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Non-invasive range measurement of particle beams is important to prevent deviation of the irradiated area in particle therapy. In this study, we made an experiment of imaging carbon-ion beams by setting the projection ranges into an acrylic target from 4.29 cm to 7.65 cm by a pitch of 0.21 cm. Secondary electron bremsstrahlung (SEB) generated on the beam trajectories were detected for the imaging by use of a pinhole camera system consisting of a pinhole collimator and a position-sensitive cadmium-telluride semiconductor detector (CdTe imager). Beam images were acquired, and their profiles along the longitudinal axis were numerically analyzed, to obtain a suitable parameter that was strongly correlated with the set range. Then we could propose a scheme to measure the particle beam range in the target during irradiation by use of the CdTe imager. As a result, the range shift can be measured in the case of the acrylic target with an accuracy of 0.1 cm.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a lead radiation shield on the ability of a beam imaging device consist of an imaging plate (IP) and a collimator by Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations were performed using PHITS. A carbon-ion beam was injected to an acrylic target. A tungsten collimator having a pinhole was placed at the distance of 31.2 cm from the beam. A lead radiation shield was placed on the tungsten collimator. An IP was placed under the collimator. Beam images were acquired by recording the position distribution of energy deposition on the IP. We confirmed that therapeutic carbon-ion beam images could be acquired using the imaging device combining the IP and collimator. It was found that removal of the lead shield had no effect on the imaging results.

The control of laser emission angles in laser devices is essential for many optoelectronic and photonic applications such as optical sensing and displays. In this context, we studied the light diffraction pattern of laser beams in a one-dimensional sampled distributed feedback resonator having organic gain media. The gratings consist of the repetition of supercells having a mixed-order sampled grating in which 1st-order gratings surround a 2nd-order grating. The experimental results showed that the diffraction angles of the laser beams are quite diverse depending on the supercell structures. We demonstrate that the interval of the diffraction angle (θ) of the laser beams is inversely proportional to the length of the supercell experimentally and theoretically. By tuning the length of supercells as well as the length of 1st-order and 2nd-order regions, the interval θ was tuned from 0.1° to 43° with the different arc emission patterns. With the reduction of θ, i.e., the longer 1st-order region, a significant decrease in the laser threshold was obtained, resulting in the lowest lasing threshold of 2.5 ± 0.1 μJ/cm2 with ∼3.5 ns of a long pulse width excitation source.

Effect of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on crystal defects in a GaN layer grown on a (111)Si substrate was investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The PL spectra suggested that the density of gallium vacancy is not changed by the heat treatment up to 700 °C. In the TEM specimen, we had dislocation half loops generated by off-axis propagation of the threading dislocation. We found that the half-loop of c-type dislocation shrinks/moves by a repetitive RTA at 600–700 °C. In contrast, we could find no remarkable changes in the a-type or a+c-type dislocations.

Change detection is one of the most important topics in the application field of aerial images and satellite images. In this paper, a novel framework for accuracy improvement on change detection is proposed. The proposed framework consists of three parts. Firstly, the location difference between the two orthoimages for change detection is rectified globally. Secondly, the illumination change of the orthoimages from two different times is adjusted to produce the orthoimages with more unified illumination condition. Thirdly, the location difference between the two orthoimages is adjusted in more precise level of local regions. Experimental results show that the detection accuracy of change detection is greatly improved through the pre-processing of the proposed framework.

In microwave tomography, it is necessary to increase the amount of diverse observation data for accurate image reconstruction of the dielectric properties of the imaging area. The multi-polarization method has been proposed as a suitable technique for the acquisition of a variety of observation data. While the effectiveness of employing multi-polarization to reconstruct images has been confirmed, the physical considerations related to image reconstruction have not been investigated. In this paper, a compact-sized imaging sensor using multi-polarization for breast cancer detection is presented. An analysis of the correlation coefficient of the received data of adjacent antennas was performed to interpret the imaging results. Numerical simulation results demonstrated that multi-polarization can reconstruct images better compared to single polarizations owing to its low correlation coefficient and condition number.

