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β-d-Galacturonidase was identified as a novel enzyme whose activity is absent from human cells and could be used in the detection of antigen proteins on live human cells with lower background signal.

The short-term efficacy of tacrolimus (Tac) for steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) has been demonstrated; however, its long-term outcomes have not been well documented. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the long-term outcomes of patients who achieved Tac-induced remission and identify its predictors.This study included patients with moderate-to-severe active UC who started receiving Tac at our hospital between July 2004 and December 2016. Short-term treatment response was assessed using the Lichtiger index 3 months after starting Tac, and responding patients were further followed up to assess long-term outcomes. The primary endpoint was the relapse-free survival after Tac-induced remission, and the secondary endpoint was the identification of factors associated with relapse after Tac-induced remission.The cumulative relapse-free survival rate at 10 years after Tac-induced remission was 33.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed that being thiopurine naïve at Tac induction was associated with the absence of relapse (hazard ratio: 0.45; 95% confidence interval: 0.22-0.92).Approximately one-third of patients who achieved Tac-induced remission maintained long-term remission. Being thiopurine naïve at Tac induction was a predictor of the absence of relapse.

Background/Aims Colonic diverticular hemorrhage (DH) was a rare disease until the 1990s, and its incidence has increased rapidly since 2000 in Japan. In recent years, colonic DH has been the most frequent cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Nearly all cases of DH are mild, with the bleeding often stopping spontaneously. Some cases, however, require surgery or arterial embolization. In this study, using a cohort at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, we investigated factors associated with severe colonic DH. Methods Among patients with LGIB who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital between 1995 and 2013, DH was identified in 273 patients. Among them, 62 patients (22.7%) were defined as having severe colonic DH according to recurrence of bleeding in a short period, and/or the necessity of transfusion, arterial embolization, or surgery. We then evaluated risk factors for severe DH among DH patients in this retrospective cohort. Results Among the 273 patients with DH, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (odds ratio [OR], 2.801; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.164-6.742), Charlson Risk Index (CRI) ≥2 (OR, 3.336; 95% CI, 1.154-7.353), right-sided colonic DH (OR, 3.873; 95% CI, 1.554-9.653), and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion (such as light-headedness, dizziness, or syncope) (OR, 2.926; 95% CI, 1.310-6.535) showed an increased risk of severe DH even after controlling for other factors. Conclusions Severe DH occurred in 23% of DH patients, and NSAID use, CRI ≥2, right-sided colonic DH, and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion are suggested to be predictors of severe DH.

本研究の目的は，本誌本号で報告した「産業革命と欧米諸国」の授業研究に引き続き，教科書の記述を事実そのものではなく作品として扱うことによって，その記述が中立公平な絶対的真理ではないことを子どもに理解させる批判的教科書活用論の教育効果を実験的実証的に明らかにすることである．具体的には，「ヨーロッパのアジア侵略」という教科書紙面を使った中学校社会科授業を開発し実践し意識調査を行うという研究方法をとることによって，批判的教科書活用論が教科書の本質を子どもに理解させる上で本当に有効かどうか確かめた．

The Part II places emphasis on content analyses of Text-Books of World History, from the points of view of periods and regions, since 1958 until 2012. They have shown a kind of little shift of description from Euro-centrism to more World-wide unification as well as some tendency of quasi-independence from curriculum guidelines.

Background and Aim The aim of the present study was to endoscopically evaluate ileal mucosal healing during maintenance therapy with infliximab in order to investigate the clinical significance of endoscopic examination of ileal lesions in Crohn's disease patients. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who mainly had active ulcers of the ileum on endoscopy at baseline who were responsive to infliximab induction and who received infliximab maintenance therapy. Mucosal healing was defined as no ulcer or only ulcer scar. At the time of follow-up endoscopy after starting infliximab, endoscopic score, mucosal healing, and clinical remission were evaluated. On long-term follow up, correlations between mucosal healing and long-term clinical remission, and between mucosal healing and the need for major abdominal surgery, were also evaluated. Results Ileal mucosal healing and complete mucosal healing were significantly correlated with clinical remission (P = 0.046, P = 0.0001, respectively). The rate of long-term clinical remission was significantly higher in patients with complete mucosal healing (P = 0.025). The rate of major abdominal surgery for strictures was significantly lower in patients with complete mucosal healing (P = 0.044). Conclusions Complete mucosal healing after 1–2 years was a predictive factor for long-term clinical remission up to 4 years after starting infliximab. A lack of complete mucosal healing was a predictive factor for major abdominal surgery for strictures. The present study suggests that endoscopic evaluation of ileal lesions is useful for long-term prognosis of Crohn's disease patients.

