Search

We have developed a new type of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) that is applicable to a degenerated reaction system. The direction of the photon polarization vector is the adiabatic parameter in the STIRAP. The molecular handedness of H[sub 2]POSH, a preoriented phosphinotioic acid that has two stable configurations, L and R enantiomers, is used as a model system. The control of molecular handedness in both pure and mixed state cases are considered. In the case of a pure state, a STIRAP with a linearly polarized single laser allows an almost complete transfer from an L (R) enantiomer to the other by adiabatically changing its polarization direction. The adiabatic criterion for changing the polarization direction is clarified. In the case of a mixed state, a STIRAP with two linearly polarized laser pulses allows a selective preparation of pure enantiomers from its racemic mixture. In the low temperature limit, a five-level model reduces a three-level model by setting the direction of the polarization of the pump and Stokes pulses in such a way that only the forward transfer is allowed, while the reverse is forbidden. Furthermore, in the case of mixed state, relaxation effects originating from vibrational mode couplings are taken into account, and the influence of the population decay from intermediate states on the STIRAP is compared with that by a π-pulse approach. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 35-year-old Japanese female with presented with swelling in the right infra-auricular which was determined to be a tumour in the parotid gland through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It talks about the diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms being difficult due to it's diverse histology and cytomorphology.

Summary: This study examined whether feeding hydroalcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (maca) to 8‐week‐old (sexually maturing) or 18‐week‐old (mature) male rats for more than a half year affects serum testosterone concentration and testosterone production by Leydig cells cultured with hCG, 22R‐hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone. Testosterone concentration was determined in the serum samples obtained before and 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after the feeding, and it was significantly increased only at the 6 weeks in the group fed with the maca extract to maturing rats when it was compared with controls. Testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with hCG by feeding the maca extract to maturing rats for 27 weeks (35 weeks of age) and when cultured with 22R‐hydroxycholesterol by feeding it to mature rats for 30 weeks (48 weeks of age). Overall testosterone production by cultured Leydig cells decreased to about a half from 35 to 48 weeks of age. These results suggest that feeding the maca extract for a long time to male rats may enhance the steroidogenic ability of Leydig cells to alleviate its decline with ageing, whereas it may cause only a transient increase in blood testosterone concentration in sexually maturing male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: This study examined the effects of treatment with U0126, which inhibits MAPK by inhibiting MAPK kinase, during the first 2 hr of in vitro maturation on bovine developmental competence and on gap junction (GAPJ) communication between the oocyte and cumulus cells. The percentage of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage in the group treated with 5 μM U0126 (28%) was significantly higher than that in controls (15%, p < .05), while that in the group treated with 10 μM U0126 (18%) was not. Breakdown of the GAPJs was delayed in the group treated with 5 μM U0126 when compared to controls, as estimated by immunohistochemical examination of connexin 43, which is a primary constituent of the GAPJs. These results indicate that treatment with 5 μM U0126 during in vitro maturation delays GAPJ breakdown and improves bovine oocyte developmental competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simulate the formation of a BN fullerene from an amorphous B cluster at 2000 K by quantum mechanical molecular dynamics based on the density-functional tight-binding method. We run 30 trajectories 200 ps in length, where N atoms are supplied around the target cluster, which is initially an amorphous B36 cluster. Most of the incident N atoms are promptly incorporated into the target cluster to form B-N-B bridges or NB3 pyramidal local substructures. BN fullerene formation is initiated by alternating BN ring condensation. Spontaneous atomic rearrangement and N2 dissociation lead to the construction of an sp² single-shelled structure, during which the BN cluster undergoes a transition from a liquid-like to a solid-like state. Continual atomic rearrangement and sporadic N2 dissociation decrease the number of defective rings in the BN cluster and increase the number of six-membered rings, forming a more regular shell structure. The number of fourmembered rings tends to remain constant, and contributes to more ordered isolated-tetragon-rule ring placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's central Andes, has been traditionally used for enhancing fertility and reproductive performance in domestic animals and human beings, effects of maca on reproductive organs are still unclear. This study examined whether feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks affects weight of the reproductive organs, serum concentrations of testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH), number and cytoplasmic area of immunohistochemically stained Leydig cells, and steroidogenesis of cultured Leydig cells in 8-week-old male rats. Feeding the extract powder increased weight of seminal vesicles, serum testosterone level and cytoplasmic area of Leydig cells when compared with controls. Weight of prostate gland, serum LH