P/Ca larger than 0.30, the excess concentration of PO43- was probably adsorbed on Ca(OH)2 particles to prevent the dissolution, resulting in inhibiting the formation of HAp. In case of P/Ca smaller than 0.30, the production of HAp was limited, leading to less immobilized borate. All the optimized conditions as above were applied to the pilot scale with a 250 L reactor, where borate concentration was effectively reduced in also both batch and continuous tests.

Background/Aims To compare the diagnostic yield of 20-gauge forward-bevel core biopsy needle (CBN) and 22-gauge needle for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of solid pancreatic masses. Methods : The use of 20-gauge CBN was prospectively evaluated for 50 patients who underwent EUS-FNA from June 2016 to December 2016. Data were compared with those obtained by a retrospective study of 50 consecutive patients who underwent EUS-FNA using standard 22-gauge needles between December 2016 and April 2017. At least two punctures were performed for each patient; the sample from the first pass was used for cytology with or without histology and that from the second pass was used for histology. Sample quantity was evaluated using the sample obtained from the second pass. Results : There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy rate between the first and second passes (20-gauge CBN: 96% [48/50]; standard 22-gauge needle: 88% [44/50]). Samples >10× power fields in length were obtained from 90% (43/48) and 60% (30/50) of patients using the 20-gauge CBN and standard 22-gauge needle, respectively (p=0.01). Technical failure occurred for two patients with the 20-gauge CBN. Conclusion : s Diagnostic accuracy of the 20-gauge CBN was comparable to that of the 22-gauge needle. However, two passes with the 20-gauge CBN yielded a correct diagnosis for 100% of patients when technically feasible. Moreover, the 20-gauge CBN yielded core tissue for 90% patients, which was a performance superior to that of the 22-gauge needle.

Geopolymers, as a kind of inorganic polymer, possess excellent properties and have been broadly studied for the stabilization/solidification (S/S) of hazardous pollutants. Even though many reviews about geopolymers have been published, the summary of geopolymer-based S/S for various contaminants has not been well conducted. Therefore, the S/S of hazardous pollutants using geopolymers are comprehensively summarized in this review. Geopolymer-based S/S of typical cations, including Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, Cu, Sr, Ni, etc., were involved and elucidated. The S/S mechanisms for cationic heavy metals were concluded, mainly including physical encapsulation, sorption, precipitation, and bonding with a silicate structure. In addition, compared to cationic ions, geopolymers have a poor immobilization ability on anions due to the repulsive effect between them, presenting a high leaching percentage. However, some anions, such as Se or As oxyanions, have been proved to exist in geopolymers through electrostatic interaction, which provides a direction to enhance the geopolymer-based S/S for anions. Besides, few reports about geopolymer-based S/S of organic pollutants have been published. Furthermore, the adsorbents of geopolymer-based composites designed and studied for the removal of hazardous pollutants from aqueous conditions are also briefly discussed. On the whole, this review will offer insights into geopolymer-based S/S technology. Furthermore, the challenges to geopolymer-based S/S technology outlined in this work are expected to be of direct relevance to the focus of future research.

Abstract Background No reports have so far described arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the pancreas caused by a tumor. We herein report a case of pancreatoduodenectomy for a patient who developed duodenal hemorrhage due to AVM developed around serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) of the pancreas. Case presentation A 79-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of anemia (Hb 7.4 g/dl) and pancreatic head tumor. Computed tomography showed microcystic-type SCN, 87 mm in size, in the pancreatic head. Vascular hyperplasia had developed around the cystic lesion. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy did not reveal the cause of anemia, so the patient was followed closely without hemostatic therapy. Iron preparations had improved the anemia. Three months later, the patient developed anemia (Hb 5.8 g/dl) again. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed oozing from the mucosa in the duodenum via the swollen vascular hyperplasia. He was diagnosed as duodenal hemorrhage from the blood vessels around SCN. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed to control repeated duodenal bleeding. A histopathological examination revealed that the cystic lesion in the pancreatic head was SCN, and the AVM developed around SCN and duodenum, causing repeated duodenal hemorrhage. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 22. Nine months after surgery, the patient had no recurrence of anemia. Conclusions There have been no reports of duodenal hemorrhage due to acquired pancreatic AVM around pancreatic tumor, including SCN. We successfully treated a case of duodenal hemorrhage due to pancreatic AVM around SCN by pancreatoduodenectomy.

