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.

Study of correlation between plasma parameter and beam optics.

Simultaneous measurement of negative ion source plasma and extracted beam is carried out in order to clarify a key plasma parameter governing the meniscus formation in negative ion sources for fusion. The plasma discharge is performed with various discharge powers at different bias voltages in order to vary the plasma parameters. It is shown that the beam width changes along the same curve with respect to the negative ion density at any bias voltage while it varies along different curves with other plasma parameters depending on the bias voltage. This implies that the mechanism of meniscus formation in negative ion sources could be described along the similar manner as positive ion sources.

Spatial distribution of negative ion density near the plasma grid.

Density distributions of negative hydrogen (H-) ions and negative deuterium (D-) ions were measured with the laser photodetachment method in the extraction region of the negative ion source. The distribution of H- ion density peaks at the center of the ion source, while that of the D- ion shows a flatter profile in the direction parallel to the plasma grid. The positive ion densities of hydrogen and deuterium estimated from the positive saturation current indicate similar profiles with different amounts close to the grid. The difference in the H- ion and D- ion distributions can be explained by the difference in the negative ion yield and the survival probability of the ions due to the isotope effect.

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy system for the evaluation of negative hydrogen ion density at the ELISE test facility.

The large RF negative hydrogen (deuterium) ion source at the ELISE test facility (half of the ITER-NBI source size) has been equipped with a Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) system, in order to measure the negative hydrogen (deuterium) ion density in the region in front of the plasma grid (first grid of the extraction system). The challenge of this diagnostic for ELISE relies on the large size of the source and therefore on the plasma length across which the measurements are performed as well as the long pulses at RF power, which can affect the cavity mirror reliability. A dedicated experiment on the mirror reliability was performed, ensuring the feasibility of measurements for long pulses (several hundred seconds) at high RF power. Two horizontal lines of sight were dedicated to CRDS: the measured density was in the range between 4 × 1016 and 1 × 1017 m-3, with a slightly higher density for the bottom lines of sight, for both the isotope hydrogen and deuterium. Different temporal evolution was observed for the two isotopes, showing a higher instability for the deuterium case: this is in correlation with the extracted negative ion current density and inversely correlated with the coextracted electron current density. The CRDS system allowed performing the first measurements of negative ion density for a long pulse (1000 s) in a large source: the temporal behavior and the effect of the beam extraction will also be discussed.

Extension of high power deuterium operation of negative ion based neutral beam injector in the large helical device.

Second deuterium operation of the negative ion based neutral beam injector was performed in 2018 in the large helical device. The electron and ion current ratio improves to Ie/Iacc(D) = 0.31 using the short extraction gap distance of 7 mm between the plasma grid (PG) and the extraction grid (EG). The strength of the magnetic field by the electron deflection magnet installed in the EG increases by 17% at the PG ingress surface, which effectively reduces the electron component in the negative ion rich plasma in the vicinity of PG apertures. The reduction of the electron current made it possible to operate at a high power arc discharge and beam extraction. Then, the deuterium negative ion current increases to 55.4 A with the averaged current density of 233 A/m2. The thermal load on the EG using 7 mm gap distance is 0.6 times smaller than the thermal load using a 8 mm gap caused by the reduction of coextracted electron current. The injection beam power increases to 2.9 MW in the beam line BL3, and the total beam injection power increases to 7 MW by three beam lines in the second deuterium campaign.

Density profile measurement with a heavy ion beam probe in a toroidal plasma of the compact helical system.

A possibility of electron density measurements with heavy ion beam probes (HIBPs) has been demonstrated, along with their capability to measure the potential and magnetic field. A method has been proposed to reconstruct the electron density profile [A. Fujisawa et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74, 3335 (2003)]. In the method, the profile of secondary beam currents is converted into a local density profile by taking into account local brightness and so-called path integral effects which mean the effect of beam attenuation along the beam orbit. Here the article presents the HIBP measurement of the electron density profile after the proposed method was first applied on the real experimental data of compact helical system plasmas. In the real application, the hollow density and the peaked profiles are successfully obtained with sufficiently high temporal resolution (a few ms), in accordance with the electron density profile measured with Thomson scattering for electron cyclotron resonance heating and neutral beam injection plasmas.

MyD88-dependent dendritic and epithelial cell crosstalk orchestrates immune responses to allergens.

Sensitization to inhaled allergens is dependent on activation of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and on the adaptor molecule, MyD88. However, many cell types in the lung express Myd88, and it is unclear how signaling in these different cell types reprograms cDCs and leads to allergic inflammation of the airway. By combining ATAC-seq with RNA profiling, we found that MyD88 signaling in cDCs maintained open chromatin at select loci even at steady state, allowing genes to be rapidly induced during allergic sensitization. A distinct set of genes related to metabolism was indirectly controlled in cDCs through MyD88 signaling in airway epithelial cells (ECs). In mouse models of asthma, Myd88 expression in ECs was critical for eosinophilic inflammation, whereas Myd88 expression in cDCs was required for Th17 cell differentiation and consequent airway neutrophilia. Thus, both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic MyD88 signaling controls gene expression in cDCs and orchestrates immune responses to inhaled allergens.

