Search

It was formerly confirmed by experiment that hypervelocity impacts on aluminum plates cause microwave emission. In this study, we have carried out experiments in order to clarify the mechanism of the emission. The microwave is detected by heterodyne detection scheme at 22 and 2 GHz with an intermediate frequency bandwidth of 500 and 120 MHz, respectively. A nylon projectile is accelerated using a light-gas gun to impact a target. First, aluminum plates with ten different thicknesses ranging from 1 to 40 mm were used as a target, and microwave signals were detected. The experimental results are statistically analyzed assuming a Gaussian distribution of the emitted power. The standard deviation of pulse voltage is calculated to show the existence of two kinds of signals: sharp pulse and thermal noise. It is shown that the emitted energy and the dispersion have a relation with the extent of the target destruction. Next, nylon projectiles are impacted on different metals such as aluminum, iron, and copper. These results suggest that microcracks are essential to microwave emission. Finally, in order to clarify the mechanism of charging and discharging across the microcracks, the experimental results are compared with this model for the following factors: (1) the thermally excited electrons and the emitted power, and (2) the bond dissociation energy of target material and emitted power. The analytical results suggest that electrons are excited thermally and by transition from a crystalline state to an atomic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaiser and Vrána [European J. Combin. 33 (2012), 924{947] showed that every 5-connected line graph of minimum degree at least 6 is hamiltonian, which gives a partial solution to Thomassen's Conjecture on hamiltonicity of line graphs [J. Graph Theory 10 (1986), 309{324]. In this paper, we prove that every 5-connected line graph of sufficiently large order compared with a given positive integer k and of minimum degree at least 6 also has a 2-factor with exactly k cycles. In order to show this result, we investigate minimum degree conditions for the existence of such a 2-factor in hamiltonian line graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive interactions are known to play important roles in ecological divergence but have received less attention than negative interactions in studies on intertidal communities. Here, we show that growth of the mat‐forming green alga Pseudocladophora conchopheria on the shells of a intertidal gastropod (Lunella coreensis) provides them with benefits for living in intertidal rocky habitats. We found that P. conchopheria covered a large proportion of the shell surface in all L. coreensis inhabiting an exposed rocky shore habitat, but none or only a small proportion of the shell surface in L. coreensis inhabiting a damp boulder shore habitat. Thermal exposure experiment showed that L. coreensis originating from the boulder shore habitat had a higher mortality rate and temperatures inside the shell than those originating from the exposed rocky shore habitat. These differences disappeared when P. conchopheria was removed from the shell or was dried out, indicating that an increased coverage and dampness of the alga suppressed the increase in temperature inside the shell. These support the hypothesis that the growth of P. conchopheria on L. coreensis shells suppresses thermal stress in the hosts; the benefits of P. conchopheria may enable the hosts to exploit habitats where considerable thermal stress is present during air exposure. This paper reveals that algae Pseudocladophora conchopheria on the shells of intertidal gastropods (Lunella coreensis) suppress thermal stress in the hosts, allowing them to live in stressful environments and enabling them to utilize a diverse range of habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the two-center shell model parameterization we defined the optimal shape that fissioning nuclei attain just before the scission and calculated the total deformation energy (liquid-drop part plus the shell correction) as a function of the mass asymmetry and elongation at the scission point. The three minima corresponding to one mass-symmetric and two mass-asymmetric peaks in the mass distribution of fission fragments are found in the deformation energy at the scission point. The calculated deformation energy is used in a quasistatic approximation for the estimation of the total kinetic and excitation energies of fission fragments and the total number of emitted prompt neutrons. The calculated results reproduce rather well the experimental data on the position of the peaks in the mass distribution of fission fragments, and the total kinetic and excitation energies of fission fragments. The calculated value of neutron multiplicity is somewhat larger than experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass asymmetry in the fission of 236U at low excitation energy is clarified by the analysis of the trajectories obtained by solving the Langevin equations for the shape degrees of freedom. It is demonstrated that the position of the peaks in the mass distribution of fission fragments is determined mainly by the saddle point configuration originating from the shell correction energy. The width of the peaks, on the other hand, results from the shape fluctuations close to the scission point caused by the random force in the Langevin equation. We have found out that the fluctuations between elongated and compact shapes are essential for the fission process. According to our results the fission does not occur with continuous stretching in the prolate direction, similarly to that observed in starch syrup, but is accompanied by the fluctuations between elongated and compact shapes. This picture presents a new viewpoint of fission dynamics and the splitting mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Weight gain and metabolic abnormalities are common side effects of antipsychotic treatment. Retinoids have been suggested as promising substances to suppress obesity. This study has investigated the effects of a retinoid agonist AM-80 on olanzapine-induced weight gain and metabolic changes in rats. