An Efficient Fluorescence Sensor for Superoxide with an Acridinium Ion-Linked Porphyrin Triad

Kotani, Hiroaki,Ohkubo, Kei,Crossley, Maxwell J.,Fukuzumi, Shunichi American Chemical Society 2011 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.133 No.29

<P>Addition of potassium superoxide with 18-crown-6 ether (KO<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>•–</SUP>–18-crown-6) to a toluene solution of an acridinium ion-linked porphyrin triad (Acr<SUP>+</SUP>–H<SUB>2</SUB>P–Acr<SUP>+</SUP>) resulted in a remarkable enhancement of the fluorescence intensity. Thus, Acr<SUP>+</SUP>–H<SUB>2</SUB>P–Acr<SUP>+</SUP> acts as an efficient fluorescence sensor for superoxide. Electron transfer from KO<SUB>2</SUB><SUP>•–</SUP>–18-crown-6 to the Acr<SUP>+</SUP> moiety to produce the two-electron-reduced species (Acr<SUP>•</SUP>–H<SUB>2</SUB>P–Acr<SUP>•</SUP>) results in inhibition of the fluorescence quenching via photoinduced electron transfer, as revealed by laser flash photolysis measurements.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jacsat/2011/jacsat.2011.133.issue-29/ja204161j/production/images/medium/ja-2011-04161j_0003.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/ja204161j'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Chart for High-Yield Processes

Kotani, Takayuki,Kusukawa, Etsuko,Ohta, Hiroshi Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers 2005 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.4 No.1

Borror et al. discussed the EWMA(Exponentially Weighted Moving Average) chart to monitor the count of defects which follows the Poisson distribution, referred to the $EWMA_c$ chart, as an alternative Shewhart c chart. In the $EWMA_c$ chart, the Markov chain approach is used to calculate the ARL (Average Run Length). On the other hand, in order to monitor the process fraction defectives P in high-yield processes, Xie et al. presented the CCC(Cumulative Count of Conforming)-r chart of which quality characteristic is the cumulative count of conforming item inspected until observing $r({\geq}2)$ nonconforming items. Furthermore, Ohta and Kusukawa presented the $CS(Confirmation Sample)_{CCC-r}$ chart as an alternative of the CCC-r chart. As a more superior chart in high-yield processes, in this paper we present an $EWMA_{CCC-r}$ chart to detect more sensitively small or moderate shifts in P than the $CS_{CCC-r}$ chart. The proposed $EWMA_{CCC-r}$ chart can be constructed by applying the designing method of the $EWMA_C$ chart to the CCC-r chart. ANOS(Average Number of Observations to Signal) of the proposed chart is compared with that of the $CS_{CCC-r}$ chart through computer simulation. It is demonstrated from numerical examples that the performance of proposed chart is more superior to the $CS_{CCC-r}$ chart.

Transportation Issues in Rural Healthcare

Kotani, Kazuhiko The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2020 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.53 No.2

Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis and Clinical Evaluation of Portal Hypertension in Chronic Liver Disease

Kotani Kohei,Kawada Norifumi 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2024 Gut and Liver Vol.18 No.1

In chronic liver disease, hepatic stellate cell activation and degeneration of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells lead to structural changes, which are secondary to fibrosis and the presence of regenerative nodules in the sinusoids, and to functional changes, which are related to vasoconstriction. The combination of such changes increases intrahepatic vascular resistance and causes portal hypertension. The subsequent increase in splanchnic and systemic hyperdynamic circulation further increases the portal blood flow, thereby exacerbating portal hypertension. In clinical practice, the hepatic venous pressure gradient is the gold-standard measure of portal hypertension; a value of ≥10 mm Hg is defined as clinically significant portal hypertension, which is severe and is associated with the risk of liver-related events. Hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement is somewhat invasive, so evidence on the utility of risk stratification by elastography and serum biomarkers is needed. The various stages of cirrhosis are associated with different outcomes. In viral hepatitis-related cirrhosis, viral suppression or elimination by nucleos(t)ide analog or direct-acting antivirals results in recompensation of liver function and portal pressure. However, careful follow-up should be continued, because some cases have residual clinically significant portal hypertension even after achieving sustained virologic response. In this study, we reviewed the current and future prospects for portal hypertension.

