A Contribution to Constitutive Relation of Cohesive Soil Based on Elasto-Plasticity Theory

Through a series of drained shear tests tor a low plasticity clay, normally consolidated either isotropically or anisotropically, it is found that there exists a large dependency of distorsional strain on the stress path, and that this gives an influence on the shear behavior of cohesive soils. A set of constitutive relations is proposed, based on the situation of adopting the non-associated flow rule and the double functions for the consolidation and shear processes, separately. The analytical result using the proposed equations can satisfactorily explain the deformation and strength behaviors of soil

A Facial Expression Parameterization by Elastic Surface Model

We introduce a novel parameterization of facial expressions by using elastic surface model. The elastic surface model has been used as a deformation tool especially for nonrigid organic objects. The parameter of expressions is either retrieved from existing articulated face models or obtained indirectly by manipulating facial muscles. The obtained parameter can be applied on target face models dissimilar to the source model to create novel expressions. Due to the limited number of control points, the animation data created using the parameterization require less storage size without affecting the range of deformation it provides. The proposed method can be utilized in many ways: (1) creating a novel facial expression from scratch, (2) parameterizing existing articulation data, (3) parameterizing indirectly by muscle construction, and (4) providing a new animation data format which requires less storage

Regenerative Repair of Bone Defects with Osteoinductive Hydroxyapatite Fabricated to Match the Defect and Implanted with CAD, CAM, and Computer-Assisted Surgery Systems

Regenerative repair of large bone defects currently remains a challenging issue during surgery, owing to the limited regenerative ability of the bone. To address this issue, we attempted a precise repair of a bone defect using computer-aided procedures. Using pelvic computed tomography (CT) images of beagle dogs, virtual tumors were created in the pelvis using computer-aided design (CAD), and a bone resection following the margins of the bone tumor was performed on the CAD image. Hydroxyapatite (HA) implants to fill the bone defects and implants for shape evaluation of bone resection sites were designed and produced by computer-aided manufacturing and three-dimensional printing. Subsequently, using a computer navigation system, iliac bone defects were created in beagle dogs as preoperatively planned on CAD, filled with HA implants shaped to fit the bone defect sites, and coated with a recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2-containing dough bone-forming material. Postoperative CT revealed that the new bone was formed around the implant over time. Anatomical healthy bone repair was confirmed to be completed 12 weeks after the surgery. These results demonstrate potential novel technology for efficacious and accurate repair of large bone defects without bone grafting

Flow Characteristics of Gas and Liquid through a Cell Porous Disk

This paper describes applications of cell porous materials. The authors investigated the flow characteristics of a gas-liquid mixture in a rotating porous disk. For theoretical analyses, the gas is assumed to permeate the entire disk surface. A simple one-dimensional model illustrates that the residence time of the liquid is much greater than that of the gas. Violent interaction in small cells is likely to enhance the chemical reaction between gas and liquid. Cell porous materials might also be exploited for chemical reaction purposes

Tumor-specific exon creation of the HELLS/SMARCA6 gene in non-small cell lung cancer

In an attempt to identify tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 10 in non-small cell lung cancers, we isolated 10 types of splicing variants of the HELLS/ SMARCA6 gene transcripts. HELLS/SMARCA6 is a novel member of SNF2 family, which is implicated in cellular function like chromatin remodeling. Variant 1 was an alternatively spliced isoform containing an insertion of a 44-ntd intronic sequence between exons 3 and 4, giving rise to a premature termination of translation. The expression of the variant 1 was detected exclusively in the lung cancer specimens (11 of 43 cases, 26%), but was not detected in corresponding normal tissues. D10S520 marker in the proximity of the HELLS/SMARCA6 gene showed prevalent allelic loss (41%) as compared with flanking markers (25-31%). These results suggest that loss of function of HELLS/SMARCA6 by allelic loss and aberrant proteins by tumor-specific exon creation may result in epigenetic deregulation, leading the lung cells to malignancy or its progression

Characterization of the phytoplankton size composition and light absorption coefficient in the temperate coastal waters of Sagami Bay

