This study investigated the characteristics and environmental conditions of tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific from 2009 to 2017 that dissipated before reaching tropical storm ...strength (TDs) under unfavorable environmental conditions; we compared TDs with TCs that reached tropical storm strength (TSs) in terms of modulations of relevant large-scale flow patterns. The flow patterns were categorized based on five factors: shear line, confluence region, monsoon gyre, easterly waves, and Rossby wave energy dispersion from a preexisting cyclone. Among 476 cases, 263 TDs were detected using best-track data and early stage Dvorak analysis. The TCs in the environments associated with the confluence region or Rossby wave energy dispersion (easterly waves) tended to reach tropical storm strength (remain weak) compared with the other factors. The average locations of TDs at the time of cyclogenesis in the confluence region, monsoon gyre, and easterly waves (Rossby wave energy dispersion) in the summer and autumn were farther to the west (east and north) than those of TSs that exhibited the same factors. The environments around TDs were less favorable for development than those around TSs, as there were significant differences in atmospheric (oceanic) environmental parameters between TDs and TSs in the factors of confluence region, easterly waves, and Rossby wave energy dispersion (shear line, monsoon gyre, and Rossby wave energy dispersion). The environmental conditions for reaching tropical storm strength over their developing stage, using five factors, can be summarized as follows: higher tropical cyclone heat potential in the shear line and monsoon gyre, weak vertical shear in the confluence region, wet conditions in the easterly waves, and higher sea surface temperatures and an intense preexisting cyclone in Rossby wave energy dispersion from a preexisting cyclone.
This study investigated the atmospheric and oceanic contributions to the genesis of Typhoon Faxai in 2019. Our statistical analysis using the tropical cyclone genesis score (TGS) attributed the ...tropical disturbance that developed into Faxai (Pre-Faxai) to easterly waves (EWs). The EW score evaluated by a grid version of the TGS (Grid-EW) averaged around the occurrence of Pre-Faxai was approximately twice as large as the climatological mean; it was the second largest value in the past 38 years. The Pre-Faxai area with high Grid-EW scores could be traced back to the eastern North Pacific (ENP) around August 25, 2019. The lower-troposphere environment characterized by high Grid-EW scores was favorable for vortex formation because it provided a containment area for moisture entrained by the developing circulation or lofted by the deep convection therein. The Pre-Faxai area with high Grid-EW scores moved westward because of the background easterly flow over the ENP, then entered the western North Pacific (WNP). The Typhoon Intensity Forecast Scheme (TIFS) showed that the important environments for its genesis were ocean conditions and the vertical wind shear. The oceanic conditions contributed to the development of Pre-Faxai as it traveled over the WNP. The enhancement of vertical wind shear and subsequent suppression of the development of Pre-Faxai were caused by the lower-troposphere easterly winds associated with high EW scores; they were also caused by upper-troposphere westerly winds associated with an upper cold low northwest of Pre-Faxai. When the vertical shear decreased with weakening of the upper cold low, Pre-Faxai reached tropical storm intensity on September 4. Therefore, TGS and TIFS detected Pre-Faxai 10 days before the typhoon arose, an indication that monitoring environmental factors such as EW and vertical wind shear are important for disaster prevention.
Our proposed method of random phase-free holography using virtual convergence light can obtain large reconstructed images exceeding the size of the hologram, without the assistance of random phase. ...The reconstructed images have low-speckle noise in the amplitude and phase-only holograms (kinoforms); however, in low-resolution holograms, we obtain a degraded image quality compared to the original image. We propose an iterative random phase-free method with virtual convergence light to address this problem.
•A proposed method can obtain large reconstructed images exceeding the size of the hologram, without the assistance of random phase.•The reconstructed images have low-speckle noise in the amplitude and phase-only holograms (kinoforms).•In low-resolution holograms, we obtain a good image quality of a reconstructed image using an iterative random phase-free method with virtual convergence light.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Secure dose escalation is required to compensate avoidance of concurrent chemotherapy in radiotherapy for increasing elderly bladder cancer. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lipiodol submucosally ...injected as a fiducial marker during image-guided radiotherapy (Lip-IGRT) for muscle invasive bladder cancer (BC).
Twenty-three patients with T2a-4aN0-1M0 BC underwent whole-bladder irradiation of 46 Gy and Lip-IGRT of 20 Gy, conventionally. The bladder volume exposed to 19 Gy (
V
:%) on Lip-IGRT was referred as an index predicting cystitis.
Lipiodol consistently highlighted the boundaries of 20 tumors (88%) on planning and portal verification images. Three of 4 patients under oral anticoagulant agents usage were complicated with grade ≥2 hematuria for 3 days (a patient with a
V
of >50%) or more than a year (2 patients with
V
of <50%) after the injection. The 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 70.4% and 71.1%, respectively.
Lipiodol marking is an effective way of demarcating BC. However, it is necessary to address the comorbidities of elderly patients.
