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The recent interest in the coated particle fuel concept includes its application outside the past experience of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. To improve the high-temperature performance of the TRISO-coated fuel particles, a new material other than SiC is needed. Zirconium carbide is a candidate and the ZrC-coated particles have been tested. To improve the chemical stability of the TRISO-coated particles, new configurations of the coating layers have been proposed and tested. For the application to the fast reactor fuel, TiN coating layers have been proposed and tested instead of PyC layers.

Summary Background & aims The associations between dietary magnesium intake and stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) incidences are inconsistent and not established in Asian. We aimed to determine the association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke and CHD in a Japanese population. Subjects/Methods We studied 85,293 Japanese subjects by questionnaire at baseline (age 45–74 years, without cardiovascular disease or cancer in 1995 and 1998 for Cohorts I and II, respectively). The participants were followed until the end of 2009 and 2010 in Cohorts I and II, respectively. Dietary magnesium intake was estimated from a self-administered 138-item food-frequency questionnaire. Results After 1,305,738 person-years of follow-up, 4110 strokes and 1283 cases of CHD were documented. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs, 95% confidence intervals, 95%CIs) of CHD for the fourth and fifth quintiles of dietary magnesium intake were 0.70 (0.50–0.99) and 0.66 (0.44–0.97) in men (P for trend = 0.036), respectively, and third quintile of dietary magnesium intake was 0.61 (0.39–0.96) in women (P for trend = 0.241), compared with the lowest quintile in men and women. We observed no decreased risks of incident stroke in men or women with higher dietary magnesium intakes. Conclusions Higher dietary magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of CHD in Japanese men.

Aims Coping strategies may be significantly associated with health outcomes. This is the first study to investigate the association between baseline coping strategies and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality in a general population cohort. Methods and results The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study asked questions on coping in its third follow-up survey (2000–04). Analyses on CVD incidence and mortality included 57 017 subjects aged 50–79 without a history of CVD and who provided complete answers on approach- and avoidance-oriented coping behaviours and strategies. Cox regression models, adjusted for confounders, were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) according to coping style. Mean follow-up time was 7.9 years for incidence and 8.0 years for mortality. The premorbid use of an approach-oriented coping strategy was inversely associated with incidence of stroke (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–1.00) and CVD mortality (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.55–0.99). Stroke subtype analyses revealed an inverse association between the approach-oriented coping strategy and incidence of ischaemic stroke (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.98) and a positive association between the combined coping strategy and incidence of intra-parenchymal haemorrhage (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.01–4.10). Utilizing an avoidance coping strategy was associated with increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) only in hypertensive individuals (HR = 3.46; 95% CI, 1.07–11.18). The coping behaviours fantasizing and positive reappraisal were associated with increased risk of CVD incidence (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03–1.50) and reduced risk of IHD mortality (HR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40–0.99), respectively. Conclusion An approach-oriented coping strategy, i.e. proactively dealing with sources of stress, may be associated with significantly reduced stroke incidence and CVD mortality in a Japanese population-based cohort.

Background and aims Higher intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether increased blood levels of n-3 PUFAs are associated with reduced risk of CHD in the Japanese population. Methods The relationship between circulating levels of n-3 PUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid) and risk of CHD was examined in a nested case-control study among participants in the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based Study Cohort. Plasma n-3 PUFA phospholipid levels were measured at baseline by gas chromatography in 209 cases with CHD and 418 controls matched for sex, age, date of blood draw, time elapsed since last meal before blood collection, and study location. The CHD cases (n = 209) comprised 168 cases of myocardial infarction and 41 of sudden cardiac death, otherwise classified as 157 non-fatal and 52 fatal coronary events, respectively. Mean duration of follow-up was 13.5 years. Results Multivariate conditional logistic analysis showed no significant association between n-3 PUFAs and risk of total CHD. The odds ratio (OR) for the highest versus lowest quartiles of plasma n-3 PUFAs was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.41–1.51, p for trend = 0.51). Subtype analysis of CHD revealed that the multivariate ORs for the highest versus lowest quartiles for n-3 PUFAs were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.43–1.89, p for trend = 0.90) for myocardial infarction, 0.08 (95% CI: 0.01–0.88, p for trend = 0.04) for sudden cardiac death, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.42–1.89, p for trend = 0.97) for nonfatal coronary events, and 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02–0.75, p for trend = 0.03) for fatal coronary events. Conclusions Plasma n-3 PUFA levels were not associated with risk of total CHD but were inversely associated with risks of sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary events among middle-aged Japanese individuals.

