We have investigated the application of the HTS bulk magnets to the magnetic separation techniques for the waste water drained from the university laboratories. The study has been conducted in ...comparison with the electromagnets, and the cryo-cooled superconducting solenoid magnet. A superconducting bulk magnet has the highest value of the trapped magnetic fields at the centre of the sample surface, showing a sharp gradient of the magnetic field on the surface. Magnetic force acting on magnetic particles in magnetic fields is given by the product of a magnetization of particles and a gradient of magnetic field. The HTS bulk is superior to a solenoid magnet which has a poor gradient in magnetic fields in a bore. The separation ratios of ferrite precipitates in the waste slurry were estimated by means of the high gradient magnetic separation method which requires iron filters in the water channel and open gradient magnetic separation without any filters. The magnetic separation using HTS bulk magnet is substantially effective for the practical water purification.
We have investigated the feasibility of strong magnetic field generators composed of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk magnet systems to the magnetic separation techniques for the waste ...water including thin emulsion bearing the cutting oil. Two types of the strong field generators were prepared by the face-to-face HTS bulk magnet systems, which emit the magnetic field density of 1 and 2
T in the open spaces between the magnetic poles activated by the pulsed field magnetization and the field cooling methods, respectively. A couple of water channels containing iron balls were settled in the strong field to trap the magnetized flocks in the waste water. The separation ratios of flocks containing 200
ppm magnetite powder were evaluated with respect to the flow rates of the waste water. The performances of bulk magnet system have kept showing values of around 100% until the flowing rate reached up to 18
l/min. This suggests that the magnetic separation by using bulk magnets is effective for the practical water purification systems.
Demagnetized rare earth magnets (Nd-Fe-B) can be fully magnetized by scanning them in the intense static fields over 3 T of a HTS bulk magnet which was cooled to the temperature range lower than 77K ...with use of cryo-coolers and activated by the field of 5 T. We precisely examined the magnetic field distributions of magnetized permanent magnets. The magnetic poles were ` in the narrow space on the surface of the permanent magnet with varying gap distances between the tracks of the HTS magnetic pole. Steep magnetic transitions between N and S were observed in the magnetic field distribution maps after the HTS magnetic poles were alternatively scanned for several times. The magnetizing method has been proposed for designing novel electromagnetic devices including magnetically excellent rare earth magnets which require intense magnetic fields over 3 T.
The IDT multi-port equivalent circuit and its transfer matrix using the force factor, are applied to a SAW resonator, as a practical example. Using the method the entire structure of the equivalent ...circuit for the SAW device has been depicted clearly, and the analysis of device characteristics by the transfer matrix has also been simplified. By expanding the analysis method used for the SAW resonator, the characteristics of the multi-electrode low-loss SAW filter such as IIDT with reflectors used in mobile communication equipment can be easily and efficiently analyzed.
We have derived the equivalent four-port network of an N-pair of interdigital transducers (IDTs) using force factors. Since this four-port network is distinct enough in physical meaning and is of a ...concise structure, the equivalent network of the whole of the system of the SAW device can also be composed very easily with good visibility. On the other hand, we have derived the transfer matrix of this four-port network. Since the individual elements of the transfer matrix of the N-pair of an IDT are expressed in closed forms, the analysis of the performance of a SAW filter with a multi-electrode structure such as the interdigited interdigital transducer (IIDT) can be made with high efficiency
Singlet oxygen luminescence dosimetry (SOLD) is a highly promising direct monitoring method for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of cancer. Early SOLD systems have been hampered by ...inefficient excitation, poor optical collection and immature infrared single photon detection technology. We report carefully engineered improvements addressing all of these deficiencies. We use a supercontinuum source with a tunable filter to precisely target the peak absorption wavelength of the chosen photosensitizer; we have designed a compact and versatile optical package for precise alignment; we have successfully employed state-of-the-art superconducting photon counting technologies. Through these improvements, we can achieven from a photosensitizer in solution test sample. This setup opens the pathway to physiological SOLD studies for PDT dosimetry.
