Development of Transport Technologies for High-temperature Fluid in Pyrometallurgical Reprocessing

AbstractThe development of the engineering technology necessary for pyrometallurgical reprocessing is a key issue for industrial realization. The development of high-temperature transport technologies for molten salt and liquid cadmium is crucial for pyrometallurgical processing; however, there have been very few transport studies on high- temperature fluids. In CRIEPI, the transport technologies of molten salt and liquid cadmium have been developed for several types of transports methods. Based on the results of transport tests, engineering scale process equipments connected each other with the transport technology have been developed, and installed in the Ar atmosphere glove box for integrated tests

Atrial tachycardia caused by a superior vena cava fibrillation with conduction block

AbstractAT caused by SVC fibrillationHere, we report a case of a 62-year-old man with a history of incessant atrial tachycardia (AT) for several years. An electrophysiological study revealed rapid and irregular activity in the superior vena cava (SVC), but the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) exhibited a relatively regular AT (atrial cycle length=240ms). CARTO mapping of the right atrium (RA) demonstrated that the earliest atrial activation occurred at the posterior septum of the upper RA (the SVC–RA junction). Intravenous administration of 20mg adenosine triphosphate (ATP) led to an acceleration of the SVC–RA conduction up to 1:1 conduction, and the atrial cycle length decreased, consequently converting the AT to transient atrial fibrillation (AF). Application of single radiofrequency energy at the earliest atrial activation site during tachycardia terminated the AT and achieved isolation of the SVC from the RA, despite the continued presence of fibrillation in the SVC. We speculated that SVC fibrillation with spontaneous conduction block at the SVC–RA junction was the cause of this AT

Recent range expansion and population genetics of the Argentine ant

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Arquitectura, apresentada ao Departamento de Arquitectura da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra.A habitação remonta às origens do homem, tendo evoluído do abrigo, que proporcionava proteção, até às casas dos nossos dias, representativas dos indivíduos que as habitam. Na atualidade, no mundo ocidental, a habitação tem que permitir aos seus moradores satisfazer as necessidades básicas de conforto, privacidade, higiene e alimentação, possibilitando um espaço de dormir, de lazer e de trabalho, adaptado às famílias contemporâneas. Numa altura em que é reconhecida a qualidade dos arquitetos portugueses a nível internacional, torna-se pertinente observar/perceber, de que forma estes desenvolvem a habitação unifamiliar, representativa do maior encargo financeiro na vida quotidiana das famílias portuguesas, que conta com o maior número de amadores. De forma a aprofundar a habitação unifamiliar contemporânea, em Portugal, a presente dissertação recorre à análise de dois empreendimentos que lhe servem de casos de estudo, o Bom Sucesso, Architecture Resort, Leisure & Golf, em Óbidos e o Vila Utopia, em Oeiras. Destinados um a primeira habitação e outro a segunda, abrangem um grupo de arquitetos de renome. Para facilitar a sua análise, ambos são estudados quer enquanto conjunto, quer através de algumas moradias representativas dos mesmos.The housing goês back to the origins of man, having evolved from the shelter, which provided protection to the homes of today, representative of the individuals who inhabit them. Today, in the western world, housing is required to allow its residents meet the basic needs of comfort, privacy, hygiene and nutrition, providing a space to sleep, leisure and work, adapted to contemporary families. At a time of recognition of the quality of Portuguese architects internationally, it is pertinent to note/notice, how they develop the single-family housing, representing the largest financial burden on thedaily lives of Portuguese families, which hás the largest number amateur. In order to deepen the contemporary family house in Portugal, this thesis refers to the analysis of two projects which serve as a case study, the Bom Sucesso Architecture Resort, Leisure & Golf in Obidos and the Vila Utopia, in Oeiras. The first one for as the primary housing and the second as a secondary house, cover a group of renowned architects. To facilitate the analysis, both are studied either as a body or through some representative of themselves

Green Process of Three-Component Prostaglandin Synthesis and Rapid ¹¹C Labelings for Short-Lived PET Tracers: Highly Polished C-Couplings Revolutionizing Advances in Bio- and Medical Sciences

General synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) has been accomplished based on a one-pot three-component coupling using a combination of organocopper or organozincate conjugate addition to 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone followed by trapping of resulting enolate with an organic halide. Based on the use of this synthetic methodology, biologically significant PG derivatives including ent-Δ7-PGA1, 15SAPNIC ([3H]APNIC), and 15R–TIC have also been synthesized. Ultimately, organozincate conjugate addition combined with the enolate trapping by an organic triflate results in practical green three-component coupling comprising the use of stoichiometric amounts of three components (enone, α- and ω-side chains in a nearly 1:1:1 ratio) without using HMPA and heavy metals. General methodology for introducing short-lived 11C and 18F radionuclides into carbon frameworks has been established by developing rapid C-[11C]methylation and C-[18F]fluoromethylation using Pd0-mediated rapid cross-coupling between [11C]methyl iodide and an organotributylstannane or organoboronate; or [18F]fluoromethyl bromide and organoboronate, respectively, allowing the synthesis of a wide variety of biologically significant and disease-oriented PET probes such as 15R-[11C]TIC. Moreover, PdII-mediated rapid C-[11C]carbonylation using [11C]CO and organoboronate at ambient temperature under atmospheric pressure using conventional helium carrier gas has been explored. Further, C-[11C]carboxylation has been promoted using [11C]CO2 and organoboronate with RhI catalyst under atmospheric pressure

STUDY OF THE MECHANISM OF EXPLOSIVE FORCE PRODUCTION ON QUICK LIFT MOTION BY ANALYSIS OF EMG AND MOTION

The aim of this study is to investigate how explosive force exerts during power clean (PC) motion. The subjects are ten skilleds and ten unskilleds. The joint trajectory and EMG during PC are recorded. The joint torque and its rate of torque development (RTD) are calculated from the obtained data. The joint stiffness is estimated from joint stiffness index (JSI) calculated from EMG of agonist and antagonist muscle pair. Experimental results indicated that the skilleds showed the double knee bent that is typically seen in a stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). Skilleds exerted large values of RTD and JSI just after a period of exerting their small values during SSC. It indicates that a much amount of elastic energy stored in a low stiffness state is instantly transferred to the upper segments in the successive high stiffness state by “tenodesis action” of muscles. This is why large RTD generates in the skilled

Are ADC histogram metrics repeatable?

Purpose: The present study evaluated the repeatability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram metrics in clinical MRI.Methods: Twelve patients who underwent head MRI in our hospital from May to July in 2016 were included in the present study. All patients gave informed consent. Two sequential diffusion-weighted images with echo planar imaging (DWI-EPI) in the identical positioning were obtained. The b-factors of 0 and 1000 or 1500 s/mm2 were used, three orthogonal motion proving gradients (MPGs) were applied, and synthesized images were generated. The regions of interest (ROIs) were ssigned at the lesions on the 1st DWI and pasted onto the 2nd at the same size and location. Voxel-wise ADC was calculated by fitting the signal intensity change of each voxel into a mono-exponential curve. ADCs calculated from 1st and 2nd DWI were defined as ADC-1st and ADC-2nd, respectively. To investigate the repeatability of voxel-wise ADC in each lesion, ADC-1st and ADC-2nd were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test and linear regression. To onsider repeatability of ADC histogram metrics for all lesions, minimal, 25%, median, 75%, maximum, mean, skewness, and kurtosis of ADC-1st and ADC-2nd for each lesion were compared using linear regression and Bland-Altman plot.Results: For repeatability of voxel-wise ADC, significant differences were observed between ADC-1st and ADC-2nd in 5 lesions. Linear regression did not show significance of the slope in 5 lesions. As for repeatability of ADC histogram metrics, all ADC histogram metrics except skewness and kurtosis showed significance of the slope in linear regression (p<0.0001) and high repeatability in Bland-Altman plot.Conclusion: The histogram metrics of voxel-wise ADC like minimum, 25%, median, 75%, maximum, and mean show high repeatability, but skewness and kurtosis did not

Anterior Limbus Vertebra and Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in Japanese Collegiate Gymnasts