Seafood/fish intake has been regarded as a protective factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), while smoking is a strong risk factor. To examine whether associations between smoking and risk of CHD are modified by seafood/fish intake, we studied 72,012 Japanese men and women aged 45-74 years who completed 2 food frequency questionnaires, 5 years apart, during the period 1995-2009. After 878,163 person-years of follow-up, 584 incident cases of CHD (101 fatal and 483 nonfatal), including 516 myocardial infarctions, were documented. There was a clear dose-response association between smoking and CHD risk among subjects with a low seafood/fish intake (

Background: We conducted a multicentre feasibility study for single agent long-term S-1 chemotherapy following docetaxel plus cisplatin in patients with curatively resected stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Patients received three cycles of docetaxel (60 mg m−2) plus cisplatin (80 mg m−2) and then received S-1 (40 mg m−2 twice daily) for 14 consecutive days with a 1-week rest for >6 months (maximum, 1 year). The primary end point was feasibility, which was defined as the proportion of patients who completed eight or more cycles of S-1 chemotherapy. If the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) of this proportion was 50% or more, then the treatment was considered as feasible. The sample size was set at 125 patients. Results: One hundred and thirty-one patients were enrolled, of whom 129 patients were eligible and assessable. In all, 109 patients (84.5%) completed 3 cycles of docetaxel plus cisplatin and 66 patients (51.2%, 95% CI: 42.5–59.8) completed 8 or more cycles of S-1 treatment. Grade 3/4 toxicities during the S-1 chemotherapy included anaemia (7.3%), neutropaenia (3.7%), and anorexia (3.7%). Conclusion: The toxicity level was acceptable, although the results did not meet our criterion for feasibility. Modification of the treatment schedule for S-1 chemotherapy might improve the treatment compliance.

This chapter describes the development of closed nuclear fuel cycles in Japan. The chapter first discusses the impact of the severe accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on the development of the closed nuclear fuel cycle in Japan, including establishment of the new nuclear safety regulatory system and revision of the Basic Energy Plan. The chapter then describes requirements for the future nuclear fuel cycle development. Following reviews of nuclear fuel cycle development programs and highlights, the chapter finally discusses the future development trends from the Japanese perspective.

We proposed and tested the a block detector for a multislice, depth-of-interaction (DOI) MR-compatible positron emission tomography (PET). The detector consists of a block detector, four optical fibers and photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs). The block detector is a lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) DOI detector comprising eight LSOs arranged in a 2/spl times/2/spl times/2 matrix based on the concept proposed by Murayama et al. The size of a single scintillator of a prototype block detector was 2/spl times/2/spl times/2 mm. The scintillation photons are collected from the side of the scintillator block detector and are transferred to four channels of the position-sensitive PMT (PSPMT) using four optical fibers several meters long. The outputs of the PSPMT signals are calculated to determine the position of gamma interaction in the block detector. Results show that although the light loss from using the fiber was around 90%, there were sufficient transferred scintillation photons to obtain the photo-peak and to calculate the position of gamma interaction in the block detector with reasonable separation. We also modified the block detector to improve the performance of the detector. The size of a single scintillator of the modified block detector was enlarged to be 2.5 mm (transaxial) /spl times/ 3.5 mm (axial) /spl times/ 3.5 mm (depth) to improve the sensitivity. Good position responses as well as time resolution of 5.6-ns full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) were obtained for the modified block detector. With these results, we conclude that a two-rings, two-layer DOI-MR-compatible PET can be realized using the proposed block detector.

Hexagonal TiNb(PO4)3, a host framework structure, has been synthesized at various temperatures ranging from 200 to 1300 °C and systematically characterized. An optimum synthesis temperature of 1200 °C has been found to be suitable for a cathode material for lithium secondary batteries. The samples synthesized at 1100 and 1200 °C have shown fewer undesirable reaction products than the samples synthesized at 1000 or 1300 °C. Titanium niobium phosphate (TiNb(PO4)3), without any lithium in its structure, was used as a cathode for a lithium secondary battery and intercalation of lithium into the vacant sites of the sample was achieved electrochemically. Of the TiNb(PO4)3 samples studied (1100, 1200 and 1300 °C), the sample synthesized at 1200 °C exhibits a better capacity of 147 mAh/g with a relatively high voltage. The discharge potential of this sample was found to be 2.3 V vs. lithium. In order to maximize cycle life and deliverable capacity, a safe voltage limit for this material has been determined.

