Consideration of impact factors on data acquisition for ocean radar with VHF band

An ocean radar with a VHF band is a useful tool for surveying coastal currents in a wide area. We have conducted a field observation of currents in Ariake Bay, the large inner sea located in the western part of Japan. Although the number of valid data acquired (hereafter, data acquisition) varies temporally and spatially, the mechanism of such variation is not yet well understood. Our aim in this study is to investigate the impact factor affecting data acquisition through field observations of current, salinity and wind in Ariake Bay. As a result, the data acquisition and the maximum measurement distance of the radar decreased owing to the decreases in salinity and wind speed. After receiving much rainfall, the data acquisition decreased rapidly in accordance with the decrease in surface salinity influenced by run-off from adjacent rivers and a flood control dike. Also, when wind speed became less than 2 m/s, the intensity of the signals received was not sufficient for the detection of current velocity. In conclusion, salinity and wind speed are important factors for steady-current observation using ocean radars.2008 International Conference on Radar (Radar 2008) : Adelaide, 2008.09.2-2008.09.

RUPTURED CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS AND SEVERE PD

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) due to ruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) remains unclear.Although a relationship between SAHs and periodontal disease (PD) has been suggested, the mechanism requires clarification. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between PD and SAHs and to identify periodontal pathogens associated with SAHs. METHODS: This prospective study included consecutive patients with ruptured (n = 11) and unruptured (n = 14) IAs and healthy controls (n = 8). The plasma and plaque subgingival bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) levels in PD were evaluated by a dentist using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP2), and procollagen I were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with ruptured IAs, had significantly higher CPITN scores than the controls, suggesting that ruptured IAs were associated with severe PD. Although no rupture-specific bacteria were identified, the positive rate of plaque subgingival bacterial DNA was significantly higher in patients with severe PD than in those without severe PD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that bleeding on probing (BOP)was associated with ruptured IAs (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.20; P = .0001). BOP was positively associated with plasma MMP-9 levels and a disequilibrium in the MMP-9/TIMP2 ratio. BOP was negatively correlated with plasma procollagen I levels (P < .05, for each). This suggested that local inflammation with severe PD might have systemic effects and lead to ruptured IAs. CONCLUSION: Disequilibrium of plasma protease/anti-protease associated with a high BOP rate in severe PD may be attributable to IA rupture

MEDICAL TREATMENT OF UNRUPTURED CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS

Background: Currently there are no pharmacological therapies for patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Elsewhere we showed that the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist eplerenone prevented the formation of cerebral aneurysms in our ovariectomized hypertensive aneurysm rat model. The current pilot study evaluated whether it can be used to prevent the growth and rupture of cerebral aneurysms in hypertensive patients. Methods: Between August 2011 and May 2014, we enrolled 82 patients with 90 aneurysms in an open-label uncontrolled clinical trial. All provided prior informed consent for inclusion in this study, and all were treated with eplerenone (25-100 mg/d). The primary end points of our study were the rupture and enlargement of the cerebral aneurysms. Results: Of the 82 patients, 80 (88 unruptured aneurysms) were followed for a mean of 21.3 months (153.4 aneurysm-years); 12 patients (15.0%) permanently discontinued taking the drug. One month after the start of eplerenone administration and throughout the follow-up period, eplerenone kept the blood pressure within the normal range. Most notably, no aneurysms smaller than 9 mm ruptured or enlarged. However, of 2 large thrombosed aneurysms, 1 enlarged and the other ruptured. The overall annual rupture rate was .65%; it was 13.16% for aneurysms larger than 10 mm; the overall annual rate for reaching the primary end points was 1.30%. Conclusion: Our observations suggest that eplerenone may help to prevent the growth and rupture of unruptured cerebral aneurysms smaller than 9 mm. To assess its potential long-term clinical benefits, large clinical trials are needed

Decadal–centennial-scale solar-linked climate variations and millennial-scale internal oscillations during the Early Cretaceous

