• Title/Summary/Keyword: Fujii

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Experimental Study on Cerebral Hemodynamics during Observation of Plants

  • Suda, Ayumu;Lee, Ju-Young;Fujii, Eijiro
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture Conference
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    • 2007.10b
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    • pp.214-219
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    • 2007
  • Psychological and physiological effects of plants were studied by investigating human responses while observing plants. Eighteen healthy adult male(aged between $19{\sim}25$ years) participated in this study. Semantic differential method(SD method) and multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) were used to survey verbal and non-verbal response, respectively. Cerebral hemodynamics as a new evaluation index of brain activity was recorded for right brain hemisphere where visual information is mainly delivered. Thirty seconds of cerebral blood flow in forty seven channels were calculated when watching five types of picture images with different rates of hedge against gray block wall; 0:10, 3:7, 5:5, 7:3, 10:0. In the SD results, similar evaluations were found in all subjects. However, the change of cerebral hemodynamics as a non-verbal response varied among subjects. Largely two patterns of hemodynamics change were found with increasing plants rate in picture images; group A showed significant decreases of blood flow volume in many cortical regions, Group B had significant increase of blood flow volume in the occipital region for the scenes seen comparatively more plant. Our findings on the cerebral hemodynamics may indicate that there are two patterns of brain activity during observation of plants; group A in which brain areas associated with visual information and thinking work simultaneously to the visual stimuli; group B in which brain areas associated only with visual information work.

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Experimental Verification of Relaxation Effect of Tree Planting using Eye Movement Tracking

  • Lee, Ju-Young;Sawada, Takuji;Fujii, Eijiro
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture Conference
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    • 2007.10b
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    • pp.89-93
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    • 2007
  • In the Japanese garden, a unique planting design has been used to improve visual harmony with the surrounding landscape by planting plants around the objects that are not harmonious with surrounding landscape. In this study, physiopsychological effects of plants caused by a traditional planting skill used in Japanese garden was verified in terms of visual relaxation using eye movement recording and semantic differential method. A total of fourteen Japanese volunteers(seven male and seven female) who have normal vision(aged $21{\sim}28$) participated as subjects. Experiment was carried out in the sealed room of Chiba University in Japan. Four different types of scenery models were presented which were created by combination of the three landscape factors of the surrounding background, the object that disturbs visual harmony, and the trees planted for improving visual harmony with the surrounding landscape. In the results, significantly more gaze fixations were measured on the trees than on the object and higher values in positive feelings were recorded for the stimuli with proper planting combination. Our results indicated that proper tree planting can cause physiopsychological relaxation by improving visual harmony with the surrounding landscape and provided new evidence for supporting scientific validity of the traditional planting skills.

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Alsidium oliveiranum sp. nov. (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta), an overlooked species from the southwestern Atlantic based on morphology and DNA sequence data

  • Guimaraes, Silvia M.P.B.;Soares, Luanda Pereira;Fujii, Mutue Toyota;Diaz-Tapia, Pilar
    • ALGAE
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.187-198
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    • 2019
  • The exploration of seaweed diversity in poorly studied habitats has often led to the discovery of new species. Sand-covered rocks are an example, as they received less attention than sand-free rocky intertidal habitats during seaweed diversity surveys in Brazil. In sand-covered rocks from Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro we found an alga whose morphology was unique among rhodomelacean species previously reported in Brazil. With the aim to clarify the taxonomic identity of this species we studied its morphology, as well as its phylogenetic relationships. Molecular analyses resolved this species in the genus Alsidium (tribe Alsidieae) and differed from sequenced congeners with divergences ${\geq}2.5$ and 4.2% in the rbcL and cox1 genes, respectively. Morphological characters were in agreement with the genus Alsidium, and differed from other species currently recognized in the genus. The species consisted of a basal crust and scarcely branched erect axes with seven pericentral cells covered by a continuous layer of cortical cells. Reproductive structures were formed on clusters of short determinate branches. Therefore, the new species A. oliveiranum is proposed based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our findings contribute to better understand the diversity of the tribe Alsidieae, which is particularly diverse in the Americas.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Pure Titanium Processed using Friction Stir Welding (순수 타이타늄의 기계적 특성에 미치는 마찰 교반 용접 공정 조건의 영향)

  • Lee, Y.J.;Choi, A.;Lee, S.J.;Fujii, Hidetoshi;Shin, S.E.;Lee, D.G.
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.124-130
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    • 2019
  • Friction stir welding is one of the interesting welding methods for titanium and its alloy which proceeds with plastic flow due to thermo-mechanical stirring and friction heat. Solid-state welding can solve severe problems such as high-temperature oxidation, interstitial oxygen diffusion and grain coarsening by liquid-state welding. Dynamic recrystallization and grain refinement can vary significantly with the plunging load and rotational speed of tool during friction stir welding, and suitable process conditions must be optimized to obtain microstructure and better mechanical characteristics. Suitable FSW conditions were 1000 kg of plunging load and 200 rpm of rotational speed and it showed YS 270 MPa, UTS 332.1 MPa, and El 17.3%, which were very similar to those of wrought titanium sheet.

