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The perioperative management of patients who are smokers presents anesthesiologists with various challenges related to respiratory, circulatory, and other clinical problems. Regarding 30-day postoperative outcomes, smokers have higher risks of mortality and complications than non-smokers, including death, pneumonia, unplanned tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Given the benefits of smoking cessation and the adverse effects of smoking on perioperative patient management, patients should quit smoking long before surgery. However, anesthesiologists cannot address these issues alone. The Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists established guidelines in 2015 (published in a medical journal in 2017) to enlighten surgical staff members and patients regarding perioperative tobacco cessation. The primary objective of perioperative smoking cessation is to reduce the risks of adverse cardiovascular and respiratory events, wound infection, and other perioperative complications. Perioperative preparations constitute a powerful teachable moment, a "golden opportunity" for smoking cessation to achieve improved primary disease outcomes and prevent the occurrence of tobacco-related conditions. This review updates the aforementioned guidelines as a practical guide to cover the nuts and bolts of perioperative smoking cessation. Its goal is to assist surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals and to increase patients' awareness of smoking risks before elective surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-resolved neutron imaging system, RADEN, has been installed at the pulsed neutron source in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. In addition to conventional neutron radiography and tomography, RADEN, the world's first imaging beam-line at a pulsed neutron source, provides three main options for new, quantitative neutron imaging techniques: Bragg-edge imaging to visualize the spatial distribution of crystallographic information, resonance absorption imaging for elemental composition and temperature information, and polarized neutron imaging for magnetic field information. This paper describes the results of characterization studies of the neutronic performance and installed devices at RADEN and shows the results of several demonstration studies for pulsed neutron imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Neutron resonance absorption imaging, being used to visualize a spatial distribution of elements and/or temperature within a sample, is one of the important applications of an intense short-pulse neutron source. Two-dimensional time-analyzer neutron detectors are indispensable to perform neutron energy dependent imaging by means of the time-of-flight technique. Some state-of-the-art time-analyzer neutron detectors have been developed for thermal or cold neutrons. However the detection efficiencies of such neutron detectors are not sufficient for neutron resonance absorption imaging which utilizes neutrons in the energy region from eV to keV. The 2012 model lithium-6 time-analyzer neutron detector (LiTA12) system, based on a lithium glass scintillator and multi-anode photomultiplier tube, has the highest neutron efficiency among the detectors for pulsed neutron imaging together with the flexibility to tune the efficiency by changing the thickness of the lithium glass. The authors estimated performances of the detector at resonance neutron energies finding that 0.7 mm width line pairs made by 3 μm thick gold could be resolved at 4.9 eV and the maximum count rate of 8 Mcps was achieved at 1 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on the Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging System, called RADEN, developed in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility of high intensity proton accelerator facility J-PARC in Japan. It discusses the on-beam commissioning of the RADEN, the resonance absorption imaging, the fundamental specification of RADEN and the two neutron radiographs obtained at the first neutron beam.

Abstract: The JSNS design criteria for the coupled hydrogen moderator requires a large number of beam lines. We therefore performed neutronic calculations to maximize time-integrated and pulse-peak intensities of low-energy neutrons for 100% para-hydrogen coupled moderators. It was found that a larger number of beam lines increased the total intensity due to the increase of the angular coverage although the average intensity of each beam line decreased a bit due to a finite reflector missing caused by the beam extraction holes in the reflector. In the case of a rectangular moderator, the spatial distribution of the vector flux of low-energy neutrons becomes undesirable at a large beam extraction angle (). As an alternative, we propose a cylindrical moderator to substantially improve the spatial distribution. Time-integrated and pulse-peak intensities, pulse widths, and pulse decay characteristics were calculated as a function of the moderator diameter. The results indicated that the optimal diameter is about 140mm. Compared to the rectangular moderator, the cylindrical design gives higher pulse-peak intensities with narrower pulse widths, without penalizing the time-integrated intensities, thus providing a more uniform angle dependence. Some explanations are given for the differences in pulse characteristics between the two moderator shapes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Neutronic performance of a coupled hydrogen moderator was studied as a function of para hydrogen concentration, moderator thickness and height, premoderator thickness, etc. for the J-PARC spallation neutron source. It was found that a thick (140 mm) moderator with 100% para-hydrogen was optimal to provide a high time- and energy-integrated neutron intensity below 15 meV and high pulse-peak intensities at lower energies. Distribution of the cold neutrons on a moderator viewed surface was studied and found to exhibit an intensity-enhanced region at the fringe part near the premoderator. This rather peculiar distribution suggested that the moderator and the viewed surface must be designed so as to take the full advantage of the brighter region near the premoderator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses the hypothesis that increases in force at a given cytosolic Ca2+ concentration produced by muscarinic stimulation of canine tracheal smooth muscle (CTSM) are produced in part by mechanisms independent of changes in regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation. Permeabilization procedure; Fura 2 fluorescence measurements.