We examined the association between green tea consumption and mortality due to all causes, cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, injuries, and other causes of death in a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan.We studied 90,914 Japanese (aged between 40 and 69 years) recruited between 1990 and 1994. After 18.7 years of follow-up, 12,874 deaths were reported. The association between green tea consumption and risk of all causes and major causes of mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment for potential confounders.Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality among men who consumed green tea compared with those who drank less than 1 cup/day were 0.96 (0.89-1.03) for 1-2 cups/day, 0.88 (0.82-0.95) for 3-4 cups/day, and 0.87 (0.81-0.94) for more than 5 cups/day (P for trend.001). Corresponding hazard ratios for women were 0.90 (0.81-1.00), 0.87 (0.79-0.96), and 0.83 (0.75-0.91; P for trend.001). Green tea was inversely associated with mortality from heart disease in both men and women and mortality from cerebrovascular disease and respiratory disease in men. No association was found between green tea and total cancer mortality.This prospective study suggests that the consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality and the three leading causes of death in Japan.

As innovative means to recover actinides from irradiated fuels, pyrochemical processes are proposed. In the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), the feasibility of applying molten-salts processes to nitride fuels containing transuranium elements for transmutation is investigated. In the course of study, experiments and analyses have been made on the high-temperature chemistry of M­N­Cl systems, the effects of oxygen impurities, and the implications of the divalent state along with the normal trivalent state of lanthanides and actinides. Thermodynamic calculation and the electrochemical measurements are compared in a few aspects of dissolution and precipitation of nuclear materials in molten halides.

Patient Card Systems (PCS) have been applied on a regional level to improve access to patient information. However, current projects lack a vision of future integration on a national level. In addition, Integrated Circuit cards and optical cards were introduced without considering that their cost and capacity limits impose significant constraints for future integration. The major arguments against PCS are the huge costs incurred by such a system and the limitations of the card capacities. In addition, standards and legislation have not been sufficiently developed. In this study, we propose a new model of PCS that employs recent communication and card technologies as a key to access a national medical information center. We demonstrate that PCS are feasible if implemented in several distinct phases and if the acceptance and cooperation of physicians and patients are achieved. However, political consensus about the necessity of reform in the health care sector must be established so that the necessary legislation can be enacted.

Cisplatin (CDDP)-containing chemotherapy has become the mainstay of clinical trials in unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the role of chemotherapy in the routine management of NSCLC remains controversial. We conducted a phase I study with the combination carboplatin (CBDCA), CDDP, and etoposide (Etop) in unresectable NSCLC. CBDCA, at a starting dose of 80 mg/m2, on day 1, was combined with a fixed dose of CDDP (80 mg/m2, day 1) and Etop (80 mg/m2, days 1-3). Escalation was performed after four patients entered at each dose level. If no World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 toxicity developed after the first cycle in more than half of the patients or WHO grade 3/4 toxicity in more than two thirds, the dose was escalated. The maximum tolerated dose was established at 300 mg/m2 for CBDCA. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were the dose-limiting toxicities. No grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicities were seen. The recommended dose of CBDCA to be combined with CDDP (80 mg/m2, day 1) and Etop (80 mg/m2, days 1-3) is 280 mg/m2. This trial suggests that our combination chemotherapy may be effective in patients with advanced NSCLC. A multicenter phase II study based on these findings is now under way.

The simultaneous stereospecific assay of four stereoisomers of diltiazem hydrochloride in bulk drug and aqueous solution was developed using HPLC on a Chiralcel OF column. The four isomers were quantitated with good precision by the internal standard method. The chiral inversion of (+)-cis-diltiazem hydrochloride in vitro, stability of its (2S, 3S) configuration in the solid and aqueous states was examined by HPLC. Chiral inversion of (+)-cis-diltiazem hydrochloride was not observed in the solid state, and its (2S, 3S) configuration was stable to heat, humidity and light. Chiral inversion of (+)-cis-diltiazem hydrochloride (2S, 3S) was observed in aqueous solution under UV, but not in aqueous solution stored at 80°C for 5 h nor under visible light for 10 h. The (+)-cis-diltiazem hydrochloride (2S, 3S) epimerized to (+)-trans-diltiazem hydrochloride (2R, 3S) with a half-life of 5 h in aqueous solution under UV but the reverse chiral inversion of (+)-trans-diltiazem hydrochloride (2R, 3S) to (+)-cis-diltiazem hydrochloride (2S, 3S) was not observed.

