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Cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI) is a transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm indexing excitability of cerebellar projections to motor cortex (M1). Stimulation involved with CBI is often considered to be uncomfortable, and alternative ways to index connectivity between cerebellum and the cortex would be valuable. We therefore sought to assess the utility of electroencephalography in conjunction with TMS (combined TMS-EEG) to record the response to CBI. A total of 33 volunteers (25.7 ± 4.9 years, 20 females) participated across three experiments. These investigated EEG responses to CBI induced with a figure-of-eight (F8; experiment 1) or double cone (DC; experiment 2) conditioning coil over cerebellum, in addition to multisensory sham stimulation (experiment 3). Both F8 and DC coils suppressed early TMS-evoked EEG potentials (TEPs) produced by TMS to M1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the TEP produced by CBI stimulation was related to the motor inhibitory response to CBI recorded in a hand muscle (P < 0.05), but only when using the DC coil. Multisensory sham stimulation failed to modify the M1 TEP. Cerebellar conditioning produced changes in the M1 TEP that were not apparent following sham stimulation, and that were related to the motor inhibitory effects of CBI. Our findings therefore suggest that it is possible to index the response to CBI using TMS-EEG. In addition, while both F8 and DC coils appear to recruit cerebellar projections, the nature of these may be different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental pulp is a potential source of cells that can be used in cell replacement therapy for various nerve disorders, including stroke, spinal cord injury, and peripheral nerve defect. However, the validation of an animal model closely related to humans is needed in translational research. The miniature pig is a suitable experimental model in maxillofacial surgery, because its anatomical structure and size are similar to those of humans. However, the swine tooth is extremely long. The routine closed extraction procedure for harvesting dental pulp tissue causes root fracture. This report describes the details of a surgical procedure for tooth extraction. Four healthy 7–8-month-old male NIBS miniature pigs were used. Two mandibular deciduous right incisors (Di1 and Di2) were extracted in order to obtain dental pulp tissue. Gingival envelope incision with vertical-releasing incision was performed, and a full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap was made. The buccal alveolar bone was exposed and removed by osteotomy. Di1 and Di2 were extracted. Dental pulp tissue was obtained from these extracted teeth by splitting hard tissue. In this procedure, 9.8 ± 2.5 × 105 cells were obtained from the mandibular Di1 and Di2 (n = 4). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] Electrochemical noise impedance cam apply to investigate the corrosion behavior of A5052 in model tap water. [•] Metal cations show the important role in corrosion behavior. [•] The change in corrosion behavior due to metal cations may be attributed to passive film structure changes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since its first outbreak in Japan in 2003, koi-herpesvirus ( KHV) remains a challenge to the carp Cyprinus carpio L. breeding industry. In this study, inactivation of KHV in water from carp habitats (carp habitat water) was investigated with the aim of developing a model for rapidly inactivating the pathogen in aquaculture effluent. Experiments with live fish showed that, in carp habitat water, KHV lost its infectivity within 3 days. Indications were that inactivation of KHV was caused by the antagonistic activity of bacteria (anti- KHV bacteria) in the water from carp habitats. Carp habitat water and the intestinal contents of carp were therefore screened for anti- KHV bacteria. Of 581 bacterial isolates, 23 showed anti- KHV activity. An effluent treatment model for the disinfection of KHV in aquaculture effluent water using anti- KHV bacteria was developed and evaluated. The model showed a decrease in cumulative mortality and in the number of KHV genome copies in kidney tissue of fish injected with treated effluent compared with a positive control. It is thought that anti- KHV bacteria isolated from the intestinal contents of carp and from carp habitat water can be used to control KHV outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ulti-indexed Jacobi polynomials are themain part of the eigenfunctions of exactly solvable quantummechanical systems obtained by certain deformations of the Pöschl-Teller potential (Odake-Sasaki). By fine-tuning the parameter(s) of the Pöschl-Teller potential, we obtain several families of explicit and global solutions of certain second-order Fuchsian differential equations with an apparent singularity of characteristic exponents -2 and -1. They form orthogonal polynomials over x ∈ (-1, 1) with weight functions of the form (1 - x)α (1 + x)β/{(ax + b)4 q(x)²}, in which q(x) is a polynomial in x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The positive-plasma-bias (PPB) method has been explored as a new option for the plasma-based ion implantation and deposition (PBII&D). In the PPB method, plasma is biased positive with respect to a target which is at ground potential. While it offers benefits such as handling of target during PBII&D processing and in-situ process monitoring, special considerations are needed to meet the necessary PPB conditions. In the present paper, fundamentals and applications of the PPB method that has been performed for years by the author''s group are presented: First the working principle, geometry, potential and current distributions are explained. Then special features, possible merits and demerits are discussed. Finally the environment-friendly plasma cleaning and the