We demonstrate an in-line digital holographic microscopy using a consumer scanner. The consumer scanner can scan an image with 4,800 dpi. The pixel pitch is approximately 5.29 μm. The system using a ...consumer scanner has a simple structure, compared with synthetic aperture digital holography using a camera mounted on a two-dimensional moving stage. In this demonstration, we captured an in-line hologram with 23, 602 × 18, 023 pixels (≈0.43 gigapixels). The physical size of the scanned hologram is approximately 124 mm × 95 mm. In addition, to accelerate the reconstruction time of the gigapixel hologram and decrease the amount of memory for the reconstruction, we applied the band-limited double-step Fresnel diffraction to the reconstruction.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study investigated the characteristics and environmental conditions of tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific from 2009 to 2017 that dissipated before reaching tropical storm ...strength (TDs) under unfavorable environmental conditions; we compared these with TCs that reached tropical storm strength (TSs) in terms of modulations of relevant large-scale flow patterns. The flow patterns were categorized based on five factors: shear line, confluence region, monsoon gyre, easterly waves, and Rossby wave energy dispersion from a preexisting cyclone. Among 476 cases, 263 TDs were detected using best-track data and early stage Dvorak analysis. The TCs in the environments associated with the confluence region or Rossby wave energy dispersion (easterly waves) tended to reach tropical storm strength (remain weak) compared with the other factors. The average locations of TDs at the time of cyclogenesis in the confluence region, monsoon gyre, and easterly waves (Rossby wave energy dispersion) in the summer and autumn were farther to the west (east and north) than those of TSs that exhibited the same factors. The environments around TDs were less favorable for development than those of TSs, as there were significant differences in atmospheric (oceanic) environmental parameters between TDs and TSs in the factors of confluence region, easterly waves, and Rossby wave energy dispersion (shear line, monsoon gyre, and Rossby wave energy dispersion). The environmental conditions for reaching tropical storm strength over their developing stage, using five factors, can be summarized as follows: higher tropical cyclone heat potential in the shear line and monsoon gyre, weak vertical shear in the confluence region, wet conditions in the easterly waves, and higher sea surface temperatures and an intense preexisting cyclone in Rossby wave energy dispersion from a preexisting cyclone.
•Intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring is useful to prevent hypoglycemia.•Patient education regarding this device to prevent hypoglycemia remained unclear.•A randomized cross-over trial ...was conducted in comparison to finger-prick glucose testing.•Type 1 diabetes mellitus patients used the device to avoid impending hypoglycemia.•By this intervention, time below range (<70 mg/dL) was significantly reduced by 21.9 %.
We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range.
This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL).
The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day 10.1 %±7.0 % vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day 12.9 %±9.5 %, P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001).
The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Elevated Serum IP-10 Levels Observed in Type 1 Diabetes
Akira Shimada , MD 1 ,
Jiro Morimoto , MD 1 ,
Keiichi Kodama , MD 1 ,
Ryuji Suzuki , MD 1 ,
Yoichi Oikawa , MD 1 ,
Osamu Funae , MD 1 ,
Akira ...Kasuga , MD 1 ,
Takao Saruta , MD 1 and
Shosaku Narumi , MD 2
1 Division of Endocrinology, Keio University School of Medicine
2 Tokyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
OBJECTIVE —Although most patients with type 1 diabetes are considered to have T-cell–mediated autoimmune disease, a method of measuring
of pancreatic β-cell–specific T-cell function in cases of type 1 diabetes has yet to be established. Here, we focused on interferon-inducible
protein-10 (IP-10), a chemokine that promotes the migration of activated T-helper 1 (Th1) cells and measured serum IP-10 levels
in patients with human type 1 diabetes, which is regarded as a Th1-mediated disease.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —Serum samples were obtained from diabetic patients, and the levels of autoantibodies (GAD and insulinoma-associated protein-2
IA-2) and IP-10 were measured. Diabetic patients positive for either or both of the autoantibodies were classified as Ab + type 1, and those negative for both were classified as Ab − type 1. To evaluate islet antigen–specific responses, peripheral blood from patients stimulated with or without GAD was used,
and intracellular cytokine staining for flowcytometry was performed.
RESULTS —The Ab + and Ab − type 1 groups both showed a significantly higher serum IP-10 level than the healthy subjects ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), and the IP-10 level in the recent-onset Ab + subgroup was significantly higher than that in the established (longstanding) Ab + subgroup ( P < 0.002). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum IP-10 level and the number of GAD-reactive
γ-interferon–producing CD4 + cells in the Ab + type 1 group ( P < 0.007).
CONCLUSIONS —Our findings demonstrate that measurement of serum IP-10 concentrations is useful in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Ab+, autoantibody positive
Ab−, autoantibody negative
ADA, American Diabetes Association
BSA, bovine serum albumin
ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
IFN-γ, γ-interferon
IP-10, interferon-inducible protein-10
LADA, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults
PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
RT, room temperature
Footnotes
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Akira Shimada, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology
and Metabolism, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. E-mail: asmd{at}med.keio.ac.jp .
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
PDF