Presents information on a study on the relationship between the regulatory myosin light chain phosphorylation and force in alpha-toxin permeabilized canine tracheal smooth muscle. Methodology; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Peak shape analysis was performed for the energy spectra of Doppler-broadened prompt γ -rays generated by neutron capture reactions with various boride or boron samples. Significant differences were observed between nonmetallic and metallic borides. Minor differences between the peak shapes of prompt γ -rays from zirconium- and ferro-borons were evaluated by a peak fitting method. The identification performance for zirconium- and ferro-borons and other types of borides was measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study on the effect of increased calcium concentration in the contraction of airway smooth muscle. Effect of the binding of cytosolic calcium to chemical calmodulin; Experimental techniques utilized in the study; Results.

Examines the effects of phorbol esters on the positive ion of calcium (Ca2+) sensitivity and myosin light-chain phosphorylation in the airway smooth muscle. Association of the airways smooth muscle, contractile in response to physiological agonists with an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration; Description of the muscle strips; How the protocol was conducted.

Abstract: The Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) of J-PARC has a general control system (MLF-GCS) that controls all the MLF subsystems including the muon and neutron targets, the moderator, the cooling system, the remote handling systems, etc. And although the MLF-GCS is an independent control system it does have to work in close coordination with the accelerator and other facility control systems within J-PARC. The MLF-GCS consists of a main control system and some servers, which include a data server, a WEB server, an EPICS server, a camera server and an information display server. The server systems play an important role in realizing advanced independent control of the MLF. The design and construction of the server systems are almost complete, and their improvement and optimization is now in progress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A beam interlock system with safety keys is adopted in the Materials and Life science experimental Facility (MLF) at J-PARC to protect users conducting experiments from excessive doses of radiation from neutron and muon beams. This paper outlines the interlock system from the point of view of safety, understandability and adaptability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the 7th experts' meeting on the neutron wavelength-dependent imaging (NEUWAVE-7) workshop held in Mito, Japan from May 31 to June 3, 2015. It mentions highlights of the workshop including a visit to the RADEN energy resolved neutron imaging system, reports from neutron imaging facilities and presentations on neutron imaging detector developments as well as progress made in the application of energy-resolved techniques.

• Shape effects for samples are critical for analysis using neutron-capture reactions. • Three non-destructive imaging methods estimated shape effects of sealed samples. • The energy-resolved neutron imaging could evaluate the non-uniformity of the samples quantitatively. • The energy-resolved neutron imaging is effective for improving the accuracy of analysis using neutron capture reactions. To determine neutron capture cross-sections and elemental/isotopic compositions accurately via neutron capture reactions, shape effects caused by uniformity of samples must be considered. However, the estimation of shape effects is difficult to verify in some cases: sealed samples and valuable objects. In this study, the effects on sealed radioactive samples were estimated experimentally. A capability of energy-resolved neutron imaging enabled us to confirm significant localization of the sealed 129I sample non-destructively. It is revealed that shape effects should be corrected for obtaining accurate experimental results. Consequently, we conclude that energy-resolved neutron imaging will be effective to improve analytical accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutronic performance of coupled and decoupled hydrogen moderators for a short pulse spallation source was extensively studied by calculations to seek the optimal parameters, especially the para/ortho hydrogen ratio. A decoupled 100% para-hydrogen moderator gives excellent pulse characteristics at lower energies. Gadolinium (Gd) poisoning is useful to obtain narrower pulses up to about 70 meV at a reasonable intensity penalty. At higher energies, where the pulse tail decay characteristics become most important, the choice of the reflector material and the decoupling energy ( E d ) play an important role. One important technical issue is the radiation damage of a Gd-poison and a boron carbide decoupler. We discuss the possibility of using a composite decoupler material such as Cd+In (indium)+Eu (europium). In a coupled moderator a 100% para-hydrogen moderator of a larger volume gives an additional intensity gain over a normal one but the gain is not as large as in a decoupled one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A time-of-flight Bragg-edge neutron transmission imaging was used to investigate the microstructure and strain distributions in a gear hardened by a newly developed two-step induction-heating method: precursor (Sample 1) and final product (Sample 2). The edge-position