Use of Mixer Torque Rheometer to Clarify the Relationship between the Kneading States of Wet Mass and the Dissolution of Final Product in High Shear Granulation.

The properties of wet mass, which indicate the progress of high shear granulation processes, usually have an effect on final product properties, such as tablet dissolution. The mixer torque rheometer (MTR) is a useful tool for quantitatively measuring the 'kneading state' of wet mass and detecting differences in granules. However, there have been no studies of the relationship between the MTR torque and the final product properties to date.

Preliminary study on the automated skull fracture detection in CT images using black-hat transform.

Linear skull fracture, following head trauma, may reach major blood vessels, such as the middle meningeal artery or sinus venosus, and may cause epidural hematoma. However, hematoma is likely to be missed in the initial interpretation because it spreads only gradually. In addition, the fracture lines that run along the scan slice plane are often missed during initial interpretation.

[Estimation of the Average Glandular Dose Using the Mammary Gland Image Analysis in Mammography].

Currently, the glandular dose is evaluated quantitatively on the basis of the measured data using phantom, and not in a dose based on the mammary gland structure of an individual patient. However, mammary gland structures of the patients are different from each other and mammary gland dose of an individual patient cannot be obtained by the existing methods. In this study, we present an automated estimation method of mammary gland dose by means of mammary structure which is measured automatically using mammogram.

Patient investigation of average glandular dose and incident air kerma for digital mammography.

Our aim in this study was to investigate the incident air kerma (IAK) and average glandular dose (AGD) for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantoms and patient breasts for each thickness by use of digital mammography units, and to determine the correlation between phantom and patient measurements. An additional aim was to calculate the numerical value of the diagnostic reference level (DRL) for digital mammography in Japan based on the AGD from patient measurements. Patient-based IAK and AGD values were calculated for 300 patients who underwent mammographic examinations at three institutions.

Influence of binder droplet dimension on granulation rate during fluidized bed granulation.

Here, we statistically identified the critical factor of the granulation rate during the fluidized bed granulation process. Lactose was selected as the excipient and was granulated with several binders, including hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The viscosity, density, and surface tension of the binder solution, contact angle, and the work done during adhesion and cohesion between the binder and lactose, mist diameter, Stokes number, and the dimension of the droplet were considered.

Evaluation of models for predicting spray mist diameter for scaling-up of the fluidized bed granulation process.

We evaluated models for predicting spray mist diameter suitable for scaling-up the fluidized bed granulation process. By precise selection of experimental conditions, we were able to identify a suitable prediction model that considers changes in binder solution, nozzle dimension, and spray conditions. We used hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) binder solutions, which are commonly employed by the pharmaceutical industry.

[Dose evaluation in mammography for Japanese breast thickness].

Accuracy control of mammography equipment involves more than just equipment management; the proportions of the mammary glands used to obtain appropriate images is also important, as is control of the glandular X-ray dose in accordance with thickness. Methods for evaluating glandular dose include the ACR, EUREF, and IAEA protocols. The aim of this study was to elucidate the differences between the various protocols and to suggest a dose evaluation method suited to Japanese breast thickness.

Application of principal component analysis enables to effectively find important physical variables for optimization of fluid bed granulator conditions.

Principal component analysis was applied to effectively optimize the operational conditions of a fluidized bed granulator for preparing granules with excellent compaction and tablet physical properties. The crucial variables that affect the properties of the granules, their compactability and the resulting tablet properties were determined through analysis of a series of granulation and tabletting experiments. Granulation was performed while the flow rate and concentration of the binder were changed as independent operational variables, according to a two-factor central composite design.

Modulation of olfactory learning in young rats through intrabulbar GABA(B) receptors.

After training with an odour paired with foot shock on postnatal day 11, rat pups show an aversion to the odour in testing on postnatal day 12. The mechanisms underlying this aversive olfactory learning involve disinhibition of mitral/tufted cells in the olfactory bulb by the somatosensory stimulation-induced activation of centrifugal noradrenergic fibres originating in the locus coeruleus. The activity of mitral/tufted cells is regulated through gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) receptors in the external plexiform layer and GABA(B) receptors in the glomerular layer.