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Under the current Model Core Curriculum for Pharmaceutical Education, competencies and program-level learning outcomes are not differentiated; furthermore, how competencies are developed by specific behavioral objectives, which are subdivided by specialty, needs to be clarified. A clear vision for ensuring academic as well as clinical competencies in Japanese pharmaceutical education, which emphasizes research and education in basic fields, is needed. Standardization is necessary to ensure improvement in quality over time. Thus, it is necessary to establish a model core curriculum as a standard. First, we assigned students a task designed for them to pursue outcome-based education from the perspective of developing competencies. Second, students learned about the importance of "conceptual understanding", which enables them to form generalizations and principles that enable them to deal with new situations. Finally, we discussed the specifics of how to transfer understanding in the cognitive domain and proposed a "concept-based curriculum" that considers a hierarchy of competencies that includes the non-cognitive domain. In addition, we created a draft of a form that had check items for incorporating it into a real curriculum with an eye to practical use. The method used in the present study of organizing a curriculum corresponding to qualitatively different cognitive, metacognitive, and action systems may be applicable to other professions in the medical field.

Cyber-security countermeasures are important for IIoT (industrial Internet of things) systems in which IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) are integrated. The appropriate asset management is the key to creating strong security systems to protect from various cyber threats. However, the timely and coherent asset management methods used for conventional IT systems are difficult to be implemented for IIoT systems. This is because these systems are composed of various network protocols, various devices, and open technologies. Besides, it is necessary to guarantee reliable and real-time control and save CPU and memory usage for legacy OT devices. In this study, therefore, (1) we model various asset configurations for IIoT systems and design a data structure based on SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol). (2) We design the functions to automatically acquire the detailed information from edge devices by “asset configuration management agent”, which ensures a low processing load. (3) We implement the proposed asset management system to real edge devices and evaluate the functions. Our contribution is to automate the asset management method that is valid for the cyber security countermeasures in the IIoT systems.

The Wiegand wire is known to exhibit a unique feature of fast magnetization reversal in the magnetically soft region accompanied by a large Barkhausen jump. We clarified a significant difference between the magnetization reversals at the surface and at the entire cross section of a Wiegand wire. We conducted magnetization measurements based on the magneto-optical Kerr effect and applied conventional methods to determine the magnetization curves. The switching field of the magnetization reversal at the surface was greater than that at the initiation of a large Barkhausen jump. Our analysis suggests that the outer surface layer exhibits low coercivity.

We conducted a preliminary test of the coupled system of an elemental analyzer and the automated graphitization equipment Ionplus AGE3 (EA-AGE3 method) for accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) measurements of CaCO3 samples, by comparing with the conventional method where the samples are hydrolyzed in phosphoric acid and resulting CO2 gas is manually graphitized in a vacuum line (HPA method). The samples used in the test were the IAEA C2 travertine, fossil and modern corals from the Ryukyu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands, respectively (both are located in the northwestern subtropical Pacific). Results indicate that, relative to the HPA method, the EA-AGE3 method tends to cause an increase of ~0.4–0.5 pMC with more widely scattered data. This is presumably due to 14C contamination in the EA (the most likely cause seems to be a memory effect of 14C); this effect could be reduced by careful optimization of conditions and procedures in the EA process. The 14C data of pre-bomb annual bands (1931–1949 AD) in the modern Ogasawara coral obtained by the HPA method were used to estimate the marine reservoir 14C-age correction (ΔR) of this region; it ranges from –109 yr to –28 yr with the mean value with standard deviation of –81 ± 29 yr.

In this study, we precisely calculated the specific loss powers (SLPs) of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) based on dynamic hysteresis measurements. The advantage of this evaluation method is that the intensity and frequency of the applied magnetic field can be varied over a wide range for samples of various condition. The results show that the coercive field and SLP of Resovist® increase by orienting the magnetic easy axes of the nanoparticles. The magnetic field was applied either parallel or perpendicular to the nanoparticle orientation. The area enclosed by the dynamic hysteresis curve was larger when the AC field was applied parallel to the nanoparticle orientation, indicating a greater increase in the hyperthermia temperature. This characteristic originated from the magnetic anisotropy energy of the nanoparticles and is in good agreement with our simulational results. The SLP of a solid sample with an aligned easy axis measured under an AC field of 4 kA/m, which was applied parallel to the axis, was more than two times that of a liquid sample. We also evaluated the SLPs of superparamagnetic 4-nm-diameter γ-Fe2O3 and ferromagnetic 20–30-nm-diameter Fe3O4 MNPs and compared them to that of Resovist®.

In this study, we evaluated the magnetization properties of a magnetic alloy with single-crystalline cubic nanostructures, in order to clarify its magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Upon applying a specific annealing treatment to the CuNiFe base material, the precipitated magnetic particles grew into cubic granules, resulting in the formation of nanometric cubic single crystals of magnetic CuNiFe in a nonmagnetic Cu-rich matrix. The cubic nanostructures of CuNiFe were oriented along their crystallographic axis, in the &lt, 100&gt, direction of the face-centered-cubic structure. We evaluated the static magnetization properties of the sample, which originated primarily from the CuNiFe nanocubes precipitated in the Cu-rich matrix, under an applied DC magnetic field. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy was readily observed in the magnetization curves. The &lt, 111&gt, axis of the CuNiFe was observed to be the easy axis of magnetization. We also investigated the dynamic magnetization properties of the sample under an AC magnetic field. By subtracting the magnetic signal induced by the eddy current from the magnetization curves of the sample, we could obtain the intrinsic AC magnetization properties of the CuNiFe nanocubes.