Development of a dual beamlet monitor system for negative ion beam measurements.

To evaluate negative ion beam properties, a dual beamlet monitor system has been developed. The dual beamlet monitor system has two diagnostics in one hexagonal box. One diagnostic is a "fast beamlet monitor" for measuring the time evolution of beamlet current profiles with the time resolution of up to 25 MHz. The other diagnostic is a "pepper-pot-type phase space analyzer," which is applied for the evaluation of a phase space structure of the negative ion beamlet. The dual beamlet monitor system is applied to the measurement of the beamlet in the Neutral Beam Test Stand at National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS-NBTS), in which the beam accelerator is almost identical to those of working beam injectors in the large helical device. It is demonstrated that the overlapping components from the neighboring beamlet can be eliminated, and the phase space structure can be obtained for the single beamlet.

Relationships between bone mass and dietary/lifestyle habits in Japanese women at 3-4 months postpartum.

OBJECTIVES: The relationships between calcaneal bone mass and dietary/lifestyle habits in women at 3-4 months postpartum were examined in the context of osteoporosis prevention. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: We measured bone mass using calcaneal ultrasound in mothers who brought their 3- to 4-month-old babies to healthcare centers in Japan for health examination and administered a self-report questionnaire on physical characteristics and dietary/lifestyle habits to those who agreed to participate in the survey. Valid data were available for 1220 women (valid response rate, 97.5%). RESULTS: Based on their stiffness score, a measure of bone mass, 70.9% (n = 865) of the participants were classified as 'no apparent abnormality (stiffness score ≥78.8)' (low-risk group), 18.2% (n = 222) as 'guidance required (≥70.1-<78.8)' (intermediate-risk group), and 10.9% (n = 133) as 'complete examination required (<70.1)' (high-risk group), according to the criteria for osteoporosis screening test results. The percentage of individuals with a history of fracture was higher in the guidance required/complete examination required than in the no apparent abnormality group (P = 0.016). The analysis of relationships between the consumption frequency of certain foods, such as calcium-rich foodstuffs, and bone mass found that women who reported lower frequencies of milk and dark-colored (beta-carotene rich) vegetables for breakfast consumption had a significantly lower bone mass than those who consumed these foods more often. Furthermore, the guidance required/complete examination required group had a significantly lower calcium intake than the no apparent abnormality group (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the need to provide postpartum women with dietary education programs to promote healthy eating habits, such as increased consumption of calcium-rich foods, and prevent osteoporosis.

Lung Sound Analysis Is Useful for Monitoring Therapy in Patients With Bronchial Asthma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lung sound analysis (LSA) has been reported to be useful for predicting airway obstruction and inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma. Objectives: We examined whether the exhalation-to-inhalation sound pressure ratio in the middle frequency range (200-400 Hz) (E/I MF) is useful for monitoring therapy in patients with asthma. METHODS: The study population comprised 84 patients with mild to moderate asthma whose LSA data were available before and after 1 year of daily treatment with (budesonide 800 µg). We analyzed whether the E/I MF before and after treatment was associated with the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level, sputum eosinophil percentage, respiratory function, and airway hyperresponsiveness. RESULTS: Prior to treatment with budesonide, the E/I MF was significantly correlated with respiratory function, airway hyperresponsiveness, FeNO, and sputum eosinophil percentage. The cutoff values for the E/I MF to detect the abnormalities of respiratory function, FeNO, and sputum eosinophil percentage were 0.367, 0.358, and 0.363, respectively. With respect to the reference value, the E/I MF improved significantly in patients whose respiratory function and FeNO benefited from therapy with budesonide compared with patients whose respiratory function did not benefit from budesonide (odds ratios of 6.39 and 4.78, respectively). According to the multivariate analysis, patients whose E/I MF did not improve had a longer history of smoking (P=.038), poorer posttreatment respiratory function (P=.028), and higher posttreatment FeNO (P=.0095). CONCLUSIONS: Similar to respiratory function and FeNO, E/I MF based on LSA is a useful indicator for monitoring the efficacy of therapy in asthmatic patients.