Exponentially Weighted Moving Average for High-Yield Processes Chart for High-Yield Processes

Takayuki Kotani,Etsuko Kusukawa,Hiroshi Ohta 대한산업공학회 2005 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.4 No.1

Borror et al. discussed the EWMA(Exponentially Weighted Moving Average) chart to monitor thecount of defects which follows the Poisson distribution, refered to the EWMAc chart, as an alternative Shewhart c chart. In the EWMAc Run Length). On the other hand, in order to monitor the process fraction defectives P in high-yield proceses, Xie et al. presented the CCC(Cumulative Count of Conforming)-r chart of which quality characteristic is the cumulative count of conforming item inspected until observing r(≥2) nonconforming items. Furthermore, Ohta and Kusukawa presented the CS(Confirmation Sample)CCC-r chart as an alternative of the CCC-r chart. As a more superior chart in high-yield processes, in this paper we present an EWMACCC-r chart to detect more sensitively small or moderate shifts in P than the CSCCC-r chart. The proposed EWMACCC-r chart can be constructed by applying the designing method of the EWMAc chart to the CCC-r chart. ANOS(Average Number of CCC-r chart through computer simulation. It is demonstrated from numerical examples that the performance of proposed chart is more superior to the CSCCC-r chart.

Disambiguation of Coordinate Expressions in Japanese by Extracting Mutual Case Relation

( Yoshiyuki Kotani ) 한국언어정보학회 2002 국제 워크샵 Vol.2002 No.-

Japanese coordinate noun phrases by the particle TO are often ambiguous on whether it means two parallel propositions (and) ,or a mutual case relation (with or against) , as deep case structure. It was a hard problem to determine it, though they are widely used. We propose a method of solving the ambiguity by analyzing mutualness of verbs and adjectives. The mutualness is determined by three features of each verb or adjective. The first feature indicates permission of mutual expression in the subject, and the second in the object. The last shows if a verb is voluntary. Using this method we design a parsing mechanism, where matching of features is represented as neutralization between predicate arguments.

ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR COUNTERMEASURES IN LANDFILL SITES

( Katsumi Kotani ),( Kazuei Ishii ),( Tohru Furuichi ),( Noboru Tanikawa ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회 2002 APLAS Vol.2002 No.1

Safe and reliable civil engineering structures are a necessary prerequisite for the construction of publicly acceptable landfill sites. However, since landfill sites consist of several technologies spanning the wide field of civil engineering, and because the technologies employed in the design and construction of landfill sites are not mature enough, technical troubles (problems) often occur at many landfill sites. It is necessary to investigate the specifics of problems, and to develop countermeasures for preventing problems occurring. This study has analyzed problems and the actual measures used in 48 problems occurring at landfill sites, in which we have been involved. Seven options for preventing the problems are proposed, and these have been evaluated using a survey of specialists in the design and construction of landfill sites. Analysis of the problems revealed that many occur in the construction and operational stages, but their causes originate in the planning and design stages. To prevent problems, the design of a landfill site should be suitable for the geographical and geological features at the site. In addition, effective management is important, and flexible measures should be in place for unexpected accidents in the construction and operational stages.

Leptin:Adiponectin Ratio and Metabolic Syndrome in the General Japanese Population

Kazuhiko Kotani,Naoki Sakane 대한진단검사의학회 2011 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.31 No.3

