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We here report 20 novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms in four genes that are potentially involved in the excitement of cardiomyocytes: 1 in KCNA5 (encoding Kv1.5), 5 in KCNAB1 (encoding Kvβ1.3), 5 in KCNIP2 (encoding KChIP2), and 9 in CACNA1C (encoding a cardiac L-type voltage-dependent calcium ion channel, dihydropyridine receptor). We also examined their allelic frequencies in Japanese individuals. These data will be useful for genetic association studies designed to investigate secondary long QT syndrome or other circulatory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide here 29 genetic variations, including 28 novel ones, in five genes that are potentially involved in the excitement of cardiomyocytes: we found 4 in KCNA10, 2 in KCNK1, 8 in KCNK6, 11 in SLC18A1 (VMAT1), and 4 in SLC6A2 (norepinephrine transporter). We also examined their allelic frequencies in a Japanese population of long QT syndrome-affected and nonaffected individuals. These data would be useful for genetic association studies designed to investigate acquired arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report here 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including 15 novel ones, in six genes that are considered to be candidates for long QT syndrome (LQTS): 2 SNPs in KCNB1, 3 in KCND3, 3 in KCNJ11, 7 in ABCC9, 3 in ADRB1, and 2 in SLC18A2. We also examined their allelic frequencies in a Japanese sample population of LQTS-affected and nonaffected individuals. These data will be useful for genetic association studies designed to investigate acquired arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A pulsed sextupole electromagnetic lens with suitably controlled time-dependent magnetic field can in principle focus pulsed neutrons at the same focal point over a wide range of wavelength as the lens removes aberrations. However, in fact, it is difficult to focus neutrons over a wide range of wavelength because attenuation of a practical pulsed sextupole electromagnet is faster than an ideal case. We have devised a method of canceling the difference between the practical pulsed sextupole magnetic field and the ideal magnetic field with the use of a permanent sextupole magnet. We performed simulation calculations to investigate the feasibility of this method, and it was shown that focusing wavelength range spread compared with the case using a pulsed magnetic lens only. This result indicates the usefulness of the method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract We report here 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including 10 novel ones, and their allelic frequencies detected in four genes that are known to be responsible for familial long QT syndrome in the Japanese population; 7 polymorphisms are in the KCNQ1 gene, 6 in the KCNH2 gene, 5 in the SCN5A gene, and 2 in the KCNE1 gene. These data will be of use for genetic association studies of acquired cardiac arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are developing a fiber type two-dimentional (2-D) position-sensitive detector having a spatial resolution less than 0.5 mm in order to use it in the time-of-flight (TOF) measurement. The detector performance was examined, and some experiments on the TOF radiography were performed using this detector. The results indicated that the detector could be applied successfully to the TOF measurement and that the TOF radiography was very useful since it gave more informative data than those obtained by the conventional radiography using a broad energy band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-capillary fiber device is used for transporting the neutrons. For a pulsed neutron source the energy dependence is important, but experimental results have not agreed with simulation results. Therefore, we performed experimental studies and simulation calculations to get wavelength-dependent information at several capillary diameters and also at several curvature of the fibers. The experimental results showed that from 30 to 70 μm capillary fibers had no systematic difference in the transmission intensity and there exist difference between the experimental and the simulation results. It is found that the difference was partially explained by introducing a wave-like distortion to the fiber form. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of physical performance could improve the quality of life in old age. Recent studies suggested a beneficial relationship between antioxidant vitamin (eg, vitamin C) intake and physical performance in elderly people. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between plasma vitamin C concentration and physical performance among Japanese community-dwelling elderly women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving elderly females residing in an urban area in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2006. We examined anthropometric measurements, physical performance, lifestyles, and plasma vitamin C concentration of participants. RESULTS: A total of 655 subjects who did not take supplements were analyzed. The mean age (±standard deviation) of participants was 75.7 ± 4.1 years in this study. The geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) of plasma vitamin C concentration was 8.9 (1.5) [mu]g/mL. The plasma vitamin C concentration was positively correlated with handgrip strength, length of time standing on one leg with eyes open and walking speed, and inversely correlated with body mass index. After adjusting for the confounding factors, the