Direct Supply Chain from Forest to House Builder: A Japanese Business Model

AbstractWe developed a direct supply chain from a forest to a house builder for environment-friendly wooden long-life housing based on the “progressive market-in” method. This business model successfully incorporates the external environmental value of the house into its market price.In this paper, we discuss the direct supply chain business model and its environmental effect in Japan, using a micro approach (for individual economic bodies) and a macro approach for the country

Ruokalaympäristön parantamista palvelumuotoilua ja katseenseurantalaitetta hyödyntäen

VTT toteutti katseenseurantalaitetutkimuksen. Tutkimuksen aineisto saatiin käymällä nämä videot läpi. Videoiden läpikäymisten aikana syntyi erinäisiä havainnointeja ruokalasta, ihmisten käyttäytymisestä ravintolaympäristössä ja koehenkilöiden ravitsemuksellisista tottumuksista. Lisäarvoa tutkimukselle toi taustatietolomake, joka jaettiin jokaiselle tutkimukseen osallistujalle. Tutkimustuloksia esitellään tässä opinnäytetyössä. Uusi testi haluttiin toteuttaa kokonaan uudella tavalla. Kenttäkoe katseenseurantalaseilla oli jo toteutettu, joten uusi testi haluttiin tehdä uudella innovatiivisella tavalla. Opinnäytetyöhön on sisällytetty kokeellinen osa, jossa Savonian sisustusarkkitehtiopiskelijat Maria Radova ja Anu Paananen toteuttivat ohjeistetusti kaksi 3D-mallinnusta vastaavasta tilasta. Toinen on Keltasirkun pohjakaavalla toteutettu malli, missä ongelmat ilmenevät, ja toinen 3D-mallinnus, missä on tehty lounasruokailussa havaittujen ongelmakohtien parannuksia ja optimoitu lounaslinjaston käytettävyys. Vertailemalla näitä kahta ruokalaympäristöä voidaan osoittaa palvelumuotoilun arvo tällaisten tilojen parantamisessa. Tavoitteena oli demonstroida katseenseurantaa menetelmänä tilojen ja palvelumuotoilun suunnittelussa ja optimoinnissa, tutkia reaalimaailman ja virtuaalisesti toteutettujen tilojen eroja ja yhtäläisyyksiä katseenseurannan kannalta sekä testata mm. muutosten toimivuutta. Tulokset kertovat, että palvelumuotoilulla on arvoa tällaisten tilojen suunnittelussa ja parantamisessa.VTT conducted a survey using an eye-tracker device. The study material was obtained by analyzing the recorded videos. During the video viewing, observations were made about the behavior of customers in the restaurant environment, and their nutritional habits. Supplementary data was provided for the study using the background information forms, which were distributed to each participant. The research results are presented in this thesis. VTT survey was made with eye tracker glasses so the new test was made with a new innovative way. The thesis includes an experimental part, where the interior architect students, Maria Radova and Anu Paananen, conducted two 3D models at Savonia UAS. A 3D model of the Keltasirkku restaurant was implemented using basic floor plans, illustrating where the actual problems took place, and another 3D model was designed, illustrating the improvements of communication and providing optimized lunch menus. By comparing these two dining environments, the value of service provision can be demonstrated to improve such spaces. The aim was to demonstrate catenary tracking as a method for planning and optimizing space and service design, to study the differences and similarities between the real world and virtually implemented spaces using the eye-tracker and to test, for example, the functionality of the changes. The 3D test was held in the premises of Savonia UAS. Results tell that service design has value planning and optimizing this kind of spaces

Temporal increase in muscle cross-sectional area as an acute effect of resistance exercise in resistance-trained and untrained individuals

The purpose of this study was to compare the temporal increase in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) as the acute response of resistance exercise (RE) between resistance-trained and untrained groups, and investigate the factors that affect the muscle CSA. Resistance-trained (n = 14) and untrained (n = 14) subjects performed four kinds of triceps brachii RE. Muscle CSA and intracellular hydration (IH), were measured prior to and 5-, 30-, and 60-minute after RE. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to clarify the relationships among percent increases in muscle CSA and IH, area under the Oyx-Hb curve, blood lactate concentration, and % maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)-root-mean-square (RMS) of electromyogram (EMG). At 5-minute after RE, muscle CSA increased significantly to 120.2 ± 6.3% in the resistance-trained group and 105.5 ± 2.3% in the untrained group (p < 0.01). However, neither group showed a significant difference between the values before and 30-minute after RE. In the resistance-trained group, there was a significant increase in IH at 5-minute post-RH (p < 0.01), and correlations were found between percent increases in muscle CSA and IH (r = 0.70, p < 0.01), area under the Oxy-Hb curve (r = 0.77, p < 0.01), and % MVC-RMS of EMG (r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The findings of this study suggest that measurements of muscle CSA in studies of muscle hypertrophy should be performed 30-minute or more after the last resistance exercise session, and muscle pump exercises should be conducted just before participation in bodybuilding, and physique contests

