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In this study, we utilized the surface freezing transition of mixed adsorbed films of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and hexadecane at the isopropyl palmitate (IPP)–aqueous interface to encapsulate IPP in a stable oil-in-water (OW) emulsion droplets. IPP is a widely used emollient oil in cosmetic creams; however, as often seen in oily ingredients in cosmetics, it is also surface-active and adsorbs at the oil–water interface. Therefore, under normal experimental conditions, surfactant emulsifier and cosmetic oil form a mixed adsorbed film at the OW emulsion surfaces. However, such films typically do not enhance emulsion stability and for that purpose we used a 1:9 mixture of hexadecane and IPP as oil phase together with CTAC as surfactant. The interfacial tension of the oil phase against CTAC aqueous solution as a function of CTAC concentration and temperature shows three distinctive interfacial phases: disordered mixed adsorbed film of CTAC and IPP (surface liquid) and two surface frozen monolayers in which CTAC or IPP expelled the other and gives rise to a highly ordered and stiff hydrocarbon chain layer with incorporated hexadecane molecules. The compositional transition of the surface frozen monolayer of IPP and that of CTAC occurred as the CTAC concentration increased in the aqueous phase. Above the transition concentration, an enhanced OW emulsion stability was observed, whereas IPP surface frozen monolayer forms only kinetically unstable emulsions. From these findings, we suggest the potential use of surface frozen films of CTAC to encapsulate surface-active cosmetic oils stably in the OW emulsions, which in addition have the property that the stability can be controlled by temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We searched for the |$\alpha$| condensed state in |$^{13}$| C by measuring the |$\alpha$| inelastic scattering at |$E_\alpha = 388$| MeV at forward angles including 0 |$^\circ$|⁠. We performed a distorted-wave Born approximation calculation with the single-folding potential and multipole decomposition analysis to determine the isoscalar transition strengths in |$^{13}$| C. We found a bump structure around |$E_x = 12.5$| MeV due to the isoscalar monopole (⁠|$IS0$|⁠) transition. A peak-fit analysis suggested that this bump consisted of several |$1/2^-$| states. We propose that this bump is due to the mirror state of the 13.5 MeV state in |$^{13}$| N, which dominantly decays to the |$\alpha$| condensed state in |$^{12}$| C. It was speculated that the |$1/2^-$| states around |$E_x = 12.5$| MeV were candidates for the |$\alpha$| condensed state, but the |$3\alpha + n$| orthogonality condition model suggests that the |$\alpha$| condensed state is unlikely to emerge as the negative parity states. We also found two |$1/2^+$| or |$3/2^+$| states at |$E_x = 14.5$| and 16.1 MeV excited with the isoscalar dipole (⁠|$IS1$|⁠) strengths. We suggest that the 16.1 MeV state is a possible candidate for the |$\alpha$| condensed state predicted by the cluster model calculations on the basis of the good correspondence between the experimental and calculated level structures. However, the theoretical |$IS1$| transition strength for this state is significantly smaller than the measured value. Further experimental information is strongly desired to establish the |$\alpha$| condensed state in |$^{13}$| C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For sustainable development of Southeast Asian countries, the use of regional biomass waste for power generation must be promoted. In our Vietnam‐Japan joint project contributing to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), a shrimp farm in Ben Tre (Mekong Delta area) was selected as a demonstration site for an energy circulation system that includes a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). We found that sludge accumulated during intensive‐shrimp culture can be used as a source of methanogenic bacteria to decompose lignocellulosic and starch‐based biomass. Bagasse and coconut pomace are mixed with the shrimp pond water containing organic matter and minerals, then supplied to a digester with seed sludge (shrimp pond sludge) to produce biogas, which converted to electricity using the SOFC system. The green electricity is used for shrimp culture, main industry of this region. Based on this concept, a pilot plant with 1 kW SOFC system was constructed at the shrimp farm in Ben Tre. So far, stable biogas production necessary for the continuous operation of the 1 kW SOFC was achieved by the daily supply of 6 kg of bagasse and 8 kg of coconut pomace (dry basis), and power generation efficiency of 53.1% (LHV: lower heating value) was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive neoplasm and the sixth leading cause of global cancer-related death; the 5-year survival rate for esophageal cancer is only about 20%-25% for all stages. Therefore, improving the therapeutic effect is important. This study assessed whether low-dose hyperthermia (LDH) enhances the antitumor effects of chemotherapy. The antitumor effect of chemotherapy with/without LDH in the squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCCVII was evaluated. A comprehensive analysis was performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study the hyperthermia-induced changes in the gene expression of SCCVII cell lines. In addition, the cytotoxic and apoptotic changes in the cells treated with LDH combined with/without 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were measured. LDH combined with 5-FU (10 nM) strongly inhibited the cell growth of SCCVII, with flow cytometry showing an increased population of apoptotic cells. PCR showed that LDH promoted a 25.22-fold increase of p53 mRNA and 18.08-fold increase of Bax mRNA in vitro. MDR1 expression was decreased to 28.7% after LDH. This treatment can result in much higher efficacy of antitumor drugs. After LDH, the expressions of TS decreased to 12.06%, OPRT increased by 4.17-fold, and DPD did not change (1.03-fold). This transformations will induce susceptibility to 5-FU. LDH may be a useful enhancer of chemotherapy drugs for squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serous endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (SEIC) is very rare, and the diagnosis is made through hysterectomy in most cases. To the best of the present authors' knowledge, there is only three reported cases of SEIC diagnosed by hysteroscopic transcervical resection in the English language medical literature. Case Report: A 68-year-old woman presented with SEIC. The initial diagnosis was established by hysteroscopic transcervical resection and immunohistochemistry. The final diagnosis was established postoperatively by hysterectomy. To date, five months after operation, the patient is alive with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Conclusion: Hysteroscopic exam may be necessary in cases of patients with an abnormal cytology or histology of endometrium to detect SEIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether the Bezold-Jarisch reflex or enhancement of vagal nerves, which are preferentially distributed in the inferoposterior myocardium, results from exercise induced ischaemia in this region. Methods: On the basis of exercise myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography, 145 patients were classified as follows: group I, 34 patients with inferoposterior ischaemia; group A, 32 with anterior ischaemia; and control, 79 without ischaemia. The relation between ischaemic areas and ECG leads with ST segment changes and vagal modulation assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) (high frequency (HF) component (0.15-0.40 Hz) and coefficient of HF component variance (CCVHF), which is the square root of HF divided by mean RR interval) were assessed. Results: The rate of ST segment depression in any lead did not differ between group I and group A. HF and CCV(HF) were similar before exercise but higher in group I than in group A and the control group after exercise (mean (SEM) HF: 94 (17) ms2, 41 (7) ms2, and 45 (6) ms2, respectively, p = 0.021; CCV(HF): 1.18 (0.09)%, 0.81 (0.07)%, and 0.89 (0.05)%, p = 0.0053). Furthermore, the percentage change in CCV(HF) before and after exercise was higher in group I than in group A or controls (mean (SEM) 22 (10)%, -24 (4)%, and -21 (3)%, p < 0.0001). The optimal cut off for diagnosis of inferoposterior ischaemia was -5% with a sensitivity of 74%, specificity 75%, and accuracy 75%. Conclusions: Vagal modulation as assessed by HRV analysis was enhanced in association with exercise induced inferoposterior ischaemia. Exercise ECG testing combined with HRV analysis would increase accuracy in the diagnosis of ischaemic areas in selected patients with angina pectoris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study aimed to assess the ability of preoperative axial computed tomography ( CT) to predict surgical difficulty in bringing the ileal pouch to the level of the anus during restorative proctocolectomy ( RPC). Method Patients who underwent RPC with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (or ileal pouch-anal canal anastomosis) in our institution between January 2008 and April 2014 were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups, including those in whom CT indicated potential difficulty in extending the pouch downwards (extension difficult ( ED) group) and patients with no CT evidence of potential difficulty (normal group). The groups were compared for clinical factors and the thickness of the slices of CT showing the root of the superior mesenteric artery, the point of communication of the ileocaecal artery with the marginal artery ( tICA) and the anal verge ( AV). Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed, and a cut-off value was calculated for predicting the degree of difficulty in bringing the ileal pouch down to the anal canal. Results Thirty-four patients were entered in the study. The ED group included significantly taller patients and more with familial adenomatous polyposis than the normal group. The distance between tICA and AV was significantly longer in the ED group, with a cut-off of 21 cm giving a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 83.3%. Conclusion The distance between tICA and AV measured by axial CT can be a useful predictor for the difficulty in bringing the ileal pouch down to the anus during RPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent studies have shown that the combination of a NOx storage reduction catalyst (NSR) and a passive selective catalytic reduction catalyst (pSCR) would be a technical solution to meet post EU6 emission legislation for small passenger cars. In this case, NH formed during rich NSR regeneration is used to reduce remaining NOx on a SCR catalyst which is located downstream of the NSR. In this study, first, the NH formation mechanism of NSR under different emission λs, rich durations, and stored NOx values are clarified using a diesel engine operating under steady-state operation. Finally, NOx conversion and the associated fuel consumption penalty are clarified under the Worldwide harmonized light vehicle test cycle (WLTC). It was identified that NH starts to be produced by the NSR after oxygen storage capacity depletion. Next, a NH peak occurs as a result of the converted pre-stored and engine out NOx. If the rich operation is long enough, the pre-stored NOx contribution fades and NH concentration lowers to an equivalent level as the engine out NOx. From this understanding, several WLTC patterns were measured varying the number of rich operations and their duration in order to identify best regeneration strategy with a minimum fuel consumption penalty. The optimal pSCR benefit, in terms of fuel penalty, is achieved when the rich operation duration is (1) longer than the breakthrough time, (2) includes the initial NH peak resulting from the conversion of the pre-stored NOx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Skin toxicity caused by radiotherapy has been visually classified into discrete grades. The present study proposes an objective and continuous assessment method of skin erythema in digital images taken under arbitrary lighting conditions, which is the case for most clinical environments. The purpose of this paper is to show the feasibility of the proposed method. Methods: Clinical data were gathered from six patients who received carbon beam therapy for lung cancer. Skin condition was recorded using an ordinary compact digital camera under unfixed lighting conditions; a laser Doppler flowmeter was used to measure blood flow in the skin. The photos and measurements were taken at 3 h, 30, and 90 days after irradiation. Images were decomposed into hemoglobin and melanin colors using independent component analysis. Pixel values in hemoglobin color images were compared with skin dose and skin blood flow. The uncertainty of the practical photographic method was also studied in nonclinical experiments. Results: The clinical data showed good linearity between skin dose, skin blood flow, and pixel value in the hemoglobin color images; their correlation coefficients were larger than 0.7. It was deduced from the nonclinical that the uncertainty due to the proposed method with photography was 15%; such an uncertainty was not critical for assessment of skin erythema in practical use. Conclusions: Feasibility of the proposed method for assessment of skin erythema using digital images was demonstrated. The numerical relationship obtained helped to predict skin erythema by artificial processing of skin images. Although the proposed method using photographs taken under unfixed lighting conditions increased the uncertainty of skin information in the images, it was shown to be powerful for the assessment of skin conditions because of its flexibility and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the artificial seminal plasma ( ASP) as the extender as well as methanol as the cryoprotectant for cryopreservation, and to collect information on the fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved sperm samples. Eggs from Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, females were control-fertilized with native sperm diluted with ASP and cryopreserved sperm ( ASP as extender [in 1:100 ratio] and 10% methanol in v/v final concentration). No statistical differences ( p < .05) were among the measured parameters (hatching, survival after 10 days post-hatch, malformation rates) between the two groups, thus this cryopreservation method can be used effectively for artificial propagation of the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:FSCN1 and matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) are both invadopodia-related proteins. We herein elucidate the tumourigenicity of these proteins and identify novel therapeutic agents in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:FSCN1 and MMP14 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR, and microRNA (miR)-133a was also evaluated by PCR in surgical ESCC specimens. The roles of FSCN1, MMP14 and miR-133a were