Automation of etch pit analyses on solid-state nuclear track detectors with machine learning for laser-driven ion acceleration.

Solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) are often used as ion detectors in laser-driven ion acceleration experiments and are considered to be the most reliable ion diagnostics since they are sensitive only to ions and measure ions one by one. However, ion pit analyses require tremendous time and effort in chemical etching, microscope scanning, and ion pit identification by eyes. From a laser-driven ion acceleration experiment, there are typically millions of microscopic images, and it is practically impossible to analyze all of them by hand. This research aims to improve the efficiency and automation of SSNTD analyses for laser-driven ion acceleration. We use two sets of data obtained from calibration experiments with a conventional accelerator where ions with known nuclides and energies are generated and from actual laser experiments using SSNTDs. After chemical etching and scanning the SSNTDs with an optical microscope, we use machine learning to distinguish the ion etch pits from noises. From the results of the calibration experiment, we confirm highly accurate etch-pit detection with machine learning. We are also able to detect etch pits with machine learning from the laser-driven ion acceleration experiment, which is much noisier than calibration experiments. By using machine learning, we successfully identify ion etch pits ∼105 from more than 10 000 microscopic images with a precision of ≳95%. A million microscopic images can be examined with a recent entry-level computer within a day with high precision. Machine learning tremendously reduces the time consumption on ion etch pit analyses detected on SSNTDs.

Robustness of large-area suspended graphene under interaction with intense laser.

Graphene is known as an atomically thin, transparent, highly electrically and thermally conductive, light-weight, and the strongest 2D material. We investigate disruptive application of graphene as a target of laser-driven ion acceleration. We develop large-area suspended graphene (LSG) and by transferring graphene layer by layer we control the thickness with precision down to a single atomic layer. Direct irradiations of the LSG targets generate MeV protons and carbons from sub-relativistic to relativistic laser intensities from low contrast to high contrast conditions without plasma mirror, evidently showing the durability of graphene.

High-power laser experiment forming a supercritical collisionless shock in a magnetized uniform plasma at rest.

We present an experimental method to generate quasiperpendicular supercritical magnetized collisionless shocks. In our experiment, ambient nitrogen (N) plasma is at rest and well magnetized, and it has uniform mass density. The plasma is pushed by laser-driven ablation aluminum (Al) plasma. Streaked optical pyrometry and spatially resolved laser collective Thomson scattering clarify structures of plasma density and temperatures, which are compared with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is indicated that just after the laser irradiation, the Al plasma is magnetized by a self-generated Biermann battery field, and the plasma slaps the incident N plasma. The compressed external field in the N plasma reflects N ions, leading to counterstreaming magnetized N flows. Namely, we identify the edge of the reflected N ions. Such interacting plasmas form a magnetized collisionless shock.

ROM7/BEM4 encodes a novel protein that interacts with the Rho1p small GTP-binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The RHO1 gene encodes a homolog of the mammalian RhoA small GTP-binding protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rho1p is localized at the growth site and is required for bud formation. The RHO1(G22S, D125N) mutation is a temperature-sensitive and dominant negative mutation of RHO1, and a multicopy suppressor of RHO1(G22S, D125N), ROM7, was isolated. Nucleotide sequencing of ROM7 revealed that it is identical to the BEM4 gene (GenBank accession number L27816), although its physiological function has not yet been reported. Disruption of BEM4 resulted in the cold- and temperature-sensitive growth phenotypes, and cells of the deltabem4 mutant showed abnormal morphology, suggesting that BEM4 is involved in the budding process. The temperature-sensitive growth phenotype was suppressed by overexpression of RHO1, ROM2, which encodes a Rho1p-specific GDP/GTP exchange factor, or PKC1, which encodes a target of Rho1p. Moreover, glucan synthase activity, which is activated by Rho1p, was significantly reduced in the deltabem4 mutant. Two-hybrid and biochemical experiments revealed that Bem4p directly interacts with the nucleotide-free form of Rho1p and, to lesser extents, with the GDP- and GTP-bound forms of Rho1p, although Bem4p showed neither GDP/GTP exchange factor, GDP dissociation inhibitor, nor GTPase-activating protein activity toward Rho1p. These results indicate that Bem4p is a novel protein directly interacting with Rho1p and is involved in the RHO1-mediated signaling pathway.

Visualization of the bone/bone marrow of lower extremities in Ga-67 whole-body images.

