Development of an application tool to support returnees in Fukushima.

To promote radiation protection and health promotion among returning residents (returnees) in coastal areas of Fukushima, eHealth principles were used to develop a new application tool (app) that can record radiation exposure and health status while providing comprehensive support to returnees. Intended users are returnees and health and welfare workers. After assessing their needs, a flowchart and prototype for operational logic were created using commercially available software tools. Professional developers will focus on improving the user interface and ensuring data security. The finished app will be compatible with mobile telephones and tablets. Utility and ease of use are paramount to serve returnees of all ages effectively.

The effect of different organic solvents and anion salts on sodium ion storage in cylindrical carbon nanopores.

In this article fully atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations were employed to study the behaviour of electrolyte salts (NaPF6, NaBF4, and NaTFSI) and different organic solvents (PC, EC, and EMC) in cylindrical carbon nanotubes, in order to reveal the storage mechanism. Organic solutions at 1 M concentrations were considered in bulk reservoir solutions, at the operational condition of sodium ion batteries. The effects of the solvents, nanotube diameter, and different anions (PF6-, BF4-, and TFSI-) are quantified by calculating the number of ions inside the nanotubes, solvation number and radial distribution functions. The solvent, anion and cylindrical nanoconfinement can influence the organic electrolyte solution structure.

Extremely permeable porous graphene with high H2/CO2 separation ability achieved by graphene surface rejection.

Fabrication of a graphene separation sheet is difficult because of the necessity for leakage-free graphene transfer onto a substrate. In this study, porous graphene sheets with thicknesses of one, two, and four layers were directly fabricated on stainless-steel mesh substrates and demonstrated to display high separation ability for H2, CO2, and CH4. The single-layer graphene sample exhibited higher permeance for these molecules than double- and four-layer graphene and displayed similar high selectivity to that of other porous materials. Permeance was proportional to molecular velocity and inversely proportional to interaction strength with graphene; molecular size-dependent permeance was not seen. Molecules that interacted strongly with graphene were attracted to the graphene surface, which hindered permeation. Such graphene surface rejection allowed graphene containing larger pores than the molecular size to provide both high molecular permeance and selectivity. The relationship between the permeance of porous graphene for H2 and H2/CO2 with selectivity suggested that its permeance was higher than that of other materials with high separation performance. Therefore, the porous graphene samples separated molecules with extremely high permeance by graphene surface rejection.

Treatment of cervical pregnancy with ultrasound-guided local methotrexate injection.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical pregnancy (CP) is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy. While methotrexate (MTX) is generally the first-line method of choice for clinically stable women, there is still no consensus on the most appropriate treatment for this abnormal pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a single local MTX injection under transvaginal ultrasound guidance for the initial treatment of CP and to assess post-treatment fertility. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively 15 patients with CP treated with local MTX injection under transvaginal ultrasound guidance. In all patients, the serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were monitored and the gestational sac was evaluated using ultrasonography after treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed as necessary. We evaluated the patients' clinical characteristics and clinical course after treatment, the efficacy of the treatment and the post-treatment fertility in patients desiring subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: The median estimated gestational age at the time of MTX injection was 6 + 2 (range, 5 + 2 to 11 + 0) weeks. All 15 patients were treated successfully, without the need for blood transfusion or surgical procedures; however, three patients required an additional local MTX injection due to a poor decline in serum hCG level following the initial injection, while one patient required uterine artery embolization due to persistent vaginal bleeding and an enlarging gestational sac with blood vessels visible on contrast-enhanced MRI. The mean time following initial MTX injection for hCG normalization was 43.8 (95% CI, 33.3-54.3) days and for resumption of menses was 68.4 (95% CI, 51.9-84.9) days. Seven of the 10 women desiring subsequent pregnancy following treatment had uneventful pregnancy, one became pregnant but miscarried spontaneously at 8 weeks of gestation, one was treated by laparoscopic surgery after diagnosis of a tubal pregnancy and one did not conceive. CONCLUSIONS: A single, ultrasound-guided, local MTX injection is apparently effective for the treatment of CP without the need for concomitant procedures or surgical intervention. Furthermore, this conservative technique both preserves fertility and allows for the possibility of subsequent uneventful pregnancy. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Significant curvature effects of partially charged carbon nanotubes on electrolyte behavior investigated using Monte Carlo simulations.