and edge-broadening were determined and mapped with high spatial resolution, which enabled us to confirm the two-dimensional distributions of the microstructure and residual strain. A deep hardened layer was made for Sample 1 in which martensite was formed on the entire teeth and the outer peripheral portion of the gear body. Sample 2 was subjected to double induction-hardening, where a tempered martensite was formed as the thermal refined microstructure between a fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface and a ferrite-pearlite microstructure at the core. The relationship between edge-broadening and the Vickers hardness described by a linear equation was employed to derive the elastic residual strain. The residual strain map for Sample 2 revealed that a steep compressive strain was introduced into the fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface by the super rapid induction-heating and quenching process. The reversal of tension was speculated to occur below 2 mm from the tooth tip, and the strain was almost zero in the core region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A general control system for the Material and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF-GCS) at J-PARC is necessary in controlling all the MLF subsystems that include the target, moderator, target station, etc. And while it is an independent system, it needs to work closely with the accelerator and other facility control systems within J-PARC. This paper reports on the status with construction and adjustment of the MLF-GCS with the focus on its operations and interlocks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: At J-PARC, an intensive pulsed 3-GeV proton beam (1MW and 25Hz) extracted from a rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is introduced to a mercury target for a neutron source and to a carbon graphite target for a muon source. In order to obtain the beam characteristics before irradiating the targets, beam commissioning was carried out using a beam dump during the accelerator study. Along the beam line to the dump, several beam monitors were located for beam diagnostics. It was found that all the beam monitors functioned as expected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effect of melt convection on the phase separation structures in undercooled Cu Co alloys was investigated using the electromagnetic levitation technique, where the melt convection was controlled by applying a static magnetic field. The three-dimensional phase separation structures of the solidified Cu Co alloys were first observed using neutron computed tomography. A large number of small spherical Co-rich phases were dispersed in the Cu-rich phase matrix when the static magnetic field was relatively small. In contrast, several coalesced Co-rich phases, which were elongated along the direction of the static magnetic field, appeared in the higher strength of static magnetic field. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidification process of lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) is one of the key phenomena to prevent flow channel blockage accident in an LBE-cooled accelerator-driven system. However, the solidification of liquid metal cannot be observed optically and it is difficult to detect noninvasively. In this study, the one-dimensional solidification process of the LBE was visualized by pulsed neutron transmission imaging. Neutrons have higher transmittivity to the LBE than X-ray and neutron transmission spectrum of the LBE sample can be obtained by pulsed neutron imaging technique. The solid and liquid phases of the LBE were identified during the solidification process by the presence or absence of Bragg edge in the measured neutron transmission spectrum, and the transient behavior of the solid–liquid interface could be visualized. In addition, the characteristic spatial distribution of the crystalline structure was found in Bragg-edge transmission image after the solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Double induction quenching improves gear fatigue life with surface compressive stress. • Lattice spacing distribution in a fatigued gear can be measured by Bragg edge imaging. • Neutron Bragg edge imaging and XRD suggest residual stress relaxation during fatigue. • Bragg edge imaging and XRD results are complementary due to different gauge volumes. • The obtained insights enhance fatigue models and promote gear production development. The compressive residual stress on the gear tooth's surface, a vital parameter to control mechanical properties, such as strength, has a beneficial effect on the component's fatigue life. A novel procedure, double induction quenching (DIQ), effective for improving the fatigue strength of gear products, has been used for producing gears with steep gradients of compressive residual stress generated in the tooth surface. We performed a Bragg edge imaging experiment at a pulsed neutron source to determine the spatial distribution of the {1 1 0} lattice spacing (d 110) and the broadening of the {1 1 0} Bragg edge (w 110) on the DIQ gear product after tooth-bending fatigue tests to which different loading cycles were applied. No significant difference occurred in the d 110 and the w 110 at Hofer's critical section (tensile side) of the teeth with different loading conditions within the accuracy of data analysis. However, we detected a decrease in the w 110 and changes in the residual lattice strain distribution in the axial direction (through the thickness) along the tooth