A quantitative genetic risk assessment has been recognized as one of the goals of the research of environmental mutagens. To establish the genetic risk assessment as a practice routinely applicable to daily tasks, a collaborative study was carried out from 1996 to 1999 in the Mammalian Mutagenesis Study Group. Mitomycin C was selected as a model compound and its genetic risk was quantitatively assessed for autosomal dominant and X linked genetic diseases. In this paper, outcomes of the study are presented together with the recent progress in a genetic risk assessment on radiation.

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The finite order multivariate normal universal portfolio is studied in this paper with the objective reducing the implementation time and computer-memory requirements substantially. The finite-order portfolios are run on some selected stock-price data sets from the local stock exchange. The wealths achieved over a modest length of time are recorded. Empirically, the performance of the finite-order multivariate normal universal portfolio is comparable to that of the Dirichlet universal portfolio and yet requiring substantially shorter implementation time.

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[Purpose] This study assessed the reliability and validity of an ultrasound-based imaging method for measuring the interspinous process distance in the lumbar spine using two different index points. [Subjects and Methods] Ten healthy males were recruited. Five physical therapy students participated in this study as examiners. The L2–L3 interspinous distance was measured from the caudal end of the L2 spinous process to the cranial end of the L3 spinous process (E-E measurement) and from the top of the L2 spinous process to the top of the L3 spinous process (T-T measurement). Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to estimate the relative reliability. Validity was assessed using a model resembling the living human body. [Results] The reliability study showed no difference in intra-rater reliability between the two measurements. However, the E-E measurement showed higher inter-rater reliability than the T-T measurement (Intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.914 vs. 0.725). Moreover, the E-E measurement method had good validity (Intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.999 and 95% confidence interval for minimal detectable change: 0.29 mm). [Conclusion] These results demonstrate the high reliability and validity of ultrasound-based imaging in the quantitative assessment of lumbar interspinous process distance. Of the two methods, the E-E measurement method is recommended.

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[Purpose] The intra- and inter-examiner reliabilities of lumbar interspinous process distances measured by ultrasound imaging were examined. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 10 males who had no history of orthopedic diseases or dysfunctions. Ten lumbar interspinous images from 360 images captured from 10 subjects were selected. The 10 images were measured by nine examiners. The lumbar interspinous process distance measurements were performed five times by each examiner. In addition, four of the nine examiners measured the distances again after 4 days for test-retest analysis. In statistical analysis, the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to investigate relative reliability, and Bland-Altman analysis was used to investigate absolute reliability. [Results] The intraclass correlation coefficients (1, 1) for intra-examiner reliability ranged from 0.985 to 0.998. For inter-rater reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (2, 1) was 0.969. The intraclass correlation coefficients (1, 2) for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.991 to 0.999. The Bland-Altman analysis results indicated no systematic error. [Conclusion] The results indicate that ultrasound measurements of interspinous process distance are highly reliable even when measured only once by a single person.

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Cable-riding suspended systems are commonplace, with applications ranging from ski lifts to tramways to material movers in mining operations. Another, more recent application is the robotic inspection using robots that ride along the cables which they are inspecting. Expliner is one such robotic device. It rides along live, high-voltage power lines for inspection of them. For all of these cable-suspended systems, rocking oscillation can reduce safety and efficiency of operation. This paper presents a model to identify the key dynamic factors of this rocking motion, including a simple model of wind-based disturbances. A command-shaping controller is used to limit rocking from both commanded motion along the cable and controlled center-of-mass shifts.

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The rapid growth in air traffic at Bangkok International Airport (BIA) causes excessive delays during peak periods. These delays, consequently results in passenger discomfort, fuel waste and disruption of airlines' schedule. At present, the Second Bangkok International Airport (SBIA) is under planning stage to meet the future demand. Thus, the present system should be improved so that it can accommodate the forecasted air traffic demand until the implementation of SBIA. This paper identifies operational problems in air traffic operations and analyzes the traffic condition of busiest runway at BIA by developed simulation model. Improvement measures have been suggested and evaluated. These can be implemented as remedial actions to overcome present operational problems in the airside of the airport.

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Based on the Cabinet decision on June 14, 2013 indicated in Japan's Revitalization Strategy, Consumer Affairs Agency in the government of Japan has commenced studies on the new functionality labeling system for foods including agricultural, forestry and fishery products that "describes functionalities based on scientific evidence, quality and safety confirmation under corporate responsibility", referring to the US dietary supplement labeling system. Industries in the US are permitted by law to make structure/function claims for dietary supplements including vitamins, which describe their effects on the structure or function of the body, the biological mechanism, a benefit related to a nutrient deficient diseases or general well-being from the consumption of a nutrient or ingredient. Structure/function claims must be supported by credible scientific evidence and be truthful and not misleading. When used to promote a dietary supplement, the claim must be accompanied by a disclaimer "has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" and that it is "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease". FDA has exclusive jurisdiction over the safety of dietary supplements and primary responsibility for claims on product labeling. Structure/function claims are not drug claims, but using dietary supplements and public awareness has indicated a possibility of significant medical cost reduction in the US. It is strongly suggested that expected reduction of both health problems and medical cost could improve quality of life.