Background Rikkunshito, a standardized Japanese herbal medicine, is thought to accelerate gastric emptying and relieve dyspepsia, although no large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of rikkunshito have been conducted. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of rikkunshito for treating functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods FD patients received 2.5 g rikkunshito or placebo three times a day for 8 weeks in this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. The primary end point was the proportion of responders at 8 weeks after starting test drug, determined by global patient assessment (GPA). The improvement in four major dyspepsia symptoms severity scale was also evaluated. In addition, plasma ghrelin levels were investigated before and after treatment. Key Results Two hundred forty-seven patients were randomly assigned. In the eighth week, the rikkunshito group had more GPA responders (33.6%) than the placebo (23.8%), although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.09). Epigastric pain was significantly improved (p = 0.04) and postprandial fullness tended to improve (p = 0.06) in the rikkunshito group at week 8. Rikkunshito was relatively more effective among Helicobacter pylori-infected participants (rikkunshito: 40.0% vs placebo: 20.5%, p = 0.07), and seemed less effective among H. pylori-uninfected participants (rikkunshito: 29.3% vs placebo: 25.6%, p = 0.72). Among H. pylori-positive individuals, acyl ghrelin levels were improved just in rikkunshito group. There were no severe adverse events in both groups. Conclusions & Inferences Administration of rikkunshito for 8 weeks reduced dyspepsia, particularly symptoms of epigastric pain and postprandial fullness. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, Number UMIN000003954).

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is divided into three fiber bundles (AM-M: anteromedial-medial, AM-L: anteromedial-lateral, PL: posterolateral). We attempted to depict the three bundles of the human ACL on MRI images and to obtain 3-dimensional visualization of them. Twenty-four knees of healthy volunteers (14 males, 10 females) were scanned by 3T-MRI using the fat suppression 3D coherent oscillatory state acquisition for the manipulation of imaging contrast (FS 3D-COSMIC). The scanned images were reconstructed after the isotropic voxel data, which allows the images to be reconstructed in any plane, was acquired. We conducted statistical examination on the identification rate of the three ACL bundles by 2D planes. Segmentation and 3D visualization of the fiber bundles using volume rendering were performed. The triple-bundle ACL was best depicted in the oblique axial plane. While the AM-M and AM-L bundles were clearly depicted in all cases, the PL bundle was not clearly visualized in two knees (8%). Therefore, the three ACL bundles were depicted in 22 knees (92%). The results of 3D visualization of the fiber arrangement agreed well with macroscopic findings of previous anatomical studies. 3T-MRI and the isotropic voxel data from FS 3D-COSMIC made it possible to demonstrate the identifiable depiction of three ACL bundles in nearly all cases. 3D visualization of the bundles could be a useful tool to understand the ACL fiber arrangement. Clin. Anat. 30:276-283, 2017. 2016 The Authors. Clinical Anatomy published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Clinical Anatomists.

Exploitation of a specific biological property is one of the best approaches for developing novel cancer-targeted drugs. Melanogenesis substrate, N-propionyl cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP: amine analog of tyrosine) may provide a unique drug delivery system (DDS) because of its selective incorporation into melanoma cells. It may also act as a melanoma-targeted therapeutic drug because of its production of highly reactive free radicals (melanoma-targeted chemotherapy). Utilization of magnetite nanoparticles can also be a good platform to develop thermo-immunotherapy because of heat shock protein (HSP) generation upon exposure to the alternating magnetic field (AMF). This study shows the feasibility of this approach in experimental study using in vivo and in vitro B16 melanoma cells and preliminary clinical study to a limited number of advanced melanoma patients. The therapeutic protocol against the primarily transplanted tumor with or without AMF once a day every other day for a total of three treatments not only inhibited the growth of primary transplant, but also prevented the growth of the secondary, re-challenge transplant and increased life span of the host mice. HSP70 production at the site of primary transplant and CD8 + T cell infiltration at the site of the re- challenge melanoma transplant were seen. Four patients entered in the preliminary clinical trial by following the basic outline of this animal protocol and two of them showed PR and CR. We hope to establish in situ vaccination immunotherapy for melanoma metastases by melanogenesis-targeted chemo- and thermotherapy.

