Thermophysical Properties Measurement of High-Temperature Liquids Under Microgravity Conditions in Controlled Atmospheric Conditions

Microgravity conditions have advantages of measurement of surface tension and viscosity of metallic liquids by the oscillating drop method with an electromagnetic levitation (EML) device. Thus, we are preparing the experiments of thermophysical properties measurements using the Materials-Science Laboratories ElectroMagnetic-Levitator (MSL-EML) facilities in the international Space station (ISS). Recently, it has been identified that dependence of surface tension on oxygen partial pressure (Po2) must be considered for industrial application of surface tension values. Effect of Po2 on surface tension would apparently change viscosity from the damping oscillation model. Therefore, surface tension and viscosity must be measured simultaneously in the same atmospheric conditions. Moreover, effect of the electromagnetic force (EMF) on the surface oscillations must be clarified to obtain the ideal surface oscillation because the EMF works as the external force on the oscillating liquid droplets, so extensive EMF makes apparently the viscosity values large. In our group, using the parabolic flight levitation experimental facilities (PFLEX) the effect of Po2 and external EMF on surface oscillation of levitated liquid droplets was systematically investigated for the precise measurements of surface tension and viscosity of high temperature liquids for future ISS experiments. We performed the observation of surface oscillations of levitated liquid alloys using PFLEX on board flight experiments by Gulfstream II (G-II) airplane operated by DAS. These observations were performed under the controlled Po2 and also under the suitable EMF conditions. In these experiments, we obtained the density, the viscosity and the surface tension values of liquid Cu. From these results, we discuss about as same as reported data, and also obtained the difference of surface oscillations with the change of the EMF conditions

Multicenter retrospective and comparative study of 5-minute versus 15-second endoscopic papillary balloon dilation for removal of bile duct stones

Background and study aims Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is a method of bile duct stone removal that has a better long-term outcome but a high risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Recent studies have suggested that 5-minute EPBD can reduce the incidence of PEP. This study aimed to examine the safety and effectiveness of longer duration EPBD compared with shorter duration EPBD (5 minutes vs. 15 seconds after disappearance of the waist of a dilation catheter). Patients and methods Patients without a history of endoscopic sphincterotomy or EPBD who underwent EPBD to remove bile duct stones were selected retrospectively from five centers. The incidence of PEP, other early adverse events, and outcomes of EPBD were compared between the groups. A multivariable analysis of risk factors for PEP was performed. Results: A total of 607 patients (157 and 450 in the 5-minute and 15-second EPBD groups, respectively) were included. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the incidence of PEP (8.3 % and 8.9 % in the 5-minute and 15-second EPBD groups, respectively; P = 0.871) and the incidence of overall early adverse events ( P = 0.999). Although 5-minute EPBD elongated the procedure time (45 vs. 37 minutes, P < 0.001), it increased the rate of complete stone removal during a single session ( P < 0.001) and decreased the use of lithotripsy ( P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with 15-second EPBD, 5-minute EPBD did not reduce the incidence of PEP

Progress of long pulse discharges by ECH in LHD

Using ion cyclotron heating and electron cyclotron heating (ECH), or solo ECH, trials of steady state plasma sustainment have been conducted in the superconducting helical/stellarator, large helical device (LHD) (Ida K et al 2015 Nucl. Fusion 55 104018). In recent years, the ECH system has been upgraded by applying newly developed 77 and 154 GHz gyrotrons. A new gas fueling system applied to the steady state operations in the LHD realized precise feedback control of the line average electron density even when the wall condition varied during long pulse discharges. Owing to these improvements in the ECH and the gas fueling systems, a stable 39 min discharge with a line average electron density ne_ave of 1.1  ×  1019 m−3, a central electron temperature Te0 of over 2.5 keV, and a central ion temperature Ti0 of 1.0 keV was successfully performed with ~350 kW EC-waves. The parameters are much improved from the previous 65 min discharge with ne_ave of 0.15  ×  1019 m−3 and Te0 of 1.7 keV, and the 30 min discharge with ne_ave of 0.7  ×  1019 m−3 and Te0 of 1.7 keV

First Fossil Record of the Family Phormosomatidae (Echinothurioida : Echinoidea) from the Early Miocene Morozaki Group, Central Japan

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Diacylglycerol kinases as emerging potential drug targets for a variety of diseases: An update

