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The aging of concrete structures has become a serious problem in Japan, and periodic maintenance is essential for preventing accidents caused by structural aging. In this study, a method for estimating defects in concrete using data from hammering tests on a concrete plate using machine learning was developed. A neural network based on self-attention (SAN) to estimate the three-dimensional position and size of the defects was constructed. Moreover, a dataset was created from the topology of the internal defects and the acceleration response waveform when a concrete plate was struck. The entire plate was represented as a non-dimensional density matrix. The SAN used scalograms of the acceleration responses as the input. Furthermore, two types of data augmentation ('Flip' and 'Rotate') were proposed. The use of both data augmentation techniques achieved the highest accuracy. By setting an appropriate number of rotations, the model was able to estimate all defects in the dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we examine how deuterium becomes trapped in plasma-exposed tungsten and forms near-surface platelet-shaped precipitates. How these bubbles nucleate and grow, as well as the amount of deuterium trapped within, is crucial for interpreting the experimental database. Here, we use a combined experimental/theoretical approach to provide further insight into the underlying physics. With the Tritium Plasma Experiment, we exposed a series of ITER-grade tungsten samples to high flux D plasmas (up to 1.5×1022m-2 s-1) at temperatures ranging between 103 and 554 °C. Retention of deuterium trapped in the bulk, assessed through thermal desorption spectrometry, reached a maximum at 230 °C and diminished rapidly thereafter for T>300 °C. Post-mortem examination of the surfaces revealed non-uniform growth of bubbles ranging in diameter between 1 and 10 lm over the surface with a clear correlation with grain boundaries. Electron backscattering diffraction maps over a large area of the surface confirmed this dependence; grains containing bubbles were aligned with a preferred slip vector along the (111) directions. Focused ion beam profiles suggest that these bubbles nucleated as platelets at depths of 200 nm-1 lm beneath the surface and grew as a result of expansion of sub-surface cracks. To estimate the amount of deuterium trapped in these defects relative to other sites within the material, we applied a continuum-scale treatment of hydrogen isotope precipitation. In addition, we propose a straightforward model of near-surface platelet expansion that reproduces bubble sizes consistent with our measurements. For the tungsten microstructure considered here, we find that bubbles would only weakly affect migration of D into the material, perhaps explaining why deep trapping was observed in prior studies with plasma-exposed neutron-irradiated specimens. We foresee no insurmountable issues that would prevent the theoretical framework developed here from being extended to a broader range of systems where precipitation of insoluble gases in ion beam or plasma-exposed metals is of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• T permeability was obtained in tungsten in W via a gas-driven permeation technique with a flowing H-T permeation system. • T permeability was measured in low T partial pressure of(5.8-6.8)x10-2 Pa over the temperature range from 573 to 873 K. • A scanning Auger microscope was used to characterize surface conditions of W before and after T permeation experiment. A flowing hydrogen-tritium permeation system was used to investigate tritium permeation behavior in polycrystalline tungsten. Tritium permeability was measured with T 2 partial pressure ranging from 5.8 × 10−2 Pa to 6.8 × 10−2 Pa over the temperature range from 573 to 873 K. The obtained tritium permeability in polycrystalline tungsten was P T [mol m−1s−1 Pa−0.5] = (2.13 × 10−9)exp(−93.32 [kJ mol−1]/ RT). This is one of the first tritium permeability data from any polycrystalline tungsten via a gas-driven permeation technique. The tritium permeability in polycrystalline tungsten was compared with the reported hydrogen isotope permeability in other polycrystalline tungsten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We clarified critical factors affecting the crystallographic orientation of LiNbO3 (LN) thin films deposited by electron cyclotron resonance plasma sputtering on transparent conductive oxides, i.e., TiN and indium tin oxide (ITO). When LN films were crystallized during sputtering on amorphous TiN, insufficient crystallization (400 °C), a roughened TiN surface by crystallization (460 and 530 °C), and oxidization of TiN (600 °C) interfered with the production of c-axis oriented textured film. Solid-phase crystallization of amorphous LN film on amorphous TiN through rapid thermal annealing provided a solution to disorientation factors. Because of the low crystallization temperature of ITO, both crystallization during sputtering and solid-phase crystallization by postannealing yielded polycrystalline LN for LN film on amorphous ITO, but with a substantial number of c-axis oriented domains. For both amorphous LN film on polycrystalline TiN and polycrystalline ITO, however, nucleation assisted by seeds at the interface resulted in a completely random orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of thermodynamic equilibria of multi-components hydrogen isotopes is required to accurately measure tritium permeability at the expected low tritium partial pressure and non-negligible high hydrogen partial pressure in a fusion blanket system. A gas-driven tritium permeation system that is capable of independently controlling hydrogen and tritium partial pressures was developed at Idaho National Laboratory to accurately measure low partial pressure tritium permeability. The thermodynamic equilibria for hydrogen (H) – tritium (T) permeation through metal are discussed to accurately measure tritium permeability, and the experimental conditions required for evaluating tritium permeability in H-T system are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realization of a short bunch beam by manipulating the longitudinal phase space distribution with a finite longitudinal dispersion following an off-crest acceleration is a widely used technique. The technique was applied in a compact test accelerator of an energy-recovery linac scheme for compressing the bunch length at the return loop. A diagnostic system utilizing coherent transition radiation was developed for the beam tuning and for estimating the bunch length. By scanning the beam parameters, we experimentally found the best condition for the bunch compression. The RMS bunch length of 250 ± 50 fs was obtained at a bunch charge of 2 pC. This result confirmed the design and the tuning procedure of the bunch compression operation for the future energy-recovery linac (ERL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding tritium retention and permeation in plasma-facing components is critical for fusion safety and fuel cycle control. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) is shown to be an effective tool to reveal the depth profile of deuterium in tungsten. Results confirm the detection of deuterium. A ~46 μm depth profile revealed that the deuterium content decreased precipitously in the first 7 μm, and detectable amounts were observed to depths in excess of 20 μm. The large probing depth of GD-OES (up to 100s of μm) enables studies not previously accessible to the more conventional techniques for investigating deuterium retention. Of particular applicability is the use of GD-OES to measure the depth profile for experiments where high deuterium concentration in the bulk material is expected: deuterium retention in neutron irradiated materials, and ultra-high deuterium fluences in burning plasma environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) is a unique high-flux linear plasma device that can handle beryllium, tritium, and neutron-irradiated plasma facing materials, and is the only existing device dedicated to evaluate in-vessel tritium inventory in the nuclear environment for fusion safety. The electrical upgrade were recently carried out to enhance operational safety and to improve plasma performance. New DC power supplies and a new control center enable remote plasma operations from outside of the contamination area for tritium, minimizing the possible exposure risk with tritium and beryllium and eliminating heat stress issue. In November 2015, the TPE successfully achieved first deuterium plasma via remote operation after a significant three-year upgrade. Simple linear scaling estimate showed that the TPE is expected to achieve Γ i max of >1.0 × 10 23 m −2 s −1 and q heat of >1 MW m −2 with new power supplies. This upgrade not only improves operational safety of the worker, but also enhances plasma performance to better simulate extreme plasma-material conditions expected in ITER, FNSF, and DEMO for improving in-vessel tritium inventory assessment in fusion nuclear environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new experimental system designed to investigate tritium mass transfer properties in materials important to fusion technology. Experimental activities were carried out at the Safety and Tritium Applied Research (STAR) facility located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The tritium permeation measurement system was developed as part of the Japan/US TITAN collaboration to investigate tritium mass transfer properties in liquid lead lithium eutectic (LLE) alloy. The experimental system is configured to measure tritium mass transfer properties at low tritium partial pressures. Initial tritium permeation scoping tests were conducted on a 1 mm thick α-Fe plate to determine operating parameters and to validate the experimental technique. A second series of permeation tests was then conducted with the α-Fe plate covered with an approximately 8.5 mm layer of liquid lead lithium eutectic alloy (α-Fe/LLE). We present preliminary tritium permeation data for α-Fe and α-Fe/LLE at temperatures between 400 and 600 °C and at tritium partial pressures between 1.7E − 03 and 2.5 Pa in helium. Preliminary results for the α-Fe plate and α-Fe/LLE indicate that the data spans a transition region between the diffusion-limited regime and the surface-limited regime. Additional data is required to determine the existence and range of a surface-limited regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is a continuation of a recent research to develop and optimize positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) for characterizing neutron-irradiated tungsten. Tungsten samples were exposed to neutrons in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and damaged to 0.025 and 0.3 dpa. Subsequently, they were exposed to deuterium plasmas in the Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) at Idaho National Laboratory. The implanted deuterium was desorbed through sample heating to 900 °C, and Doppler broadening (DB)-PAS was performed both before and after heating. Results show that deuterium impregnated tungsten is identified as having a smaller S-parameter. The S-parameter increases after deuterium desorption. Microstructural changes also occur during sample heating. These effects can be isolated from deuterium desorption by comparing the S-parameters from the deuterium-free back face with the deuterium-implanted front face. The application of using DB-PAS to examine deuterium retention in tungsten is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the launch of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) in 2006, the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) took the initiative to implement the first global-scale systematic acquisition strategy for satellite sensors at fine and medium (2.5–20 m) spatial resolution. Comprising all three sensors on ALOS (PALSAR, PRISM, AVNIR-2), the plan was designed to serve all ALOS user categories and aimed at producing spatially and temporally consistent baseline coverages over the planet on a repetitive basis, to accommodate systematic global-scale, fine-resolution, monitoring of the environment. Unlike the common background missions defined for most fine-resolution Earth Observation satellites, the observation strategy was implemented as a top-level foreground mission with a priority second only to that of special observation requests and emergency observations and sensor calibration. While the ALOS mission regrettably ended in April 2011, the global acquisition strategy nevertheless produced a comprehensive and homogeneous global archive in which consistent time-series of data are available for any arbitrary land area on Earth (excluding Antarctica > 77.5° South latitude, which could not be reached by the sensors). Clouds and haze inevitably constituted limitations for the optical sensors, while for the PALSAR instrument, two cloud-free and near-gap free (~ 95%) global coverages were achieved annually during the 4.5 years in operations. Previously, such uniform data archives existed only for coarse-resolution sensors such as AVHRR, MERIS and MODIS. The ALOS BOS supported a variety applications from local to global scales, ranging from structural deformation, monitoring of wetlands regional inundation patterns and mapping of forest extent and changes over nations and continents at spatial resolutions as fine as 10 m. The Advanced Land Observing Satellite 2 (ALOS-2) was launched on May 24, 2014. Equipped with an enhanced L-band SAR sensor (PALSAR-2), ALOS-2 resumes the global wall-to-wall acquisitions to assure continuity and consistency with JAXA’s global mission objectives and unique L-band SAR archive created by ALOS PALSAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an isochronous explicit time integration framework (or the explicitiIntegrator) for solving thermal stress problems is illustrated. Similar to the implicit case, the same adaptation process of the isochronous integration is valid for the explicit case. That is, the adaptation process endows the explicit version of the generalized single step family of algorithms for second-order systems (explicit GS4-2 family of algorithms) with the applicability to first-order systems, and the