Search

Background The effect of splenomegaly in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is not fully understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on portal haemodynamics in these patients. Methods Patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in Kyushu University Hospital from January 2006 to March 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Correlations between splenic size and portal haemodynamics, and changes in portal haemodynamics and in levels of the vasoactive agents endothelin (ET) 1 and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) before and 7–10 days after laparoscopic splenectomy were analysed. Results Portal venous (PV) blood flow, PV cross-sectional area and PV congestion index correlated significantly with splenic size (P < 0·050). All three were significantly reduced following splenectomy in 59 patients. The hepatic venous pressure gradient, measured in 18 patients, decreased by 25 per cent after splenectomy (P < 0·001). Portal vascular resistance was also reduced, by 21 per cent (P = 0·009). The peripheral blood concentration of ET-1 decreased from 2·95 to 2·11 pg/ml (P < 0·001), and that of NOx tended to decrease (from 29·2 to 25·0 pg/ml; P = 0·068). In hepatic venous blood, the level of ET-1 decreased from 2·37 to 1·83 pg/ml (P = 0·006), whereas NOx concentration tended to increase (from 24·5 to 30·9 pg/ml; P = 0·067). Conclusion In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, splenectomy reduced portal venous pressure. A decrease in splanchnic blood flow, by eliminating splenic blood flow, and reduction in intrahepatic vascular resistance, by normalizing hepatic concentrations of ET-1 and NOx, may both have contributed.

Introduction Appropriate antiviral treatment is essential for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to be effective for treating hepatitis C. However, it has never been reported that pre-LDLT genetic analyses of both host and virus, with prediction of the outcome of post-LDLT antiviral treatment, indicated LDLT for a borderline case. Case Report We have reported the case of a 68-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis caused by genotype 1b hepatitis C, a history of ruptured esophageal varices, and adequately controlled minor ascites. Her liver function was classified as Child–Pugh grade B. The donor was a 42-year-old woman with an estimated left lobe graft volume (GV) of 33.8% based on the standard liver volume of the recipient. Molecular analyses used to confirm the indication of LDLT for this combination revealed the following: The rs8099917 genotype was T/T in the donor and recipient, the HCV core protein was double wild type, there were no mutations in the interferon sensitivity-determining region, and 8 mutations were found in the interferon/ribavirin resistance-determining region. LDLT was performed because very high sensitivity to interferon treatment was predicted. Discussion Six months after LDLT and uneventful post-LDLT courses, pegylated interferon-α2a and ribavirin were administered under immunosuppression with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil. This regimen was continued for 48 weeks, resulting in a viral response at 10 weeks and a sustained viral response, as predicted. Conclusions We have reported the usefulness of molecular analyses of host and viral factors for indicating LDLT to treat hepatitis C in a borderline case.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been recognized as an effective strategy in preventing endotracheal intubation in subjects with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Some interface-related complications have also been recognized, such as skin breakdown (SB). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SB and identify potential treatment-related risk factors for its development in adults with ARF undergoing NIV or CPAP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a general hospital. Subjects were retrospectively enrolled in this study if they were > 18 y old and developed ARF caused by any condition in which NIV or CPAP was indicated for at least one application for a period longer than 2 h. The outcomes were the prevalence of SB and the evaluation of related risk factors. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records. A stepwise forward logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for SB development. RESULTS: A total of 375 subjects (160 males) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Fifty-four subjects (14.4%) developed SB. The mean number of applications of NIV or CPAP carried out for > 2 h was higher in subjects with SB (7.1 13.3 h) than in those without SB (4.4 13.3 h) (P .03). Subjects with SB also presented a higher total duration of NIV use (44.6 118.5 h) compared with subjects without SB (21.8 45.5 h) (P .01). Subjects who developed SB presented a higher use of oronasal mask (92.6%) compared with the group that did not (21.5%) (P 26 h was independently associated with development of SB. Key words: noninvasive ventilation; acute respiratory failure; oronasal mask; total face mask; skin breakdown; wrap therapy; pressure ulcer. [Respir Care 2014;59(10):1530–1536. © 2014 Daedalus Enterprises]

