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ObjectivesTo evaluate the awareness of the volunteer pharmacy workforce of medication use and their satisfaction with the pharmacy services of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games from a pharmacist’s perspective.MethodsA questionnaire was developed from related articles in published peer-reviewed journals and modified prior to distribution to the whole population of pharmacists serving at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Validity tests were conducted based on expert opinions and Cronbach’s alpha (0.79). The questionnaire consisted of demographics (11 questions), knowledge of medication use in sports (8 questions) and satisfaction on the provision of the service (5 questions). Responses using a 5-point-Likert scale, from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1), and two free text questions were analysed with descriptive statistics.ResultsThe response rate was 86% (n=32/37). Overall, the pharmacists reported a high awareness of medication use. Specifically, questions on the prohibited list of medications (mean 4.0±SD 0.7), COVID-19 policy (3.8±0.9), use of alternative non-prohibited medications (3.6±1.0) and therapeutic use exemptions (3.5±0.9). Moreover, they rated high satisfaction with the pharmacy service they provided. However, rates were ≤3 for knowledge of the International Olympic Committee Needle Policy (2.6±1.0), Medication Importation Declaration (2.9±1.0) and communication skills (3.0±1.0).ConclusionPharmacists were confident and satisfied with the pharmacy service at the games. The study confirms the importance of prior training and education. Game-specific policies and strategies to improve communication skills should be included in the pharmacy education for future Games.

Knowledge of well connectivity in a reservoir is crucial, especially for early-stage field development and water injection management. However, traditional interference tests can often take several weeks or even longer depending on the distance between wells and the hydraulic diffusivity of the reservoir. Therefore, instead of physically shutting in production wells, we can take advantage of deep learning methods to perform virtual interference tests. In this study, we first used the historical field data to train the deep learning model, a modified Long- and Short-term Time-series network (LSTNet). This model combines the Convolution Neural Network (CNN) to extract short-term local dependency patterns, the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to discover long-term patterns for time series trends, and a traditional autoregressive model to alleviate the scale insensitive problem. To address the time-lag issue in signal propagation, we employed a skip-recurrent structure that extends the existing RNN structure by connecting a current state with a previous state when the flow rate signal from an adjacent well starts to impact the observation well. In addition, we found that wells connected to the same manifold usually have similar liquid production patterns, which can lead to false causation of subsurface pressure communication. Thus we enhanced the model performance by using external feature differences to remove the surface connection in the data, thereby reducing input similarity. This enhancement can also amplify the weak signal and thus distinguish input signals. To examine the deep learning model, we used the datasets generated from Norne Field with two different geological settings: sealing and nonsealing cases. The production wells are placed at two sides of the fault to test the false-negative prediction. With these improvements and with parameter tuning, the modified LSTNet model could successfully indicate the well connectivity for the nonsealing cases and reveal the sealing structures in the sealing cases based on the historical data. The deep learning method we employed in this work can predict well pressure without using hand-crafted features, which are usually formed based on flow patterns and geological settings. Thus, this method should be applicable to general cases and more intuitive. Furthermore, this virtual interference test with a deep learning framework can avoid production loss.

Objective: To establish work environments that prevent Japanese nursing assistants from leaving their jobs, we investigated the associations between their job satisfaction levels and intentions to remain on their jobs. Materials and Methods: We distributed anonymous self-administered questionnaires to Japanese female nursing assistants in 30 different hospitals. Regarding job satisfaction, we investigated various items relevant to both intrinsic facets (e.g., gaining various experiences) and extrinsic facets (e.g., salary), and conducted factor analyses of those items. Standardized partial regression coefficients were then calculated using multiple regression analyses. Intention to remain on the job was the dependent variable for this study. The factor scores calculated by the factor analyses of job satisfaction and respondents’ characteristics were the independent variables. Since multicollinearity occurred, we utilized two types of statistical models. After questionnaires with one or more missing values were excluded, 618 questionnaires were analyzed. Results: Using factor analyses, we discovered six factors related to job satisfaction among nursing assistants: “Intrinsic motivation”, “Salary”, “Relationships among nursing assistants”, “Registered nurses’ attitudes”, “Fatigue reduction”, and “Opportunities for vocational skills”. In statistical model 1, “Intrinsic motivation”, “Salary”, “Fatigue reduction”, “Age”, “Employment status”, and “Certified care worker status” were significantly associated with “Intention to remain on the job”. In statistical model 2, “Salary”, “Registered nurses’ attitudes”, “Fatigue reduction”, “Opportunities for vocational skills”, “Age”, and “Employment status” were significantly associated with “Intention to remain on the job”. Conclusion: “Intrinsic motivation” and “Opportunities for vocational skills” are included in intrinsic facets. To prevent nursing assistants from leaving their jobs, raising only their extrinsic job satisfaction levels is insufficient. Because nursing assistants have not received formal nursing education, they cannot take pride in having the same skills and expertise as registered nurses. However, hospital managers must respect their feelings and establish an appropriate working environment.

