FDTD Analysis on Optical Connement Structurewith Electromagnetic Metamaterial

In this paper, we investigate a light-confinement phenomenon in the structure which has triangular latice composed of Double NeGative Metamaterial (DNGM). In geometrical optics consideration, this structure is expected to confine lights completely by sequential refractions in the structure. We demonstrate it by using the two dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations. We introduce Drude-Lorentz model for dielectric and magnetic dispersion of the material at optical frequencies. We analyze quantitatively the effects of energy loss in the DNGM on the light-confinement efficiency

Comparison of Teeth from Skeletal Remains Unearthed at the Jōmon Period Shell Mound Sites of Ōta, Tsukumo and Yoshigo: An Examination of Dental Caries and Periodontal Diseases

This paper was written as a part of research project on dental diseases during the Jōmon period. The “Kiyono Collection” contains vast numbers of ancient skeletons found in shell mounds from the Jōmon period. Many of them were excavated in the Taishō period (1912-26) and the early Shōwa period (1926-89) by Dr. Kiyono and are in good condition. The remains have since been stored at the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science at Kyōto University. As such, I had the opportunity to conduct a comparative analysis on dental diseases (especially dental caries and periodontal disease) based on the skeletons found at the shell mound sites. Material from a total of three shell mounds sites was investigated, including 34 samples from the Ōta site, 51 samples from the Tsukumo site, and 82 samples from the Yoshigo site. These were selected from a total of 216 samples from seven shell mounds due to the good condition of the teeth. The analysis was conducted following methods outlined in a former paper on the Kofun and Kamakura Period (Nagai 2017). The method used to examine caries involved the clinical classifications C1, C2, C3, and C4. For periodontal diseases, the absorption of alveolar bone was measured according to distance via the cement enamel junction-alveolar crest (CEJ-AC), while horizontal and vertical presence was measured using a vernier caliper. The specific items of examination were dental caries, periodontal diseases, attrition, and dental diseases. Regarding dental caries, the lowest rate of occurrence was observed at the Ōta site from the Middle Jōmon period, followed by the Tsukumo and Yoshigo sites, while the highest rate was found at the Yoshigo site from the Late Jōmon period. Samples from all of three sites were observed for tendencies related to oral contamination type caries. In summary, different types of caries were observed at all three sites. For instance, the discrepancy type was observed at Tsukumo, while rampant caries and large concentrations were observed from one specific person at Yoshigo. Overall results indicate that missing teeth were the result of periodontal diseases at Tsukumo, but were caused by caries at Yoshigo. In accordance with previous studies, the rate of caries tended to increase from the Middle to the Late Jōmon period.本論文は平成29年10月29日、広島大学文学部で行われた広島史学研究大会〈考古学部会〉において『大田・津雲・吉胡貝塚の比較－古人骨の歯牙調査報告－』で発表した内容に基づき、論考を重ね、若干内容を改編、執筆したものである

Analysis of Teeth of Skeletal Remains Excavated from the Kofun Period Shimauchi Graves with Underground Corridor-style Chamber with Horizontal Side Entrance in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan: Examination of Dental Caries and Periodontal Diseases