Spatial heterogeneity of landscapes is a key factor for the diversity of biota. There are a rich variety of agricultural landscapes around the globe that differ with respect to composition and spatial configuration of land-use types, reflecting different levels of human impacts. To test whether landscape structure influences biodiversity in similar ways in different geographical regions, our study explored the relationship between landscape characteristics and farmland bird diversity in Germany and Japan. The two countries represent regions with similar Palearctic avifauna, but with contrasting climatic, biogeographical, and socio-economic conditions. We used distribution data for 31 (Germany) and 29 (Japan) species of farmland birds and applied multiple regression analysis to examine the effect of landscape structure on species richness of total farmland birds and of several ecological groups. In both regions, farmland cover was the key variable determining species numbers. Species numbers also increased with increasing proportion of semi-natural habitats up to a maximum and then decreased if semi-natural habitat became more abundant. Optimum landscape structure for each ecological group differed according to their respective habitat needs, but the direction of shifts toward their preferred habitats was similar in both regions, suggesting common ecological mechanisms underlying the patterns of farmland bird diversity. Significant interactions of structural characteristics with the region variable indicated that associations between species richness and landscape structure varied regionally. In Germany, where landscapes are covered by a large extent of farmland, woodland edge density had a pronounced effect on species numbers. By contrast, associations with woodland edges were weak in Japan, where forest is the dominant form of land-use. The differences in landscape associations imply that different conservation strategies should be taken according to the landscape context. In farmland-dominated landscapes, edge habitats provided by forest patches are an important feature for maintaining farmland bird diversity, whereas maintaining open habitats is crucial in forest-dominated landscapes. The importance of maintaining grassland, paddy fields, and semi-natural habitats as part of agricultural landscapes was also underlined by the results of our study. Measures for conserving farmland bird diversity should focus on maintaining heterogeneity of agricultural landscapes. Keywords: Agricultural landscape, Grassland, Habitat heterogeneity, Landscape variable, Paddy field

An Advanced Graduate Program in Global Strategy for Green Asia (GA) is a component project of the "Program for Leading Graduate Schools" which is supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and started in 2013. The concept of a “Green Asia” is a bold ideal. Some of the most challenging global environmental conditions now exist in Asia. Many developing countries face the difficult task of raising millions of citizens from poverty. Consequently, environmental concerns are often overlooked. The key to this complex issue is scientific innovation and a transfer of knowledge from technologically advanced to less advanced nations. This educational program aims to cultivate leaders in science and technology who are able to contribute to the realization of an Asia where ecology and economic growth can coexist. Only 20 exceptional students including 10 Japanese and 10 international are allowed to enroll in the GA program each year. This elite group are taught in a bespoke educational environment, also benefitting from the vast collective resources and shared facilities of KU. The students are offered a financial support in order attract the premium candidates and to maximize the available study time by avoiding the need for part time jobs. The students of the Green Asia Education Program follow a stage gate system. This system comprises of six stages, Research Laboratory Rotation, Practice School, Coursework, International Seminar, Internship and the Green Asia Seminar. All activities described above are carried out in English in order to educate international and multicultural sense. Through these program, the students acquire five abilities, which are research, global perspective, leadership, practice and system landscape. In addition, applied skills such as expansion, analysis and upstream thinking skill are also trained by various activities, especially, practice school and international internship. As first batch students had finished this program in March 2017, we introduce the GA program and how the program is managed and carried out in order to make this program better.

Agriculture provides a wide range of ecosystem services and has the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation. In Japan, many of the resources associated with agroecosystems are threatened by farmland abandonment. Identifying where and to what extent agricultural ecosystem services and farmland biodiversity are affected by farmland abandonment is essential for developing effective strategies to counter the potential loss of these services and the biological communities that support them. Our study aimed to examine how a set of indicators for ecosystem services and biodiversity linked to agroecosystems (proportions of land dedicated to rice production and other agricultural production, proportion of agricultural land on slopes potentially providing landscape aesthetics, proportion of villages promoting rural tourism, and densities of forest edges and irrigation ponds in agricultural land) are distributed at the municipal level across the Japanese Archipelago, and to analyze their spatial patterns in relation to the distribution of farmland abandonment. It was hypothesized that hotspots of agricultural ecosystem services and farmland biodiversity occur in areas at risk of farmland abandonment owing to shared drivers. The cluster analysis identified four distinct ecosystem service bundle types, two of them representing areas specializing in agricultural production, while the other two provided high levels of cultural services and habitats for diverse biological communities. The latter two bundles were located in hilly and mountainous areas and accounted for 58% of rice production, 27% of other agricultural production, 77% of landscape aesthetics, 77% of rural tourism, 64% of forest edges, and 87% of irrigation ponds in Japan. In support of the hypothesis, farmland abandonment was pronounced in these areas, with 64% of recently abandoned fields located where 44% of agricultural land was found. This spatial overlap suggests that substantial losses of ecosystem services and biodiversity may occur if current patterns of farmland abandonment continue. In order to prevent large-scale losses of agricultural ecosystem services and farmland biodiversity, measures to counteract the ongoing abandonment trends should prioritize hilly and mountainous areas, and future studies should further evaluate the multiple functions of agricultural areas to improve policies that aim to ensure sustainable development of rural areas in Japan.

Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident produced much amount of radioactively contaminated water at the Great East Japan Earthquake. 137Cs and 90Sr have been focused to remove from the contaminated water using zeolite types of adsorbents. Other radionuclides have been treated and removed separately by Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), where resin is used to immobilize anions. However, these kinds of spent-adsorbents are not suitable for long-terms burying because of its instability, and the representative anionic radionuclides (129I, 36Cl, 99mTc and 79Se) have quite long half-life (105-107 years). Montmorillonite (Mt) is an useful adsorbent because of its high chemical stability and large cationic exchange capacity. In the present work, surfactant modified Mt (OMt) has been developed using hexadecylpyridium chloride for adsorption of ClO4-, which is a surrogate of 99mTcO4-. For stabilization of spent-OMt, cement solidification was examined with varying the ratio of spent-OMt content. To evaluate its chemical and physical stability, soaking and compressive strength tests were conducted. As a result, it was revealed by FTIR and 29Si-NMR that with increase in OMt contents, the linkage of calcium silicate hydrate was more developed.

An appropriate diagnosis is required to avoid unnecessary surgery for gallbladder cholesterol polyps (GChPs) and to appropriately treat pedunculated gallbladder carcinomas (GCs). Generally, polyps >10 mm are regarded as surgical candidates. We retrospectively evaluated plain and contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) findings and histopathological features of 11 early GCs and 10 GChPs sized 10–30 mm to differentiate between GC and GChP >10 mm and determine their histopathological background. Patient characteristics, including polyp size, did not significantly differ between groups. All GCs and GChPs were detected on CE-CT; GCs were detected more often than GChPs on plain CT (73% vs. 9%; p < 0.01). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy for GCs were 73%, 90%, 89%, 75%, and 81%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, lesion detectability on plain CT was independently associated with GCs (odds ratio, 27.1; p = 0.044). Histopathologically, GChPs consisted of adipose tissue. Although larger vessel areas in GCs than in GChPs was not significant (52,737 μm2 vs. 31,906 μm2; p = 0.51), cell densities were significantly greater in GCs (0.015/μm2 vs. 0.0080/μm2; p < 0.01). Among GPs larger than 10 mm, plain CT could contribute to differentiating GCs from GChPs.

Recycling high-purity rare earths from the waste in fluorescent lamps will assist in preserving rare earth resources. However, the present recovery from the waste in fluorescent lamps is very low at around 30%, and most waste fluorescent lamps are reclaimed. In this study we attempted to reduce one cause of difficulty in recycling lamps, namely the identification of rare earths in plastic-covered lamps, which is conventionally executed by human operators. Using the Acoustic Emission (AE) signal of the collision sound between lamps and an AE sensor head, we first carried out waveform analysis, and frequency analysis using the discrete Fourier transform. We extracted six feature values for each analysis and differentiated the plastic-covered lamps using thresholds. The least error rates were 4.85% and 6.67% for the waveform and frequency analyses, respectively. Second, we applied discriminant analysis on the six feature values from each analysis, resulting in error rates of 3.03% and 5.45%, respectively. Third, we extracted six feature values from the time-frequency analysis using the discrete Wavelet transform and Fractal dimensioning, and applied discriminant analysis on the six feature values, resulting in an error rate of 4.24%. Finally, we examined all the results from the three analyses to find the best combination of feature values, applied discriminant analysis to 12 feature values from the time analysis and time-frequency analysis, and succeeded in reducing the error rate to 0%.

A novel extract powder purified from the boiled water of adzuki bean paste production was developed to better utilize this resource. The compounds contributing to pigmentation of purified adzuki bean extract powders were investigated in order to compare their antioxidant activity in vitro with (+)-catechin. When a normal extract was exposed to the air under heat treatment, the colour of adzuki bean extract became more strongly reddish, which was associated with polyphenol polymerization. Anthocyanins also contributed to the pigmentation of the purified adzuki bean extracts. Especially, two anthocyanin compounds, peonidin-3-rutinoside and malvidin-3-O-glucoside were newly identified in the adzuki bean extract. The reducing powder, iron chelating activity and free-radical scavenging capacity of the adzuki bean extract were greater than that of (+)-catechin while its total antioxidant value was lower. Thus, adzuki bean extract powders are promising alternatives to replace synthetic antioxidants and potential dyes.