Background: Circulating leptin:adiponectin ratio (L:A) is a potential surrogate marker for cardiometabolic diseases; however, the relationship of the L:A with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not yet been fully explored in the general Japanese population. Methods: We enrolled 678 Japanese subjects (208 men and 470 women, mean age: 58.8±14.4 [SD] yr; mean body mass index: 23.6±3.3 kg/m2) in this study, and determined their MetS status by using the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) recommendations with minor modifications for the Japanese population. Biochemical markers such as leptin and adiponectin present in blood were measured. The statistical analyses performed were gender-based. Results: The L:A in subjects with MetS was significantly higher than that in subjects without MetS, regardless of gender. The L:A also showed a significant and gradual increase corresponding to the increase in the number of components of MetS present in both the genders (trend P<0.01). The cut-off level of the L:A to detect MetS was 0.59 (sensitivity: 0.72, specificity: 0.70) in men and 1.04 (sensitivity: 0.72, specificity: 0.69) in women. Conclusions: These results suggest that the L:A can serve as a clinically useful marker for detecting MetS characteristics in the general Japanese population. The clinical application of this laboratory index for detecting MetS should be assessed in future studies. Background: Circulating leptin:adiponectin ratio (L:A) is a potential surrogate marker for cardiometabolic diseases; however, the relationship of the L:A with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not yet been fully explored in the general Japanese population. Methods: We enrolled 678 Japanese subjects (208 men and 470 women, mean age: 58.8±14.4 [SD] yr; mean body mass index: 23.6±3.3 kg/m2) in this study, and determined their MetS status by using the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP) recommendations with minor modifications for the Japanese population. Biochemical markers such as leptin and adiponectin present in blood were measured. The statistical analyses performed were gender-based. Results: The L:A in subjects with MetS was significantly higher than that in subjects without MetS, regardless of gender. The L:A also showed a significant and gradual increase corresponding to the increase in the number of components of MetS present in both the genders (trend P<0.01). The cut-off level of the L:A to detect MetS was 0.59 (sensitivity: 0.72, specificity: 0.70) in men and 1.04 (sensitivity: 0.72, specificity: 0.69) in women. Conclusions: These results suggest that the L:A can serve as a clinically useful marker for detecting MetS characteristics in the general Japanese population. The clinical application of this laboratory index for detecting MetS should be assessed in future studies.

Evaluation of flick-motion based representation used for presenting Japanese kana characters by tactile information display device

Kentaro Kotani,Hiroki Sato,Satoshi Suzuki,Takafumi Asao 대한인간공학회 2014 대한인간공학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2014 No.5

This study introduces a potential technique for Japanese kana characters on tactile information display device (tactile display) that allows the user effectively perceived. Currently tactile display has not been developed for the purpose of character information transmission due to poor performance of recognition rates in terms of characters. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel technique, flick motion based display, for presenting Japanese kana characters on the tactile display (FMR tactile display). Flick motion is normally used as an input scheme for mobile devices, as one of touch screen gestures. In Japan, a set of flick motions on 10 isolated areas on the touch screen is especially assigned as Japanese kana character entry. Many Japanese mobile phone users have its mental model, which was applied to present character information as an output scheme into tactile display. Experiments were conducted to evaluate how the implemented presentation system can perform well to let the user perceive kana characters. A total of 10 subjects, including users unfamiliar to FMR, participated in the study. The subjects located their right hand on the tactile display and a kana character by using FMR was given on the display. They responded the characters as soon as they perceived. Number of correct recognition of the characters were obtained throughout the set of trials consisted of 20 character presentations. The results showed that the average correct recognition rates were 41.5 percent and the average reaction time was 6.8 seconds, which were faster than conventional trace-based character representations. The results suggested that fine adjustment of the palm to the tactile display and changing stimulus duration would improve the performance of recognition rates.

Evaluation of Flick-motion based Representation used for Presenting Japanese Kana Characters by Tactile Information Display Device

( Kentaro Kotani ),( Hiroki Sato ),( Satoshi Suzuki ),( Takafumi Asao ) 한국감성과학회 2014 춘계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.-

This study introduces a potential technique for Japanese kana characters on tactile information display device (tactile display) that allows the user effectively perceived. Currently tactile display has not been developed for the purpose of character information transmission due to poor performance of recognition rates in terms of characters. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel technique, flick motion based display, for presenting Japanese kana characters on the tactile display (FMR tactile display). Flick motion is normally used as an input scheme for mobile devices, as one of touch screen gestures. In Japan, a set of flick motions on 10 isolated areason the touch screen is especially assigned as Japanese kana character entry. Many Japanese mobile phone users have its mental model, which was applied to present character information as an output scheme into tactile display. Experiments were conducted to evaluate how the implemented presentation system can perform well to let the user perceive kana characters. A total of 10 subjects, including users unfamiliar to FMR, participated in the study. The subjects located their right hand on the tactile display and a kana character by using FMR was given on the display. They responded the characters as soon as they perceived.