The treatment of chronic hepatitis with traditional Chinese medicine shows good therapeutic effectiveness in clinical practice. Since the process for the diagnosis in Chinese medicine is quite different from that of modern Western medicine, many physicians of modern medicine cannot practise it readily and effectively. We describe an expert system designed to support physicians who may not be familiar with the domain of traditional Chinese medicine, to treat chronic hepatitis by using Chinese medicine. This system was developed by logic programming language PROLOG, where the knowledge of Chinese medicine is represented in a semantic network structure and the reasoning strategy is based on the hypothesize-and-test approach. This system can guide the user to collect patient information easily, and based on those items of information this leads to the possible diagnosis and treatment for chronic hepatitis using Chinese medicine. The results of this system are compared with 40 patient case records and analysed by a specialist in Chinese medicine.

In a modern electrical power system, most of equipments have dc terminals as an interface or inside of them, but the electric power is distributed by ac. Therefore, they have to employ a power converter suitable for their circumstances to trade the electric power. However, as the converters cannot avoid conversion losses inherently, it is important to reduce the number of power conversion from an energy source to a load. On the other hand, there is a well-known topology of flying capacitor multilevel converter which has several terminals of different dc voltage and an ac voltage terminal. This paper proposes to utilize the topology as an integrated power conversion module. Their various dc and ac terminals can provide a wide variety of interfaces with the conventional ac grid, electrical equipments requiring different dc voltages, batteries, solar cells, etc. A typical application is introduced and evaluated by simulation study.

Martensitic and bainitic transformations in β phase Ag-Zn alloys have been studied mainly by optical and electron microscopy. The martensitic transformation with thermo-elastic nature is found to appear in Ag-38.0 at%Zn. The transformation temperature determined by resistivity measurements is M s =136 K. The crystal structure of the martensite is of the ordered 9R type. The martensite is also induced by the stress, through stretching or bending deformation. When the transformation is induced by stretching, it is immediately followed by the second transformation to the ordered 3R structure

The surface electromyogram (sEMG) is an indication of muscle activity and it is important for sports training and rehabilitation. The aim of this study is development of a new interface in order to visualize the aspect of conducting motor unit action potential (MUAP) for multi channel sEMG measured by grid surface electrodes. Conventionally, the multi channel sEMG is displayed as only a time chart of each channel according to the spatial arrangement of the surface electrodes. Therefore, it is difficult to understand the total spatial and temporal aspects of time varying potential distribution on the skin surface. We proposed a new visualization method of multi channel sEMG in order to obtain the total aspects at a glance. In this method, we first developed the grid surface electrodes in which seven differential sEMGs were arranged linearly (column: x direction) as one unit and these eight units were set parallel (row: y direction) with each other. We could obtain 56-channels sEMGs from the grid electrodes. Then, we interpolated the 56-channel signals along x direction by the cubic spline function and after that interpolated them along y direction also by the same cubic spline function. And we obtained a continuous potential distribution on x-y plain surface by such interpolation. Repeating this process on all time sampling data, we could finally obtain a three dimensional (x-y-t) distribution of the sEMGs. Using this distribution, we could edit an animation where each frame showed the potential distribution as a curbed surface on the x-y plain. We can clearly recognize the total spatial and temporal aspects of time varying potential distribution on the skin surface using this new three dimensional expression of surface EMG. Because of this visual expression, we might clearly find the anatomical position of neuromuscular junction and also the interference of two independent motor unit action potential waves.