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that gymnasts have a high prevalence of radiologicalabnormalities, such as intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) and anterior limbus vertebra (ALV). These 2 abnormalities may coexistat the same spinal level. However, the relationship between IDD and ALV remains unclear.Hypothesis: A significant relationship exists between IDD and ALV in Japanese collegiate gymnasts.Study Design: Case-control study.Methods: A total of 104 Japanese collegiate gymnasts (70 men and 34 women; age, 19.7 + 1.0 years) with 11.8 + 3.6 years ofsporting experience participated. T1- and T2-weighted MRIs were used to evaluate ALV and IDD.Results: The prevalence among the gymnasts of IDD and ALV was 40.4% (42/104) and 20.2% (21/104), respectively. Theprevalence of IDD was significantly higher in gymnasts with ALV than those without ALV, as determined using the chi-square test.Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between IDD and ALV (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 6.60; 95%confidence interval [CI], 2.14-20.35). IDD was further grouped by whether it was present in the upper lumbar region (L1-2, L2-3,and L3-4 disks) or in the lower lumbar region (L4-5 and L5-S1 disks). Upper IDD had a greater association with ALV (adjustedOR, 33.17; 95% CI, 7.09-155.25) than did lower IDD (adjusted OR, 6.71; 95% CI, 1.57-28.73).Conclusion: In Japanese collegiate gymnasts, ALV is a predictor of IDD, especially in the upper lumbar region.Clinical Relevance: Information regarding ALV is important to prevent IDD in Japanese collegiate gymnasts.Keywords: endplate lesion; gymnastics; intervertebral disk degeneration; magnetic resonance imagin

Nocturnal hypoxic stress activates invasive ability of monocytes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Backgrounds: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is known to be a risk factor of cardiovascular events. However, the precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. OSAS-induced hypoxic stress may promote the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by monocytes, which has a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis. In addition, adhesion to the vascular endothelium and transendothelial migration of monocytes are considered to induce atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hypoxic stress on the invasive ability of monocytes in OSAS. Methods; Twenty-one male OSAS patients and 17 male healthy control subjects, age- and body mass index-matched, were enrolled. Venous blood samples were collected not only before and after sleep but also after CPAP titration for the purpose of monocyte isolation. The invasive ability of monocytes was evaluated by counting the number of invasive cells using a BD BioCoat Matrigel Invasion Chamber. Results; The number of cells which represents invasive ability was significantly higher in OSAS patients as compared to control subjects in the early morning (p<0.001). Invasive ability in the early morning was significantly elevated as compared to that before sleep in OSAS patients (p<0.001), and it was positively correlated with oxygen desaturation index (p<0.05). CPAP titration led to alleviation of the invasive ability (p<0.001). Conclusions; The results indicate that OSAS-induced hypoxic stress activates the invasive ability of monocytes, and that this phenomenon observed during sleep may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in OSAS.The definitive version is available at " http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2009.01540.x "アジア太平洋呼吸器学会（APSR：Asia Pacific Society of Respirology）第1回最優秀論文賞「Fukuchi Award」受賞論

慢性閉塞性肺疾患患者における骨塩量の分布と体重および運動能との関連

Background: Although low bone mineral density is highly prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the distribution of the reduced bone mass has not been fully elucidated. Objectives: To determine regional bone mass loss in patients with COPD and investigate whether the change in distribution may be associated with body weight loss and functional capacity. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) was assessed, and height squared indices were derived for the bone mineral content index (BMCI) of the arms, legs and trunk by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 45 male patients with COPD and 12 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Pulmonary function tests were performed, and maximal oxygen uptake (V·O2max) was measured. Results: The BMCI was lower in the total bone, legs and trunk of patients with COPD than in control subjects, although the BMCI in the arms was similar between the groups. BMI correlated significantly with the BMCI in all 3 segments. Bone mineral content (BMC) in the trunk, expressed as a percentage of total BMC (BMC trunk/total BMC), correlated significantly with BMI. The BMCI in the trunk was closely related with V·O2max but not with airflow limitation. Conclusions: There was a regional difference in BMC reduction, but a predominant reduction of bone mass in the trunk was not associated with the severity of airflow limitation but rather with body weight loss and exercise intolerance. These data suggest that body weight loss and exercise intolerance are important risk factors for vertebral fracture in patients with COPD.博士（医学）・乙第1341号・平成26年7月22日The definitive version is available at " http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000355095