Search

Molecular dynamics simulation using the reactive force field was performed to investigate the stability and formation mechanisms of organic porous thin films made of 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl) benzene (BTB) molecules fabricated at the air/water interface. A single-layer honeycomb structure is found to be unstable, whereas thicker films are stable, which is consistent with experimental findings. The slight corrugation of the existing film produces local charge variation that attracts isolated molecules via the Coulomb interaction. When the isolated molecule approaches the film, a hydrogen bond is formed, and then the molecule adjusts the adsorption configuration by itself to maximize both horizontal and vertical intermolecular interactions. The key to the initial hydrogen bond formation is suggested to be the density of the molecules provided in the system as well as the spontaneous alignment of the BTB molecules to the solution/water interface. Our study showed that the BTB film is stable, and the molecules are self-assembled without external forces in the quasi-two-dimensional system. These results suggest that the dominant factor for the film formation at the air/water interface is interactions among BTB molecules and confinement to the two-dimensional space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leakage current caused by the Si pileup at the regrowth interface of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is significantly suppressed by the semi-insulating Mg-doped GaN layer. Mg is unintentionally doped and can be originated from the graphite susceptor of metal organic vapor phase epitaxy. Before regrowth of the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure, the GaN template is treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrogen peroxide/potassium hydroxide (H2O2/KOH) solution to promote the adsorption of Mg on the GaN surface. The Mg-doped GaN channel layer is highly resistive due to the passivation of hydrogen. The p–n junction formed by the weakly p-type Mg-doped GaN layer and the n-type Si pileup layer depletes the excess electrons at the regrowth interface. As a result, the off-state drain leakage current of the HEMT device can be decreased by two orders of magnitude at 40 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong modification of the optical spectra is apparent in nitrogen-doped chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamonds. Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in CVD diamond are effectively created by nitrogen doping with a high concentration of the gaseous phase. In particular, the 575 nm center and 637 nm centers are enhanced in intensity at a N doping level of around 1018 at./cm3, while nitrogen addition during CVD growth leads to quenching of both the exciton and H3 centers. The influence of nitrogen doping on the exciton and NV defect states in a homoepitaxial CVD diamond thin film was investigated by high-resolution cathodoluminescence experiment. In addition, Raman experiments were performed to detect the internal stress. The results show that the exciton and nitrogen-related defect emission spectra underwent a shift of the peak position to a longer wavelength by nitrogen doping. The characteristic Raman peak of diamond at 1332 cm-1 showed a shift toward lower wave numbers with increasing nitrogen incorporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study that investigated junction properties of homoepitaxial diamond films grown by step-flow mode. Details of the experiments; Results of the study; Discussion on the properties of Schottky junction; Conclusion.

The neutron-rich isotopes of palladium have attracted considerable interest in terms of the evolution of the N = 82 neutron shell closure and its influence on the r -process nucleosynthesis. In this Letter, we present the first spectroscopic information on the excited states in 125Pd 79 and 127Pd 81 studied using the EURICA γ -ray spectrometer, following production via in-flight fission of a high-intensity 238U beam at the RIBF facility. New isomeric states with half-lives of 144(4) ns and 39(6) μs have been assigned spins and parities of (23 / 2 +) and (19 / 2 +) in 125Pd and 127Pd, respectively. The observed level properties are compared to a shell-model calculation, suggesting the competition between proton excitations and neutron excitations in the proton-hole and neutron-hole systems in the vicinity of the doubly magic nucleus 132Sn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2007, serious damage to tomato from leaf mould caused by Passalora fulva has frequently been observed in commercial greenhouses in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. One of the factors relating to this damage was suspected to be a decrease in azoxystrobin sensitivity of the pathogen. Biological and molecular studies were conducted to characterize fungicide resistance. In in vitro sensitivity tests using mycelial homogenate placed on fungicide-amended medium, the minimum inhibitory concentrations ( MIC) of azoxystrobin for mycelial growth of the isolates divided into two ranges, 0.031-0.5 mg L−1 and 8-32 mg L−1. Isolates with MICs within the two ranges were considered as sensitive and resistant, respectively, to azoxystrobin because, in in vivo tests, the percentage protection conferred by this fungicide (100 mg a.i. L−1) against these isolates was 89.7-100% and 4.5-31.1%, respectively. Resistant isolates had a replacement of phenylalanine with leucine at codon 129 (F129L) in cytochrome b. Forty-five percent of the 271 isolates collected from 63 tomato greenhouses from 2007 to 2008 were resistant to azoxystrobin. In many greenhouses where the isolation frequency of resistant isolates was 80% or more, azoxystrobin had been used twice per crop for approximately 6 years. In 2012, 27% of the 405 isolates collected were resistant to azoxystrobin, and there was a marked difference in the frequency of occurrence of resistant isolates in the field populations between the three locations sampled. The occurrence of azoxystrobin-resistant P. fulva isolates (F129L mutants) inflicted considerable damage on greenhouse tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We performed (1)H-MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) on multiple brain regions to determine the metabolite pattern and diagnostic utility of (1)H-MRS in multiple system atrophy (MSA).Methods: Examining single voxels at 3.0 T, we studied metabolic findings of the putamen, pontine base, and cerebral white matter in 24 MSA patients (predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C), n = 13), parkinsonism (MSA-P), n = 11), in 11 age and duration matched Parkinson's disease patients (PD) and in 18 age matched control subjects.Results: The N-acetylaspartate to creatine ratio (NAA/Cr) in MSA patients showed a significant reduction in the pontine base (p<0.0001) and putamen (p = 0.02) compared with controls. NAA/Cr in cerebral white matter also tended to decline in long standing cases. NAA/Cr reduction in the pontine base was prominent in both MSA-P (p<0.0001) and MSA-C (p<0.0001), and putaminal NAA/Cr reduction was significant in MSA-P (p = 0.009). It was also significant in patients who were in an early phase of their disease, and in those who showed no ataxic symptoms or parkinsonism, or did not show any MRI abnormality of the "hot cross bun" sign or hyperintense putaminal rims. NAA/Cr in MSA-P patients was significantly reduced in the pontine base (p = 0.001) and putamen (p = 0.002) compared with PD patients. The combined (1)H-MRS in the putamen and pontine base served to distinguish patients with MSA-P from PD more clearly.Conclusions: (1)H-MRS showed widespread neuronal and axonal involvement in MSA. The NAA/Cr reduction in the pontine base proved highly informative in the early diagnosis of MSA prior to MRI changes and even before any clinical manifestation of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level structure of 172 Dy has been investigated for the first time by means of decay spectroscopy following in-flight fission of a 238 U beam. A long-lived isomeric state with T 1 / 2 = 0.71 ( 5 ) s and K π = 8 − has been identified at 1278 keV, which decays to the ground-state and γ -vibrational bands through hindered electromagnetic transitions, as well as to the daughter nucleus 172 Ho via allowed β decays. The robust nature of the K π = 8 − isomer and the ground-state rotational band reveals an axially-symmetric structure for this nucleus. Meanwhile, the γ -vibrational levels have been identified at unusually low excitation energy compared to the neighboring well-deformed nuclei, indicating the significance of the microscopic effect on the non-axial collectivity in this doubly mid-shell region. The underlying mechanism of enhanced γ vibration is discussed in comparison with the deformed Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation based on a Skyrme energy-density functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation hardening and embrittlement of A533B steels is heavily dependent on the Cu content. In this study, to investigate the effect of copper on the microstructural evolution of these materials, A533B steels with different Cu levels were irradiated with 2.4 MeV Fe ions and 1.0 MeV electrons. Ion irradiation was performed from room temperature (RT) to 350 °C with doses up to 1 dpa. At RT and 290 °C, low dose (<0.1 dpa) hardening trend corresponded with ΔH ∝ (dpa) n , with n initially approximately 0.5 and consistent with a barrier hardening mechanism, but saturating at ≈0.1 dpa. At higher dose levels, the radiation-induced hardening exhibited a strong Cu content dependence at 290 °C, but not at 350 °C. Electron irradiation using high-voltage electron microscopy revealed the growth of interstitial-type dislocation loops and enrichment of Ni, Mn, and Si in the vicinities of pre-existing dislocations at doses for which the radiation-induced hardness due to ion irradiation was prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We have assessed the effectiveness of tacrolimus for minor flares in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods The medical records of 313 patients were retrospectively reviewed over a period of seven years, from 2006 to 2013. We enrolled patients with minor flare treated with add-on tacrolimus, without glucocorticoid (GC) intensification (tacrolimus group). Minor flare was defined as a ≥1-point increase in a total score between 3 and 11 in the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). We enrolled as controls patients who were administered increased doses of GC for minor flare (GC group). All patients were followed for one year. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of responders. Results There were 14 eligible patients in the tacrolimus group and 20 eligible patients in the GC group. The mean SLEDAI at flare tended to be higher in the tacrolimus group than in the GC group (7.5 vs. 6.2, p = 0.085). A mean dose of 1.6 mg tacrolimus/day was administered for flare, while the mean GC dose was 13.7 mg/day in the GC group. The proportion of responders was 86% (12/14) in the tacrolimus group and 75% (15/20) in the GC group (p = 0.67). The mean dose of GC at 12 months was higher in the GC group than in the tacrolimus group (9.7 mg/day vs. 7.1 mg/day, p < 0.05). Only one patient discontinued tacrolimus because of fatigue after three months. Conclusion Adding tacrolimus without increasing the GC dose may provide an effective treatment option for minor flares in patients with SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of silica nanofibers (SNF) mats with superhydrophobicity and superlipophilicity as well as excellent heat resistance, had been prepared by modifying of 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3-hexamethyldisilazane on electrospun SNF mats. The effects of heat treatment time on properties of modified SNF mats were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen absorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurement. With high specific surface area 240.1 m²/g, the optimal modified SNF mat approached water contact angle (WCA) 153.2° and fuel contact angle (FCA) 0°, furthermore, even after annealing by 450°C in air for 1h, WCA remained at 135.5° and FCA kept at 3.8°, which opened a new