We introduce the new method of quantitative assessment of the greater toe agility using the frequency response. In the patient rehabilitation with hallux valgus, therapists need the assessment of muscle strength and greater toe agility. In order to assess the muscle strength, they usually use the manual muscle testing (MMT) in a clinical setting, however, there are few studies on the measurement method of greater toe agility. We developed the new evaluation method to assess the agility of greater toe based on the frequency response. Two kinds of hallux valgus angles (hallux abductus angle and hallux interphalangeal abductus angle) are measured on each subject before the experiment. Two subjects were asked for sitting on the stool and watching the target moving on the monitor screen. They were also asked for pressing the button of load sensor in lateral directions following the target with their right greater toe. A target and the output force were displayed on the monitor and these time series were recorded. Target was moved 15 different frequencies from 0.2 Hz to 3 Hz. Then the frequency responses of the greater toe agility were obtained. The subject with larger hallux valgus angle showed lower cut off frequency than the healthy one. From the result, this method could be useful for detecting functional abnormalities of the greater toe.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on environmentally friendly hydrogen generation by nuclear energy. It presents that hydrogen generation from water using nuclear energy is one of the promising solutions for reducing CO2 emission from the viewpoint of the global warming issue. Especially, High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) has a possibility to generate hydrogen economically compared with other types of nuclear reactor. The HTTR project of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is a very important milestone to commercialize hydrogen generation with a HTGR in terms of the demonstration of coupling of the reactor and the hydrogen generation plant and hydrogen generation directly from thermal energy supplied from a nuclear reactor. JAERI is also contributing to the solution of the high-level radioactive waste management by developing the Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS) related technologies, where Minor Actinides (MA) and Long-Lived Fission Product (LLFP) will be transmuted to less hazardous nuclides with much shorter half lives. Thus, the application of nuclear energy will provide an environmentally friendly and economical method to generate hydrogen in the near future.

Histological image and ECG are the typical image based information in pathology and laboratory medicine. In this paper, two image based subsystems for histological and ECG examinations in a hospital information network of Kyoto university are described.

In order to determine how large pixel size was acceptable for digitized portal images in radiation therapy, the sensitivity and specificity to detect setup errors were compared between the original portal images and digitized images. One hundred portal images were selected from the clinical cases, a half of which showed setup errors. Three radiotherapists were asked to find any setup error in the original images and three sets of digitized version of them (2,048 x 2,048,1,024 x 1,024, and 512 x 512 matrix). Digital images of 512 x 512 matrix showed significantly low sensitivity and specificity as compared with other images. Digitization into 1,024 x 1,024 matrix images with 350 pm spot size are acceptable for portal images in radiation therapy.

We are now developing a multi-slice depth-of interaction (DOI) MR-compatible PET system The MR compatible PET system is for imaging small animals such as mouse or rat. The PET system employs previously reported concept of the DOI block detectors made of scintillators, optical fibers, and multi-channel position sensitive photo-multiplier tubes (PSPMTs). The scintillator was changed from LSO to MLS. The size of a single MLS was enlarged to 2.5 mm/spl times/3.5 mm/spl times/3.5 mm to increase the system sensitivity. Eight MLSs were combined to form a DOI block detector and connected to four optical fibers via light guides. Thirty two sets of block detectors were arranged in a circular ring of which diameter is 51 mm. Full sets of the DOI block detectors were fabricated and arranged in the ring. Position histograms showed reasonable separations for all block detectors. The MR compatible PET system will have 3 imaging slice, two layers DOI detection capability, and spatial resolutions of around 2 mm FWHM in transaxail and axial directions.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has become a powerful tool for analyzing the structure of while matter. We have already developed a novel method to assess white matter connectivity using diffusion tensor distance between neighborhood voxels. Diffusion tensor distance is defined as the length from the center to the surface of the diffusion tensor. In the proposed method, we use directional diffusion measurements to infer regional white matter connectivity. To assess the connectivity, we compose the map based on the projected tensor distance, then we put a label on the constructed map and segment regionally connected white matter using labels. We also apply the method to in vivo brain measurements at 3T MRI. Using the iterative algorithm, we can segment typical white matter trajectories such as corpus callosum. Compared with other algorithms using eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor, our approach has flexibility in selecting connected regions by using basic characteristics of the diffusion tensor shape. The purpose of this study is to obtain a quantitative map of white matter connectivity in vivo using diffusion tensor properties.

We propose a method for detecting nerve fiber bundles in white matter using diffusion tensor maps and apply the method to practical data. We can calculate diffusion tensor maps by combining several diffusion weighted images (DWI) that correspond to the mobility of water protons in 3D spaces. The intensity of DWI depends on the respective orientation of fiber bundles and the gradient direction at each different imaging slice. Specifically in white matter, we see a wide variation in diffusion. There are still qualitative analyses about DWI and few quantitative analyses about diffusion tensor maps. This report is essentially dedicated to make structural brain maps about white matter fiber bundles and suggest the usefulness for analyses of brain function.