The purpose of this paper is to enumerate the problems against which comes up the ‘World-History,'establishedin a curriculum of high school education right after the Second World War, and to make an analysis of them. Ourfinal goal will be to show the possibility of leading cross-linkage of World History Education from junior high schoolto university curriculum.

Background and Aim There have been very few reported investigations on the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of intestinal cancer and all cancers other than intestinal cancer with Crohn's disease (CD) by organ in Japan. This study examined the risk of developing cancer (i.e. SIR) that occurs in association with CD. Methods The subjects were 770 CD patients managed at our hospital department, which specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, during the approximately 25 years from July 1985 to August 2010. The number of expected cancer patients in a healthy population matched for sex and age with the CD patients in our hospital was then calculated. The relative risk, or SIR, was also calculated. Results The total observation period was 10 552 person-years, during which 19 cases (2.5%) of cancer were discovered in 770 subjects. The cancer cases included nine cases of colorectal cancer (CRC), one case of small bowel cancer, one case of stomach cancer, three cases of acute myeloid leukemia, two cases of endometrial cancer, one case of lung cancer, one case of skin cancer, and one case of thyroid cancer. The SIR for cancers in Japan in 2003 was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52–1.35) for all cancers, 2.79 (95% CI 1.28–5.29) for CRC, and 6.94 (95% CI 1.43–20.3) for leukemia. Conclusions Among the cancers in CD patients in our hospital, no significant difference was seen in the risk for all cancers in comparison with the standard population. However, the risks for CRC and leukemia were significantly higher than in the standard population.

Intestinal complications of stenosis or fistula may occur during the course of Crohn's disease (CD), and surgery is performed in a fair number of patients. The risk factors for initial surgery in a Japanese hospital-based cohort of CD patients were evaluated.This study was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study. The subjects were 520 patients who underwent inpatient and outpatient treatment at our hospital, had a definitive diagnosis of CD, and no previous surgery. Three parameters were investigated: (i) cumulative incidence of stenosis and fistula; (ii) cumulative rate of initial surgery for each disease type; and (iii) risk factors at diagnosis for initial surgery.(i) Stenosis and fistula increased with time, with stenosis or fistula appearing in about half of the patients after 5 years. (ii) The cumulative rate of initial surgery was about 50% after 10 years. (iii) The patient factors at diagnosis of current smoker, upper gastrointestinal disease, stricturing, penetrating, moderate to severe stenosis of the jejunum, moderate to severe stenosis of the ileum, and moderate to severe stenosis of the terminal ileum were risk factors for initial surgery.Stenosis or fistula appeared in about half of the patients after 5 years from diagnosis. When upper gastrointestinal disease or complicated small intestinal lesions are seen at the time of diagnosis, the cumulative rate of initial surgery is significantly higher.

A newly developed linear electrostatic microactuator mechanism employing a vibrating motion is described. In order to achieve a miniature charge coupled device (CCD) camera with autofocusing and zoom functions, we developed an electrostatic linear microactuator with a large movement range. In miniature CCD cameras, extremely thin electrostatic actuators are needed because the space available for the focusing mechanism is reduced. The moving part (slider) of this actuator is sandwiched between fixed electrodes (stator), is alternately attached and detached to these fixed electrodes, and actuates linearly on a macroscopic level. The fundamental feasibility of this vibrating motion mechanism was first confirmed in experiments. This actuator was then applied to the focusing mechanism of a miniature CCD camera. A microlens was fitted inside the slider and it was possible to adjust the focus by moving the slider (with microlens). The size of the prototype for the focusing mechanism is 3.6/spl times/4.6/spl times/8.0 mm, and a 2-mm movement range is achieved. The minimum driving voltage is 60 V and the maximum velocity is 1.0 min/s.