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks) were treated with AM-80 (1 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously) and/or olanzapine (4 mg/kg/ day, intraperitoneally) for 21 days. Body weight and food/water intake were measured daily. The open field (OFT) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) tests were done on days 18 and 21, respectively. Animals were sacrificed on day 22 to measure weight of adipose tissues and serum levels of adiponectin and leptin levels. Results: Olanzapine significantly increased body weight, food/water intake and the mass of inguinal adipose tissue (IAT) compared to vehicle- treated rats. AM-80 demonstrated significant inhibition of weight gain. No significant effect of olanzapine or AM-80 was found on behaviors or serum adiponectin/leptin levels. Conclusion: These findings suggests that AM-80 is a potential therapeutic agent to attenuate weight gain and metabolic side effects associated with olanzapine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragment mass distributions from the fission of U and Pu isotopes at low excitation energies are studied using a dynamical model based on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem formulated as Langevin equations. The present calculations reproduced the overall trend of the asymmetric mass distribution without parameter adjustment for the first time using the Langevin approach. The Langevin trajectories show a complicated time evolution on the potential surface, which causes the time delay of fission, showing that dynamical treatment is vital. It was found that the shell effect of the potential energy landscape has a dominant role in determining the mass distribution, although it is rather insensitive to the strength of dissipation. Nevertheless, it is essential to include the effect of dissipation, because it has a crucial role in giving "fluctuation" to Langevin trajectories as well as for explaining the multiplicities of pre-scission neutrons as the excitation energy increases. Therefore, the present approach can serve as a basis for more refined analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An energy transduction technology that operates efficiently over a range of frequencies is important for practical energy harvesting devices such as ocean wave power generators. Dielectric elastomer is based on the change in capacitive energy of a deformable dielectric and is a candidate for such applications. A simple scale model of EPAM-based wave energy harvesting system was tested in a wave tank over a range of wave periods from 0.7 to 3s and wave heights from 2cm to 6cm. The energy output was found to be largely independent of wave period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new dynamical model is developed to describe the whole process of surrogate reactions: Transfer of several nucleons at an initial stage, thermal equilibration of residues leading to washing out of shell effects, and decay of populated compound nuclei are treated in a unified framework. Multidimensional Langevin equations are employed to describe time evolution of collective coordinates with a time-dependent potential energy surface corresponding to different stages of surrogate reactions. The new model is capable of calculating spin distributions of the compound nuclei, one of the most important quantities in the surrogate technique. Furthermore, various observables of surrogate reactions can be calculated, for example, energy and angular distribution of ejectile and mass distributions of fission fragments. These features are important to assess validity of the proposed model itself, to understand mechanisms of the surrogate reactions, and to determine unknown parameters of the model. It is found that spin distributions of compound nuclei produced in 18O+238U→16O+240*U and 18O+236U→16O+238*U reactions are equivalent and much less than 10ħ and therefore satisfy conditions proposed by Chiba and Iwamoto Phys. Rev. C 81 044604 (2010) if they are used as a pair in the surrogate ratio method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fission barrier of actinide nuclei including two Λ hyperons is studied in the framework of the Skyrme–Hartree–Fock approach at zero temperature. We adopt the zero-range Skyrme-type interaction between Λ–N and Λ–Λ. Fission barrier is investigated using several parameter sets for ΛΛ interactions. We obtain the result that the barrier height becomes higher as the number of Λ particle increases and the barrier width has a dependence on the ΛΛ interaction. A relation between Λ binding energy and density distribution of Λ particle inside a core nucleus is also discussed. We found that the both Λ particles are attracted into heavier fission fragment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fission-related phenomena of heavy Λ hypernuclei are discussed with the constraint Skyrme–Hartree–Fock+BCS (SHF+BCS) method, in which a similar Skyrme-type interaction is employed also for the interaction between a Λ particle and a nucleon. Assuming that the Λ particle adiabatically follows the fission motion, we discuss the