explicit version of the GS4 family of algorithms for first-order systems (explicit GS4-1 family of algorithms) is automatically generated. Two illustrative thermal stress dynamic applications are shown to demonstrate the practicality and convenience of the explicitiIntegrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of neutron and ion irradiations on deuterium (D) retention in tungsten (W) were investigated. Specimens of pure W were irradiated with neutrons to 0.3 dpa at around 323K and then exposed to high-flux D plasma at 473 and 773 K. The concentration of D significantly increased by neutron irradiation and reached 0.8 at% at 473K and 0.4 at% at 773 K. Annealing tests for the specimens irradiated with 20MeV W ions showed that the defects which play a dominant role in the trapping at high temperature were stable at least up to 973 K, while the density decreased at temperatures equal to or above 1123 K. These observations of the thermal stability of traps and the activation energy for D detrapping examined in a previous study (≈1.8 eV) indicated that the defects which contribute predominantly to trapping at 773K were small voids. The higher concentration of trapped D at 473K was explained by additional contributions of weaker traps. The release of trapped D was clearly enhanced by the exposure to atomic hydrogen at 473 K, though higher temperatures are more effective for using this effect for tritium removal in fusion reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conserving and dissipative implicit algorithm designs in the single-field form via the total energy framework for N-body systems are summarized in this paper which provides new avenues with improved physical interpretation, and can also explain analogous past efforts. We show various algorithm designs via two distinct approaches based on the algorithmic time level consistency theorem, namely, the discrete total energy conservation method, and the classical and normalized time weighted residual methodologies; and therein draw comparisons among the various time-stepping algorithms and features. A simple numerical simulation is shown to demonstrate the pros/cons for the conserving properties of various algorithms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the long-term consecutive differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique is used to measure the volume change during land deformation. This technique was used to investigate the subsidence of Bandung city, Indonesia, by assessing the data from two Japanese L-band spaceborne SARs (Japanese Earth Resources Satellite 1 SAR and Advanced Land Observation Satellite Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) during the periods of 1993-1997 and 2007-2010. The results are confirmed using GPS observation data, ground survey data, local statistics, ground water level trend data, and the geological formation of the study area. The obtained results reveal a close correlation between the subsidence measurements and changes in the ground water level due to water pumping, population growth, industry growth, and urbanization of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To carry out a phase II multi-center study on the efficacy and safety of triple combination therapy with paclitaxel, S-1, and cisplatin in patients with unresectable/metastatic gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 63 patients from 8 institutions were included in this study. Paclitaxel (160 mg/m2) was administered by infusion for 3 h on the first day. S-1 (70 mg/m2/day) was administered orally for 14 consecutive days from the first day. Cisplatin (60 mg/m2) was administered intravenously over 24 h on day 14 of every 28-day cycle. Results: All 63 patients were assessed for clinical efficacy and safety. A total of 259 cycles of treatment were administered (median 4, range 1-10). Grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia in 30.2%, thrombocytopenia in 12.7%, and anemia in 11.1%. There was no grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity or treatment-related death. Complete response was observed in 6 patients and partial response in 34 patients. The overall response rate was 63.5%. The median progression-free survival and response duration were 8.0 and 8.8 months, respectively, and median survival time was 15 months. Conclusions: Triple combination therapy with paclitaxel, S-1, and cisplatin showed promising safety and efficacy profiles with the potential to become a standard regimen for unresectable/metastatic gastric cancer. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes an important part of ITER Research Plan, on plasma–wall interaction (PWI). In order to maximize the flexibility of the machine during the initial operation (H and D phases), CFC will be used for the targets. Tungsten will be used for the other plasma-facing components of the divertor. In order to minimize the tritium retention, tungsten will fully cover the divertor targets before the DT phase. Extrapolation of heat loads on plasma-facing components (PFCs) during disruption and ELMs to ITER parameters indicates serious consequences of these phenomena. Therefore schemes for prediction and mitigation or avoidance of these phenomena need to be developed during construction and demonstrated in the early phase of ITER operation. T-retention and dust have important impacts on safety. Therefore the methods of measurement and removal of tritium and dust must be developed during construction and demonstrated in the early phase of ITER operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively slows the progression of AIDS. However, drug resistance and/or toxicity can limit the utility of ART in many patients. In this study, we assessed whether a viral vector-based vaccine can be used as a therapeutic vaccine in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected monkeys. The effect of vaccinating SIVmac239-infected rhesus monkeys with an SIV gag and gp120-expressing adenovirus (Ad) vector vaccine and a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine was explored while being treated with ART. Rhesus monkeys were intravenously infected with 10 and 1000 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious dose) of SIVmac239. Two months after SIV infection, the monkeys received a 4-month treatment with ART. Some of the monkeys were immunized with adenovirus-based vaccine and MVA-based vaccine with 2 months interval during ART. Viral load, CD4 count and SIV-specific immune responses were observed for 7 months after interruption of ART. The vaccinated animals had higher (i) CD4 counts, (ii) SIV-specific cell-mediated immune responses and (iii) anti-SIV-neutralizing antibody (Ab) titers than monkeys treated with ART alone. More importantly, the vaccination significantly reduced the SIV RNA load from animals infected with a low dose of SIV (10 TCID50). The anti-SIV cell-mediated and humoral responses induced by the vaccination was inversely correlated with a reduction in SIV viral load and positively correlated with an increase in CD4+ T cell counts. These results suggest that vaccination can improve antiviral cell-mediated and humoral immunity, which may contribute to controlling viral replication.Gene Therapy (2009) 16, 218–228; doi:10.1038/gt.2008.152; published online 16 October 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. St2b2, a mouse cytosolic sulfotransferase, predominantly catalyses epidermal cholesterol sulfation. St2b2 was found in the basement layer by immunohistochemical analysis of normal mouse skin. The highest expression level was detected in epidermis from 3-day-old mice and then decreased before maturation. There was a good correlation between expression levels of skin St2b2 and a differentiation marker, involucrin. 