Micrometer-scale Imprinting Process for Ceramic Sheet from Powder Compound Material

AbstractA micro patterning process for thin ceramic sheets is proposed and developed in this paper. Thin sheets with a micro pattern have been expected to improve performance of solid oxide fuel cell. The authors focused on imprinting and powder metallurgy processes, and have developed the combined process, which has been named micro powder imprinting process. In this process, ceramic powder and polymer binder materials are mixed with pure water by milling machine. After drying out the water from the slurry, a thin compound sheet was obtained. Subsequently, the sheet was pressed using a fine patterned mold with heating to transcribe a micro pattern on the sheet. Finally, the imprinted sheet was heated for removing the polymer binder and for sintering. As further improvement of the process, a compound sheet was stacked on a pure polymer sheet during the imprint process to transcribe a micro pattern on the both sides of the sintered sample. The technique is useful for improved solid oxide fuel cell

Development of an aptitude scale for nursing students

看護教育では,看護者として必要な知識,技術のみならず看護するのにふさわしい態度や姿勢等を育成することを重視している｡このような看護者にふさわしい態度形成を援助する教育の成果を評価するために看護学生の適性に関する尺度開発を試みた｡尺度に用いる項目は,看護者にふさわしい態度や性格特性及び適性等に関する過去の文献調査と筆者等の臨床看護及び看護教育の経験とで検討し決定した｡最終的に絞り込んだ項目は,22項目であった｡この項目の信頼性･妥当性を検証するために,医療技術短大の看護学生206人を対象に質問紙調査を実施した｡信頼性については,76人を対象に再検査を実施し安定性を検討した｡その結果,相関係数の一番低い項目は｢研究心｣｢自制心｣で,0.36であった｡残りの項目は,相関係数0.40以上で,一番高い項目は｢冷静｣の0.71であった｡内的整合性を示すCronbach's α信頼性係数は,全項目では0.83であった｡因子分析の結果得られた5因子に基づく下位尺度のCronbach's α信頼性係数は,最も高いものは0.80であり,最も低いものは0.56であった｡構成概念の妥当性を検討するために因子分析をおこなった結果,5因子が抽出された｡それぞれを<リ ーダーシップ>と命名し,下位尺度とした｡Efforts to ensure the necessary aptitude for health care professionals as well as knowledge and skills taught to nursing students are important to provide proper health services and care. A questionnaire containing 22 items was developed to evaluate teaching effectiveness. These items were obtained from previous studies and our findings in nursing practice and teaching. Stability reliability of this method was estimated using test/retest. The correlation coefficient for individual items ranged from 0.36 to 0.71. Only 2 of the 22 items showed correlation values below 0.40. Internal reliability of the 5 subscales was determined using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.83. The values ranged from 0.56 to 0.80. Five components extracted by factor analysis were identified as follows : and

Vitamin D receptor and megalin gene polymorphisms are associated with central adiposity status and changes among US adults

We examined longitudinal associations of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and megalin (LRP2; LDL receptor-related protein-2) gene polymorphisms with central adiposity. We used data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), an ongoing prospective open cohort study. Study participants consisted of non-Hispanic white adults residing in Baltimore city, with one or more visits at age ≥50 years, and complete data (n 609–617). Repeated assessments on waist circumference (WC) and waist:hip ratio (WHR) were available. Multiple linear mixed models were used to estimate mid-follow-up age central adiposity level and annual rate of change with cut-points set at the sex-specific 80th percentile. The four binary outcomes were: ‘elevated central adiposity’ (ECA-WC and ECA-WHR) and ‘significant increase in central adiposity’ (SICA-WC and SICA-WHR). SNP for VDR (four SNP: (1) rs11568820 (CdX-2:T/C); (2) rs1544410 (BsmI:G/A); (3) rs7975232 (ApaI:A/C); (4) rs731236 (TaqI:G/A)) and Megalin (three SNP: (1) rs3755166:G/A; (2) rs2075252:C/T; (3) rs4668123:C/T) genes were selected. SNP latent classes (SNPLC) and SNP haplotypes (SNPHAP) were created. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that, in men, higher ECA-WHR odds were associated with SNPLC Megalin2:rs3755166[–]/rs2075252[TT]/rs4668123[T–] (v. Megalin1:rs3755166[–]/rs2075252[CC]/rs4668123[–]) (OR 2·87; 95 % CI 1·15, 7·12; P = 0·023) and that SNPLC Megalin3:rs3755166[–]/rs2075252[CT]/rs4668123[–] (v. Megalin1) was linked to lower SICA-WC odds (OR 0·48; 95 % CI 0·26, 0·88; P = 0·019) (P > 0·05 for sex × SNPLC). In women, VDR3 SNPHAP (GAA:bAT) was related to lower odds of ECA-WC (OR 0·37; 95 % CI 0·16, 0·87; P = 0·023) (P 0·05 for sex × SNPHAP). Vitamin D-related gene polymorphisms were associated with central adiposity status and change. Future mechanistic studies are needed to confirm those polymorphisms' biological significance to central adiposity

