著者
Tomoaki NAITO Masatoshi MORIKAWA Mayuko YAMAMOTO-FUJIMURA Akira IWATA Ayaka MAKI Noriko KATO-NAGAOKA Kosuke OANA Junko KIYOSHIMA-SHIBATA Yumi MATSUURA Rumi KAJI Osamu WATANABE Kan SHIDA Satoshi MATSUMOTO Tetsuji HORI
出版者
BMFH Press
雑誌
Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health (ISSN:21863342)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.42, no.1, pp.65-72, 2023 (Released:2023-01-01)
参考文献数
39
被引用文献数
1

Mononuclear phagocytic cells (MPCs) are classified into monocytes (Mos)/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) based on their functions. Cells of MPCs lineage act as immune modulators by affecting effector cells, such as NK cells, T cells, and B cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS) ingestion on peripheral MPCs, particularly on their expression of functional cell-surface molecules enhanced in healthy adults. Thus, twelve healthy office workers consumed a fermented milk drink containing 1.0 × 1011 cfu of LcS (LcS-FM) or a control unfermented milk drink (CM) once a day for 6 weeks. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were prepared from blood samples, and immune cells and functional cell-surface molecules were analyzed. We observed remarkable differences in the expression of HLAABC, MICA, CD40, and GPR43 in plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) between the LcS-FM and CM groups, whereas no difference was found in CD86 or HLADR expression. The LcS-FM group exhibited higher CD40 expression in both conventional DCs (cDCs) and Mos, especially in type 2 conventional DCs (cDC2s) and classical monocytes (cMos); higher percentages of cMos, intermediate monocytes (iMos), and nonclassical monocytes; and higher numbers of cMos and iMos in PBMCs than the CM group. LcS ingestion increased the expression of HLAABC, MICA, CD40, and GPR43 in pDCs and CD40 in cDCs and Mos, particularly cDC2s and cMos. These results suggest that LcS modulates the function of MPCs that may lead to the regulation of immune effector functions in healthy adults.
著者
Yongtae KO Naoto TSUJII Yuichi TAKASE Akira EJIRI Osamu WATANABE Hibiki YAMAZAKI Kotaro IWASAKI Peng YI James H.P. RICE Yuki OSAWA Takuma WAKATSUKI Maiko YOSHIDA Hajime URANO
出版者
The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
雑誌
Plasma and Fusion Research (ISSN:18806821)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.16, pp.1402056, 2021-04-21 (Released:2021-05-12)
参考文献数
20
被引用文献数
5

We investigated electron cyclotron (EC) wave assisted low voltage Ohmic start-up in the conventional field null configuration (FNC) and the trapped-particle configuration (TPC) in the TST-2 spherical tokamak device. The upper pressure limit for successful burn-through increased when EC power was applied for both the FNC and TPC. On the other hand, at low prefill pressure, breakdown was delayed in the FNC start-up. The achievable plasma current also decreased especially at high EC power. By applying the TPC, fast breakdown was recovered even at high EC power. The plasma current ramp-up rate was also greater with TPC compared with FNC at the same loop voltage waveform. The lower prefill pressure limit for successful breakdown expanded in the TPC compared to that in the FNC. The higher vertical field decay index resulted in faster EC breakdown. The reduction of the upper pressure limit due to impurities was the same in the FNC and TPC indicating that the poloidal field configuration did not significantly affect the upper pressure limit for successful burn-through.
著者
James H.P. RICE Naoto TSUJII Yuichi TAKASE Akira EJIRI Osamu WATANABE Hibiki YAMAZAKI Yi PENG Kotaro IWASAKI Yuki AOI Yongtae KO Kyohei MATSUZAKI Yuki OSAWA
出版者
The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
雑誌
Plasma and Fusion Research (ISSN:18806821)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.15, pp.2402009, 2020-04-06 (Released:2020-05-08)
参考文献数
13
被引用文献数
4

A new Langmuir probe has been designed and installed in TST-2 for measurements of Scrape-Off Layer plasmas (SOL). Non-inductive current drive is considered essential for spherical tokamak reactors. It has previously been shown that a large amount of injected Lower Hybrid Wave (LHW) power is lost in the SOL [1]. A full density profile of SOL conditions is necessary to accurately simulate the propagation of LHW in TST-2. A new probe was designed for durability, larger signal and Mach probe measurements. The new probe has been installed in TST-2 and results have been obtained. Temperature measurements show Te = 30 - 50 eV during RF injection and <10 eV otherwise. Density measurements show ne = 2.0 × 1015 m−3 and 1.5 × 1016 m−3 during flat-top RF power injection from Outboard- and Top-launch antennas, respectively. This is above the cut-off density for the 200 MHz LHW (5 × 1014 m−3) in TST-2, thus LHW can propagate through SOL plasma.
著者
Naoto TSUJII Yusuke YOSHIDA Yuichi TAKASE Akira EJIRI Osamu WATANABE Hibiki YAMAZAKI Yi PENG Kotaro IWASAKI Yuki AOI Yongtae KO Kyohei MATSUZAKI James H.P. RICE Yuki OSAWA
出版者
The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
雑誌
Plasma and Fusion Research (ISSN:18806821)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.15, pp.2402010, 2020-04-06 (Released:2020-05-08)
参考文献数
13
被引用文献数
2 4