concentration and number of Leydig cells were not affected by the maca treatment. The testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with 22 R-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone and tended to increase when cultured with hCG by feeding the extract powder. The results show that feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks increases serum testosterone concentration associated with seminal vesicle stimulation in male rats, and this increase in testosterone level may be related to the enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells especially in the metabolic process following cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although feeding diets containing the extract powder of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's Central Andes, increases serum testosterone concentration associated with enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells in male rats, changes in testicular steroidogenesis-related factors by the maca treatment are not known. This study examined the effects of maca on testicular gene expressions for luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and steroidogenic enzymes. Eight-week-old male rats were given the diets with or without (control) the maca extract powder (2%) for 6 weeks, and mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the testicular mRNA level of HSD3B1 (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3β-HSD) increased by the treatment, whereas the levels of the other factors examined did not change. These results suggest that increased expression of 3β-HSD gene may be involved in the enhanced steroidogenic ability by the maca treatment in rat testes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that fibrates, lipid-lowering agents with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α agonistic property, lower blood pressure (BP) in some experimental models of hypertension. However, the effect of fibrates on BP in humans has been inconsistent, and there are few studies using home or ambulatory BP monitoring. We investigated the effects of bezafibrate on office, home and ambulatory BP in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia. Thirty-two essential hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia (6 men and 26 women, mean age 65±8 years old) were assigned to a control period and a bezafibrate period (200 mg twice daily) for 8 weeks each in a randomized crossover manner. Bezafibrate significantly reduced serum triglyceride, total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, blood glucose, plasma insulin, the homeostasis model assessment ratio and increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Compared with the control period, changes in office, home and 24-h BP with bezafibrate were −0.7±2.1/−1.6±1.2 mm Hg, +0.9±1.0/−0.5±0.6 and +0.8±1.4/−0.6±0.9 mm Hg, respectively. None of these differences in BP was significant. In conclusion, bezafibrate improved lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity but did not affect office, home or ambulatory BP in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia. Fibrates do not appear to lower BP in patients with essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effects of electron correlations on the topological phase transition in the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model using the variational cluster approach, in which the short-range spatial correlations are taken into account exactly. We calculate the spin Chern number and local magnetic moment to show that the topologically nontrivial antiferromagnetic order exists and that the magnetic transition is of the second order. We furthermore demonstrate that under the spin-quantized condition the topological phase transition is caused by the closing of the bulk band gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effects of opening the band gap on the double exchange ferromagnetism. Applying the density-matrix renormalization group method and an analytical expansion from the dimer limit to the one-dimensional double exchange model, we demonstrate for a relevant region of the exchange coupling that, in the weak dimerization regime, the Peierls gap opens in the fully spin-polarized conduction band without affecting its ferromagnetism, whereas in the strong dimerization regime, the ferromagnetism is destroyed, and the Mott gap opens instead, leading the system to the antiferromagnetic quasi-long-range order. An insulator version of double exchange ferromagnetism is thus established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite their origins in different germ layers, pancreatic islet cells share many common developmental features with neurons, especially serotonin-producing neurons in the hindbrain. Therefore, we tested whether these developmental parallels have functional consequences.Research Design and Methods: We used transcriptional profiling, immunohistochemistry, DNA-binding analyses, and mouse genetic models to assess the expression and function of key serotonergic genes in the pancreas.Results: We found that islet cells expressed the genes encoding all of the products necessary for synthesizing, packaging, and secreting serotonin, including both isoforms of the serotonin synthetic enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase and the archetypal serotonergic transcription factor Pet1. As in serotonergic neurons, Pet1 expression in islets required homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2.2 but not Nkx6.1. In β-cells, Pet1 bound to the serotonergic genes but also to a conserved insulin gene regulatory element. Mice lacking Pet1 displayed reduced insulin production and secretion and impaired glucose tolerance.Conclusions: These studies demonstrate that a common transcriptional cascade drives the differentiation of β-cells and serotonergic neurons and imparts the shared ability to produce serotonin. The