The paper proposes a distributed operation system (OpS) model for the management of transmission networks. The model is based on the telecommunication management network (TMN), and uses directory service to settle some issues of the distributed system. The transmission networks need distributed OpSs that handle the huge number of network elements (NEs). An OpS manages managed objects that represent network resources. Identification of managed objects, NEs and OpSs is indispensable to establish management associations between them in the distributed environment. The proposed model uses the directory service to obtain those identifications. In order to effectively realize the directory function, the distributed directory realization method is proposed and evaluated. The simulation result confirmed the benefit of the distributed directory in reducing management traffic to obtain information. >

The ATM transport network operation system described follows the TMN concept and supports CMIS/P interfaces to connect its subsystems. It contains about a hundred GDMO object classes, which were specially designed to achieve the operation system function. New technologies introduced to ensure effective and rapid system implementation include a directory system, to solve the problem of object instance location, and the use of GDMO object classes to design all system functions. In addition, an original common software platform is used to support the GDMO object intercommunication function. This operation system achieves a distributed object processing environment that supports CMIS/P interfaces. The system has been deployed in Japan and is now being used in multimedia experiments, the initial results of which are encouraging.

A telecommunications management network (TMN) based operation systems (OpS) development platform, including TNMS kernel (transport network management systems kernel) and OpS development support tools, is introduced. The platform adapts the object oriented design approach and the GDMO template based program development. In order to confirm the platform's capability, an ATM transport network OpS is designed and experimentally implemented. The experimental OpS uses a layered architecture of OpS subsystems to manage ATM virtual paths. For the evaluation measures of system development efficiency and operation response time, the platform and the experimental OpS are shown to be suitable for developing future OpSs.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has become a powerful tool for analyzing the structure of nerve bundles in white matter. However, there are still problems to investigate the connectivity of the nerve bundles. The main problem is to detect a junction. Solving such problems, we consider a scalar potential field using several characteristics of the diffusion tensor extracted from DTI. The characteristics include fractional anisotropy (FA) itself, the similarity of the principal axis of the diffusion tensor, and FA. This approach is different from a conventional tracking-detecting method as for considering not only the orientation of tissues but also the similarity of characteristics of the neighborhood. To make the scalar potential field, we multiply the magnitude of each characteristic. In such field, we could give the high potential value for the high possibility of nerve bundle existence. Then we propose the method to estimate the connectivity of the nerve bundles between any two points in the field. We also apply the method to clinical data. From the result, we obtain the line integral of the potential between two points on the field that will be treated as the communication pathway of the nerve bundles. The goal is to obtain the qualitative in vivo analysis of the connectivity of nerve bundles and this study is the first step.

Background This paper describes the “EMG Driven Force Estimator (EMGD-FE)”, a Matlab® graphical user interface (GUI) application that estimates skeletal muscle forces from electromyography (EMG) signals. Muscle forces are obtained by numerically integrating a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that simulates Hill-type muscle dynamics and that utilises EMG signals as input. In the current version, the GUI can estimate the forces of lower limb muscles executing isometric contractions. Muscles from other parts of the body can be tested as well, although no default values for model parameters are provided. To achieve accurate evaluations, EMG collection is performed simultaneously with torque measurement from a dynamometer. The computer application guides the user, step-by-step, to pre-process the raw EMG signals, create inputs for the muscle model, numerically integrate the ODEs and analyse the results. Results An example of the application’s functions is presented using the quadriceps femoris muscle. Individual muscle force estimations for the four components as well the knee isometric torque are shown. Conclusions The proposed GUI can estimate individual muscle forces from EMG signals of skeletal muscles. The estimation accuracy depends on several factors, including signal collection and modelling hypothesis issues.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has become a powerful tool for analyzing the structure of white matter. We have proposed a method for detecting nerve fiber bundles in white matter using diffusion tensor images and have applied the method to in vivo brain measurements. Although there are many methods to investigate the connectivity of white matter that are based on principal eigenvector or full tensor propagation. In the proposed method, we use directional diffusion measurements to infer regional white matter connectivity. To assess the connectivity, we compose the map based on the projected tensor distance, then we put a label on the constructed map and segment regionally connected white matter using labels. The purpose of this study is to obtain a quantitative map of white matter connectivity in vivo using diffusion tensor properties.

