Application of Story-Wise Shear Building Identification Method to Actual Ambient Vibration

A sophisticated and smart story stiffness system identification (SI) method for a shear building model is applied to a full-scale building frame subjected to micro-tremors. The advantageous and novel feature is that not only the modal parameters, such as natural frequencies and damping ratios but also the physical model parameters, such as story stiffnesses and damping coefficients, can be identified using micro-tremors. While the building responses to earthquake ground motions are necessary in the previous SI method, it is shown in this paper that the micro-tremor measurements in a full-scale five-story building frame can be used for identification within the same framework. The SI using micro-tremor measurements leads to the enhanced usability of the previously proposed story-wise shear building identification method. The degree of auto-regressive eXogenous models and the cut-off frequencies of band-pass filter are determined to derive reliable results

Vortex dissipation and level dynamics for the layered superconductors with impurities

We study parametric level statistics of the discretized excitation spectra inside a moving vortex core in layered superconductors with impurities. The universal conductivity is evaluated numerically for the various values of rescaled vortex velocities $\kappa$ from the clean case to the dirty limit case. The random matrix theoretical prediction is verified numerically in the large $\kappa$ regime. On the contrary in the low velocity regime, we observe $\sigma_{xx} \propto \kappa^{2/3}$ which is consistent with the theoretical result for the super-clean case, where the energy dissipation is due to the Landau-Zener transition which takes place at the points called ``avoided crossing''.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, REVTeX3.

Partitioning and Chemical Environments of Minor Elements in Individual Large Benthic Foraminifera Cultured in Temperature-Controlled Tanks

Because reef-dwelling large benthic foraminifera (LBF) tests, which is composed of high-magnesium calcite, are the common components of modern reef sediments, and ancient reef carbonate rocks, they can provide a continuous record of the paleoenvironment of reef sediments. Evaluation of the responses of the minor element concentrations (Mg, Sr, Na, P, and S) of individual tests to ambient temperature and LBF growth modes was conducted with two cultured species, Calcarina gaudichaudii and Amphisorus kudakajimensis. The elements were assessed as tracers of temperature, salinity, nutrient concentration, and calcification rate. The Mg content of C. gaudichaudii and the Sr content of both species were controlled by temperature. It can be confirmed that the Mg of individual tests of C. gaudichaudii is a useful paleothermometer. There was a large biological modulation of Na, P, and S incorporation. In situ XANES analysis revealed that both inorganic and organic species contributed to the P and S content of LBF tests. We observed five sulfur components with variable oxidation states

Immunohistochemical study on the distribution and origin of GABAergic nerve terminals in the superior salivatory nucleus

The superior salivatory nucleus (SSN) is the primary parasympathetic center controlling submandibular salivatory secretion. Our previous electrophysiological study revealed that many SSN neurons receive GABAergic and glycinergic synaptic inputs. In the present study, we examined the distribution of GABAergic and glycinergic nerve terminals, GABAA receptors in the SSN, and the origin of GABAergic nerve terminals innervating the SSN. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and glycine transporter 2 (GLYT2) were used as markers of GABAergic and glycinergic nerve terminals, respectively. GAD- and GLYT2-positive nerve terminals and GABAA receptors were examined immunohistochemically in SSN neurons labeled by the retrograde axonal transport of FastBlue (FB) injected into the chorda-lingual nerve. The SSN neurons abundantly contained GAD-positive nerve terminals and GABAA receptors, suggesting that SSN neurons undergo strong GABAergic inhibition. The origin of GABAergic terminals was examined in neurons labeled by the retrograde transport of FluoroGold (FG) injected into the SSN. GAD was used as a marker of GABAergic neurons. Numerous FG-labeled neurons were found in the forebrain and brainstem. However, in FG-labeled neurons, GAD-positive neurons were occasionally observed in the reticular formation of the brainstem. These findings suggest that SSN neurons mainly receive GABAergic projections from the reticular formation

Nationwide surveillance of AIDS-defining illnesses among HIV patients in Japan from 1995 to 2017

Objectives: The accurate prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illnesses (ADIs) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has not been well investigated. Hence, a longitudinal nationwide surveillance study analyzing the current status and national trend of opportunistic complications in HIV-infected patients in Japan is warranted.Methods: A nationwide surveillance of opportunistic complications in HIV-infected patients from 1995 to 2017 in Japan was conducted. An annual questionnaire was sent to 383 HIV/AIDS referral hospitals across Japan to collect information (CD4+ lymphocyte count, time of onset, outcome, and antiretroviral therapy [ART] status) of patients diagnosed with any of 23 ADIs between 1995 and 2017.Results: The response and case capture rates of the questionnaires in 2017 were 53% and 76%, respectively. The number of reported cases of opportunistic complications peaked in 2011 and subsequently declined. Pneumocystis pneumonia (38.7%), cytomegalovirus infection (13.6%), and candidiasis (12.8%) were associated with the cumulative incidence of ADIs between 1995 and 2017. The mortality rate in HIV-infected patients with opportunistic complications substantially decreased to 3.6% in 2017. The mortality rate was significantly higher in HIV patients who received ART within 14 days of diagnosis of complications than in those who received ART 15 days after diagnosis (13.0% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.01).Conclusions: We have demonstrated a 23-year trend of a newly diagnosed AIDS status in Japan with high accuracy. The current data reveal the importance of Pneumocystis pneumonia as a first-onset illness and that early initiation of ART results in poor outcomes in HIV patients in Japan