Dielectric property and sinterability of 0.95MgTiO3⋅0.05CaTiO3 modified with B2O3 or V2O5 were inverstigated. Addition of B2O3 decreased the firing temperature and did not affect dielectric property. On the other hand, addition of V2O5 also decreased the sintering temperature more extensively than B2O3, but influenced the dielectric property. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation suggested that addition of B2O3 or V2O5 make a large amount of liquid phase. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that B2O3 decreases the MgTi2O5 phase, but that V2O5 increases both MgTi2O5 and Ca5Mg4V6O24 phases. It is supposed that the liquid phase which was created by addition of B2O3 or V2O5, increased mainly sinterability at low firing temperature, but that addition of V2O5 also created the MgTi2O5 and Ca5Mg4V6O24 phases during the sintering process, which decrease dielectric property seriously.

In this paper we describe a new design of a fluid-driven microactuator which comprises a planar piston, a four-way control valve, and a mechanical feedback system that controls the output in accordance with an input displacement. Merits of this design are expected in terms of output density, scalability, and feedback ability realized with no electronic devices. Fabrication processes of the microactuator include bulk micromachining of two sheets of silicon substrate and their assembly by electro static bonding to glass plates. The output characteristics were measured while compressed air was supplied. Generated output force showed an almost linear relation ship to supplied pressure and to valve displacement. However, the magnitude was asymmetric in terms of driven directions, which resulted from geometrical configuration essentially introduced by an anisotropic etching of the silicon substrate The position of the output shaft was sufficiently controlled with a designec magnification factor multiplied to the input displacement in both static and dynamic senses.

The aim of the present study was to endoscopically evaluate ileal mucosal healing during maintenance therapy with infliximab in order to investigate the clinical significance of endoscopic examination of ileal lesions in Crohn's disease patients.This study retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who mainly had active ulcers of the ileum on endoscopy at baseline who were responsive to infliximab induction and who received infliximab maintenance therapy. Mucosal healing was defined as no ulcer or only ulcer scar. At the time of follow-up endoscopy after starting infliximab, endoscopic score, mucosal healing, and clinical remission were evaluated. On long-term follow up, correlations between mucosal healing and long-term clinical remission, and between mucosal healing and the need for major abdominal surgery, were also evaluated.Ileal mucosal healing and complete mucosal healing were significantly correlated with clinical remission (P = 0.046, P = 0.0001, respectively). The rate of long-term clinical remission was significantly higher in patients with complete mucosal healing (P = 0.025). The rate of major abdominal surgery for strictures was significantly lower in patients with complete mucosal healing (P = 0.044).Complete mucosal healing after 1-2 years was a predictive factor for long-term clinical remission up to 4 years after starting infliximab. A lack of complete mucosal healing was a predictive factor for major abdominal surgery for strictures. The present study suggests that endoscopic evaluation of ileal lesions is useful for long-term prognosis of Crohn's disease patients.

In this study, eight sets of multiscale patterns from 100 nm to tens of micrometers were successfully drawn in parallel within 30 min using our multiple antiwear probes. The total pixel number of each pattern set was 1000 × 500, corresponding to a drawing area of 100 μm × 50 μm and a drawing distance of 50 mm. Substantial improvements in the throughput, stability, and durability of scanning probe microscope lithography are demonstrated.