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Abstract: Liquid detergent has an increasing demand in North America, Western Europe, and Southeast Asia countries owing to its convenience to use and efficiency to clean. Alpha methyl ester sulfonates (α-MES), an anionic surfactant derived from palm oil based methyl ester, was reported to have lower manufacturing cost, good detergency with less dosage, excellent biodegradability, higher tolerance to hard water, and lower eco-toxicity as compared to linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS). LABS was known as the workhorse of the detergent industry in the 20^th century. Although palm-based α-MES was successfully used as the sole surfactant in powder detergent, there are still some unsettled technical issues related to phase stability and viscosity when using this anionic surfactant in heavy-duty laundry liquid detergent formulations. This paper will review not only the market overview of detergents, the application and performance of green surfactants in laundry detergents but also will highlight the technical issues related to the application of palm-based α-MES in laundry liquid detergent and some of the possible methods to overcome the formulation adversities.

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Parental exposure of mice to radiation and chemicals causes a variety of adverse effects (e.g., tumors, congenital malformations and embryonic deaths) in the progeny and the tumor-susceptibility phenotype is transmissible beyond the first post-radiation generation. The induced rates of tumors were 100-fold higher than those known for mouse specific locus mutations. There were clear strain differences in the types of naturally-occurring and induced tumors and most of the latter were malignant. Another important finding was that germ-line exposure elicited very weak tumorigenic responses, but caused persistent hypersensitivity in the offspring for the subsequent development of cancer by the postnatal environment.
Activations of oncogenes, ras, mos, abl, etc. and mutations in tumor suppressor genes such as p53 were also detected in specific tumors in cancer-prone descendants. However, the majority of tumors observed in the progeny were those commonly observed in the strains that were used and oncogene activations were rarely observed in these tumors. It can be hypothesized that genetic instability modifies tumor occurrence in a transgenerational manner, but so far no links could be established between chromosomal and molecular changes and transmissible tumor risks. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that cumulative changes in many normal but cancer-related genes affecting immunological, biochemical and physiological functions may slightly elevate the incidence of tumors or fasten the tumor development. This hypothesis is supported by our GeneChip analyses which showed suppression and/or over-expression of many such genes in the offspring of mice exposed to radiation.
In humans, a higher risk of leukemia and birth defects has been reported in the children of fathers who had been exposed to radionuclides in the nuclear reprocessing plants and to diagnostic radiation. These findings have not been supported in the children of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who were exposed to higher doses of atomic radiation. However, it will be important to follow the human subjects, especially for adult type cancers and chronic diseases throughout their lives to determine whether the mouse studies can predict human responses.

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　本稿は，人事異動の経験が従業員の組織的同一化に与える影響について明らかにする．人事異動を連続・非連続に分け，そして回数・頻度がどのように組織的同一化に関わるのかを仮説として導出し，生活協同組合への質問紙調査と人事データを組み合わせ分析した．その結果，昇進・昇格を介して異動経験が同一化に影響を与えること，あまりに頻繁かつ多くの異動経験は同一化に負の影響を与えることを明らかにした．

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2-compartement model による1回静注RIクリアランス法は, 血液以外にもRIの分布容積を考慮しているので理論的である. しかし頻回の採血が必要であり解析法も複雑であることからあまり普及していない. そこで著者は血液の計測の代わりにレノグラム検査時に左心室部からのRIの消失率を体外計測して, 2-compartment model に近似, これを非線形最小二乗法により解析して^99mTc-DTPAからGFR ¹²³I-OIHからERPFの測定を行なった. 採血は単位血漿のクリアランス値に換算するために1回行なった. この方法で求めたGFRとCcr, ERPFとCPAHとを比較したところ, それぞれy=1.08×+3.3 (r=0.92), y=0.77x+157.8 (r=0.90) と良い相関が認められた.
分腎機能はレノグラムの機能相におけるRIの相対的腎摂取率から求めた. この方法で求めた分腎のRI摂取率比と分腎のCcr比を比較したところ, y=0.96x-0.13 (r=0.99) と良い相関が認められた.
この方法は総腎および分腎のGFRあるいはERPFの測定ができ, 侵襲も少なく臨床上有用であった. また, 採尿を必要としないため特に水腎症, 萎縮腎, 尿管S状結腸吻合術後状態などの採尿ができない症例における定量的腎機能検査法として有用であった.

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