2. To understand the role of St2b2 in epidermal cell differentiation, recombinant St2b2 was expressed in primary epidermal cells. The expression of St2b2 enhanced the involucrin expression with an increase of cholesterol sulfate. Furthermore, by down-regulation of the St2b2 gene expression, involucrin was decreased in dorsal skin of 1-3-day-old mice by 67% of the control. 3. These results strongly suggest a possibility that St2b2 expression plays a trigger of epidermal cell differentiation by controlling cholesterol sulfate level in the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the transplant surgery, reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the reperfused tissue cause ischemia-reperfusion injury, resulting in the primary graft failure. We have recently reported that Rho-kinase, an effecter of the small GTPase Rho, plays an important role in the ROS production in the hyperacute phase of reperfusion; however, the sources and mechanisms of the ROS production remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the source of ROS production with a special reference to Rho-kinase to develop a new strategy against ischemia-reperfusion injury. In an in vivo rat model of liver transplantation, Kupffer cells in the graft were depleted using liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate to examine the source of ROS production. The effect of adenoviral-mediated overexpression of a dominant-negative Rho-kinase (AdDNRhoK) in hepatocytes in the graft was also examined. Kupffer cells were not involved in the ROS production, whereas the AdDNRhoK transfection to hepatocytes significantly suppressed the ROS production. Furthermore, the ROS production was dose-dependently inhibited by apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. Expression of DNRhoK also suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and ameliorated the lethal liver injury with a significant prolongation of the survival. These results suggest that the Rho-kinase-mediated pathway plays a crucial role in the ROS production through NADPH oxidase in hepatocytes during the hyperacute phase of reperfusion in vivo. Thus, Rho-kinase in hepatocytes may be a new therapeutic target for the prevention of primary graft failure in liver transplantation.Gene Therapy (2007) 14, 1425–1433. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3303000; published online 2 August 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A twin-induced grain boundary engineered 304 austenitic stainless steel with a high frequency of coincidence site lattice boundaries produced by a one-step thermomechanical process was arc-welded. The heat-affected zone was examined by orientation imaging microscopy and corrosion tests. The results indicated that the intergranular corrosion due to sensitization in the heat-affected zone were perfectly suppressed, because the high frequency of coincidence site lattice boundaries and the optimum grain boundary character distribution were stable in the grain boundary engineered stainless steel during arc-welding. The grain boundary engineering can arrest the weld-decay of austenitic stainless steel effectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The lattice and beam optics of the arc section of the KEK-ERL test facility, having an energy of 200MeV, were optimized to efficiently suppress emittance growth based on a simulation using a particle-tracking method taking coherent synchrotron radiation effects into account. The lattice optimization in the arc section was performed under two conditions: a high-current mode with a bunch charge of 76.9pC without bunch compression, and a short-bunch mode with bunch compression, producing a final bunch length of around 0.1ps. The simulation results showed that, in the high-current mode, emittance growth was efficiently suppressed by keeping a root-mean-square (rms) bunch length of 1ps at a bunch charge of 76.9pC, and in the short-bunch mode, emittance growth was kept within permissible limits with a maximum allowable bunch charge of 23.1pC at an rms bunch length of 0.1ps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have reported the effective 3D-culture system to differentiate insulin producing cell (IPC) from human adipose derived stem cell (hADSC) recombinant peptide micro-pieces (RCP μ-pieces, FUJIFILM, Tokyo, Japan) (Ikemoto T, et al. Pancreas. 2018, Ikemoto T, et al. Sci Rep 2019, Wada Y, et al. Sci Rep 2019). Although a successful short-term result was confirmed within 30 days with a single administration of IPCs, a long-term fate of IPCs remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study is to clarify the long-term result of transplanted IPCs in mice. IPCs were generated from hADSCs, which were isolated from patient's subcutaneous adipose, with our original 2-steop protocol which was a xeno-antien free, 3D-culture system as mentioned above ( Pancreas. 2018, Sci Rep 2019). BALB/c nu-nu mice were induced to a diabetic state with 200mg/kg streptozotocin for the recipients. 2.0 × 106 IPCs were implanted to these mice under the kidney capsule (Tx group, n=4), same quantity normal saline were administered as control (Sham group, n=4). Non-fasting blood glucose and body weight were measured up to 180 days. Then transplanted mice were sacrificed for immunohistochemical evaluations. In Tx group, blood glucose levels in all recipients decreased below 200 mg/dl on day 10 and below 150 mg/dl around day 60 (100%), even though all mice in Sham group were dead in 40 days (100%). The normoglycemic state in Tx group continued until 180 days with IPCs single transplantation (Fig 1). No abnormal tumorous lesions or inflammations were observed at the transplanted sites. Transplanted IPCs were strongly stained by anti-insulin antibody, anti-C peptide antibody and anti-human leukocyte antigen class I antibody (Fig 2). Our IPCs can be applied to clinical trial as a promising strategy for type 1 DM patients and totally pancreatectomized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have reported the possibility of non-clinical PoC for generating insulin-producing cells (IPCs) differentiated from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). However, whether ADSC isolated from type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients has the differentiation ability or not is still unclear. Thus, we aimed to determine whether appropriately responsive IPCs could be generated from ADSCs isolated from actual T1DM patients. We isolated ADSCs from the discarded adipose tissue from four patients undergoing surgery at our institute