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021 presented an opportunity for pharmacists to recognize the uniqueness of sports pharmacy as a developing field and to understand the importance of anti-doping education among patient-athletes. Patient-athletes make up a distinct patient population, and pharmacists are well positioned to support athletes’ therapeutic decisions. Pharmacists need to be able to search for and interpret drug information to take care of this special population appropriately. The purpose of this commentary is to facilitate a discussion on what changes or reinforcement might help train pharmacists to become equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to support safe use of drugs among patient-athletes. While effective resources and tools have become more widely available, pharmacists’ awareness of and training in the field of sports pharmacy continue to be needed. No matter where they practice, pharmacists should be ready to promote “the spirit of sport” and defend the importance of “clean” sport for their patient-athletes.

The study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and potential interventions would be facilitated if motor axon degeneration could be more readily visualized. Here we demonstrate that stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy could be used to sensitively monitor peripheral nerve degeneration in ALS mouse models and ALS autopsy materials. Three-dimensional imaging of pre-symptomatic SOD1 mouse models and data processing by a correlation-based algorithm revealed that significant degeneration of peripheral nerves could be detected coincidentally with the earliest detectable signs of muscle denervation and preceded physiologically measurable motor function decline. We also found that peripheral degeneration was an early event in FUS as well as C9ORF72 repeat expansion models of ALS, and that serial imaging allowed long-term observation of disease progression and drug effects in living animals. Our study demonstrates that SRS imaging is a sensitive and quantitative means of measuring disease progression, greatly facilitating future studies of disease mechanisms and candidate therapeutics., Sensitive and label-free imaging methods to visualize nerve degeneration are currently lacking. Here authors show that stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy can be used to monitor peripheral nerve degeneration in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in postmortem tissue from ALS patients.

Summary Because of computational advances in reservoir simulation with high-performance computing, it is now possible to simulate more than thousands of reservoir-simulation cases in a practical time frame. This opens a new avenue to reservoir-simulation studies, enabling exhaustive exploration of subsurface uncertainty and development/depletion options. However, analyzing the results of a large number of simulation cases still remains a challenging and overwhelming task. We propose a new method that enables the efficient analysis of massive reservoir-simulation results, often consisting of thousands of cases, by discovering interesting patterns of relationships among variables in large data sets. The method uses a well-known data-mining method, called association-rule mining, together with a high-dimensional visualization technique. We demonstrate the capability of the proposed method by using it to analyze the reservoir-simulation results from the Sensitivity Analysis of the Impact of Geological Uncertainty on Production (SAIGUP) project, which is an interdisciplinary reservoir-modeling project carried out earlier by Manzocchi et al. (2008a). To investigate the influence of geological features on oil recovery in shallow marine reservoirs, numerous reservoir models were built and flow-simulated in the SAIGUP project. In this paper, we analyze the simulation results from an ensemble of 9,072 models, which cover all possible combinations of several structural and sedimentological parameters individually varied to describe geological uncertainty. To be able to analyze the simulation results from such exhaustive sampling from high-dimensional model parameter space, it is crucial to efficiently decompose complex interactions between model parameters and to discover hidden impacts on flow response. By coupling the association-rule mining algorithm and high-dimensional visualization, such interactions and impacts are rapidly extracted and visualized in such a way that engineers and geoscientists can interpret meaningful sensitivities “at a glance.” This methodology provides a novel way to rapidly interpret flow response from a large ensemble of reservoir models without being overwhelmed by massive data.