Introduction Few studies to date have investigated the causes of late graft mortality after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Patients and Methods Fifty-five LDLTs for PBC were retrospectively reviewed. Factors prognostic of graft survival after LDLT were investigated, and histologic findings in patients with late graft loss were assessed. Results The 1-, 5-, and 10-year cumulative graft survival rates were 85.1%, 82.5%, and 66.9%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis found that male donor and ≥4 HLA mismatches were independently associated with poor graft survival. Among the 13 grafts lost, 5 were lost >1 year after LDLT, including 1 each due to chronic rejection, veno-occlusive disease, and obliterative portal venopathy, and 2 to other causes. Pathologic reviews of the serial biopsy specimens and explanted grafts from these 5 patients, with graft rejections from “chronic immune-mediated reaction syndrome,” showed reciprocal changes over time. No patient died of recurrent PBC. Conclusions Male donor and ≥4 HLA mismatches were independent factors associated with poor graft survival. Late graft mortality after LDLT for PBC in some patients was due to chronic immune-mediated reaction syndrome, including chronic rejection, veno-occlusive disease, and obliterative portal venopathy, but not to recurrent PBC.

Donor safety is of paramount importance in performing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively reviewed donor medical records to confirm whether larger donor hepatectomy is absolutely complication-prone. A total of 441 living donor hepatectomies were performed between October 1996 and July 2012 in our institute, which were divided into three eras (Era I, October 1996 to March 2004; Era II, April 2004 to March 2008; Era III, April 2008 to July 2012) and the incidences of postoperative complications were compared among the three types of hepatectomy-right hepatectomy (RH), left hepatectomy (LH) and left lateral segmentectomy (LLS). Although severe complications (Clavien's grade 3 or more) frequently occurred in RH in Eras I and II (15.4% and 10.7%, respectively), the incidence in Era III decreased to the comparable level observed in LH and LLS (5.4% in RH, 2.3% in LH and 5.3% in LLS). The incidence of postoperative complications did not relate to the type of hepatectomy selected in the latest era. Since most complications after hepatectomy were considered preventable, step-by-step meticulous surgical procedures are a prerequisite for further assuring donor safety irrespective of the type of hepatectomy selected.

Recently, compact neutron sources have been developed consisting of a small proton accelerator, a Be-target and a moderator, which can be installed in an experimental room. These sources have a possibility of various industrial applications because of their compactness. One of the applications is the polarized neutron imaging system. The system consists of neutron bender, polarizer, spin rotator, sample table, second spin rotator, spin analyzer and 2D-position sensitive detector. Since the neutron source is small and the imaging system should be installed near the moderator, the bender and polarizer have to be properly designed to have relatively wide acceptance angle for the incident beam. In the present study, the design and estimated results of such imaging system for will be presented.

Compact accelerator-driven neutron sources take advantage of their readiness of operation and high adaptability to various experiments, although their neutron flux is low. We are now working on installing a reflectometer to Kyoto University Accelerator based Neutron Source (KUANS). Neutron reflectometer (NR) is one of the most simple but powerful spectrometer, in which neutron reflectivity from the surface of a sample is measured and analyzed to give so called ‘depth profile’ of the sample, which represents the distribution of materials along the surface normal direction. Usually, reflectometer requires narrow well-collimated beam. For the present reflectometer, however, incident neutron beam is narrowed at the sample position but not so much collimated to allow variety of incident angle to the sample simultaneously assuming the specular reflection at the sample surface. This multi-incident angle measurement helps to compensate weak intensity of KUANS. The motivation of this study is development of the NR with the readiness of operation for a preliminary experiment. In this study, the design of the NR is presented and the reflectivity is estimated via Monte-Carlo simulation. It was found that measurable lowest reflectivity is down to 10 -2 .

Background The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has been validated to predict the mortality rate of patients with various chronic liver diseases on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to assess the value of the postoperative MELD scoring system as an early postoperative predictor of outcome in patients undergoing living donor LT (LDLT). Methods A retrospective analysis of 217 adult-to-adult LDLT patients was performed. The values of the MELD score on various postoperative days (PODs) as predictors of graft loss within 6 months after LDLT were examined by calculating the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves. The 6-months graft survival rates were compared between patients with (n = 22) and without (n = 195) graft loss. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with mortality. Results The MELD score on POD2 was a predictor of graft loss, with an AUROC c-statistic of 0.779, a specificity of 79.5%, and a sensitivity of 68.2% at optimal cutoff, whereas the preoperative MELD score c-statistic was 0.605 with 44.6% sensitivity. Multivariate analyses for postoperative mortality revealed MELD-POD2 ≥19 (odds ratio, 5.601; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.395–4.508; P = .0009) as an independent predictor of short-term graft loss following LDLT, in addition to preoperative hospitalization status. Later MELD POD scores were also predictive of graft loss. Conclusions The early postoperative MELD scoring system is feasible as an index for prediction of postoperative mortality following LDLT.