Phytoplankton constitute the base of the aquatic food web and are the primary driver of biogeochemical processes such as the e port of carbon to the deep ocean. Knowledge of the distributions, compositions, and biomass of the phytoplankton community are essential to under stand biogeochemical cycles. Phytoplankton can be enumerated by microscopy, but this requires e tensive time for sample preparation and counting, especially if statistically valid counts of the less abundant phytoplankton classes are required. Further, smaller picoplankton can be difficult to identify since they lack ta onomically e ternal morphological features. Thus, the accessory pigment-based model has been used to estimate phytoplankton communities based on their size classes: micro- (M; > 20 µm), nano- (N; 2-20 µm) and pico-phytoplankton (P; < 2 µm). Light absorption by phytoplankton has a direct influence on the optical properties of seawater, and there is a growing effort to develop approaches to identify the spatial and temporal variability of the phytoplankton community from satellites. However, estimating the phytoplankton com munity in optically comple coastal waters from satellites is still a challenging problem because phytoplankton are only one of multiple optically significant constituents of seawater. Also, there are limitations of wavelength that satellites can measure, and overlapping signature pigment of each phytoplankton community. In order to improve the estimation of phytoplankton communi ties, it is necessary to understand the light absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, aph (,,) asso ciated with the varying community structure. The objective of this study was to characterize the variability of phytoplankton size classes and their light absorption coefficients in the temperate coastal waters of Sagami Bay. The specific objectives were (1) to classify phytoplankton com munities based on cell size, (2) to investigate co-variability of aph (,,) spectra according to the classification. The present study conducted in situ observations from April 2016 to September 2022 at Station M (St. M: 35° 09’ 45” N, 139° 10’00” E) in the temporal coastal waters of Sagami Bay, Japan. Water samples for pigments and light absorption properties of phytoplankton were collected from surface water with a bucket, and measured by high-performance liquid chroma tography and spectrophotometry, respectively. Phytoplankton size class composition was esti mated based on pigment concentrations. The results showed that the three groups (Group M, N, P) generated according to the phytoplankton size composition were significantly different (R = 0.646, p < 0.001). Also, the most dominant group throughout the study period was microplank ton (n = 110). The aph (,,) spectra showed peaks around 438 nm and 465 nm in the blue band and 674 nm in the red band. Using three wavelengths peaks, although the aph (,,) of group M was sig nificantly higher than that of group N, Group P was not significantly different from other groups. This study suggests that the aph (,,) spectrum in the temperate coastal waters of Sagami Bay is significantly co-varying with the variability of phytoplankton size composition. The results sug gest that analyzing the difference in aph (,,) spectra ratios and performing derivative analysis, coupled with analysis of phytoplankton size distribution and pigment composition should im prove our ability to characterize phytoplankton spatio-temporal distribution from space.departmental bulletin pape

Human and equipment resources for difficult airway management, airway education programs, and capnometry use in Japanese emergency departments: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Background: Although human and equipment resources, proper training, and the verification of endotracheal intubation are vital elements of difficult airway management (DAM), their availability in Japanese emergency departments (EDs) has not been determined. How ED type and patient volume affect DAM preparation is also unclear. We conducted the present survey to address this knowledge gaps. Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted from April to September 2016. All EDs received a mailed questionnaire regarding their DAM resources, airway training methods, and capnometry use for tube placement. Outcome measures were the availability of: (1) 24-h in-house back-up; (2) key DAM resources, including a supraglottic airway device (SGA), a dedicated DAM cart, surgical airway devices, and neuromuscular blocking agents; (3) anesthesiology rotation as part of an airway training program; and (4) the routine use of capnometry to verify tube placement. EDs were classified as academic, tertiary, high-volume (upper quartile of annual ambulance visits), and urban. Results: Of the 530 EDs, 324 (61.1%) returned completed questionnaires. The availability of in-house back-up coverage, surgical airway devices, and neuromuscular blocking agents was 69.4, 95.7, and 68.5%, respectively. SGAs and dedicated DAM carts were present in 51.5 and 49.7% of the EDs. The rates of routine capnometry use (47.8%) and the availability of an anesthesiology rotation (38.6%) were low. The availability of 24-h back-up coverage was significantly higher in academic EDs and tertiary EDs in both the crude and adjusted analysis. Similarly, neuromuscular blocking agents were more likely to be present in academic EDs, high-volume EDs, and tertiary EDs; and the rate of routine use of capnometry was significantly higher in tertiary EDs in both the crude and adjusted analysis. Conclusions: In Japanese EDs, the rates of both the availability of SGAs and DAM carts and the use of routine capnometry to confirm tube placement were approximately 50%. These data demonstrate the lack of standard operating procedures for rescue ventilation and post-intubation care. Academic, tertiary, and high-volume EDs were likely to be well prepared for DAM

