Investigation of the Coefficient of Earth Pressure for Improved Ground by Compaction Grouting in the Full-Scale Field Liquefaction Experiment

This paper describes the effect of countermeasures for liquefaction by compaction grouting, which was investigated by the experiment of full-scale field liquefaction by controlled blast technique. The experiment was conducted to assess the performance of airport facilities subjected to liquefaction, to investigate damage mechanism, and to estimate the effect of countermeasures for liquefaction by compaction grouting applied to liquefiable sand layer under runway pavement. In this study, before and after grouting and after artificial liquefaction caused by in-situ blasting, self boring pressure-meter tests at the center and the edge of a grouted area were carried out to investigate the coefficient of earth pressure, K, for evaluation of the improved ground because it is generally known that compaction grouting makes K-value increase in and around the grouted area. Additionally, to estimate the continuation of improving effect after liquefaction, K-values after blast were also investigated at same points. As the results of investigation, it was found that post-liquefaction K-value was higher than that of untreated ground before improvement and compaction grouting with cost-reduction design examined in this study, that is, the cost-reduction design is effective

A framework for personalizing action history viewer

ABSTRACT This paper presents a programmable analysis and visualization framework for action histories, called mPATH framework. In ubiquitous computing environment, it is possible to infer human activities through various sensors and accumulate them. Visualization of such human activities is one of the key issues in terms of memory and sharing our experiences, since it acts as a memory assist when we recall, talk about, and report what we did in the past. However, current approaches for analysis and visualization are designed for a specific use, and therefore can not be applied to diverse use. Our approach provides users with programmability by a visual language environment for analyzing and visualizing the action histories. The framework includes icons representing data sources of action histories, analysis filters, and viewers. By composing them, users can create their own action history viewers. We also demonstrated several applications on the framework. The applications show the flexibility of creating action history viewers on the mPATH framework

Recovery of Cryo-injured Rabbit Urethras by Biofabricated C-shaped Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Cell Structures

Article信州医学雑誌 68(6): 357-370(2020)journal articl

Pathways Involving Beta-3 Adrenergic Receptors Modulate Cold Stress-Induced Detrusor Overactivity in Conscious Rats

ObjectiveTo investigate pathways involving beta-3 adrenergic receptors (ARs) in detrusor overactivity induced by cold stress, we determined if the beta-3 AR agonist CL316243 could modulate the cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity in normal rats. MethodsTwodays prior to cystometric investigations, the bladders of 10-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were cannulated. Cystometric measurements of the unanesthetized, unrestricted rats were taken to estimate baseline values at room temperature (RT, 272 degrees C) for 20min. They were then intravenously administered vehicle, 0.1, or 1.0mg/kg CL316243 (n=6 in each group). Fiveminutes after the treatments, they were gently and quickly transferred to the low temperature (LT, 42 degrees C) room for 40min where the cystometric measurements were again made. Afterward, the rats were returned to RT for final cystometric measurements. The cystometric effects of CL316243 were also measured at RT (n=6 in each group). ResultsAt RT, both low and high dose of CL316243 decreased basal and micturition pressure while the high dose (1.0mg/kg) significantly increased voiding interval and bladder capacity. During LT exposure, the high dose of CL316243 partially reduced cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity characterized by increased basal pressure and urinary frequency. The high drug dose also significantly inhibited the decreases of both voiding interval and bladder capacity compared to the vehicle- and low dose (0.1mg/kg)-treated rats. ConclusionA high dose of the beta-3 agonist CL316243 could modulate cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity. Therefore, one of the mechanisms in cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity includes a pathway involving beta-3 ARs.ArticleLUTS-LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS.7(1):50-55(2014)journal articl

Combined treatment with β3-adrenergic receptor agonist and a muscarinic receptor antagonist inhibits detrusor overactivity induced by cold stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats

AimsThis study determined if combined treatment with the muscarinic receptor (MR) antagonist solifenacin and the (3)-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist mirabegron could inhibit detrusor overactivity induced by cold stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). MethodsThirty-two female 10-week-old SHRs were fed an 8% NaCl-supplemented diet for 4 weeks. Cystometric measurements of the unanesthetized, unrestricted rats were performed at room temperature (RT, 272 degrees C) for 20min. The rats were then intravenously administered vehicle, 0.1mg/kg solifenacin alone, 0.1mg/kg mirabegron alone, or the combination of 0.1mg/kg mirabegron and 0.1mg/kg solifenacin (n=8 each group). Five minutes later, the treated rats were exposed to low temperature (LT, 42 degrees C) for 40min. Finally, the rats were returned to RT. After the cystometric investigations, the (3)-ARs and M-3-MRs expressed within the urinary bladders were analyzed. ResultsJust after transfer from RT to LT, vehicle-, solifenacin-, and mirabegron-treated SHRs exhibited detrusor overactivity that significantly decreased voiding interval and bladder capacity. However, treatment with the combination of solifenacin and mirabegron partially inhibited the cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity patterns. The decreases of voiding interval and bladder capacity in the combination-treated rats were significantly inhibited compared to other groups. Within the urinary bladders, there were no differences between expression levels of M-3-MR and (3)-AR mRNA. The tissue distribution of M-3-MRs was similar to that of the (3)-ARs. ConclusionsThis study suggested that the combination of solifenacin and mirabegron act synergistically to inhibit the cold stress-induced detrusor overactivity in SHRs. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:1026-1033, 2017. (c) 2016 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.ArticleNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS.36(4):1026-1033(2016)journal articl

Expression of 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptors in Human Urinary Bladders with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Introduction: This study investigated the mRNA expression pattern and distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT3A, 5-HT4, and 5-HT7 within the urothelium and detrusor of normal bladder tissue and in the urothelium of bladders from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Normal urinary bladder specimens were obtained from 13 patients undergoing radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer (normal group) and BPH specimens were obtained from 27 benign prostatic obstruction patients receiving transurethral prostatectomy or retropubic prostatectomy. Receptor subtype mRNA expression was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on urothelium, detrusor, and whole mucosal preparations. Receptor distribution was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: In normal tissues, expressions of 5-HT2B and 5-HT7 receptor mRNAs in the urothelium, detrusor, and whole mucosa were greater than the average expression for all receptor subtype mRNAs. 5-HT2B receptor protein was distributed in the apical urothelium and among the detrusor smooth muscle layers. In contrast, the 5-HT7 receptors were within the urothelium middle cell layers and detrusor smooth muscle cells. The expression pattern of each 5-HT receptor subtype mRNA within the BPH urothelium was similar to that in the normal urothelium. The expression level of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in the BPH group was significantly lower than the normal group; however, the expressions of both 5-HT3A and 5-HT7 mRNAs were significantly higher. The expressions of both 5-HT2B and 5-HT4 mRNAs were not significantly different between the normal and BPH groups. Conclusion: In normal urinary bladders, the expressions of both 5-HT2B and 5-HT7 mRNAs were higher compared to the 5-HT2A, 5-HT3A, and 5-HT4 mRNAs. The distributions of 5-HT2B and 5-HT7 receptors were different in the urothelium and detrusor layers. The 5-HT3A and 5-HT7 receptor mRNAs in the BPH group were significantly higher compared to the normal urothelium, while the 5-HT2A mRNA was significantly lower.ArticleADVANCES IN THERAPY.32:S29-S37(2015)journal articl