way to improve heat resistance of fuel-water filter paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the characteristics of sympathetic vasomotor function in Parkinson's disease by sympathetic neurographic analysis.Methods: Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded using a microneurographic technique at rest and during head up tilt in 18 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and 21 healthy controls.Results: Heart rate and blood pressure at rest did not differ between index and control subjects. The increase in these variables and MSNA in response to tilting was slightly blunted in the Parkinson's group. Resting MSNA showed a negative correlation with age in patients with Parkinson's disease (p<0.05) and a positive correlation with age in controls (p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between duration of disease or disability levels and MSNA (p<0.01).Conclusions: Sympathetic vasomotor function may be related to age and disease duration in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ungulate assemblages, although interspecific differences in body size and gregariousness are thought to have a direct impact on winning or losing in interference competition, this has not been fully investigated. We observed a total of 64 instances of interspecific contact between larger-gregarious sika deer and smaller-solitary Japanese serows over eight years field observations. Deer-to-serow aggression were never observed. Whereas, serows showed antagonistic behaviour, such as walk push and chasing, to deer, but could rarely displace deer. Serows showed higher alertness to deer than deer did to serows. These results suggest that larger-gregarious ungulates do not necessarily exclude smaller-solitary ones and serows are sensitive to the presence of deer. Differences in aggressiveness and alertness between deer and serows may reflect differences in territoriality: serows may be more sensitive to the invasion of deer into their territory. Serows' sensitivity to deer may have a negative effect on their population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on an animal’s behavioral state, hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells receive distinct patterns of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. The time-dependent changes in the frequencies of these inputs and the nonuniform distribution of voltage-gated channels lead to dynamic fluctuations in membrane conductance. In this study, using a whole-cell patch-clamp method, we attempted to record and analyze the frequency dependencies of membrane responsiveness in Wistar rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells following noise current injection directly into dendrites and somata under pharmacological blockade of all synaptic inputs. To estimate the frequency-dependent properties of membrane potential, membrane impedance was determined from the voltage response divided by the input current in the frequency domain. The cell membrane of most neurons showed low-pass filtering properties in all regions. In particular, the properties were strongly expressed in the somata or proximal dendrites. Moreover, the data revealed nonuniform distribution of dendritic impedance, which was high in the intermediate segment of the apical dendritic shaft (∼220–260 μm from the soma). The low-pass filtering properties in the apical dendrites were more enhanced by membrane depolarization than those in the somata. Coherence spectral analysis revealed high coherence between the input signal and the output voltage response in the theta–gamma frequency range, and large lags emerged in the distal dendrites in the gamma frequency range. Our results suggest that apical dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells integrate synaptic inputs according to the frequency components of the input signal along the dendritic segments receiving the inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether the concentration of lead in bone constitutes a biological marker that is more sensitive for chronic toxicity than blood lead levels.Design: Survey.Setting: A construction trade union with members who engage in carpentry, demolition, and other construction activities.Participants: Members of the construction trade union.Main Outcome Measures: We measured blood pressure, serum creatinine, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. We measured blood lead by anodic stripping voltametry and used a cadmium 109 K x-ray fluorescence instrument to make in vivo measurements of lead in the tibia (a heavily cortical bone) and the patella (a heavily trabecular bone). Information was also collected on medical history, smoking, and alcohol ingestion.Results: Bone lead levels in the patella were found to be significantly correlated with a decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit, even after adjusting for age, blood lead, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and alcohol ingestion and removing outliers. Blood lead levels were low (mean = 0.40 mumol/L [8.3 micrograms/dL]) and were not correlated with either hemoglobin or hematocrit. In the final multivariate regression model that corrected for measurement error, an increase in patella bone lead level from the lowest to highest quintile in this study population (37 micrograms/g) was associated with a decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit of 11 g/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7 to 19.3 g/L) and 0.03 (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.05), respectively.Conclusion: We conclude that patella bone lead levels are associated with decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels despite the presence of low blood lead levels. This conclusion may reflect a subclinical effect of bone lead stores on hematopoiesis and is the first epidemiological evidence that bone lead may be an important biological marker of ongoing chronic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isomer with a half-life of 23.0(8) ms has been identified at 2406 keV in 126Pd and is proposed to have a spin and parity of 10+ with a maximally aligned configuration comprising two