Seismic Ground Settlement and Deformation Behavior of Reclaimed Lands in the 1995 Kobe Earthquake

After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, particular attention has been paid on the settlement observed at reclaimed lands located at between Osaka and Kobe, in reference to their geological characteristics. In this paper, the ground surface elevations before and after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake were compared to evaluate the seismic ground settlement of reclaimed lands. Calculated settlements by using an available empirical formula were compared with measured ones. A further study was carried out to investigate the seismic ground settlement calculated by using a numerical simulation program called “FLIP” at a selected reclaimed land. In reference to the data available from published papers on seismic ground settlement as measured, attempts were made to identify in a practical manner such settlement with the degree of the earthquake recorded at each reclaimed lands as well as the grain size and N value of the filled layer there. The proposed method for estimating seismic ground settlement caused by earthquake is estimated for its applicability and accuracy by using a simulation program

Lightning discharges in association with mesospheric optical phenomena in Japan and their effect on the lower ionosphere

A quantitative and statistical analysis was performed using data from coordinated measurements consisting of ELF waves, VLF subionospheric disturbances and lightning discharges associated with transient luminous events(TLEs). These TLEs(sprites and elves) were observed during winter lightning storms over the Sea of Japan in the winter of 1998/99. A clear, straightforward relationship was found between the charge moment of the parent discharge, calculated from ELF(f<15Hz) transients, and the ionospheric disturbances, with a correlation coefficient of 0.97 independent of the type of TLEs; this suggests significant atmosphere-mesosphere-ionosphere coupling and implies that a large quasi-electrostatic(QE) field change occurring above lightning discharges with TLEs plays a significant role in modifying the electrical properties of the lower ionosphere. Sprites tend to be associated with large ionospheric disturbancs(-13～+ 4.6dB, compared with the unperturbed waves) and a large charge moment(260-875Ckm), whereas a relatively large lightning peak current(+223～+ 470kA,)(or a slow-tail amplitude) leading to a strong electromagnetic pulse(EMP) but with a rather small ionospheric disturbances seems to be necessary to initiate elves

Medical Epistemology Meets Economics: How (Not) To GRADE Universal Basic Income Research

There have recently been novel applications of medical systematic review guidelines to economic policy interventions which contain controversial methodological assumptions that require further scrutiny. A landmark 2017 Cochrane review of unconditional cash transfer (UCT) studies, based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), exemplifies both the possibilities and limitations of applying medical systematic review guidelines to UCT and universal basic income (UBI) studies. Recognizing the need to upgrade GRADE to incorporate the differences between medical and policy interventions, the GRADE Public Health Project Group (PHPG) was convened to enumerate and address these methodological challenges. However, in light of our analysis of additional methodological challenges that arise for UCT and UBI studies, we argue that the adaptation of medical systematic review guidelines to economic methodology is far from straightforward and is in fact more challenging than claimed by the PHPG

クリオ上清中の高分子VWFマルチマー非結合型ADAMTS13の存在:血栓性血小板減少性紫斑病の治療に、より効果的な血漿分画製剤の選択

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by deficient ADAMTS13 activity. Treatment involves plasma exchange (PE). Both fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) and cryosupernatant (CSP) are used, but it remains to be determined which is more effective. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To analyze the interaction between von Willebrand factor (VWF) and ADAMTS13, we used large-pore isoelectric focusing (IEF) analysis followed by detection with anti-ADAMTS13 monoclonal antibody. FFP, CSP, cryoprecipitate (CP), and purified ADAMTS13 were analyzed for their effects on high shear stress-induced platelet aggregation (H-SIPA). RESULTS: IEF analysis of normal plasma revealed three groups of ADAMTS13 bands with pI of 4.9 to 5.6, 5.8 to 6.7, and 7.0 or 7.5. Two band groups (pI 4.9-5.6 and 5.8-6.7) were found in plasma of a patient with Type 3 von Willebrand disease, in which VWF is absent, whereas no bands were found in plasma of a patient with congenital ADAMTS13 deficiency. Mixing these plasmas generated the bands at pI 7.0 or 7.5, representing the VWF-ADAMTS13 complex; these bands were absent in CSP. FFP and purified ADAMTS13 down regulated H-SIPA in a dose-dependent manner. However, CP did not inhibit H-SIPA in the initial phase, and the degree of inhibition at the endpoint was almost indistinguishable from those of the other two plasma products. CONCLUSION: Both plasma products (FFP and CSP) are effective for PE in TTP patients. However, CSP may be more favorable, because it has lower levels of VWF and almost normal ADAMTS13 activity, but lower levels of ADAMTS13 in complex with larger VWF multimers.博士（医学）・乙第1322号・平成25年11月27日© 2013 American Association of Blood BanksCopyright © 1999-2018 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reservedThis is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/trf.12182], which has been published in final form at [http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/trf.12182]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions

Medical Epistemology Meets Economics: How (Not) to GRADE Universal Basic Income Research

There have recently been novel applications of medical systematic review guidelines to economic policy interventions which contain controversial methodological assumptions that require further scrutiny. A landmark 2017 Cochrane review of unconditional cash transfer (UCT) studies, based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), exemplifies both the possibilities and limitations of applying medical systematic review guidelines to UCT and universal basic income (UBI) studies. Recognizing the need to upgrade GRADE to incorporate the differences between medical and policy interventions, the GRADE Public Health Project Group (PHPG) was convened to enumerate and address these methodological challenges. However, in light of our analysis of additional methodological challenges that arise for UCT and UBI studies, we argue that the adaptation of medical systematic review guidelines to economic methodology is far from straightforward and is in fact more challenging than claimed by the PHPG

Long-Term Self-Renewal of Human ES/iPS-Derived Hepatoblast-like Cells on Human Laminin 111-Coated Dishes

SummaryThe establishment of self-renewing hepatoblast-like cells (HBCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) would realize a stable supply of hepatocyte-like cells for medical applications. However, the functional characterization of human PSC-derived HBCs was not enough. To purify and expand human PSC-derived HBCs, human PSC-derived HBCs were cultured on dishes coated with various types of human recombinant laminins (LN). Human PSC-derived HBCs attached to human laminin-111 (LN111)-coated dish via integrin alpha 6 and beta 1 and were purified and expanded by culturing on the LN111-coated dish, but not by culturing on dishes coated with other laminin isoforms. By culturing on the LN111-coated dish, human PSC-derived HBCs were maintained for more than 3 months and had the ability to differentiate into both hepatocyte-like cells and cholangiocyte-like cells. These expandable human PSC-derived HBCs would be manageable tools for drug screening, experimental platforms to elucidate mechanisms of hepatoblasts, and cell sources for hepatic regenerative therapy