interrelated biology of these two cell types has important implications for the pathology and treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The lateral liquid-phase epitaxy of Ge-on-insulator (GOI) using Si seeds has been investigated as a function of the Si-seed orientation and the growth direction. Giant single-crystalline GOI structures with ∼200μm length are obtained using Si(100), (110), and (111) seeds. The very long growth is explained on the basis of the solidification temperature gradient due to Si–Ge mixing around the seeding area and the thermal gradient due to the latent heat around the solid/liquid interface at the growth front. In addition, growth with rotating crystal orientations is observed for samples with several growth directions. The rotating growth is explained on the basis of the bonding strength between lattice planes at the growth front. This rotating growth does not occur in any direction for (100) orientated seeds. Based on this finding the mesh-patterned GOI growth with a large area (250μm×500μm) is demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dynamic responses such as acceleration, velocity and displacement of geo-materials during fracturing and slippage have not been studied in the fields of geo-engineering and geo-science, as measurement, monitoring and logging technologies were not so advanced in the past. By virtue of the recent advances in these technologies, the authors have been carrying out experiments on geo-materials ranging from very soft materials such as clay to hard rocks such as siliceous sandstone by using different loading schemes and loading frames, as well as rock discontinuities with different surface roughness characteristics. This study describes the experiments and experimental results of the acceleration, velocity and displacement responses of geo-materials during fracturing and slippage under laboratory conditions. The velocity and displacement responses are obtained through the erratic pattern screening integration technique proposed by the authors. We further discuss their implications in geo-engineering and earthquake engineering in relation to permanent surface deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Muon spin relaxation experiments have been performed in the pyrochlore iridate Pr2Ir2O7 for temperatures in the range 0.025–250K. Kubo–Toyabe relaxation functions are observed up to , indicating static magnetism over this temperature range. The static muon spin relaxation rate implies a weak quasistatic moment . The temperature dependence of is highly nonmean-field-like, decreasing smoothly by orders of magnitude but remaining nonzero for . The data rule out ordering of the full CEF ground-state moment down to 0.025K. The weak static magnetism is most likely due to hyperfine-enhanced 141Pr nuclear magnetism. The dynamic relaxation rate increases markedly below , probably due to slowing down of spin fluctuations in the spin-liquid state. At low temperatures is strong and temperature-independent, indicative of a high density of low-lying spin excitations as is common in frustrated antiferromagnets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We study the single-band Hubbard model at quarter filling defined on the triangular lattices by using the optimization variational Monte Carlo method, whereby we clarify the possible occurrence of superconductivity and its pairing symmetries. We introduce the generalized gap functions which include all the possible spatial symmetries with the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor pairings. We find for the isotropic lattice system that a spin-triplet state with a mixed spatial symmetry different from the ordinary -wave state has the lowest energy in comparison with all the other states including the spin-singlet state as well as the normal state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study demonstrated that lipid microspheres (LM) containing rifampicin (LM-RFP) could deliver the drug to alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo, and that intranasal administration to animals could achieve preferential accumulation in the lungs with less effect on the liver. The LM-RFP particles had a mean diameter of 247.2 ± 75.7 nm, and their size remained stable when stored at 4°C or 25°C for at least 4 weeks. In vitro uptake of [3H]LM-RFP by alveolar macrophages was over 4 times higher than that of unencapsulated [3H]RFP, whereas the in vivo uptake was 30 times higher. Flow cytometric analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that LM could deliver the encapsulated drug effectively to alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Intranasal administration of [3H]LM-RFP to normal mice resulted in preferential pulmonary uptake of the drug and lower levels in the blood and liver compared with administration of unencapsulated [3H]RFP. In conclusion, LM-RFP could be a promising preparation for delivery via the respiratory tract to tuberculosis (TB) and TB/HIV patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider superconductivity in boron (B) doped diamond using a simplified model for the valence band of diamond. We treat the substitutional disorder of B ions by the coherent potential approximation and the attractive force between holes by the ladder approximation under the assumption of instantaneous interaction. We thereby calculate the quasiparticle life time, the evolution of the single-particle spectra due to doping, and the effect of disorder on the critical temperature T c. We in particular compare our results with those for supercell calculations to see the role of disorder, which turns out to be of crucial importance. [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]

