Assessing the Geomechanical Responses of Storage System in CO2 Geological Storage: an Introduction of Research Program in the National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

AbstractThis paper overviews studies being conducted in the National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) on the fluid-rock mechanical interaction associated with CO2 geological storage (CGS). Our studies include the extension of TOUGH-FLAC simulator developed in LBNL to CGS under the geologic conditions of Japan where the young sedimentary basins underlain by so-called “soft rocks” are postulated to be the place of CO2 storage. Experimental studies and basic studies on the petrophysical properties of “soft rocks” are also the important parts of the whole research program to elucidate their mechanical behaviors under the conditions in and around a CO2 reservoir and its caprock

Les normes, comment?

La description normalisée des ressources d’enseignement et d’apprentissage requiert l’utilisation d’outils d’implantation conformes aux conventions d’un standard ou d’une norme internationale et un réseau d’entraide et d’accompagnement

Intelligent Chiral Sensing Based on Supramolecular and Interfacial Concepts

Of the known intelligently-operating systems, the majority can undoubtedly be classed as being of biological origin. One of the notable differences between biological and artificial systems is the important fact that biological materials consist mostly of chiral molecules. While most biochemical processes routinely discriminate chiral molecules, differentiation between chiral molecules in artificial systems is currently one of the challenging subjects in the field of molecular recognition. Therefore, one of the important challenges for intelligent man-made sensors is to prepare a sensing system that can discriminate chiral molecules. Because intermolecular interactions and detection at surfaces are respectively parts of supramolecular chemistry and interfacial science, chiral sensing based on supramolecular and interfacial concepts is a significant topic. In this review, we briefly summarize recent advances in these fields, including supramolecular hosts for color detection on chiral sensing, indicator-displacement assays, kinetic resolution in supramolecular reactions with analyses by mass spectrometry, use of chiral shape-defined polymers, such as dynamic helical polymers, molecular imprinting, thin films on surfaces of devices such as QCM, functional electrodes, FET, and SPR, the combined technique of magnetic resonance imaging and immunoassay, and chiral detection using scanning tunneling microscopy and cantilever technology. In addition, we will discuss novel concepts in recent research including the use of achiral reagents for chiral sensing with NMR, and mechanical control of chiral sensing. The importance of integration of chiral sensing systems with rapidly developing nanotechnology and nanomaterials is also emphasized

Endothelial Dysfunction, Increased Arterial Stiffness, and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: FMD‐J (Flow‐Mediated Dilation Japan) Study A

BackgroundThe usefulness of vascular function tests for management of patients with a history of coronary artery disease is not fully known.Methods and ResultsWe measured flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 462 patients with coronary artery disease for assessment of the predictive value of FMD and baPWV for future cardiovascular events in a prospective multicenter observational study. The first primary outcome was coronary events, and the second primary outcome was a composite of coronary events, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death. During a median follow‐up period of 49.2 months, the first primary outcome occurred in 56 patients and the second primary outcome occurred in 66 patients. FMD above the cutoff value of 7.1%, derived from receiver‐operator curve analyses for the first and second primary outcomes, was significantly associated with lower risk of the first (hazard ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.74; P=0.008) and second (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.79; P=0.01) primary outcomes. baPWV above the cutoff value of 1731 cm/s was significantly associated with higher risk of the first (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.44; P=0.04) and second (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–3.90; P=0.008) primary outcomes. Among 4 groups stratified according to the combination of cutoff values of FMD and baPWV, stepwise increases in the calculated risk ratio for the first and second primary outcomes were observed.ConclusionsIn patients with coronary artery disease, both FMD and baPWV were significant predictors of cardiovascular events. The combination of FMD and baPWV provided further cardiovascular risk stratification

FMD, PWV, and Cardiovascular Events

Background The usefulness of vascular function tests for management of patients with a history of coronary artery disease is not fully known. Methods and Results We measured flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 462 patients with coronary artery disease for assessment of the predictive value of FMD and baPWV for future cardiovascular events in a prospective multicenter observational study. The first primary outcome was coronary events, and the second primary outcome was a composite of coronary events, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death. During a median follow‐up period of 49.2 months, the first primary outcome occurred in 56 patients and the second primary outcome occurred in 66 patients. FMD above the cutoff value of 7.1%, derived from receiver‐operator curve analyses for the first and second primary outcomes, was significantly associated with lower risk of the first (hazard ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.74; P=0.008) and second (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.79; P=0.01) primary outcomes. baPWV above the cutoff value of 1731 cm/s was significantly associated with higher risk of the first (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.44; P=0.04) and second (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–3.90; P=0.008) primary outcomes. Among 4 groups stratified according to the combination of cutoff values of FMD and baPWV, stepwise increases in the calculated risk ratio for the first and second primary outcomes were observed. Conclusions In patients with coronary artery disease, both FMD and baPWV were significant predictors of cardiovascular events. The combination of FMD and baPWV provided further cardiovascular risk stratification

内視鏡的ドレナージが有効であった胃壁膿瘍を合併した胃迷入膵の１例

　症例は30歳代女性．３日前から心窩部痛が出現し，徐々に増悪してきたため当院を受診した．血液検査でWBC 15,120/μl，CRP 2.95mg/dl と炎症反応上昇を認め，腹部超音波検査で胃幽門前庭部前壁に約3.5cm の粘膜下腫瘍様隆起を認めた．腫瘍内部はechogenic particles の混在する液体の貯留を認めた．腹部造影CT 検査では，胃前庭部から胃体部前壁にリング状の造影効果を伴う著明な壁肥厚を認めた．以上より胃壁膿瘍と診断した．胃前庭部前壁の弾性硬のやや発赤した粘膜下腫瘍様隆起に対して，超音波内視鏡下穿刺術（EUS-FNA）を行った．粘稠な白色液体の流出を認め，膿瘍を示唆する所見であった．絶食・点滴・抗生剤投与による保存的加療を施行後，速やかに腹部症状は消失し，EUS-FNA 施行後５日目に退院した．４か月後，病変は上部内視鏡検査で頂部に陥凹を有する腫瘍に形態変化を認め，さらに縮小傾向であった．また，腹部超音波検査では粘膜下層内に約５mm 大の嚢胞性領域とそれに接する約４mm 大の境界不明瞭な低エコー域，不整な固有筋層の肥厚を認め，胃迷入膵の所見であった．以上より，胃壁膿瘍を合併した胃迷入膵と診断した．現在，再発なく当科で経過観察中である．胃壁膿瘍を合併した胃迷入膵の報告は非常に稀であり，貴重な症例と考えられた．　Here, we report a case of gastric wall abscess in aberrant pancreas. A 30-yearold woman visited our hospital for epigastric pain. Routine hematological examination showed increased white blood cell count and biochemical tests revealed elevated C reactive protein levels. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a submucosal tumor that appeared as a hypoechoic heterogenous mass in the stomach. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a thickened gastric wall with a low-density area. This mass was diagnosed as a gastric wall abscess, which was treated with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and conservative therapy with antibiotics. The patient’s pain resolved after the treatment. Four months after the episode, follow-up examinations showed that the submucosal tumor had changed to a small submucosal mass with depression. This lesion was diagnosed as an aberrant pancreas. Thus, the final diagnosis was a gastric wall abscess in the aberrant pancreas. This patient was followed up for one year following this episode with no incidence of recurrence