The conformation and dynamics of the unfolded state of ubiquitin doubly labeled regiospecifically with Alexa488 and Alexa647 were investigated using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. The line confocal fluorescence detection system combined with the rapid sample flow enabled the characterization of unfolded proteins at the improved structural and temporal resolutions compared to the conventional single-molecule methods. In the initial stage of the current investigation, however, the single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (sm-FRET) data of the labeled ubiquitin were flawed by artifacts caused by the adsorption of samples to the surfaces of the fused-silica flow chip and the sample delivery system. The covalent coating of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer to the flow chip surface was found to suppress the artifacts. The sm-FRET measurements based on the coated flow chip demonstrated that the histogram of the sm-FRET efficiencies of ubiquitin at the native condition were narrowly distributed, which is comparable to the probability density function (PDF) expected from the shot noise, demonstrating the structural homogeneity of the native state. In contrast, the histogram of the sm-FRET efficiencies of the unfolded ubiquitin obtained at a time resolution of 100 μs was distributed significantly more broadly than the PDF expected from the shot noise, demonstrating the heterogeneity of the unfolded state conformation. The variety of the sm-FRET efficiencies of the unfolded state remained even after evaluating the moving average of traces with a window size of 1 ms, suggesting that conformational averaging of the heterogeneous conformations mostly occurs in the time domain slower than 1 ms. Local structural heterogeneity around the labeled fluorophores was inferred as the cause of the structural heterogeneity. The heterogeneity and slow dynamics revealed by the line confocal tracking of sm-FRET might be common properties of the unfolded proteins.

Sensors created from optical fibers are often used to measure strain due to their high accuracy. However, they are not used as often for higher frequency applications as a result of low sampling rates in their data acquisition systems. Recently, acquisition systems have been developed that satisfy the required specifications for use in acoustic emission (AE), but these types of sensors are not used due to their low signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios. However, there are many studies on the sensitivity enhancement conferred by the fiber Bragg grating sensor (FBG sensor). This sensor is easy to use and does not require specific reference fibers when sensing. In this study, acoustic waveguides, which are usually used in ultrasonic microscopes, were fabricated and used in FBG AE sensors to enhance the S/N ratio. Two types of waveguides were designed; the refraction type and the reflection type. FBG fibers were attached to the waveguides, which were then secured using adhesive to a thin aluminum plate. Impulses were inputted into the sensor by breaking pencil lead on the plate. The results showed that the amplitude of the first wave was increased using these waveguides. Using finite-element method (FEM) analysis, the enhancement of the wave amplitude was also evaluated such that the acoustic waveguide could be used for enhancement of the S/N ratio of FBG sensors.

The l-aspartate:l-alanine antiporter of Tetragenococcus halophilus (AspT) possesses an arginine residue (R76) within the GxxxG motif in the central part of transmembrane domain 3 (TM3)—a residue that has been estimated to transport function. In this study, we carried out amino acid substitutions of R76 and used proteoliposome reconstitution for analyzing the transport function of each substitution. Both l-aspartate and l-alanine transport assays showed that R76K has higher activity than the AspT-WT (R76), whereas R76D and R76E have lower activity than the AspT-WT. These results suggest that R76 is involved in AspT substrate transport.

Automated pressure transient analysis (PTA) with real-time data feed from permanent downhole gauge (PDHG) enables continuous monitoring of well and reservoir that facilitates timely surveillance decisions. However, while robust automation of the process is critical to minimize the requirement of manual efforts, a challenge lies in automatic diagnostics of a log-log plot which is often contaminated by non-reservoir response such as wellbore dynamics. We propose a new automatic PTA method to enhance accuracy of diagnostics. The method utilizes a pattern detection method based on similarity search and automatically identifies sequence of flow regimes, such as radial, spherical or linear flow etc., on a log-log diagnostic plot of pressure and derivative. To discover individual flow regimes, the algorithm scans a window on the plot and finds a pattern that is most similar to a ‘motif’ defined for the flow regime. Such motifs are known for individual flow regimes from analytical models. During the similarity search, the algorithm ensures that the discovered sequence of flow regimes is consistent with the flow scenario anticipated at the well. The proposed method is implemented in fully automated PTA workflow. First, the system reads PDHG pressure and flow rate at a well. Then, pressure buildup intervals are automatically identified. Subsequently, a log-log diagnostic plot is automatically generated for each buildup and the proposed method is executed. Once a sequence of flow regimes is identified, the algorithm locates a horizontal line over the radial flow regime and calculates permeability, skin and extrapolated pressure p*. For horizontal wells, effective completion length is also computed by locating a half slope line on the linear flow regime. For hydraulically fractured wells, fracture length or fracture conductivity is estimated from the linear or bi-linear flow regime. The results are written on output files or to a database together with identified flow regimes visualized on plots for the review of reservoir engineers. The method is tested on oil producers with high water cut where significant fluid segregation or crossflow is impacting log-log diagnostic plots, as well as gas wells where a pressure leak during buildup is contaminating pressure derivatives. Despite such noise of non-reservoir responses, the proposed method successfully identifies flow regimes on most of buildups and produces PTA results comparable to manual analysis. Compared to existing automatic PTA methods, such as automatic matching of model response or automatic semi-log analysis of radial flow regimes identified by user-specified criteria, the proposed method is particularly robust to use with pressure data which is significantly contaminated by non-reservoir responses. Such robustness of our method is achieved by a flexible pattern search for individual flow regimes rather than matching an entire model response all together or requiring rules specified by engineers.

