Ozone-Based Decomposition of Main Endocrine Disruption Chemicals in Sewage Effluent

In order to decompose endocrine disruption chemicals (EDCs) in sewage effluent, ozone based oxidation of nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA) and 17β-estradiol (E2) was investigated. Experimental results showed that these EDCs were decomposed easily even in the presence of other organic substances of TOC 5 mg/L. The simulation using kinetic constants obtained from the experiments indicated that these EDCs in sewage effluent were removed to below the detection limit with an amount of ozone consumed less than 0.5 mg/L. Ozonation also reduced the estrogenic activity and the aquatic acute toxicity of these EDCs solution. From these results it was concluded that ozonation was very effective in decomposing these EDCs in sewage effluent.     

Single application extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the first choice for patients with pancreatic duct stones

OBJECTIVES: We performed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as the treatment of first choice on 32 chronic pancreatitis patients with main pancreatic duct (MPD) stones prospectively to establish more convenient and safer treatment. METHODS: All patients were treated in a prone position, and shock waves were discharged from the ventral side. ESWL was performed once or twice a week, and no other treatments before ESWL had been applied. RESULTS: Disintegration of all MPD stones to 3 mm or less in diameter could be achieved in all treated patients. Complete clearance of the stones was obtained in 24 patients (75%) without the necessity of endoscopic extraction of fragments. Reduction of MPD diameters after ESWL was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Epigastric and/or back pain complaints before ESWL were completely alleviated in 79% (periods of follow-up: 16-63 months, mean 44), and the pancreatic exocrine function also improved in 61%. No severe complications occurred in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL, which is comparatively easy to perform, is a safe and efficient approach that changes endoscopy's status as an indispensable pretreatment. Therefore, ESWL can be recommended as the first choice treatment for patients with chronic pancreatitis accompanied by MPD stones that should be tried before consideration of either surgical or endoscopic procedures.     

Contrast echo imaging on the breast and thyroid cancers

The utility of ultrasound color Doppler flow mapping imaging for the differential diagnosis on the breast and thyroid tumors had already reported in 1991. Ultrasound contrast agent, SH/TA 508 (Levovist; Schering AG, Germany), had already finished clinical trials in Japan and reported the result phase II, III. On the breast and thyroid lesions, the utility of this contrast agent are safety and usefulness for the accurate diagnosis by the ultrasound color Doppler examination. Throughout of these clinical trials, a quit new ultrasound Doppler imaging methods had been developed, Harmonic Imaging and acoustic emission mode. As the result, ultrasound contrast agent is useful not only for the conventional color Doppler diagnosis but also for the developing of new diagnostic imaging methods.     

Judgments of consensus during group discussion.

6 groups of Ss held discussions during which the individuals' opinions and estimates of the group consensus were privately taken on various issues. "The degree of estimation accuracy achieved was not noticeably different from the accuracy found by other investigators under conditions of no discussion." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of fracture mechanics to heterogeneous systems — prediction of fatigue life of ceramics

A prediction of fatigue life and fracture stress of ceramics of a heterogeneous system was made by application of fracture mechanics based on slow crack growth. It was shown that the prediction of fatigue life and fracture stress in ceramics of heterogeneous system in general could be dealt with in a similar way to those of ceramics of a homogeneous system. Experimental examination of the validity of the prediction was made with LAS glass ceramics (Li₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂) at various stages of devitrification as well as foamed glass. These results proved the validity of the formulae derived.     

Thermal stress in a bimodulus thick cylinder

Certain materials are known to behave differently under tension and compression. This reports an investigation of a simple thermal stress problem based on the bimodulus elasticity in the framework of the classical-type uncoupled thermoelasticity. Because of an unavoidable complexity of three-dimensional analysis in bimodulus elasticity, as a fundamental illustration we consider herein an axisymmetric plane strain state of a thick orthotropic circular cylinder under axisymmetric heat conditions. A system of transcendental simultaneous algebraic equations with respect to eight unknowns are derived. Numerical analyses are carried out for a steady-state temperature field and for a quasi-stationary state with internal heat generation. Results of calculations show that the states of a cylinder are affected significantly by the difference between tensile and compressive moduli of elasticity.