FUNGAL BIODEGRADATION OF BISPHENOL A AND BENZOPHENONE

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

胃がんリスク評価におけるABC分類とX線所見の関連性について

PURPOSE:To investigate the correlation between ABC risk assessment and radiological findings of gastric mucosa and to propose an improved method for gastric cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We evaluated 318 participants with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) antibody titers, serum pepsinogen (PG) and upper GI radiography and then classified them into three groups: A, double-negative; B, Hp-positive, PG-negative; C, PG-positive. Group A was subclassified as: A-1, Hp antibody titer <3.0 U/ml; A-2, Hp antibody titer ≥3.0 U/ml. Results for group A and non-A (B or C) participants and radiological findings of gastric mucosa (fold and area gastricae) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS:Radiological findings differed significantly between the 207 A-1 and 98 non-A group. Odds ratios were 17.72 for fold distribution, 10.63 for fold thickness, 6.10 for fold characteristics, and 10.62 for area gastricae. Presence of ≥2 risk factors offered 90.3 % sensitivity, 94.7 % specificity, and 93.3 % accuracy. Nine (69.2 %) of the 13 A-2 group participants and 11 (5.3 %) A-1 group participants had a risk for gastric cancer according to radiological findings. CONCLUSION:A good correlation exists between ABC classifications and radiological findings for gastric cancer risk, but some discrepant cases exist. We recommend both methods as screening for gastric cancer.博士（医学）・乙第1370号・平成27年11月27日© Japan Radiological Society 2015© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11604-015-0469-

Intestinal Tuberculosis with Hoarseness as a Chief Complaint due to Mediastinal Lymphadenitis

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of hoarseness. A chest X-ray detected an abnormal shadow on the upper right lung. Bronchoscopic examination revealed that the left vocal cord was fixed in the paramedian position, and therefore left recurrent nerve paralysis was suspected. Lymphadenopathy was found in the left supraclavicular area. Chest computed tomography showed that the pretracheal and subaortic lymph nodes were swollen. Gastroendoscopy showed a 2-cm protruding lesion with ulceration on the upper esophagus. Histological examination of the supraclavicular lymph nodes and biopsy specimens from the esophagus revealed non-specific inflammation. PET-CT showed abnormal accumulations not only on the upper right lung but also on the lower right of the abdomen. Colonoscopy was performed and multiple erosions on the terminal ileum were found. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of a specimen biopsied from the erosion of the terminal ileum was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and intestinal tuberculosis was diagnosed. The patient was then treated with anti-tuberculous therapy. After treatment, the erosions on the terminal ileum, the swelling of the mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and the esophageal ulcer were all improved. The hoarseness was subsequently relieved. This is the first report of intestinal tuberculosis with hoarseness as a chief complaint due to mediastinal lymphadenitis

ラット肝腫瘍モデルにおける化学療法の早期効果判定に有用なダイナミック造影超音波のパラメータについて

Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine a parameter on the time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US) that best correlates with tumor growth and to evaluate whether the parameter could correlate with the early response to irinotecan in a rat liver tumor model. Material and Methods: Twenty rats with tumors were evaluated (control: Saline, n = 6; treatment: Irinotecan, n = 14) regarding four parameters from TIC: Peak intensity (PI), k value, slope (PI × k), and time to peak (TTP). Relative changes in maximum tumor diameter between day 0 and 10, and parameters in the first 3 days were evaluated. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences in tumor size and other parameters. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) between tumor size and parameters in the control group were calculated. In the treatment group, relative changes of parameters in the first 3 days were compared between responder and non-responder (<20% and ≥20% increase in size on day 10, respectively). Results: PI, k value, PI × k, and TTP significantly correlated with tumor growth (r = 0.513, 0.911, 0.665, and 0.741, respectively). The mean RC in k value among responders (n = 6) was significantly lower than non-responders (n = 8) (mean k value, 4.96 vs. 72.5; P = 0.003). Conclusion: Parameters of DCE-US could be a useful parameter for identifying early response to irinotecan.博士（医学）・甲第879号・令和5年3月15

国際看護研修（フィリピン大学）で地域看護学実習に参加した学生の学びと成長 ～都市と地方でフィールドワークを実践して～

目的：フィリピン大学看護学部の都市と地方での地域看護学実習に参加し、フィールドワークを行った学生の学びと成長を明らかにする。方法：研修参加者３名にグループインタビューを実施した。逐語録を作成し、文脈の意味まとまり毎に要約しカテゴリー化した。結果：29 コード、12 サブカテゴリー、５カテゴリーを抽出した。【看護観の広がり】、【フィリピンの健康問題と保健医療サービスの特徴の理解】、【異文化の理解】の３カテゴリーと、特徴的な【人としての生き方の学び】、【将来へのきっかけと今後の決意】の２カテゴリーから構成されていた。考察：自己が主体的に関与するフィールドワークによる様々な経験から【人としての生き方の学び】、【将来へのきっかけと今後の決意】という人としての内面的成長の成果が認められた研修であった。本研修での学びが今後の様々な学習場面で関連づけられ、日本とフィリピンの文化の理解を更に促すと考える

Associations between Common Variants in Iron-Related Genes with Haematological Traits in Populations of African Ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Large genome-wide association (GWA) studies of European ancestry individuals have identified multiple genetic variants influencing iron status. Studies on the generalizability of these associations to African ancestry populations have been limited. These studies are important given interethnic differences in iron status and the disproportionate burden of iron deficiency among African ancestry populations. METHODS: We tested the associations of 20 previously identified iron status-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 628 Kenyans, 609 Tanzanians, 608 South Africans and 228 African Americans. In each study, we examined the associations present between 20 SNPs with ferritin and haemoglobin, adjusting for age, sex and CRP levels. RESULTS: In the meta analysis including all 4 African ancestry cohorts, we replicated previously reported associations with lowered haemoglobin concentrations for rs2413450 (β = -0.19, P = 0.02) and rs4820268 (β = -0.16, P = 0.04) in TMPRSS6. An association with increased ferritin concentrations was also confirmed for rs1867504 in TF (β = 1.04, P = <0.0001) in the meta analysis including the African cohorts only. CONCLUSIONS: In all meta analyses, we only replicated 4 of the 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms reported to be associated with iron status in large GWA studies of European ancestry individuals. While there is now evidence for the associations of a number of genetic variants with iron status in both European and African ancestry populations, the considerable lack of concordance highlights the importance of continued ancestry-specific studies to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of iron status in ethnically diverse populations