Effects of Aspect Ratio and Distance between Two Square Cylinders in a Tandem Arrangement on In-Line Oscillation Characteristics

When multiple structures, such as the main towers for a bridge, heat exchangers and offshore structures, are placed adjacently in fluid, structures placed in the downstream side are exposed to complicated flow regions, because the separated shear layer reattaches to the downstream structures or interferes with the flow. For this reason, the distance between structures greatly influences changes in flow patterns around the downstream cylinder structures, so that the response characteristics of structures can be altered correspondingly. The purpose of this study is to identify the basic in-line oscillation characteristics of two square cylinders in a tandem arrangement. Based on the supposition of actual structures, spring-supported tests, with both square cylinders elastically suspended, were conducted. Not only the distance between the two cylinders but also the aspect ratio, was also chosen as the parameters. Because it was found by past researches that the in-line oscillation characteristics of single cylinder depends on the aspect ratio, it was thought to be important to confirm it by two cylinders. Furthermore, flow visualization tests were performed by forced-oscillating two cylinders for consideration from the results of the spring-supported test.9th International Symposium on Fluid-Structure Interactions, Flow-Sound Interactions, Flow-Induced Vibration & Noise (FIV2018: FSI2 & FIV+N.), July 8-11, 2018, Toronto, Ontario, Canad

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Season-Specific Correlates in Japanese Adults

Background: Several lines of evidence indicate an important role for vitamin D in the prevention of a range of diseases. Blood vitamin D levels show clear seasonal variation; however, data on the determinants of vitamin D status for each season are limited. We investigated the association between lifestyle and serum vitamin D concentration by season in Japanese workers. Methods: Subjects were 312 men and 217 women aged 21 to 67 years who worked in municipal offices in Northern Kyushu, Japan and participated in a periodic checkup in July or November. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between serum 25-hydroxivitamin D concentrations and lifestyle factors for each season. Results: Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 27.4 ng/ml (68.4 nmol/L) and 21.4 ng/ml (53.4 nmol/L) for workers surveyed in July and November, respectively (P \u3c 0.001); the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ( both sexes) and nonsmoking and physical activity (in men) were significantly associated with higher concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In summer, fish/shellfish intake was associated with higher serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in women. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in Japanese workers during seasons with limited sunlight. The lifestyle correlates of favorable vitamin D status in November were physical activity, dietary vitamin D intake, and nonsmoking

Secular changes in bone mineral density of adult Japanese women from 1995 to 2013

Introduction: Secular changes in hip fracture incidence have been reported in the last few decades in Japan, but whether long-term bone mineral density (BMD) is also changing is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether BMD of Japanese women has changed over time. Methods: Subjects were 10,649 adult women who underwent BMD measurement in a health check-up population in Niigata, Japan, between 1995 and 2013. BMD of the distal, non-dominant forearm was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Demographic information and BMI were also obtained. Secular trends were determined by linear regression analysis. Results: BMD of subjects in their 40's decreased significantly in the age-adjusted model (P for trend=0.0162), but not in the age- and BMI-adjusted model (P for trend=0.2171). BMD of subjects in their 50's decreased marginally in the age-adjusted model (P for trend=0.0535), but not in the age- and BMI-adjusted model (P for trend=0.6601). BMDs of subjects in their 30's and 60's did not significantly change, while BMIs of subjects in their 40's-60's decreased significantly. Conclusions: A secular decrease in BMD, partly attributed to decreases in BMI, was observed in middle-aged Japanese women from 1995 to 2013. Measures to help maintain suitable BMI will be necessary to prevent a decrease in BMD among women

Distribution and Sequence of Pyknotic Cells in Rat Fetuses Exposed to Busulfan

Busulfan, an antineoplastic bifunctional-alkylating agent, is known to induce developmental anomalies. In the present study, we examined the distribution and sequence of pyknotic cells in rat fetal tissues exposed to busulfan. Pregnant rats on gestation day 13 were administered intraperitoneally 30 mg/kg of busulfan, and fetal tissues were examined at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours after treatment (HAT). Pyknosis of component cells was observed markedly in the brain, moderately in the eyes and spinal cord and mildly in the craniofacial tissue, mandible, limb buds, tail bud, ganglions, alimentary tract, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and liver. In the brain, mitotic inhibition was also detected. Most of the pyknotic cells were considered to be apoptotic cells judging from the results of TUNEL staining and electron microscopic examination. Commonly in the above-mentioned tissues, pyknotic cells began to increase at 24 HAT, peaked at 36 or 48 HAT and disappeared at 96 HAT, which is when the histological picture returned to normal in most tissues except for the brain, spinal cord and eyes. The present study clarified the outline of busulfan-induced apoptosis in rat fetuses