Three experiments were conducted to compare the growth and protein utilization of embryo between broilers and layers. In experiments 1 and 2, the average weight of eggs was the same for broilers and layers. Nothing or an amino acid (AA) solution was injected into the eggs of broilers at d 7 of incubation, and the plasma AA concentration of newly hatched chicks was determined in broilers in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the same treatments as experiment 1 were used on layer breeder eggs. Plasma Tau, Thr, and lys concentrations of hatched chicks increased when AA solution was injected in broilers breeder eggs (P < 0.05) but not in layers (P > 0.05). The AA ratio to Lys was reduced by AA injection in broilers but not in layers. In experiment 3, weights of embryos and egg were recorded, and CP contents were analyzed over time during incubation (d 0, 7, 14, and 19 of incubation) in broilers and layers using eggs of the same weight. There were no differences in the weights and CP contents of embryos and eggs from broilers and layers. On d 14 and 19 of incubation, weights and CP contents of embryo were higher in broilers than layers (P < 0.05). These results suggested that the egg protein content might be adequate for hatching but insufficient for maximum growth of embryos from broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An agar-degrading bacterium, strain JAMB-A7, was isolated from the sediment in Sagami Bay, Japan, at a depth of 1,174 m and identified as a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer. The gene for a novel β-agarase from the isolate was cloned and sequenced. It encodes a protein of 441 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 48,989 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed similarity to those of known β-agarases in glycoside hydrolase family 16, with only 34–55% identity. A sequence similar to a carbohydrate-binding module was found in the C-terminal region of the enzyme. The recombinant agarase was hyper-produced extracellularly using Bacillus subtilis as the host, and the enzyme purified to homogeneity had a specific activity of 398 U (mg protein)–1 at pH 7.0 and 50°C. It was thermostable, with a half-life of 502 min at 50°C. The optimal pH and temperature for activity were around 7 and 50°C, respectively. The pattern of agarose hydrolysis showed that the enzyme was an endo-type β-agarase, and the final main product was neoagarotetraose. The activity was not inhibited by NaCl, EDTA, and various surfactants at high concentrations. In particular, sodium dodecyl sulfate had no inhibitory effect up to 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to assess whether the publication of new guidelines, such as JNC VI 1997 and WHO/ISH 1999, and the development of new antihypertensive drugs have improved blood pressure (BP) control. A total of 150 patients (age 29-88, mean 66±11 years in 2001) who were followed at our hypertension clinic during 1991-2001 were retrospectively investigated. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients in 2001 to those in 1991 and 1996, using the averaged BP determined at two occasions each year for our analysis. The average BP decreased during the 10 years between 1991 and 2001. When good BP control was defined as <140/90?mmHg, the rate of patients with good BP control increased from 31% in 1991 to 43% in 1996, and to 57% in 2001 (P<0.001 vs 1991). Both younger (?64 years) and older (?65 years) patients showed similar improvement during these 10 years. In 2001, satisfactory BP control (<130/85?mmHg) was achieved in 24% of younger patients, which was significantly higher than the achievement in 1991 (10%, P=0.02). This improvement occurred at the same time as an increase in the prescription of Ca antagonists and angiotensin II antagonist. The patients with improved BP control during these 10 years (n=50) showed lower body mass index (BMI) and serum total cholesterol levels in 2001 compared to persistently uncontrolled patients (n=54). Furthermore, the change in BMI during these 10 years was significantly less in the patients with improved BP control than in the persistently uncontrolled patients. In conclusion, BP control improved in the 10 years studied, and it seems to be attributable to the more frequent use of the newer drugs such as angiotensin II antagonists and Ca antagonists, to lifestyle modification and also to the growth in awareness of the importance of strict BP control.Journal of Human Hypertension (2004) 18, 273-278. doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1001666 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary ¶A 17-year-old boy with epileptic seizures due to meningio-angiomatosis without neurofibromatosis type 2 is presented. Low grade astrocytoma in the left temporal lobe was resected when he was 11 years old. A recurrence was suspected on following-up MRI and a positive PET scan with 11C-methionine PET 6 years later around the resected area. The language area was mapped using H215O PET activation technique. The lesion was completely resected while preserving the verbal area assisted by three-dimensional imaging protocol of MR-registered PET. The patient was well and seizure-free for 8 years thereafter without antiepileptic drugs. Histologically, there was an increase of dilated arterioles and meningothelial cell-like spindle cells around them, which are characteristic pathological features of meningio-angiomatosis. It is most likely that angiomatous tissue developed perivascular meningiomatous components and formed the meningio-angiomatosis in our presented case. In addition, we presented our protocol of functional neuro-imaging which was useful in terms of the functional neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

focuses on the architecture of nanocylinders with hyperbranched polymer side groups via living radical mechanism. Synthetic strategy of nanocylinders with hyperbranched polymer side groups; Formation of the anchor groups of the polymer by hyperbranched structures; Removal of nanocylinder polymer from the copolymerization product; Characteristics of nanocylinders.