Principle and clinical usefulness of the infrared fluorescence endoscopy

Since there is no infrared fluorescence materials in the living body, infrared fluorescence labeling materials are very useful for making a diagnosis of a micro cancer. We have developed an infrared fluorescence endoscope (IRFE) and indocyanin green (ICG)-derivative as infrared fluorescence labeling materials to evaluate gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions. The study aims were to apply an IRFE and to demonstrate its usefulness in detecting cancerous tissue using an antibody coupled with ICG-derivative. IRFE consisted of an infrared endoscope equipped with excitation (710-790nm) and barrier (810-920nm) filters and an intensified CCD camera. We have developed ICG N-hydroxy sulfo succinimide ester (ICG-sulfo-OSu) and 3-ICG-acyl-1, 3-thiazolidine-2-thione (ICG-ATT) as an infrared fluorescent-labeling reagent. ICG-derivative-labeled mouse anti-human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)antibodyandMUC1 antibody were employed in this study. Moreover, we examined the ability of a reinforcement agent, octylglucoside, to intensity fluorescence from the labeled antibody. Biopsy specimens of gastric cancer were stained with anti-CEA antibody by the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method. Among the positive specimens, freshly resected stomach from three cases were used for the infrared (IR) imaging analysis. The incubation of freshly resected stomach specimens with ICG-anti-CEA antibody-complex resulted in positive staining of the tumor sites by IRFE, and the IR fluorescent images correlated well with the tumor sites. The immunohistochemical studies suggested that the intensity of IR fluorescence of ICG-ATT-MUC1was stronger than that of ICG-sulfo-OSu. In tumor sections, the reinforcement agent intensified fluorescence, ever at low antibody concentrations. Therefore, we conclude that an anti-CEA (and/orMUC1) antibody with affinity for cancerous lesions and labeled with ICG-derivative can be imaged with this IRFE. Specific antibodies tagged with ICG-derivative with the reinforcement agent can label cancer cells and generate a strong enough fluorescent signal to detect small cancers when examined with an IR fluorescence endoscope

ヨリ オオキナ ビョウヘン ノ イッカツ セツジョ オ メザシタ アタラシイ EMR シュギ : セッカイ ハクリホウ : ソウキ イガン ノ EMR テキオウ カクダイ ニ ムケテ

The standard indication of EMR for early gastric cancer in Japan is intra-mucosal cancer without ulcerative finding, histologically differentiated type, and less than 20 mm in diameter. Recently, in order to perform en block resection of early gastric cancer more than 20 mm in diameter and achieve histological evaluation precisely, several endoscopists have reported new EMR methods (cut and exfoliate method) using not only needle knife but also new devices such as IT knife, hooking knife and/or flex knife to cut around the lesion and exfoliate submucosa. From January 2001 to December 2002, we attempted to en bloc EMRs using needle knife, IT knife and/or hooking knife for 60 gastric cancers after informed concent, 40 lesions were according to the standard indication (group A) and 20 were not (group B). En bloc resection rates of group A and B were 82.5% (33/40) and 65.0% (13/20), respectively, these rates are higher than that of conventional methods (strip biopsy, aspiration method et al ). In the near feature, these advanced EMR techniques enable us to expand the indication criteria for early gastric cancer widely based on the results of analysis of lymph-node metastasis and prognostic data after EMR