fission barrier height of . We find that the fission barrier height increases slightly when the Λ particle occupies the lowest level. In this case, the Λ particle is always attached to the heavier fission fragment. This indicates that one may produce heavy neutron-rich Λ hypernuclei through fission, whose weak decay is helpful for the nuclear transmutation of long-lived fission products. We also discuss cases where the Λ particle occupies a higher single-particle level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We modified a model of early diagenesis to study the biogeochemical processes occurring in the sediment at Ago Bay, Japan, and compared results from steady state and dynamic calculations. In the model, rate expressions describe organic matter oxidation and oxidation of reduced species formed as a product of organic matter oxidation. Organic matter oxidation is broken down into oxic respiration, denitrification, and manganese, iron, and sulfate reduction. Transport processes include advection, molecular diffusion, bioturbation and bioirrigation by benthic macrofauna. Performance of the model was evaluated against the extensive observed data available from Tategami, an area in Ago Bay. Our steady-state calculation reasonably reproduced the year-averaged vertical profile and our dynamic calculation also captured the overall trend of seasonal variation in the concentration of material in the sediment. These results illustrate the validity of our model of early diagenesis. We also found an interesting point that is a discrepancy between the steady-state solution and the year-averaged data obtained using the dynamic calculation. This difference was probably caused by the non-linear nature of the system (non-linear dependency on temperature) and suggests the suitability of dynamic analysis for the sediment in subtropical sea areas such as Ago Bay. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the calculated concentration of materials in the sediment was strongly affected by changes in following parameters: the deposition flux of organic matter and iron hydroxide, transport parameters, Q10 values, and the mineralization rate of dissolved organic matter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new boundary condition method for Coulomb scattering in momentum space is applied to the two-, three- and four-nuclear charged-particle systems. The method is based on the two-potential theory with the short range potential and the rest auxiliary potential which can be handled numerically. We applied the method to obtain the Coulomb phase shifts for the two-body case. Our calculated phase shift is in very good agreement with the analytic one. The extended method to the three- and four-body systems is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examined whether ascorbic acid (AA) deficiency aggravates water immersion restraint stress (WIRS)-induced gastric mucosal lesions in genetically scorbutic ODS rats. ODS rats received scorbutic diet with either distilled water containing AA (1 g/l) or distilled water for 2 weeks. AA-deficient rats had 12% of gastric mucosal AA content in AA-sufficient rats. AA-deficient rats showed more severe gastric mucosal lesions than AA-sufficient rats at 1, 3 or 6 h after the onset of WIRS, although AA-deficient rats had a slight decrease in gastric mucosal AA content, while AA-sufficient rats had a large decrease in that content. AA-deficient rats had more decreased gastric mucosal nonprotein SH and vitamin E contents and increased gastric mucosal lipid peroxide content than AA-sufficient rats at 1, 3 or 6 h of WIRS. These results indicate that AA deficiency aggravates WIRS-induced gastric mucosal lesions in ODS rats by enhancing oxidative damage in the gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altered expression of Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) and dysbindin (DTNBP1), susceptibility genes for schizophrenia, in schizophrenic brain has been reported; however, the possible effect of antipsychotics on the expression levels of these genes has not yet been studied. We measured the mRNA expression levels of these genes in frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice chronically treated with typical and atypical antipsychotics by a real-time quantitative RT-PCR method. We found that atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine and risperidone, in a clinically relevant dose increased DISC1 expression levels in frontal cortex, while a typical antipsychotic, haloperidol, did not. No significant effect on dysbindin expression levels was observed in either brain region. These data suggest that prior evidence of decreased expression of dysbindin in postmortem brain of schizophrenics is not likely to be a simple artifact of antemortem drug treatment. Our results also suggest a potential role of DISC1 in the therapeutic mechanisms of certain atypical antipsychotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Maxwellian-averaged cross sections and astrophysical reaction rates were calculated for neutron capture, fission, (n,p), (n,α), and some threshold reactions based on a microscopic neutron cross section data library, the Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library Version 3.3 (JENDL-3.3). The calculation was made for temperatures (kT) from 1keV to 1MeV including the most important range in astrophysical nucleosynthesis. Results are presented in the tables and graphs. The Maxwellian-averaged neutron capture cross sections are compared with recommendations of other authors. Implications of the differences between the present data and previous ones to s-process nucleosynthesis