root directions at the opposite side of Hofer's critical section for both teeth after 3 × 105 and 8 × 105 cycles, relieving the compressive residual stresses during the fatigue process. The residual stress close to the gear tooth surface determined by X-ray diffraction using sequential polishing showed a slight relaxation and redistribution from the tensile side in the hoop direction, complementary to the neutron Bragg edge imaging information in the axial direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forced air warming systems are used to maintain body temperature during surgery. Benefits of forced air warming have been established, but the possibility that it may disturb the operating room environment and contribute to surgical site contamination is debated. The direction and speed of forced air warming airflow and the influence of laminar airflow in the operating room have not been reported.Methods: In one institutional operating room, we examined changes in airflow speed and direction from a lower-body forced air warming device with sterile drapes mimicking abdominal surgery or total knee arthroplasty, and effects of laminar airflow, using a three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer. Airflow from forced air warming and effects of laminar airflow were visualized using special smoke and laser light.Results: Forced air warming caused upward airflow (39 cm/s) in the patient head area and a unidirectional convection flow (9 to 14 cm/s) along the ceiling from head to foot. No convection flows were observed around the sides of the operating table. Downward laminar airflow of approximately 40 cm/s counteracted the upward airflow caused by forced air warming and formed downward airflow at 36 to 45 cm/s. Downward airflows (34 to 56 cm/s) flowing diagonally away from the operating table were detected at operating table height in both sides.Conclusions: Airflow caused by forced air warming is well counteracted by downward laminar airflow from the ceiling. Thus it would be less likely to cause surgical field contamination in the presence of sufficient laminar airflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron Bragg-edge transmission imaging makes it possible to quantitatively visualize the two-dimensional distribution of microstructure within a sample. In order to examine its application to engineering products, time-of-flight Bragg-edge transmission imaging experiments using a pulsed neutron source were performed for plastically bent plates composed of a ferritic steel and a duplex stainless steel. The non-homogeneous microstructure distributions, such as texture, crystalline size, phase volume fraction and residual elastic strain, were evaluated for the cross sections of the bent plates. The obtained results were compared with those by neutron diffraction and electron back scatter diffraction, showing that the Bragg-edge transmission imaging is powerful for engineering use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) cooled nuclear reactor, phase transition phenomena of LBE are very important. In the solidification of LBE, the crystalline structure is varied with the cooling process. The volumetric expansion of LBE must be clarified for the safety of an LBE cooled nuclear reactor. The time dependence of the volumetric expansion depends on the crystalline microstructure. In this study, the crystalline microstructure of the LBE samples solidified with the different cooling processes was investigated by the neutron Bragg edge imaging technique. Spatially integrated and local microstructure characteristics of LBE samples were analyzed. Characteristics of preferred orientation of LBE microstructure were clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general purpose Monte Carlo Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System, PHITS, is being developed through the collaboration of several institutes in Japan and Europe. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is responsible for managing the entire project. PHITS can deal with the transport of nearly all particles, including neutrons, protons, heavy ions, photons, and electrons, over wide energy ranges using various nuclear reaction models and data libraries. It is written in Fortran language and can be executed on almost all computers. All components of PHITS such as its source, executable and data-library files are assembled in one package and then distributed to many countries via the Research Organization for Information Science and Technology, the Data Bank of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency, and the Radiation Safety Information Computational Center. More than 1500 researchers have been registered as PHITS users, and they apply the code to various research and development fields such as nuclear technology, accelerator design, medical physics, and cosmic-ray research. This paper briefly summarizes the physics models implemented in PHITS, and introduces some important functions useful for specific applications, such as an event generator mode and beam transport functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium tracer diffusion coefficients have been measured in Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4) 3 (LATP) and LATP – LaPO 4 composite solid electrolytes in the temperature range between 300 °C and 500 °C by means of neutron radiography technique that utilizes the difference in neutron attenuation of 6Li and 7Li isotopes. The diffusion coefficient of LATP – LaPO 4 composite is higher than that of pristine