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2016-10-28, 資料番号: PA1720006000

The heat dissipated by magnetic nanoparticles may be used as a heat source for hyperthermic treatment of cancer and it can be estimated based on the magnetic susceptibility when an alternating current (AC) magnetic field is applied. Here, the frequency dependence of the magnetization of magnetic nanoparticles is measured for different AC fields. This is used to examine the AC susceptibility of linear and nonlinear magnetization responses. Two methods were used to evaluate the AC susceptibility based on measured magnetization properties. The first used the static susceptibility and phase delay associated with magnetic relaxation, and the second used the area under the AC magnetization curve to derive the imaginary part of the susceptibility. When the field intensity was low, the estimated AC susceptibilities were comparable. However, when the field intensity was high, the first method predicted a lower value because it did not consider the nonlinearity of the magnetization response. To optimize the material and the applied field conditions for hyperthermia it is important to understand the difference between the two methods. The intrinsic loss power and specific loss power of the magnetic nanoparticles were also evaluated. A liquid sample and a solid sample with an oriented easy axis provided high heat dissipation.

Breast cancer has a poor prognosis owing to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Although Ras homolog (Rho) A is involved in tumor cell invasion, its role in breast carcinoma is unclear. Here, RhoA expression was examined in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), with a focus on its relationships with epidermal-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and collective cell invasion. Forty-four surgical IDC tissue samples and two normal breast tissue samples were obtained. RhoA, E-cadherin, vimentin, and F-actin protein expression were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RhoA, ROCK, mTOR, AKT1, and PIK3CA mRNA expression were conducted using laser microdissection and semi-nested quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RhoA expression was stronger on the tumor interface of IDCs than the tumor center (P

Magnetization reversal in a Wiegand wire induces a pulse voltage in the pickup coil around the wire, called the Wiegand pulse. The Wiegand sensor features the Wiegand wire and the pickup coil. The amplitude and width of the Wiegand pulse are independent of the frequency of the magnetic-field change. The pulse is generated by the Wiegand sensor, which facilitates the use of the Wiegand sensor as a power supply for equipment without batteries. In order to meet the power consumption requirements, it is necessary to maximize the energy of the pulse signal from the Wiegand sensor, without changing the external field conditions. The distributions of the magnetic field generated from the applied magnet in air and in the Wiegand wire were simulated before the experiments. Simulation predicted an increase in the magnetic flux density through the center of the Wiegand wire. This study determined that the magnetic flux density through the center of the Wiegand wire, the position of the pickup coil, and the angle between the Wiegand sensor and the magnetic induction line were the main factors that affected the energy of a Wiegand pulse. The relationship between these factors and the energy of the Wiegand pulse were obtained.

The second harmonic signal of a magnetic nanoparticle in an oscillating magnetic field was enhanced, by applying a static bias field. To promote the second harmonic signal, the oscillating field was applied perpendicular to the signal detection and static bias field. The second harmonic signal, detected in this study, was significantly higher than that of the third harmonic signal detected without a static bias field. It was also significantly higher than that of the second harmonic signal with the static bias and oscillating drive field parallel to the signal detection direction, as in the conventional setup of previous studies. The second harmonic signal dependence on the intensity of the static bias field showed that the signal intensity had a maximal value beyond the field free point (FFP), despite the maximal third harmonic existing within the FFP. In our system, the odd numbered harmonics, including the fundamental harmonic, were no longer detected. This is because the fundamental signal had a frequency twice that of the applied oscillating field. This may contribute to a significantly higher signal to noise ratio for magnetic particle imaging (MPI). In addition, the full width at half maximum associated with MPI resolution was constant with drive field amplitude, which contributes to high signal intensity and resolution, concurrently.

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, the distributions of sediment-associated radiocesium were investigated to evaluate the dispersion and accumulation of radiocesium in the reservoir field. To develop an analytical method for measuring the horizontal and vertical distributions of radiocesium on a wide scale, we obtained 253 gamma-ray spectra at the bottoms of 64 ponds in Fukushima during 2014-2016 by using a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. For visualizing horizontal distribution, the correlation between detector counting rate and radiocesium concentration of the bottom sediment was confirmed. In estimating vertical distribution, the depth profile of sediment-associated radiocesium was found to be correlated to the intensities of scattered and photo peaks. Good agreement was observed between the results of in situ spectrometry and core sampling. These results indicate that the developed method is suitable for understanding the behavior of radiocesium and determining whether decontamination of reservoirs is required.

