Japan's Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Reconstruction

This paper investigates the macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy and the fiscal reconstruction movement in Japan. We first summarize Japan's fiscal policy in recent years and discuss advantages and disadvantages of government deficits. Next, we investigate the macroeconomic effects of Japanese fiscal policy and evaluate the plausibility of non-Keynesian effects. We also analyze the possibility of the crowding-in effect of fiscal policy and investigate the spillover effects of deregulation. Finally, we discuss political constraints in the fiscal reconstruction attempts and propose some measures for successful fiscal reforms in the near future.

Quantitative evaluation of simultaneous spatial and temporal regularization in liver perfusion studies using low-dose dynamic contrast-enhanced CT

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the performance of different simultaneous spatial and temporal regularizers in liver perfusion studies using low-dose dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT). A digital liver phantom was used to simulate chronic liver disease (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on clinical data. Low-dose DCE-CT images were reconstructed using regularizers and a primal-dual algorithm. Subsequently, hepatic perfusion parameter (HPP) images were generated using a dual-input single-compartment model and linear least-squares method. In the CLD model, the effect of regularizers on the input functions (IFs) was examined by calculating the areas under the curves (AUCs) of the IFs, and the HPP estimation accuracy was evaluated by calculating the error and coefficient of variation (CV) between the HPP values obtained by the above methods and true values. In the HCC model, the ratios of the mean HPP values inside and outside the tumor were calculated. The AUCs of IFs decreased with increasing regularization parameter (RP) values. Although the AUC of arterial IF did not significantly depend on the regularizers, that of portal IF did. The error and CV were reduced using low-rank and sparse decomposition (LRSD). Total generalized variation (TGV) combined with LRSD (LTGV) was generally superior to the other regularizers in terms of HPP estimation accuracy and range of available RP values in both the CLD and HCC models. However, striped artifacts were more remarkable in the HPP images obtained by the TGV and LTGV than in those obtained by the other regularizers. The results suggest that the LRSD and LTGV are useful for improving the accuracy of HPP estimation using low-dose DCE-CT and for enhancing its practicality. This study will help select a suitable regularizer and/or RP value for low-dose DCE-CT liver perfusion studies.Comment: 32 pages, 1 table, 10 figure

Expression and regulatory effects on cancer cell behavior of NELL1 and NELL2 in human renal cell carcinoma

We thank Professors Michael Rehli, Yoshiaki Ito, and Kristian Helin for gifting plasmids, Dr. Alasdair MacKenzie (University of Aberdeen) for helpful discussion, and Mr. Takashi Mizukami, Ms. Ryoko Tokuda, and Ms. Sanae Funaoka (Kanazawa University) for technical assistance.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Linearly optical frequency chirped DFB laser with pre-distorted modulation waveform for High resolution FMCW ranging system

金沢大学理工研究域フロンティア工学系Optical frequency chirp of a DFB laser is linearized by modifying the modulation waveform using an interference signal of an interferometer, and high spatial resolution FMCW ranging system was realized.Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Pacific Rim 2018Hong Kong China29 July–3 August 201

Neuromelanin‐Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using DANTE Pulse

BACKGROUND: Neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging techniques have been developed but currently require relatively long scan times. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of black-blood delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation-prepared T1-weighted variable flip angle turbo spin echo (DANTE T1-SPACE), which provides relatively high resolution with a short scan time, to visualize neuromelanin in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). METHODS: Participants comprised 49 healthy controls and 25 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Contrast ratios of SNpc and hyperintense SNpc areas, which show pixels brighter than thresholds, were assessed between DANTE T1-SPACE and T1-SPACE in healthy controls. To evaluate the diagnostic ability of DANTE T1-SPACE, the contrast ratios and hyperintense areas were compared between healthy and PD groups, and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed. We also compared areas under the curve (AUCs) between DANTE T1-SPACE and the previously reported gradient echo neuromelanin (GRE-NM) imaging. Each analysis was performed using original images in native space and images transformed into Montreal Neurological Institute space. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: DANTE T1-SPACE showed significantly higher contrast ratios and larger hyperintense areas than T1-SPACE. On DANTE T1-SPACE, healthy controls showed significantly higher contrast ratios and larger hyperintense areas than patients with PD. Hyperintense areas in native space analysis achieved the best AUC (0.94). DANTE T1-SPACE showed AUCs as high as those of GRE-NM. CONCLUSIONS: DANTE T1-SPACE successfully visualized neuromelanin of the SNpc and showed potential for evaluating PD. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

MALIGNANT FIBROUS HISTIOCYTOMA OF THE LUNG : A Case Report and Immunohistochemical Examination of the Case

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) arising in the lung of an autopsy case, a 52-year-old man, is reported with immunohistochemical findings. In most areas, a storiform patterns with fibroblast-like cells and histiocyte-like cells were noted. Extensive carcinoma invasion and multiple metastases were found in many organs such as mediastinum, heart, aorta, left pleural cavity, abdominal wall, omentum, peritomeum, liver, intestine, adrenal and kidneys. The tumor was mainly composed of spindle cells and had storiform and herring-bone patterns. immunohistochemically, these tumor cells were demonstrated to possess vimentin, alpha-l-antitrypsin, alpha-l-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme

Two-Minute Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping From Three-Dimensional Echo-Planar Imaging: Accuracy, Reliability, and Detection Performance in Patients With Cerebral Microbleeds

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy, reliability, and cerebral microbleed (CMB) detection performance of 2-minute quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) from 3-dimensional echo-planar imaging (3D-EPI). Materials and Methods: Gadolinium phantom study was conducted using 3D-EPI, single–echo time (TE), and multi-TE gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequences on two 3-T magnetic resonance (MR) scanners to assess the accuracy between measured and theoretical susceptibility values. The institutional review board approved this prospective study, and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled with written consent between April 2018 and October 2019. Each underwent 3D-EPI, single-TE, and multi-TE GRE sequences consecutively on one 3-T MR scanner, and QSMs were calculated to assess the reliability of 3D-EPI QSM. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), linear regression, and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. Patients with CMB who underwent both 3D-EPI and GRE QSM scans were retrospectively enrolled. Two radiologists evaluated images independently, and Cohen κ coefficients were calculated to compare CMB detection performance. Results: Phantom study showed excellent validity of 3D-EPI QSM on both MR scanners: Skyra, R2 = 0.996, P < 0.001, ICC = 0.997, mean difference, −2 ppb (95% confidence interval [CI], −45 to 40 ppb); Prisma, R2 = 0.992, P < 0.001, ICC = 0.988, mean difference, 15 ppb (95% CI, −67 to 97 ppb). A human study of 40 healthy volunteers (59 ± 13 years, 25 women) showed excellent reliability with 3D-EPI QSM for both single-TE and multi-TE GRE (R2 = 0.981, P < 0.001, ICC = 0.988; R2 = 0.983, P < 0.001, ICC = 0.990, respectively), supported by a Bland-Altman mean difference of 4 ppb (95% CI, −15 to 23 ppb) for single-TE GRE and 3 ppb (95% CI, −15 to 20 ppb) for multi-TE GRE. The CMB detection performance evaluation from 38 patients (51 ± 20 years, 20 women) showed almost perfect agreement between 3D-EPI and GRE QSM for both raters (κ = 0.923 and 0.942, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Faster QSM from 3D-EPI demonstrated excellent accuracy, reliability, and CMB detection performance

Expression and regulatory effects on cancer cell behavior of NELL1 and NELL2 in human renal cell carcinoma

Neural epidermal growth factor-like like (NELL) 1 and 2 constitute a family of multimeric and multimodular extracellular glycoproteins. Although the osteogenic effects of NELL1 and functions of NELL2 in neural development have been reported, their expression and functions in cancer are largely unknown. In this study, we examined expression of NELL1 and NELL2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using clinical specimens and cell lines. We show that, whereas NELL1 and NELL2 proteins are strongly expressed in renal tubules in non-cancerous areas of RCC specimens, their expression is significantly downregulated in cancerous areas. Silencing of NELL1 and NELL2 mRNA expression was also detected in RCC cell lines. Analysis of NELL1/2 promoter methylation status indicated that the CpG islands in the NELL1 and NELL2 genes are hypermethylated in RCC cell lines. NELL1 and NELL2 bind to RCC cells, suggesting that these cells express a receptor for NELL1 and NELL2 that can transduce signals. Furthermore, we found that both NELL1 and NELL2 inhibit RCC cell migration, and NELL1 further inhibits RCC cell adhesion. These results suggest that silencing of NELL gene expression by promoter hypermethylation plays roles in RCC progression by affecting cancer cell behavior. We found that the down-regulation of NELL1 and NELL2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is in part due to the hypermethylation of CpG islands in their putative promoter regions. Furthermore, we found that NELL1 suppresses and NELL2 partially suppresses RCC cell migration, and NELL1 further inhibits RCC cell adhesion. © 2015 The Authors. Cancer Science published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association

Neuroimaging at 7 Tesla: a pictorial narrative review

Neuroimaging using the 7-Tesla (7T) human magnetic resonance (MR) system is rapidly gaining popularity after being approved for clinical use in the European Union and the USA. This trend is the same for functional MR imaging (MRI). The primary advantages of 7T over lower magnetic fields are its higher signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios, which provide high-resolution acquisitions and better contrast, making it easier to detect lesions and structural changes in brain disorders. Another advantage is the capability to measure a greater number of neurochemicals by virtue of the increased spectral resolution. Many structural and functional studies using 7T have been conducted to visualize details in the white matter and layers of the cortex and hippocampus, the subnucleus or regions of the putamen, the globus pallidus, thalamus and substantia nigra, and in small structures, such as the subthalamic nucleus, habenula, perforating arteries, and the perivascular space, that are difficult to observe at lower magnetic field strengths. The target disorders for 7T neuroimaging range from tumoral diseases to vascular, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. MR spectroscopy has also been used for research because of its increased chemical shift that separates overlapping peaks and resolves neurochemicals more effectively at 7T than a lower magnetic field. This paper presents a narrative review of these topics and an illustrative presentation of images obtained at 7T. We expect 7T neuroimaging to provide a new imaging biomarker of various brain disorders