Use of imaging plates at near saturation for high energy density particles

Copyright 2008 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Review of Scientific Instruments, 79(10), 10E910, 2008 and may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.298767

上腸間膜動脈限局性の高安動脈炎の一例

腹痛を呈した上腸間膜動脈（superior mesenteric artery: SMA）に限局した高安動脈炎の一例を経験したので，文献的考察を加えて報告する．症例は17歳，男性．心窩部痛・右背部痛を認め，近医を受診し，その際施行した体外式腹部超音波検査（ultrasound: US）でSMA の壁肥厚が疑われ，当院総合診療科を紹介受診した．身体診察では上腹部正中に軽度圧痛を認め，血液生化学検査では血沈（60min）35mm, CRP 3.92mg/dL と軽度上昇を認めた．US では，腹痛を訴える部位に一致してSMA 起始部にびまん性の壁肥厚を認め，血管炎が疑われた．胸部造影・上腹骨盤部単純造影CT 検査（computed tomography: CT）ではSMA 周囲に造影効果を認める軟部影を認め，18F-FDGPET（18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: PET）/CT 検査ではSMA 起始部付近に腫大と軽度のFDG 集積を認め，動脈炎による集積で矛盾しない所見であった．以上のことから，SMA に限局した高安動脈炎と診断した．ステロイド治療を開始し腹痛は速やかに消褪すると共に，US 所見にも改善がみられた．We report the case of a 17-year-old male who visited a hospital complaining of epigastric and right back pain. Thickening of the wall of the superior mesenteric artery （SMA) was suspected by ultrasound （US), and he was referred to our hospital. Physical examination revealed median upper abdominal tenderness. Laboratory tests showed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate （60 min) of 35 mm and C-reactive protein of 3.92mg/dL. US examination in our hospital showed diffuse wall thickening at the origin of the SMA. Because the location of the pain and the affected area identified by US were the same, we suspected angiitis. An enhanced area around the SMA was revealed by computed tomography. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed swelling at the origin of the SMA and mild accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose. He was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis involving the SMA. Steroid therapy was started, and his abdominal pain and US findings improved

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Core size effects of laser fusion subcritical research reactor for fusion engineering research

A multi-purpose high repetition laser facility, the so-called Japan establishment for power-laser community harvest (J-EPoCH) is proposed as a next generation laser facility. J-EPoCH will operate at the maximum rate of 100 Hz. The omnidirectional 12 laser beams with 8 kJ would yield ∼1013 neutrons with a large high aspect ratio target. As one of the applications of J-EPoCH, a laser fusion subcritical research reactor has been conceptually designed based on existing technologies. Moreover, a variety of fusion engineering studies: energy conversion, tritium breeding, neutron irradiation effects, etc, can be conducted. The feasibility of the subcritical research reactor is considered in terms of neutron-thermal (n-t) conversion and tritium breeding. Lead–lithium alloy (Li17Pb83) and boron carbide (B4C) have the potential to be studied for preliminary fusion power generation. The subcritical reactor will generate 21.4 W and 20.0 W of the thermal fusion power with the Li17Pb83 and the B4C layers of the thickness of 80 cm, respectively at 1 Hz operation. The Li17Pb83 layer of a 5 mm thickness will achieve the temperature rise of 0.203 mK per shot. The thermal fusion energy is detectable with conventional measurement techniques. The core with the Li17Pb83 layer thickness of 100 cm will yield more than one tritium from a deuterium–tritium fusion neutron. However, laser windows reduce the efficiency of n-t conversion and tritium yield.** After this version, the author still has made a few minor corrections

Feasibility study of tokamak, helical and laser reactors as affordable fusion volumetric neutron sources

The applicability of tokamak, helical and laser fusion reactors as a volumetric fusion neutron source has been examined using the systems codes that have been utilised for the conceptual design of DEMO and commercial reactors in Japan. This study has clarified the characteristics of reactor-based volumetric neutron sources that can be designed based on the current physics and engineering basis with a reasonable running cost (∼5B Yen/year). Although the achievable neutron flux is 2–3 orders lower than that of accelerator driven neutron sources, tokamak and helical neutron sources can provide a much larger irradiation area for the test of large components. Laser neutron sources have both high operability and tritium breeding capacity. These reactor-based neutron sources also serve as an integrated test bed of the entire reactor system