are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Regional comparisons of interannual variations in springtime lower trophic-level ecosystems were made for northern subarctic regions, and for southern Tsushima Current regions of the Japan Sea, based on archival hydrographic and biological data sets collected from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s. Variations related to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation were detected for plankton biomass in both northern and southern regions, although there were regional differences with respect to mechanisms and timing. Springtime stratification increased after the late 1970s in the north, roughly coinciding with the northern Pacific regime shift in 1976/77. Stratification also increased due to warming in the south in the early 1980s, several years after the 1976/77 regime shift. Responding to the increase in stratification, springtime biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton increased in the north and decreased in the south. Principal component analysis revealed that hydrographic conditions during spring, rather than winter, determined springtime phytoplankton biomass. In northern regions, spring phytoplankton production may be enhanced by increased light availability, due to mixed layer stabilization. In the south, where background nutrient concentration within the water column was low, increases in stratification were likely to limit nutrient supply to the surface layer, resulting in decreases in phytoplankton production. A positive relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass suggested bottom-up control of secondary production in northern regions. The nature of the links between phytoplankton and zooplankton production was not clear in southern regions, where hydrographic conditions during winter seemed to be responsible for variations in springtime secondary production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a high-rate deposition technique (MOI: metal oxygen-ion Implantation) to produce optical thin films. The system is divided into two regions; sputtering region (DC magnetron sputtering) and oxidization region (oxygen-ion implant with RF oxygen plasma). The metallic Nb is deposited with the DC magnetron sputtering onto the substrates, then oxidized to form an oxide film at a rate between 1 and 5 nm per rotation. Similarly, the metallic Si is deposited and oxidized at a rate between 1 and 10 nm per rotation. By repeating this process, the oxide films of Nb2O5 and SiO2 are alternatively stacked at the deposition rate of 50 and 90 nm·m/min, respectively. The refractive indices of Nb2O5 and SiO2 at 500 nm were shown to be 2.37 and 1.47, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In most protandrous species, male size advantage is generally regarded as unimportant in determining the timing of protandrous sex change. In pandalid shrimp, the size/age of male sex change often fluctuates among years and populations, but the adaptive significance of late reversing males (LRMs) is not well understood. This study experimentally examined the adaptive significance of LRMs in the protandrous pandalid shrimp Pandalus latirostris Rathbun. Field and laboratory studies were carried out in August–September of 1998–2002 on P. latirostris in Notoro Lagoon, Japan (44°03′N; 144°10′E). Mature females that had molted (i.e. mate receptive) were tethered in the field and their mating behavior with wild males was observed. Copulations occurred with a single male at a time, although other males could sequentially mate with a tethered female. Because tethered females rejected male approaches, males had difficulty transferring their spermatophores. In the laboratory, males copulated with non-tethered, recently molted females for only 15 min after molting. Recently molted females are wary of potential predators, since their soft exoskeleton makes them particularly vulnerable. Fast access by males enhanced fertilization success in this shrimp. The effect of male size on mating success in the laboratory was examined. Both small and large males successfully inseminated females in the absence of competitors. In experiments where large, medium, and small males competed for a female, however, larger males guarded females longer than smaller males, until the female molted and became receptive. Moreover, large males were more successful at copulating once molting occurred. These results imply that male-male competition drives delayed sex change in some situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 1 The vasoconstrictor response to periarterial nerve electrical stimulation (PNS) and neurotransmission by ATP are discussed and illustrated, using canine isolated and perfused splenic arterial preparations. 2 The conditions for appearance of dominant purinergic constrictor response to PNS are discussed. 3 Modulation of the purinergic vasoconstrictor responses to PNS by several kinds of presynaptic receptor agonists and antagonists is reviewed. 4 Influences of purinergic responses to PNS by guanethidine, reserpine, tetrodotoxin (TTX) or ω -conotoxin GVIA (ω CTX) are also reviewed. 5 Effects of imipramine and removal of the endothelium are discussed. 6 Evidence is presented for selective inhibition of purinergic responses to PNS by an adequate cold storage of the vessel. 7 The roles of ATP released by PNS in isolated canine splenic arteries are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined a case of severe B cell deficiency after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Medical history of the patient; Information on the treatment administered on the patient; Conclusion.