A stress-reduced passaging technique improves the viability of human pluripotent cells

Xeno-free culture systems have expanded the clinical and industrial application of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). However, reproducibility issues, often arising from variability during passaging steps, remain. Here, we describe an improved method for the subculture of human PSCs. The revised method significantly enhances the viability of human PSCs by lowering DNA damage and apoptosis, resulting in more efficient and reproducible downstream applications such as gene editing and directed differentiation. Furthermore, the method does not alter PSC characteristics after long-term culture and attenuates the growth advantage of abnormal subpopulations. This robust passaging method minimizes experimental error and reduces the rate of PSCs failing quality control of human PSC research and application

Successful Use of Pembrolizumab to Treat Refractory Thymic Carcinoma with High PD-L1 Expression

Thymic carcinoma is a relatively rare and aggressive thymic epithelial tumor. Herein, we report successful treatment of thymic carcinoma with pembrolizumab. A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of chest pain. Chest computed tomography showed a mass in the anterior mediastinum and lymphadenopathy in the left cervical lymph node. Analysis of biopsy specimens detected squamous cell carcinoma in the left cervical lymph node, and immunohistochemical analysis showed 100% expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Masaoka-Koga stage IVb thymic carcinoma was ultimately diagnosed. Since 3 cycles of first-line chemotherapy did not result in improvement, pembrolizumab was administered as second-line treatment every 3 weeks at a dosage of 200 mg. After 3 cycles of pembrolizumab treatment, the size of the anterior mediastinal tumor and metastatic lesions had notably decreased. Pembrolizumab may prove to be an effective therapy for thymic carcinoma with high PD-L1 expression

Complication of Chronic Eosinophilic Pneumonia in an Elderly Patient with Sjögren Syndrome

An 81-year-old Japanese male with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) developed a low-grade fever and productive cough which were refractory to antibiotic therapy. Based on the high level of eosinophils observed in his bronchial alveolar lavage, he was diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) and successfully treated by oral prednisolone. Interstitial lung diseases associated with pSS (pSS-ILDs) usually present as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia or usual interstitial pneumonia; therefore, the present case is extremely unique in that the patientʼs condition was complicated with CEP. A diagnosis of advanced gallbladder cancer was made in the patientʼs clinical course, suggesting the advisability of a whole-body workup in cases of pSS, especially in elderly patients

Association of liver enzyme levels and alveolar bone loss : a cross-sectional clinical study in Sado Island

The interaction of periodontopathic bacteria with host immune system induces the production of inflammatory mediators which leads to alveolar bone loss (ABL), the essential feature of periodontitis. Concurrently, periodontal diseases cause the elevation of blood cytokine levels, the alteration of gut microbiota and the dissemination of enterobacteria to the liver. Owing to these mechanisms, periodontal disease might be a risk for liver dysfunction. Several epidemiological studies have reported associations between periodontal diseases and liver dysfunction, although the association between ABL and liver dysfunction has not been investigated. This cross-sectional study determined if elevated serum liver enzyme levels were associated with ABL in Japanese adults. Japanese adults living on Sado Island who visited Sado General Hospital were invited to participate in the study. Participants over 40 years of age who underwent dental panoramic radiography and blood tests were included. Drinking and smoking habits were self-administered. After excluding patients with edentulous jaw, diagnosed liver diseases, and those on dialysis, data from 44 men and 66 women with a mean age of 73 years were analyzed. The average percentage of ABL for each participant was calculated for mesial and distal sites of all remaining teeth. The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were determined. Univariate analyses were performed to select covariates to be put in multivariate analyses. The association between elevated serum liver enzyme levels and the highest quartile of ABL were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. After adjusting for covariates, no significant association was found between elevated serum AST, ALT, or GGT levels as dependent variables and the highest quartile of ABL as an explanatory variable. There was no significant association between the elevation of serum liver enzyme levels and ABL in Japanese adults