neutron holes in the 1h11/2 orbit. In addition to an internal-decay branch through a hindered electric octupole transition, β decay from the long-lived isomer was observed to populate excited states at high spins in 126Ag. The smaller energy difference between the 10+ and 7- isomers in 126Pd than in the heavier N=80 isotones can be interpreted as being ascribed to the monopole shift of the 1h11/2 neutron orbit. The effects of the monopole interaction on the evolution of single-neutron energies below 132Sn are discussed in terms of the central and tensor forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of minimally invasive surgical and diagnostic procedures require the insertion of an optical, mechanical, or electronic device in narrow spaces inside a human body. In such procedures, precise motion control is essential to avoid damage to the patient's tissues and/or the device itself. A typical example is the insertion of a cochlear implant which should ideally be done with minimum physical contact between the moving device and the cochlear canal walls or the basilar membrane. Because optical monitoring is not possible, alternative techniques for sub millimeter-scale distance control can be very useful for such procedures. The first requirement for distance control is distance sensing. We developed a novel approach to distance sensing based on the principles of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The SECM signal, i.e., the diffusion current to a microelectrode, is very sensitive to the distance between the probe surface and any electrically insulating object present in its proximity. With several amperometric microprobes fabricated on the surface of an insertable device, one can monitor the distances between different parts of the moving implant and the surrounding tissues. Unlike typical SECM experiments, in which a disk-shaped tip approaches a relatively smooth sample, complex geometries of the mobile device and its surroundings make distance sensing challenging. Additional issues include the possibility of electrode surface contamination in biological fluids and the requirement for a biologically compatible redox mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Despite the latent and unique benefits of imaging uranium and thorium's distribution in the earth's interior, previously proposed experimental techniques used to identify the incoming geo-neutrino's direction are not applicable to practical imaging due to the high miss-identification in a neutrino's track reconstruction. After performing experimental studies and Monte-Carlo simulations, we confirmed that a significant improvement is possible in neutrino tracking identification with a 6Li-loaded neutrino detector. For possible imaging applications, we also explore the feasibility of producing geo-neutrinographic images of gigantic magmatic reservoirs and deep structure in the mantle. We anticipate and plan to apply these newly designed detectors to radiographic imaging of the Earth's interior, monitoring of nuclear reactors, and tracking astrophysical sources of neutrinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wedeveloped a particle nanoimprinting technique assisted by thearray of core–shell particles. Core–shell particlescomposed of a solid core of polystyrene and a soft shell were preparedby soap-free emulsion polymerization and subsequently seeded polymerization.By the Langmuir–Blodgett method, particles were arranged intoa closely packed 2D array over the water surface and transferred ontoa polystyrene (PS) substrate at a regular interval. The PS substratewas heated up above its glass transition temperature (Tg) by either UV irradiation using a high-pressure Hg lampor heat treatment in a temperature-controlled incubator. It couldbe observed that a nanopatterned indented surface was formed throughthe denting of particles into the PS substrate (particle nanoindenting).By the detachment of particles from the substrate by ultrasonicationin ethanol, nanoholes were produced over the surface (particle nanoimprinting).The depth and the wall of nanoholes and their interval were tunableby the shell thickness and the 2D packing ratio of core–shellparticle monolayers. The contact angle decreased from 70 degrees ofthe pristine particle monolayer to 13 degrees by the particle nanoindenting,and again increased to 50 degrees by detaching the particles fromthe substrate to create the nanoholes. The use of nanoholes as zepto-littervolume vessels enabled us to produce and arrange nanocrystals, suchas NaCl and CaCO3(zepto-reactor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental results on the band-gap energies of homoepitaxial diamond films with isotopic compositions ranging from nearly pure carbon- 12 (12C) to nearly pure carbon- 13 (13C). Diamond crystals were grown by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition, which controls the isotope composition and minimizes the density of impurities and defects. We find that the isotope substitution of 12C by 13C increases the band-gap energy in diamond by up to 15.4 meV at 79 K. The increase at room temperature is estimated from the temperature dependence of the band-gap renormalization due to electron-phonon interaction and is found to be even larger than that at low temperatures. These results unambiguously demonstrate the possibility of band-gap engineering of diamond via control of the isotopic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The critical current is measured for a three-layer BSCCO stacked conductor. [•] The critical current strongly depends on the current feeding mode. [•] Opposite-direction feeding mode leads to 50% increase of the critical current. [•] Current feeding mode effect implies onto a manufacture of a flexible DC power cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A saliva processing method of filtration in place of centrifugation is an effective method. [•] Filtration removes debris after saliva collection to retrieve a supernatant for protein analysis. [•] Millex-Millipore® 0.45μm PVDF Dura pore membrane filter syringe is used. [•] Filtered saliva yields adipokine levels like those from centrifuged