This paper discusses dental diseases during the Kofun period as a part of my research spanning from the Jōmon period to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). I had the opportunity to conduct research on 134 human samples of ancient teeth from the Shimauchi site in Miyazaki Prefecture in the possession of the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum. The human tooth samples buried in graves with underground corridor-style chamber with horizontal side entrance (chikashiki yokoana-bo) in Southern Kyūshū, which have a unique feature and are part of the burial customs of this region, were not directly buried in soil and on the contrary, exposed to air and have been therefore preserved in good condition. Moreover, many objects were unearthed along with them. I have examined dental features, dental caries, periodontal diseases, attrition and dental diseases based on the rate of caries, average number of caries per person, approximate estimate of caries’ frequency per person (ACFP; Sakura B formula, 1964) and the rate of antemortem teeth loss (AMTL). For the examination of caries, the clinical classification C1, C2, C3, and C4 is used. For the examination of periodontal diseases, the distance between the cement enamel junction and alveolar crest of teeth is measured using the vernier caliper. The horizontal and vertical absorption of the alveolar bone are confirmed. Besides, the samples are classified into two groups based on the type of objects unearthed with them. The finds from the Shimauchi site can be divided into different categories according to the grave goods: beginning with body armor designated as National Important Cultural Property; weapons like a single-edged long sword with silver inlay composed of a dragon, iron single-edged swords, iron double-edged swords, tortuous swords; horse trappings, including bridle bits, crupper bosses and flat pendant horse harness ornaments. Thereafter, the relationship between dental diseases and different social classes is analyzed. The results of these studies reveal that the rate of caries, periodontal diseases, and missing teeth is different between the two social classes. It can be assumed that these problems are related to differences in diet between the classes.本論文は平成30年７月22日、広島大学文学部で行われた中四国歴史学地理学協会〈考古学部会〉において同題名で発表した内容に基づき、論考を重ね執筆したものである

Topology conserving gauge action and the overlap-Dirac operator

We apply the topology conserving gauge action proposed by Luescher to the four-dimensional lattice QCD simulation in the quenched approximation. With this gauge action the topological charge is stabilized along the hybrid Monte Carlo updates compared to the standard Wilson gauge action. The quark potential and renormalized coupling constant are in good agreement with the results obtained with the Wilson gauge action. We also investigate the low-lying eigenvalue distribution of the hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator, which is relevant for the construction of the overlap-Dirac operator.Comment: 27pages, 11figures, accepted versio

Low serum sodium concentration is a prognostic factor related to current blood glucose level in stable hemodialysis patients : an observational study

Background: A lot of risk factors for mortality have been proposed in hemodialysis patients. However, most of the findings were derived from the analyses using all of the hemodialysis patients. What we really want to know is the prognostic factor in stable hemodialysis patients who have good activities of daily living, because it is difficult to estimate their prognosis by physical appearance. Methods: This is a 7-year observational study. The study involved registering 631 patients who had undergone hemodialysis for more than 1 year at enrollment and were still alive more than 1 year after it. Demographic and clinical data were collected to analyze the relationship with mortality. Moreover, the patients were age-stratified to investigate age-dependent prognostic factors. Results: Low serum sodium concentration is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality common to a wide range of ages in stable hemodialysis patients. Causes of hyponatremia included the predialysis blood glucose level as well as the variables related to nutrition, inflammation, and fluid overload. Conclusions: Low serum sodium concentration is a significant prognostic factor in stable hemodialysis patients. Low serum sodium concentration can be a clue to finding current poor glucose control in stable hemodialysis patients. Predialysis blood glucose level is one of the representative factors correlated with serum sodium concentration

Heritable effects on caste determination and colony-level sex allocation in termites under field conditions

The ecological success of social insects is attributed to the division of labor, where newly hatched offspring differentiate into either fertile progeny or functionally sterile worker castes. There is growing evidence for the heritable (genetic or epigenetic) effects on caste determination based on laboratory experiments. Here, we indirectly demonstrate that heritable factors have the principal role in caste determination and strongly affect colony-level production of both sexes of fertile dispersers (i.e., alates) in field colonies of the termite Reticulitermes speratus. An egg-fostering experiment suggests that the colony-dependent sex-specific caste fates were almost entirely determined before oviposition. Our investigation of field colonies revealed that such colony-dependent sex-specific caste fates result in the intercolonial variation in the numerical sex ratio of differentiated fertile offspring and, eventually, that of alates. This study contributes to better understanding the mechanisms underlying the division of labor and life-history traits in social insects

Nasal glucagon as a viable alternative for treating insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia in Japanese patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes : A phase 3 randomized crossover study