Summary 1 The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) upon the isolated vasculature are reviewed. 2 The vasconstrictor responses to periarterial nerve stimulation (PNS) and neurotransmission by noradrenaline (NA) and ATP are discussed and illustrated using canine isolated perfused splenic artery. 3 Modulation of the vascular responses to PNS by NPY via pre- and post-junctional NPY Y[sub 2] and Y[sub 1] receptors is discussed. 4 Evidence is presented for different α[sub 1]-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating vasoconstriction to exogenous and endogenously released NA and their different locations in the neurovascular junction and extrajunctional regions. 5 Activation of NPY Y[sub 1]-receptors potentiates sympathetic nerve activated α[sub 1]-adrenoceptor vasoconstriction. The proposal that the postjunctional α[sub 1B] adrenoceptor may be linked to the NPY Y[sub 1]-receptor and is responsible for co-operation between sympathetic and NPYergic interactions in the vasculature is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a case study on a 35-year-old man exposed to a high-dose total body neutron radiation who received a blood stem cell transplant. Main targets of damage from exposure to neutron radiation; Information on the patient; Discussion on the diagnosis and treatment given to the patient.

1 The effects of BIIE 0246, a novel and non-peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y[sub 2] receptor antagonist on sympathetic vasoconstriction of the canine splenic artery were investigated. 2 The vasoconstrictor response to periarterial electrical nerve stimulation was described to be a double peaked vasoconstriction consisting of an initial transient, dominantly P2X purinoceptormediated constriction followed by a prolonged, mainly α[sub 1] adrenoceptor-induced response. 3 BIIE 0246 at a concentration of 0.1-1 µM dose-dependently potentiated double peaked constrictions at low frequencies (1 and 4 Hz), whereas at high frequency (10 Hz), it failed to affect these responses. BIIE 0246 (1 µM) also enhanced double peaked responses even in the presence of rauwolscine (0.1 µM). NPY (13-36) (1-100 nM), a selective Y[sub 2] receptor agonist reduced these two peaked responses in a dose-related manner. The vasoconstriction to noradrenaline (0.1-10 nmol) or adenosine triphosphate (0.01-1 µmol) was not significantly influenced by either 1 µM BIIE 0246 or 100 nM NPY (13-36). Exposure of tissues to 1 µM BIIE 0246 almost completely prevented the suppression of double peaked constrictions by NPY (13-36) (10 nM) or by NPY (10 nM). 4 We conclude that NPY inhibits sympathetic purinergic and adrenergic vasoconstrictions through an activation of prejunctional Y[sub 2] receptor subtype in the neurovascular junction of the canine splenic artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A high level of geographical variation at an exceptionally fine scale was detected in the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA genes of a land snail species Euhadra quaesita from the Kanto region of Japan. In total, 50 haplotypes were detected from 27 populations, with most sample sites possessing private alleles. In some individual populations the different haplotypes do not fall as a monophyletic group, so that some of the haplotypes are phylogenetically distant, differing from each other by > 10%. In contrast, phylogenetically similar haplotypes were found in separate sites at long distances from their main distribution. Together, these findings strongly suggest that contraction and expansion of populations has occurred repeatedly in the past. The subsequent expansion of populations and migration from different areas may have mixed distant populations. This repetition of isolation and mixing has resulted in an exceptionally fine scale of geographical variation, and the accumulation of high genetic diversity within and between populations of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 Using the cannula inserting method, vasodilator responses to β-adrenoceptor agonists (isoprenaline, denopamine and procaterol) were investigated in isolated and perfused rat common carotid arteries. 2 Each β-adrenoceptor agonist induced a vasodilation in preparations preconstricted by phenylephrine in a dose-related manner. The potencies were in the order of isoprenaline > procaterol >> denopamine. 3 Denopamine-induced dilations were significantly inhibited by 1 nmol betaxolol (a selective β[sub 1]-adrenoceptor antagonist), but it was not influenced by 1 nmol ICI 118,551 (a selective β[sub 2]-adrenoceptor antagonist). On the other hand, procaterol-induced vasodilations were significantly inhibited by 1 nmol ICI 118,551 but not modified by 10 nmol betaxolol. 4 ACh-induced vasodilations disappeared after intraluminal saponin injection to remove endothelium, but procaterol- and denopamine-induced dilations were not modified by removal of the endothelium. 5 Pretreatment with L-N[sup G]-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) readily inhibited ACh-induced vasodilations. However, neither procaterol- or denopamine-induced vasodilation was modified by L-NAME treatment. 6 From these results, it is concluded that in the rat common carotid arteries (1) there are abundant β[sub 2]- and a few β[sub 1]-adrenoceptors, and (2) there is no participation of the endothelium-dependent mechanism in β-adrenoceptor mediated vasodilations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which described a biological/oceanographic survey around the Antarctic Divergence off Adelie Land, Antarctica, by the RTV Umitaka-Maru III. Background on the establishment of biological investigations of marine Antarctic systems and stock; Materials and methodology used in the survey; Results obtained from the survey.