quartile plasma vitamin C level was significantly correlated with the subject's handgrip strength (p for trend = .0004) and ability to stand on one leg with eyes open (p for trend = .049). CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling elderly women, the concentration of plasma vitamin C related well to their muscle strength and physical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neutron radiography using a pulsed neutron source can give transmission spectra that reflect the structure of the neutron cross-section of the object. At low-energy region, we can see Bragg cutoff, whose position and shape depend on the material. We have developed a new detector to observe such features of the transmission spectra efficiently. We used Li-glass pieces to achieve a high-count rate. The pixel size of the detector is not so good, about 1.7mm×1.7mm, but the maximum count rate is very high, about 0.24M cps/pixel. We performed a transmission experiment of the welded piece of stainless steel to examine the usefulness of the detector and also the time-of-flight transmission method at a relatively low intensity spallation source, KENS. From the difference of Bragg cutoff of the transmission spectra, we could determine the welded position, which could not be recognized with the naked eye. This suggests the possibility of observation of lattice deformation in a welded place. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We applied the method of neutron resonance absorption spectroscopy to thermometric measurements of a bulk object. Through an analysis of the resonance absorption spectrum of imbedded neutron-absorbing nuclides, the "effective temperature", which coincides with the actual local temperature near and above room temperature, can be determined. If a thermal gradient exists, computed tomography techniques could be used in conjunction with the analysis for a reconstruction of the temperature distribution over a planar cross-sectional area. We find that the experimental data agree with the temperature profile calculated from the heat conduction equations. The measurements were carried out using the neutron resonance absorption spectrometer DOG of KENS, Japan. The overall results demonstrated the feasibility of this method for industrial applications where remote-sensing and non-destructive temperature mapping of bulk objects is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a radio-frequency gradient spin flipper for the effective utilization of the focused and polarized neutron beam obtained using a superconducting sextupole magnet developed for the practical application in the neutron-scattering experiment. The flipper was designed to be effective for the neutron beam with wavelengths longer than 4 A˚ and the cross section of 50 mm in diameter. The flipper was tested using polarized cold neutrons, and good performance was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have developed a pixel-type two-dimensional position sensitive Li-glass neutron detector for high rate application, which would be useable for time-of-flight radiography, namely transmission spectroscopy. The pieces of Li-glass were attached directly to a 8×8 channel photo multiplier. We measured its performance at KEK and Hokkaido University. The count rate of this detector was found to be about 8.3 Mcps/cm2 (240 Kcps per pixel). The efficiency of the detector corrected for the effective detection area is 100% over 9 Å and 95% at 3 Å. The difference in the count rate of each pixel was very small, less than 2%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: To respond to the rapid surge in the incidence of suicide in Japan, which appears to be an ongoing trend, the Japanese Multimodal Intervention Trials for Suicide Prevention (J-MISP) have launched a multimodal community-based suicide prevention program, NOCOMIT-J. The primary aim of this study is to examine whether NOCOMIT-J is effective in reducing suicidal behavior in the community.Methods/design: This study is a community intervention trial involving seven intervention regions with accompanying control regions, all with populations of statistically sufficient size. The program focuses on building social support networks in the public health system for suicide prevention and mental health promotion, intending to reinforce human relationships in the community. The intervention program components includes a primary prevention measures of awareness campaign for the public and key personnel, secondary prevention measures for screening of, and assisting, high-risk individuals, after-care for individuals bereaved by suicide, and other measures. The intervention started in July 2006, and will continue for 3.5 years. Participants are Japanese and foreign residents living in the intervention and control regions (a total of population of 2,120,000 individuals).Discussion: The present study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the community-based suicide prevention program in the seven participating areas.Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000000460. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sextupole magnetic field exerts focusing and defocusing effects on neutrons depending on the neutron-spin states. By combining both effects, we can realize a magnetic doublet which enables control of the neutron-beam size and divergence with high degrees of freedom. We constructed a magnetic doublet with two permanent sextupole magnets and a spin flipper, and experimentally investigated its function using pulsed neutrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]