saliva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is well known that the radiation hardening or embrittlement of pressure vessel steels is very sensitive to the contents of minor solutes. To study the effect of dislocation loop formation on radiation hardening in these steels, in situ observation using a high-voltage electron microscope was conducted for the reference pressure vessel steel JRQ and Fe-based model alloys containing Mn, Si, and Ni. In the Fe-based model alloys, the addition of Mn was most effective for increasing dislocation loop density at 290°C. Based on the assumption that a di-interstitial was adopted as the nucleus for the formation of an interstitial loop, a binding energy of 0.22eV was obtained for the interaction of a Mn atom and an interstitial. The formation of Mn clusters detected by three-dimensional atom probe and interstitial-type loops at room temperature clearly showed that the oversized Mn atoms migrate through an interstitial mechanism. The temperature and flux dependence of loop density in pressure vessel steels was very weak up to 290°C. This suggests that interstitial atoms are deeply trapped by the radiation-induced solute clusters in pressure vessel steels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Active oxygens and free radicals are involved in the metabolism and clinical conditions of tissues; however, little is known about the localisation and expression levels of associated enzymes. The expressions of active oxygens, free radicals and associated enzymes are reported to be site-specific; therefore, the expression states of free radical enzymes differ between sites, even within the same cell. In particular, there has been no report concerning the catabolic enzymes of active oxygens in osteoblasts of the maxilla, other than normal osteoblasts that were weakly positive by immunohistochemical staining. We conducted this study to elucidate the relationship between osteodystrophy and radical-associated enzymes by investigating mRNAs of enzymes associated with active oxygens and free radicals using osteoblasts from the maxilla of normal and osteopetrotic model (op/op) mice. In op/op mouse maxilla osteoblasts, mRNAs of Mn-SOD, i-NOS and e-NOS were strongly positive. Mn-SOD and iNOS enzymes were considered to be highly expressed in osteoblasts of the narrowed medullary cavity of this bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Is it possible to produce offspring after sperm chromosome screening? SUMMARY ANSWER It is possible to produce zygotes after examining the genome of individual spermatozoa prior to embryo production. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Chromosomal aberrations in gametes are a major cause of pregnancy loss in women treated with assisted reproductive technology. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports on the successful genomic screening of spermatozoa, although some attempts have been made using the mouse as a model. STUDY DESIGN To prevent the transmission of chromosomal aberrations from fathers to offspring, we performed sperm chromosome screening (SCS) prior to fertilization using the mouse as a model. The production of offspring after SCS consists of (i) replication of the sperm chromosomes, (ii) analysis of one copy of the replicated sperm chromosomes, (iii) construction of a zygote using another set of chromosomes and (iv) production of a transferable embryo. MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A single spermatozoon of a male mouse, with or without a Robertsonian translocation, was injected into an enucleated oocyte to allow the replication of sperm chromosomes. One of the sister blastomeres of a haploid androgenic 2-cell embryo was used for chromosome analysis. The other blastomere was fused with an unfertilized oocyte, activated and allowed to develop to a blastocyst before transfer to a surrogate mother. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE With high efficiency, we were able to analyze sperm chromosomes in a blastomere from the androgenic 2-cell embryos and culture zygotes, with and without aberrant chromosomes, to the blastocyst stage before embryo transfer. The karyotypes of the offspring faithfully reflected those of the blastomeres used for SCS. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was conducted using a mouse model; whether or not the method is applicable to humans is not known. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study has shown that it is possible to produce zygotes without any paternally inherited aberrations by examining the genome of individual spermatozoa prior to embryo production. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (22·8495 and 23890013 to H.W.) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). There are no conflicts of interest to be declared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomach contents of 437 age-0 year Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (20·3-59·4 cm fork length, LF) caught in the Tsushima Current and the Kuroshio regions around Japan were examined to investigate their ontogenetic diet shift. Prey compositions were diverse and different between regions. Although the seasonal growth patterns were different between regions, ontogenetic diet shifts shared a common pattern. In the Tsushima Current region (Sea of Japan), small T. orientalis (20-25 cm LF) preyed upon small squid (juvenile Enoploteuthis chunii), and larger ones (25-35 cm LF) gradually shifted their diet to mesopelagic fish ( Maurolicus japonicus). In the Kuroshio region (Pacific Ocean), small T. orientalis (20-25 cm LF) preyed upon small zooplankton (mostly crustacean larvae), and larger ones (25-40 cm LF) shifted to epipelagic fishes ( Etrumeus teres, Sardinops melanostictus and Engraulis japonicus). The observed data suggest that T. orientalis switch to a diet more based on fish prey items, which have more body mass and greater swimming ability than small squid and zooplankton, after they reach a LF of 25 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a novel type of ordering phenomenon associated with the incommensurate occupational modulation of bistable molecular magnetic state in a spin-crossover