Patients whose Ga-67 whole-body images showed increased uptake by the bone/bone marrow of the lower extremities were selected and classified into three types according to the extent and the grade of the visualization. These types were then compared with their serum iron levels, iron-binding capacities, and the results of several other serum biochemical tests. Of 374 consecutive whole body 72-hr images reviewed, 59 (15.8%) showed increased uptake of the tracer by the bone/bone marrow of the lower extremities. The three classified types were as follows: type T--visualization of both tibiae and femurs; type S--strong visualization of the femurs; and type W--weak visualization of the femurs. The serum iron concentration was significantly high in type T and low in type S. In conclusion, the pattern of Ga-67 uptake by the bone/bone marrow of the lower extremities fairly closely reflects the status of iron metabolism.

Computed tomography in gastric carcinoma: thickness of gastric wall and infiltration to serosa surface.

Preoperative CT images and the operative findings from 25 patients with gastric carcinoma were comparatively studied. Infiltration of the serosa surface was noted in 84% (16 out of 19 cases) of the patients whose local thickness of the gastric wall was shown to be 1.5 cm or more on the CT images. CT images of liver metastases had an accuracy of 88% (22 cases out of 25) and a specificity of 90% (19 out of 21 cases). Regarding metastatic lymph nodes and peritoneal dissemination, the CT image gave the poor specificity.

Hemopneumothorax due to pulmonary metastasis with malignant hemangioendothelioma: CT and pathological findings.

Malignant hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor. The disease frequently recurs and eventually metastasizes to the lung in most cases. Hemopneumothorax developing soon after metastasis to the lung indicates on unfavorable prognosis. We had an opportunity to examine a patient who had malignant hemangioendothelioma in the occipital scalp and developed hemopneumothorax following metastasis to the lung. We report the computed tomographic (CT) and pathological finding in the patient, and review the literature on hemopneumothorax.

Dense parenchymal accumulation of Lipiodol after transarterial chemoembolization.

Dense accumulation of Lipiodol in hepatic segmental parenchyma was studied by computed tomography (CT) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatic tumor. Six patients showed dense accumulation of Lipiodol in hepatic segmental parenchyma on CT two weeks after TACE. Four of the six showed parenchymal accumulation of Lipiodol as dense as that in a tumor at three weeks after TACE. Therefore, it was considered that evaluation with CT should be performed after one month or more in order to differentiate between Lipiodol accumulation in tumors and that in non-neoplastic liver parenchyma.

MR imaging of seminal vesicle cysts associated with adult polycystic kidney disease.

An unusual case of seminal vesicle cysts associated with adult polycystic kidney disease (APKD) is presented. The magnetic resonance (MR) appearance of this rare entity has not been described before. A brief review of the literature is included and the role of MR imaging is discussed.

Multilocular cystic hemangioma: CT and MR appearance.

An atypical case of multilocular cystic hemangioma is presented. A 4.5 cm multilocular cystic mass was incidentally found in a 66-year-old healthy woman on ultrasound screening. CT, MR imaging, and angiography were performed: however, the features that are characteristic of cavernous hemangioma were not obtained. The final diagnosis could not be made until surgery.

Double contrast cervical esophagography: use of a specially designed cup to aid double-contrast cervical esophagography.

We designed a cup to aid double-contrast cervical esophagography using photo fluorography and an image intensifier. The cup allows an adequate amount of air to be delivered with the contrast media so that the cervical esophageal lumen expands to give an ideal double contrast image. The clear image is obtained, having to calculate exact timing. The timing sequence we used during the serial radiography was 4 seconds at 2 radiographs per second while the patient continually swallowed the contrast medium and air.

[A case of metastatic urinary bladder tumor from gastric carcinoma].

We report a case of metastatic bladder tumor from gastric carcinoma. A 55-year old male patient was referred to our urological clinic with a complaint of frequent urination and voiding pain. He had undergone total gastrectomy for poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell type, 9 months earlier. Computed tomographic scan revealed a thick bladder and rectum wall all around. Punch biopsies from vesical and rectal wall revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell type. There were no other metastatic sites. Systemic chemotherapy was done with a combination of mitomycin-C, 5-fluorouracil and cytosine arabinoside. This chemotherapy was effective and complete remission was obtained at bladder and rectum. Six months after chemotherapy, peritoneal recurrence developed and he died 9 months after chemotherapy. However no recurrence of bladder tumor was detected. This was a quite rare case of metastatic bladder tumor characterized by good response to systemic chemotherapy.

What are the contents of a hydrocele testis?

Relatively large, uninfected hydroceles of the testis were investigated as to the composition of their fluid. The fluid was different from serum and urine, having the urea nitrogen, uric acid, Na and K levels comparable to but the total protein and inorganic phosphorus levels higher than in normal serum. The analysis of hydrocele contents may be useful in ruling out the possibility of another retention tumor, but not useful in determining whether a hydrocele is communicating with the peritoneal cavity.

