Wave intensity as a useful modality for assessing ventilation-perfusion imbalance in subclinical patients with hypertension.

Wave intensity (WI) is a novel noninvasive index of circulatory dynamics that reflects ventriculo-arterial coupling. It is calculated as the product of the first derivative of blood pressure and that of flow velocity measured by carotid echocardiography. This study aimed to clarify the clinical implications of WI and its relation with carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO slope).

Evaluation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field Strength Using the Cosmic-Ray Shadow of the Sun.

We analyze the Sun's shadow observed with the Tibet-III air shower array and find that the shadow's center deviates northward (southward) from the optical solar disk center in the "away" ("toward") interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) sector. By comparing with numerical simulations based on the solar magnetic field model, we find that the average IMF strength in the away (toward) sector is 1.54±0.

The Inference of Friendly Communicative Atmosphere Created by Geometric Shapes.

Many previous studies on inference of social behaviors using geometric shapes have explored causality, animacy, intention, and desire inferred from the movements of such shapes; however, inference of communicative atmosphere in terms of friendliness/antagonism using geometric shapes has not yet been studied well. This study investigated how a friendly/antagonistic communicative atmosphere was inferred from the movement of two egg shapes. We developed animations for these shapes involving forward/backward/parallel tilts with coincidence/incoincidence of synchronous movement.

The effect of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background No meta-analysis has examined the effect of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of regular aquatic exercise on blood pressure. Design A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The influence of central arterial compliance on cerebrovascular hemodynamics: insights from endurance training intervention.

Normally, central elastic arteries (e.g., aorta and common carotid artery) effectively buffer cardiac pulsation-induced flow/pressure fluctuations.

Diafilters for predilution and postdilution on-line hemodiafiltration.

When hemodiafiltration (HDF) is performed, we can choose the point on the blood circuit where the substitution fluid goes in, i.e. before the diafilter (predilution) or after the diafilter (postdilution).

Effect of sterilization on solute transport performances of super high-flux dialyzers.

The effect of sterilization was quantitatively evaluated for modern super high-flux dialyzers in terms of solute transport performances for autoclave sterilization (AC), gamma ray sterilization (G-ray), combination of these two and no sterilization (NS) as reference. A commercial polysulfone dialyzer (Kawasumi Laboratory Co., Tokyo, Japan) was chosen for investigation with six different sterilization processes, i.

A kinetic model for peritoneal dialysis and its application for complementary dialysis therapy.

Kinetic models have been used in both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapies. Since many different theoretical models are available, users should choose one of these models along with the purpose of their studies. In general, simple models are useful for clinical investigations as well as clinical research, while rigorous models may be useful for engineers and cannot be utilized without an aid of computers.

What is good about PD + HD combined therapy.

It is known that β(2) -microglobulin (β(2) -MG) concentration in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is inversely correlated to the residual renal function (RRF). With decreasing RRF, some PD patients may necessarily be treated with hemodialysis (HD) once a week, not only for removing excess water and small solutes, but also for removing much larger solutes such as β(2) -MG. In this study, a kinetic model allowed us to show what is good about PD + HD combined therapy in long-term PD patients.

Mass transfer mechanisms in high-performance membrane dialyzers.

Four dialyzers with super-high-flux membrane or high-performance membrane (HPM) with varying packing density of the hollow fiber (PDF) from 29.6 to 53.1% were investigated in aqueous in vitro experiments for the purpose of identifying the mass transfer mechanism for three test solutes.

Measurement of optical-beat frequency in a photoconductive terahertz-wave generator using microwave higher harmonics.

A new method for measuring optical-beat frequencies in the terahertz (THz) region using microwave higher harmonics is presented. A microwave signal was applied to the antenna gap of a photoconductive (PC) device emitting a continuous electromagnetic wave at about 1 THz by the photomixing technique. The microwave higher harmonics with THz frequencies are generated in the PC device owing to the nonlinearity of the biased photoconductance, which is briefly described in this article.

Which solute removal mechanism dominates over others in dialyzers for continuous renal replacement therapy?

Selecting dialyzers is more important for blood purification in critical care because other therapeutic options (especially amount of dialysate) are usually limited. Adsorption is a major mechanism of removing toxic substances from patients in these treatments. Several commercial dialyzers designed for acute blood purification therapy were investigated by performing aqueous ultrafiltration experiments to demonstrate the adsorptive importance of membrane materials.

The structure of vocalization of ewes and male lambs at pasture.

