• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6719-6727
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• 2015

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the readability, suitability, and health content of cancer screening information in municipal newspapers in Japan. Materials and Methods: Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) and the framework of Health Belief Model (HBM) were used for assessment of municipal newspapers that were published in central Tokyo (23 wards) from January to December 2013. Results: The mean domain SAM scores of content, literacy demand, and layout/typography were considered superior. The SAM scores of interaction with readers, an indication of the models of desirable actions, and elaboration to enhance readers' self-efficacy were low. According to the HBM coding, messages of medical/clinical severity, of social severity, of social benefits, and of barriers of fear were scarce. Conclusions: The articles were generally well written and suitable. However, learning stimulation/motivation was scarce and the HBM constructs were not fully addressed. Practice implications: Articles can be improved to motivate readers to obtain cancer screening by increasing interaction with readers, introducing models of desirable actions and devices to raise readers' self-efficacy, and providing statements of perceived barriers of fear for pain and time constraints, perceived severity, and social benefits and losses.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.6-10
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• 2018

Removal of iron oxide scale from feed-water in thermal power plant can improve power generation efficiency. We have proposed a novel scale removal system utilizing High Gradient Magnetic Separation (HGMS). This system can be applied to high temperature and pressure area. We have conducted the lab-scale model experiments using ${\varphi}50mm$ filters and it demonstrated high removal efficiency in HGMS, but scale-up of the system is required toward practical use. In this study, we conducted a large scale mock-up HGMS experiment. We used the superconducting solenoidal magnet with ${\varphi}400mm$ bore and demonstrated that our HGMS system can achieve sufficient scale removal capacity that is required to introduce into both off-line and on-line system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.295-303
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• 2019

A heart simulator, UT-Heart, is a finite element model of the human heart that can reproduce all the fundamental activities of the working heart, including propagation of excitation, contraction, and relaxation and generation of blood pressure and blood flow, based on the molecular aspects of the cardiac electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling. In this paper, we present a brief review of the practical use of UT-Heart. As an example, we focus on its application for predicting the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and evaluating the proarrhythmic risk of drugs. Patient-specific, multiscale heart simulation successfully predicted the response to CRT by reproducing the complex pathophysiology of the heart. A proarrhythmic risk assessment system combining in vitro channel assays and in silico simulation of cardiac electrophysiology using UT-Heart successfully predicted drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk. The assessment system was found to be reliable and efficient. We also developed a comprehensive hazard map on the various combinations of ion channel inhibitors. This in silico electrocardiogram database (now freely available at http://ut-heart.com/) can facilitate proarrhythmic risk assessment without the need to perform computationally expensive heart simulation. Based on these results, we conclude that the heart simulator, UT-Heart, could be a useful tool in clinical medicine and drug discovery.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.711-717
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• 2013

Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) is a well-known causative agent of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in humans. CCA is very resistant to chemotherapy and is frequently fatal. To understand the pathogenesis of CCA in humans, a rodent model was developed. However, the development of CCA in rodents is time-consuming and the xenograft-transplantation model of human CCA in immunodeficient mice is costly. Therefore, the establishment of an in vivo screening model for O. viverrini-associated CCA treatment was of interest. We developed a hamster CCA cell line, Ham-1, derived from the CCA tissue of O. viverrini-infected and N-nitrosodimethylamine-treated Syrian golden hamsters. Ham-1 has been maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Essential Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for more than 30 subcultures. These cells are mostly diploid (2n=44) with some being polyploid. Tumorigenic properties of Ham-1 were demonstrated by allograft transplantation in hamsters. The transplanted tissues were highly proliferative and exhibited a glandular-like structure retaining a bile duct marker, cytokeratin 19. The usefulness of this for in vivo model was demonstrated by berberine treatment, a traditional medicine that is active against various cancers. Growth inhibitory effects of berberine, mainly by an induction of G1 cell cycle arrest, were observed in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we developed the allo-transplantable hamster CCA cell line, which can be used for chemotherapeutic drug testing in vitro and in vivo.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.699-701
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• 2015