Removal of the central solenoid is considered essential to realize a spherical tokamak fusion reactor, but non-inductive plasma start-up is a challenge. Start-up using lower-hybrid (LH) waves has been studied on the TST-2 spherical tokamak at the University of Tokyo. The equilibrium poloidal field is believed to be generated mostly by the wave driven fast electrons, which are highly non-thermal and have large orbit excursions from the flux surfaces due to low plasma current. Such an equilibrium can be qualitatively different from the Grad-Shafranov equilibrium routinely used for internal magnetic field reconstruction in a tokamak. In this work, the effect of fast electrons on the MHD equilibrium was investigated by considering the equilibrium solution of the hybrid-MHD model [Y. Todo and A. Bierwage, Plasma Fusion Res. 9, 3403068]. The fast electron distribution function was estimated using a LH current drive simulation based on ray-tracing and an orbit-averaged Fokker-Planck solver. The equilibrium solution of the hybrid-MHD model was successfully fitted to the magnetic and kinetic measurements. The resulting poloidal flux function was more skewed towards the outboard side when fast electrons were introduced, which was more consistent with the density profile measured by the Thomson scattering diagnostic.
著者
Shigenobu KUBO Yoshitaka CHIKAZAWA Hiroyuki OHSHIMA Masato UCHITA Takayuki MIYAGAWA Masao ETO Tetsuji SUZUNO Ichiyo MATOBA Junji ENDO Osamu WATANABE Koichi HIGURASHI
出版者
The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
雑誌
Mechanical Engineering Journal (ISSN:21879745)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, no.3, pp.19-00489, 2020 (Released:2020-06-15)
参考文献数
17
被引用文献数
5

The authors are developing the design concept of the pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) that addresses Japan’s specific siting conditions such as earthquakes and meets safety design criteria (SDC) and safety design guidelines (SDG) for Generation IV SFRs. The development of this concept will broaden not only options for reactor types in Japan but also the range and depth of international cooperation. A design concept of 1,500 MWt (650 MWe) class pool-type SFR was thought up by applying design technology obtained from the design of advanced loop-type SFR, named JSFR, equipped with safety measures that reflect results from the feasibility study on commercialized fast reactor cycle systems and fast reactor cycle technology development, improved maintainability and repairability, and lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants accident. The design concepts of a reactor vessel (RV) and its internal structures have been investigated whether they could withstand severe seismic conditions in Japan and thermal loads. The design adopted enhanced RV support structure, enhanced conical-shaped core support structure, a thickened knuckle part of the RV, and a flat plenum separator with ribs. A three-dimensional steady-state thermal hydraulic analysis of the RV revealed that the temperature difference of the upper and lower surfaces of the flat plenum separator could be effectively reduced by installing layers of thermal insulation plates. The authors have also conducted a transient analysis of loss of flow type anticipated transients without scram events to evaluate the feasibility of a self-actuated shutdown system. Moreover, the configuration of the decay heat removal system has been investigated considering sufficient utilization of natural circulation capability of sodium coolant, heat removal capacity of each cooling system, conformance with design requirements, and recommendations of SDC and SDG such as diversity and redundancy of components.
著者
Eiichiro NAITO Yasuto YOSHIDA Satoru KUNIHIRO Kumiko MAKINO Kohei KASAHARA Yuu KOUNOSHI Masanori AIDA Ryotaro HOSHI Osamu WATANABE Tomoki IGARASHI Kouji MIYAZAKI Hideki ITO
出版者
BMFH Press
雑誌
Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health (ISSN:21863342)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.37, no.1, pp.9-18, 2018 (Released:2018-01-27)
参考文献数
36
被引用文献数
38

An obesity-related prediabetic state is characterised by metabolic abnormalities such as post-glucose load hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia and consequently increases the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on metabolic abnormalities in obese prediabetic subjects in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Herein, 100 obese subjects (body mass index ≥25), who had moderate post-load hyperglycaemia (1-hr post-load plasma glucose (PG) levels ≥180 mg/dl during the oral glucose tolerance test), consumed LcS-fermented milk or placebo milk daily for 8 weeks. The post-load PG and fasting blood markers were evaluated. Although post-load PG levels were not significantly different between the groups, 1-hr post-load PG, glycoalbumin, and HbA1c levels decreased at 8 weeks compared with the baseline levels only in the LcS group (p=0.036, p=0.002, and p=0.006, respectively). The reduction in glycoalbumin levels was statistically significantly greater in the LcS group than in the placebo group (p=0.030). Stratified analyses revealed significantly improved 1-hr post-load PG and glycoalbumin levels in the LcS group compared with the placebo group among subjects with severe glucose intolerance (2-hr post-load PG levels higher than the median at baseline; p=0.036 and p=0.034, respectively). In terms of lipidic outcomes, total, low-density lipoprotein, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the LcS group than in the placebo group (p=0.023, p=0.022, and p=0.008, respectively). These findings suggest that LcS may favourably affect metabolic abnormalities in obese prediabetic subjects, though the effects on glycaemic control may be limited.
著者
Tomonori ANDO Yoshiyuki KABASHIMA Hisanao TAKAHASHI Osamu WATANABE Masaki YAMAMOTO
出版者
The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers
雑誌
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Fundamentals of Electronics, Communications and Computer Sciences (ISSN:09168508)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.E94-A, no.6, pp.1247-1256, 2011-06-01

We study nn random symmetric matrices whose entries above the diagonal are iid random variables each of which takes 1 with probability p and 0 with probability 1-p, for a given density parameter p=α/n for sufficiently large α. For a given such matrix A, we consider a matrix A ' that is obtained by removing some rows and corresponding columns with too many value 1 entries. Then for this A', we show that the largest eigenvalue is asymptotically close to α+1 and its eigenvector is almost parallel to all one vector (1,...,1).