We developed a dual transformation method that is applicable to multicomponent density functional theory. The model of a multicomponent system is chosen to be H+2. The energy and the geometry of the ground state are calculated by using the finite difference method based on multicomponent density functional theory. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from the Born–Oppenheimer approximation and those obtained by exact treatment. The real-time dynamics of H+2 are also demonstrated. The results obtained are discussed and compared with the exact solution. The importance of the dynamic correlation effect between nuclei and an electron is clearly shown. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malonaldehyde and its derivatives with an intramolecular hydrogen bond are very interesting molecules theoretically and experimentally to investigate the proton tunneling in polyatomic systems. In this study, we applied the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage method to realize efficiently the laser induced proton transfer of 1-methylmalonaldehyde, where a two-dimensional (2D) model potential is used to describe the proton motion. Namely, we performed the 2D simulations taking into account not only the reaction coordinate of proton motion, but also the O–O stretching mode, and analyzed an important role of a heavy atom mode in the proton motion of hydrogen bond in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and that of its receptors were assessed in non-small cell lung cancer. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive VEGF-C expression in 38.7% (24/62) of the patients studied. A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF-C in cancer cells and VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) in vascular endothelial cells, but not between VEGF-C in cancer cells and VEGFR-2 in endothelial cells. In this cohort of lung cancer patients, VEGF-C expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, lymphatic vessel invasion, and worse outcomes after the operation. Although the independent prognostic impact of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was not clear, VEGFR-2 expression in endothelial cells retained the independency as the prognostic indicator. In light of these findings, we conclude that VEGF-C plays an important role in lymphatic invasion/metastasis and tumour progression in non-small cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A probe wave system was constructed for studying the excitation of the Alfve´n ion cyclotron (AIC) modes in the anchor cell of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. In the central cell, the AIC modes are spontaneously excited as axial eigenmodes due to the strong temperature anisotropy. In the anchor cell, the AIC modes were not observed though the anisotropy is the same as in the central cell. The axial profiles of the magnetic field strength and plasma parameters in the anchor cell are different from those in the central cell. Eigenmodes are excited externally in the AIC frequency range by injecting probe waves. This suggests the AIC modes are unstable in the anchor cell and grow to the detectable level when boundary conditions are realized. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family is a novel regulator of endothelial cell proliferation. We assessed the mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGF type C (VEGF-C) and their receptors together with the microvessel density (VD) and microlymphatic vessel density (LVD) in pursuit of their connection and prognostic value in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We used four human MPM cell lines, 54 MPM tumours and five normal pleural tissues. Expression levels for receptors and ligands were assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Microvessels were highlighted by immunohistochemical staining for factor VIII. The discrimination of lymphatics was performed by enzyme-histochemistry for 5'-nucleotidase after adequate inhibition of non-specific activity. The expression levels of VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGFRs were high in all MPM cell lines. The percentages of tumours with higher expression compared to the mean values of normal pleural tissues were 31.5% (17/54) for VEGF, 66.7% (36/54) for VEGF-C, 20.4% (11/54) for fms-like tyrosine kinase (flt)-1, 42.6% (23/54) for kinase insert domain-containing recepter (KDR) and 59.3% (32/54) for flt-4. Significant positive correlations were found between VEGF-C and flt-4, VEGF and KDR, VEGF and flt-1 in tumour tissues. The association between LVD and VEGF-C expression level was especially strong (P < 0.0001, r = 0.63). There were also significant correlations between LVD and flt-4, and VD and VEGF. No correlation, however, was found between LVD and nodal metastasis. VD was a negative prognostic indicator in this study. The associations between VEGF/VEGF-C and vessel density suggest that these factors play an important role in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in this tumour, and assessment of vascularity may be a useful prognostic indicator for MPM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have shown that TAK-603, a new anti-rheumatic drug, is more effective in animal models in which cellular immunity plays a central role. Here, we studied the effect of the drug on Th1 cytokines, which are dominantly produced in this type of immune reaction, in an in vitro system and an in vivo model. We established Th1- and Th2-dominant T-cell lines, and studied the effect of TAK-603 on their cytokine production. Th1 cell lines were BALB/c mouse allo-reactive T cells and C57BL mouse mite