An adult swan goose (Anser cygnoides) kept in a zoological garden had gross hepatic enlargement with extensive ill-defined white foci. Microscopically, the hepatic lesions were composed of a mixture of adipocytes and myeloid cells. The goose was also affected with systemic amyloiclosis and there were areas of osseous metaplasia associated with deposition of amyloid within the liver.

The brain of the Sirenian Dugong is described. In gross and qualitative morphology, it appears to be lissencephalic, with reduced olfactory areas and small olfactory and optic nerves but large sensory trigeminal components. In detail and quantitatively, its total size and its neocortex betray a much lower evolutionary level than those of the river dolphin Plantanista taken for comparison. Its rhinencephalon is less reduced but its hippocampus is about as strikingly small as the dolphin's. Neither cerebellum nor mesencephalon point to any kind of specialization for aquatic life similar to that found in the dolphin. Although both animals are adapted to water by their general body morphology, the Sirenian seems to have remained far behind the Cetacean in its evolution in that direction from the viewpoints of progression and specialization. Zusammenfassung Qualitative und quantitative Gehirnmorphologie der Sirene Dugong dugong Erxl. Die grobe Morphologie sowie quantitative Besonderheiten des Gehirns der Sirene Dugong dugong Erxl. werden beschrieben. Das Gehim ist lissencephal, die olfaktorischen Areale sind reduziert, N. opticus und olfactorius sind klein, die sensorischen Trigeminusanteile gros. Sowohl in Einzelzugen der Gestalt als auch quantitativ, in der Gesamtgrose und jener der Neocortex zeigt sich, das das Evolutionsniveau niedriger ist als beim Flusdeiphin Platanista. Das Rhinencephalon ist beim Dugong weniger reduziert, aber der Hippocampus ebenso klein wie bei diesem Delphin. Weder Cerebellum noch Mesencephalon weisen irgendwelche Anzeichen einer Anpassung an das Leben im Wasser auf, die jenen des Delphins ahneln. Obwohl beide Tierarten in der allgemeinen Korperform Anpassungen an den Wasserhaushalt haben, bleiben die Sirenen in der Progression und Spezialisation des Gehirns hinter den Cetaceen zuruck.

This paper describes a visual tracking system for an unknown reference signal. A time-varying reference signal is realized as a random process generated by an auto-regressive (AR) model, which is identifed by a recursive algorithm. Based on the obtained AR model, the future value of reference signal is predicted. We propose a new visual tracking system using generalized minimum variance control (GMVC) and illustrate its properties through experiments.

Aspidolite, the Na analogue of phlogopite, ideally NaMg3AlSi3O10(OH)2, occurring in hornfels from a contact aureole in Kasuga-mura, central Japan, has been approved as a mica species by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the International Mineralogical Association. Aspidolite is interleaved with and surrounded by phlogopite. Based on its mode of occurrence, phlogopite is classified into two types; (1) phlogopite interleaved with aspidolite (= interleaved phlogopite) and (2) phlogopite rim. The aspidolite-phlogopite assemblage is associated with amphibole (pargasite-magnesiosadanagaite), titanite, calcite, scapolite, apatite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. A representative chemical formula of aspidolite is (Na0.90K0.10)∑1.00(Mg2.27Al0.41Fe0.232+Ti0.05)∑2.96 (Al1.44Si2.56)∑4.00O10(OH1.97F0.03)∑2.00. Aspidolite has almost fully occupied the interlayer site; its Na/(Na+K) ratio ranges from 0.67 to 0.95. It has more tetrahedral Al (1.38—1.48 a.p.f.u. for O = 11) than the ideal aspidolite end-member showing progression of tschermakite-type substitution. The alternation of aspidolite and phlogopite parallel to the (001) plane may indicate a miscibility gap between these two phases. The phlogopite rim is interpreted as a later product, probably formed metasomatically. Aspidolite is optically biaxial negative with elongation positive and Z ‖ cleavage. Two polytypes (1M and 1A) of aspidolite were identified in X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Aspidolite-1M is monoclinic, space group C2/m, with refined unit-cell parameters a = 5.291(8), b = 9.16(2), c = 10.12(2) Å, β = 105.1(1)°, V = 473(1) Å3, Z = 2. Aspidolite-1A is triclinic, space group C, with a = 5.289(6), b = 9.16(1), c = 9.892(9) Å, α = 94.45(9), β = 97.74(9), γ = 90.0(1)°, V = 473.4(9) Å3, Z = 2.