LATP, although the difference is much smaller than that estimated from the room temperature conductivity. This suggests that the bulk diffusion becomes the predominant diffusion mechanism at 300 °C to 500 °C instead of the diffusion along the space charge layer formed around the LaPO 4 dispersants. • Tracer diffusion experiments were performed for LATP and composite electrolytes. • Higher diffusion coefficient is obtained for composite rather than pristine LATP. • Bulk diffusion is predominant rather than space charge layer diffusion above 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The J-PARC 1MW pulsed spallation neutron source JSNS was successfully launched on 30th of May 2008. To demonstrate the unique features of the moderator design and the neutronic performance of JSNS the neutron spectral intensity, absolute neutron flux, and time structure of the neutron pulse shapes etc. have been measured using several neutron instruments since then. The measured energy spectra clearly revealed the feature of the para-hydrogen, as expected when designing the moderator. The measured neutron flux below 0.4eV agreed with the corresponding design value within ±20%, thus suggesting that the JSNS design calculations to have been reliable. World-class high-resolution diffraction data could be recorded due to the suitability of design of the moderators and the instruments. Another world-class high-intensity neutron flux was also capable of being demonstrated due to the unique design of the large cylindrical coupled moderator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neutronic performance of a poisoned hydrogen moderator was studied in details. Using a simple rectangular-shape moderator-model, its basic characteristics were studied as a function of the poison position. We, for the first time, turned up that the pulse width was rather decreasing with increasing the moderator thickness of the back part from the poison. This is due to the fact that source neutron pulses entering into a front part of the poison through the back part exhibit a fast rise shape while those from the target and the reflector through the decoupler and liner exhibit a broad shape. Next, we studied the pulse deterioration in regard to a finite beam-extraction-angle by using a more realistic moderator shape, canteen shape and a concave-shape. It turns out that the pulse deterioration is considerably large in both cases even at a small extraction angle. The concave-shape moderator indicates a finite improvement compared to the canteen-shape one. Finally, merits and demerits of two poison materials, Cadmium and Gadolinium, were discussed taking into account the burn-up issue of poison with the operation time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A 3-GeV proton beam transport (3NBT) line provides high-intensity proton beam for an experimental facility of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). Its beam optics and components were intensively designed to transport the proton beam of large emittance with extremely low loss rate. The 3NBT accommodates an intermediate target that causes large beam loss. The scheme of the cascade target system was carefully devised to overcome difficulties due to high radiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neutronic studies of decoupled hydrogen moderators were performed by calculations taking into account para hydrogen content, decoupling energy, moderator dimensions/shapes and reflector material. Low-energy parts of calculated spectral intensities with different para hydrogen contents were analyzed by a modified Maxwell function to characterize neutron spectra. The result shows that a 100% para hydrogen moderator gives the highest pulse peak intensity together with the narrowest pulse width and the shortest decay times. Pulse broadening with a reflector was explained by time distributions of source neutrons entering into the moderator through a decoupler. Material dependence of time distribution was studied. A decoupling energy higher than 1eV does not bring about a large improvement in pulse widths and decay times, even at a large penalty in the peak intensity. The optimal moderator thickness was also discussed for a rectangular parallelepipe-shaped and a canteen-shaped moderator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Determines whether activation of G proteins can affect the force developed for a given intracellular Ca[sup 2+] concentration. Effect of acute application of ACh, ET-1 or AlF[sup -][sub 4] on Ca[sup 2+] sensitivity; Dependence of AlF[sup -][sub 4] effects on G proteins.

Presents a study which determined whether activation of G proteins can affect the force developed for a given intracellular calcium concentration. Methods; Results and discussion.

Current-voltage characteristic for a Ge-incorporated Si oxide was investigated. Current enhancement was observed for the electric field larger than 10 MV/cm. Such a current enhancement only under high electric field is expected to improve programming performance without deteriorating reading performance. From secondary ion mass spectrometry and hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses and current simulation, it is concluded that the Ge impurity in Ge4+ state around the tunnel oxide/substrate interface enhances the current by trap-assisted tunneling. The programming current enhancement induced by the Ge incorporation is expected to be one of the promising solutions for the next-generation flash memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]