症例. 74歳,女.血沈高度促進(1時間118mm)高γ-グロブリン血症の精査のため入院.血漿中単クローン性lgM増加(3.39g/dl).他の免疫グロブリン減少.眼底に軽度の静脈拡張がある以外,骨髄像正常で,リンパ節腫脹,肝脾腫,関節痛,骨病変, Bence-Jones蛋白尿いずれも認めなかった.なお, RF (59400IU/ml), RAHA (256000倍)と特異的に高値を示した.本例は慢性関筋リウマチに認められる関節症状やRF以外の他の血清学的異常を示さず,リウマトイド因子(RF)が単クローン性に著増したまれな例と考えられ,またRFの産生の機序と病態を考察する上でも興味ある症例と思われ報告した.

Patient Card Systems (PCS) have been applied on a regional level to improve access to patient information. However, current projects lack a vision of future integration on a national level. In addition, Integrated Circuit cards and optical cards were introduced without considering that their cost and capacity limits impose significant constraints for future integration. The major arguments against PCS are the huge costs incurred by such a system and the limitations of the card capacities. In addition, standards and legislation have not been sufficiently developed. In this study, we propose a new model of PCS that employs recent communication and card technologies as a key to access a national medical information center. We demonstrate that PCS are feasible if implemented in several distinct phases and if the acceptance and cooperation of physicians and patients are achieved. However, political consensus about the necessity of reform in the health care sector must be established so that the necessary legislation can be enacted.

A 51-year-old man was referred and admitted to our hospital for further examination of an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray film. One month before admission, a chest X-ray film had shown no abnormality. On admission, chest X-ray films and computed tomograms showed a tumor shadow in the right hilum, obstructive pneumonia in the right upper lobe, and a right-sided pleural effusion. Cytological examination of the pleural offusion revealed adenocarcinoma. The patients was given supportive care. The tumor grew rapidly and by the 13th hospital day it occupied whole right upper lobe. The patient died on the 21st day after admission. The white blood cell count had increased to 26540/mm3 as the adenocarcinoma grew. Serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which increases the number of neutrophils in blood in vivo was examined. The serum G-CSF level reached 112 pg/ml. On immunohistochemical examination, the tumor cells stained positively with anti-G-CSF monoclonal antibody. The growth of this tumor was more rapid than expected for adenocarcinoma of the lung. These findings suggest that G-CSF induced growth of the tumor.

Each local government conducts health examinations based on the Health and Medical Law for the Aged. However, since some residents are able to take health examinations at their own work places, for example, and the local government are allowed to exclude such people from taking the law-mandated health examination, it is difficult to obtain an accurate picture of the examination rate in each area. We investigated the actual participation status for health examination services of all of the 6,080 persons 20 years and over in age in Sakuragawa-mura, Ibaraki Prefecture. A comparative investigation was made on 3,655 non-bedridden/non-hospitalized persons of 40 years and over to ascertain the reliability of responses to questions about participation in lung cancer and gastric cancer examination services given by the village. The rate of valid responses was extremely low in those who had not participated in health examinations (male 54%, female 55% for the lung cancer, and male 53%, female 56% for the gastric cancer). These discrepancies are assumed to be the result of confusing the current health examinations with: (1) the health examination given in the previous year, (2) other kinds of health examinations, or (3) the health examination given in the work place or the like. A comparative investigation through logistic regression analysis, between the responses to the questions in this investigation and the actual health examination participation records, for persons who had not yet taken either lung cancer examinations or gastric cancer examinations (908 males and 938 females for the former, and 1,038 males and 1,187 females for the latter). Results showed that the influence of (1) and (2) were more or less detected in every kind of cancer examination, and the influence of (1) on the gastric cancer examination was particularly clear. No definite result was obtained about (3), because the actual record of the health examination service at the work place, etc. was unavailable. The results of this study suggests the necessity of a careful examination of methods when conducting a comprehensive service investigation for the health examinations.

PURPOSE We analyzed complete remission (CR), disease-free survival (DFS), and event-free survival (EFS) rates in two groups of patients treated with either N4-behenoyl-1-beta-D-arabinosylcytosine (BHAC) or cytarabine, and analyzed DFS with or without ubenimex, a biologic response modifier. PATIENTS AND METHODS Newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were randomized to receive either BHAC or cytarabine as remission-induction combination chemotherapy and two courses of consolidation therapy. After maintenance/intensification therapy, patients in CR were randomized to receive either ubenimex and no drug. RESULTS Of 341 patients registered, 326 were assessable. The age of assessable patients ranged from 15 to 82 years (median, 48). The overall CR rate was 77%: 72% in the BHAC group and 81% in the cytarabine group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P = .035, chi 2 test). The predicted 55-month EFS rate of all patients was 30%: 23% in the BHAC group and 35% in the cytarabine group, with a significant difference between groups (P = .0253). The predicted 55-month DFS rate of all CR patients was 38% and that of CR patients less than 50 years of age was 47%. There was no significant difference in DFS between the ubenimex group and the group that did not receive ubenimex. CONCLUSION Analyses of our clinical trial showed that the use of BHAC in remission-induction therapy and in consolidation therapy resulted in poorer CR and EFS rates in adult AML patients compared with the use of cytarabine at the doses and schedules tested. Immunotherapy with ubenimex after the end of all chemotherapy did not improve DFS.