The results of preliminary experiments of Kyoto University Accelerator based Neutron Source (KUANS) is reported. The Time of Flight spectrum showing clear peak of thermal neutron is presented and neutron flux of 4000 n/cm 2 s at the 1.24 m from the moderator surface is evaluated. Preliminary results of time-resolved neutron radiography are also presented, which shows 10 minutes-exposure is enough to make clear images. Finally, some applications suitable for KUANS, such as reflectometer are suggested.

Ti–Nb based shape memory alloys were fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) process. The effects of ternary alloying additions of Ta, Al and Sn and cold working on the shape memory characteristics of the Ti–Nb based alloys were investigated. The mixed elemental powders at compositions of Ti–22 at%Nb and Ti–22 at%Nb–4 at%X (X = Ta, Al and Sn) sintered by a pulse-current sintering equipment. The solution-treatment was carried out to obtain homogeneous microstructure. As a result, the solution-treated Ti–22 at%Nb alloy consisted of α″ and β phases at 300 K. The martensitic transformation start temperature of the Ti–22 at%Nb alloy was lower than that of the wrought alloy of the same composition. The Ti–22 at%Nb–4 at%Al alloy indicated a superelastic-like behavior in the stress–strain curve, but the superelastic behavior could not be observed in the solution-treated alloys of other compositions. To improve the shape memory properties of the solution-treated Ti–22 at%Nb alloy, the alloys were cold-rolled at a reduction of 95% in thickness. The Ti–22 at%Nb alloy annealed after cold-rolling showed superelastic behavior due to formation of texture of β-phase. The alloy showed a two-way shape memory effect after isothermal tensile test.

We thank the KEKB group for the excellent operation of the accelerator, the KEK cryogenics group for the efficient operation of the solenoid, and the KEK computer group and the National Institute of Informatics for valuable computing and SINET4 network support. We acknowledge support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, the Japan Society for the promotion of Science (JSPS), and the Tau-Lepton Physics Research Center of Nagoya University; the Australian Research Council and the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos. 10575109, 10775142, 10875115 and 10825524; the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic under contract Nos. LA10033 and MSM0021620859; the Department of Science and Technology of India; the BK21 and WCU program of the Ministry Education Science and Technology, National Research Foundation of Korea, and NSDC of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information; the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education; the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Russian Federal Agency for Atomic Energy; the Slovenian Research Agency; the Swiss National Science Foundation; the National Science Council and the Ministry of Education of Taiwan; and the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. This work is supported by a Grant-in-Aid from MEXT for Science Research in a Priority Area ("New Development of Flavor Physics"), and from JSPS for Creative Scientific Research ("Evolution of Taulepton Physics").

We present a measurement of angular observables and a test of lepton flavor universality in the B -> K(+)l(+)l(-) decay, where l is either e or mu. The analysis is performed on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 711 fb(-1) containing 772 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs, collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider KEKB. The result is consistent with standard model (SM) expectations, where the largest discrepancy from a SM prediction is observed in the muon modes with a local significance of 2.6 sigma.

We report the first observation of the radiative charm decay D-0 -> rho(0)gamma and the first search for CP violation in decays D-0 -> rho(0)gamma, phi gamma, and (K) over bar (*0)(892)gamma, using a data sample of 943 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The branching fraction is measured to be B(D-0 -> rho(0)gamma) = (1.77 +/- 0.30 +/- 0.07) x 10(-5), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The obtained CP asymmetries A(CP)(D-0 ->rho(0)gamma) = +0.056 +/- 0.152 +/- 0.006, A(CP)(D-0 -> phi gamma) = -0.094 +/- 0.066 +/- 0.001, and A(CP)(D-0 -> (K) over bar (*0) gamma = -0.003 +/- 0.020 +/- 0.000 are consistent with no CP violation. We also present an improved measurement of the branching fractions B(D-0 -> phi gamma) = (2.76 +/- 0.19 +/- 0.10) x 10(-5) and B(D-0 -> (K) over bar (*0) gamma = (4.66 +/- 0.21 +/- 0.21) x 10(-4).