Lung sound analysis is useful for monitoring therapy in patients with bronchial asthma

Background: Lung sound analysis (LSA) has been reported to be useful for predicting airway obstruction and inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma. Objectives: We examined whether the exhalation-to-inhalation sound pressure ratio in the middle frequency range (200-400 Hz) (E/I MF) is useful for monitoring therapy in patients with asthma. Methods: The study population comprised 84 patients with mild to moderate asthma whose LSA data were available before and after 1 year of daily treatment with (budesonide 800 μg). We analyzed whether the E/I MF before and after treatment was associated with the fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) level, sputum eosinophil percentage, respiratory function, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Results: Prior to treatment with budesonide, the E/I MF was significantly correlated with respiratory function, airway hyperresponsiveness, FeNO, and sputum eosinophil percentage. The cutoff values for the E/I MF to detect the abnormalities of respiratory function, FeNO, and sputum eosinophil percentage were 0.367, 0.358, and 0.363, respectively. With respect to the reference value, the E/I MF improved significantly in patients whose respiratory function and FeNO benefited from therapy with budesonide compared with patients whose respiratory function did not benefit from budesonide (odds ratios of 6.39 and 4.78, respectively). According to the multivariate analysis, patients whose E/I MF did not improve had a longer history of smoking (P=.038), poorer posttreatment respiratory function (P=.028), and higher posttreatment FeNO (P=.0095). Conclusion: Similar to respiratory function and FeNO, E/I MF based on LSA is a useful indicator for monitoring the efficacy of therapy in asthmatic patients (AU)

Introducción: El análisis de los sonidos pulmonares ha demostrado ser una prueba de utilidad para objetivar la presencia de obstrucción e inflamación en las vías respiratorias de pacientes con asma bronquial. Objetivos: Hemos evaluado si el cociente sonido inspiración-espiración por presión en el rango de frecuencias medias, de 200 a 400 Hz, (E/I MF) tenía utilidad en la evaluación de la respuesta al tratamiento en pacientes con asma bronquial. Métodos: El estudio incluyó 84 pacientes con asma leve o moderada que tuvieran registros de LSA antes y tras un año de tratamiento con 800 μg de budesonida inhalada. Analizamos si los cambios en E/I MF tras el tratamiento se correlacionaban con los cambios en los niveles de óxido nítrico en aire exhalado (FeNO), el porcentaje de eosinófilos en muestras de esputo inducido, la función pulmonar y la hiperreactividad bronquial. Resultados: Antes de iniciar el tratamiento con budesonida inhalada, el cociente E/I MF se correlacionaba significativamente con la función pulmonar, la hiperreactividad bronquial, los niveles de FeNO y el porcentaje de eosinófilos en las muestras de esputo. Los puntos de corte del cociente E/I MF para detectar valores anómalos en la función pulmonar, los niveles de FeNO, y el porcentaje de eosinófilos en esputo eran 0,367, 0,358 y 0,363 respectivamente. El cociente E/I MF mejoraba significativamente en el grupo de pacientes en los que la budesonida inhalada inducía cambios significativos en la función pulmonar o en los niveles, con respecto a los valores de referencia apropiados comparados con los de los grupos de pacientes que no presentaban mejoría en estos parámetros (odds ratios de 6,39 y 4,78, respectivamente). En un análisis multivariante los pacientes que no presentaban mejoras significativas en el cociente E/I MF presentaban una historia de tabaquismo activo significativamente más larga (p=,038), unos niveles de función pulmonar tras tratamiento significativamente más bajos (p=,028), y paralelamente unos niveles de FeNO, tras tratamiento, más elevados (p=,0095). Conclusiones: Al igual que la función pulmonar y los niveles de FeNO, el cociente E/I MF obtenido mediante el LSA es un indicador útil para evaluar la eficacia del tratamiento en pacientes con asma bronquial (AU)

Upgraded millimeter-wave interferometer for measuring the electron density during the beam extraction in the negative ion source.

The upgraded millimeter-wave interferometer with the frequency of 70 GHz is installed on a large-scaled negative ion source. Measurable line-averaged electron density is from 2 × 1015 to 3 × 1018 m-3 in front of the plasma grid. Several improvements such as the change to shorter wavelength probing with low noise, the installation of special ordered horn antenna, the signal modulation for a high accuracy digital phase detection, the insertion of insulator, and so on, are carried out for the measurement during the beam extraction by applying high voltage. The line-averaged electron density is successfully measured and it is found that it increases linearly with the arc power and drops suddenly at the beam extraction.

Beam emission spectroscopy with radially and poloidally elongated optical sightlines.

Beam emission spectroscopy is widely used as local density fluctuation measurement of fusion plasmas. We have installed a beam emission spectroscopy system in the large helical device (LHD) with radially and poloidally elongated optical configuration to enhance both signal-to-noise ratio and wavenumber sensitivity in radial and poloidal directions. The calculation considering the integral effect of the line of sight showed the radially and poloidally elongated sightlines have increased sensitivity compared with the square shaped bundle design of the same sampling area.