antigen-reactive T cells, and the Th2 cell line was BALB/c mouse ovalbumin-reactive T cells. TAK-603 suppressed the production of Th1 cytokines [interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2)] and not that of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) in these cell lines. Furthermore, selective suppression of Th1 cytokine production was also observed in the T-cell clones obtained from the ovalbumin-reactive T-cell line. To investigate the effect on cytokine production in animal models of arthritis, we analysed the expression of cytokine messenger RNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In adjuvant arthritis rats, Th1-dominant cytokine production was observed both in the arthritic joint and the spleen, and the time-course paralleled the progression of arthritis. On the other hand, in type-II collagen-induced arthritis, in which TAK-603 has little effect, Th1-dominant cytokine production was not observed and Th2 cytokines were shown to be more important. The adjuvant arthritis rats treated with TAK-603 (6.25 mg/kg/day, per os) showed significantly lower cytokine mRNA expression both locally and systemically. These data suggest that TAK-603 selectively suppresses Th1 cytokine production, which is consistent with its effect on cellular immunity in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxalate supplied to Lemna gibba L. in sterile culture was readily absorbed, stimulating growth and increasing the uptake of calcium when this element was present in the nutrient medium; in the absence of calcium, deficiency symptoms rapidly appeared. EDTA at low concentrations stimulated growth, but concentrations equivalent to those of calcium. reduced the uptake of both calcium and oxalate; developing daughter fronds were chlorotic and cells from these tissues appeared to be calcium deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented related to a case study of a 36 year old women who was suffering from hypertension and symptoms of pheochromocytoma.

Abstract: We consider charge and spin properties of the orbital system of one-dimensional zigzag chains of hollandite vanadate K2V8O16. We first calculate the relative stability of charge-ordering patterns to determine the most stable one that is consistent with the observed supercell structure. We then develop the strong-coupling perturbation theory to derive the effective spin–orbit Hamiltonian where we start from the triply degenerate orbitals in the VO6 octahedral structure. We apply an exact-diagonalization technique on small clusters of this Hamiltonian to obtain the orbital-ordering pattern in the ground state. Based on detailed analyses of the calculated spin and orbital structures, we discuss electronic and magnetic properties of K2V8O16. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses a case of a 56-year old Japanese woman who was diagnosed with dysgerminoma of the ovary.

Abstract: Time-resolved resonant secondary emission of CuInS2 crystals grown by traveling heater method has been investigated. The decay-time constants of the emissions with excitation energies of 1.525 and 1.521 eV which are estimated to 2.0–2.2 ns and 3.7–3.9 ns, respectively, agree well with those of bound excitons corresponding to the excitation energies. From the results, the resonant secondary emission is interpreted as the luminescence of excited bound excitons with phonon emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We study possible occurrence of spin-triplet superconductivity in the model of two Hubbard chains coupled with ferromagnetic exchange interaction. We use the analytical bozonization method as well as the numerical exact-diagonalization and density-matrix renormalization group methods. We show that, in the low electron density region, the complete ferromagnetic state occurs and the triplet pairing correlation is most dominant, where we find that the gap function behavior is -wave like. We also show that, in the high electron density regions, the spin-singlet superconductivity anticipated by the weak coupling analysis is most dominant, where the gap function behavior is -wave like. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Hubbard model at quarter filling defined on the one-dimensional (1D) triangular lattice (i.e., three chains coupled with interchain zigzag bonds) is studied by the density-matrix renormalization group method in order to clarify the symmetry of the Cooper-pair wave function of our proposed spin-triplet superconductivity induced by the ring-exchange mechanism. We calculate the rotational symmetry of the pair correlation function and show that the pairing occurs predominantly in the spin-triplet f-wave channel. Possible experimental relevance is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The capacitance of the Na2O–SiO2 glass was measuredin situduring heat treatment at various frequencies, 20, 100, 1, 3, 10, and 30 kHz. It was found that the capacitance of the glass abruptly decreases after a certain duration. The glass was quenched at this stage. It was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy that this decrease of capacitance was associated with the formation of crystallites in the glass matrix. The size of crystallites was observed to be in the range of about 10 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents data showing that serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) are increased in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and cutaneous natural killer-cell lymphoma. Magnitude of interferon-gamma production in response to antihuman CD3 antibodies; IL-18 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the patients.

