Acute non-cancer mortality excess after polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans mixed exposure from contaminated rice oil: Yusho

In Japan in 1968, rice-oil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans caused severe food poisoning, termed “Yusho” (oil disease). Several previous studies attempted to evaluate the effects targeting officially-certified Yusho patients. However, these studies have several limitations such as the left-truncated nature of the registry or residual confounding arising from the referent population selection. We thus conducted an area-based standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) study using vital statistics. A severely affected area (Tamanoura area) was adopted as the exposure group, with a reference population from Nagasaki prefecture in Kyushu, which included the Tamanoura. A large number of residents in Tamanoura were exposed to the rice-oil (28% of all the certified cases as of 2009). We estimated SMRs of non-cancer and cancer diseases for the years 1968-2002. Shortly after the exposure, SMRs of all causes, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia/bronchitis, and bronchus/lung cancer were elevated. In particular, SMRs of heart disease were 1.97 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.09-3.56] in 1968, 2.05 (95% CI: 1.16-3.60) in 1969, and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.05-3.41) in 1975. However, we did not observe clear increase in SMRs more than 10 years after the exposure. This study provides further evidence in Yusho, especially on acute effects on non-cancer mortality.     

Calcium isotope separation by band chromatography using 18-crown-6-ether resin

To develop the ⁴⁸Ca enrichment process, a feasibility study on a band chromatography was made using 9 M HCl solution and crown ether resin synthesized in porous silica beads. Prior to the chromatographic experiments, distribution coefficients, Kd, of Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ were measured at different concentrations of these ionic species. The frontal boundary of the chromatography was made by a usual manner of the breakthrough mode of calcium feeding, and the rear boundary was made by introducing strontium as a following ion on the basis of the observed Kd values. It was confirmed that the heavy isotope ⁴⁸Ca was depleted in the rear boundary region, while ⁴⁸Ca was enriched in the front boundary region. The values of separation coefficient ε (= α – 1) in three chromatographic operations at different temperatures were observed as 2 × 10^?3 ~ 3 × 10^?3. The separation coefficients observed in the front boundary regions, where ⁴⁸Ca was enriched, agreed with those observed in the rear boundary regions, where ⁴⁰Ca was enriched.     

Optimal Simulation of Distributed Generation System for CO_2-Reduction in Supermarket and Restaurant

After the great east Japan earthquake in 2011, Japanese energy system has been expected to prioritize safety and trustworthiness. Now, distributed power systems are considered as one solution, but utilizing exhaust heat is an important task to be solved. The purpose of this study is to build a simulation model to harness waste heat of commercial buildings. We obtained two types of data： distributed power system in 1/15 scale model of supermarket, restaurant and real world energy consumption of the two buildings. Results showed cold cabinets, whose electricity was affected by temperatures outside and inside, consumed most in supermarket. While air conditioning, affected by air enthalpy of outside and inside, consumed most in restaurant. According to our simulation with gas engine, PV （photovoltaic） panel, PCM （phase change material）, thermal storage, FCU （fan coil unit） and refrigerated cabinets in scale model, we could reduce 27% of CO_2 emission and 25% of running cost by selecting optimal size.     

How do tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) understand causality involved in tool use?

Four tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were trained to choose from 2 hook-like tools, 1 of which successfully led to collecting food, whereas the other did not because of inappropriate spatial arrangement of the tool and the food. In Experiment 1, all of the monkeys successfully learned the basic task. The monkeys performed successfully with tools of novel colors and shapes in Experiments 2-5. These results demonstrate that the monkeys used the spatial arrangement of the tool and the food as a cue. However, they failed when there were obstacles (Experiment 6) or traps (Experiment 7) on the path along which she monkeys dragged tools. These results may suggest that capuchin monkeys understand the spatial relationship between 2 items, namely, food and. the tool, but do not understand the spatial relationship among 3 items, namely, food, tool, and the environmental condition. The possible role of stimulus generalization is also considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Agreement algorithm using the trial and error method at the macrolevel