Reconstruction of Extensive Diaphragmatic Defects Using the Rectus Abdominis Muscle and Fascial Flap

  • Shumpei Kato;Hisashi Sakuma;Takako Fujii;Ichiro Tanaka;Junichi Matsui
    • Archives of Plastic Surgery
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.166-170
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    • 2023
  • Diaphragmatic reconstruction is required for extensive diaphragmatic defects associated with tumor resection. Methods using artificial mesh and autologous tissues, such as pedicled flaps, have been reported predominantly for diaphragmatic reconstruction. We present the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with a 14×13×12 cm tumor in the abdominal cavity of the upper left abdomen on computed tomography. The diaphragm defect measuring 12×7 cm that occurred during excision of the malignant tumor was reconstructed using the rectus abdominis muscle and fascial flap. The flap has vertical and horizontal vascular axes; therefore, blood flow is stable. It also has the advantage of increasing the range of motion and reducing twisting of the vascular pedicles. Fascial flap does not require processing such as thinning and can be used during suture fixation. This procedure, which has rarely been reported so far, has many advantages and may be a useful option for diaphragm reconstruction.

Gastric cancer presenting with ramucirumab-related gastrocolic fistula successfully managed by colonic stenting: a case report

  • Hiroki Fukuya;Yoichiro Iboshi;Masafumi Wada;Yorinobu Sumida;Naohiko Harada;Makoto Nakamuta;Hiroyuki Fujii;Eikichi Ihara
    • Clinical Endoscopy
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    • v.56 no.6
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    • pp.812-816
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    • 2023
  • We report a rare case of gastric cancer presenting with a gastrocolic fistula during ramucirumab and paclitaxel combination therapy that was successfully managed with colonic stenting. A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of melena. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large ulcerated tumor in the lower stomach, judged by laparoscopy as unresectable (sT4bN1M0). After four cycles of first-line chemotherapy with S-1 plus oxaliplatin, the patient showed disease progression, and second-line therapy with ramucirumab and paclitaxel was started. At the end of the third cycle, the patient had gastric antral stenosis, which necessitated the placement of a gastroduodenal stent. When the patient complained of diarrhea 10 days later, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a fistula between the greater curvature of the stomach and the transverse colon. The fistula was covered by double colonic stenting, with a covered metal stent placed within an uncovered metal stent, after which leakage from the stomach to the colon stopped.

Genetic Structure and Composition of Genetic Diversity in the Kouchi Sub-breed of the Japanese Brown Cattle Population

  • Honda, Takeshi;Fujii, Toshihide;Mukai, Fumio
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.20 no.11
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    • pp.1631-1635
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    • 2007
  • Japanese Brown cattle, one of the four domestic beef breeds in Japan, are suffering from numerical reduction due to economic pressure from profitable breeds. In this study, all the reproductive cows in the Kouchi sub-breed of the Japanese Brown cattle that were alive in July 2005 were investigated by pedigree analysis to clarify genetic structure and composition of genetic variability. In addition, genetically important individuals for the maintenance of genetic variability of the sub-breed were also identified through the core set method. The number of cows analyzed was 1,349. Their pedigrees were traced back to ancestors born around 1940, and pedigree records of 13,157 animals were used for the analysis. Principal component analysis was performed on the relationship matrix of the cows, and their factor loadings were plotted on a three-dimensional diagram. According to their spatial positions in the diagram, all the cows were subdivided into five genetically distinctive subpopulations of 131 to 437 animals. Genetic diversity of the whole sub-breed, which is estimated to be 0.901, was decomposed into 0.856 and 0.045 of within-subpopulation and between-subpopulation components. Recalculation of genetic diversity after removal of one or several subpopulations from the five subpopulations suggested that three of them were genetically important for the maintenance of genetic variability of the sub-breed. Applying the core set method to all the cows, maximum attainable genetic diversity was estimated to be 0.949, and optimal genetic contributions assigned to each cow supported the previous results indicating relative importance of the three subpopulations as useful genetic materials.