There have been very few reported investigations on the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of intestinal cancer and all cancers other than intestinal cancer with Crohn's disease (CD) by organ in Japan. This study examined the risk of developing cancer (i.e. SIR) that occurs in association with CD.The subjects were 770 CD patients managed at our hospital department, which specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, during the approximately 25 years from July 1985 to August 2010. The number of expected cancer patients in a healthy population matched for sex and age with the CD patients in our hospital was then calculated. The relative risk, or SIR, was also calculated.The total observation period was 10,552 person-years, during which 19 cases (2.5%) of cancer were discovered in 770 subjects. The cancer cases included nine cases of colorectal cancer (CRC), one case of small bowel cancer, one case of stomach cancer, three cases of acute myeloid leukemia, two cases of endometrial cancer, one case of lung cancer, one case of skin cancer, and one case of thyroid cancer. The SIR for cancers in Japan in 2003 was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-1.35) for all cancers, 2.79 (95% CI 1.28-5.29) for CRC, and 6.94 (95% CI 1.43-20.3) for leukemia.Among the cancers in CD patients in our hospital, no significant difference was seen in the risk for all cancers in comparison with the standard population. However, the risks for CRC and leukemia were significantly higher than in the standard population.

Ba2Ti9O20 with GeO2 and B2O3 was synthesized by an ordinary sintering method. Fired densities, dielectric constants and dielectric losses were measured. Ba2Ti9O20 containing B2O3 sintered at lower temperatures and Ba2Ti9O20 containing GeO2 showed more excellent dielectric properties than a single phase of Ba2Ti9O20. However, Ba2Ti9O20 containing GeO2 and B2O3 showed no improvement in the sinterability and dielectric properties by low temperature firing. A two-step addition process, i.e., separate addition of GeO2 and B2O3 before and after the calcination, respectively, was effective in reducing the firing temperature without affecting the dielectric properties. XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis and SEM (scanning electron microscope) observation were carried out on those samples. The sintering mechanism of Ba2Ti9O20 containing GeO2 and/or B2O3 was proposed and the relationship between the microstructures and dielectric characteristics was discussed.

In this paper we describe a new design of a fluid-driven microactuator which comprises a planar piston, a four-way control valve, and a mechanical feedback system that controls the output in accordance with an input displacement. Merits of this design are expected in terms of output density, scalability, and feedback ability realized with no electronic devices. Fabrication processes of the microactuator include bulk micromachining of two sheets of silicon substrate and their assembly by electro static bonding to glass plates. The output characteristics were measured while compressed air was supplied. Generated output force showed an almost linear relation ship to supplied pressure and to valve displacement. However, the magnitude was asymmetric in terms of driven directions, which resulted from geometrical configuration essentially introduced by an anisotropic etching of the silicon substrate The position of the output shaft was sufficiently controlled with a designec magnification factor multiplied to the input displacement in both static and dynamic senses.

A novel trench-type anti-wear microprobe with nano-scale electric contacts was proposed as an AFM probe to overcome the problem of probe tip wear and improve patterning stability in Atomic force microscope (AFM) local anodic oxidation (LAO) lithography. The proposed microprobe was fabricated using MEMS technique. The patterning and wear properties of the fabricated microprobe in AFM LAO lithography were investigated in terms of the change in the drawn line width and probe tip shape before and after a 20 mm scan. SEM images of the probe tips before and after the scan indicated that there was no obvious damage in the fabricated probe tip while apparent damage could be found on the conventional type probe tip. AFM LAO lithography results showed that the fabricated microprobe maintained a stable pattering performance before and after the 20 mm scan while the conventional type probe was unable to draw due to tip wear after the scan.

This paper describes a new design of a fluid driven micro-actuator which can be fabricated by anisotropic etching of single crystalline silicon. The actuator has a four-way valve to regulate the work fluid and a differential piston to generate linear force. First, fundamental flow characteristics are analyzed theoretically when the fluid flows in simple channels which have rectangular and trapezoidal cross section. Applicability of the Navier-Stokes equation assumed in the analysis is confirmed about the specific dimensions used in the actuator design by actual flow measurement. Then proposed actuator is examined separately on four constituent parts by numerical resolution of the N. S. equation. Consequently the results are integrated to estimate the output of the actuator. The design parameters of piston-casing clearance, piston width and casing height are investigated to evaluate the effect on the output. Finally the output characteristics are compared with that of an electrostatic actuator. The output and the one for unit area are expected to be a hundred times and ten times as large as those of the electrostatic actuator respectively.