The best-of-n problem (Valentini et al. in Front Robot AI 4(9):1–18, 2017) is one of the decision-making problems in which many robots (agents) select the best option among a set of n alternatives and are focused on the field of Swarm Robotics. Almost all of the previous studies focused on binary decision-making scenarios (\(n = 2\)) and could not be applied without any change in the case of \(n> 2\). It is necessary to satisfy constraints on the number of robots N, or the time required for reaching the best option is abruptly increased. Therefore, it is required to construct a method that can deal with \(n> 2\). In this paper, we propose an algorithm (BRT model, bias and rising threshold model) in which the time and the possibility of reaching agreement are not dependent on the number of robots N even when \(n> 2\). By computer experiments, our claims are verified within the tested parameter ranges.     

Fabrication and Application of an Oxide Thermoelectric System

A plate-shaped thermoelectric module was prepared using 140 pairs of p -type Ca₃Co₄O₉ (Co-349) and n -type LaNiO₃ (Ni-113) bulks. The hot-pressed thermoelectric oxide bulks were connected with an Ag paste, incorporating oxide powder, and Ag sheets. The module's open-circuit voltage increases with increasing hot-side temperature ( T _H) and reaches 4.5 V at a T _H of 1072 K in air. No deterioration in output power was seen when power generation was carried out 10 times at a T _H of 723 K with intermediate cooling to room temperature. The module was successfully used to charge a lithium-ion battery in a mobile phone. Thermoelectric modules composed of p -type Co-349 and n -type CaMnO₃ (Mn-113) bulks, which have a pipe shape, were constructed using Ag electrodes and stainless-steel tubes. The devices were connected with the stainless-steel tube coated with ZrO₂ by thermal spray using a dielectric paste composed of silica glass and iron oxide. Power generation was carried out in flame by combustion of natural gas. Water flowed inside the stainless-steel tube for cooling. One module consisting of 54 pairs of legs can generate 1.5 V, 0.28 W, and steam simultaneously by installing in an instantaneous water heater. Power generation was carried out four times with intermediate cooling. Deterioration in the open-circuit voltage of the module was not observed after the fourth combustion.     

Neutrophil Elastase Deficiency Ameliorates Myocardial Injury Post Myocardial Infarction in Mice

Neutrophils are recruited into the heart at an early stage following a myocardial infarction (MI). These secrete several proteases, one of them being neutrophil elastase (NE), which promotes inflammatory responses in several disease models. It has been shown that there is an increase in NE activity in patients with MI; however, the role of NE in MI remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of NE in the pathogenesis of MI in mice. NE expression peaked on day 1 in the infarcted hearts. In addition, NE deficiency improved survival and cardiac function post-MI, limiting fibrosis in the noninfarcted myocardium. Sivelestat, an NE inhibitor, also improved survival and cardiac function post-MI. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the numbers of heart-infiltrating neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages (CD11b⁺F4/80⁺CD206^low cells) were significantly lower in NE-deficient mice than in wild-type (WT) mice. At the border zone between intact and necrotic areas, the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic cells was lower in NE-deficient mice than in WT mice. Western blot analyses revealed that the expression levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 and phosphorylation of Akt were significantly upregulated in NE-knockout mouse hearts, indicating that NE deficiency might improve cardiac survival by upregulating insulin/Akt signaling post-MI. Thus, NE may enhance myocardial injury by inducing an excessive inflammatory response and suppressing Akt signaling in cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of NE might serve as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of MI.     

Safety of ships’ evacuation from tsunami: survey unit of the Great East Japan earthquake

The Great East Japan Earthquake occurred at 14:46 h on Friday, 11 March 2011. It was the most powerful known earthquake to have hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes overall in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves of up to 40.5 m in Miyako, Iwate. More than 20,000 people have been dead or missing. The International Research Center for Marine Policy is a think tank of Japan Coast Guard and belongs to the Japan Coast Guard Academy. Our research unit was organized to conduct survey and research on the Great East Japan Earthquake, in particular its effect on the ocean. This unit collects information and analyzes and synthesizes the collected information from a professional viewpoint. Then, the unit studies about damage by tsunami, damage of ships, urgent evacuate and search rescue to pick new actual explication and various lessons out.