Understanding climate variability and stability under extremely warm ‘greenhouse’ conditions in the past is essential for future climate predictions. However, information on millennial-scale (and shorter) climate variability during such periods is scarce, owing to a lack of suitable high-resolution, deep-time archives. Here we present a continuous record of decadal- to orbital-scale continental climate variability from annually laminated lacustrine deposits formed during the late Early Cretaceous (123–120 Ma: late Barremian–early Aptian) in southeastern Mongolia. Inter-annual changes in lake algal productivity for a 1091-year interval reveal a pronounced solar influence on decadal- to centennial-scale climatic variations (including the ~ 11-year Schwabe cycle). Decadally-resolved Ca/Ti ratios (proxy for evaporation/precipitation changes) for a ~ 355-kyr long interval further indicate millennial-scale (~ 1000–2000-yr) extreme drought events in inner-continental areas of mid-latitude palaeo-Asia during the Cretaceous. Millennial-scale oscillations in Ca/Ti ratio show distinct amplitude modulation (AM) induced by the precession, obliquity and short eccentricity cycles. Similar millennial-scale AM by Milankovitch cycle band was also previously observed in the abrupt climatic oscillations (known as Dansgaard–Oeschger events) in the ‘intermediate glacial’ state of the late Pleistocene, and in their potential analogues in the Jurassic ‘greenhouse’. Our findings indicate that external solar activity forcing was effective on decadal–centennial timescales, whilst the millennial-scale variations were likely amplified by internal process such as changes in deep-water formation strength, even during the Cretaceous ‘greenhouse’ period

亜急性期脳卒中患者および健常者における歩行観察時のミラーニューロンシステムの活性化

The observation of walking improves gait ability in chronic stroke survivors. It has also been suggested that activation of the mirror neuron system contributes to this effect. However, activation of the mirror neuron system during gait observation has not yet been assessed in sub-acute stroke patients. The objective of this study was to clarify the activation of mirror neuron system during gait observation in sub-acute stroke patients and healthy persons. In this study, we sequentially enrolled five sub-acute stroke patients who had undergone gait training and nine healthy persons. We used fMRI to detect neuronal activation during gait observation. During the observation period in the stroke group, neural activity in the left inferior parietal lobule, right and left inferior frontal gyrus was significantly higher than during the rest period. In the healthy group, neural activity in the left inferior parietal lobule, left inferior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left superior temporal lobule and right and left middle temporal gyrus was significantly higher than during the rest period. The results indicate that the mirror neuron system was activated during gait observation in sub-acute stroke patients who had undergone gait training and also in healthy persons. Our findings suggest that gait observation treatment may provide a promising therapeutic strategy in sub-acute stroke patients who have experienced gait training

キャラクターイラストレーション領域の概念整理と方法論確立のための基礎研究

まんが表現における作画技術教育の前提として必要なのは、まんが表現史的な視点である。手塚治虫系のキャラクター表現に関しては、田河水泡とディズニーの作画方法を構成主義的に解釈した「ミッキーの書式」に基づくことが指摘されているが、本報告では少女まんが領域における「ミュシャの書式」（すなわちヨーロッパの19世紀末から、アール・ヌーヴォー、アール・デコなどの挿絵や広告画の援用・解釈に基づく「書式」）の所在について仮説的に述べる。1901年、与謝野晶子『みだれ髪』の表紙に藤島武二がミュシャふうの意匠を採用し、近代女性文学における「私」と「ミュシャ」的表象が結びつく。そして1970年代に少女まんが領域で「内面の発見」がなされた時、それを主導したいわゆる「24年組」によって再度「ミュシャの書式」が再受容された。「ミュシャの書式」は一見、キャラクター的、非歴史的に見えながら、日本近代の少女まんがを含む女性表現では近代的自我や身体性、政治性を包摂しうる表象として出発し、「24年組」の背後にある近代史的文脈を理解することはまんが教育として重要である。Perspectives based on knowledge of the history of manga expressions are essential for learning manga drawing techniques. It has been pointed out, for instance, that manga characters in the Osamu Tezuka vein are based on the “Mickey\u27s format” which was a Constructivist reinterpretation of the drawing methods of Suiho Tagawa and Walt Disney. This report discusses the hypothesis that an “Alphonse Mucha format” (based on the influences and reinterpretations of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and other late-19th century illustrations and advertising art) exists within the shojo manga genre. In 1901, Takeji Fujishima adopted a Mucha-esque design for the cover of Midaregami (Tangled Hair) by Akiko Yosano, bringing together for the first time the Mucha-like image and the “notion of self” in modern Japanese women’s literature. In the 1970s the Alphonse Mucha format was adopted again, this time by the Year 24 Group of shojo manga artists, who spearheaded the “exploration of the inner self” in shojo manga stories. At first glance the Alphonse Mucha format seems ahistorical and to concern only the external appearance of manga characters. However, within modern Japanese female expressions including shojo manga, the Alphonse Mucha format originated as imagery capable of suggesting the modern ego, physicality, and political nature, and as such, understanding the modern historical context of the Year 24 Group bears significance to manga education

