Characterization of the effect of ion irradiation on industrially produced GdBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ superconducting tapes using a slow positron beam

To investigate the effect of irradiation-induced defects on the superconducting characteristics of industrially produced superconductor—GdBa₂Cu₃O₇−δ (GdBCO)—coated conductors (CCs), we irradiated the GdBCO CCs with Au ions at 2 or 10 MeV and probed them using a slow positron beam. Vacancy clusters were detected in both unirradiated and irradiated GdBCO CCs. However, the effect of ion irradiation on the GdBCO CCs was characterized as a slight reduction in the positron annihilation rate with low-momentum electrons. We also found a correlation between the annihilation rate of low-momentum electrons and the superconducting transition temperature

General Rule and Materials Design of Negative Effective U System for High-T_c Superconductivity

Based on the microscopic mechanisms of (1) charge-excitation-induced negative effective U in s^1 or d^9 electronic configurations, and (2) exchange-correlation-induced negative effective U in d^4 or d^6 electronic configurations, we propose a general rule and materials design of negative effective U system in itinerant (ionic and metallic) system for the realization of high-T_c superconductors. We design a T_c-enhancing layer (or clusters) of charge-excitation-induced negative effective $U$ connecting the superconducting layers for the realistic systems.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figures, 2 tables, APEX in printin

A Case of Radiation Fibrosis Appearing as Mass-Like Consolidation after SBRT with Elevation of Serum CEA

We report a case of radiation fibrosis appearing as mass-like consolidation, which was difficult to distinguish from local recurrence. A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed as having primary lung cancer (cT1N0M0 stage IA) in the right upper lobe and was treated with SBRT of 48 Gy in 4 fractions. After 12 months, mass-like consolidation appeared around the irradiated area, and after 13 months, it had increased in size. FDG-PET revealed high uptake (SUV max = 5.61) for the consolidation. CT-guided biopsy was performed, but we could not confirm the diagnosis. Considering her poor respiratory function and her age, short-interval follow-up was performed. After 15 months, the consolidation enlarged at the dorsal side, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) became elevated (14.6 ng/mL). Serum KL-6 (436 U/mL) and SP-D (204 ng/mL) were also elevated. However, after 16 months, serum CEA slightly decreased. The consolidation gradually retracted on follow-up CT images. CEA, KL-6, and SP-D were also decreased by degrees. After 40 months, there is no evidence of local recurrence

Porencephaly in a Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca Fascicularis)

Porencephaly was observed in a female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) aged 5 years and 7 months. The cerebral hemisphere exhibited diffuse brownish excavation with partial defects of the full thickness of the hemispheric wall, and it constituted open channels between the lateral ventricular system and arachnoid space. In addition, the bilateral occipital lobe was slightly atrophied. Histopathologically, fibrous gliosis was spread out around the excavation area and its periphery. In the roof tissue over the cavity, small round cells were arranged in the laminae. They seemed to be neural or glial precursor cells because they were positive for Musashi 1 and negative for NeuN and GFAP. In the area of fibrous gliosis, hemosiderin or lipofuscin were deposited in the macrophages, and activated astroglias were observed extensively around the excavation area

HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles in Japanese type 1 autoimmune hepatitis: The predisposing role of the DR4/DR8 heterozygous genotype

ObjectiveAutoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic progressive liver disease. AIH is composed predominantly of type 1 in Japanese populations. The genetic and environmental factors are associated with the pathogenesis of AIH. HLA-DRB1*03:01 and *04:01 are associated with type 1 AIH in European and *04:05 in Japanese populations. Here, we conducted an HLA association study in order to find HLA alleles or haplotypes predisposing or protective for Japanese AIH.MethodsHLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genotyping of 360 type 1 AIH patients and 1026 healthy controls was performed.ResultsThe predisposing association of DRB1*04:01 (P = 0.0006, corrected P [Pc] = 0.0193, odds ratio [OR] 2.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62–5.43), DRB1*04:05 (P = 1.89×10−21, Pc = 5.86×10−20, OR 3.41, 95% CI 2.65–4.38), and DQB1*04:01 (P = 4.66×10−18, Pc = 6.99×10−17, OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.84–5.33) and the protective association of DRB1*13:02 (P = 0.0003, Pc = 0.0080, OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.32–0.72) with Japanese type 1 AIH were observed. An association of the DR4/DR8 heterozygous genotype with Japanese AIH was identified for the first time (P = 3.12×10−9, OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.34–5.29). Susceptible diplotypes were DRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01/DRB1*08:02-DQB1*03:02 (P = 0.0004, OR 24.77, 95% CI 1.45–424.31) and DRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01/DRB1*08:03-DQB1*06:01 (P = 1.18×10−6, OR 10.64, 95% CI 3.19–35.46). Serum levels of Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M, International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group score, positive rate of anti-smooth muscle antibodies, and the rate of definite AIH were higher in AIH patients with DRB1*04:05 than without.ConclusionsThe important roles of specific combinations of DRB1 and DQB1 alleles or haplotypes in the pathogenesis of type 1 AIH were suggested. The association of DR4/DR8 heterozygous genotype suggested the pathologic importance of trans-complementing DQα-β heterodimer molecules encoded by DQA1 allele of one haplotype and the DQB1 allele of the other haplotype, as it was proposed in the HLA association studies of Type 1 diabetes

Advances in Electronic-Nose Technologies Developed for Biomedical Applications

The research and development of new electronic-nose applications in the biomedical field has accelerated at a phenomenal rate over the past 25 years. Many innovative e-nose technologies have provided solutions and applications to a wide variety of complex biomedical and healthcare problems. The purposes of this review are to present a comprehensive analysis of past and recent biomedical research findings and developments of electronic-nose sensor technologies, and to identify current and future potential e-nose applications that will continue to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of biomedical treatments and healthcare services for many years. An abundance of electronic-nose applications has been developed for a variety of healthcare sectors including diagnostics, immunology, pathology, patient recovery, pharmacology, physical therapy, physiology, preventative medicine, remote healthcare, and wound and graft healing. Specific biomedical e-nose applications range from uses in biochemical testing, blood-compatibility evaluations, disease diagnoses, and drug delivery to monitoring of metabolic levels, organ dysfunctions, and patient conditions through telemedicine. This paper summarizes the major electronic-nose technologies developed for healthcare and biomedical applications since the late 1980s when electronic aroma detection technologies were first recognized to be potentially useful in providing effective solutions to problems in the healthcare industry

住居材料の進歩とその評価（そのⅢ） ―建設リサイクル制度と住居材料―

　現代の住居に使われている多種多様な住居材料がもたらすさまざまな影響を，これまで，いろいろな角度から考察を行なってきた。本報文では，建設廃棄物の観点からの問題点を考えてみた。近年、建設リサイクル法が施行され，本課題は緊急の課題となっている。今後開発される住居材料にも多大の影響を及ぼすものと思われる。これからの住居材料として，どのようなものが望ましいかを考察した

住居材料の進歩とその評価（そのⅠ） ―住居材料の進歩とその問題点の概要―

　For the past few decades, enormous varieties of new housing materials have been developed and used in our living environment, and brought about great convenience and benefit. But on the other hand, we are facing some unexpected problems which are induced by those new materials．　Comprehensive discussions on the light and shadow sides of the new housing materials are given in this paper as the part I. of our research

住居材料の進歩とその評価（そのⅡ） ―住宅性能表示制度と住居材料―

　平成12年10月から「住宅性能表示制度」の運用が開始された。これは住宅の品質確保を目的にして制定されたわが国ではじめての制度である。本報では，この概要を紹介し，その問題点と今後の課題を考察した。特に，この制度によって住居材料の進展がどのように影響されるのかという視点から，この問題を考えてみた。環境との共生を設計コンセプトとする建築，省エネルギー・省資源の建築，長寿命建築，廃建材のリサイクルなどの今後の目標を達成する住居材料のあり方を考える一環として，本報文を（そのⅡ）として報告する