Effects of Al composition on luminescence properties corresponding to Tb 3+ inner level transitions are investigated. When the Al composition is larger than 0.3, luminescence corresponding to 5 D 4 - 7 F J (J = 3, 4, 5, 6) transitions is observed at room temperature, while 5 D 3 - 7 F J transition such as 5 D 3 - 7 F 5 can be observed only at low temperature. As the Al composition increases, the luminescence intensity is increased super linearly at first, and then linearly increased. Thermal quenching of luminescence intensity is dramatically improved as increasing the Al composition. Major effect of AlGaN is well explained by reduction of energy-back-transfer process.

Er ions are introduced into Al x Ga 1-x N (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) by ion implantation to investigate the effect of Al composition on the luminescence properties of 4f n inner-shell transitions of Er 3+ . Strong and sharp emission peaks attributed to the 4f-4f transition of Er 3+ are observed in ultra-violet and blue region (400-550 nm) from the samples with AlN molar fraction of x > 0.3. These photoemissions are assigned as 2 P 3/2 - 4 I 15/2 , 2 P 3/2 - 4 I 13/2 , 2 P 3/2 - 4 I 11/2 , and 2P 3/2 - 4 H 11/2 transitions, and the 408 nm emission, corresponding to 2 P 3/2 - 4 I 13/2 transition, is the strongest in the present work. As increasing the Al composition, the intensity of Er 3+ -related emissions is rapidly increased and the thermal quenching properties is also improved.

Distributions of structural and refractive index changes of silica irradiated by H + microbeam were studied by optical and atomic force microscopes (AFM). The AFM measurements on the microbeam irradiated area show the formation of a groove on the surface. In addition, a cross sectional observation on the surface parallel to the incident plane reveals surface deformation along the ion tracks, which is deepest at the projected range of ions. Taking into account the possible structural changes of silica induced by energy deposition calculated by TRIM, the measured topological changes at the front and side surfaces result from internal compaction of silica glass. Refractive index changes were estimated from the Lorentz–Lorenz relationship using the distribution of the internal compaction estimated by the AFM measurements.

To study the interactions between the induction of radiation-induced apoptosis and trace elements kinetics, human leukemia cells were irradiated in vitro by 60 Co γ rays, after which the cells were evaluated for the detection of apoptosis and trace element (Fe, Ca, Zn) imaging was carried out. The frequency of apoptosis, i.e. the number of apoptotic bodies per 100 nuclei, was obtained by microscopic assay using TUNEL staining at 400× magnification. The trace element distribution in the cell was determined by micro-PIXE using 2 MeV proton beams. In the early phase of apoptosis, the maximum level of Fe accumulation was observed in the cell stroma. In the mid to end phase, Fe accumulation was diminished, and instead, Ca accumulation increased and Zn decreased in the nucleus. There appear to be two steps for the development of apoptosis: (1) the signaling from cell stroma to nucleus by Fe or an Fe-containing enzyme; and (2) the degeneration of the nucleus by Ca-dependent enzyme, and release of Zn from digested nucleus. Those strong accumulations may be new markers for apoptosis.

We evaluated structural changes in silica glass induced by ion microbeam using microscopic photoluminescence (PL) and Raman scattering measurements. Microbeams (1.7 MeV H+) were scanned over the sharp right-edges of the silica substrates with a fluence of 1×1017 cm−2, then two PL bands of silica at 540 and 650 nm were observed at the irradiated region. The PL bands show different lateral and depth distributions. The distribution of the 540 nm PL is in good agreement with that of the refractive index changed region. The lateral distribution of the 650 nm band is broader by 1.5 times than those of the 540 nm PL and the refractive index changed region. The microscopic Raman scattering measurements show an increased intensity of 606 cm−1 peak associated with compaction at the microbeam irradiated regions.

this paper, the case in which current limiter is introduced into power transmission system of DC interconnection is assumed. By viewing from the responsibility of DC transmission system in AC line fault, the current limiter introductioneffect is examined. The effect by the current limiter introduction is reported, because in the place, the stable driving of the DC system was able to be maintained and be able to be confIrmed with the control of fault current. As the result, the stable operation of the DC system was able to be maintained with the suppression of fault current, and the effect by the current limiter introduction was able to be confmned.

Various candidate materials were collected from many sources. Some of them were irradiated with intense proton beams at Yokohama campus of Tokyo Institute of Technology (TITech), and some others were irradiated with intense nitrogen beams at Albuquerque site of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Intense X-rays of SNL were also used to irradiate other materials including the above collected ones. A series of numerical calculations of X-ray ablations was additionally performed at TITech, which results were compared with the experimental ones. Our aims were to supply necessary data for the future design of inertial fusion reactor chambers. One of the key issues in this field was the ablation thickness of the various chamber wall materials with typical inertial fusion reactions. We measured the ablation thickness of various samples, and we also observed the surface conditions of the samples before and after the irradiations with a microscope and an X-ray luminescence composition analyzer.

Room-temperature single-electron effects are observed in 20 nm × 20 nm point-contact transistors fabricated in nanocrystalline silicon thin films. The films are deposited using low-temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition and contain grains typically 4-8 nm in size. Low-temperature oxidation and high-temperature annealing is used to oxidise selectively the grain boundaries. Single-electron effects occur in crystalline silicon grains isolated by tunnel barriers at the grain boundaries. The thermal processing improves the grain-boundary tunnel barrier and increases the maximum temperature for single-electron effects. Similar effects are also observed in devices fabricated in low-pressure chemical vapour deposited polysilicon films.

Weinvestigatethemechanismsofdefectformationandopticalabsorptioninducedbyionimplantation,forfab-rication of optical devices by radiation effects. High-purity silica implanted by H þ or He 2þ was characterized usingvacuum-ultraviolet spectroscopy and electron-spin-resonance measurement. Defect formation is suppressed by OHgroups,possiblybythereleaseofatomichydrogen.TheE 0 centerandnonbridgingoxygenholecenterwerecreatedthroughpairgenerationfromthenormalSiAOASibond.TheperoxyradicalwasgeneratedthroughthereactionoftheE 0 center with interstitial oxygen, which is a Frenkel-defect pair with an oxygen vacancy. By the Kramers–Kroniganalysis on the MeV-ion implantation-induced defects, a refractive index increase of the order of 10 4 was esti-mated. 2002ElsevierScienceB.V.Allrightsreserved. Keywords:Silicaglass;Ionimplantation;Vacuumultraviolet;Electronspinresonance 1. IntroductionFabrication of optical devices such as opticalfibergratingshasbeenreportedbyourgroupus-ing mega-electron-volt-order ion implantation onsilica-coreopticalfibers[1].Inordertoextendthistechniqueforthefabricationofsilica-basedplanaroptical devices, it is important to understand themechanismsbywhichchangesinopticalpropertiessuch as refractive index are induced by the im-plantedions.Attentionisfocusedontheelectronicstopping energy loss, since it accounts for morethan 99% of the total loss and most defects areinducedthroughthisprocessinthecaseofMeV-orderionimplantation.2. Experimental proceduresSamplesaretwotypesofhigh-puritysilicaglas-ses containing different OH contents, EDC (OHcontent

Single-electron transistors (SETs) consisting of side-gated nanowires fabricated in 20-nm-thick hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon films prepared at 300 °C have been investigated. It is found that if the nanowire width is

Singly or doubly ionized nitrogen beams, including a small part of oxygen ion beams, were extracted from a cryogenic diode with N2O ice on the anode surface. The nominal diode voltage was 100–360 kV, and the peak ion current was 300 A. With a one-dimensional arrayed pinhole camera with 5 pinholes, very small divergence angle at the beam source was measured. Although, we used a very rough apparatus (not being as sophisticated as the modern version), the absolute value (measured) of the divergence angle was 5–6 mrad. This value was small enough for us to recommend this beam as one of the candidates for the future ICF or IFE driver. With the same apparatus, we observed a rather large angle of 25–60 mrad for the proton beam in our former experiment. These results indicated that this kind of medium-mass ion beam must be investigated in more detail to make clear the potential of the beam. We also developed a Thomson ion spectometer with a CCD detector, which could be applicable to the above ion beams. The energy spectrum of a proton beam was measured as the early stage preparation of the spectrometer development. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent research results concerning lasers and the laser ablation of solid and liquid targets are described briefly. The main laser for experiments was KrF laser pumped by an electron beam. The model calculations were performed for the high reprate F2 lasers in mind. An infrared laser and X-ray were taken into account for the model calculations of a space re-entry program and the wall material ablation of an inertial confmement fusion implosion.

Wide band gap amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) were prepared by a chemical annealing (CA) technique, in which intermittent hydrogen plasma treatment was repeated during the deposition of a-Si:H. Electronic transport in the wide band gap a-Si:H at high electric field was investigated systematically using devices with Vidicon-type or n–i–p diode structures. The Vidicon-type image pick-up tube exhibited the potential to produce high resolution images, demonstrating that the wide-gap a-Si:H prepared by the CA had superior properties suitable for imaging devices. The electric fields as high as >8×105 V cm−1 were applied successfully on the n–i–p devices using a-SiN:H for electron blocking contact. However, this electric field was not sufficient to invoke avalanche multiplication.

We followed-up a Japanese man suffering from hereditary spastic paraplegia with a thin corpus callosum (HSP-TCC) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using 123 I N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine ( 123 I-IMP) over 4 years (25 to 29 years old). Besides the initial symptoms of lower limb spasticity, mental deterioration slightly progressed and upper limb spasticity and slight cerebellar ataxia were developed, during the period. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an extremely thin corpus callosum and medial frontal atrophy, which remained essentially unchanged during the period. 123 I-IMP SPECT demonstrated that cerebral blood flow was decreased in the thalamus and the medial frontal, temporal and parietal cortices at the first examination, and that the thalamus showed further reduction but the other involved regions presented essentially no progression during the follow-up period. This is the first report referring to the longitudinal clinical and neuroradiological changes in HSP-TCC.

Ultrashort laser pulses offer new jump in information and communication technology. Especially semiconductor laser based ultrafast photonic devices and systems are promising. We review our new approaches for femtosecond pulse generation, and thin film technology for broad band semiconductor optical amplifiers.

To ascertain the safety of repeat apheresis donation, hematological and biochemical tests were performed on 511 donors with a donation rate of over 6 times per year for a period of 12-19 months.Repeat donors who had apheresis more than 6 times in the previous year were chosen. Data for the repeat donors at the start of the experiments were compared with those at the end of the study. Blood samples were taken prior to donation. Serum protein, albumin, immunoglobulin G, A, and M, serum ferritin levels were determined by biochemical tests.When compared to prospective donors of 400 ml, WBC, lymphocytes, and serum ferritin levels were lower in a roughly frequency-dependent manner in female and male donor groups at the beginning of the study. All the data for the male group remained almost constant with increasing frequency of apheresis donation. However, in the female group, ferritin levels significantly decreased with over 21 donations.The present data showed that the serum ferritin level of the female donors decreased the most with increasing frequency of apheresis donation. The cumulative RBC left in the collecting chamber and for the laboratory test is discussed in relation to a possible cause of iron deficiency in frequent apheresis donors.

A wire ion plasma electron gun as an X-ray source for preionizing- discharge-excited KrF laser has been built and the secondary emission electron beam flux up to a relatively low anode voltage of 6 kV has been calculated and measured. Aluminum and lithium targets are irradiated by an e-beam-pumped KrF laser and the plasma flux of each has been obtained.