Effects of 40 micrograms/kg of granisetron monotherapy (K group) and concurrent therapy with a steroid (KS group) on acute and delayed emesis induced by cancer chemotherapy which included CDDP at a dose of 60 mg/m2 or more were compared in random clinical trials under the central registration method. In KS group, either 500 mg of methylprednisolone succinate or 8 mg of dexamethasone phosphate was given prior to granisetron administration. Clinical symptoms such as vomiting, nausea and anorexia were better in KS group than in K group, on any day from day 1 to day 7, and there was a statistically significant difference on day 1 and day 2. The cumulative total control rate throughout the period of seven days was also significantly higher in KS group. KS group was rated higher in the final clinical evaluation based on doctor's impressions, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Augmented antiemetic effect of granisetron by concurrent therapy with a steroid was most notably demonstrated in male patients under 60 years of age. The antiemetic effect at the acute stage was proven to influence the final clinical effectiveness, thus suggesting the importance of antiemetic therapy of acute emesis. Adverse reactions were seen in two out of 122 patients (1.6%). They were slight headache and moderate diarrhea in 1 case each, both of which disappeared soon, confirming the high safety profile of granisetron.

An objective and quantitative method is described for evaluating human-computer interaction (interface) in a direct prescription entry system. This method is based on a GOMS model and represented by a tree structure. Three different interfaces at university hospitals were compared by this evaluation method, and the differences among them were measured.

Background The prognosis of gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis is extremely poor. Neither systemic chemotherapy nor surgery alone prolongs survival of patients significantly. Methods Patients diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer underwent staging laparoscopy and received chemotherapy when peritoneal dissemination and/or cancer cells on peritoneal cytology were confirmed. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of S-1, weekly intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel, which was verified in our phase II trial (Ann Oncol 2009). S-1 was administered at 80 mg/m2/day for 14 consecutive days, followed by 7 days rest. Paclitaxel was administered intravenously at 50 mg/m2 and intraperitoneally at 20 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8. Clinical response of chemotherapy was assessed by computed tomography, gastroendoscopy, peritoneal cytology and second-look laparoscopy. Radical gastrectomy was carried out when macroscopic curative resection was made achievable by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was restarted after operation as soon as possible. Overall survival, relapse free survival, morbidity and mortality of gastrectomy were evaluated. Results Out of 100 patients with peritoneal metastasis who received chemotherapy, 60 patients underwent gastrectomy after response to chemotherapy, including 54 with macroscopic metastasis and 6 with positive peritoneal cytology only. A median of three courses were administered preoperatively (range 1–16). Total or distal gastrectomy with lymphnode dissection was carried out in 54 or 6 patients, respectively. The median survival time was 34.5 months. The median relapse-free survival was 16.7 months. The first site of relapse was the peritoneum in 24 patients and the other organ site in 17 patients. Postoperative complications included anastomotic leakage and pancreatic fistula in two patients each, which were healed conservatively. There were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusions Gastrectomy combined with S-1, intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel is safe and active for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis.

In this study, indoor experiments were carried out with a model A-MHA system to investigate hydrogen storage capacity of hydrogen storage alloys. The performance of MmNi4.16Mn0.24Co0.5Al0.1 alloy at 0.3 MPa was same as that of LaNi5 alloy. As hydrogen pressure increased, the hydrogen storage capacity of MmNi4.16Mn0.24Co0.5Al0.1 alloy was greater than that of LaNi5 alloy. At 0.7 MPa, the hydrogen storage capacity of MmNi4.16Mn0.24Co0.5Al0.1 alloy was approximately twice that of LaNi5 alloy. The hydrogen storage capacity was approximately 83% after 1,000 cycles in LaNi5 alloy, and approximately 90% in MmNi4.16Mn0.24Co0.5Al0.1 alloy.