We describe a 50-year-old Japanese woman with rheumatoid arthritis who presented with near-complete gastric outlet obstruction. The patient also suffered from secondary gastrointestinal and cardiac amyloidosis. Gastroscopy revealed multiple huge gastric antral ulcers in which amyloid deposits were identified on histologic examination. The ulcers became scars after treatment with omeprazole, which cause in severe pyloric stenosis. Endoscopic hydrostatic balloon dilation under fluoroscopic guidance was performed twice for 10 min. The pyloric outlet remained sufficiently patent 22 months later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits are crucially important metal resources that contain high‐grade metals such as copper, lead, and zinc, their internal structures and generation mechanisms remain unclear. This study obtained detailed near‐seafloor images of electrical resistivity in a hydrothermal field off Okinawa, southwestern Japan, using deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography. The image clarified a semi‐layered resistivity structure, interpreted as SMS deposits exposed on the seafloor, and another deep‐seated SMS layer at about 40‐m depth below the seafloor. The images reinforce our inference of a new mechanism of SMS evolution: Upwelling hydrothermal fluid is trapped under less‐permeable cap rock. The deeper embedded SMS accumulates there. Then hydrothermal fluids expelled on the seafloor form exposed SMS deposits. Plain Language Summary: Hydrothermal circulation of seawater through the permeable ocean crust engenders formation of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits, which present high potential for metal mining. Geophysical surveys using modes such as electrical and electromagnetic methods have revealed that SMS deposits exhibit lower resistivity than the surrounding host rock. However, because detailed geophysical images of internal structures of SMS deposits are lacking, the spatial distribution of SMS deposits and the evolutionary processes of SMS deposits remain unclear. For this study, we applied a deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) system to capture detailed images of electrical resistivity structures of SMS deposits in the Iheya North hydrothermal field, Okinawa Trough, southwestern Japan. An optimal sub‐seafloor resistivity section reveals a semi‐layered structure consisting of double low‐resistivity SMS layers: exposed and deep‐seated ones. Between the SMS layers, a cap rock layer is recognized as a moderately resistive zone. This detailed structure offers an explanation of how the SMS deposits accumulate: Hydrothermal fluids upwelling from the deep crust are trapped by less‐permeable cap rock, which results in the precipitation and accumulation of SMS deposits below the cap rock. Then fluids passing through the cap rock to the seafloor produce SMS deposits on the seafloor. Key Points: Deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography revealed massive sulfide deposits on the seafloor as low‐resistivity zonesLow‐resistivity zones are semi‐layered with deposits exposed on the seafloor and other deposits at 40‐m depth below the seafloorDetailed near‐seafloor images of electrical resistivity offer an explanation of how the SMS deposits accumulate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 52-year-old woman who was detected with bladder cancer co-existing with ovarian cancer using transvaginal ultrasound. She underwent a staging laparotomy for the ovarian cancer, and a total resection of the bladder was recommended by the urologists. It says that the ovarian cancer recurred in her right pelvic wall after five cycles of chemotherapy. Moreover, the symptoms of the recurrent pelvic mass disappeared using palliative radiation therapy.

Abstract: The density-matrix renormalization group method is used to study the Hubbard model at quarter filling defined on the one-dimensional (1D) triangular lattice. We in particular calculate the pair correlation function in order to clarify the symmetry of the Cooper-pair wave function of our proposed spin-triplet superconductivity induced by the ring-exchange mechanism. We thereby show that the pairing occurs predominantly in the spin-triplet f-wave channel. Experimental relevance to superconductivity observed in Bechgaard salts is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We analyse the ground state of the one-dimensional Ti–O network of NaTiSi2O6. First, we make the Hartree–Fock calculation of the original d–p model and obtain the ground-state phase diagram. We find that the orbital ferro and spin antiferro state is realized when the effect of lattice distortion is taken into account. We derive the effective spin–pseudospin Hamiltonian by the perturbation theory up to the fourth order of hoppings and its ground state is calculated by the density matrix renormalization (DMRG) method. We find that without the effect of distortion the orbital ordering occurs and the system is in the state of spin singlet, which indicates that the spin fluctuation plays an essential role in this phase transition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The density–matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method is used to calculate the binding energy of electrons and pair correlation functions in the two-chain zigzag-bond Hubbard model at quarter filling. We show that the ground state of the model can be superconducting in the spin-triplet channel when we make an appropriate choice of the signs of hopping integrals for the ferromagnetic ring-exchange mechanism to work. Possible relevance of our mechanism to the triplet superconductivity observed in is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A formula to predict the available path number in wideband mobile propagation is proposed. It is based on the authors' previously proposed empirical path delay profile model. The predicted values are in good agreement with measured data, demonstrating that the proposed formula is valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]