[Epidermoid cyst of the scrotum: report of a case].

A 61-year-old male visited our hospital with the chief complaint of a mass in the right scrotum on October 4, 1985. Under the diagnosis of intrascrotal tumor, the mass was resected surgically. It was a subcutaneous tumor, and had no relation to any intrascrotal organ, such as testis, epididymis or spermatic cord. The mass was 7 x 6 x 5 cm. Pathological diagnosis was epidermoid cyst of the scrotum. Epidermoid cyst of the scrotum is a rare disease and only 7 cases have been reported in Japan.

[A case of pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder].

A case of pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder is reported. A 17-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of gross hematuria and urinary retention on Nov. 10, 1985. There was no history of hypertension. Intravenous pyelography and cystogram demonstrated a filling defect in the bladder. Transabdominal sonography disclosed a solid mass in the anterior wall and bladder neck. Cystoscopic examination revealed a non-papillary and broad based tumor in the anterior wall and bladder neck. Partial resection of the bladder wall was performed under the diagnosis of bladder tumor. The histological diagnosis was pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder.

[Primary osteosarcoma of the bladder: a case report].

A case report of primary osteosarcoma of the bladder is herein presented. A 75-year-old man presented with asymptomatic macrohematuria. Cystoscopic examination revealed a large tumor with a broad base arisen on the anterior wall. Pelvic computed tomographic scan showed multiple calcifications in the tumor itself. Total cystectomy and ileal conduit were performed. Histopathological diagnosis was osteosarcoma. The patient died 10 weeks after surgery. Metastasis to lung, heart, lymphnode, ureter and peritoneum were identified by autopsy. Primary osteosarcoma of the bladder is a rare tumor, only 25 cases have been reported previously. The prognosis of this tumor is very poor. Nineteen of these patients died within 6 months.

[Contralateral ureteral metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: a case report].

A case of contralateral ureteral metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is reported. A 52-year-old man underwent left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma of November 20, 1986. He was clinically asymptomatic for 4 years 8 months after the operation. He was admitted on August 14, 1991, because of right loin pain. Right retrograde pyelography and percutaneous pyelography showed a filling defect in the right ureter at the level of L3. After the right ureter was explored, the tumor lesion of ureter was resected and end to end anastomosis of the ureter was performed. Histopathologic examination showed a metastatic clear cell carcinoma consistent with a renal primary. The contralateral ureteral metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is very rare and only 15 cases have been reported previously.

[Urinary extravasation: report of five cases and review of the Japanese literature].

We studied the etiology, diagnosis and management of 201 cases of urinary extravasation reported in the Japanese literature along with our five cases. Most of them were caused by urolithiasis and malignant tumors. Four of our five cases also presented with a ureter stone; two being cured by spontaneous stone passage within several days and the others being treated by ureterolithotomy or nephrectomy. The other case involving a ureter tumor was treated by nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy. The clinical manifestations of urinary extravasation were distinguished as spontaneous peripelvic extravasation and spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis and ureter. Performing an accurate and differential diagnosis of these cases, however, was difficult. We therefore propose a set of clinical diagnostic criteria based on our findings of X-ray examination and the macroscopic appearance seen during surgical treatment. We review the 201 reported cases along with our five cases of urinary extravasation and discuss their diagnostic procedures and treatment approaches.

[A case of hernia uteri inguinalis with a left crossed ectopic testis].

A 70-year-old man with the complaint of dysuria and painless swelling of the right scrotal sac and inguinal region was operated on for suspected right inguinal hernia. The hernia sac contained two testis and immature uterine tissue, which were pathognomonic of left crossed ectopic testis complicated by hernia uteri inguinalis. The chromosomes were normal. Statistics on 57 similar cases indicated that this was the eldest of all such patients reported in Japan; since he had two children, he seems to have been fertile.

[Infected solitary renal cyst with an intracystic stone: a case report].

A 23-year-old women had a high grade and right CVA tenderness after Caesarean section at another hospital. Because of these symptoms, she was eventually transferred to our university hospital, where she was treated with antibiotics. However, both the high grade fever and right CVA tenderness persisted. We conducted IVPs in order to determine the cause of the fever. Deformities of the right upper calyceal system were consequently discovered. We then performed sonographic examination, CT-scan and percutaneous cystography which revealed a right infected solitary renal cyst with an intracystic stone. An operation revealed no apparent communication between the renal cyst and calyceal system. Histological examination of the surgical specimens revealed the presence of inflammatory change. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged.