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Variation in stacking fault energy with annealing at 1173 K were identified in Czochralski-grown silicon crystals heavily doped with n- or p-type dopant atoms. In n-type crystals, the energy decreased with increasing annealing time. The higher the concentration of dopant atoms, the larger the degree of the decrease. On the other hand, the energy was unchanged during annealing in p-type and nondoped crystals. These results imply that n-type dopant atoms segregate nearby a stacking fault, via their thermal migration, under an electronic interaction leading to a reduction in the stacking fault energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical properties of wurtzite ZnO bulk single crystals in which an arbitrary number (typically 109–1010 cm-2) of fresh dislocations were introduced intentionally by the plastic deformation at elevated temperatures (923–1073 K) were examined. Deformed specimens showed excitonic light emission with photon energies of 3.100 and 3.345 eV, as well as their LO phonon replicas at 11 K. The light intensities increased with increasing dislocation density. The activation energy for a thermal quenching of the 3.100 or 3.345 eV emission band, which corresponds to the depth of the localized energy level associated with the emission band, was estimated to be 0.3±0.1 or 0.05±0.01 eV, respectively. The origin of the energy levels was proposed as point defect complexes involving dislocations. The introduction of the dislocations at the elevated temperatures above 923 K did not influence the intensities of the emission bands except the dislocation-related emission bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resonant tunneling through single InAs quantum dots embedded in an n-GaAs/i-Al[sub 0.38]Ga[sub 0.62]As/n-GaAs diode has been studied by using microscopic electrophotoluminescence spectroscopy. Many sharp luminescence lines which originated from single quantum dots were observed by injecting resonant electrons from the emitter to the dots. Bias dependence of a single luminescence line was investigated. The peak intensity showed triangular dependence which was similar to the current–voltage characteristics of electron resonant tunneling from three dimension to zero dimension. When the bias voltage was increased, the peak energy slightly shifted to a lower energy indicating the existence of Stark effect, and the linewidth slightly increased. The higher the luminescence energy was, the broader the linewidth was. This result agrees with the calculated resonant level width. The lifetime of resonant states was estimated to be 2.4–27 ps for luminescence linewidth of 250–22 μeV. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the photodesorption of molecular oxygen from a stepped platinum surface. Importance of surface hot-atoms in the desorption of coadsorbed species; Discussion of dynamic behavior of hot-atoms; Production of additional, less tightly bound oxygen adatoms.

Abstract: Aim: Lactate is produced in and released from skeletal muscle cells. Lactate receptor, G‐protein‐coupled receptor 81 (GPR81), is expressed in skeletal muscle cells. However, a physiological role of extracellular lactate on skeletal muscle is not fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to investigate extracellular lactate‐associated morphological changes and intracellular signals in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Methods: Mouse myoblast C2C12 cells were differentiated for 5 days to form myotubes. Sodium lactate (lactate) or GPR81 agonist, 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5‐DHBA), was administered to the differentiation medium. Results: Lactate administration increased the diameter of C2C12 myotubes in a dose‐dependent manner. Administration of 3,5‐DHBA also increased myotube diameter. Not only lactate but also 3,5‐DHBA upregulated the phosphorylation level of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), p42/44 extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐1/2 (ERK1/2) and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK). MEK inhibitor U0126 depressed the phosphorylation of ERK‐p90RSK and increase in myotube diameter induced by lactate. On the other hand, both lactate and 3,5‐DHBA failed to induce significant responses in the phosphorylation level of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, p70 S6 kinase and protein degradation‐related signals. Conclusion: These observations suggest that lactate‐associated increase in the diameter of C2C12 myotubes is induced via activation of GRP81‐mediated MEK/ERK pathway. Extracellular lactate might have a positive effect on skeletal muscle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Hybrid power source three-level inverter is proposed as a main circuit system with energy storage device for increasing regenerative power. This paper proposes a charge and discharge control method to utilize the regenerated energy. The proposed method is verified by experimental tests with a scaled-down model and numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an analytical method to determine the segregation levels on the same tilt boundaries (TBs) at the same nanoscopic location by a joint use of atom probe tomography and scanning transmission electron microscopy, and discussed the mechanism of oxygen segregation at TBs in silicon ingots in terms of bond distortions around the TBs. The three-dimensional distribution of oxygen atoms was determined at the typical small- and large-angle TBs by atom probe tomography with a low impurity detection limit (0.01 at.% on a TB plane) simultaneously with high spatial resolution (about 0.4 nm). The three-dimensional distribution was correlated with the atomic stress around the TBs; the stress at large-angle TBs was estimated by ab initio calculations based on atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy data and that at small-angle TBs were calculated with the elastic theory based on dark-field transmission electron microscopy data. Oxygen atoms would segregate at bond-centred sites under tensile stress above about 2 GPa, so as to attain a more stable bonding network by reducing the local stress. The number of oxygen atoms segregating in a unit TB area NGB (in atoms nm−2) was determined to be proportional to both the number of the atomic sites under tensile stress in a unit TB area nbc and the average concentration of oxygen atoms around the TB [Oi] (in at.