Saline Irrigation using Ion-exchange Resin and Reverse Osmosis Membrane in Wheat and Barley

Saline irrigation equipped desaline apparatus in a root zone was tested to save fresh water resources. Pots of 56 mm inner-diameter and 40 cm in length were used. Amberlite (ion-exchange resin) and reverse osmosis membrane, both of which had a desalinating ability, were set at the bottom of each pot in desaline plots, respectively. In the control plot, a lovesheet (non-woven cloth) that had no ability to desaline was set. Wheat and barley were transplanted into these pots, which were filled with soil, and the pots were irrigated through the bottom either by fresh or saline water. The two crops responded to desaline methods and irrigation similarly. Growth and development in the two crops were suppressed largely by saline irrigation in the control plot. Amberlite did not affect the growth and development under fresh water irrigation. Shoot dry weight was increased by amberlite under saline irrigation, but the final values of sodium concentration of shoot and soil was not affected. The sodium concentration was reduced by reverse osmosis membrane, whereas the growth and development were suppressed under both fresh and saline irrigations. Amberlite and reverse osmosis membrane improved the growth and development and sodium concentration, but it should be a challenge to improve desaline ability of amberlite and water permeability of reverse osmosis membrane.塩水を農業用水として利用し淡水資源を節約するために，根域に除塩処理を施す塩水灌漑法を検討した．内径56㎜，長さ40㎝の塩ビ製のポットを用いた．ポットの底部には除塩効果があるアンバーライト（イオン交換樹脂）および逆浸透膜を設置する区と除塩効果がないラブシート（不織布）を設置する対照区を設けた．そしてポットに土壌を詰めコムギとオオムギを移植し，ポットの底から淡水および塩水で灌漑した．脱塩処理および灌漑に対する反応は２作物で同じであった．対照区では塩水灌漑によって生育が著しく抑制された．アンバーライト区で作物の生育は，淡水灌漑で対照区と変わらなかった．塩水灌漑ではアンバーライトによって乾物生産が対照区より向上したが，最終的な茎葉部と土壌のナトリウム含有率は対照区と変わらなかった．逆浸透膜は茎葉部と土壌のナトリウム濃度を低下させた．しかし逆浸透膜によって作物の生育は，淡水および塩水の二つの灌漑条件で対照区より著しく小さくなった．アンバーライトと逆浸透膜はともに除塩効果があった．しかし，アンバーライトは塩水処理能力の限界があること，逆浸透膜は水の移動が阻害されることが解決しなければならない課題であることが分かった

Ultrastructure of glomerular basement membrane by quick-freeze and deep-etch methods

Ultrastructure of glomerular basement membrane by quick-freeze and deep-etch methods. The glomerular basement membrane of rat kidneys were three-dimensionally observed by quick-freeze and deep-etch replica methods at high resolution. The middle layer (lamina densa) was composed of 6 to 10nm fibrils which formed a meshwork structure. The space between the fibrils had polygonal shape. The average long dimension of the space between fibrils was 17nm and the short one was 13nm. At the outer layer (lamina rara externa), fibrils connected podocytes perpendicularly with the meshwork of the middle layer. At the inner layer (lamina rara interna), similar perpendicular fibrils also connected endothelial cells with the meshwork of the middle layer. This is the first report to visualize the three-dimensional meshwork structure of the middle layer (the lamina densa) in situ. The function of anchoring podocytes to the lamina densa was suggested in the perpendicularly arranged fibrils of the outer layer. The quick-freeze and deep-etch method is useful in analyzing filamentous ultrastructure in glomeruli, and will be applied to clarifying pathological ultrastructure in kidney diseases

Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube to prevent stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal cancer

Background/Aims Intralesional steroid injections have been administered as prophylaxis for stenosis after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, this method carries a risk of potential complications such as perforation because a fine needle is used to directly puncture the postoperative ulcer. We devised a new method of steroid intralesional infusion using a spray tube and evaluated its efficacy and safety. Methods Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube was performed on 27 patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal cancer with three-quarters or more of the lumen circumference resected. The presence or absence of stenosis, complications, and the number of endoscopic balloon dilations (EBDs) performed were evaluated after treatment. Results Although stenosis was not observed in 22 of the 27 patients, five patients had stenosis and dysphagia requiring EBD. The stenosis in these five patients was relieved after four EBDs. No complications related to intralesional steroid infusion using the spray tube were observed. Conclusions Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube is a simple and safe technique that is adequately effective in preventing stenosis (clinical trial number, UMIN000037567)

Impact of Anatomical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Microportal Invasion (vp1): A Multi-institutional Study by the Kyushu Study Group of Liver Surgery