IOP elevation after STTA

Purpose To evaluate real-world evidence for intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation after subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection (STTA) in 1252 Japanese patients (1406 eyes) in the Japan Clinical REtina STudy group (J-CREST). Methods This was a multicentre retrospective study of the medical records of 1252 patients (676 men (758 eyes); mean age: 63.8 ± 12.9 years) who received STTA in participating centres between April 2013 and July 2017. Results IOP elevation was observed in 206 eyes (14.7%) and IOP increase ≥ 6 mmHg was found in 328 eyes (23.3%). In total, 106 eyes (7.5%) needed medication and two eyes (0.14%) needed surgical procedures. Younger age, higher baseline IOP, and steroid dose were risk factors associated with IOP elevation. Risk factors associated with IOP increase ≥ 6 mmHg were younger age, lower baseline IOP, steroid dose, and higher incidences of diabetic macular oedema (DME) and uveitis. In contrast, with steroid dose fixed at 20 mg, a lower incidence of DME was a risk factor for increased IOP, suggesting that STTA had dose-dependent effects on IOP increase, especially in patients with DME. Conclusion Our real-world evidence from a large sample of Japanese patients who received STTA showed that the incidence of IOP elevation after STTA was 14.7%, and was associated with younger age, higher baseline IOP, and steroid dose. Thus, IOP should be monitored, especially in patients with younger age, higher baseline IOP, and higher incidences of DME and uveitis

Doppler ultrasound findings correlate with tissue vascularity and inflammation in surgical pathology specimens from patients with small intestinal Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND: Crohn’s disease (CD) is routinely evaluated using clinical symptoms, laboratory variables, and the CD activity index (CDAI). However, clinical parameters are often nonspecific and do not precisely reflect the actual activity of CD small-intestinal lesions. The purposes of this prospective study were to compare color Doppler ultrasound (US) findings with histological findings from surgically resected specimens and confirm the hypothesis that color Doppler US can distinguish tissue inflammation and fibrosis. METHODS: Among 1764 consecutive patients who underwent color Doppler US examinations, 10 patients with CD (12 small-intestinal CD lesions) who underwent US examinations before elective small-intestine resection were evaluated in the present study. Areas of thickened intestinal walls were evaluated in terms of blood flow using color Doppler US imaging. The blood flow was semiquantitatively classified as “hyper-flow” and “hypo-flow” according to the Limberg score. Resected lesions were macroscopically and histopathologically processed. Inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrosis and vascularity were evaluated by myeloperoxidase (granulocytes), CD163 (macrophages), CD79a (B cells), CD3 (T cells), Masson’s trichrome (fibrosis), and factor VIII staining (vascular walls). All histopathological images were entered into virtual slide equipment and quantified using a quantitative microscopy integrated system (TissueMorph™). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in disease features or laboratory findings between “hypo-flow” lesions (n = 4) and “hyper-flow” lesions (n = 8). Histopathologically, “hyper-flow” lesions showed significantly greater bowel wall vascularity (factor VIII) (p = 0.047) and inflammatory cell infiltration, including CD163 macrophages (p = 0.008), CD3 T cells, and CD79a B cells (p = 0.043), than did “hypo-flow” lesions. There was no apparent association between the blood flow and CDAI. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, active CD lesions were macroscopically visible in surgical specimens of patients with increased blood flow on preoperative color Doppler US imaging. Additionally, these CD lesions exhibited significantly greater vascularity and numbers of inflammatory leukocytes microscopically. Color Doppler US may predict tissue inflammation and fibrosis in small-intenstinal CD lesions

Diagnostic approach for patients with unidentified fever according to the classical criteria of fever of unknown origin in the field of autoimmune disorders

ArticleImmunological medicine. 42(4): 176-184 (2019)journal articl

Long-term maintenance of the mucosal healing induced by azacitidine therapy in a patient with intestinal Behçet's-like disease accompanied with myelodysplastic syndrome involving trisomy 8

ArticleImmunological medicine. 42(3): 135-141 (2019)journal articl

Post-mortem Plasma Cell-Free DNA Sequencing: Proof-of-Concept Study for the Liquid Autopsy

Recent genomic studies on cancer tissues obtained during rapid autopsy have provided insights into the clonal evolution and heterogeneity of cancer. However, post-mortem blood has not been subjected to genetic analyses in relation to cancer. We first confirmed that substantial quantities of cell-free DNA were present in the post-mortem plasma of 12 autopsy cases. Then, we focused on a pilot case of prostate cancer with multiple metastases for genetic analyses. Whole-exome sequencing of post-mortem plasma-derived cell-free DNA and eight frozen metastatic cancer tissues collected during rapid autopsy was performed, and compared their mutational statuses. The post-mortem plasma cell-free DNA was successfully sequenced and 344 mutations were identified. Of these, 160 were detected in at least one of the metastases. Further, 99% of the mutations shared by all metastases were present in the plasma. Sanger sequencing of 30 additional formalin-fixed metastases enabled us to map the clones harboring mutations initially detected only in the plasma. In conclusion, post-mortem blood, which is usually disposed of during conventional autopsies, can provide valuable data if sequenced in detail, especially regarding cancer heterogeneity. Furthermore, post-mortem plasma cell-free DNA sequencing (liquid autopsy) can be a novel platform for cancer research and a tool for genomic pathology