%) with NGB ∼ 50 nbc[Oi]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For implementation of the mesopic photometry system in CIE 191:2010 to outdoor lighting, two simplified methods to measure the mesopic luminance are proposed. One of the methods, named the Adaptation Spectral Power Distribution) method, assumes that the spectral power distributions (SPDs) of reflected light at test points on the road surface are the same as that of the adaptation field. Another method, named the Source SPD method, assumes that the reflected light SPDs are equal to the SPD of the light source. Error simulations with a real road surface spectral reflectance dataset show that the error distributes over an 8% range due to the variation of the road surface spectral reflectance in the worst case. Although the bias due to the road surface spectral reflectances causes a large error with the Source SPD method, a proposed correction can reduce the error sufficiently. Error simulations also show that the Source SPD method is not so sensitive for lighting scenes that include multiple light source types. It has been shown that the SPD methods can measure the mesopic quantities without scotopic/photopic luminance meters having both V(λ) and V(λ) detectors when both the adaptation field and test points consist of road surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In CIE 191:2010, the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage recommends a mesopic photometry system based on peripheral visual tasks. For implementation of the system, the visual adaptation field needs to be defined, taking into account the surrounding luminance effect on the state of adaptation. A series of vision experiments in the mesopic range has been conducted to measure the surrounding luminance effect with respect to the angle between a peripheral task point and a point source. The results show that the surrounding luminance effect at a peripheral task point decreases with increasing angle at a larger slope than existing models, such as the Stiles-Holladay equation, the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage general disability glare formula and the Stiles-Crawford equation. A new model for the surrounding luminance effect is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The effects of heat shock transcription factor 1 ( HSF1) deficiency on the fibre type composition and the expression level of nuclear factor of activated T cells ( NFAT) family members ( NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 α (p- GSK3 α) and p- GSK3 β, micro RNA-208b (miR-208b), miR-499 and slow myosin heavy chain (My HC) m RNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) of antigravitational soleus muscle in response to unloading with or without reloading were investigated. Methods HSF1-null and wild-type mice were subjected to continuous 2-week hindlimb suspension followed by 2- or 4-week ambulation recovery. Results In wild-type mice, the relative population of slow type I fibres, the expression level of NFATc2, p- GSK3 ( α and β), miR-208b, miR-499 and slow My HC m RNAs (Myh7 and Myh7b) were all decreased with hindlimb suspension, but recovered after it. Significant interactions between train and time (the relative population of slow type I fibres; P = 0.01, the expression level of NFATc2; P = 0.001, p- GSK β; P = 0.009, miR-208b; P = 0.002, miR-499; P = 0.04) suggested that these responses were suppressed in HSF1-null mice. Conclusion HSF1 may be a molecule in the regulation of the expression of slow My HC as well as miR-208b, miR-499, NFATc2 and p- GSK3 ( α and β) in mouse soleus muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Effects of heat shock transcription factor 1 ( HSF1) deficiency on heat stress-associated increase in slow soleus muscle mass of mice were investigated. Methods Both HSF1-null and wild-type mice were randomly assigned to control and heat-stressed groups. Mice in heat-stressed group were exposed to heat stress (41 °C for 60 min) in an incubator without anaesthesia. Results Significant increase in wet and dry weights, and protein content of soleus muscle in wild-type mice was observed seven days after the application of the heat stress. However, heat stress had no impact on soleus muscle mass in HSF1-null mice. Neither type of mice exhibited much effect of heat stress on HSF mRNA expression ( HSF1, HSF2 and HSF4). On the other hand, heat stress upregulated heat shock proteins ( HSPs) at the mRNA ( HSP72) and protein ( HSP72 and HSP110) levels in wild-type mice, but not in HSF1-null mice. The population of Pax7-positive nuclei relative to total myonuclei of soleus muscle in wild-type mice was significantly increased by heat stress, but not in HSF1-null mice. Furthermore, the absence of HSF1 gene suppressed heat stress-associated phosphorylation of Akt and p70 S6 kinase (p-p70S6K) in soleus muscle. Conclusion Heat stress-associated increase in skeletal muscle mass may be induced by HSF1 and/or HSF1-mediated stress response that activates muscle satellite cells and Akt/p70S6K signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CIE 191:2010 recommends a mesopic photometry system in which the luminous efficiency function is determined from the adaptation luminance. However, it cannot be practically implemented because the adaptation field used to determine the adaptation luminance is not defined. Surrounding luminance effect is a key factor in defining the adaptation field. Vision experiments have been conducted to measure the surrounding luminance effect on peripheral adaptation state with a point source at various intensities placed at different positions. The results reveal that the effect can be described as veiling luminance and that the magnitude of the effect is larger than that of the foveal veiling luminance. A model for the peripheral veiling luminance proposed by Stiles and Crawford in 1937 shows the best prediction for the surrounding luminance effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards the realisation of reliable communication systems using simple nanoscale transceivers, this Letter presents a method for the non‐coherent detection of digitally phase‐modulated signals. Without the synchronisation of the phases of the transmitted and received carrier signals, data transmission cannot be reliably achieved. To address this issue, the proposed method is developed using a nanoscale receiver that receives the binary phase‐modulated signal through the mechanical vibration of a carbon nanotube cantilever. The present analysis reveals that this receiver has an interesting characteristic: the two decision statistics available in the receiver have a phase difference of π/2, which means that at least one of the statistics is fairly reliable regardless of the synchronisation error. Through the selection of the more reliable of the two statistics, the proposed method achieves low error in the estimation of the transmitted data even without carrier phase synchronisation. This Letter presents the derivation of the proposed rule for selecting the statistic and numerical results that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. This Letter is expected to contribute to the realisation of future communication applications using nanoscale transceivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CIE 191:2010 recommends a mesopic photometry system that defines the luminous efficiency function for peripheral visual tasks, which vary depending on the adaptation state of observers. For implementation of the system, an adaptation field to determine the adaptation state needs to be defined. To address this issue, vision experiments have been conducted to measure surrounding luminance effects on the adaptation state at a peripheral task point. The results reveal that the adaptation state depends mainly on the local luminance at the task point but there is also a small effect of the surrounding luminance. The results suggest that the surrounding luminance effect is larger than the veiling luminance predicted with existing foveal models; nevertheless, it is not significant for the mesopic luminance on uniform luminance distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical and electrical properties of fresh dislocations in GaN bulk crystals deformed plastically at elevated temperatures were reviewed. A dislocation band model was proposed. The fresh dislocations of ( a /3) [ 1 2 ¯ 10 ] -type edge dislocations on the ( 10 1 ¯ 0 ) prismatic plane induced several photoluminescence peaks at around 1.8, 1.9 and 2.4 eV, which implies the formation of radiative recombination centers of the dislocations. Simultaneously, near-band-edge (3.48 eV) photoluminescence intensity decreased remarkably for a high-density of non-radiative recombination centers originating in deformation-induced abundant Ga-vacancy related clusters. The intensity variation of yellow luminescence with plastic deformation and subsequent annealing did not relate to the native property of dislocations. Variation of optical absorption dependent on the strain in plastically deformed GaN was understood in a model of the Franz–Keldysh effect by the electric fields associated with charged dislocations (~5.8 e/nm). Scanning spreading resistance microscopic images showed many spots with high conductivity around the induced dislocations, showing electrical conduction along dislocations according to the Frenkel–Poole mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aconite (wolfsbane) plants, which belong to the genus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae family), contain highly toxic alkaloids, including aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, and jesaconitine, in all of their parts. The relevance of this plant material is illustrated by the case of a Japanese female who died suddenly in 1986 and was autopsied in Okinawa by the author. The detection in 1987 of Aconitum alkaloids in her blood using gas chromatography/selected ion monitoring (GC/SIM), which was newly developed for this case, demonstrated that she had died from aconite poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the capability of differentiation of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) from non-SCLC (NSCLC) between diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) turbo spin-echo imaging. Methods: The institutional review board of Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan, approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. 49 patients with NSCLC (30 males and 19 females; mean age, 66.8 years) and 7 patients with SCLC (5 males and 2 females; mean age, 68.6 years) enrolled and underwent DWI and STIR. To quantitatively differentiate SCLC from NSCLC, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on DWI and contrast ratios (CRs) between cancer and muscle on STIR were evaluated. ADC values and CRs were then compared between the two cell types by Mann-Whitney's U-tests, and the diagnostic performances were compared by McNemar's test. Results: There were significant differences of mean ADC values (p< 0.001) and mean CRs (p = 0.003). With adopted threshold values, the specificity (85.7%) and accuracy (85.7%) of DWI were higher than those of STIR (specificity, 63.3%; p = 0.001 and accuracy. 66.1%; p = 0.001). In addition, the accuracy of combination of both indexes (94.6%; p = 0.04) could significantly improve as compared with DWI alone. Conclusion: DWI is more useful for the differentiation of SCLC from NSCLC than STIR, and their combination can significantly improve the accuracy in this setting. Advances in knowledge: Pulmonary MRI, including DWI and STIR, had a potential of the suggestion of the possibility as SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In lithium niobate single crystals, striae of planar defect lying on nearly ( ) were formed during the Czochralski growth. A stria was a small angle tilt boundary including a set of undissociated edge dislocations with the Burgers vector of a/3[ ], arranged at similar intervals of about . The dislocations extended perpendicular to the growth interface, leaving from the basal plane, presumably for the reduction of their strain energy during the growth. The formation process was discussed in terms of thermal stress at the growth interface during crystallization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Dislocations were introduced in wurtzite zinc oxide single crystals by Vickers indentations on and surfaces at elevated temperatures, and their slip systems were determined by transmission electron microscopy combined with etch pit observations. The observed system for indentations was or (0001) , while that for indentations was . Activation of the slip systems was briefly discussed in terms of the Peierls stress and resolved shear stress acting on the slip systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Donor shortages occasionally necessitate the use of hepatic allografts from hepatitis B core antibody–positive (HBcAb+) donors, with an attendant risk of post-transplantation hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a protocol of active immunization for prevention of post-transplantation de novo HBV infection in patients receiving liver grafts from HBcAb+ donors. Patients and Methods: Ten patients who had received HBcAb+ liver grafts at Shinshu University Hospital between October 1996 and December 2012 were enrolled. All the recipients were negative for HBV serological tests, and HBV-DNA. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) was given routinely in the peritransplantation and post-transplantation periods, without antiviral drugs. Subcutaneous vaccination with recombinant HBV was given at a dosage of 20 μg in adults and 5 μg in children concomitant with HBIG until acquisition of active immunization. The timing to start HBV vaccination was dependent on the condition of the patient. Results: The median follow-up period after liver transplantation was 140 months, and the median period after transplantation until the start of vaccination was 7.0 months. Nine patients (90%) acquired active immunity after a median number of 4 (range, 2–13) vaccinations (hepatitis B surface antibody >300 mIU/mL for 1 year, or >100 mIU/mL thereafter), and did not require HBIG administration thereafter. None had any side effects of HBV vaccination or developed hepatitis B infection during the study period. Four fast responders who achieved antibody high titers by active immunization within 9 months received pretransplantation vaccinations, whereas 5 slow responders did not. Conclusions: Our vaccination protocol provides a new effective strategy for prevention of de novo hepatitis B infection after liver transplantation in recipients with HBcAb+ liver grafts. Pretransplantation HBV vaccination was helpful for the post-transplantation vaccine response. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background:An increased body mass index (BMI) is significantly associated with favourable prognosis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study investigated the associations among sex, BMI, and prognosis in clear cell RCC patients.Methods:We retrospectively analysed 435 patients with clear cell RCC who underwent a nephrectomy. The associations among sex, BMI, clinicopathologic factors, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were analysed.Results:As a continuous variable, increased BMI was associated with higher CSS rate by univariate analysis in the whole population (hazard ratio, 0.888 per kg m-2; 95% confidence interval, 0.803-0.982; P=0.021). A sub-population analysis by sex demonstrated that BMI was significantly associated with CSS in men (P=0.004) but not in women (P=0.725). Multivariate analysis revealed BMI to be an independent predictor of CSS in only men.Conclusion:Body mass index was significantly associated with clear cell RCC prognosis. However, the clinical value of BMI may be different between men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare three-dimensional airway lumen volumetry with bronchial wall area and parenchymal densitometry in the assessment of airway obstruction in pulmonary emphysema. Methods: 56 patients, who were smokers, underwent CT examination and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). For quantitative assessments, the following parameters were computationally calculated: (1) percentage of voxels -950, -960 and -970 HU in the lung (%LAA-950, %LAA-960 and %LAA-970, respectively); (2) percentage of partial bronchi luminal volumes per total luminal volumes (LVmain, main and distal bronchial volume/total luminal volume; LVIobe, lobar and distal bronchial volume/total luminal volume); and (3) mean wall area percentages of segmental bronchi of the right apical and left apicoposterior segment (WA%seg) and of subseg mental bronchi (WA%sub) in the upper lobes. These parameters were correlated with PFTs and statistically compared between a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<70] and a non-COPD group. Results: FEV1, maximum mid-expiratory flow rate and forced expiratory flow at 25% vital capacity had significant correlation with LVmain (r>0.53, p0.52, p0.29, p<0.05) and WA%sub (∣r∣>0.31, p<0.05). FEV1/FVC had significant correlation with all parameters (0.27<∣r∣<0.52, p<0.05). LVmain and LVIobe and WA%seg and WA%sub were significantly different between the two groups (LVmain and LVIobe P<0.0001, WA%seg and WA%sub; p<0.05). Conclusions: Bronchial luminal volumetric assessment better reflected the airflow limitation parameters. Advances in knowledge: Bronchial luminal volumetric assessment can potentially be used to gauge airflow limitation in pulmonary emphysema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the capability of reduced-dose chest CT with three-dimensional (3D) automatic exposure control (AEC) on quantitative assessment of emphysematous change in smoker' lung parenchyma, compared to standard chest CT. Methods: Twenty consecutive smoker patients (mean age 62.8 years) underwent CT examinations using a standard protocol (150 mAs) and a protocol with 3D-AEC. In this study, the targeted standard deviations number was set to 160. For quantitative assessment of emphysematous change in lung parenchyma in each subject using the standard protocol, a percentage of voxels less than -950 HU in the lung (%LAA(-950)) was calculated. The 3D-AEC protocol's %LAA was computed from of voxel percentages under selected threshold CT value. The differences of radiation doses between these two protocols were evaluated, and %LAAs(-950) was compared with the 3D-AEC protocol %LAAs. Results: Mean dose length products were 780.2 ± 145.5 mGy cm (standard protocol), and 192.0 ± 95.9 (3D-AEC protocol). There was significant difference between them (paired Student's t test, p<0.00001). Meanwhile, only setting -960 HU yielded no significant difference (paired Student's t test, p=0.32) between %LAAs(-950) and 3D-AEC protocol %LAAs. In adopting the feasible threshold CT values of the 3D-AEC protocol, the 3D-AEC protocol %LAAs were significantly correlated with %LAAs(-950) (r = 0.98, p<0.001) and limits of agreement from Bland-Altman analysis was 0.52 ± 4.3%. Conclusions: Changing threshold CT values demonstrated that reduced-dose chest CT with 3D-AEC can substitute for the standard protocol in assessments of emphysematous change in smoker' lung parenchyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to directly and prospectively compare the capability of dynamic O(2)-enhanced MRI and quantitatively assessed thin-section MDCT to assess smokers' COPD in a large prospective cohort. Materials and Methods: The GOLD criteria for smokers were used to classify 187 smokers into four clinical stage groups as follows: smokers without COPD (n=56) and with mild (n=54), moderate (n=52) and severe or very severe COPD (n=24). All smokers underwent dynamic O(2)-enhanced MRI, MDCT and pulmonary function tests. Mean relative enhancement ratio and mean wash-in time on MRI and CT-based functional lung volume (CT-based FLV) as well as the ratio of airway wall area to total airway area on MDCT were computationally calculated. Then, all indexes were significantly correlated with functional parameters. To determine the efficacy of all indexes for clinical stage classification, the indexes for the four clinical groups were statistically compared by using Tukey's honestly significant difference multiple comparison test. Results: All indexes had significant correlations with functional parameters (p<0.0001). All indexes except CT-based FLV in all groups had significant differences each other (p<0.05). Conclusions: Dynamic O(2)-enhanced MRI for assessment of COPD in smokers is potentially as efficacious as quantitatively assessed thin-section MDCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We implement time-resolved Kerr microscopy (TRKM) system with spatial resolution for observation of coupled electron–nuclear spin dynamics such as dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in a local area of the laser spot. From TRKM measurements, Larmor precession of electron spins injected by right or left circular polarized pump pulse is detected. The difference of the precession frequencies between and pumping corresponds to the polarization-dependent nuclear magnetic field caused by DNP. This indicates that we successfully detect coupled electron–nuclear spin dynamics in a local area of the laser spot size of . Furthermore, we show the pump and probe power dependences of DNP in high optical intensity region. All-optical NMR is also demonstrated at arbitrary frequencies by controlling acousto-optical modulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out to investigate cracking behaviour due to the long-term drying shrinkage of concrete in which the fine aggregate was partially replaced by fly ash. For the experiment, three kinds of concrete (ordinary Portland cement, FC20 and FS20) were made. The ordinary Portland cement was mixed without any fly ash, FC20 was made with fly ash in place of a portion of the cement, and FS20 was made with fly ash in place of some of the fine aggregate. The uniaxial restrained shrinkage cracking test was carried out to investigate the properties of drying shrinkage cracking, and the mechanical properties of concrete (compressive strength, splitting strength, drying shrinkage and creep) were evaluated. The properties of drying shrinkage cracking of the FS20 and FC20 were almost the same regardless of the fly ash replacement method, and were a little superior to the drying shrinkage cracking of the ordinary Portland cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for detection and subtype classification in pulmonary adenocarcinomas through comparison with short TI inversion recovery turbo spin-echo imaging sequence (STIR).Methods: Thirty-two patients (mean age, 65.2 years) with 33 adenocarcinomas (mean diameter, 27.6 mm) were enrolled in this study. The detection rates of both sequences were compared. The ADC values on DWI and the contrast ratio (CR) between cancer and muscle on STIR were measured and those were compared across subtype classifications. Finally, ROC-based positive tests were performed to differentiate subtype classifications, and differentiation capabilities were compared.Results: The DWI detection rate [85% (28/33)] was significantly lower than that of STIR [100% (33/33), P < 0.05]. The ADC values showed no significant difference regarding subtype classification; however, the CRs of bronchio-alveolar carcinomas (BACs) were significantly lower than those of other types (P < 0.05). When threshold values for differentiating BACs from others were adapted, the sensitivity and accuracy of DWI were significantly lower than those of STIR (P < 0.05). For differentiating adenocarcinomas with mixed subtypes from those with no BA component, there were no significant differences between the two sequences.Conclusion: STIR is more sensitive for detection and subtype classification than DWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Annexin II (ANX2) is a multi-functional protein involved in cell proliferation and membrane physiology and is related to cancer progression. The purpose of this study was to assess ANX2 expression in clear-cell (cc) renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Methods: The ANX2 expression in 18 primary ccRCCs was examined by real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and western blot analyses. Furthermore, immunohistochemical study was performed using paraffin section of 154 primary ccRCCs and 24 metastases. The association between ANX2 expression and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis was analysed.Results: The ANX2 was upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in 14 of 18 primary ccRCCs. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that ANX2 was positive in 73 (47.4%) of 154 primary ccRCC and in 21 (87.5%) of 24 metastatic tumours. The ANX2 expression in the primary tumours showed significant associations with a higher stage, a higher nuclear grade. In patients without metastasis, the 5-year metastasis-free rate in patients with ANX2-positive tumour was significantly lower than that in those with ANX2-negative tumour (63.0% vs 90.1%; P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that ANX2 expression is an independent predictor for metastasis.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ANX2 expression might be a novel predictor of the metastatic potential of ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at prospectively compared efficacy of non-contrast-enhanced (non-CE) MRI and MDCT for management of pulmonary nodules. A total of 161 patients with 200 nodules underwent MDCT and non-CE MRI (T1WI, T2WI, and STIR) in conjunction with pathological and/or more than 2 years of follow-up examinations. To compare qualitative detection rates between both modalities, all nodules were visually assessed. To compare quantitative and qualitative diagnostic capabilities of MRI, calculation of contrast ratio and visual assessment of probability for malignancy in each nodule were performed. Then, detection rate and diagnostic capability were statistically compared. Although the overall detection rate of each MR sequence (82.5%) was significantly lower than that of MDCT (97.0%, p<0.05), that of malignant nodules showed no significant difference (p>0.05). The diagnostic capability of STIR was significantly higher than those of other MR sequences (p<0.05). Non-CE MR imaging was found to be as useful as MDCT for management of pulmonary nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Parallel twin boundaries arranged at similar intervals of nanometer length, that emitted an intense monochromatic light polarized parallel to the boundaries, were self-organized in an indirect-gap AlGaAs epilayer; the epilayer was grown on a rough As-deficient surface of an AlGaAs(001) substrate with any lattice constant, by conventional metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition. Most boundaries were of -type on B, and they extended from the interface between the epilayer and the substrate. There existed no compositional fluctuation around the boundaries. The formation mechanism was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents electric field-induced variations in transport properties of the mixed-valence misfit-layer compound (Y bS)1.25CrS2. Nonlinear conduction with negative differential resistivity and a switching phenomenon is found at high electric fields. characteristics are accompanied with large voltage fluctuation. Switching or voltage fluctuation arises from a transition between low and high conductivity states. It has been suggested that these transport phenomena are derived from the collective nature of charge dynamics similar to strongly correlated carriers in Mott insulators, charge-ordered insulators and organic charge-transfer complexes. Our experimental results are well represented by proposed nonlinear conductivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The crystals of the new misfit-layer compound (YbS)1.25CrS2 were grown by chemical transport reaction in a closed silica ampoule. This compound is built up of alternately stacking of YbS and CrS2 layers. The dimensions of a unit cell are a 1 =5.31Å, b 1 =5.75Å, and c 1 =10.63Å for the YbS sublattice and a 2 =3.32Å, b 2 =5.75Å, and c 2 =10.63Å for the CrS2 sublattice. Both layers are incommensurate along the a-axis and the incommensurability parameter, which is defined by α = a 2/a 1, is about 0.625. It is found from the comparison of lattice parameters among a series of lanthanide misfit-layer compounds and lanthanide monosulfides that Yb is in an intermediate valence state close to trivalency rather than divalency due to charge transfer to CrS2 layers. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity shows that the compound is a semiconductor with the activation energy of about 0.31eV. This activation energy almost agrees with that of the acceptor levels in nonstoichiometric YbS samples. A reflectivity spectrum reveals small peaks at 0.8 and 1.1eV, whereas an absorption spectrum exhibits a large peak at 1.1eV. The results obtained suggest that valence fluctuation happens for Yb-like Eu in (EuS)1.173NbS2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pseudomorphic ZnSe layers on GaAs(001) were grown by molecular beam epitaxy under the light illumination with photon energy of about 1.8eV. In the layers, isolated Shockley-type stacking faults on (111), bordering not on the ZnSe/GaAs interface but on the ZnSe surface, as well as the well-known stacking fault pairs, were formed. The sum of the stacking fault areas was small in comparison with the layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy without light illumination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electronic properties of nanoscale multiple twin boundaries in indirect-gap AlGaAs epilayers were studied by cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope. The twin boundaries emitted a monochromatic CL light polarized parallel to the boundaries. The intensity and the photon energy of the CL light were examined at different temperatures with different electron fluxes. The origin of the light emission was discussed in terms of the twinning superlattice model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A Frank-type stacking fault bounded by a partial dislocation, about a few nanometers in size, was observed in a commercial GaAs:Si wafer (with the Si concentration of ) annealed at the temperature of about 950K, by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. There existed no charge around the stacking fault, unlike in heavily Si-doped GaAs. There was a localized energy level associated with the stacking fault, as expected theoretically in the pure stacking fault in which Si atoms do not exist. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have studied diffusion and condensation of adatoms on surfaces on which we have introduced inhomogeneous roughness by means of electron irradiation. We have constructed the model of the dynamics of adatoms on the surfaces, and demonstrated that the distribution of adatoms strongly depends on the surface roughness. The results suggest that the distribution of adatoms can be controlled by selecting adequate conditions of electron-irradiation. Experimental results were in good agreement with our calculations. We believe that this study is useful for nanofabrication on surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the influence of n+-GaAs thickness and doping density of GaMnAs/n+-GaAs Esaki tunnel junction on the efficiency of the electrical electron spin injection. We prepared seven samples of GaMnAs/n+-GaAs tunnel junctions with different n+-GaAs thickness and doping density grown on identical p-AlGaAs/p-GaAs/n-AlGaAs light emitting diode (LED) structures. Electroluminescence (EL) polarization of the surface emission was measured under the Faraday configuration with external magnetic field. All samples have the bias dependence of the EL polarization, and higher EL polarization is obtained in samples in which n+-GaAs is completely depleted at zero bias. The EL polarization is found to be sensitive to the bias condition for both the (Ga,Mn)As/n+-GaAs tunnel junction and the LED structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have examined the growth of gold nanoparticles on roughened Si surfaces prepared by high-energy electron irradiation with high flux of . Observing size and areal distribution of particles on an electron entrance surface by transmission electron microscopy, we have found peculiar growth and array of gold nanoparticles depending on temperature and surface roughness, which is suggested to be introduced on an electron entrance surface similarly to an electron exit surface. We proposed that the electron irradiation with high flux is useful to control the various arrays of gold nanoparticles in the roughened area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electronic properties of antiphase boundaries (APBs) in CuPt-ordered GaInP alloys were studied. The temperature-dependent intensity, polarization direction, and photon energy of low-energy emission lines, obtained with high spatial resolution by polarized cathodoluminescence spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope, were consistently expounded with the model that small InP layers on APBs sandwiched between almost-completely ordered domains (about 2–10nm in size), which were found out by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy, act as type-II quantum wells and they emit light linearly polarized parallel to the layers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To further analyse the significance and mutual relationship of thyroid function-linked alterations in cortisol metabolism that have been separately and variously reported. Patients and measurements Twenty-four-hour urine samples from 21 patients with hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease), 16 patients with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), 21 healthy age- and sex-matched controls for hyperthyroidism, and 16 healthy age- and sex-matched controls for hypothyroidism were evaluated for 6β-hydroxycortisol (6β-OHF), tetrahydrocortisol (THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), allo-tetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), urinary free cortisol (UFF), urinary free cortisone (UFE) and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS). Results Urinary 17-OHCS, THE and allo-THF levels increased considerably in hyperthyroid patients compared to the controls, while UFF and THF showed no difference between the two groups. Urinary 6β-OHF was significantly lower in the hyperthyroid patients than in the controls. Both the urinary allo-THF + THF/THE and the UFF/UFE ratios were significantly lower in the hyperthyroid patients than in the controls, whereas only the former was significantly higher in the hypothyroid patients than in the controls. The urinary allo-THF/THF ratio was significantly higher in the hyperthyroid patients and significantly lower in the hypothyroid patients than in the controls. In an analysis of pooled subjects including all groups ( n = 64), free T4 levels correlated negatively ( P < 0·0001) with the urinary allo-THF + THF/THE ratio but not with the UFF/UFE ratio. The serum levels of free T4 correlated positively ( P < 0·0001) with the urinary allo-THF/THF ratio. Conclusion The thyroid hormones seem to affect the total 11β-HSD activity (allo-THF + THF/THE) more strongly than the renal 11β-HSD2 activity (UFF/UFE). 5α-reductase activity (allo-THF/THF) is also enhanced in hyperthyroidism, while the reduction of urinary 6β-OHF in hyperthyroidism might be a secondary effect of the altered activity of the total 11β-HSD and 5α-reductase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have developed dual-energy X-ray CT (DXCT) using monochromatic X-ray beams. From the DXCT, we can obtain distributions of an electron density and an effective atomic number in a human body. Especially, the electron density is very important for the heavy-ion radiotherapy. Now, we adopted the CdTe array to this detector system to know the energy of incident photons as well as detect the position and the number of photons. We carry out the experiment of the DXCT with CdTe array at the beamline of KEK. The preliminary result of the experiments and the feasibility of a quantitative polychromatic X-ray CT as an advanced method of this method are shown in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents the preparation and characterization of the new types of misfit-layer compounds and natural superlattices consisting of CexNb1-x-y⧠yS (Q′) and NizNbS2 (H) layers, where ⧠ is an atomic deficit at a metal site. A Q′ layer is larger by about 1 Å in thickness than a CeS (Q) layer in (CeS)1.16NbS2. They are prepared by chemical vapor transport reaction in a closed silica tube under quasi-equilibrium conditions. The 1Q′/3H type of compound are grown as a single crystal while the 1Q′/4H type of compound is grown as composite crystals with the 1Q′/3H and 1Q/2H compounds. Natural superlattices which have a long period in a direction perpendicular to layers are found. Their chemical formulae are given by (CexNb1-x-y⧠yS)m(Niz)n-m(NbS2)n, where m and n are integers. It is found from an X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study that Nb affects the valence and the bonding of Ce in the Q′ layers. It is in a higher oxidation state than Nb in NbS2 layers. A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) study shows that some of the superlattices form a hexagonal √ of 3a0×√ of 3a0R30° supercell in the (a,b)-plane and behave as a narrow-gap semiconductor so that no STM images are obtained at bias voltage less than 0.3 eV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Clinical trials for tumor treatment using highly energetic heavy ions are now in progress at the HIMAC. In order to achieve the radiotherapy more precisely, it is important to know the distribution of the electron density in a human body. For this purpose, we have developed a broad beam heavy ion CT system. The performance, especially the electron density resolution, of this system is estimated in this work. Some kinds of the solution targets with the known electron densities were used as samples. The projection data were obtained using 12C of 290 MeV/u, 20Ne of 400 MeV/u and 4He of 150 MeV/u. The experimental values were in good agreement with the calculated values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary:With the increasing frequency of haploidentical transplantation, it is becoming more important to establish the degree of HLA mismatch that can be accepted. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 50 adult Japanese patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from two- or three-loci-mismatched related donors with HLA class I and II gene disparities in the graft-versus-host direction. They were treated at 20 transplant centers between 1996 and 2002. In all, 18 patients received unmanipulated PBSC, while 32 received purified CD34+ blood cells. Conventional (n=31) or reduced-intensity (n=19) conditioning regimens were used. Of the 39 patients (78%) who survived for ?28 days after transplant, 37 (95%) achieved neutrophil engraftment, while graft failure and rejection occurred in two of 39 (5%) and three of 37 (8%) patients, respectively. Stepwise Cox regression analysis revealed a significantly lower incidence of grades II-IV acute GVHD in patients receiving purified CD34+ cells (hazard ratio 0.32; 95% CI 0.12-0.84; P=0.022). By 1 year post transplant, 28 patients (56%) had died of transplant-related problems, including infectious complications (30%). Although the number of patients is small, our data suggest that transplant-related problems, particularly infectious complications, are major obstacles to the success of this therapy.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 33, 279-289. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704342 Published online 24 November 2003 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have observed the formation of extended defects in silicon at low temperatures (below 25 K) by means of in-situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The defects are distorted spheres, occasionally truncated by facets, less than 5 nm in diameter. These defects are stable up to 773 K, and they gradually shrink during annealing in the temperature range from 773 to 973 K. From the analysis of HRTEM images of the defects, we have suggested that the defects are voids formed via athermal migration of vacancies under electron irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently found that amorphization is induced in Si by MeV electron irradiation. In order to account for the steady-state diagram under electron irradiation, we propose a phenomenological theory which takes into account the two competing mechanisms, namely amorphization by higher energy recoils and recrystallization by lower energy recoils as well as thermal process. We apply the new amorphization method to fabricating artificial arrangements of the columns of a-Si in a c-Si film, and discuss its use for photonic crystal based on photonic band calculation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report optically pumped lasing action at room temperature (RT) of self-organized quantum wire (QWR) vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) grown on (7 7 5)B-oriented GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The (7 7 5)B InGaAs QWRs have a regularly corrugated AlAs-on-InGaAs upper interface (average lateral period of 40 nm and a vertical amplitude of 1.5 nm) and a flat InGaAs-on-AlAs lower interface. The VCSELs with an active region containing five (7 7 5)B InGaAs QWR layers (well width of Lw=3 nm) were fabricated and they were optically pumped by a continuous wave titanium-doped sapphire laser, and they oscillated at RT with threshold pump power of 1.8 μW/μm2, and their lasing wavelength was 846.1 nm. This is the first lasing action at RT in self-organized QWR VCSELs using surface corrugation on vicinal substrates, to our knowledge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Transport properties of (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/p-GaAs p–i–p diodes were studied to manifest the potential barrier in the valence band at (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs junctions. The temperature dependences of the current–voltage characteristics exhibit typical thermionic emission behaviors, which gives the effective potential barrier height of 87–140 meV for holes injected from (Ga,Mn)As to undoped GaAs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pioneer studies have proposed that multiple metabolic abnormalities, such as insulin resistance, increased Na[SUP+]-H[SUP+] exchanger activity and abnormal intracellular calcium homeostasis, are frequently associated with a subset of essential hypertensive patients with low plasma renin activity (PRA). However, it is unclear whether insulin resistance is related to the low renin status in the very early phase of genetical hypertension. Besides, there is controversy on the subject of the in vivo effect of acute hyperinsulinaemia on sodium- related factors. We investigated the relationship between sodium-related parameters and insulin sensitivity, and the effects of euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia on cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in 17 young, lean, normotensive male subjects, who displayed extreme predispositions for the development of hypertension. PRA was significantly lower in the positive than in the negative family history group (P < 0.05). Insulin sensitivity (M-value) was correlated with PRA before euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamping (r = 0.577, P < 0.05), and was also inversely correlated with fractional excretion of sodium (FE[SUBNa]) before clamping (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia significantly decreased PRA (P < 0.0001) and increased cGMP (P < 0.05) and ANP levels (P < 0.01). In conclusion, insulin sensitivity may be partially determined by PRA levels and (FE)Na before clamping in young, lean, normotensive male subjects. Acute euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia decreases PRA, and increases cGMP and ANP levels from the fasting condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have found that microcracks are formed in a cubic boron nitride crystal, grown by a hot-press method, by annealing at temperatures above 673K. Analyses of the data obtained by transmission electron microscopy and diffraction have shown that these microcracks do not extend on the most easily cleaved {110}-type planes but do extend on {111}-type planes. The electron-energy-loss spectroscopy data have indicated that the microcracks are formed by the condensation of excess nitrogen atoms into the {111}-type planes. We have shown that a microcrack originates from the segment of a 60[sup 0] dislocation, and it extends to the dilation side of the dislocation; that is the habit plane of the microcrack is not the glide plane of the dislocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]