Measles virus (MeV) is a highly immunotropic and contagious pathogen that can even diminish preexisting antibodies and remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide despite the ...availability of effective vaccines. MeV is one of the most extensively studied viruses with respect to the mechanisms of JAK-STAT antagonism. Of the three proteins translated from the MeV
gene, P and V are essential for inactivation of this pathway. However, the lack of data from direct analyses of the underlying interactions means that the detailed molecular mechanism of antagonism remains unresolved. Here, we prepared recombinant MeV V protein, which is responsible for human JAK-STAT antagonism, and a panel of variants, enabling the biophysical characterization of V protein, including direct V/STAT1 and V/STAT2 interaction assays. Unambiguous direct interactions between the host and viral factors, in the absence of other factors such as Jak1 or Tyk2, were observed, and the dissociation constants were quantified for the first time. Our data indicate that interactions between the C-terminal region of V and STAT2 is 1 order of magnitude stronger than that of the N-terminal region of V and STAT1. We also clarified that these interactions are completely independent of each other. Moreover, results of size exclusion chromatography demonstrated that addition of MeV-V displaces STAT2-core, a rigid region of STAT2 lacking the N- and C-terminal domains, from preformed complexes of STAT2-core/IRF-associated domain (IRF9). These results provide a novel model whereby MeV-V can not only inhibit the STAT2/IRF9 interaction but also disrupt preassembled interferon-stimulated gene factor 3.
To evade host immunity, many pathogenic viruses inactivate host Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways using diverse strategies. Measles virus utilizes P and V proteins to counteract this signaling pathway. Data derived largely from cell-based assays have indicated several amino acid residues of P and V proteins as important. However, biophysical properties of V protein or its direct interaction with STAT molecules using purified proteins have not been studied. We have developed novel molecular tools enabling us to identify a novel molecular mechanism for immune evasion whereby V protein disrupts critical immune complexes, providing a clear strategy by which measles virus can suppress interferon-mediated antiviral gene expression.
To examine the association between ovarian conservation and oncologic outcome in surgically-treated young women with early-stage, low-grade endometrial cancer.
This multicenter retrospective study ...examined women aged <50 with stage I grade 1–2 endometrioid endometrial cancer who underwent primary surgery with hysterectomy from 2000 to 2014 (US cohort n = 1196, and Japan cohort n = 495). Recurrence patterns, survival, and the presence of a metachronous secondary malignancy were assessed based on ovarian conservation versus oophorectomy.
During the study period, the ovarian conservation rate significantly increased in the US cohort from 5.4% to 16.4% (P = 0.020) whereas the rate was unchanged in the Japan cohort (6.3–8.7%, P = 0.787). In the US cohort, ovarian conservation was not associated with disease-free survival (hazard ratio HR 0.829, 95% confidence interval CI 0.188–3.663, P = 0.805), overall survival (HR not estimated, P = 0.981), or metachronous secondary malignancy (HR 1.787, 95% CI 0.603–5.295, P = 0.295). In the Japan cohort, ovarian conservation was associated with decreased disease-free survival (HR 5.214, 95% CI 1.557–17.464, P = 0.007) and an increased risk of a metachronous secondary malignancy, particularly ovarian cancer (HR 7.119, 95% CI 1.349–37.554, P = 0.021), but was not associated with overall survival (HR not estimated, P = 0.987). Ovarian recurrence or metachronous secondary ovarian cancer occurred after a median time of 5.9 years, and all cases were salvaged.
Our study suggests that adoption of ovarian conservation in young women with early-stage low-grade endometrial cancer varies by population. Ovarian conservation for young women with early-stage, low-grade endometrial cancer may be potentially associated with increased risks of ovarian recurrence or metachronous secondary ovarian cancer in certain populations; nevertheless, ovarian conservation did not negatively impact overall survival.
•Outcomes following ovarian conservation (OC) for young women with early-stage low-grade endometrial cancer•OC rate: increased in US cohort but not in Japan cohort•Recurrence after OC: increased in the Japan cohort but not increased in the US cohort•Secondary primary cancer after OC: increased in the Japan cohort (ovarian cancer), but not increased in the US cohort•Overall survival after OC: similar to oophorectomy in both cohorts
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