We report the first search for the J(PC) = 0(--) glueball in Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) decays with data samples of (102 +/- 2) x 10(6) and (158 +/- 4) x 10(6) events, respectively, collected with the Belle detector. No significant signals are observed in any of the proposed production modes, and the 90% credibility level upper limits on their branching fractions in Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) decays are obtained. The inclusive branching fractions of the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) decays into final states with chi(c1) are measured to be B(Upsilon(1S) -> chi(c1) + anything) = (1.90 +/- 0.43(stat) +/- 0.14(syst) x 10(-4) with an improved precision over prior measurements and B Upsilon(2S) -> chi(c1) + anything) = (2.24 +/- 0.44(stat) +/- 0.20(syst) x 10(-4) for the first time.

Cosmetic formulations mostly consist of solid, gel, liquid, emulsion, and aerosol, corresponding to colloidal dispersion systems. The typical dimension in the colloidal systems is 1–1000 nm, providing unique physicochemical phenomena different from the atomic scale and the macroscopic scale. This would be derived from the self-assembling characteristic of small molecules such as micelles and liquid crystals. Here, we will interpret various analytical methods and basic theories to identify the structure of colloidal objects.

Emulsion is one of the most common products in our lives and used to manipulate biological systems in nature and our bodies. This chapter introduces basic concepts of emulsion, for example, definition, classification, relation with surfactants, disruption process, and will give hints how to prepare a stable emulsion. The most important term on emulsion is “non-equilibrium,” which allows us to distinguish from the other solution states and help us to understand why emulsion technologies are so complicated that any beginner cannot simply find a way to form a stable emulsion. In addition, this chapter shows as many emulsification technologies and their fundamental theories as possible.

Surfactants spontaneously construct a variety of self-organized structures in solvents, which noticeably depend on the chemical structures of surfactants as well as interaction manners with the solvents. A phase diagram is a key tool to give an interpretation to surfactant properties and, in fact, can provide a great deal of accurate information on the structural character of the surfactant including its solvation. This chapter introduces the fundamental concept of phase behavior in a surfactant system, and thereby reviews the structural effects of surfactant molecules on phase behavior and physicochemical properties using a number of phase diagrams in different surfactant systems.

We search for lepton-flavor and lepton-number-violating τ decays into a lepton (l= electron or muon) and two charged mesons ( h , h ′ = π ± or K ± ) using 854 fb − 1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e + e − collider. We obtain 90% confidence level upper limits on the τ → l h h ′ branching fractions in the range ( 2.0 – 8.4 ) × 10 − 8 . These results improve upon our previously published upper limits by factors of about 1.8 on average.

Determination of the genetic diversity and structure of coral populations across their biogeographic range must include the investigation of the coral host and its associated Symbiodinium. We examined the genetic similarity of the stress-tolerant coral Oulastrea crispata and the diversity of Symbiodinium D across part of their geographic distribution, which ranges across 5800 km in the West Pacific from tropical Thailand (similar to 7 degrees N) to the outlying regions of temperate Japan (36 degrees N). F-ST-statistics and AMOVA of directly sequenced coral ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequences showed a high genetic homogeneity between temperate and subtropical populations, but showed a significant difference between temperate and subtropical populations and their tropical counterparts. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of ITS DNA sequences identified 4 major O. crispata-associated Symbiodinium D types: D8, D8-12, D12-13, and D15; these were found in the regions extending from tropical Thailand towards the high latitude regions of Japan. F-ST-statistics and AMOVA of Symbiodinium ITS showed significant differences between tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions, with the D8 and D8-12 dominant in the tropical and subtropical regions, the D12-13 endemic in the subtropical northern South China Sea, and D15 restricted to the high-latitudinal outlying coral communities. Consistent variation in environmental factors, such as temperature and light, may have driven the regional specific divergence of the Symbiodinium D types, suggesting that habitat-specific Symbiodinium types can assist O. crispata in acclimating to the environmental fluctuations found in the marginal range of coral distribution.