Cross-sectional transmission electron microscope observation was performed for GaN epitaxial films grown on various planes of α-Al2O3 substrates. The GaN films were grown by a metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy method with or without an AlN buffer layer. From the electron diffraction patterns, the orientation relationships between the nitride(s) and the substrate were determined to be the same as reported previously, except for the GaN/AlN/α-Al2O3 grown on (0112) plane: (1216)nit≁ ‖(0112)sub, [1010]nit‖[0111]sub. A variety of lattice defects are observed in the GaN films. It is found that the shape of the lattice defects depends strongly upon the growth conditions of the GaN films.

AIM: To classify changes over time in causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) and to identify factors associated with changes in the incidence and characteristics of diverticular hemorrhage (DH). METHODS: A total of 1803 patients underwent colonoscopy for overt LGIB at our hospital from 1995 to 2013. Patients were divided into an early group (EG, 1995-2006, n = 828) and a late group (LG, 2007-2013, n = 975), and specific diseases were compared between groups. In addition, antithrombotic drug (ATD) use and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use were compared between patients with and without DH. RESULTS: Older patients (≥ 70 years old) and those with colonic DH were more frequent in LG than in EG (P < 0.01). Patients using ATDs as well as NSAIDs, male sex, obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2), smoking, alcohol drinking, and arteriosclerotic diseases were more frequent in patients with DH than in those without. CONCLUSION: Incidence of colonic DH seems to increase with aging of the population, and factors involved include use of ATDs and NSAIDs, male sex, obesity, smoking, alcohol drinking, and arteriosclerotic disease. These factors are of value in handling DH patients.

We have fabricated a membrane deformable mirror (DM) for ophthalmologic adaptive optics. An algorithm is demonstrated to compensate wavefront aberration of eyes, effectively. We have developed analysis systems that can predict the DM characteristics.

Newly developed linear electrostatic micro actuators employing a vibrating motion and fabricated by a bulk silicon micromachining process are described. The moving part (slider) of these actuators is sandwiched between two glass plates whose surfaces have many electrodes (fixed electrodes), is attached and detached to these fixed electrodes by turns, and actuates linearly on a macroscopic level. A feature of these actuators is that the influence of friction is reduced significantly and a large stroke is achieved. However, several difficulties have been identified regarding attachment/detachment operation actuators. The interactive forces, including the accumulation of charge caused by contact between each stator and slider create one of the most difficult problems. Our developed actuators incorporate micro pyramid stoppers, which prevent the accumulation of charge and other interactive forces, on both surfaces of the moving parts. The casing size of the prototype is 8/spl times/8/spl times/1.2 mm and achieves a 2 mm range of movement. The minimum driving voltage is 60 V and maximum velocity is 2.0 mm/s. The behavior of the slider is not simple and further analysis is very important in order to improve positioning accuracy, increase output force, and decrease driving voltage. The characteristics of the actuator (Stepping Model) obtained by experiments is reported. The authors further apply these actuators to a micro pan-tilt mechanism for altering the vision angle of a micro CCD camera and experimentally confirm their practical utility.

Newly developed linear electrostatic micro actuators employing an attachment/detachment mechanism and fabricated by a bulk silicon micromachining process are described. The moving part (slider) of these actuators is sandwiched between two glass plates whose surfaces have many electrodes (fixed electrodes), is attached to these fixed electrodes by turns up and down, and is actuated in the course of the linear motion. A feature of these actuators is that anti-friction bearings are not required and the influence of friction is reduced significantly. Several difficulties have been identified regarding attachment/detachment operation actuators. The accumulation of charge caused by contact between each stator and slider is one of the most difficult problems, and it can lead to complete actuator failure. The newly developed actuators have micro pyramid stoppers which prevent the accumulation of charge on both surfaces of the moving part. When a diving voltage of about 80 [V] is applied, the slider moves successfully with a /spl plusmn/1 [mm] stroke at a speed of 1.0 mm/sec under the condition of no load. The authors further apply these actuators to a micro pan-tilt mechanism for altering the vision angle of a micro CCD camera and experimentally confirm their practical utility.