dual-plasma ion process for insulator processing are presented as applications of the PPB method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We provide analytic proofs for the shape invariance of the recently discovered [Odake and Sasaki, Phys. Lett. B 679, 414 (2009)] two families of infinitely many exactly solvable one-dimensional quantum mechanical potentials. These potentials are obtained by deforming the well-known radial oscillator potential or the Darboux–Pöschl–Teller potential by a degree ℓ (ℓ=1,2,...) eigenpolynomial. The shape invariance conditions are attributed to new polynomial identities of degree 3ℓ involving cubic products of the Laguerre or Jacobi polynomials. These identities are proved elementarily by combining simple identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explicit solutions of the classical Calogero (rational with/without harmonic confining potential) and Sutherland (trigonometric potential) systems is obtained by diagonalization of certain matrices of simple time evolution. The method works for Calogero & Sutherland systems based on any root system. It generalizes the well-known results by Olshanetsky and Perelomov for the A type root systems. Explicit solutions of the (rational and trigonometric) higher Hamiltonian flows of the integrable hierarchy can be readily obtained in a similar way for those based on the classical root systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We studied the effects of intravenous and volatile anesthetics on evoked-field potentials using bi- and tri-synaptic pathways of rat hippocampal slices in vitro. The results predict that three to six synapses may be involved to generate synaptic modulation with clinical concentrations of general anesthetics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We obtain a diagonal solution of the dual reflection equation for the elliptic An-1(1) solid-on-solid model. The isomorphism between the solutions of the reflection equation and its dual is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple theorems relating a quantum mechanical system to the corresponding classical one at equilibrium and connecting the quantum eigenvalues to the frequencies of normal modes oscillations are presented. Corresponding to each quantum eigenfunction, a ‘classical eigenfunction’ is associated. Those belonging to ‘elementary excitations’ play an important role. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Zn Belavin model with open boundary condition is studied. The double-row transfer matrices of the model are diagonalized by algebraic Bethe ansatz method in terms of the intertwiner and the face–vertex correspondence relation. The eigenvalues and the corresponding Bethe ansatz equations are obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ruijsenaars–Schneider models associated with A[sub n-1] root system with a discrete coupling constant are studied. The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are given in terms of the Bethe ansatz formulas. Taking the “nonrelativistic” limit, we obtain the spectrum of the corresponding Calogero–Moser systems in the third formulas of Felder et al. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoxia tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings was investigated using wild type (WT) and root hair defective mutant RH2. The elongation of both RH2 and WT roots was suppressed by anoxia, but this suppression was less in RH2 than in WT roots. The anoxic treatment increased the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in both RH2 and WT roots, but the induction was greater in RH2 roots. These results suggest that anoxia tolerance of RH2 roots is greater than that of WT roots, indicating that root hairs may interfere with the anoxia tolerance of rice roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the tensor product of the higher spin representations (see the definition in Section 2.2) of the elliptic quantum group Eτ,η(sln). The transfer matrices associated with the Eτ,η(sln)-module are exactly diagonalized by the nested Bethe ansatz method. Some special cases of the construction give the exact solution for the Zn Belavin model and for the elliptic An−1 Ruijsenaars–Schneider model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The problem of finding the most general form of the classical integrable relativistic models of many-body interaction of the BC[sub n] type is considered. In the simplest nontrivial case of n=2, the extra integral of motion is presented in explicit form within the ansatz similar to the nonrelativistic Calogero–Moser models. The resulting Hamiltonian has been found by solving the set of two functional equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of sialyltransferases activity in leukemic blasts from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cases was significantly lower (3.29±2.09 pmoles/5× 107 cells or 1.77 ± 1.16 pmoles/mg protein) than those (18.80 ± 4.91 pmoles/5 × 107 cells or 7.72 ±1.75 pmoles/mg protein) of mature lymphocytes from normal volunteers (t<0.001). An inverse relationship between the level of sialyltransferases activity and the level of terminal transferase (TdT) activity was seen in blasts from eight TdT-positive ALL cases. No significant difference was observed in the level of sialyltransferases activity between ALL and cells of chronic myclogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis. Short term culture of ALL blast cells with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at the concentration of 10-6M to 10-9M caused a marked increase in sialyltransferases activity. In one of these three ALL cases the population of TdT-positive cells and the TdT activity of the blasts decreased significantly after culture with TPA. These results suggest that biochemical differentiation of leukemic lympho blasts has been induced by the addition of TPA, although morphological changes were not observed. Sialyltransferases