and differentiated them into IPCs using our established two-step xeno-antigen free, three-dimensional culture method (UMIN000035546,IRB approved on Jan 10, 2018). Characters of isolated ADSCs, in vitro cell quality and cell function, programmed cell death ligand-1(PDL-1) expression and in vivo functional tests by transplantation to streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic nude mice were investigated. ADSCs from T1DM patients and commercially obtained ADSCs showed the same surface markers; CD31−CD34−CD45−CD90+CD105+CD146−. Moreover, the generated IPCs at day 21 demonstrated appropriate autonomous insulin secretion in vitro (stimulation index;3.5). The non-fasting blood glucose concentrations of STZ-induced diabetic nude mice were normal 30 days after IPC transplantation. The normalized rate of STZ-induced diabetic nude mice was significantly different to the sham-operated group (P<0.05). IPCs generated from T1DM adipose tissue demonstrated high levels of expression of PDL-1, even though freshly isolated ADSCs did not expressed. These findings suggest that IPCs obtained from the adipose tissue of T1DM patients are capable of secreting insulin long-term and achieving normoglycemia following a single auto-transplantation, and without the need for immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the orientation of domains in LiNbO3 (LN) thin films grown by electron–cyclotron resonance plasma sputtering on TiN films with various crystalline states. Deposition at 400°C on an amorphous TiN produced partially crystallized and apparently c-axis-oriented LN. When TiN crystallized at 460°C to become polycrystalline grains, the roughened surface randomized the orientation of LN. At 600°C, the reaction of TiN with oxygen atoms supplied from the plasma created a TiO x layer. Rapid thermal annealing of amorphous LN films at 460°C was the best solution for removing these disorientation factors, but annealing of amorphous LN on poly-crystalline TiN yielded no c-axis-oriented domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author introduces the status of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's synthetic aperture radar (SAR) programmes and their scientific returns from the last 20 years of activity. The Earth observation programme was started using active microwave sensors in the early 1990s. Spaceborne SAR aboard Japanese Earth Resource's Satellite-1 (JERS-1) was the pathfinder, and airborne polarimetric and interferometric SAR followed. The Advanced Land Observing Satellite will be launched to carry PALSAR as a follow-up high-resolution, high-performance SAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have investigated the microstructure and atomic disordering of nearly stoichiometric magnesium aluminate spinel (MgO·1.1Al2O3), irradiated with 200MeV Xe14+ ions (S e =25keV/nm). Transmission electron microscopy techniques of bright-field (BF) and high-resolution (HR) imaging, as well as high angular resolution electron channeling X-ray spectroscopy (HARECXS) were employed for quantitative analysis of radiation-induced structural change. BF images of ion tracks show columnar dark contrast of ∼4nm in diameter accompanying distinct black or white dots at the incident surface. Clear lattice fringes are observed in HR images even inside the ion tracks, indicating that the spinel crystals are not amorphized but partially disordered along the ion tracks. HARECXS analysis showed that cation disordering progresses successively with ion fluence, and the disordered regions are found to extend over 12.8±0.9nm in diameter for Al ions and 9.6±0.6nm for Mg ions along the ion tracks. This chemically disordered region is much larger than the strained volume detected by BF and HR images. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent progress in experiments, modeling and theory has increased confidence that ITER can achieve its goal of high Q (>10) in inductive operation. Further, experimental results in the ‘improved hybrid’ regime suggest a possibility of high Q (>10) operation in a long pulse (>1000s) with benign ELMs. However, considerable uncertainty still exists in the prediction of several key aspects; for example, tritium retention, disruption, impurity control, ELMs, SOL transport and dust. ITER requires flexibility of operation scenarios at least in the early operation phase to accommodate uncertainties in prediction, to explore wide operational spaces and to incorporate newly developed control schemes. Because of these uncertainties conservative assumptions are adopted in performance predictions, and step-wise implementation of reactor-relevant plasma-facing material, such as tungsten, are planned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chromosome rearrangement has been considered to be important in the evolutionary process. Here, we demonstrate the evolutionary relationship of the rearranged human chromosome 12 and the corresponding chromosome XII in apes (chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, orangutan, and gibbon) by examining PCR products derived from the breakpoints of inversions and by conducting shotgun sequencing of a gorilla fosmid clone containing the breakpoint and a “duplicated segment” (duplicon). We confirmed that a pair of 23-kb duplicons flank the breakpoints of inversions on the long and short arms of chimpanzee chromosome XII. Although only the 23-kb duplicon on the long arm of chimpanzee chromosome XII and its telomeric flanking sequence are found to be conserved among the hominoids (human, great apes, and gibbons), the duplicon on the short arm of chimpanzee chromosome XII is suggested to be the result of a duplication from that on the long arm. Furthermore, the shotgun sequencing of a gorilla fosmid indicated that the breakpoint on the long arm of the gorilla is located at a different position 1.9 kb from that of chimpanzee. The region is flanked by a sequence homologous to that of human chromosome 6q22. Our findings and sequence analysis suggest a close relationship between segmental duplication and chromosome rearrangement (or breakpoint of inversion) in Hominoidea. The role of the chromosome rearrangement in speciation is also discussed based on our new results. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of serum S100β on the accurate assessment of reversibility of brain damage after fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Among the 13 patients with FHF enrolled in this study, 12 underwent living donor liver transplantation; one patient could not the procedure because of volvulus of the sigmoid colon. Serum S100β was serially measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Preoperative serum S100β in patients with diffuse brain edema was significantly higher than that in patients with localized brain edema (P < 0.05). Patients with preoperative brain death showed serum S100β levels over 7.0 μg/L. Serum S100β levels correlated with the degree of brain edema of FHF. It has the potential to be a new clinical, noninvasive indicator of brain damage due to FHF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Thin films of crystalline lithium niobate (LN) grown on Si(100) and SiO2 substrates by electron cyclotron resonance plasma sputtering exhibit distinct interfacial structures that strongly affect the orientation of respective films. Growth at 460–600°C on the Si(100) surface produced columnar domains of LiNbO3 with well-oriented c-axes, i.e., normal to the surface. When the SiO2 substrate was similarly exposed to plasma at temperatures above 500°C, however, increased diffusion of Li and Nb atoms into the SiO2 film was seen and this led to an LN–SiO2 alloy interface in which crystal-axis orientations were randomized. This problem was solved by solid-phase crystallization of the deposited film of amorphous LN; the degree of c-axis orientation was then immune to the choice of substrate material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An analytical electron microscope study was carried out on single crystal specimens of magnesium aluminate spinel irradiated with 200 MeV Xe14+ ions up to 5.0 × 1015 and 2.0 × 1016 ions/m2 at ambient temperature. Bright-field images showed structurally disordered columns of about 4–5 nm in diameter along ion tracks. Tiny pits were observed on the incident surface of the columns. Quantitative HARECXS analysis of atomic configurations revealed that disordering proceeds in more extended regions over 10 nm in diameter. The configurations of Al3+ ions are more disordered than that of Mg2+ ions. The disordered areas are appeared to overlap each other in the specimen irradiated with 2.0 × 1016 ions/m2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Graft size is known to be a major risk factor in living donor adult liver transplantation (LDALT). The aim of this study is to reassess whether graft size is a critical factor in LDALT or not. A series of 75 LDALTs excluding auxiliary transplantation and ABO blood-type incompatible transplantation were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, according to graft volume (GV) and standard liver volume (SLV): group 1 (small-size group) (GV/SLV: <40%), and group 2 (non-small-size group) (≥40%). Perioperative clinical data were compared between the two groups, including graft survival and postoperative complications. These parameters were also compared under the conditions of cirrhotic recipients. No difference in graft survival was found between the two groups. No difference was found in incidence of postoperative complications, such as intractable ascites and persistent hyperbilirubinemia. Even in cirrhotic patients with Child–Pugh’s class C, there was no difference in graft survival between the two groups. Risk factors related to graft loss were a preoperative urgent status due to chronic liver disease, pre-operative hyperbilirubinemia of over 10 mg/dl, and ABO blood type of not identical but compatible combination between donor and recipient. Graft size is not always considered to be a major risk factor in LDALT, although the number of patients was small in this study. Therefore, a left-lobe graft, even a “small-for-size” graft for adult recipients, remains a feasible option in LDALT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, strategies to successfully introduce solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) into industry and society are discussed using a scenario approach. Scenarios for Japanese energy systems are developed to portray the situation up to the year 2050, in order to consider the potential interrelation of SOFCs with other power generation technologies, and to direct further investigation and stimulate discussion among researchers and stakeholders. Scenarios are constructed by combining a number of scenario options, such as technical, social, political and economic aspects. Specific attention is focused on the lifecycle of SOFCs. A power generation planning model developed in a previous study was extended to model decision-making for power generation capacity planning based on cost minimization, subject to other constraints and requirements over the focal time period of 2001–2050. In this way, it is possible to assess for each scenario not only the feasible introduction rate of SOFCs, but also the CO2 emissions, cost, and energy security requirements for the entire energy system, including both distributed and centralized power systems. The results of the analyses elucidate the effectiveness of different technical and political alternatives, such as technological breakthrough, recycling, security of materials and production facilities, on the successful introduction of SOFCs in Japanese power systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Oxidative stress contributes to hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a biphasic pattern. In addition to direct cytotoxic effects, oxidative stress also initiates the signal transduction processes that promote second-phase liver injury. The present study investigated the effects of the hydroxyl radical scavenger MCI-186 on the biphasic process of hepatic cold IR injury. Methods: After cold preservation for 16 h, rat livers were reperfused on an isolated liver perfusion system for 120 min with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer. Perfusate samples were obtained serially, and portal flow rates were also recorded. To determine whether MCI-186 affected cytokine levels that control the second-phase injury, levels of interleukin (IL) 10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α were measured in the perfusate. Results: Addition of MCI-186 1 mg/l into the perfusate significantly improved portal flow (P < 0.050), hepatic enzyme release into the perfusate (P = 0.038), total bile production (P = 0.029) and malondialdehyde concentration (P = 0.038). Furthermore, treatment with MCI-186 led to a substantial increase in IL-10 release (P = 0.032). TNF-α levels were not affected. Conclusions: MCI-186, an agent ready for clinical use, appears to have direct and indirect protective effects against hepatic cold IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine if exposure of spermatozoa to seminal plasma before freezing decreases its freezability, assessed by percentage motile cells (using computer-assisted semen analysis) and in vitro penetration ability (using in vitro fertilization and chlortetracycline fluorescence assessment). Ejaculated spermatozoa from miniature pigs were washed by centrifugation within 20 min after collection, then incubated in seminal plasma or modified Hulsenberg VIII diluents (mHM). When the spermatozoa were cryopreserved, spermatozoa incubated in seminal plasma before freezing had significantly lower post-thaw motility than spermatozoa incubated in mHM. The incubation of spermatozoa in seminal plasma also significantly prevented frozen–thawed spermatozoa from penetrating the oocytes. The second experiment, using unfrozen spermatozoa, was to determine if the incubation of spermatozoa with seminal plasma reduced penetration ability before freezing, resulting in a significantly lower penetration rate after freezing (compared with spermatozoa incubated without seminal plasma). The penetration competence of unfrozen spermatozoa was significantly decreased by incubation in seminal plasma, but no difference in motility was observed