Arterial spin labeling灌流画像で得られる血管内高信号は内頚動脈の閉塞部位を予測する

Introduction Arterial spin labeling (ASL) involves perfusion imaging using the inverted magnetization of arterial water. If the arterial arrival times are longer than the post-labeling delay, labeled spins are visible on ASL images as bright, high intra-arterial signals (IASs); such signals were found within occluded vessels of patients with acute ischemic stroke. The identification of the occluded segment in the internal carotid artery (ICA) is crucial for endovascular treatment. We tested our hypothesis that high IASs on ASL images can predict the occluded segment. Methods Our study included 13 patients with acute ICA occlusion who had undergone angiographic and ASL studies within 48 h of onset. We retrospectively identified the high IAS on ASL images and angiograms and recorded the occluded segment and the number of high IAS-positive slices on ASL images. The ICA segments were classified as cervical (C1), petrous (C2), cavernous (C3), and supraclinoid (C4). Results Of seven patients with intracranial ICA occlusion, five demonstrated high IASs at C1–C2, suggesting that high IASs could identify stagnant flow proximal to the occluded segment. Among six patients with extracranial ICA occlusion, five presented with high IASs at C3–C4, suggesting that signals could identify the collateral flow via the ophthalmic artery. None had high IASs at C1–C2. The mean number of high IAS-positive slices was significantly higher in patients with intra- than extracranial ICA occlusion. Conclusion High IASs on ASL images can identify slow stagnant and collateral flow through the ophthalmic artery in patients with acute ICA occlusion and help to predict the occlusion site

Na, K-ATPase α3 is a death target of Alzheimer patient amyloid-β assembly

Neurodegeneration correlates with Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptoms, but the molecular identities of pathogenic amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers and their targets, leading to neurodegeneration, remain unclear. Amylospheroids (ASPD) are AD patient-derived 10- to 15-nm spherical Aβ oligomers that cause selective degeneration of mature neurons. Here, we show that the ASPD target is neuron-specific Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase α3 subunit (NAKα3). ASPD-binding to NAKα3 impaired NAKα3-specific activity, activated N-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and caused mitochondrial calcium dyshomeostasis, tau abnormalities, and neurodegeneration. NMR and molecular modeling studies suggested that spherical ASPD contain N-terminal-Aβ-derived "thorns" responsible for target binding, which are distinct from low molecular-weight oligomers and dodecamers. The fourth extracellular loop (Ex4) region of NAKα3 encompassing Asn(879) and Trp(880) is essential for ASPD-NAKα3 interaction, because tetrapeptides mimicking this Ex4 region bound to the ASPD surface and blocked ASPD neurotoxicity. Our findings open up new possibilities for knowledge-based design of peptidomimetics that inhibit neurodegeneration in AD by blocking aberrant ASPD-NAKα3 interaction

A comprehensive validation of very early rule-out strategies for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in emergency departments:protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study

Introduction: Recent advances in troponin sensitivity enabled early and accurate judgement of ruling-out myocardial infarction, especially non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in emergency departments (EDs) with development of various prediction-rules and high-sensitive-troponin-based strategies (hs-troponin). Reliance on clinical impression, however, is still common, and it remains unknown which of these strategies is superior. Therefore, our objective in this prospective cohort study is to comprehensively validate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical impression-based strategies, prediction-rules and hs-troponin-based strategies for ruling-out NSTEMIs. Methods and analysis: In total, 1500 consecutive adult patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome will be prospectively recruited from five EDs in two tertiary-level, two secondary-level community hospitals and one university hospital in Japan. The study has begun in July 2018, and recruitment period will be about 1 year. A board-certified emergency physician will complete standardised case report forms, and independently perform a clinical impression-based risk estimation of NSTEMI. Index strategies to be compared will include the clinical impression-based strategy; prediction rules and hs-troponin-based strategies for the following types of troponin (Roche Elecsys hs-troponin T; Abbott ARCHITECT hs-troponin I; Siemens ADVIA Centaur hs-troponin I; Siemens ADVIA Centaur sensitive-troponin I). The reference standard will be the composite of type 1 MI and cardiac death within 30 days after admission to the ED. Outcome measures will be negative predictive value, sensitivity and effectiveness, defined as the proportion of patients categorised as low risk for NSTEMI. We will also evaluate inter-rater reliability of the clinical impression-based risk estimation. Ethics and dissemination: The study is approved by the Ethics Committees of the Kyoto University Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine and of the five hospitals where we will recruit patients. We will disseminate the study results through conference presentations and peer-reviewed journals