Geo- and Hydro-Mechanical Evaluation of Slope Failure Induced by Torrential Rains in Northern-Kyushu Area,July 2009

Torrential rainfall in mid-July 2009 triggered numerous geodisasters such as slope failure and debris flow in Chugoku and Northern Kyushu areas of Japan. A number of slope failures and debris flows occurred in Yamaguchi and Fukuoka prefectures resulting in extensive damage to human life and infrastructure. One of the most serious geodisasters included a slope failure followed by debris flow at Sasaguri-machi and Fukuchi-machi, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. This paper summarizes the results of geotechnical investigations on the geodisaster sites in Fukuoka prefecture. The geotechnical investigation included determining a series of grain size distributions, consistency limits and conducting direct box shear tests for collapsed soils collected at six disaster sites. The generation mechanisms of slope failure followed by debris flow were also investigated by analyzing the precipitation, topography, geology, and strength properties of the collapsed soils. Moreover, slope deformation and stability analyses were coupled with an unsaturated-saturated seepage analysis to investigate the slope failure mechanism. The main findings from the study are summarized as: The physical properties, such as the grain size distribution, the plastic limit and liquid limit of collapsed soils, are summarized and compared with the results of other failure slopes in the literature. The collapsed soil was characterized as being a well grained soil (the uniformity coefficient >50) and highly weathered (the ignition loss >5%), however, with regard to the liquid limit and plastic index, there were no remarkable findings. The original shear strength for collapsed soils with natural water content is relatively large and slope failure doesn't occur because the cohesion in the shear strength is induced by a suction force between the soil particles under unsaturated condition. However, water seepage into the soil induces a drastic decrease in the shear strength, which is mainly caused by a decrease in cohesion (losing suction) resulting from soil saturation. In addition, the drained/undrained condition in the shear process is also sensitive to shear strength. For example, both water seepage and the shear process with constant volume cause an approximate 30% reduction in shear strength for Fukuchi-machi and Sasaguri-machi soil samples. Therefore, the reduction of cohesive strength due to water seepage and the low permeability of the slope are the parameters which trigger geodisaster. Based on the results of slope deformation and a stability analyses which took the change in water pressure and cohesive strength into account, the geodisaster at Fukuchi-machi was simulated, it is reasonable to assume that the shallow failure near the top of slope occurred due to torrential precipitation of about 100 mm per hour which triggered a debris flow.     

Generalized KYP lemma: unified frequency domain inequalities with design applications

The celebrated Kalman-Yakubovic/spl caron/-Popov (KYP) lemma establishes the equivalence between a frequency domain inequality (FDI) and a linear matrix inequality, and has played one of the most fundamental roles in systems and control theory. This paper first develops a necessary and sufficient condition for an S-procedure to be lossless, and uses the result to generalize the KYP lemma in two aspects-the frequency range and the class of systems-and to unify various existing versions by a single theorem. In particular, our result covers FDIs in finite frequency intervals for both continuous/discrete-time settings as opposed to the standard infinite frequency range. The class of systems for which FDIs are considered is no longer constrained to be proper, and nonproper transfer functions including polynomials can also be treated. We study implications of this generalization, and develop a proper interface between the basic result and various engineering applications. Specifically, it is shown that our result allows us to solve a certain class of system design problems with multiple specifications on the gain/phase properties in several frequency ranges. The method is illustrated by numerical design examples of digital filters and proportional-integral-derivative controllers.     

Bone metastasis from colorectal cancer in autopsy cases

The incidence of bone metastasis from colorectal cancer is reported to be 10.7% in autopsy cases. However, the characteristics of the primary cancers, as well as the patterns of bone metastasis, remain unclear. We analyzed the clinical and autopsy records of 118 patients with primary colorectal cancer treated either surgically or conservatively and eventually autopsied between 1970 and 1987 at Toranomon Hospital in Tokyo. Bone metastasis was detected in 23.7% (28/118). The average age of patients with bone metastasis was lower than that in patients without bone metastasis (P < 0.02). Cancers to the rectum and cecum were accompanied by bone metastasis more frequently than cancers of other portions of the colon. Signet-ring cell carcinoma showed a high incidence of bone metastasis (P = 0.041). Bone metastasis from colorectal cancer was associated with liver or lung metastases (P < 0.0001). These results indicated that bone metastasis from colorectal cancer is not as infrequent as previously described.     