Sphingolipids and their metabolic enzymes are implicated in ulcerative colitis. Ceramide kinase (CerK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of ceramide to ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P). Previous studies showed the activation of CerK by the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β, the C1P-induced up-regulation of prostanoids exerting protective effects against colitis, and the C1P-induced down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. In order to elucidate CerK/C1P functions in colitis, we examined the severity of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in wild-type (WT) and CerK deletion (CerK(-/-)) mice. Lethal responses were observed in C57BL/6 mice treated with DSS in dose- and time-dependent manners. The depletion of CerK enhanced DSS-induced lethal responses without affecting the onset of these responses. In colons from mice treated with 2.5% DSS for 10 d, epithelial damage was significantly enhanced by the depletion of CerK by day 5, whereas decreases in occluding and E-cadherin levels were similar in both mice. On day 5, the DSS treatment increased spleen weights and colonic levels of cyclooxygenase-2, but not cytosolic phospholipase A2α, and induced a contractile dysfunction in the colons of both mice. The DSS-induced increase in the damage activity index score between days 5 and 10 was slightly enhanced and the decrease in this score from day 10 was slower in CerK(-/-) mice than in WT mice. On day 7 after the DSS treatment, spleen weights slightly decreased and increased in WT and CerK(-/-) mice, respectively. These results indicate that the depletion of CerK enhances the pathology of colitis and lethal responses in DSS-treated mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with adult onset, characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a lipid mediator, exerts its biological functions by binding to four subtypes of E-prostanoid (EP1-4). Among them, EP3 has been shown to have multiple isoforms, EP3α, EP3β, and EP3γ, produced by alternative splicing. Since PGE2 has been shown to have important pathophysiological roles in ALS, experiments were performed to identify EP3 receptor isoform(s) in spinal motor neurons of wild-type (WT) and ALS model (G93A) mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of adult mice demonstrated expression of EP3α and EP3γ mRNAs in the lumbar spinal cord, whereas EP3β mRNA was barely detectable. Laser capture microdissection was used to dissect out motor neurons from frozen samples of lumbar spinal cord in these mice for analysis by real-time PCR. We found that expression of EP3γ mRNA was predominant in these neurons, whereas EP3α and EP3β mRNAs were undetectable. At the early symptomatic stage, the mRNA expression profiles of these splice isoforms in G93A motor neurons were comparable to those in neurons from WT mice. These results suggest that the PGE2-to-EP3 signaling pathway is mediated mainly by the EP3γ isoform in the motor neurons of mice, and that modulation of the EP3γ isoform in motor neurons may be a promising new therapeutic approach for ALS.

Protection against age-related immune suppression is important in elderly individuals. This study determined the effect of yoga on mucosal immune function and mental stress. Saliva samples were collected from 23 adult women (age: 60.4 ± 10.4 years) before and after 90 minutes of yoga stretching or rest to measure secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cortisol, and testosterone. The SIgA concentration and secretion rate were significantly higher after yoga than before (p