Background and study aims Diagnosis of nonampullary duodenal low grade adenoma (Vienna classification category 3, VCL 3) and high grade adenoma/carcinoma (VCL 4 or higher) is important for clinical management decisions. However, there are no criteria based on which endoscopic diagnosis can differentiate between VCL3 and VCL4 or higher. This study aimed to establish simple diagnostic criteria to differentiate between VCL3 and VCL4 or higher. Patients and methods This retrospective study included patients with superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (NADETs) who underwent tumor resection between June 2004 and November 2016 at a single cancer center hospital. Using patient demographics and endoscopic findings from 2004 to 2013, variables related to the final histology of VCL4 or higher were analyzed, and a predictive model was developed. Validation analysis was performed on patients treated between 2014 and 2016. Results A total of 150 lesions in 134 patients were included. Lesion diameter, reddish color, depression, heterogeneous or no nodularity, and mixed or depressed macroscopic types were significantly predictive of VCL4 or higher. A predictive score model was developed and a score of 3 points was defined as an appropriate cutoff for predicting VCL4 or higher. In the validation analysis, the accuracy rate of VCL4 or higher diagnosis was 86 % when the score was ≥ 3 points. Scores between patients with VCL3 and VCL4 or higher were significantly different (P = 0.0004). Conclusions A simple and useful endoscopic scoring system was developed to preoperatively differentiate between VCL3 and VCL4 or higher among superficial NADETs.

The inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare tumor that can develop in any systemic organ. Its features are generally benign, but it often resembles malignancies and is treated surgically. Our patient was an 82-year-old female complaining of abdominal discomfort. Computed tomography demonstrated a 5 cm, ill-enhanced mass at the pancreas head. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal submucosal tumor with apical erosion. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) demonstrated a heterogeneous, low-echoic pancreas mass without clear margins. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) demonstrated spindle myofibroblastic tissues with lymphoplasmacyte and eosinophil infiltration, confirming an IMT diagnosis. Surprisingly, the tumor spontaneously regressed in one month without medication. Histological diagnosis using EUS-FNAB is essential for the rare pancreatic solid tumor like IMT.

Splenosis is a rare disease which typically forms single or multiple round masses. A 45-year-old male was referred for investigation of an abdominal mass. He had a history of splenic injury from a traffic accident at age 19. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a well-enhanced, multi-nodular mass lesion, 3.5 cm in size, located below the stomach. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNAB) for the mass was inconclusive. A surgery was performed, and pathology of the resected mass confirmed splenosis. Clinicians must bear in mind the possibility of occurrence of splenosis after splenic trauma and its image variations.

Background and study aims: Endoscopic papillectomy is currently used to treat noninvasive tumors of the papilla of Vater, but it is seldom reported for treatment of similar tumors of the minor papilla. This report describes the case of a 69-year-old female with a tumor located at the duodenal minor papilla. Findings of duodenoscopy, biopsy, and pancreatography indicated that her noninvasive tumor of the minor papilla was suitable for treatment with endoscopic resection. Glycerol-injected endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) was performed, and the resected material histologically showed carcinoma in the adenoma, negative for neoplastic extension at the cut margin. No complications occurred during the treatment course, and no recurrence has been recognized for 80 months. Unlike the major papilla of Vater, the minor papilla can be lifted up by submucosal injection. Noninvasive epithelial tumors of the duodenal minor papilla without extension to the pancreatic duct can be successfully treated with EMR, as the technique is easy, it is minimally invasive, and it is curative.

The hypocholesterolaemic ability of two potato peptide preparations in rats was compared. Experimental groups were fed for 4 weeks, with casein as the basal diet, in comparison with two diets containing 20% potato peptide preparations PPS (short hydrolysis preparation; 16 h) and PPL (long hydrolysis preparation; 25 h). Serum total cholesterol and serum triacylglycerol levels were lower in PPS-fed group compared with CN- and PPL-fed groups. Lower non-HDL cholesterol level (P

We present a case of duodenal carcinoma, 12 cm in size, with severe stenosis at the second portion of the duodenum. When the patient developed obstructive jaundice, it was impossible to perform endoscopic biliary drainage by standard cannulation due to the stenosis, but was succeeded by wire-guided cannulation using papillotome. Histology of the tumor showed undifferentiated carcinoma without differentiation to any specific cell type. Systemic chemotherapy was started with 5-FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin. Biliary stent worked well until the patient succumbed three months after. Herein we demonstrate the new advantage of wire-guided cannulation in case of duodenal stenosis.