Primary spinal leptomeningeal gliomatosis presenting visual disturbance as the initial symptom: case report

We report a case of diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis which spread from the cervical to the sacral spine. A 60-year-old man was admitted with visual disturbance due to papilledema. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed holocord leptomeningeal gliomatosis without a definite intraparenchymal lesion, and the patient's neurological examination was unremarkable except for papilledema. Intracranial hypertension secondary to spinal tumor is well known but unusual, and the mechanism is still unclear. In our case, an elevated protein concentration of cerebrospinal fluid is suggested as the cause of intracranial hypertension.     

Identification of pentosidine as a native structure for advanced glycation end products in beta-2-microglobulin-containing amyloid fibrils in patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis

beta-2-Microglobulin (beta-2m) is a major constituent of amyloid fibrils in patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA). Recently, we found that the pigmented and fluorescent adducts formed nonenzymatically between sugar and protein, known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), were present in beta-2m-containing amyloid fibrils, suggesting the possible involvement of AGE-modified beta-2m in bone and joint destruction in DRA. As an extension of our search for the native structure of AGEs in beta-2m of patients with DRA, the present study focused on pentosidine, a fluorescent cross-linked glycoxidation product. Determination by both HPLC assay and competitive ELISA demonstrated a significant amount of pentosidine in amyloid-fibril beta-2m from long-term hemodialysis patients with DRA, and the acidic isoform of beta-2m in the serum and urine of hemodialysis patients. A further immunohistochemical study revealed the positive immunostaining for pentosidine and immunoreactive AGEs and beta-2m in macrophage-infiltrated amyloid deposits of long-term hemodialysis patients with DRA. These findings implicate a potential link of glycoxidation products in long-lived beta-2m-containing amyloid fibrils to the pathogenesis of DRA.     

A study of multiple biomarkers in coke oven workers--a cross-sectional study in China

We conducted a cross-sectional molecular epidemiological study of coke oven workers exposed to the established carcinogen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to evaluate the relationships between both traditional 'exposure markers' and a series of biomarkers, including urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a marker of internal dose, leukocyte aromatic DNA adducts as markers of biologically effective dose, serum p53 protein as a response marker and genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4501A1 and glutathione S-transferase MI as susceptibility markers. Twenty-five male subjects each were randomly selected from the top, middle and bottom work areas of the oven, and the control plant. They were matched for age and smoking status. The mean levels of PAH exposure, monitored by stationary and personal samplers, and of worker urinary 1-hydroxypyrene differed significantly between the top, middle and bottom of the oven and control work areas. The highest stationary and personal PAH concentrations and 1-hydroxypyrene levels were demonstrated at the top work area. Good correlations were found between the stationary PAH levels, personal PAH levels and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels. No positive correlations were demonstrated between aromatic DNA adduct levels and current or cumulative PAH exposure dose. In the presence of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4501A1, a positive correlation was demonstrated between aromatic DNA adducts and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels. There was also a significant correlation between serum p53 protein levels and the cumulated benzo[a]pyrene exposure dose. Although these biomarkers have certain limitations, they are applicable to cancer epidemiology, and may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis.     

Radicicol leads to selective depletion of Raf kinase and disrupts K-Ras-activated aberrant signaling pathway

Activation of Ras leads to the constitutive activation of a downstream phosphorylation cascade comprised of Raf-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase, and MAPK. We have developed a yeast-based assay in which the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pheromone-induced MAPK pathway relied on co-expression of K-Ras and Raf-1. Radicicol, an antifungal antibiotic, was found to inhibit the K-ras signaling pathway reconstituted in yeast. In K-ras-transformed, rat epithelial, and K-ras-activated, human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, radicicol inhibited K-Ras-induced hyperphosphorylation of Erk2. In addition, the level of Raf kinase was significantly decreased in radicicol-treated cells, whereas the levels of K-Ras and MAPK remained unchanged. These results suggest that radicicol disrupts the K-Ras-activated signaling pathway by selectively depleting Raf kinase and raises the possibility that pharmacological destabilization of Raf kinase could be a new and powerful approach for the treatment of K-ras-activated human cancers.     