ゲンパツ フメイ ガン ニオケル PET/CT ケンサ ノ ユウヨウセイ ニツイテ

We reported the utility of１８F-FDG-PET/CT examination for patients with cancer of unknownprimary origin. Twenty six patients（13 men, 13 women, aged 27-91 years, mean 71）were examined.The indication for PET/CT examination was tumor maker elevation（14 patients）, suspectedmetastatic tumor（14）and metastasis diagnosed histopathologically（3）. Patients weretold not to eat for at least four hours and a PET/CT image was obtained one hour after theadministration of 3.7MBq/kg FDG. From April to August 2006, 33 patients diagnosed with a cancerof unknown primary origin were referred to our hospital for PET/CT examination from anoutside institution. Twenty six patients could be investigated for outcomes. Seventeen patientsshowed an abnormal accumulation, with 14 of the 17 having their primary regions detected histopathologicallyor clinically. For one patient, the abnormal accumulation could not be determined toshow the origin. For 2 patients, it was difficult to diagnose if these abnormal accumulationsshowed the primary region or not, but CT examinations were helpful for a diagnosis. Seven of the9 patients who showed no abnormal accumulation were treated conservatively and the primaryregion for their cancer could not be detected during the follow up study. In 21 of 26 patients, theseresults were useful to select an appropriate therapy to be applied or a relevant examination. Weconsidered PET/CT examination, where it is possible to scan the whole body at one time, was veryuseful to get both morphologic and metabolic information. PET/CT examination showed a highersensitivity for detecting abnormal lesions than other imaging modalities

Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease Outbreak among Crewmembers on Cruise Ship, Nagasaki City, Japan, April 2020

In April 2020, a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak occurred on the cruise ship Costa Atlantica in Nagasaki, Japan. Our outbreak investigation included 623 multinational crewmembers onboard on April 20. Median age was 31 years; 84% were men. Each crewmember was isolated or quarantined in a single room inside the ship, and monitoring of health status was supported by a remote health monitoring system. Crewmembers with more severe illness were hospitalized. The investigation found that the outbreak started in late March and peaked in late April, resulting in 149 laboratory-confirmed and 107 probable cases of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Six case-patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, including 1 in severe condition and 2 who required oxygen administration, but no deaths occurred. Although the virus can spread rapidly on a cruise ship, we describe how prompt isolation and quarantine combined with a sensitive syndromic surveillance system can control a COVID-19 outbreak

Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ): a patient-based evaluation tool for hip-joint disease. The Subcommittee on Hip Disease Evaluation of the Clinical Outcome Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association

AbstractBackgroundThe Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Score is widely used in Japan, but this tool is designed to reflect the viewpoint of health-care providers rather than that of patients. In gauging the effect of medical therapies in addition to clinical results, it is necessary to assess quality of life (QOL) from the viewpoint of patients. However, there is no tool evaluating QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease.MethodsWith the aim of more accurately classifying QOL for Japanese patients with hip-joint disease, we prepared a questionnaire with 58 items for the survey derived from 464 opinions obtained from approximately 100 Japanese patients with hip-joint disease and previously devised evaluation criteria. In the survey, we collected information on 501 cases, and 402 were subjected to factor analysis. From this, we formulated three categories—movement, mental, and pain—each comprising 7 items, for a total of 21 items to be used as evaluation criteria for hip-joint function.ResultsThe Cronbach’s α coefficients for the three categories were 0.93, 0.93, and 0.95, respectively, indicating the high reliability of the evaluation criteria. The 21 items included some related to the Asian lifestyle, such as use of a Japanese-style toilet and rising from the floor, which are not included in other evaluation tools.ConclusionsThis self-administered questionnaire may become a useful tool in the evaluation of not only Japanese patients, but also of members of other ethnic groups who engage in deep flexion of the hip joint during daily activities

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 using qRT-PCR in saliva obtained from asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 patients, comparative analysis with matched nasopharyngeal samples

Objectives: The accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We compared the quantitative RT-PCR results between nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva specimens.Methods: A COVID-19 outbreak occurred on a cruise ship at Nagasaki port, Japan. We obtained 123 nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva each from asymptomatic or mild patients in the late phase of infection.Results: The intervals from the diagnosis to the sampling were 25.5 days for nasopharyngeal swabs and 28.9 days for saliva. The positive rate was 19.5% (24/123) for nasopharyngeal swabs and 38.2% (47/123) for saliva (P = 0.48). The quantified viral copies (mean ± SEM copies/5 μl) were 9.3±2.6 in nasopharyngeal swabs and 920±850 in saliva (P = 0.0006).Conclusions: The advantages of saliva specimens include positive rate improvement and accurate viral load detection. Saliva may be used as a reliable sample for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Development and Evaluation of Quantitative Immunoglobulin G Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Using Truncated Recombinant Nucleocapsid Protein as Assay Antigen

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Real-time RT-PCR is the most commonly used method for COVID-19 diagnosis. However, serological assays are urgently needed as complementary tools to RT-PCR. Hachim et al. 2020 and Burbelo et al. 2020 demonstrated that anti-nucleocapsid(N) SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are higher and appear earlier than the spike antibodies. Additionally, cross-reactive antibodies against N protein are more prevalent than those against spike protein. We developed a less cross-reactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) indirect ELISA by using a truncated recombinant SARS-CoV-2 N protein as assay antigen. A highly conserved region of coronaviruses N protein was deleted and the protein was prepared using an E. coli protein expression system. A total of 177 samples collected from COVID-19 suspected cases and 155 negative control sera collected during the pre-COVID-19 period were applied to evaluate the assay’s performance, with the plaque reduction neutralization test and the commercial SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG ELISA as gold standards. The SARS-CoV-2 N truncated protein-based ELISA showed similar sensitivity (91.1% vs. 91.9%) and specificity (93.8% vs. 93.8%) between the PRNT and spike IgG ELISA, as well as also higher specificity compared to the full-length N protein (93.8% vs. 89.9%). Our ELISA can be used for the diagnosis and surveillance of COVID-19