Measurement of thermal conductivity in soils and application of de Vries model

Thermal conductivity of soil samples were measured using a twin transient-state cylindrical-probe method. The system of measurement consists of DC power supply, data logger, personal computer, 100cc soil sample, reference material sample, and two heat probes. The typical results were as follows: (1) Thermal conductivity of soils increased according to an increase of soil water content. (2) The thermal conductivity of Toyoura sand was larger than one of Kuroboku soil. (3) The thermal conductivity estimated by de Vries model had good agreement with the measured value

Ureterolithotripsy for a Ureteral Calculus at the Ureteroureterostomy of a Renal-transplant Recipient

We describe a 40-year-old living-donor renal-transplant recipient who underwent successful ureterolithotripsy. He had been on hemodialysis for >15 years pre-transplant and underwent ureteroureterostomy along with the surgery. One year post-transplant, ultrasound examination demonstrated hydronephrosis, and CT showed a 6-mm ureteral calculus at the ureteroureterostomy site. No pain and no elevated serum creatinine were present. As the ureter was easily accessed, we performed a ureterolithotripsy, which would confirm whether a suture caused the calculus. Despite ureteral tortuosity, laser stone fragmentation succeeded. The calculus was completely removed with an antegrade guidewire. Mild postoperative ureteral stenosis resolved with a temporary ureteral stent without balloon dilation. Ureterolithotripsy is effective even in renal transplant recipients with ureteroureterostomy

Monitoring Twenty-Six Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients by BCR-ABL mRNA Level in Bone Marrow: A Single Hospital Experience

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is caused by the BCR-ABL oncogene. The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) from a reciprocal translocation, t(9;22) (q34;q11) causes a fusion gene, BCR-ABL, that encodes a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. Treatment of CML by imatinib is effective to control the tyrosyl phosphorylation of the protein related to the cell signaling. BCR-ABL mRNA is overexpressed in the minimal residual disease (MRD), known as an early sign of relapse. Between December 2005 and June 2008, we measured BCR-ABL mRNA levels in the bone marrow (BM) from patients by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) in Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital. Eighty-six samples from 26 patients were collected. Among the 26 CML patients, 11 patients (42%) were in the pretreatment group. Seven (64%) of the 11 patients achieved complete molecular response (CMR). In the post-treatment group consisting of the remaining 15 patients, 9 (60%) patients achieved CMR. The patients receiving imatinib at a dose over 300mg per day required 13 (6-77) months [median (range)] to achieve CMR. On the other hand, the patients receiving a dose below 300mg per day required 29.5 (11-84) months [median (range)]. When BCR-ABL mRNA was detected during the treatment course of patients with CMR, careful observation of BCR-ABL mRNA was useful for tracking the clinical course of patients. In conclusion, the BCR-ABL mRNA level was useful for monitoring the clinical course in 26 patients with CML

Precise measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting using the Zeeman effect

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the quantum electrodynamics (QED) in bound state. The hyperfine splitting (HFS) of positronium, $\Delta_{\mathrm{HFS}}$, gives a good test of the bound state calculations and probes new physics beyond the Standard Model. A new method of QED calculations has revealed the discrepancy by 15\,ppm (3.9$\sigma$) of $\Delta_{\mathrm{HFS}}$ between the QED prediction and the experimental average. There would be possibility of new physics or common systematic uncertainties in the previous all experiments. We describe a new experiment to reduce possible systematic uncertainties and will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. We are now taking data and the current result of $\Delta_{\mathrm{HFS}} = 203.395\,1 \pm 0.002\,4 (\mathrm{stat.}, 12\,\mathrm{ppm}) \pm 0.001\,9 (\mathrm{sys.}, 9.5\,\mathrm{ppm})\,\mathrm{GHz}$ has been obtained so far. A measurement with a precision of $O$(ppm) is expected within a year.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, proceeding of LEAP2011, accepted by Hyperfine Interaction

NUMERICAL MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF CO2 –ENHANCED COAL-BED METHANE RECOVERY (CO2-ECBMR): THE EFFECT OF COAL SWELLING ON GAS PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE

This presents study investigate the effect of swelling on gas production performances at coal reservoirs during CO2-ECBMR processes. The stressdependent permeability-models to express effect of coal matrix shrinkage/swelling using Palmer and Mansoori (P&M) and Shi and Durucan (S&D) models were constructed based on present experimental results for typical coal reservoirs with the distance of 400 to 800 m between injection and production wells. By applying the P&M and S&D models, the numerical simulation results showed that CH4 production rate was decreasing and peak production time was delayed due to effect of stress and permeability changes caused by coal matrix swelling. The total CH4 production ratio of swelling effect/no-swelling was simulated as 0.18 to 0.95 for permeability 1 to 100 mD, respectively. It has been cleared that swelling affects gas production at permeability 1 to 15 mD, however, it can be negligible at permeability over 15 mD

Robotic Renal Autotransplantation: First Case Outside of North America

A 38-year-old woman with a 2.7-cm left ureteral stenosis requiring chronic ureteral stent exchange elected to undergo robotic renal autotransplantation. Left ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) was also suspected. Robotic donor nephrectomy contributed to the fine dissection for desmoplastic changes. The kidney was removed through a Gelport and examined on ice. UPJO was not seen. An end-to-side robotic anastomosis was created between the renal and external iliac vessels. The console time was 507 min, and the warm ischemia time was 4 min 5 sec. She became stent-free. Robotic renal autotransplantation is a new, minimally invasive approach to renal preservation