Carbon nanotubes and graphene are among the major nanomaterials in nanoscience and technology. Despite having π electrons, these nanocarbon allotropes have been simply considered as neutral in classical calculations. In this study, the effects of partial charges on graphene and curved interfaces on molecular adsorption were investigated using Monte Carlo simulations of N2 and NaCl aqueous solutions on graphene and carbon nanotubes. The simulated N2 adsorption behavior and adsorption potential on partially charged and non-charged graphene coincided with each other. The adsorption potentials suggested that partially charged graphene attracted Na ions and repelled Cl ions. However, those tendencies were not present in NaCl aqueous solutions on graphene. Conversely, in partially charged carbon nanotube models, a preference for Na ions and repulsion of Cl ions in the internal nanospaces were observed in the adsorption potentials using Monte Carlo simulations. Curved interfaces in the internal nanospaces of carbon nanotubes enhanced these properties, suggesting significant electrostatic interactions in a curved π-conjugated system.

Positive association between serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been suggested recently to play an important role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is little information on serum TSLP concentrations in RA and its clinical significance. The present study investigated whether serum TSLP concentrations were affected in patients with RA. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we measured TSLP concentrations in the serum obtained from 100 patients with RA, 60 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 34 healthy volunteers. We also investigated the correlation between serum TSLP concentrations and clinical parameters of disease activity in RA [disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28)-C-reactive protein (CRP), DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI]), patient's/-physician's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), swollen joints count, tender joints count, CRP, ESR and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) concentrations]. In addition, we investigated the correlation between serum TSLP concentrations and anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Serum TSLP levels in patients with RA were significantly higher than those in patients with OA and in healthy volunteers. Interestingly, serum TSLP concentrations were correlated significantly with ACPA titres, but not with other clinical parameters. There was a significant increase in serum TSLP concentrations in patients with RA, which was correlated positively with serum ACPA titres. These findings suggest that in patients with RA, TSLP may play a role in ACPA production by B cells.

Phase II clinical trial of S-1 plus oral leucovorin in previously treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: S-1, a novel oral fluoropyrimidine, has potent antitumor activity against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Meanwhile, leucovorin enhances the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil by inhibiting thymidylate synthase. Therefore, this phase II clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of S-1 plus leucovorin combination therapy for previously treated patients with NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were prospectively enrolled if they received 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens. S-1 (40-60 mg) and leucovorin (25mg) were administered together orally twice per day for 7 consecutive days followed by 7 days of rest. This 2-week cycle was repeated for a maximum of 25 cycles until the onset of disease progression or unacceptable adverse events. Endpoints included objective tumor response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. RESULTS: Among 33 patients, 6 (18.2%), 14 (42.4%), and 11 (33.3%) had partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease, respectively. Median progression-free and overall survival times were 3.5 and 11.7 months, respectively. The common grade 3 toxicities included stomatitis (18.2%), anorexia (12.1%), and neutropenia (9.1%). One patient had pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, and another experienced paralytic ileus. There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: S-1 plus leucovorin combination therapy demonstrated promising efficacy and an acceptable toxicity profile in previously treated patients with NSCLC.

Fullerene-rare gas mixed plasmas in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source.

A synthesis technology of endohedral fullerenes such as Fe@C60 has developed with an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source. The production of N@C60 was reported. However, the yield was quite low, since most fullerene molecules were broken in the ECR plasma. We have adopted gas-mixing techniques in order to cool the plasma and then reduce fullerene dissociation. Mass spectra of ion beams extracted from fullerene-He, Ar or Xe mixed plasmas were observed with a Faraday cup. From the results, the He gas mixing technique is effective against fullerene destruction.

Design of a new electron cyclotron resonance ion source at Oshima National College of Maritime Technology.

A new electron cyclotron resonance ion/plasma source has been designed and will be built at Oshima National College of Maritime Technology by early 2014. We have developed an ion source that allows the control of the plasma parameters over a wide range of electron temperatures for material research. A minimum-B magnetic field composed of axial mirror fields and radial cusp fields was designed using mainly Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets. The axial magnetic field can be varied by three solenoid coils. The apparatus has 2.45 GHz magnetron and 2.5-6.0 GHz solid-state microwave sources.

Structural modeling of dahlia-type single-walled carbon nanohorn aggregates by molecular dynamics.

The structure of dahlia-type single-walled carbon nanohorn aggregates has been modeled by classical molecular dynamics simulations, and the validity of the model has been verified by neutron diffraction. Computer-generated models consisted of an outer part formed from single-walled carbon nanohorns with diameters of 20-50 Å and a length of 400 Å and an inner turbostratic graphite-like core with a diameter of 130 Å. The diffracted intensity and the pair correlation function computed for such a constructed model are in good agreement with the neutron diffraction experimental data. The proposed turbostratic inner core explains the occurrence of the additional (002) and (004) graphitic peaks in the diffraction pattern of the studied sample and provides information about the interior structure of the dahlia-type aggregates.