It has been widely accepted that wide-band-gap semiconductor SiC can provide low-loss semiconductor switches and diodes for the power electronics applications. The SiC devices enable the low-loss and compact converters and inverters.

We report the first measurement of the τ lepton polarization P_{τ}(D^{*}) in the decay B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ} as well as a new measurement of the ratio of the branching fractions R(D^{*})=B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ})/B(B[over ¯]→D^{*}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{ℓ}), where ℓ^{-} denotes an electron or a muon, and the τ is reconstructed in the modes τ^{-}→π^{-}ν_{τ} and τ^{-}→ρ^{-}ν_{τ}. We use the full data sample of 772×10^{6} BB[over ¯] pairs recorded with the Belle detector at the KEKB electron-positron collider. Our results, P_{τ}(D^{*})=-0.38±0.51(stat)_{-0.16}^{+0.21}(syst) and R(D^{*})=0.270±0.035(stat)_{-0.025}^{+0.028}(syst), are consistent with the theoretical predictions of the standard model.

We report the first observation of the radiative charm decay D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ and the first search for CP violation in decays D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ, ϕγ, and K[over ¯]^{*0}(892)γ, using a data sample of 943 fb^{-1} collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The branching fraction is measured to be B(D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ)=(1.77±0.30±0.07)×10^{-5}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The obtained CP asymmetries A_{CP}(D^{0}→ρ^{0}γ)=+0.056±0.152±0.006, A_{CP}(D^{0}→ϕγ)=-0.094±0.066±0.001, and A_{CP}(D^{0}→K[over ¯]^{*0}γ)=-0.003±0.020±0.000 are consistent with no CP violation. We also present an improved measurement of the branching fractions B(D^{0}→ϕγ)=(2.76±0.19±0.10)×10^{-5} and B(D^{0}→K[over ¯]^{*0}γ)=(4.66±0.21±0.21)×10^{-4}.

We report a measurement of the ratio R(D*) = B((B) over bar (0) -> D*(+)tau(-)(nu) over bar (tau))/B((B) over bar (0) -> D*(+)l(-)(nu) over bar (l))where l denotes an electron or a muon. The results are based on a data sample containing 772 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs recorded at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. We select a sample of B-0(B) over bar (0) pairs by reconstructing both B mesons in semileptonic decays to D*(-/+)l(+/-). We measure R(D*) = 0.302 +/- 0.030(stat) +/- 0.011(syst), which is within 1.6 sigma of the Standard Model theoretical expectation, where the standard deviation sigma includes systematic uncertainties. We use this measurement to constrain several scenarios of new physics in a model-independent approach.

Using data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider, we measure the energy dependence of the e(+)e(-) -> h(b)(nP)pi(+)pi(-) (n = 1, 2) cross sections from thresholds up to 11.02 GeV. We find clear gamma(10860) and gamma(11020) peaks with little or no continuum contribution. We study the resonant substructure of the gamma(11020) -> h(b)(nP)pi(+)pi(_) transitions and find evidence that they proceed entirely via the intermediate isovector states Z(b)(10610) and Z(b)(10650). The relative fraction of these states is loosely constrained by the current data: The hypothesis that only Z(b)(10610) is produced is excluded at the level of 3.3 standard deviations, while the hypothesis that only Z(b)(10650) is produced is not excluded at a significant level.

We report a measurement of the CP-violation parameter phi(1) obtained in a time-dependent analysis of B-0 -> (D) over bar(*)(0)h(0) decays followed by (D) over bar (0) -> K-S(0)pi(+)pi decay. A model-independent measurement is performed using the binned Dalitz plot technique. The measured value is phi(1) = 11.7 degrees +/- 7.8 degrees(stat) +/- 2.1 degrees (syst). Treating sin 2 phi(1) and cos 2 phi(1) as independent parameters, we obtain sin 2 phi(1) = 0.43 +/- 0.27(stat) +/- 0.08(syst) and cos 2 phi(1) = 1.06 +/- 0.33(stat)(-0.15)(+0.21)(syst). The results are obtained with a full data sample of 772 x 10(6)B (B) over bar pairs collected near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider.