Although distance language education has been widely adopted in university learning, very few researchers to date have looked at off-screen behaviors of second/foreign language learners in their physical environment while they engage in synchronous (real-time) online courses. This study, in contrast, focused on one focal student’s off-screen behaviors while she sat in front of the computer in her physical environment during university-level synchronous Japanese class. The class was mediated by audio-based conferencing software ( Wimba ) where class participants’ behaviors in their physical environments were not observable to others. The primary data consist of two types of video recordings that were synchronized in a picture-in-picture format: focal student’s off-screen behaviors in her private environment and archived online classes with instructor and seven classmates (~20 hours). Drawing on conversation analysis, the study showed unique characteristics of interactional norms developed by the student in her physical environment in contrast to those observed in a controlled online environment. The focal student’s off-screen behavior suggested that she gained significant affordances from the course format; namely, opportunities to freely take her private turns by vocalizing the language off-screen without being heard. The study illustrates the potential of computer-based learning to promote increased learner agency and autonomy.

Yoga stretching can be done comfortably and easily by beginners and older adults to compensate for lack of exercise or poor health maintenance. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of yoga stretching on mucosal immune functions, primarily human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in saliva. Fifteen healthy adults (age, 60.4 ± 8.0 years) participated in the study. Participants rested for 90 min on the first day and performed yoga for 90 min on the second day. Measurements were carried out before and after rest or yoga. Saliva samples were collected by chewing a sterile cotton at a frequency of 60 cycles per min. Salivary HBD-2 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HBD-2 concentration after yoga stretching (165.4 ± 127.1 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that before yoga stretching (84.1 ± 63.4 pg/mL; p

Objective: To reveal the understanding among judo coaches from different countries on anti-doping, and their understanding of how this is intrinsically valuable to sport. Design: Survey study. Participants: 74 British coaches (UK coaches) and 66 Japanese coaches (JPN coaches) certified by the British Judo Association or the All Japan Judo Federation, as appropriate. Results: Most of both countries' coaches knew National Anti-Doping Organization and World Anti-Doping Agency. Almost of JPN coaches had attended an anti-doping workshop, however many of UK coaches had never attended such a workshop. There are aimed to compare the two countries’ views of doping along the social, educational, ethical, and health-related aspects. The results from Question 7.1 (I agree with the act of doping), Question 7.6 (Doping enables judoka to improve their performance), and Question 7.9 (Prohibited substances are possibly included in certain legal medicines and food supplements) were significantly different between the UK coaches and JPN coaches groups. Conclusions: Judo coaches around the world should be educated on anti-doping regimes.

C9ORF72 mutations are found in a significant fraction of patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, yet the function of the C9ORF72 gene product remains poorly understood. We show that mice harboring loss-of-function mutations in the ortholog of C9ORF72 develop splenomegaly, neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia, increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, and severe autoimmunity, ultimately leading to a high mortality rate. Transplantation of mutant mouse bone marrow into wild-type recipients was sufficient to recapitulate the phenotypes observed in the mutant animals, including autoimmunity and premature mortality. Reciprocally, transplantation of wild-type mouse bone marrow into mutant mice improved their phenotype. We conclude that C9ORF72 serves an important function within the hematopoietic system to restrict inflammation and the development of autoimmunity.

This study examined the effects of amenorrhea on mucosal immune function and susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in elite female distance runners. Based on their menstrual cycles during the prior year, 21 elite, collegiate, female distance runners were designated as eumenorrheic runners (ERs; n = 8; 19.9 ± 0.8 years) or amenorrheic runners (ARs; n n = 13; 20.0 ± 0.3 years). Resting saliva and blood samples were collected in the morning. The secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The SIgA secretion rate was calculated. Serum 17β-estradiol concentrations and serum progesterone concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay. Subjects reported the appearance of URTI symptoms (sore throat, headache, runny nose, coughing, or fever), if any, during the prior month. The serum estradiol concentration and salivary SIgA secretion rate were significantly lower for ARs than for ERs (p < 0.05). Serum progesterone concentration was not significantly different between groups. Higher frequencies of headache, runny nose, coughing, and fever were observed in ARs than in ERs. Results show that athletic amenorrhea with low estrogen might accelerate downregulation of mucosal immune function in athletes and enhance susceptibility to infection.