between spermatozoa exposed to seminal plasma versus mHM. We concluded that ejaculated seminal plasma contained some factor(s) that modified the sperm before freezing and reduced the freezability and post-thaw penetration competence of spermatozoa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Global carbon observations is a fundamental requirement in the context of the Terrestrial Carbon Observation (TCO) theme within the Integrated Global Carbon Observation (IGCO) theme of Integrated Global Observation Strategy Partners (IGOS-P), for quantitative estimation of key biophysical parameters such as net primary productivity (NPP), carbon stocks and their changes in time. In support to this major international effort, NASDA, through its Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), is planning global systematic data observations using the Phased-Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) from 2004. Like its predecessor - the JERS-1 SAR - the PALSAR instrument will operate in the longer L-band wavelength range (23.5 cm), with added polarimetric features making it attractive for assessment of regenerating and lower-density above-ground biomass, and changes therein. In addition to ALOS, the Global Imager (GLI) instrument onboard the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEOS-II), launched successfully in December 2002, will be used to estimate annual change of global NPP at 1 km and 250 m spatial resolutions. Notable is that the six terrestrial channels on GLI operate with the same wavelength as Landsat ETM+ and MODIS, but all with a spatial resolution of 250 m. This paper describes the preliminary study on the applicability and improvement of data sets from PALSAR on ALOS and GLI on ADEOS-11 for terrestrial carbon observation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cost reduction study of 100 MW/500 kwh SMES for load compensation and frequency regulation is performed under Japanese national project. A newly designed CIC (Cable In Conduit) Conductor is developed for the SMES (Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage). The number of superconducting strand in the cable is reduced with segregated Cu strands. The cross-sectional structure or a strand with CuNi sheath is simplified from the previous design. To reduce AC loss time constant, strands are twisted up to second degree, which is much lower than that of the previous cable design. A short sample of the conductor is manufactured and tested. The test results show that the conductor has good performance for the SMES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a variety of complete total endoscopic general surgical procedures, including colon resection, distal gastrectomy, and splenectomy, successfully with the assistance of the da Vinci computer-enhanced surgical system. The robotic system allowed us to manipulate the endoscopic instruments as effectively as during open surgery. It enhanced visualization of both the operative field and precision of the necessary techniques, as well as being less stressful for the endoscopic operating team. This technological innovation can therefore help surgeons overcome many of the difficulties associated with the endoscopic approach and thus has the potential to enable more precise, safer, and more minimally invasive surgery in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of process parameters, pre-strain, annealing temperature, time, etc. on grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) and intergranular corrosion in thermomechanical treatment were examined during grain boundary engineering of type 304 austenitic stainless steel. Slight pre-strain annealing at a relatively low temperature resulted in excellent intergranular corrosion resistance due to optimized GBCD, i.e. the uniform distribution of a high frequency of coincidence site lattice boundaries and consequent discontinuity of random boundary network in the material. The optimum distribution can be formed by introduction of low energy segments on migrating random boundaries during twin emission and boundary–boundary reactions in the grain growth without generation of new random boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive upregulation of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis is speculated to be associated with ulcerogenesis in Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori may have an ulcerogenic effect through induction of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis mediated by infiltrating T cells and their soluble products. Methods: The contents of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in organ cultures and the degree of apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the gastric epithelium were examined using the mucosal tissues obtained from the antrum and the ulcer site in patients with H. pylori-positive gastric ulcer (GU). The molecular mechanisms of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis induced by sFasL and IFN-γ were analyzed using epithelial cell lines, MKN 45 and KATO III. Results: The mucosal tissues of the ulcer site had substantially higher contents of sFasL and IFN-γ in organ cultures regardless of its healing stage in association with increased numbers of apoptotic cells and enhanced expression of proapoptotic proteins Bak and Bax in the surface foveolar epithelium as compared with the antral tissues in patients with H. pylori-positive GU. The addition of sFasL caused increases in cytotoxic cell death and caspase-3 activation in MKN 45 and KATO III cells in which IFN-γ-treated cells had more prominent effects than untreated cells. The expression of Bak in MKN 45 cells increased when they were treated with IFN-γ. Conclusions: Upregulation of mucosal sFasL and IFN-γ may be involved in ulcerogenesis in patients with H. pylori-positive GU through induction of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have produced a continent-scale, high-resolution radar mosaic of Southeast Asia using L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data collected by Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1). This 100 m resolution, 16-bit mosaic dataset of the backscattering coefficients has a calibration accuracy of 1.1 dB, geometric accuracy of 406 m, and an image quality similar to those of Amazon and central Africa previously produced by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission (EC). This dataset may be beneficial in Earth observation research, especially for forest monitoring, because the L-band signal is sensitive to forest characteristics. This paper introduces a new mosaicking method that was developed to assemble the SAR path images into a large-scale mosaic, a way to recalibrate the radiometric imbalance across paths, and the validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatectomy with extensive lymph node dissection is the standard operation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). However, lymph node dissection may not always be effective at reducing tumour recurrence. Methods: Forty-nine patients with IHCC who underwent hepatectomy were investigated to determine patterns of tumour recurrence