Objective The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is an index of arterial stiffness less dependent on blood pressure and an indicator suitable for assessing the arterial dysfunction. However, it remains unclear whether CAVI can predict the outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in obese patients. Methods A total of 425 obese Japanese outpatients (189 men and 236 women, mean age: 51.5 years) were enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort Japan, the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study (JOMS). Primary analysis regarding measurements of cardiovascular risk factors including CAVI and the occurrence of macrovascular complications was based on following the participants over a 5-year period. Results Of the eligible patients, 300 (78%) were followed into the fifth year. During the study period, 15 coronary heart disease, 7 stroke, and 6 arteriosclerosis obliterans events occurred. All events occurred in 28 patients, and CVD incidence rate was 15.8 per 1000 person-years. In the analysis of adjusted models for traditional risk factors, CAVI was a significant factor for the incidence of events. In addition, high CAVI and low HDL-cholesterol were significant factors for the incidence of events in Cox stepwise multivariate analysis when age- and sex-adjusted (CAVI [per 1]: HR = 1.44 [1.02–2.02], p = 0.037; HDL-cholesterol [per 1 mmol/L]: HR = 0.20 [0.06–0.69], p = 0.011). In addition, CAVI added value to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score in predicting the development of CVD. Conclusion This study demonstrates for the first time that CAVI is an effective predictor of CVD events in obese patients.

Marine organisms inhabiting soft-bottom sediment are particularly susceptible to rapid sedimentation and erosion events. This article presents a novel example of fossilized intestine casts located within closed bivalve shells in relation to rapid sedimentation event from the Pleistocene sediment of the Oga Peninsula, Akita Prefecture, northern Japan. The mollusc shells were loosely packed in well-sorted medium-grained to coarse-grained sandstone associated with low-angle trough cross-stratification. The closed shells of Glycymeris yessoensis were present in the shell concentration. The internal parts of the shells were almost hollow, being partially filled with yellow fine-grained clay minerals (median grain size = 30.63 μm). The characteristic material within the shells clearly differed from the surrounding sediment, which consisted of coarse-grained felsic minerals (median grain size = 449.73 μm). Furthermore, the yellow fine-grained clay minerals within the shells were tube-shaped, and located near the posterior adductor scar. On the basis of anatomical observation of living Glycymeris, we confirmed that part of the intestine and the anus are also placed near the posterior adductor muscle. Therefore, the yellow fine-grained clay minerals within the shells represent the fossil remains of particles ingested by the G. yessoensis individual through suspension-feeding, and the tube-shaped material is interpreted as being fossilized intestine cast. These results suggest that G. yessoensis individuals were buried alive, as rapid sedimentation prevented ejection and destruction of the filling material of intestine. The presence of intestine cast within the mollusc fossils can be used for recognizing rapid sedimentation.

Biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been researched for bioapplications such as imaging for diagnostics, drug delivery, hyperthermia and gene delivery. In addition, MNPs are functionalized for dispersion, biocompatibility and enhancement of therapeutic effects. In this study, polyethylenimine (PEI)-coated MNPs were prepared. The localization of PEI and PEI coated MNPs in a cell was observed with phase contrast and fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, PEI coated MNPs were conjugated with DNA for application to magnetofection. The size distribution of preinternalized DNA/PEI/MNPs complexes after applying a dc magnetic field was measured. The size of preinternalized complexes was compared to that of internalized complexes measured by TEM. Moreover, the effect of a protein corona on cellular uptake was confirmed by size measurement and transfection experiment.

The aim of this study is to determine which indicator of chronic kidney disease most closely correlates with 10-year Framingham coronary heart disease (CHD) risk among serum creatinine, serum cystatin C (S-CysC), urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), estimated creatinine-based GFRs (eGFRcre), and estimated CysC-based GFRs (eGFRcys) in patients with obesity and diabetes. Serum creatinine, S-CysC, UACR, and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were examined in 468 outpatients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, free of severe renal dysfunction or previous history of cardiovascular disease, as a cross-sectional survey using baseline data from the multi-centered Japan Diabetes and Obesity Study. S-CysC and eGFRcys had significantly stronger correlations with the 10-year Framingham CHD risk than serum creatinine, eGFRcre, and UACR (creatinine, ρ = 0.318; S-CysC, ρ = 0.497; UACR, ρ = 0.174; eGFRcre, ρ = -0.291; eGFRcys, ρ = -0.521; P < 0.01 by Fisher's z-test). S-CysC and eGFRcys had significantly stronger correlations with CAVI than serum creatinine, eGFRcre, and UACR (creatinine, ρ = 0.198; S-CysC, ρ = 0.383; UACR, ρ = 0.183; eGFRcre, ρ = -0.302; eGFRcys, ρ = -0.444; P < 0.05 by Fisher's z-test). The receiver operating characteristic curves to distinguish the high-risk patients for CHD revealed significantly larger areas under the curve of S-CysC and eGFRcys than those of serum creatinine, UACR, and eGFRcre (serum creatinine, 0.64; S-CysC, 0.75; UACR, 0.56; eGFRcre, 0.63; eGFRcys, 0.76; P < 0.01). The data suggested that eGFRcys can be more predictive of the 10-year CHD risk than eGFRcre in Japanese patients with obesity and diabetes.