<ORIGINAL>A prospective randomized clinical study on the efficacy of CO_2 lasers on initial stage endodontics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the CO_2 laser in a prospective randomized trial. A total of 112 teeth in 112 patients, previously treated pulpectomy procedures were gathered and randomly divided into two groups composed of 56. Irradiation was performed on one group and non-irradiation forms of treatment were performed on the other group. On the first group of teeth, root canal enlargement was done and followed by exposure of the canal to a CO_2 laser light (5W, 200msec) using 3 cycles each at a rate of 15 seconds per cycle. The second group was not exposed to laser light following root canal enlargement. The laser was applied on the root canal for a controlled period of time. On the day following pulpectomy, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) fewer number of patients observed pain in the irradiation group compared to the non-irradiation group. The treatment times and the total treatment days in the irradiation group are shorter than in the non-irradiation group (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the laser treatment was significantly associated with treatment times. This study shows that the degree of oral pain was greatly reduced in patients who underwent laser irradiation as compared to these who did not. Our study suggests that the use of laser treatment provide significant short-term improvement compared to conventional forms of treatment performed during pulpectomy

環境因子が健康に与える影響について インターネット調査;WDQH(Web-based Daily Questionnaire for Health)を利用した環境疫学調査

With increasing Internet coverage, the use of a web-based survey for epidemiological study is a possibility. We performed an investigation in Japan in winter 2008 using the web-based daily questionnaire for health (WDQH). The WDQH is a web-based questionnaire survey formulated to obtain information about the daily physical condition of the general public on a real-time basis, in order to study correlations between changes in physical health and changes in environmental factors. Respondents were asked whether they felt ill and had specific symptoms including fever. We analysed the environmental factors along with the health conditions obtained from the WDQH. Four factors were found to influence health: minimum temperature, hours of sunlight, median humidity and weekday or holiday. The WDQH allowed a daily health survey in the general population in real time via the Internet.博士（医学）・甲第593号・平成24年11月27日© 2013 Taylor & Francis Grou

Discrimination And Biophysical Characterization Of Brazilian Cerrado Physiognomies With Eo-1 Hyperspectral Hyperion

The savanna, typically found in the sub-tropics and seasonal tropics, are the dominant vegetation biome type in the southern hemisphere, covering approximately 45% of the South America. In Brazil, the savanna, locally known as "cerrado," is the most intensely stressed biome with both natural environmental pressures (e.g., the strong seasonality in weather, extreme soil nutrient impoverishment, and widespread fire occurrences) and rapid/aggressive land conversions (Skole et al., 1994; Ratter et al., 1997). Better characterization and discrimination of cerrado physiognomies are needed in order to improve understanding of cerrado dynamics and its impact on carbon storage, nutrient dynamics, and the prospect for sustainable land use in the Brazilian cerrado biome. Satellite remote sensing have been known to be a useful tool for land cover and land use mapping (Rougharden et al., 1991; Hansen et al., 2000). However, attempts to discriminate and classify Brazilian cerrado using multi-spectral sensors (e.g., Landsat TM) and/or moderate resolution sensors (e.g., NOAA AVHRR NDVI) have often resulted in a limited success due partly to small contrasts depicted in their multiband, spectral reflectance or vegetation index values among cerrado classes (Seyler et al., 2002; Fran a and Setzer, 1998). In this study, we aimed to improve discrimination as well as biophysical characterization of the Brazilian cerrado physiognomies with hyperspectral remote sensing. We used Hyperion, the first satellite-based hyperspectral imager, onboard the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) platform

Ultrasonographic features and vascular patterns of the submandibular gland

The ultrasonographic features and intranodal vascular patterns of the submandibular glands were evaluated to establish criteria for the diagnosis of salivary glands. There were significant differences between the internal echo of the submandibular glands and the parotid glands and the tongue. The internal echo of the submandibular gland indicated the lowest intensity. The internal echo intensity in the under 30% weight/height ratio group was hypoechoic, and the echo intensity in the over 50% weight/height ratio group was hyperechoic. The ratio of the obvious posterior echo of the submandibular glands were 11.0-15.0%. The ratio of the obvious boundary echo of the submandibular glands were 2.5-3.6%. No lateral shadow was observed. Continuity of the bifurcation part with the trunk was observed in 17 facial arteries (68%), 14 submental arteries (56%), and these arteries were easily examnined. Continuity was observed in 1 branch of the external carotid artery (4%), and the suprahyoid branch of the lingual artery was not observed

Fatigue strength improvement of roller chain by press fitting between pin and plate

To improve the fatigue strength of the roller chain, the fatigue test is conducted by varying the press-fitting ratio between the pin and the holed plate. To model what occurs in a chain under load, a single plate specimen is prepared by press-fitting two pins into two holes at the ends of the plate. The FEM analysis is performed to obtain the stress amplitude and the average stress. The results, in both cases demonstrate that the fatigue strength is improved by the press-fit between the pin and the hole. The fatigue improvement mechanism is discussed based on the stress analysis

Idiopathic Bone Cavity of the Mandible

A case of an idiopathic bone cavity is presented and discussed. The patient was a 54-year-old Japanese male with a history of stomach carcinoma operation and hospitalization two years ago. He was referred to the Department of Dental Radiology with a panoramic radiograph performed by the dentist. The panoramic radiograph demonstrated a well-defined elliptical radiolucent lesion near the right angle of the mandible, situated below the mandibular canal and slightly above the inferior border of the mandible. The patient stated that the lesion progressed asymptomatically without any sensation. From the lesion was indicated, the patient was greatly anxious about metastasis of stomach carcinoma to the mandible. To define the diagnosis of the lesion, intraoral radiography, extraoral radiography, tomography, and sialography were carried out. All results showed that the lesion was an idiopathic bone cavity without relationship to salivary gland tissue. No biopsy was carried out, but the lesion was diagnosed to be benign, and a metastatic carcinoma was ruled out