An autopsy case of adult onset glycogen storage disease type Ia

A 3-week tour of the Far East was coordinated by Dr. Ronald DeWald, senior travelling fellow appointed by the Scoliosis Research Society. Three junior fellows appointed by the Education Committee of the Scoliosis Research Society accompanied him. The purpose of this fellowship was to develop a comaraderie and exchange ideas, thoughts, and experiences in the field of spinal deformity.     

G-CSF increases secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator by human lung cancer cells

AIMS: To examine the feasibility of using the human iris in vivo for the assessment of the interaction between tyramine and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. To examine the relative roles of the two forms of MAO in terminating the response to sympathomimetic amines in the iris, by comparing the effects of single oral doses of moclobemide, a selective MAO-A inhibitor, and selegiline, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, on mydriatic responses to tyramine. METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in three monthly sessions, each associated with ingestion of one capsule (moclobemide 450 mg, selegiline 10 mg, or placebo), according to a double-blind, balanced, cross-over design. Tyramine hydrochloride eye-drops (75 mM, 2 x 10 microl) were instilled three times in the left conjuctival sac at 40 min intervals. Pupil diameter was monitored with a binocular infrared television pupillometer before and for 4.5 h after ingestion of the capsule. The pupillary response to tyramine was expressed as the area under the pupil diameter x time curve (arbitrary units). A blood sample was taken before and 2 h after ingestion of the capsule, for the assay of platelet MAO-B activity, and plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) concentration, an index of MAO-A activity. Platelet MAO activity was assayed radiochemically, using [14C]-phenylethylamine as substrate, and plasma DHPG by high performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.). The results were analysed using analysis of variance with repeated measures, followed by Bonferroni's corrected t-test, using a significance criterion of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Both moclobemide and selegiline, compared with placebo, caused significant miosis in the right (untreated) eye. The changes in pupil diameter (mm +/- s.e. mean) from the pretreatment measurement were: placebo -0.09 +/- 0.07, moclobemide -0.52 +/- 0.09, selegiline -0.26 +/- 0.1. The mydriatic response to tyramine was potentiated by moclobemide, compared with the response recorded in the presence of placebo. The responses to tyramine (arbitrary units +/- s.e. mean) were: placebo 77.08 +/- 11.65, moclobemide 140.25 +/- 18.9, selegiline 72.75 +/- 12.35. Both moclobemide and selegiline significantly reduced platelet MAO activity, compared with placebo. The changes in platelet MAO activity (nmol h(-1) mg(-1) protein +/- s.e. mean) from the pretreatment level were: placebo 0.5 +/- 0.62, moclobemide -6.7 +/- 0.66, selegiline -17.7 +/- 0.87. Moclobemide significantly reduced plasma DHPG concentration, compared with placebo. The changes in plasma DHPG concentration (nmol l(-1) +/- s.e. mean) from the pretreatment level were: placebo -0.01 +/- 0.24, moclobemide -4.98 +/- 0.32, selegiline -0.51 +/- 0.26. CONCLUSIONS: The potentiation of tyramine-evoked mydriasis by moclobemide is likely to reflect the inhibition of MAO-A activity in the iris, consistent with the activity of this enzyme in sympathetic nerve terminals. The lack of effect of selegiline on tyramine-evoked mydriasis argues against a role of MAO-B in terminating the effects of sympathomimetic amines in the iris. The effects of the two drugs on platelet MAO activity and plasma DHPG concentration are in agreement with previous reports and consistent with the relative selectivity of moclobemide for MAO-A and of selegiline for MAO-B. The miosis caused by the two MAO inhibitors is likely to be due to a central sympatholytic action of the drugs.