and to estimate the value of lymph node dissection during resection. Results: At hepatectomy most metastatic lymph nodes were identified at least to the level of group 2 lymph nodes. Among 23 patients who developed recurrence, 17 had liver metastases and the other six had recurrence at other sites, mainly in the peritoneum. Poorly differentiated histology was related to the development of liver metastases. No patient with the intraductal growth type of IHCC had tumour recurrence. Lymph node dissection did not appear to improve patient survival. Histological findings of lymph node metastases and intrahepatic metastases were independent indicators of poor prognosis. Conclusion: Lymph node metastases were seldom limited to the regional lymph nodes; most tumour recurrence occurred in the liver. Lymph node dissection did not appear to improve patient survival. Lymph node dissection alone is not likely to improve the prognosis without further control of liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S. Maehara Background: No reports exist on the role of laparoscopic hepatectomy in the short- and long-term outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We present our results from using laparoscopic hepatectomy for HCC and discuss the importance of this procedure. Methods: To investigate the role of laparoscopic hepatectomy in the short- and long-term outcomes, 17 patients with HCC who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy (laparoscopic hepatectomy group) were compared with 38 patients who underwent conventional open hepatectomy (open hepatectomy group) during the same period. Results: No differences in operation time, blood loss, rate of blood transfusion, or incidence of postoperative complications were found between the two groups. The postoperative hospital stay for the laparoscopic hepatectomy group was significantly shorter than for the open hepatectomy group. With long-term prognosis, no difference was found in survival rate and disease-free survival rate between the two groups. No recurrence was found in the stump of the remaining liver after laparoscopic hepatectomy. Conclusions: Laparoscopic hepatectomy has resulted in a better short-term outcome after surgery than conventional open hepatectomy. The long-term prognosis in the laparoscopic hepatectomy group was similar to that in the open hepatectomy group. Therefore, laparoscopic hepatectomy can be a new alternative for treatment of cirrhotic patients with HCC when patients are strictly selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent chemotactic component for poly-morphonuclear leukocytes (PMN, neutrophils). Since LPS tolerance was first de-scribed, many studies have been reported about the hyporesponsiveness in vitro corresponding to attenuating production of proinflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized that in vivo daily exposure to LPS stimuli impairs neutrophil accumulation in the rat airway. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and/or CXC-chemokine, a neutrophil chemoattractant and activating cytokine, have been implicated as proin-flammatory mediators in gram-negative respiratory tract infections. It is possible that the tolerance to LPS has occurred in relation to this chemoattractant cytokine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global Rain Forest Mapping (GRFM) project is an international endeavour led by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), with the aim of producing spatially and temporally contiguous Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data sets over the tropical belt on the Earth by use of the JERS-1 L-band SAR, through the generation of semi-continental, 100 m resolution, image mosaics. The GRFM project relies on extensive collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) and the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) for data acquisition, processing, validation and product generation. A science programme is underway in parallel with product generation. This involves the agencies mentioned above, as well as a large number of international organizations, universities and individuals to perform field activities and data analysis at different levels. The GRFM project was initiated in 1995 and, through a dedicated data acquisition policy by NASDA, data acquisitions could be completed within a 1.5-year period, resulting in a spatially and temporally homogeneous coverage to encompass the entire Amazon Basin from the Atlantic to the Pacific; Central America up to the Yucatan Peninsular in Mexico; equatorial Africa from Madagascar and Kenya in the east to Sierra Leone in the west; and south-east Asia, including Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. Over the Amazon and Congo river basins, the project aimed to provide complete cover at two different seasons, featuring the basins at high and low water. In total, the GRFM acquisitions comprise some 13000 SAR scenes, which are currently in the course of being processed and compiled into image mosaics. In March 1999, SAR mosaics over the Amazon Basin (one out of two seasonal coverages) and equatorial Africa (both seasonal coverages) were completed; the data are available on CD-ROM and, at a coarser resolution, via the Internet. Coverage of the second-season Amazon and Central America will be completed during 1999, with the south-east Asian data sets following thereafter. All data are being provided free of charge to the international science community for research and educational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatectomy for cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism is a high-risk operative procedure. We report herein a new strategy for high-risk patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods: Six cirrhotic patients with HCC and hypersplenism received a partial hepatectomy after first undergoing a laparoscopic splenectomy. We then compared the variables for these patients before splenectomy and before hepatectomy.Results: The platelet count and the white blood cell count were found to be significantly elevated before hepatectomy. The ammonia value decreased significantly before hepatectomy. The albumin value tended to be elevated before hepatectomy. Furthermore, the Child's classification of all patients improved significantly before hepatectomy. However, other variables-such as the indocyanine green dye excretion test at 15 min and the bilirubin value-did not change after splenectomy. For hepatectomy patients who first underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy, operation time ranged from 265 to 440 min (average time, 361 min), and blood loss ranged from 500 to 2,200 ml (median volume, 1,300 ml). Four of six patients did not require any blood transfusion; furthermore, no patient needed a platelet-rich plasma transfusion. All but one patient, who suffered postoperatively from an intractable duodenal ulcer, had an uneventful postoperative course.Conclusion: Partial hepatectomy after an initial laparoscopic splenectomy is a new and effective choice of treatment for cirrhotic patients with HCC and hypersplenism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]