We conducted time domain chargeability measurement by multi-current transmission technique using a water tank and mineral ore which has certain IP effect in the purpose of verifying the method to calculate chargeability from the data acquired by multi-current transmission measurement using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technique . We also evaluate the effect to chargeability calculation of SP noise thorough numerical experiment. We confirmed that time domain chargeability measurement is available through the experiment using water tank and mineral ore. We also evaluated the effect of SP noise to time-domain chargeability measurement by numerical experiment. The precise current control and appropriate SP management are important for reliable chargeability measurement with multi-current transmission measurement.

We report the discovery of Ξc(3055)0, observed by its decay into the final-state ΛD0, and present the first observation and evidence of the decays of Ξc(3055)+ and Ξc(3080)+ into ΛD+. We also perform a combined analysis of the ΛD+ with the Σc++K- and Σc∗++K- decay modes to measure the ratios of branching fractions, masses and widths with improved accuracy. We measure the ratios of branching fractions B(Ξc(3055)+→ΛD+)/B(Ξc(3055)+→Σc++K-)=5.09±1.01±0.76, B(Ξc(3080)+→ΛD+)/B(Ξc(3080)+→Σc++K-)=1.29±0.30±0.15, and B(Ξc(3080)+→Σc∗++K-)/B(Ξc(3080)+→Σc++K-)=1.07±0.27±0.04, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic. The analysis is performed using a 980 fb-1 data sample collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider.

We demonstrate the high structural and optical properties of InxGa1−xN epilayers (0 ≤ x ≤ 23) grown on conductive and transparent ("Equation missing"01)-oriented β-Ga2O3 substrates using a low-temperature GaN buffer layer rather than AlN buffer layer, which enhances the quality and stability of the crystals compared to those grown on (100)-oriented β-Ga2O3. Raman maps show that the 2″ wafer is relaxed and uniform. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the dislocation density reduces considerably (~4.8 × 107 cm−2) at the grain centers. High-resolution TEM analysis demonstrates that most dislocations emerge at an angle with respect to the c-axis, whereas dislocations of the opposite phase form a loop and annihilate each other. The dislocation behavior is due to irregular ("Equation missing"01) β-Ga2O3 surface at the interface and distorted buffer layer, followed by relaxed GaN epilayer. Photoluminescence results confirm high optical quality and time-resolved spectroscopy shows that the recombination is governed by bound excitons. We find that a low root-mean-square average (≤1.5 nm) of InxGa1−xN epilayers can be achieved with high optical quality of InxGa1−xN epilayers. We reveal that ("Equation missing"01)-oriented β-Ga2O3 substrate has a strong potential for use in large-scale high-quality vertical light emitting device design.

We fabricated nanoscale-gate Al 0.25 In 0.75 Sb/InSb high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown on a (100) GaAs structure by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and measured their DC and RF performances at room temperature. The epitaxial structure had an electron mobility (μ) of 17,700 cm2/Vs with a sheet carrier concentration (N s ) of 1.06×1012 cm−2. We also introduced an evaporated SiO x passivation film instead of SiO x and SiN deposited by CVD method to prevent plasma damage in the passivation deposition process. As the result, we obtained a maximum transconductance (g m_max ) of 0.88 S/mm and a cutoff frequency (f T ) of 302 GHz for the 50-nm-gate HEMT when biased at a drain-source voltage (V ds ) of 0.5 V, which was because the evaporated SiO x passivation film could prevent electrical degradation of the HEMT structure caused by not only plasma damage but also thermal damage in whole HEMT fabrication process.

A novel electrical circuit spiking neuron model that has a piece-wise-constant vector field with a state-dependent reset is presented. It is shown that the model exhibits six kinds of border-collision bifurcations, where their bifurcation sets are derived and are summarized into two parameter diagrams. Then, using the diagrams, systematic synthesis procedures of the presented model so that it can reproduce four kinds of bifurcation scenarios that are typically observed in standard neuron models are presented. It is shown that the model can reproduce the bifurcation scenarios as well as corresponding nonlinear response characteristics observed in model and biological neurons. Occurrences of typical neuron-like bifurcations are confirmed by experimental measurements.