material. This unusual type of aperiodicity resulting from the ordering of multistable electronic states opens new possibilities for addressing such materials by light. Here we show that light can switch the crystal from four- to three-dimensional periodic structure. Mixing aperiodicity, multistability, and photoinduced phenomenà opens new perspectives for directing complex order and function in material science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A textured Mg–9Al–1Zn alloy rod exhibited highly isotropic flow along the longitudinal and transverse directions during superplastic deformation, indicating that crystallographic orientation had a negligible effect on flow stress. Although there was an overall weakening of the initial basal texture during deformation due to grain boundary sliding, the texture changes differed between tensile and compressive deformation along the longitudinal direction. This indicates that dislocation slip plays an important role in superplastic deformation. Macroscopic specimen shape anisotropy, on the other hand, would be expected to appear under the preferential activation of basal slip during compression along the transverse direction, but was not observed experimentally. These results imply that dislocation slip acts primarily as an accommodation mechanism for local stress concentration produced by grain boundary sliding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effect of alloying elements on the threshold stress for superplasticity was investigated using two binary solid solutions, namely, Mg–Al and Mg–Y alloys. Both alloys exhibited superplasticity, and in spite of the absence of fine particles showed threshold-stress-like behavior. Different origins were suggested for the threshold-stress-like behavior after considering grain growth during deformation. The threshold-stress-like behavior in Mg–Al alloys originates from the effects of microstructural instability (grain-growth hardening). On the other hand, analysis of grain-boundary segregation suggested that the threshold-stress-like behavior in Mg–Y alloy originates from the segregation of yttrium in grain boundaries and its interaction with grain-boundary dislocations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Our aim was to determine regional brain atrophy in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). From 71 consecutive probable PD patients, nine non-demented and non-hallucinating patients with an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) ≥ 10 and 13 PD patients with an ESS ≤ 3 were selected as having EDS and as not having EDS, respectively. We also enrolled 22 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Regional brain atrophy was assessed using VBM with 3-T magnetic resonance imaging. There was no difference in the dosage of dopaminergic drugs between PD patients with EDS and PD patients without EDS. PD patients with EDS showed marked atrophy in the gray matter of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, limbic lobe including the nucleus basalis of Meynert compared to controls (false discovery rate corrected p < 0.05). In contrast, PD patients without EDS did not show any significant difference in gray matter atrophy compared to controls (false discovery rate corrected p < 0.05). PD patients with EDS showed significant atrophy of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, limbic lobe including the nucleus basalis of Meynert compared to PD patients without EDS (uncorrected p < 0.001). PD patients with EDS, even without dementia and hallucination, showed significant gray matter atrophy compared to PD patients without EDS and controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are characterized by keratinocyte apoptosis and necrosis, resulting in epidermal detachment. Although monocytes abundantly infiltrate the epidermis in SJS/TEN skin lesions, the properties and functions of these cells have not been fully examined. Objectives To determine the properties of monocytes infiltrating into the epidermis in SJS/TEN. Methods Immunostaining of skin sections was performed to examine the membrane markers of monocytes infiltrating into skin lesions. Results Immunostaining of cryosections from 11 SJS/TEN skin lesions revealed numerous CD14+ monocytes located along the dermoepidermal junction and throughout the epidermis. The cells coexpressed CD16, CD11c and HLA-DR. CD14+ CD16+ cells were identified in very early lesions without epidermal damage, suggesting that their infiltration is a cause, rather than a result, of epidermal damage. Moreover, these cells expressed CD80, CD86 and CD137 ligand, indicative of their ability to facilitate the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. CD16+ cells infiltrating the epidermis and detected at the dermoepidermal junction were immunostained and counted in paraffin-embedded skin sections obtained from 47 patients with drug rash manifested as TEN, SJS, maculopapular-type rash or erythema multiform-type rash. The number of CD16+ monocytes infiltrating the epidermis increased significantly, depending on the grade of epidermal damage. Conclusions These findings suggest that the appearance of CD14+ CD16+ cells of monocyte lineage plays an important role in the epidermal damage associated with SJS/TEN, most probably by enhancing the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis is a mouse model of acute autoimmune hepatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of hepatic dendritic cells (DC) in the immune modulation of tissue damage. Almost all hepatic DC were plasmacytoid DC (CD11c+ I-Alow B220+); however, conventional DC were CD11c+ I-Ahigh B220-. At an early stage (3-6 h) after Con A administration, the number of DC in both the liver and spleen decreased, increasing thereafter (12-24 h) in parallel with hepatic failure. The hepatic CD11c+ DC population contained many CD11b- cells, while the majority of splenic CD11c+ DC were CD11b+. After Con A administration, the proportion of I-A+ and CD11b+ cells within the CD11c+ DC population tended to increase in the liver, but not in the spleen. Similarly, expression of the activation markers CD80, CD86 and CD40 by CD11c+ DC increased in the liver, but not in the spleen. Next, adoptive transfer of DC isolated from the liver and spleen was performed 3 h after Con A administration to examine the immunomodulatory function of DC. Only hepatic DC had the ability to suppress hepatic failure. Analysis of cytokine production and subsequent identification of the effector cells showed that hepatic DC achieved this by suppressing the production of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-2, rather than modulating effector cell function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Efficiency of the energy management can be significantly enhanced using the technology of superconducting (SC) power transmission. A high cost of the existing experimental SC lines is determined to a great extent by the use of expensive cryopumps. Moreover, pumping stations require maintenance, and cryopumps are a source of additional heat load for the system. It was proposed to utilize a thermal siphon effect to naturally circulate liquid nitrogen (LN2) through the cryopipes. Calculations showed the feasibility of this idea. Currently, there is an opportunity to verify of our estimations using new 200m experimental facility at Chubu University. The level difference of circulation loop is almost 5m, therefore noticeable driving force due to the difference in densities of “cold” LN2 near the inlet and “warm” LN2 near the outlet adds to the pump power. The cryopipe is equipped with heaters, allowing to carefully change the intensity and distribution of heat load to make it possible to analyze in details the influence of thermosiphon effect on the circulation of LN2 and pump energy saving. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A second cooling test of CASER2, the 200m class superconducting direct current power transmission system at Chubu University, was performed from August to October 2010. During this time, the system was cooled down and the liquid nitrogen which cooled the superconducting power cable was circulated in the cryogenic pipe of CASER2. The heat leak of the cryogenic pipe was measured and the values of about 300W was obtained. This result will be used further improvements of CASER2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The neutron-rich nucleus 110Mo has been investigated by means of γ-ray spectroscopy following the β-decay of 110Nb, produced using in-flight fission of a 238U beam at 345 MeV/nucleon at the RIBF facility. In addition to the ground-band members reported previously, spectroscopic information on the low-lying levels of the quasi-γ band built on the second state at 494 keV has been obtained for the first time. The experimental finding of the second state being lower than the yrast level suggests that axially-asymmetric γ softness is substantially enhanced in this nucleus. The experimental results are compared with model calculations based on the general Bohr Hamiltonian method. The systematics of the low-lying levels in even–even nuclei is discussed in comparison with that in the neutron-rich region, by introducing the quantity , , as a global signature of the structural evolution involving axial asymmetry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is well known that radiation hardening and embrittlement of A533B steels is very sensitive to minor solute content. To investigate the effect on microstructural evolution of these materials, A533B steels with different Cu levels were irradiated by 2.4MeV Fe ions. The ion irradiation was performed at 290°C and also at room temperature up to a dose of 2dpa. After the irradiation, the microstructure of the specimens was observed by transmission electron microcopy. Small dislocation loops formed in the matrix and also in the vicinity of dislocation were identified as interstitial dislocation loops, using additional electron irradiation at room temperature in the HVEM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effects of neutron irradiation on YAG laser welded V–4Cr–4Ti alloy were irradiated in High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). The samples were irradiated in Li environment at 723K and 873K up to the dose of 3.7dpa. After the irradiation, the microstructure and Vickers hardness of the welded samples were compared of the base metal, which were simultaneously irradiated at the same irradiation cycle. At 723K, very high density of dislocations was formed. But prominent Ti(CON) formation, which was commonly observed in He gas and vacuum environment condition, was not detected [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The D1275N SCN5A mutation has been associated with a range of unusual phenotypes, including conduction disease and dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, when D1275N is studied in heterologous expression systems, most studies show near-normal sodium channel function. Thus, the relationship of the variant to the clinical phenotypes remains uncertain.Methods and Results: We identified D1275N in a patient with atrial flutter, atrial standstill, conduction disease, and sinus node dysfunction. There was no major difference in biophysical properties between wild-type and D1275N channels expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells or tsA201 cells in the absence or presence of β1 subunits. To determine D1275N function in vivo, the Scn5a locus was modified to knock out the mouse gene, and the full-length wild-type (H) or D1275N (DN) human SCN5A cDNAs were then inserted at the modified locus by recombinase mediated cassette exchange. Mice carrying the DN allele displayed slow conduction, heart block, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype, with no significant fibrosis or myocyte disarray on histological examination. The DN allele conferred gene-dose-dependent increases in SCN5A mRNA abundance but reduced sodium channel protein abundance and peak sodium current amplitudes (H/H, 41.0±2.9 pA/pF at -30 mV; DN/H, 19.2±3.1 pA/pF, P<0.001 vs. H/H; DN/DN, 9.3±1.1 pA/pF, P<0.001 versus H/H).Conclusions: Although D1275N produces near-normal currents in multiple heterologous expression experiments, our data establish this variant as a pathological mutation