We propose that spontaneous particle-anti-particle pair creations from the discharged vacuum caused by the strong interactions in dense matter are major sources of γ-ray bursts. Two neutron star collisions or black-hole-neutron star mergers at cosmological distance could produce a compact object with its density exceeding the critical density for pair creations. The emitted anti-particles annihilate with corresponding particles at the ambient medium. This releases a large amount of energy. We discuss the spontaneous p&pmacr; pair creations within two neutron star collision and estimate the exploded energy from p&pmacr; annihilation processes. The total energy could be around 10[sup 51]-10[sup 53] erg depending on the impact parameter of colliding neutron stars. This value fits well into the range of the initial energy of the most energetic γ-ray bursts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radio link directly probing the inner solar corona offers the possibility to characterize solar wind properties, including velocity, density, turbulence, and even the axial ratio. In this study, we leveraged radiometric data obtained during a joint superior solar conjunction of the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission and the JAXA Akatsuki mission. Our objective is to ascertain the solar wind velocity by analysing Doppler-shift timeseries of radio signals exchanged between the two spacecraft and two distinct ground stations. We conducted a cross-correlation analysis to determine the travel time of large-scale plasma density fluctuations as they intersect with the downlink signals of both spacecraft. This method is applied to the data collected on 2021 March 13 and 2021 March 14. The analysis of the March 13 data has shown that the two Doppler residuals timeseries present a clear correlation at a time-lag of 2910 s. Using the knowledge of the relative distance between the two probe-ground station lines of sight at the closest approach to the Sun, we estimated the solar wind velocity to be |$421\pm 21$| km s−1. Following the same procedure for the second experiment, we estimated the solar wind speed velocity to be |$336\pm 7$| km s−1. These results are compatible with the sampling of the slow solar wind at heliographic latitudes of |$-22^\circ$| and |$-26^\circ$|⁠ , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the monophasic vasoconstrictor responses to periarterial purinerguc nerve stimulation. Effects of rauwolscine on vasoconstrictor responses to periarterial electric nerve stimulation; Influence of the pulse trains at low frequency on the activation of purinergic components of sympathetic cotransmission; Role of alpha-adrenergic mechanism on the modulation of adenosine 5-triphosphate release.

Investigates the characteristics of the double peaked vasoconstrictor responses to periarterial electric simulation. Use of prazosin and alpha and beta-methylene adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the study; Effects of prazosin and alpha and beta-methylene ATP on vasoconstrictor responses; Conclusion that vasoconstrictor responses is induced via an activation of P2X receptors.

The magnetic thin film infrared sensor (MFI) is an infrared sensing device utilizing a temperature-sensitive magnetic thin film with marked temperature dependence in the room temperature range. We propose a human action pattern monitor (HPM) constructed with the MFI, without a monitor camera to save the clients’ privacy, as a telecare system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A preparatory study is underway to investigate the feasibility study of high-energetic, non-thermal electron distribution function measurements using a vertical-viewing electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostic on JT-60SA. The system is designed to detect broad ECE spectra (70–260 GHz) due to the second, third, and fourth harmonics using a focusing optics system with four quasi-optical mirrors in the upper port of JT-60SA. A Gaussian beam optics design is performed in vacuum, and ray tracing calculations are performed in plasma using the TRAVIS code to investigate density characteristics. A ceramic viewing dump is also designed to reduce the effects of multiple reflections from the opposing vacuum vessel surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which investigated an approach to the biomagnetics of the magnetic enzyme sensor utilizing the pyro magnetic film as a micro magnetic transducer. Description of the conventional enzyme sensor; Methodology of the study; Results and discussion.

The article presents a study that explores how chiral conversion of amino acids is linked to bacterial recognition by mammals to control symbiosis with bacteria. It mentions that bacteria chiral convert l-aa to d-configurations as essential components of their cell walls and as signaling molecules in their ecosystems.