activity may be a useful indicator for the analysis of differentiation of lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the Yang–Baxter equation an additional relation can be added. This is the reflection equation that appears in various places, with or without spectral parameter, e.g., in factorizable scattering on a half-line, integrable lattice models with nonperiodic boundary conditions, noncommutative differential geometry on quantum groups, etc. Two forms of spectral-parameter-independent reflection equations are studied, chosen by the requirement that their solutions be comodules with respect to the quantum group coaction leaving invariant the reflection equations. For a variety of known solutions of the Yang–Baxter equation the constant solutions of the reflection equations are given. Various quadratic algebras defined by the reflection equations are also given explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fairly wide class of classical solutions of the Euclidean two-dimensional Grassmannian and CP[sup N - 1] sigma models has been constructed explicitly and elementarily by the present author. Starting from these classical solutions we derive the explicit forms of the Bäcklund transformations following Harnad et al. Properties of the Bäcklund transformations for the Grassmannian models are discussed. In particular, a simple interpretation of the Bäcklund transformations for the CP[sup N - 1] model is obtained. Generalization of these results to the noncompact Grassmannian sigma models is straightforward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated surface acoustic wave propagation in a Ni/LiNbO3 hybrid device. We found that the absorption and phase velocity are dependent on the sign of the wave vector, which indicates that the surface acoustic wave propagation has nonreciprocal characteristics induced by simultaneous breaking of time-reversal and spatial inversion symmetries. The nonreciprocity was reversed by 180° rotation of the magnetic field. The origin of the nonreciprocity is ascribed to interference of shear-type and longitudinal-type magnetoelastic couplings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Quickness can be shown as whole body reaction time (WBRT) by measuring how quickly they can react for a stimulus. In addition, it is said that the onset timing of muscles contribute to stabilise joints and to prevent injury during the movement. Objective The purpose of this study is to clarify the correlation between WBRT and the onset timing of muscles during landing. Design Randomisation study. Setting Youth sports. Participants 15 healthy female college students volunteered in this study. Intervention WBRT was defined as the duration from light stimulus to the both feet apart from the floor. The onset timing of muscles were measured by bilateral landing from the 40 cm height box with the electromyography (EMG). EMG data were collected from vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), semimembranosus (SM) and biceps femoris (BF). The onset timing of the muscle was visually identified as the first point, which was the EMG amplitude of 100 ms after the start of landing movement that exceeded the mean baseline activity by three SD. The definition of the baseline was set as the EMG amplitude of the 100 ms after the toe-off from the box. Main outcome measurements The hypothesis was that there were the correlation between WBRT and the onset timing of muscles. Results The mean±SD of WBRT was 331.8±45.6 ms. VM onset timing during landing was 243.7±78.3 ms, VL was 259.6±75.5 ms, SM was 191.7±86.2 ms, BF was 237.5±73.8 ms. There were correlations between WBRT and SM and BF onset timings (p<0.05). Conclusion This study identified the correlation between WBRT and SM and BF onset timing. It might be possible to make SM and BF onset timing occur faster by reacting to certain stimulus faster. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A letter to the editor is presented on the effective outcomes in surgical research for temporary inhalation anesthesia in experimental pigs.

Attempts to predict the degree of hypomagnesemia during clinical anesthesia by investigating the relations between amount of fluid infusion and magnesium. Impact of peri-operative infusion of sodium lactate solution on serum magnesium ion concentration; Effect of hypomagnesemia on cardiac arrhythmia.

Scintillators are key components in high-energy x-ray detectors for x-ray computed tomography, which are applied in medical diagnosis, nondestructive testing, and security inspection. Scintillators in x-ray imaging are required to have both high spatial resolution and sensitivity; however, a trade-off between spatial resolution and sensitivity exists. To improve the sensitivity of a scintillator, its thickness must be increased; however, spatial resolution deteriorates with increasing thickness. Here, we developed a well-aligned Tb-doped GdAlO3-αAl2O3 phase-separated scintillator fiber (PSSF) with a diameter of 1.25-μm by a micro-pulling-down method. The luminescence, scintillation, and imaging performances of a grown PSSF sample were evaluated. X-ray-induced radioluminescence measurements of the sample showed Tb3+ 4f–4f emissions in the wavelength range of 470–700 nm, and the maximum emission peak was at 550 nm. The contrast transfer function at 10 lp/mm was 82% for both 270 and 500 μm-thick PSSF samples. We calculated the luminescence index, which is the product of the scintillator's light yield and sensitivity, of the samples and compared their values with commercially available conventional CsI:Tl columnar scintillators. The Tb-doped GdAlO3-αAl2O3 PSSF exhibits higher contrast transfer function and luminescence index values at above 60 keV x-ray region compared with the tested conventional scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about ionized magnesium concentrations in non-neurosurgical patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.