We have previously reported the clinical efficacy of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions, particularly for non-selective transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI) therapy. W/O/W emulsions limit damage to normal hepatic parenchyma, because of their minimal embolic effect on peripheral arteries and slow release of anticancer agent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ultraselective TAI (UTI) of a W/O/W emulsion for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).11 patients with Stage I-III small HCCs (5 cm) underwent UTI with a W/O/W emulsion at our institute. Response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Disease-free survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.All 10 patients, excluding a patient who underwent a hepatectomy after UTI, achieved complete response. The 6, 12 and 30 month cumulative disease-free survival rates for the 10 patients were 100%, 90% and 60%, respectively. The patient who underwent hepatectomy after UTI developed complete necrosis of the HCC and peritumoral non-tumorous liver parenchyma.UTI therapy using a W/O/W emulsion for patients with small HCCs results in a good local response.

We report the results of a study of B KIrk and /II K tic(2S) decays followed by qc and '/c(2S) decays to (K5K7). The results are obtained from a data sample containing 535 million BB-meson pairs collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e+e- collider. We measure the products of the branching fractions B(B > IC7ic)13(71, Ks K 7T) = (26.7 1.4(stat)+N(syst) 4.9(model)) x 10-6 and 8(B -+ K 71c(25))8(rIc(2S) Ksi(7tT) = (3.4+N(stat + model)t(syst)) x 10-6. Interference with the non-resonant component leads to significant model uncertainty in the measurement of these product branching fractions. Our analysis accounts for this interference and allows the model uncertainty to be reduced. We also obtain the following charmonia masses and widths: MO/c) = (2985.4 1.5(stat)1:8(syst)) MeV /c2, r(t1c)= (35.1 3.1(sta0+1:2(syst)) MeV/c2, M(ric (2S)) = (3636.111(stat + model)+3:70 (syst)) MeV/c2, r (17c (2S)) = (6.61:1(stat + model)11(syst)) MeV/c2. C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We have been developing an optical mammography prototype consisting of a multi-channel time-resolved spectroscopy system for breast cancer screening. The system utilizes the time-correlated single photon counting method, and the detector modules and the signal processing circuits were custom-made to obtain a high signal to noise ratio and high temperature stability with a high temporal resolution. Pulsed light generated by a Ti: Sapphire laser was irradiated to the breast, and the transmitted light was collected by optical fibers placed on the surface of a hemispherical gantry filled with an optical matching fluid. To reconstruct a 3D image of the breast, we employed a method using a time-resolved photon path distribution based on the assumption that scattering and absorption are independent of each other. We verified the possibility of human breast imaging by using a three-dimensional phantom model, which provides a simulation of human breast cancer, in the gantry. The clinical study was also started in January 2007. In a comparative study with conventional modalities, the breast cancers were detected as regions of optically higher absorption. Moreover, the results suggest that optical mammography is useful in monitoring the effects of chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: QUASAR is a particular application of the ASL method and facilitates the user-independent quantification of brain perfusion. The purpose of this study was to assess the intermodality agreement of TBF measurements obtained with ASL and DSC MR imaging and the inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of glioma TBF measurements acquired by ASL at 3T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two observers independently measured TBF in 24 patients with histologically proved glioma. ASL MR imaging with QUASAR and DSC MR imaging were performed on 3T scanners. The observers placed 5 regions of interest in the solid tumor on rCBF maps derived from ASL and DSC MR images and 1 region of interest in the contralateral brain and recorded the measured values. Maximum and average sTBF values were calculated. Intermodality and intra- and interobsever agreement were determined by using 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement and ICCs. RESULTS: The intermodality agreement for maximum sTBF was good to excellent on DSC and ASL images; ICCs ranged from 0.718 to 0.884. The 95% limits of agreement ranged from 59.2% to 65.4% of the mean. ICCs for intra- and interobserver agreement for maximum sTBF ranged from 0.843 to 0.850 and from 0.626 to 0.665, respectively. The reproducibility of maximum sTBF measurements obtained by methods was similar. CONCLUSIONS: In the evaluation of sTBF in gliomas, ASL with QUASAR at 3T yielded measurements and reproducibility similar to those of DSC perfusion MR imaging.