A variety of extrapancreatic lesions have been associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), and these lesions can be difficult to diagnose. We report a patient referred to Shizuoka Cancer Center with the diagnosis of a possible biliary carcinoma with liver metastasis who was shown to have AIP accompanied by pseudotumors of liver. Clinical imaging revealed diffuse enlargement of the head of the pancreas with irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and inferior common bile duct, multiple liver masses, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and thickening of the wall of the gallbladder and abdominal aorta. Cytology and biopsy from the pancreaticobiliary tract was negative for malignancy. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) levels were in the normal range, but soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R), IgG4 and antinuclear antibody were abnormally high (sIL2R: 2,550 U/ml; IgG4: 764 mg/dl). Corticosteroid therapy was effective and these abnormal findings all improved. This case demonstrates the clinical importance of AIP accompanied by other systemic disorders in the differential diagnosis of patients with a pancreatic mass lesion.

Background: Pathologic evidence of biliary diseases can be obtained from cytology in addition to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); however, the diagnostic effectiveness is not satisfactory. Study aim: This retrospective, single-center study evaluated the efficacy of various sampling methods for the cytologic diagnosis of bile duct cancer. Patients and methods: Biliary samples included bile that was simply aspirated, brush smear, brush-rinsed saline, and post-brushing biliary lavage fluid. A set of samples was compared for cytologic efficacy in 76 patients with surgically proven bile duct cancer and in 50 patients with benign biliary stricture. Results: The cytologic sensitivity for diagnosing biliary cancer was 34 % with aspirated bile, 32 % with brush smear, 43 % with brush-rinsed saline, and 70 % with post-brushing biliary lavage fluid, in contrast to the null false-positive result in the benign cases. The sensitivity of cytology was significantly higher with post-brushing lavage fluid than with the other three sampling methods (P

Here we describe a simple affinity purification method for Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), a major causative factor of edema disease in swine. Escherichia coli strain MV1184 transformed with the expression plasmid pBSK-Stx2e produced Stx2e when cultivated in CAYE broth containing lincomycin. Stx2e bound to commercial D-galactose gel, containing α-D-galactose immobilized on agarose resin via a divinyl sulfone linker, and was eluted with phosphate-buffered saline containing 4.5 M MgCl2. A small amount of Stx2e bound to another commercial α-galactose-immobilized agarose resin, but not to β-galactose-immobilized resin. In addition, Stx2e bound to thiophilic adsorbent resin containing β-mercaptoethanol immobilized on agarose resin via a divinyl sulfone, and was purified in the same manner as from D-galactose gel, but the Stx2e sample contained some contamination. These results indicate that Stx2e bound to D-galactose gel mainly through the divinyl sulfone group on the resin and to a lesser extent through α-D-galactose. With these methods, the yields of Stx2e and attenuated mutant Stx2e (mStx2e) from 1 L of culture were approximately 36 mg and 27.7 mg, respectively, and the binding capacity of the D-galactose gel and thiophilic adsorbent resin for Stx2e was at least 20 mg per 1 ml of resin. In addition, using chimeric toxins with prototype Stx2 which did not bind to thiophilic adsorbent resin and some types of mutant Stx2e and Stx2 which contained inserted mutations in the B subunits, we found that, at the least, asparagine (amino acid 17 of the B subunits) was associated with Stx2e binding to the divinyl sulfone group. The mStx2e that was isolated exhibited vaccine effects in ICR mice, indicating that these methods are beneficial for large-scale preparation of Stx2e toxoid, which protects swine from edema disease.

Trace analysis for Au contents in three different gold ores was investigated from aspects of acid digestion conditions of ore samples, the analytical techniques of Au determination, and quantification methods. The results were evaluated in comparison with the reference values by the fire assay. In the standard calibration method, acid digestion of Au in highly reverse aqua regia followed by determination of Au using ICPOES showed good agreement results with the reference values, when the standard solutions include the same Fe concentration as in unknown samples. Meanwhile, the standard addition method produced the best-fit values to the reference values when the ore samples were digested in highly reverse aqua regia and then Au concentration was determined by ICP-MS. Under the optimal condition with ICP-MS, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were recorded 0.24 ppb and 0.80 ppb, respectively. The ICP-OES was not suitable in the standard addition method causing the overestimation of Au probably due to the multi-element interference in plasma emission. In case of the limited amounts of samples, the present finding will be practically useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]