Measuring desiccation-induced tensile stress during cracking process

The desiccation cracking of soil occurs when shrinkage is restricted during the drying process and the induced tensile stress equals the tensile strength. Thus far, experimental estimations of the tensile stress of soil have not been realized, although such estimates are important for predicting crack initiation. This study presents the development of a laboratory-based desiccation stress test to measure the tensile stress generated during the drying process until crack initiation. In this proposed desiccation stress test, the tensile stress is induced during the drying process in the longitudinal direction of bar-shaped specimens with fixed ends. Desiccation stress tests were performed on sandy soil with a rich fine fraction, and the results were verified through photographic observations of crack initiation and comparisons with the results of direct tension tests. The results show that the desiccation stress test yields reliable tensile stress until cracking. The application of the desiccation test results is illustrated via the verification of an existing model of crack initiation by desiccation. The results of the desiccation stress tests are useful for determining the model parameters that significantly influence the development of tensile stress and enable its accurate prediction until crack initiation

A Case of Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism with Severe Ischemic Liver Injury Successfully Treated by Endovascular Treatment

We describe an interesting clinical course of a patient who developed severe ischemic liver injury due to acute embolism of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and celiac artery. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for abdominal pain and diarrhea. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a variant common hepatic artery arising from the SMA and multiple thromboembolic occlusions of visceral arteries, including the SMA and celiac artery. Laboratory data showed markedly elevated hepatic enzymes, which increased after admission despite the initiation of systemic anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapy. The patient was successfully treated by endovascular recanalization of the SMA occlusion via transcatheter embolus aspiration, thrombolysis, balloon angioplasty, and stent placement. Severe ischemic liver injury may occur in the setting of synchronous embolism of the SMA and celiac artery, and these phenomena may have a critical impact on the choice of treatment strategies and prognosis. Endovascular treatment appears to an effective treatment option

Successful management of placenta percreta by cesarean hysterectomy with transverse uterine fundal incision

Placenta accreta presents one of the highest risks to pregnancy, and its more severe variant, placenta percreta, is particularly risky. The incidence of both conditions is increasing. Placenta percreta requires a cesarean hysterectomy for management, but the challenges associated with this surgery often result in severe obstetric hemorrhaging and high rates of maternal morbidity. Several recent obstetric studies have reported on the usefulness of the transverse uterine fundal incision for the management of placenta accreta and its variants. However, these reports included only a few cases of placenta percreta. Here we present a case of placenta percreta covering the anterior uterine wall that was successfully managed using a transverse fundal incision, which avoided incising the placenta at delivery and thus reduced maternal blood loss. After delivery, the patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy without the need for a blood transfusion. We conclude that a transverse uterine fundal incision can be very useful for the management of placenta percreta of the anterior uterine wall

The Learning Place of Creative Arts in Education: The Role of Teachers in Students’ Inspired Thoughts and Activities

本研究は，芸術教育の学校現場でみられる多様な創造的な学びに目を向け，個性豊かな創造性の芽生えとその育ちに寄り添う教師の役割について検討したものである。高等学校の美術の授業では，教師は具体的な指示をあえて避け，生徒に自らの目的や問いを立てさせることを通して渾沌とした状況と向き合わせた。美術と音楽活動を連携させた中学校では，設定した場面ごとに，生徒の創造性を引き出すための例示，他者や事物との多彩な関わり方，省察の視点など多くの支援をおこなった。生徒たちの「表現したい」という創造的な思いを拾い上げ唯一無二のモノとして育てるためには，その芽生えの瞬間を見逃さず丁寧に支援することが重要である。学校教育で目指す自己実現的創造性の育成（フロントランナー型創造性）は，生徒自身の新しい価値を追求することであり，同時に，社会にとっての新しい創造性の追求へとつながる

Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Cancer at Okayama University Hospital: A Review of 10 Years of Experience

The application of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer by our group at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences began in June 2001, and in the present report, we review our 10-year experience with this treatment modality at Okayama University Hospital. The local efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer depends on tumor size and the type of electrode used, but not on tumor type. An important factor for the prevention of local failure may be the acquisition of an adequate ablative margin. The combination of embolization and radiation therapy enhances the local efficacy. Local failure may be salvaged by repeating the radiofrequency ablation, particularly in small tumors. Survival rates after radiofrequency ablation are quite promising for patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer and pulmonary metastasis from colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma. The complications caused by radiofrequency ablation can be treated conservatively in the majority of cases. However, attention should be paid to rare but serious complications. This review shows that radiofrequency ablation is a promising treatment for patients with lung cancer

Comparison of cellular characteristics between human hepatoma cell lines with wild-type p53 and those with mutant-type p53 gene

Characteristics of human hepatoma cell lines with the wild-type p53 were compared with those of human hepatoma cell lines with the mutant-type p53. The p21 protein located downstream of p53 was expressed in cell lines with the wild-type p53 but was not expressed in cell lines with the mutant-type p53. As to other tumor suppressor genes such as p16 and p27, there was no difference in their expression between both types of cell lines. In addition, no marked difference was observed in the activities of CDK2 and CDK4 between cell lines with the wild-type and the mutant-type p53. Phosphorylated Rb protein was detected in all cell lines except the HLE line, indicating that this cell line may have a deletion of and/or a mutation of the Rb gene. These results indicate that abnormalities of tumor suppressor genes other than p53, p16, p27, and Rb may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. The population doubling time of the wild-type p53 cells was significantly longer than that of the mutant p53 cells. Neither type of cell line showed a specific chromosome distribution which would indicate karyotype instability. The cell lines expressing the wild-type p53 produced tumors at lower frequency than those with the mutant p53 gene. Although there was no significant difference in effects of TGF-&#946;1, EGF, cholera toxin, and db-cAMP on cell growth between the two types of cells, all three cell lines with the wild-type p53 were resistant to cytotoxicity of TNF-&#945;, while two of the three with the mutant p53 were very sensitive to its cytotoxic effects.</p

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition-converted tumor cells can induce T-cell apoptosis through upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor, and it is urgently needed to develop novel therapeutic strategies including immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the upregulation of the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) due to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ESCC using an in vitro treatment system with the EMT inducer, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 inhibitor, and we also analyzed the correlation of EMT and PD-L1 expression in the clinical tumor samples of both tissue microarray (TMA) samples (n = 177) and whole tissue samples (n = 21). As a result, the inhibition of GSK-3β induces EMT phenotype with upregulated vimentin and downregulated E-cadherin as well as increased Snail and Zinc finger E box-binding homeobox (ZEB)-1 gene expression. Simultaneously, we showed that EMT-converted ESCC indicated the upregulation of PD-L1 at both protein (total and surface) and mRNA levels. Of importance, we showed that EMT-converted tumor cells have a capability to induce T-cell apoptosis to a greater extent in comparison to original epithelial type tumor cells. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical stains of ESCC showed that PD-L1 expression on tumor cells was positively correlated with EMT status in TMA samples (P = .0004) and whole tissue samples (P = .0029). In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo study clearly demonstrated that PD-L1 expression was upregulated in mesenchymal type tumors of ESCC. These findings provide a strong rationale for the clinical use of anti-PD- 1/ anti-PD- L1 monoclonal antibodies for advanced ESCC patients

Global legume diversity assessment : concepts, key indicators, and strategies

While many plant species are considered threatened under anthropogenic pressure, it remains uncertain how rapidly we are losing plant species diversity. To fill this gap, we propose a Global Legume Diversity Assessment (GLDA) as the first step of a global plant diversity assessment. Here we describe the concept of GLDA and its feasibility by reviewing relevant approaches and data availability. We conclude that Fabaceae is a good proxy for overall angiosperm diversity in many habitats and that much relevant data for GLDA are available. As indicators of states, we propose comparison of species richness with phylogenetic and functional diversity to obtain an integrated picture of diversity. As indicators of trends, species loss rate and extinction risks should be assessed. Specimen records and plot data provide key resources for assessing legume diversity at a global scale, and distribution modeling based on these records provide key methods for assessing states and trends of legume diversity. GLDA has started in Asia, and we call for a truly global legume diversity assessment by wider geographic collaborations among various scientists.This paper is an outcome of the workshop on the global legume diversity assessment held from 19 to 22 August 2011 in Kyushu University, Japan.The Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (S9) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the JSPS fund for Global Center of Excellence Program “Asian Conservation Ecology”.http://www.botanik.univie.ac.at/iapt/s_taxon.phpam201