We performed an analysis of the vocalization of 161 ewes and 50 male lambs that were pastured day and night. The vocalization structures of the phonetic notations of the opened-mouth from closed mouth /etaaee/ and /etanaeee/ and closed-mouth /etaetaetaeta/ of ewes, and the opened-mouth from closed-mouth /etaeee/ and /etaneeee/ and closed-mouth /etaetaetaeta/ of male lambs were studied in terms of their audio characteristics. The items subject to analysis included duration of each vocalization, fundamental frequency, sound pressure and first formant (F1), second formant (F2), and third formant (F3).

Amount of adsorbed albumin loss by dialysis membranes with protein adsorption.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membrane is the first synthetic polymeric hollow fiber used in dialyzers that is known to adsorb beta(2)-microglobulin. Polyester polymer alloy (PEPA), a blend of two polymers, i.e.

Effect of packing density of hollow fibers on solute removal performances of dialyzers.

Solute removal performances of dialyzers are dependent not only on the solute permeabilities of the membrane but also on the module design. We have investigated how the packing density of hollow fiber (PDF) affects the solute removal performances. A series of 4 polyester polymer alloy membrane test dialyzers were assembled with varying PDFs of 29.

Central online hemodiafiltration in Japan: management of water quality and practice.

Hemodiafiltration (HDF) includes a variety of technologies and preparation of ultrapure dialysis fluid has made it possible to perform online HDF and its extensive alternatives. According to current statistics, 5.8% of ESRD patients are treated with HDF in Japan.

Multiple-frequency ultrasonic imaging by transmitting pulsed waves of two frequencies.

Purpose: The aim of this study was realization of a broadband measurement system that is capable of effectively carrying out a frequency compound method. In the present method, the secondary wave components of difference and sum frequencies are generated along with the higher harmonic components through the nonlinear interaction of two-frequency ultrasound. A multiple-frequency beam is generated together with the initially radiated frequency components.

Influence of blood corpuscles on the ultrafiltration of various proteins.

The ultrafiltration characteristics of a commercial dialyzer were examined by measuring the sieving coefficient (s.c.) for three proteins, i.

Importance of membrane materials for blood purification devices in critical care.

Choosing dialyzers is more important in blood purification in critical care because therapeutic conditions (especially the amount of dialysate) are usually limited. Then, adsorption is the third major mechanism of removing toxic substances from patients in these treatments. Several commercial dialyzers designed for acute blood purification therapy were investigated by performing aqueous ultrafiltration experiments to demonstrate the importance of the membrane materials.

Quantification of peritoneal transport.

Kinetic models have been used in both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapies. Because many different theoretical models are available, users should choose a model that suits the purpose of their studies. In general, simple models are useful for clinical investigations and research; rigorous models may be available with the use of computers.

Adaptive optics instrumentation in submillimeter/terahertz spectroscopy with a flexible polyvinylidene fluoride cladding hollow waveguide.

A simple instrument has been developed to carry out temperature dependent submillimeter/terahertz-wave spectroscopy using a polyvinylidene fluoride flexible hollow waveguide and an eggplant-shape launching lens.

Mechanisms of solute and fluid removal in hemodiafiltration.

Background: Prescribing therapeutic conditions for online predilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) with fixed total dialysate flow rate Q(Dtotal) is not straightforward, since the increase in the substitution fl ow rate Q(S) is compensated by the decrease in the net dialysate flow rate Q(Dnet).

Methods: Clearances of various solutes under online predilution HDF were clinically evaluated with fixed Q(Dtotal) (= 520 ml/min) divided into Q(Dnet) and Q(S). Three polysulfone membrane dialyzers and 5 polyester polymer alloy membrane dialyzers were chosen to measure sieving coefficients (SC) for albumin in vitro at 37 degrees C to predict when the albumin loss is greatest during clinical treatment.

Development of an ultra-broadband ultrasonic imaging system: prototype mechanical sector device.

Purpose: We constructed an ultra-broadband ultrasonic transducer in a mechanical sector device, and prototyped a system to generate real-time images with higher harmonics. The potential of the system to reduce speckle was also studied.

Methods: To efficiently detect the higher harmonic components in echo signals, in addition to the transmitting transducer, another transducer only for broadband reception is necessary.

Kinetics and dose of daily hemofiltration.

Daily hemofiltration (D-HF) is a new treatment modality that shows unique solute removal characteristics and possibly provides high quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. We evaluated solute removal characteristics of D-HF for 5 patients by kinetic modeling analysis. Five patients treated with normal 4-hour x 3 times/week hemodialysis (HD) were switched to D-HF (2-hour x 6 times/week).