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H. Nishino,
K. Abe,
Y. Hayato,
T. Iida, M. Ikeda,
J. Kameda,
Y. Koshio,
M. Miura,
S. Moriyama,
M. Nakahata, [......],
M. R. Vagins,
S. Chen,
Y. Heng,
J. Liu,
Z. Yang,
H. Zhang,
D. Kielczewska,
K. Connolly,
E. Thrane,
R. J. Wilkes
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: Searches for a nucleon decay into a charged antilepton (e+ or μ+) plus a light meson (π0, π-, η, ρ0, ρ-, ω) were performed using the Super-Kamiokande I and II data. Twelve nucleon decay modes were searched for. The total exposure is 140.9 kiloton·years, which includes a 91.7 kiloton·year exposure (1489.2 live days) of Super-Kamiokande-I and a 49.2 kiloton·year exposure (798.6 live days) of Super-Kamiokande II. The number of candidate events in the data was consistent with the atmospheric neutrino background expectation. No significant evidence for a nucleon decay was observed in the data. Thus, lower limits on the nucleon partial lifetime at 90% confidence level were obtained. The limits range from 3.6×1031 to 8.2×1033 years, depending on the decay modes.
Phys. Rev. D. 06/2012; 85(11).
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Super-Kamiokande Collaboration: H. Nishino,
K. Abe,
Y. Hayato,
T. Iida, M. Ikeda,
J. Kameda,
Y. Koshio,
M. Miura,
S. Moriyama,
M. Nakahata, [......],
M. R. Vagins,
S. Chen,
Y. Heng,
J. Liu,
Z. Yang,
H. Zhang,
D. Kielczewska,
K. Connolly,
E. Thrane,
R. J. Wilkes
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Searches for a nucleon decay into a charged anti-lepton (e^+ or {\mu}^+) plus
a light meson ({\pi}^0, {\pi}^-, {\eta}, {\rho}^0, {\rho}^-, {\omega}) were
performed using the Super-Kamiokande I and II data. Twelve nucleon decay modes
were searched for. The total exposure is 140.9 kiloton \cdot years, which
includes a 91.7 kiloton \cdot year exposure (1489.2 live days) of
Super-Kamiokande-I and a 49.2 kiloton \cdot year exposure (798.6 live days) of
Super-Kamiokande-II. The number of candidate events in the data was consistent
with the atmospheric neutrino background expectation. No significant evidence
for a nucleon decay was observed in the data. Thus, lower limits on the nucleon
partial lifetime at 90% confidence level were obtained. The limits range from
3.6 \times 10^31 to 8.2 \times 10^33 years, depending on the decay modes.
03/2012;
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of and risk factors for elderly depression between urban and rural areas in Japan and to further understanding of the features of elderly depression.
A multistage, random sampling procedure and mailing method were used in urban and rural areas in Kumamoto Prefecture. A total of 2,152 participants aged 65 years and older were evaluated for depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Factors associated with depression were also examined. In order to assess the relationship between risk factors and subjective happiness, the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGC-MS) was used.
Depressive symptoms were associated with living alone, being unemployed, chronic illness, sleep disturbance, suicidal ideation, financial strain, and poor social support; the risk factors for elderly depression were almost the same in the two areas. Although three factors (financial strain, work status, and PGC-MS) were significantly associated with depression in both areas on logistic regression analysis, sleep disturbance was significant only for the urban area, and poor social support was significant only for the rural area.
Although factors related to depression did not differ markedly between urban and rural elderly people, some risk factors differed between the two areas. Effective intervention programs for elderly depression should pay more attention to regional differences.
International Psychogeriatrics 02/2012; 24(8):1235-41. · 2.24 Impact Factor
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[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of chewing gum containing phosphoryl oligosaccharides of calcium (POs-Ca) and a low concentration of fluoride (F) on the hardness of enamel subsurface lesions, utilizing a double-blind, randomized, and controlled in situ model. Fifteen individuals wore removable lingual appliances with 3 bovine-enamel insets containing subsurface demineralized lesions. Three times a day for 14 days, they chewed one of the 3 chewing gums (placebo, POs-Ca, POs-Ca+F). After the treatment period, cross-sectional mineral content, nanoindentation hardness, and fluoride ion mapping by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) were evaluated. Although there were no statistical differences in overall mineral content and hardness recovery rates between POs-Ca and POs-Ca+F subsurface lesions (p > 0.05), nanoindentation at 1-μm distance increments from the surface showed statistical differences in hardness recovery rate between POs-Ca and POs-Ca+F in the superficial 20-μm region (p < 0.05). Fluoride mapping revealed distribution of the ion up to 20 μm from the surface in the POs-Ca+F group. Nanoindentation and TOF-SIMS results highlighted the benefits of bioavailability of fluoride ion on reinforcement of the superficial zone of subsurface lesions in situ (NCT01377493).