The request for new and/or more accurate data of independent fission product yields (FPY) and other distributions of pre- and post-neutron fragments constitutes a priority on an international level. The prompt emission model codes nowadays employed are refined enough to answer this request with the condition of using reliable distributions Y(A,TKE) of pre-neutron fragments. Up to now in the majority of cases such distributions were determined by experimental data. Y(A,TKE) from theoretical calculations can extend the use of prompt emission model codes to fissioning systems for which the experimental information is very scarce or completely missing. Such Y(A,TKE), recently obtained from four-dimensional Langevin model calculations in the frame of multi-modal fission, is tested by its use (as input) in the deterministic prompt emission model code DSE, for the case of 239Pu(nth,f). The obtained prompt emission results (e.g. prompt neutron multiplicity distributions ν(A), ν(TKE)) succeed to describe the experimental data and the independent FPY agree with the experimental data, too. Although visible differences between these results and those obtained with a an experimental Y(A,TKE) distribution exist. The present investigations have also emphasized other interesting aspects, e.g. concerning the pre-neutron fragments which contribute to the pronounced peaks and dips in the structure of both the mass yield Y(Ap) and the isotonic yield Y(Np) of post-neutron fragments, in connection with the role played by the even–odd effect in fragment charge, as well as how the position and magnitude of pronounced peaks and dips are influenced by the Y(A,TKE) distribution. Independent FPY separately for each number "n" of emission sequences leading to the last residual fragment Y(Ap = A-n), reported for the first time, have shown how and which of these components contribute to the structure of total Y(Ap). The crucial role of the energy partition in fission is revealed again by showing that a good choice of the RT parameterization can lead to very close results to those obtained with a TXE partition based on modeling at scission. On the contrary the use of an unique RT value for all fragmentations can alter -in some fission cases—the sawtooth shape of ν(A) and its agreement with experimental data, despite the refinement of the prompt emission treatment itself and of a reliable Y(A,TKE) distribution employed in calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recently, several new materials for mattresses become introduced. Although some of these, such as low rebound (or pressure-absorbing) and high rebound mattresses have fairly different characteristics, effects of these mattresses on sleep have never evaluated. In the current study, we have evaluated effects of airweave (a high rebound [HR] mattresses using a highly breathable material) on sleep and its associated physiology and the effects were compared to those of a low rebound mattress (LR). Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 10 healthy males, with a randomized cross over single-blind design of one night PSG (23:00 to 7:00) at the sleep laboratory with 1–2day intervals. The mattress pads were placed on regular beds equipped in the laboratory. The mean age ( SD) of the 10 subjects was 26.7 7.7yrs, height, 169.6 6.3m, weight, 61.9 5.2kg, BMI, 21.2 1.7, PSQID, 3.0 0.7, 3% ODI, 2.3 1.1, RDI, 1.8 1.2. In addition to the PSG, number of roll-over during sleep, autonomic nerve activity (by monitoring EKG heart rate variability), core rectal temperature monitoring were assessed. Subjective sleep evaluations were done on the following morning, using visual analogue scales (good sleep [VAS-S] and performance [VAS-P] ) and the Stanford sleepiness scale (SSS). Performance was also evaluated with psychomotor vigilance test (PVT). The significances of the effects (between HR and LR) were evaluated with the paired-t test, except effects of rectal temperature monitoring for which a repeated measures ANOVA with a grouping factor (mattress types) was applied. Results: Subjects slept quickly with both HR (7.1 2.1min) and LR (9.1 2.6min). Interestingly, the core body temperature was rapidly and continuously decreased with HR and reached the nadir (36.0°C) at 2:00–3:00 while decline of the temperature with LR was modest and retained 0.4°C higher than that with HR between 1:00 and 2:00. A significant increase in Stage 4 sleep was found with HR between 23:00 and 1:00. In addition, decrease in sympathetic nerve activity was prominent with HR between 23:00 and 1:00. There was non-significant tendency to decline in numbers of rollover and elapsed time to fall in sleep after the rollover with HR. Subjective wakefulness and performance in the next morning with HR was improved marginally significantly. Conclusion: Our results suggest that effective heat loss during the initial phase of sleep occurred with HR (i.e., Airweave), and this may facilitate restorative sleep. Acknowledgements: This study is supported by Airweave Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]