The present study examines the prevalence of subjective fatigue in young healthy males during 14 days of 6° head-down bed rest (HDBR) by using a multidimensional questionnaire. Forty-one subjects completed the Subjective Fatigue Scale questionnaire to assess the fatigue-related complaints and symptoms. The questionnaire is composed of three sections, with 10 items each. The sections measured drowsiness and dullness (Section 1), difficulty in concentration (Section 2), and the projection of physical disintegration (Section 3). The subjects answered simple questions between 1400 and 1700 on 6 measurement days before and during the HDBR period. The prevalence rate of low back pain was markedly high (80.5%) on the second day and more than 50% in the first half of the HDBR period, and any complaints related to either a lack of sleep or a deterioration in the quality of sleep continued until the end of the HDBR period. Our findings may be useful in developing preventive strategies against physical and mental fatigue associated with prolonged HDBR, horizontal bed rest, and microgravity environments.

Here we present a case of malignant phyllodes tumor which was composed almost exclusively of a fibrosarcomatous component. A 52-year-old Japanese female noted a rapid increase of her right breast tumor. On admission, multiple lung metastases were detected by imaging. Right simple mastectomy was performed. The tumor, 10 x 10 cm in the largest dimension, had somewhat of a pushing margin, and showed a flesh-like appearance with marked necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor showed proliferation of atypical ovoid- or spindle-shaped cells in a myxoid matrix. Multiple sectioning revealed that the tumor had only focal occurrence of elongated tubular structures, and the occurrence of a small component of benign phyllodes tumor, leading to the aforementioned final diagnosis. Spindle cell carcinoma was excluded on the basis of the HE findings and the lack of immunoreactivity for cytokeratin when using a broad spectrum antibody mixture. Although the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy, no responsiveness was obtained. The patient died 4 months following surgery. We reviewed 15 malignant phyllodes tumors with metastases reported in Japan. The estimated 2.2-year survival rate following detection of metastasis was 11%, thus confirming the aggressiveness of the disease.

Spatial inverse problems in the Earth Sciences are often ill-posed, requiring the specification of a prior model to constrain the nature of the inverse solutions. Otherwise, inverted model realizations lack geological realism. In spatial modeling, such prior model determines the spatial variability of the inverse solution, for example as constrained by a variogram, a Boolean model, or a training image-based model. In many cases, particularly in subsurface modeling, one lacks the amount of data to fully determine the nature of the spatial variability. For example, many different training images could be proposed for a given study area. Such alternative training images or scenarios relate to the different possible geological concepts each exhibiting a distinctive geological architecture. Many inverse methods rely on priors that represent a single subjectively chosen geological concept (a single variogram within a multi-Gaussian model or a single training image). This paper proposes a novel and practical parameterization of the prior model allowing several discrete choices of geological architectures within the prior. This method does not attempt to parameterize the possibly complex architectures by a set of model parameters. Instead, a large set of prior model realizations is provided in advance, by means of Monte Carlo simulation, where the training image is randomized. The parameterization is achieved by defining a metric space which accommodates this large set of model realizations. This metric space is equipped with a “similarity distance” function or a distance function that measures the similarity of geometry between any two model realizations relevant to the problem at hand. Through examples, inverse solutions can be efficiently found in this metric space using a simple stochastic search method.

This paper proposes a novel history-matching method where reservoir structure is inverted from dynamic fluid flow response. The proposed workflow consists of searching for models that match production history from a large set of prior structural model realizations. This prior set represents the reservoir structural uncertainty because of interpretation uncertainty on seismic sections. To make such a search effective, we introduce a parameter space defined with a “similarity distance” for accommodating this large set of realizations. The inverse solutions are found using a stochastic search method. Realistic reservoir examples are presented to prove the applicability of the proposed method.

Geostatistically based history matching methods make it possible to formulate history matching strategies which will honor geologic knowledge about the reservoir. However, the performance of these methods is known to be impeded by slow convergence rates resulting from the stochastic nature of the algorithm. On the other hand, history matching based on classic gradient-based techniques are under certain circumstances very efficient. However, integration of diverse information about the reservoir geology is not trivial. We will present a hybridized version of the probability perturbation method (PPM) which makes use of qualitative gradient information in order to improve convergence. The resulting method can be applied to continuous properties as well as discrete variables. The proposed algorithm seeks to improve the convergence of traditional PPM by integrating qualitative gradient information. The algorithm is applied to a synthetic reservoir case where multiple point statistics play an important role. The benefit from the inclusion of gradient information is investigated and the results indicate a significant improvement of convergence.