Ten mammalian diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isozymes (alpha–kappa) have been identified to date. Our previous review noted that several DGK isozymes can serve as potential drug targets for cancer, epilepsy, autoimmunity, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension and type II diabetes (Curr. Drug Targets 9, 626–640 (2008)). Since then, recent genome-wide association studies have implied several new possible relationships between DGK isozymes and diseases. For example, DGKtheta and DGKkappa have been suggested to be associated with susceptibility to Parkinson’s disease and hypospadias, respectively. In addition, the DGKeta gene has been repeatedly identified as a bipolar disorder (BPD) susceptibility gene. Intriguingly, we found that DGKeta-knockout mice showed lithium (BPD remedy)-sensitive mania-like behaviors, suggesting that DGKeta is one of key enzymes of the etiology of BPD. Because DGKs are potential drug targets for a wide variety of diseases, the development of DGK isozyme-specific inhibitors/activators has been eagerly awaited. Recently, we have identified DGKalpha-selective inhibitors. Because DGKalpha has both pro-tumoral and anti-immunogenic properties, the DGKalpha-selective inhibitors would simultaneously have anti-tumoral and pro-immunogenic (anti-tumor immunogenic) effects. Although the ten DGK isozymes are highly similar to each other, our current results have encouraged us to identify and develop specific inhibitors/activators against every DGK isozyme that can be effective regulators and drugs against a wide variety of physiological events and diseases

Machine Learning Approach for Frozen Tuna Freshness Inspection Using Low-Frequency A-Mode Ultrasound

Despite the ubiquity of ultrasonography in nondestructive inspection, its application to high-attenuation materials is challenging. At frequencies less than 1 MHz, ultrasound can inspect high-attenuation materials owing to its high penetration ability. Such ultrasound data are acquired using a single-element transducer that generates single-channel signals (A-mode). However, low-frequency A-mode ultrasound signals have low-resolution caused by long wavelengths, and less information than B-mode images generated by multi-channel transducers. Discriminating low-resolution data is made possible by recent advances in machine learning technology. This study employs machine learning to develop an inspection method for high-attenuation frozen materials. This study focuses on the inspection of the freshness of frozen tuna, which has a large market but uses a destructive inspection method. We applied eight typical machine learning algorithms to A-mode signal data (43 samples, 3168 signals) of frozen tuna to calculate freshness scores; we used fast Fourier transform in the feature extraction process. Our experiments show that all algorithms could classify the freshness of frozen tuna with statistical significance ( ${p}$ &#x003C; 0.05, one-tailed ${t}$ -test). Furthermore, we investigated the performance improvement in the mean (standard deviation) of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves by taking the mean of the freshness scores on 24 signals. We observed that the best performance (quadratic discriminant analysis) increased from 0.619 (0.041) using a single signal to 0.724 (0.080) using 24 signals with statistical significance ( ${p}$ &#x003C; 0.05, paired one-tailed ${t}$ -test). This is the first study that inspects frozen tuna using ultrasound and machine learning technology

A rare distributive shock diagnosed only by medical history and inspection

Abstract A 78‐year‐old Japanese man was in a state of shock with skin flushing. Although he denied, his wife revealed his prescription disulfiram for alcoholism. Disulfiram‐ethanol reaction, even though it is a rare cause of distributive shock, could be easily and quickly differentiated only based on accurate medical history and inspection

Groove Pancreatitis: Endoscopic Treatment via the Minor Papilla and Duct of Santorini Morphology

Background/Aims Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an uncommon disease involving the pancreaticoduodenal area. Possible pathogenesis includes obstructive pancreatitis in the duct of Santorini and impaired communication with the duct of Wirsung, minor papilla stenosis, and leakage causing inflammation. Limited data regarding endoscopic treatment have been published. Methods: Seven patients with GP receiving endoscopic treatment were reviewed. The morphology of the pancreatic duct was evaluated by a pancreatogram. Endoscopic dilation of the minor papilla and drainage of the duct of Santorini were performed. Results: There were two pancreatic divisum cases, one ansa pancreatica case and four impaired connections between the duct of Santorini and the main pancreatic duct. Three to 31 sessions of endoscopy, with 2 to 24 sessions of transpapillary stenting and dilation, were performed. Interventions through the minor papilla were successfully performed in six of seven cases. The pancreatic stenting duration ranged from 2 to 87 months. Five patients with evidence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) tended to receive more endoscopic interventions than did the two patients without CP (2–24 vs 2, respectively) for GP and other complications associated with CP. Conclusions: Disconnection or impairment of communication between the ducts of Santorini and Wirsung was observed in all cases of GP. No surgery was required, and endoscopic minor papilla dilation and drainage of the duct of Santorini were feasible for the treatment of GP