Aim: To compare nasal glucagon (NG) with intramuscular glucagon (IMG) for the treatment of insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia in Japanese patients with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods: This phase 3, randomized, open‐label, two‐treatment, two‐period crossover non‐inferiority study enrolled Japanese adults with T1DM or T2DM on insulin therapy, with glycated haemoglobin levels ≤86 mmol/mol (≤10%). After ≥8 hours of fasting, hypoglycaemia was induced with human regular insulin (intravenous infusion). Patients received NG 3 mg or IMG 1 mg approximately 5 minutes after insulin termination. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving treatment success [plasma glucose (PG) increase to ≥3.9 mmol/L (≥70 mg/dL) or ≥1.1 mmol/L (≥20 mg/dL) increase from the PG nadir within 30 minutes of receiving glucagon]. Non‐inferiority was declared if the upper limit of the two‐sided 95% confidence interval (CI) of the mean difference in the percentage of patients achieving treatment success (IMG minus NG) was <10%. Results: Seventy‐five patients with T1DM (n = 34) or T2DM (n = 41) were enrolled; 72 patients (50 men, 22 women) received ≥1 study drug dose (T1DM, n = 33; T2DM, n = 39). Sixty‐eight patients completed the study and were evaluable. All NG‐ and IMG‐treated patients achieved treatment success (treatment arm difference: 0%; upper limit of two‐sided 95% CI 1.47%); NG met prespecified conditions defining non‐inferiority versus IMG. Glucagon was rapidly absorbed after both nasal and intramuscular administration; PG profiles were similar between administration routes during the first 60 minutes post dose. Study drug‐related treatment‐emergent adverse events affecting >2 patients were rhinalgia, increased blood pressure, nausea, ear pain and vomiting in the NG group, and nausea and vomiting in the IMG group. Conclusion: Nasal glucagon was non‐inferior to IMG for successful treatment of insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia in Japanese patients with T1DM/T2DM, supporting use of NG as a rescue treatment for severe hypoglycaemia

ジカコツ オ モチイタ サイナス リフト ノ ジュツシキ ト ヨゴ ニツイテ

Treatment of the atrophic edentulous posterior maxilla with implant supported prosthesis is often difficult, because bone volume is insufficient and the bone quality is poor due to resorption of the alveolar ridge and due to increasing pneumatization of the maxillary sinus. Internal augmentation of the maxillary premolar and molar region (sinus floor elevation) was introduced to provide appropriate amounts of bone in a severely absorbed maxilla. Sinus floor elevation became widely accepted as a routine method to improve the amount of bone volume before implant placement. We applied this procedure for patients with atrophic edentulous posterior maxilla from 2000, and we treated the patients in order to restoration of mastication function in safety. In this paper, we give an explanation of operative procedure of sinus floor elevation with autogenous bone for details, and we also comment on the other graft materials, complication of the sinus floor elevation and resorption of autogneous bone grafted on sinus floor

Scandium 45 in meteoritic irons

This report presents the results of determinations of cosmogenic ^Sc and light noble gases in iron meteorites. Sc and REE were simultaneously determined using radiochemical neutron activation method. This method is sensitive enough for detection of as little as lower than 10^gSc/g, compared to the level of cosmic ray effects in irons which are usually in the range of 10^-10^gSc/g. The lowest concentration found in irons was 2×10^gSc/g in the Campo del Cielo and similar contents were observed in the Gibeon, DRP-78008 (and Brenham-metal). Even at these low levels, Sc seems mostly attributable to cosmic ray production. The Sc content in irons is best compared with cosmogenic ^4He. The ratio of Sc to ^4He, approximately 1×10^gSc/1×10^cc ^4He, or an average atomic ratio of 1 : 19±3,was observed independent of shielding. Technical aspects of metal phase separation from ordinary chondrites were studied. In one Peace River metal sample, 0.9 ppbSc was found. This number corresponds to 0.01% of the stone phase in the metal. This level of contamination seems still higher than the cosmogenic level of 0.2 ppbSc expected in the metal phase of this meteorite