Journal of dental research 02/2012; 91(4):370-5. · 3.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the image quality on both axial and three-dimensional CT angiograms of the brain at various tube potentials and currents, and to propose the use of descriptors for evaluating the image quality of three-dimensional CT angiograms using entropy analysis.
A head phantom was used as a target object. Axial CT and three-dimensional CT angiograms were obtained at various effective milliampere-second values (49-350 mAs) and tube potentials (80-140 kVp) with a 64-row detector CT scanner. Lens doses were measured using a planar silicon pin-photodiode system. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and streak artefacts on the axial CT angiograms were evaluated and the image quality of the three-dimensional CT angiograms was assessed using entropy analysis.
Lens doses increased with tube potential and effective milliampere-seconds. From the evaluation of SNR and streak artefacts on axial CT angiograms, we found that the image quality was improved by setting the tube potential at 100 kVp. However, there was little visual difference in the image quality for 100 kVp between 252 (effective value recommended by the manufacturer) and 350 mAs (maximum effective value). In the entropy analysis of the image quality of three-dimensional CT angiograms, the mutual information (information gain) per lens dose was largest at 80 kVp and 252 mAs.
Our results suggested that the suitable tube potentials for axial CT and three-dimensional CT angiograms were 100 and 80 kVp, respectively, and the effective milliampere-second value recommended by the manufacturer was appropriate.
The British journal of radiology 01/2012; 85(1017):e673-81. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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K Abe,
Y Hayato,
T Iida, M Ikeda,
K Iyogi,
J Kameda,
Y Koshio,
Y Kozuma,
M Miura,
S Moriyama, [......],
Y Totsuka,
S Chen,
Y Heng,
Z Yang,
H Zhang,
D Kielczewska,
P Mijakowski,
K Connolly,
M Dziomba,
R J Wilkes
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We present a search for differences in the oscillations of antineutrinos and neutrinos in the Super-Kamiokande-I, -II, and -III atmospheric neutrino sample. Under a two-flavor disappearance model with separate mixing parameters between neutrinos and antineutrinos, we find no evidence for a difference in oscillation parameters. Best-fit antineutrino mixing is found to be at (Δm2,sin2 2θ)=(2.0×10(-3) eV2, 1.0) and is consistent with the overall Super-K measurement.
Physical Review Letters 12/2011; 107(24):241801. · 7.37 Impact Factor
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International Clinical Psychopharmacology 08/1998; 13(4):189-90. · 2.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In spite of the extensive research using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, the therapeutic potential of iPS cells in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury is largely unknown. In this study, we repaired peripheral nerve gaps in mice using tissue-engineered bioabsorbable nerve conduits coated with iPS cell-derived neurospheres. The secondary neurospheres derived from mouse iPS cells were suspended in each conduit (4000,000 cells per conduit) and cultured in the conduit in three-dimensional (3D) culture for 14days. We then implanted them in the mouse sciatic nerve gaps (5mm) (iPS group; n=10). The nerve conduit alone was implanted in the control group (n=10). After 4, 8 and 12weeks, motor and sensory functional recovery in mice were significantly better in the iPS group. At 12weeks, all the nerve conduits remained structurally stable without any collapse and histological analysis indicated axonal regeneration in the nerve conduits of both groups. However, the iPS group showed significantly more vigorous axonal regeneration. The bioabsorbable nerve conduits created by 3D-culture of iPS cell-derived neurospheres promoted regeneration of peripheral nerves and functional recovery in vivo. The combination of iPS cell technology and bioabsorbable nerve conduits shows potential as a future tool for the treatment of peripheral nerve defects.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 419(1):130-5.