Effectiveness of sacral intervertebral epidural block (S 2-3 block) for umbilical hernia repair has not been clarified.We investigate 24 children, undergoing umbilical hernia repair; mean age of 3 years (age range: 20-65 months). Under general anesthesia, epidural block was performed at S 2-3 interspace with 1 ml x kg(-1) ropivacaine (0.2%) at injecting rate of 1 ml x sec(-1) followed by 0.25 ml x kg(-1) normal saline.In all cases, neither systolic blood pressure nor heart rate increased15% from those just before the block. Postoperative analgesics were given in 6 patients (25%) rectally. Mean time between the block and the administration of analgesic was 10.5 hours.S 2-3 block can be effective for postoperative pain in umbilical hernia repair.

In this study, we generated transgenic tobacco plants that express the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under the control of the 305-bp 5'-upstream region of a gene coding for sporamin A of sweet potato. Expression of GUS in excised tobacco leaves was induced by sucrose, mimicking the sugar-inducible expression of the endogenous sporamin genes in sweet potato. Deletion of the sequences extending from position -305 (relative to the transcription start site) to -283 and from -146 to -87 resulted in an approximately 40-fold enhancement in GUS reporter expression. Furthermore, the sequence from -282 to -165 conferred sucrose-inducibility on the -89 core promoter of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S RNA gene. Analysis of internal deletions, linker scanning and the introduction of base substitutions in the sequence between positions -282 and -165 indicated that sucrose-responsiveness conferred by this region was dependent on the presence of two cis-acting elements, termed CMSREs (carbohydrate metabolite signal responsive elements) 1 and 2, which are separated by a spacer. A sequence similar or identical to the core of CMSRE-1 (TGGACGG) is also present in the promoters of several other sugar-inducible genes, and sequences encopassing the TGGACGG-related motifs from two of these could functionally replace the CMSRE-1 in the truncated sporamin A promoter. These results suggest that the TGGACGG element plays an important role in the sucrose-inducible expression of a group of plant genes.

We report anesthetic management of a 22-month-old child with Cornelia de Lange syndrome scheduled for palatoplasty because of cleft palate. Micrognathia and short neck of the patient suggested difficult airway management. For anesthetic induction, 1 microg x kg(-1) dexmedetomidine was loaded intravenously, followed by infusion at a rate of 0.7 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) with incremental inhalation of sevoflurane. During the induction, spontaneous breathing was maintained. By laryngoscopy with Machintosh blade after intravenous propofol for the purpose of laryngeal reflex inhibition, only the tip of epiglottis was seen. Then, after another intravenous propofol, laryngoscopy was performed with Airwayscope, which enabled operators to see the glottis. Then, a RAE endotracheal tube (ID 4.5 mm) was inserted. During the Airwayscope operation, pharyngeal reflex, laryngeal reflex and saliva increase were inhibited resulting in good view of the larynx and the lowest Spo2 was 94% temporarily. After intubation, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane, remifentanil and fentanyl. Dexmedetomidine infusion was also useful to maintain adequate spontaneous breathing and to achieve awaking before extubation.

多くの癌細胞の染色体末端では酵素テロメラーゼが活性化し染色体末端の維持を行っている.最近, テロメラーゼの触媒サブユニットであるhuman telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-TERT) の発現はテロメラーゼ活性と強い相関がみられることが判明した.今回, 非小細胞肺癌組織においてテロメラーゼ活性とh-TERTの発現をTRAP法及びRT-PCR法により検出し, 病理組織型及び病期分類との関係を検討した.肺癌組織22症例中, テロメラーゼ活性は17例, h-TERTの発現は18例に認められ, 非癌部ではそれぞれ0例, 1例のみ陽性であった.いずれの検査法も非小細胞肺癌組織で高い陽性率を示したが, 病理組織型及び病期分類との間には有意な相関は認めなかった.テロメラーゼの検出において, 従来多くの施設で行われてきたテロメラーゼ活性の検出と同様, h-TERTの検出も有用であることが示唆された

Oxazepam and lorazepam, 3-hydroxybenzodiazepines that undergo reversible enantiomerization at ambient temperature, were eluted on a chiral HPLC column at various temperatures and various flow-rates. The profiles obtained by a UV detector were various, such as two peaks, a plateau sandwiched between two peaks, and one fused peak. The profiles obtained by an optical rotation detector were also various, such as two sharp peaks with opposite chirality (−, +), two peaks (−, +) with a great tailing or leading, two small peaks (−, +) next to each other. These peculiar profiles could be explained by on-column enantiomerization. Unexpectedly, the elution order of the (−)- and (+)-enantiomers was reversed for oxazepam and lorazepam. The simultaneous detection by UV and chiroptical measurements allowed us to plot HPLC profiles of the individual enantiomers.