Improved Accuracy of Cytodiagnosis using the Kato Self-Collection Devise: the Usefulness of Smear Preparation in Liquid-based Cytology Methods

  • Okayama, Kaori;Okodo, Mitsuaki;Fujii, Masahiko;Kumagai, Tomoko;Yabusaki, Hiromi;Shiina, Yoshio;Iwami, Fumihiro;Teruya, Koji;Hatta, Kenmei
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.9
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    • pp.4521-4524
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    • 2012
  • Object: In the present study, we compared the positive cytodiagnostic test rates with discrepancies using self-collection devices for cervical cancer screening. We made this survey to examine whether or not our self-smear preparation method using the Kato self-collection device contributed to an improved rate of detecting atypical cells compared with existing recommended preparation methods. Methods: Specimens were collected at 14 facilities handling self-collection methods, and samples were collected by a physician in 2 facilities. The chisquared test was performed using the SPSS ver. 20 statistical software to determine the relationships between the positive cytodiagnostic rate, specimen preparation methods, and self-collection devices. Results: Collecting cells using the Kato self-collection device and preparing liquid-based specimens, we obtained a significantly higher rate of positive cytodiagnosis and our results were equal to those obtained with the direct method. Conclusions: Taking into consideration increased needs for screening using the self-collection method in future, with even more improved test accuracy, a screening test that is acceptable to society needs to be established.

Changes in Serum Biochemical Markers of Bone Cell Activity in Growing Thoroughbred Horses

  • Inoue, Yoshinobu;Asai, Y.;Ohmori, H.;Fujii, H.;Matsui, T.;Yano, H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.19 no.11
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    • pp.1632-1637
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    • 2006
  • We studied the changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism in growing Thoroughbred horses. Serum osteocalcin (OC), as a marker for bone formation, and carboxy-terminal propeptide of type-I collagen (PICP), as a marker for bone formation, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (ICTP), as a marker for bone resorption, were determined in nine clinically healthy horses from 3 d to 17 mo of age. The BW and withers height (WH) increased during the study. On the other hand, a rapid reduction in body weight gain (BWG) was observed between 1 mo and 9 mo of age and a rapid reduction in withers height gain was observed between 1 mo and 5 mo of age. The serum markers decreased significantly with increasing age. In particular, dramatic changes in serum markers occurred between 3 d to 1 wk and 5 to 7 mo of age in these horses, which suggests that bone turnover rapidly decreased after birth. On the other hand, the ratio of PICP to ICTP decreased through the experiment. This result suggests that the reduction in bone formation exceeded that of bone resorption. There was a significant correlation between markers and growth parameters, except for the correlation between PICP and BWG on single linear regression analysis. Serum OC and ICTP were affected by the WH in multiple linear regression analysis. These results indicated that the age-related variation in serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism reflected bone growth, but neither BW nor BWG. Therefore, we consider that changes in bone modeling are the major factor affecting the levels of serum biochemical markers by 17 mo of age in horses.

Identification and Quantitative Determination of Glucosinolates in Brassica napus cv. Hanakkori

  • Kim, Sun-Ju;Fujii, Kouei;Mohamed, Zaidul Islam Sarker;Kim, Hyun-Woong;Yamauchi, Hiroaki;Ishii, Gensho
    • Food Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.1097-1101
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    • 2008
  • The objective of this study was to identify and quantify glucosinolates (GSLs) in Brassica napus cv. Hanakkori and its parents and to evaluate its potential bitter taste. 'Hanakkori' materials were cultivated with commercial chemical nutrients (20 kg/ha, N-P-K: 16-10-10) at the field. GSLs were isolated by means of extraction with 70%(v/v) boiling methanol (MeOH) followed by desulfation from those plants by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by electronic spray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis. In 'Hanakkori', 11 GSLs were identified as progoitrin, glucoraphanin, glucoalyssin, gluconapoleiferin, gluconapin, 1-methylpropyl, glucobrassicanapin, glucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, gluconasturtiin, and neoglucobrassicin. The total GSL contents were 109 and 36.1 mmol/kg dry weights (d.w.) for the seeds and edible parts, respectively. The major GSLs (>5 mmol/kg d.w.) in the seeds were progoitrin (78.8), gluconapin (10.7), and glucobrassicanapin (7.81), whereas they in the edible parts were progoitrin (16.1) and glucobrassicanapin (8.58). In addition, the bitter taste in the edible parts was presumably related with the presence of progoitrin (>45% to the total GSL).