that generates conduction slowing, arrhythmias, and a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype by reducing cardiac sodium current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The neutron-rich nuclei 109Nb and 109Zr have been populated using in-flight fission of a 238U beam at 345 MeV/nucleon at the RIBF facility. A isomer at 313 keV has been identified in 109Nb for the first time. The low-lying levels in 109Nb have been also populated following the β-decay of 109Zr. Based on the difference in feeding pattern between the isomeric and β decays, the decay scheme from the isomeric state in 109Nb was established. The observed hindrances of the electromagnetic transitions deexciting the isomeric state are discussed in terms of possible shape coexistence. Potential energy surface calculations for single-proton configurations predict the presence of low-lying oblate-deformed states in 109Nb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of MR elastography of the liver at 3 T with cine-tagging and bending energy (BE) analysis for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis.Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients underwent MR elastography with four different cine-tagging grids on the liver (16- or 20-mm sagittal or coronal). Nine images serially obtained during 1-s of exhalation were analyzed to define coordinates of grid intersections. BE values were calculated using the thin-plate spline method. BE values were compared among patient groups with different fibrosis stage thresholds.Results: In the 22 patients, six had a fibrosis score of F0, one had F1, seven had F2, three had F3, and five had F4. Mean BE value with 16-mm sagittal grid was greater with fibrosis score F0 (1.54 ± 0.63) than with ≥F1 (0.97 ± 0.12, P = 0.013) as well as with ≤F1 (1.48 ± 0.60) than with ≥F2 (0.96 ± 0.36, P = 0.019).Conclusion: Our results showed that MR elastography with 16-mm sagittal grid and BE analysis had a potential in discrimination for the patients with moderate or advanced hepatic fibrosis from those with healthy liver or slight fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The texture and tensile properties at room temperature of a fine-grained Mg–Al–Zn alloy rod processed by extrusion were examined before and after superplastic deformation. The tensile properties at room temperature were influenced by the high-temperature deformation conditions. The specimen after being exposed to superplastic deformation under tension tend to show higher ductility and lower strength at room temperature as the strain rate during high-temperature deformation decreased or as deformation temperature increased. The pre-existing basal texture of the rod slightly weakened after superplastic deformation. However, the texture weakening in the rod was not significant compared with that observed in the counterpart alloy in sheet-form probably because the initial distribution of basal planes differs between them. It is suggested that the rotation of crystallographic orientation induced by slip accommodation for grain boundary sliding plays an important role in texture randomization in superplastic magnesium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To cite this article: Banfield G, Watanabe H, Scadding G, Jacobson MR, Till SJ, Hall DA, Robinson DS, Lloyd CM, Nouri-Aria KT, Durham SR. CC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CCR4) in human allergen-induced late nasal responses. Allergy 2010; 65: 1126–1133. Background: CC Chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is preferentially expressed on Th2 lymphocytes. CCR4-mediated inflammation may be important in the pathology of allergic rhinitis. Disruption of CCR4 – ligand interaction may abrogate allergen-induced inflammation. Methods: Sixteen allergic rhinitics and six nonatopic individuals underwent both allergen and control (diluent) nasal challenges. Symptom scores and peak nasal inspiratory flow were recorded. Nasal biopsies were taken at 8 h post challenge. Sections were immunostained and examined by light or dual immunofluorescence microscopy for eosinophils, T-lymphocytes, CCR4+CD3+ and CXCR3+CD3+ cells and examined by in situ hybridization for CCR4, IL-4 and IFN-γ mRNA+ cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from peripheral blood of nine normal donors and the CCR4+CD4+ cells assessed for actin polymerization in response to the CCR4 ligand macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and the influence of a CCR4 antagonist tested. Results: Allergic rhinitics had increased early and late phase symptoms after allergen challenge compared to diluent; nonatopics did not respond to either challenge. Eosinophils, but not total numbers of CD3+ T cells, were increased in rhinitics following allergen challenge. In rhinitics, there was an increase in CCR4+CD3+ protein-positive cells relative to CXCR3+CD3+ cells; CCR4 mRNA+ cells were increased and IL-4 increased to a greater extent than IFN-γ. CCR4+CD4+ T cells responded to MDC in vitro, and this response was inhibited by the selective CCR4 antagonist . Conclusion: Lymphocyte CCR4 expression is closely associated with induction of human allergen-induced late nasal responses. Blocking CCR4-ligand interaction may provide a novel therapeutic approach in allergic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclei 131I and 133I have been populated in multi-nucleon transfer reactions between 136Xe ions and various targets, and their structure investigated by time-correlated γ-ray coincidence spectroscopy and the measurement of γ-ray angular correlations. A 19/2- isomer at 1918 keV, with a half-life of 24(1) µs, has been identified in 131I, as well as nanosecond isomers with Jπ = 23/2+ in both isotopes. A T1/2 = 25(3) ns isomer at 4308 keV in 131I is suggested to have Jπ = (31/2-, 33/2-) and is primarily attributed to the coupling of an odd proton in the d5/2 or g7/2 orbit with the $(\pi^2)_{0^+} (\nu h_{11/2}^{-3} d_{3/2}^{-1})_{15^-}$ configuration in 130Te, responsible for the 15- isomer in that nucleus. The observed level properties are compared with predictions of a shell-model calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]