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the value of anatomical resectionfor HCC with micro-portal vascular invasion (vp1) between 2000 and 2010. Summaryof Background: Vascular invasion has been reported as a prognostic factor of liverresection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Anatomical resection for HCC has resulted in optimum outcomes of eradicating intrahepatic micrometastases through the portal vein, but opposite results have also been reported. Methods: A clinical chart review was performed for 546 HCC patients with vp1. We retrospectively evaluated the recurrence-free survival (RFS) between anatomical (AR)and non-anatomical resection (NAR). The site of recurrence was also compared between these groups. The influence of AR on the overall survival (OS) and RFS rates was analyzed in patients selected by propensity score matching, and the prognostic factors were identified.Results: A total of 546 patients were enrolled, including 422 in the AR group and 124 in the NAR group. There was no difference in the 5-year OS and RFS rates between the two groups. Local recurrence was significantly more frequent in the NAR group than in the AR group. In a multivariate analysis, hepatitis C (HCV), PIVKAII ?380 mAU/ml, tumor diameter ?5 cm and ?70 years of age were significant predictors of a poor RFS after liverresection. There were no significant differences in the OS or RFS between the AR and NAR groups by a propensity score-matched analysis. Conclusion: Although local recurrence around the resection site was suppressed by AR, AR for HCC with vp1 did not influence the RFS or OS rates after hepatectomy in the modern era

"Erwachsenenbildung bisher nur gedanklich verankert": Ergebnisse einer Befragung von Weiterbildungsverbänden zum DQR

Abstract Background Molecular biomarkers capable of predicting recurrence patterns and prognosis are helpful for risk stratification and providing appropriate treatment to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we focused on G protein-coupled receptor 155 (GPR155), a cell surface signaling protein, as a candidate biomarker. Methods We analyzed GPR155 expression, DNA methylation, and copy number in HCC cell lines. The clinical significance of GPR155 expression was evaluated using 144 pairs of surgically resected liver and normal tissues with subgroup analysis based on hepatitis virus infection. Results GPR155 mRNA expression levels were differential and were decreased in 89% of HCC cell lines. No DNA methylation was detected, whereas copy number alterations were present in five (56%) HCC cell lines. GPR155 mRNA expression level was independent of background liver status and significantly lower in HCC tissues than corresponding normal liver tissues. The expression patterns of GPR155 protein by immunohistochemical staining were significantly associated with those of GPR155 mRNA. Downregulation of GPR155 was significantly associated with more aggressive HCC phenotypes including high preoperative α-fetoprotein, poor differentiation, serosal infiltration, vascular invasion, and advanced disease stage. Patients with downregulation of GPR155 were more likely to have worse prognosis after curative resection irrespective of hepatitis virus infection. Patients who experienced extrahepatic (distant) recurrences had significantly lower GPR155 expression than those with intrahepatic (liver confined) recurrences. Conclusions Downregulation of GPR155 may serve as a prognosticator that also predicts initial recurrence sites independent of hepatitis virus infection

Current Performance and On-Going Improvements of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope

An overview of the current status of the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope constructed and operated at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is presented. The basic design concept and the verified performance of the telescope system are described. Also given are the status of the instrument package offered to the astronomical community, the status of operation, and some of the future plans. The status of the telescope reported in a number of SPIE papers as of the summer of 2002 are incorporated with some updates included as of 2004 February. However, readers are encouraged to check the most updated status of the telescope through the home page, http://subarutelescope.org/index.html, and/or the direct contact with the observatory staff.Comment: 18 pages (17 pages in published version), 29 figures (GIF format), This is the version before the galley proo

The distribution of carbon dioxide released from a ground level area source in a field crop and its predicted influence on crop assimilation

The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the physical and physiological feasibility of COâ‚‚ enrichment in field crops. Specific objectives were 1) to find a method of predicting the COâ‚‚ distribution from an area source at ground level in a crop, and 2) to predict the crop carbon dioxide assimilation rate and water use when COâ‚‚ is released. A model of the COâ‚‚ distribution (DIFFUSION) was developed. The model was based on the two-dimensional steady state diffusion equation combined with wind and eddy diffusivity profiles above and within the crop canopy. The model was used to compute the COâ‚‚ concentration at a given space grid point as a function of wind speed in the surface boundary layer, ambient COâ‚‚ concentration, COâ‚‚ release rate and the aerodynamic canopy parameters (canopy height, zero-plane displacement, roughness length, and an exponential coefficient of within-canopy wind profile). The model was tested by an area source COâ‚‚ diffusion experiment in a cotton canopy. The measurements showed that the model effectively predicted the COâ‚‚ profile for a dense and homogeneous canopy under neutral conditions. The DIFFUSION model was combined with CANOPY-LAM-II, a steady state one-dimensional model of mass and energy exchange by a crop canopy, based on the Duncan-Stewart radiation model and a leaf action model. The CANOPY-LAM-II-DIFFUSION model calculated the crop carbon dioxide assimilation rate and water use as a function of the environmental conditions (wind speed, air temperature and dew point above the canopy, COâ‚‚ concentration in the non-release area, global irradiance, and the effective soil water potential), the COâ‚‚ release rate, and the aerodynamic, optical and physiological characteristics of the canopy. ..