The high plateaus in west China may provide suitable sites for astronomical observations with the institute's middle-range telescopes and possibly with larger telescopes. Under China-Japan collaborations for site survey in west China, we have been conducting searches for good sites and monitoring their characteristics over several years. As recent results of our site survey show, sites in west Tibet are revealed with a high possibility of good astronomical observations. Weather characteristics at Gar in Ali, Tibet, show its high clear-sky ratios, especially in winter, comparable to Mauna Kea, Hawaii. But it has some wind problem in winter, where stronger wind speeds, over 20m/sec, occur frequently even though the sky is clear. To find calmer sites, we have conducted numerical simulations for the Ali area using the Japan Meteorological Agency NonHydrostatic Model. We have found another site, named ZoZo Hill, near Gar. We will continue to monitor the Gar site to clarify weather characteristics over the whole year and hopefully start to negotiate for site monitoring at ZoZo Hill this year.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.43.1-43.5
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• 2019

Background: Reconstructive surgery is often required for tumors of the oral and maxillofacial region, irrespective of whether they are benign or malignant, the area involved, and the tumor size. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) models are increasingly used in reconstructive surgery. However, these models have rarely been adapted for the fabrication of custom-made reconstruction materials. In this report, we present a case of maxillary reconstruction using a laboratory-engineered, custom-made mesh plate from a 3D model. Case presentation: The patient was a 56-year-old female, who had undergone maxillary resection in 2011 for intraoral squamous cell carcinoma that presented as a swelling of the anterior maxillary gingiva. Five years later, there was no recurrence of the malignant tumor and a maxillary reconstruction was planned. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large bony defect in the dental-alveolar area of the anterior maxilla. Using the CT data, a 3D model of the maxilla was prepared, and the site of reconstruction determined. A custom-made mesh plate was fabricated using the 3D model (Okada Medical Supply, Tokyo, Japan). We performed the reconstruction using the custom-made titanium mesh plate and the particulate cancellous bone and marrow graft from her iliac bone. We employed the tunneling flap technique without alveolar crest incision, to prevent surgical wound dehiscence, mesh exposure, and alveolar bone loss. Ten months later, three dental implants were inserted in the graft. Before the final crown setting, we performed a gingivoplasty with palate mucosal graft. The patient has expressed total satisfaction with both the functional and esthetic outcomes of the procedure. Conclusion: We have successfully performed a maxillary and dental reconstruction using a custom-made, pre-bent titanium mesh plate.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 2001

To know the seawater infiltration into tidal flat sediment in coastal area is very important, because it is significantly correlated with the infiltration and transportation of pollutants in soil, the supply of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic matter to benthic organisms for survival of benthic organisms and the seawater purification. So, we set up purpose to clarify the infiltration behavior of seawater by wave action in tidal flat, to clear the effects of slope of tidal flat and breaking wave height on seawater infiltration and to quantify the infiltration volume of seawater. For purpose, the seawater infiltration was studied with visualization method by using coloring tracer and transparent glass beads replaced as natural sediment in model tidal flat. Specific conclusions derived from this study are as follows. The semi-circular type infiltration of seawater by wave action into saturated sediment was a new infiltration behavior that was not considered in previous studies. The infiltration rate of seawater was increased with increasing of breaking wave height and slope of tidal flat. However, the effects of the slope was bigger than that of breaking wave height on seawater infiltration into tidal flat sediments. It was possible to calculate the infiltration volume of seawater by wave action in natural tidal flat sediment and in fields. Therefore, we can point out that wave action play an important role in the supply of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic matter to benthic organisms, transportation or diffusion of pollutants and seawater purification. So, we hope to be studied the supply of food to benthic organism, pollutant transport and seawater purification on the base of these results.