BACKGROUND Surgical treatment of deep-seated tumors such as supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors carries a risk of postoperative deficits due to possible damage to deep cerebral veins including the internal cerebral vein. It is often difficult to identify whether the vessel encountered during surgery needs to be preserved or not through the small operative field. Therefore, preoperative evaluation of deep venous structures is important. We evaluated the usefulness of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3 T MRI) for this purpose. METHODS First, the ability to detect deep venous structures was compared with both 3-dimensional computed tomographical angiography (3D-CTA) and 3 T MRI in patients without any damage to deep venous structures. Images of 7 consecutive patients suffering from insulo-opercular gliomas who underwent both imaging modes for the identification of lateral striate arteries were reconstructed for evaluation of the deep cerebral veins. Subsequently, surgery for tumors at the supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal regions was prospectively performed with preoperative evaluation of deep venous system only using 3 T MRI. RESULTS Information on the deep venous systems acquired by 3 T MRI was as useful as that acquired by 3D-CTA. Until today, we have treated 8 cases of supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors with preoperative evaluation of the deep venous system using 3 T MRI without any morbidity. CONCLUSION Information on the deep venous system obtained with 3 T MRI aids the surgery of supratentorial intraventricular and thalamic-pineal-tectal region tumors. As the required sequences of 3 T MRI are same as those necessary for the neuronavigation system, and 3 T MRI can be achieved without the use of iodine-based contrast agents, 3 T MRI can be an alternative for preoperative evaluation of the deep venous systems.

We search for lepton-flavor-violating tau-> ell V^0 decays, where ell is an electron or muon and V^0 is one of the vector mesons rho^0, phi, omega, K*0 and K*0-bar. We use 854 fb^{-1} of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider. No evidence for a signal is found in any decay mode, and we obtain 90% confidence level upper limits on the individual branching fractions in the range (1.2-8.4)*10^{-8}., 13 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett. B

Objectives: To analyze optical parameters of cancer before and after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.Patients and Methods: Absorption coefficient (µa) and reduced scattering coefficient (µs') of cancer and contra-lateral normal region before and after chemotherapy were measured by using TRS-20SH (Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.). A pulsed laser of 760, 800, and 830 nm wave-length was irradiated at multiple sites in both breasts with time-resolved spectroscopy method and scattered light was analyzed by photon diffusion equation. A total of ten breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy participated in the trial. Written informed consent was obtained from all of the patients.Results: Absorption coefficient (µa, 1/cm) of breast cancer was significantly higher than that of contra-lateral normal region before chemotherapy. In 800 nm wave-length, absorption coefficient of breast cancer decreased significantly after chemotherapy (before:0.0927, after;0.0498, p=0.002). Although absorption coefficient of contra-lateral normal region also decreased (before:0.0561, after;0.0437, p=0.006), cancer showed more significant decrease than contra-lateral normal region (cancer:-43.1%, normal region;-19.0%, P Figure 1. Absorption coefficient (pa, cm-1), at 800rim (cancer-normal) Similar results were observed in 760 and 830 nm wave-length. There was no difference in reduced scattering coefficient (µs') between before and after chemotherapy in both breast cancer and contra-lateral normal region. Conclusion: The absorption coefficient of cancer was significantly higher than that of contra-lateral normal region before chemotherapy and decreased significantly after chemotherapy. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-02.

The out-of-plane shearing characteristics of a paperboard by a straight punch and dies are important to estimate the paperboard stripping performance. In this paper, in order to reveal the die clearance effect and the feed velocity effect on the sheared end-profile of the paperboard, a precision shear testing device was developed. The shear cutting of the paperboards was experimentally carried out by varying the die clearance and the feed velocity of punch. Through this work, it was confirmed that (1) the load response had two kinds of transition gradient before passing through the maximum load point; (2) the shearing performance was classified with the normalized indentation depth d/t =0.1∼0.2 into an out-of-plane shear mode and a combined shear mode. Here, the combined mode was composed of out-of-plane bending and in-plane tensile deformation; (3) the surface layers of paperboard were observed with a de-lamimated state using an image processing of side-view flow deformation of the paperboard. Furthermore, (4) the shear strength was discussed with the orthotropic properties of the paperboard.

We have searched for the lepton-flavor-violating decays τ- decays into l-KS 0 and l-KS 0KS 0 (l=e or μ), using a data sample of 671 fb-1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. No evidence for a signal was found in any of the decay modes, and we set the following upper limits for the branching fractions: B(τ-→e-KS 0)

We present a search for lepton-flavor-violating τ decays into three leptons (electrons or muons) using 782 fb-1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider. No evidence for these decays is observed and we set 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions between 1.5 × 10- 8 and 2.7 × 10- 8. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.