Humidity Effects on Unsteady Characteristics of Supersonic Flow

In supersonic wind tunnels, the humidity content of the working fluid is known to have a significant effect on flow conditions in the test section. The intent of this paper is to evaluate the influence of moisture on the test section flow quality for the indraft supersonic wind tunnel located at the Muroran Institute of Technology. The static-pressure fluctuation is measured by means of an unsteady pressure sensor buried in a 10-degree-aperture cone model installed in the test section. The results show that supersonic flow at Mach 2 is contaminated by the self-sustained oscillation of a condensation shock wave for ambient relative humidity greater than approximately 50%. It is also found that for the Mach 2 flow, that the ratio of the static-pressure fluctuation to the dynamic pressure is less than 0.1%, if the absolute humidity is kept below a critical value of 2[g/m3]. Experimental observations also reveal that the three-dimensional boundary-layer transition process is hypersensitive to the influence of free-stream humidity.特集 : 航空宇宙機システム研究センターにおける開発研究2 : 4. オオワシII飛行にむけて並びに関連技術の研究開発（試験設備系

Cellular Responses of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells to Carbon Nanomaterials

One of the greatest challenges to overcome in the pursuit of the medical application of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) is safety. Particularly, when considering the use of CNMs in drug delivery systems (DDSs), evaluation of safety at the accumulation site is an essential step. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of carbon nanohorns (CNHs), which are potential DDSs, using human lymph node endothelial cells that have been reported to accumulate CNMs, as a comparison to fibrous, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and particulate carbon black (CB). The effect of different surface characteristics was also evaluated using two types of CNHs (untreated and oxidized). In the fibrous MWCNT, cell growth suppression, as well as expression of inflammatory cytokine genes was observed, as in previous reports. In contrast, no significant toxicity was observed for particulate CB and CNHs, which was different from the report of CB cytotoxicity in vascular endothelial cells. These results show that (1) lymph endothelial cells need to be tested separately from other endothelial cells for safety evaluation of nanomaterials, and (2) the potential of CNHs as DDSs.ArticleNANOMATERIALS. 10(7):1374 (2020)journal articl

Bronchial damage and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage following chlorine gas inhalation: A case report

Chlorine is a toxic inhalant and sources of exposure for individuals include accidental releases of chlorine vapor due to industrial or chemical transportation accidents. Inhalation of a large quantity of gas may cause circulatory and respiratory disorders or even mortality; however, the effects of a small amount of chlorine gas may be asymptomatic. The present case study presents a successfully treated 55‑year‑old male patient exposed to chlorine gas, resulting in bronchial damage and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Endobronchial and alveolar injuries were evaluated by direct observation using fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) and analyzing bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained by FB. Taking a precise medical history from the patient is crucial to correctly diagnose toxic gas inhalation. In addition, a timely and proper evaluation with chest imaging as well as FB may provide useful clinical information. Therefore, clinicians should consider performing FB if the circumstances permit

Different tumoricidal effects of interferon subclasses and p53 status on hepatocellular carcinoma development and neovascularization.

Interferon (IFN) is known as a multifunctional cytokine. The aim of this study was to examine the different effects of IFN subclass; namely, IFN-α and IFN-β, on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth especially in conjunction with angiogenesis that is known to play a pivotal role in the tumor growth. Furthermore, we also examined whether the p53 status in the tumor would alter the anti-tumoral effect of IFN against HCC growth since the p53 status reportedly affected the therapeutic effect of anti-angiogenic agents against cancer. When compared with IFN-α, IFN-β exerted a more potent inhibitory effect on HCC growth, even after the tumor was established, along with suppression of neovascularization in the tumor. A single treatment with clinically comparable low doses of IFN-β significantly inhibited HCC growth whereas the same dose of IFN-α did not. IFN-β also significantly suppressed the tumor growth both in the p53-wild and p53-mutant HCC cells. Our in vitro study revealed that IFN-β showed a more potent inhibitory effect on the endothelial cell proliferation than IFN-α as in the in vivo study. Collectively, IFN may be an alternative anti-angiogenic agent against HCC since it exerted a significant tumoricidal effect regardless of the host p53 status even at a low dose. A cautious approach may be also required in the clinical practice since even in a same IFN subclass (class-I), IFN-α and IFN-β exert tumoricidal effects of different magnitudes on HCC

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 is a major regulator of VEGF-mediated salvage effect in murine acute hepatic failure