This paper proposes a novel method for the grouping of rock types for the successful estimation of the in-situ absolute permeability accurately and for the smooth interpolation of relative permeability endpoints which are inevitably required for reservoir simulation models. The method consists of the grouping reservoir rocks based on the concept of electrical facies in accordance with their response to the wireline log attributes. The results showed excellent matching of the estimated absolute permeability and relative permeability endpoints to the core data prior to the application of the hydraulic unit method and multi-variate regression on each data group.The individual electrical facies showed the unique petrophysical characteristics each other, and their distribution frequency in each sedimentary zonation exhibited distinguishing feature possibly reflecting the sedimentary environment.The proposed approach lead to the great success on the description of the carbonate reservoir, of which petrophysical characteristic is so complicated that accurate enough estimation of the pointwise petrophysical properties could not be obtained by simple application of the ordinary hydraulic unit method nor multi-variate regression. The methodology is totally general and is considered to be applicable for a variety of reservoirs.

We retrospectively reviewed intraoperative hemodynamics, infusion volume, urinary output and dose of circulatory drugs in patients undergoing cholecystectomy in 3 types of anesthesia group: General anesthesia (GA group), general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia (EPI group) and general anesthesia with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block (TAPB group). TAP block was performed using ultrasound-guided subcostal method and 20-30 ml of ropivacaine (0.2-0.3%) was injected to TAP bilaterally. Though, the blood pressure in TAPB group was lower than that in GA group, the degree of low blood pressure was smaller than that in EPI group. Less changes in intraoperative blood pressure, infusion volume and dose of phenylephrine in TAPB group compared to those in EPI group can be the advantage of TAP block alternative to epidural anesthesia.

The entrapment of a circular mapping catheter by chordae tendineae during catheter ablation is a very rare but serious complication requiring, in some cases, surgical treatment. We report a case that required open heart surgery for catheter removal and mitral valve repair. A 79-year-old man underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in other hospital. During the operation, he moved accidentally, despite circular mapping catheter was in the left atrium. The circular mapping catheter was uncontrolable due to resistance interfering with catheter removal, and the patient was brought to our hospital for open heart surgery to remove catheter. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with midazolam, fentanyl. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed to monitor catheter position and mitral valve condition. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed that circular catheter tip was located adjacent to the posterior mitral leaflet and the presence of moderate mitral valve regurgitation. Circular catheter tip was entraped by chordae tendineae and caused posterior mitral leaflet damage. Intracardiac foreign body removal and posterior mitral leaflet repair were completed uneventfully under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful. It is expected that catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation will increase in number. This rare complication of catheter ablation may become a threat to cardiologist, cardiac surgeon and anesthesiologist.

A proline dipeptide, Leu-Pro, was eluted on a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic column with UV detection. Since this peptide undergoes cis-trans isomerization, various chromatographic profiles were produced. With the column kept at a low temperature, two peaks were produced, corresponding to the cis- and the trans-form. With elevation of column temperature or with increase of retention time, the peak area of the non-isomerized molecules was decreasing while the area corresponding to the isomerized molecules was increasing in a complementary manner. With further temperature elevation or with further retention time increase, only a broad peak of the isomerized molecules was produced. We demonstrate that the isomerization velocity could be estimated from the chromatograms and that the peak height of the isomerized molecules was proportional to the square root of retention time. Three other X-Pro dipeptides (Ala-Pro, Val- Pro, Phe-Pro) showed similar chromatographic behavior that was characteristic for reversible isomerization between two forms.

Four monosaccharides (glucose, galactose, mannose and fructose) and one disaccharide (maltose) were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography with UV or refractive index detection. Various profiles such as broad, tailed and splitted peaks were produced, depending on column temperature and eluent flow-rate because these saccharides underwent isomerization. In contrast, alpha-methylglucoside, a non-converting derivative, always produced a sharp peak. By analyzing these profiles kinetic constants of the isomerization were obtained and compared with the literature data.