established in ESCC cells.Results:The expression of FSCN1 or MMP14 was an independent poor prognostic factor according to a multivariate analysis of immunohistochemistry, and their co-expression correlated with the poorest overall survival (OS) out of all the examined factors. Additionally, their mRNAs significantly correlated and both inversely correlated with miR-133a in surgical specimens. Transfection of a miR-133a mimic decreased the mRNA and protein levels of both FSCN1 and MMP14 in ESCC cells. The knockdown of FSCN1 or MMP14 and transfection of a miR-133a mimic inhibited the proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells. Patients with a lower miR-133a expression have a significantly poorer OS than those with a higher expression.Conclusion:The combined expression of FSCN1 and MMP14 is associated with a poor prognosis, and miR-133a, which regulates their mRNAs, can serve as a strong tumour suppressor of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whale shark Rhincodon typus is the world's largest fish and it occurs in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters. Here, the northernmost record of R. typus is reported, when it was found in the Sea of Okhotsk for the first time. This occurrence can be explained by the unusually high sea surface temperature during the summer of 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northernmost record for Chilean devil ray Mobula tarapacana, a circumglobal species that occurs in tropical, subtropical and limited warm temperate waters, is described. An adult female was caught incidentally in the Sea of Okhotsk on 17 September 2011. This specimen is the first confirmed occurrence of devil rays Mobula spp. in cold temperate waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensor correlations in He were studied via the ( p, dp) reaction at the incident energy of 392 MeV with a focus on spin configurations of correlated pn pairs in He at high relative momenta $${(P_{\rm rel}^{\rm cor})}$$. The preliminary results show that the correlated pn pair at $${P_{\rm rel}^{\rm cor} = 310 {\rm MeV/c}}$$ predominantly has the channel spin S = 1, which is consistent with the characteristics of tensor correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopy for neutron-rich nuclei He and Be has been performed by means of heavy-ion double charge exchange (HIDCX) (O, Ne) reaction on stable target nuclei Be and C, respectively. Several clear peaks in Be at low excitation energy region even above neutron separation energy have been observed in one-shot measurement, whereas no prominent signals of He have been observed owing to the small cross section. It is shown that the HIDCX reaction is a new powerful spectroscopic tool for study of unstable neutron-rich nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross sections of pd breakup reaction at E = 250 MeV were measured systematically in single-proton detection and in two-proton coincidence detection. Measured cross section is up to two times higher than calculated ones. The enhancement of breakup cross section is similar to reported enhancement in pd elastic scattering cross section. Origins of this enhancement are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpha inelastic scattering from Mg was measured to obtain the isoscalar natural-parity excitation strengths and to search for the α-condensed states. The multipole decomposition analysis for the measured cross sections was performed. The strength distributions for the $${{\Delta}L=0{-}3}$$ were successfully obtained and the possible candidates for the α-condensed states around the O core were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are stably detectable in blood and can serve as useful biomarkers for cancer.Methods:We performed an miRNA array using serum samples obtained from oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients or healthy controls. MiR-1246 was the most markedly elevated in ESCC patients. Therefore, miR-1246 was selected as a candidate for further analysis. The serum miR-1246 level in 46 healthy controls and 101 ESCC patients was evaluated and compared among various clinicopathological characteristics. MiR-1246 expressions in tissue, exosomal, and cellular samples were also examined.Results:Serum miR-1246 alone yielded an receiver-operating characteristic curve area of 0.754, with 71.3% sensitivity and 73.9% specificity for distinguishing ESCC patients from healthy controls. Serum miR-1246 was significantly correlated with the TNM stage and showed to be the strongest independent risk factor for poor survival (HR, 4.032; P=0.017). Unlike the tendency shown in previous reports, miR-1246 was not upregulated in ESCC tissue samples. Furthermore, exosomal miR-1246 did not reflect the abundance in the cell of origin.Conclusion:These data support our contention that serum miR-1246 has strong potential as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ESCC, and its releasing mechanism is selective and independent of tissue miRNA abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]