Although administration of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic factor, could improve the overall survival of destroyed sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) in chemically induced murine acute hepatic failure (AHF), the mechanistic roles of the VEGF receptors have not been elucidated yet. The respective roles of VEGF receptors; namely, Flt-1 (VEGFR-1: R1) and KDR/Flk-1 (VEGFR-2: R2), in the D-galactosamine (Gal-N) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AHF were elucidated with specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody against R1 and R2 (R1-mAb and R2-mAb, respectively). The serum ALT elevation, with a peak at 24 h after Gal-N+LPS intoxication, was markedly augmented by means of the R1-mAb and R2-mAb. The aggregative effect of R2-mAb was more potent than that of R1-mAb, and the survival rate was 70% in the R2-mAb-treated group and 100% in the other groups. The results of SEC destruction were almost parallel to those of the ALT changes. Our in-vitro study showed that R1-mAb and R2-mAb significantly worsened the Gal-N+LPS-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of SEC mediated by caspase-3, which were almost of similar magnitude to those in the in-vivo study. In conclusion, these results indicated that R2 is a major regulator of the salvage effect of VEGF on the maintenance of SEC architecture and the anti-apoptotic effects against chemically-induced murine AHF

Spatiotemporal Control of Ice Crystallization in Supercooled Water via an Ultrashort Laser Impulse

Takahashi H., Kono T., Sawada K., et al. Spatiotemporal Control of Ice Crystallization in Supercooled Water via an Ultrashort Laser Impulse. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 14(19), 4394-4402, 18 May 2023: © 2023 American Chemical Society. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00414.Focused irradiation with ultrashort laser pulses realized the fine spatiotemporal control of ice crystallization in supercooled water. An effective multiphoton excitation at the laser focus generated shockwaves and bubbles, which acted as an impulse for inducing ice crystal nucleation. The impulse that was localized close to the laser focus and accompanied by a small temperature elevation allowed the precise position control of ice crystallization and its observation with spatiotemporal resolution of micrometers and microseconds using a microscope. To verify the versatility of this laser method, we also applied it using various aqueous systems (e.g., plant extracts). The systematic study of crystallization probability revealed that laser-induced cavitation bubbles play a crucial role in inducing ice crystal nucleation. This method can be used as a tool for studying ice crystallization dynamics in various natural and biological phenomena

Salvage living donor liver transplantation after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for recurrent Budd-Chiari syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Budd-Chiari syndrome is a very rare pathological entity that ultimately leads to liver failure. Several therapeutic modalities, including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, have been attempted to save the life of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Few reports have described a salvage living donor liver transplantation performed after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in a patient with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 26-year-old Japanese man developed severe progressive manifestations, such as massive ascites and hematemesis due to rupture of esophageal varices. After making several investigations, we diagnosed the case as Budd-Chiari syndrome. We first performed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty to dilate a short-segment stenosis of his inferior vena cava. The first percutaneous transluminal angioplasty greatly improved the clinical manifestations. However, after a year, re-stenosis was detected, and a second percutaneous transluminal angioplasty failed to open the severe stricture of his inferior vena cava. Since our patient had manifestations of acute liver failure, we decided to perform salvage living donor liver transplantation from his brother. The transplantation was successfully performed and all clinical manifestations were remarkably alleviated.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In cases of recurrent Budd-Chiari syndrome, the blocked hepatic venous outflow is not always relieved, even with invasive therapies. We have to take into account the possibility of adopting alternative salvage therapies if the first therapeutic modalities fail. When invasive therapy such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty fails, liver transplantation should be considered as an alternative option.</p

看護専修学校生の学習行動に対する動機づけ４因子の関与についての仮説モデルの検証

　本研究の目的は、看護技術の学年共同演習を経験したＡ看護専修学校の学生が認知するARCS動機づけ４因子と主体的授業態度が、学習行動に及ぼす影響についての仮説を立て、パス解析を用いて検証することである。Ａ看護専修学校生165名を対象に無記名自記式質問紙調査を実施した。結果、対象者のうち134名から有効回答を得た（有効回答率81.2％）。A: 注意は学習行動に対して、間接的には主体的授業態度を介して正の影響を示し、直接的には負の影響を示した。R:関連は、学習行動に対し正の直接的な影響をもたらしていた。C: 自信は、主体的授業態度を介して学習行動に正の間接効果を示した。S: 満足は学習行動に対して直接的にも間接的にも有意な影響は示さなかった。また、課外学習時間と主体的授業態度の間には、有意な正の相関が確認され、両者の間には、互いに促進しあう関係があることが可能性として示唆された

Theoretical study on dynamic response stability of reinforced concrete structures with a negative skeleton curve gradient under steady-state oscillation

The dynamic stability of reinforced concrete structures in regions of reduced restoring force was theoretically investigated according to the ductility and negative gradient in the skeleton curve of their restoring force - displacement relationship, using the frequency response function derived by Caughey (1960). This method derives the frequency response function, which is a relational expression between input and response, for a single-degree-of-freedom system subjected to a harmonic external force in the form of a cosine wave; it also derives two conditions that make the response solution of a nonlinear one-degree-of-freedom system unstable. The results of the investigation showed that the behavioral range in which the structure was stable in the region of reduced restoring force could be determined using the ductility and negative stiffness indicated by the skeleton curve of the restoring force - displacement relationship. Parametric studies varying the ductility and negative stiffness also suggested the possibility that dynamic stability cannot be ensured in the region of reduced restoring force when the ductility is excessive