Changes in thyroid hormones by treatment with aspirin and prednisolone in subacute thyroiditis with hyperthyroidism

Thyroid functions were studied in 11 patients with subacute thyroiditis accompanied by signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and were compared with 13 patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis in which serum T4 was elevated to the identical level. Serum T3 was also elevated in subacute thyroiditis but to a significantly lower extent than in thyrotoxicosis. Therefore the ratio of T4/T3 was significantly higher in subacute thyroiditis than in thyrotoxicosis. Although duration of thyroid swelling was shorter in the group treated by prednisolone than by aspirin, the accelerated ESR, thyroid tenderness and fever subsided almost similarly in the two groups. Serum T4 and T3 levels declined more rapidly in treatment with prednisolone compared with aspirin. In patients treated by aspirin initial increase in T3 level occurred transiently with simultaneous decrease in the T4/T3 ratio. These changes suggest the increase in peripheral conversion of T4 to T3. Even in severe cases of subacute thyroiditis associated with hyperthyroidism, aspirin treatment is an effective therapy and there is no recurrence following withdrawal of the medication.     

Calculation of characteristics of embedded coupled microstrip lines with finite thickness

The letter gives a numerical method of determining characteristic impedances, propagation velocities and crosstalk parameters of coupled embedded (and unembedded or pure) microstrip lines from the relative permittivity of the substrate and geometrical data, such as the thickness of the strip conductor and that of the embedding layer. Some typical computed results are shown.     

Plant inspection by using a ground vehicle and an aerial robot: lessons learned from plant disaster prevention challenge in world robot summit 2018

Abstract

In recent years, to prevent accidents and disaster are desired by implementing maintenance and management of facilities, such as conducting periodic inspections with appropriate frequency at plants. However, because the dangerous materials such as flammable gas and explosives is used in a plant, and there are many dangerous places in a plant such as high-temperature environment and high places and narrow spaces, it is desirable to use a remote-controlled robot for safety work and short inspections. Against this background, the Disaster Robotics Category-Plant Disaster Prevention Challenge was held in Japan at the World Robot Summit 2018. Our team was ranked 3rd in this competition, because our strategy of ‘inspection and investigation in cooperation with UGV and UAV’ was effective. In this paper, the competition contents of World Robot Summit 2018 and the robot inspection system that we are studying are explained. And what kind of strategy was challenged and result for these given competition tasks by using our robot system are introduced. And the lessons learned such as advantages and issues in UGV and UAV collaboration work at this competition are described for evaluate a robot investigation system for disaster response and inspection work at plants.     

Dynamically Reconfigurable,Multifunctional Emulsions with Controllable Structure and Movement

Dynamically reconfigurable oil‐in‐water (o/w) Pickering emulsions are developed, wherein the assembly of particles (i.e., platinum‐on‐carbon and iron‐on‐carbon particles) can be actively controlled by adjusting interfacial tensions. A balanced adsorption of particles and surfactants at the o/w interface allows for the creation of inhomogeneity of the particle distribution on the emulsion surface. Complex Pickering emulsions with highly controllable and reconfigurable morphologies are produced in a single step by exploiting the temperature‐sensitive miscibility of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon liquids. Dynamic adsorption/desorption of (polymer) surfactants afford both shape and configuration transitions of multiple Pickering emulsions and encapsulated core/shell structured can be transformed into a Janus configuration. Finally, to demonstrate the intrinsic catalytic or magnetic properties of the particles provided by carbon bound Pt and Fe nanoparticles, two different systems are investigated. Specifically, the creation of a bimetallic microcapsule with controlled payload release and precise modulation of translational and rotational motions of magnetic emulsions are demonstrated, suggesting potential applications for sensing and smart payload delivery.     

Comparison of carbonaceous aerosols in Tokyo before and after implementation of diesel exhaust restrictions

We compared the status of carbonaceous aerosols in Tokyo before and after the implementation of a diesel vehicle regulation intended to reduce the quantity of particulate carbon from diesel engines in one of the largest scale ever attempts at vehicle exhaust control. Radiocarbon (14C) in elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) were analyzed to identify fossil fuel carbonaceous particles emitted from diesel-powered vehicles. One-sided paired-month t-tests showed no distinct difference in the absolute concentrations of particles in terms of total mass (19.5 to 18.0 microg m(-3); p = 0.321), EC (3.6 to 3.3 microg m(-3); p = 0.272), and TC (6.3 to 6.2 microg m(-3); p = 0.418) for the finest particles (d(a) < 1.1 microm) after the implementation of the regulation. The ratios of the concentrations of the chemical constituents were, however, altered after the regulation. EC/TC was significantly decreased from 56.7% to 50.2% (p = 0.039). Although it was not statistically significant, the percentage of fossil carbon in EC also decreased (67.8% to 63.8%; p = 0.104). Since EC is predominantly of combustion origin, the observed decrease was likely due to the decrease in fossil EC emissions from diesel-powered vehicles. The decrease in EC/TC after the implementation of the regulation was also likely to have resulted from attachment to diesel vehicle exhaust systems of particulate filters as required as part of the regulation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The EC/TC of fossil carbon of the finest particles decreased from 66.2% to 55.2% (p = 0.066), but EC/TC of biomass carbon did not decrease but rose slightly from 43.6% to 44.5% (p > 0.5). Thus, the relative ratios of components of carbonaceous aerosol particles, such as 14C, could provide a better understanding of the atmospheric pollution status, despite short-term fluctuations, than do measurements of absolute concentrations.     

Metabolism of odd-numbered fatty acids and even-numbered fatty acids in mouse

Fatty acids are converted into energy via beta-oxidation. Although almost all natural occurring fatty acids are even-numbered, there are some odd-numbered fatty acids too. The details of the metabolism rate of odd-numbered fatty acids, however, are not clear. In the present study, we simultaneously administered a triacylglycerol containing four types of labeled even-numbered (palmitic acid and stearic acid) and odd-numbered (pentadecanoic acid and heptadecanoic acid) fatty acids to mice to compare the rates of their metabolism. The rates of metabolism were evaluated based on the accumulation of the labeled fatty acids in the small intestine epithelium, liver, and epididymal fat. Odd-numbered fatty acids accumulated mainly in the epididymal fat. In contrast, there was no accumulation of even-numbered fatty acids observed in the small intestine epithelium, liver, or epididymal fat. These results suggest that odd-numbered fatty acids might not be favorable substrates for beta-oxidation-related enzymes.     

Development of HVAC system simulation tool for life cycle energy management Part 1: Concept of life cycle energy management and outline of the developed simulation tool

The importance of LCEM (life cycle energy management) has been recognized from the view of life cycle energy savings for sustainable buildings. The purposes of this research are the proposal of an LCEM framework and development of prototype HVAC system simulation tools for LCEM. In this paper, the necessity of energy simulation tools for LCEM is discussed, and the outline and solution method of the simulation tool are shown.