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Submicron scale hybrid structures of diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) quantum wells (QWs) with ferromagnetic Co wires have been developed for the purpose of applying microscopic magnetic fields to the DMS quantum structures. The Zn[sub 1-x-y]Cd[sub x]Mn[sub y]Se QW was made into wires with the width down to 0.1 μm and each wire was sandwiched between the Co wires. The magneto-optical properties of the hybrid structures were studied by spin–flip light scattering of paramagnetic Mn ions in the DMS QW in addition to ferromagnetic surface spin-wave scattering of the Co wires, where the spin–flip energy is highly sensitive to the magnetic field H[sub Co flux] applied from the Co wires. The application of uniform magnetic fields H[sub Co flux]>=0.25 T from the Co wires to the DMS QW has been attained with the Co-wire spacing of 0.2 μm. In addition, the distribution of H[sub Co flux] in the DMS QW is quantitatively evaluated from the spectral shape of the spin–flip scattering. Moreover, the application of H[sub Co flux] to the DMS QW is switched on and off by weak external fields less than 0.02 T depending on the magnetic shape anisotropy of the collective Co wires, which can realize the switching behavior of the spin alignment of magnetic ions in the DMS QW. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effect of light on the hardness of C60 crystals. Illumination with white light; Effectiveness in the temperature range of 298-380 K; Photopolymerized C60 molecules near the crystal surface; Explanation of the temperature dependence of the hardness.

Preparation of non-polar ZnO (112¯0) films on single-crystal NdGaO3 (NGO) (001) substrates was successfully achieved by the radio frequency (RF) sputtering method. Orientation, deposition rate, and surface roughness of ZnO films strongly depend on the working pressure. Characteristics of ZnO films deposited on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates were compared with those of ZnO films deposited on single-crystal sapphire (011¯2) substrates. An x-ray diffraction peak of the ZnO (112¯0) plane was observed on ZnO films deposited on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates under working pressure of less than 0.5 Pa. On the other hand, uniaxially oriented ZnO (112¯0) films on single-crystal sapphire (011¯2) substrates were observed under working pressure of 0.1 Pa. The mechanism by which the diffraction angle of the ZnO (112¯0) plane on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was shifted is discussed on the basis of anisotropic stress of lattice mismatch. The deposition rate of ZnO films decreased with an increase in working pressure, and the deposition rate on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was larger than that on single-crystal sapphire (011¯2) substrates. Root mean square (RMS) roughness of ZnO films increased with an increase in working pressure, and RMS roughness of ZnO films on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was smaller than that of ZnO films on single-crystal sapphire (011¯2) substrates even though the film thickness on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was greater than that on sapphire substrates. It is thought that a single-crystal NGO (001) substrate is useful for deposition of non-polar ZnO (112¯0) films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic magnetic properties of epitaxial MnAs thin films are studied by means of Brillouin light scattering (BLS). The sharp spectral peaks of the inelastic BLS are observed in room temperature, which are attributed to surface spin waves indicating the long-wavelength collective behavior of ferromagnetic spins. The field dependence of the surface spin-wave frequency is strongly affected by an in-plane angle between the crystal axis and the external field direction in a GaAs(100)/MnAs(-1100) film, which originates from uniaxial magnetic anisotropy parallel to the MnAs[11-20] axis and the modified g value. Significant damping of the spin-wave BLS spectrum is observed with increasing excitation laser power, possibly due to thermal effects. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent reports showed that low-dose aspirin was ineffective in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients overall. We hypothesized that low-dose aspirin would be beneficial in patients receiving insulin therapy, as a high-risk group.Research Design and Methods: This study is a subanalysis of the Japanese Primary Prevention of Atherosclerosis With Aspirin for Diabetes (JPAD) trial-a randomized, controlled, open-label trial. We randomly assigned 2,539 patients with type 2 diabetes and no previous cardiovascular disease to the low-dose aspirin group (81 or 100 mg daily) or to the no-aspirin group. The median follow-up period was 4.4 years. We investigated the effect of low-dose aspirin on preventing atherosclerotic events in groups receiving different diabetes management.Results: At baseline, 326 patients were treated with insulin, 1,750 with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), and 463 with diet alone. The insulin group had the longest history of diabetes, the worst glycemic control, and the highest prevalence of diabetic microangiopathies. The diet-alone group had the opposite characteristics. The incidence of atherosclerotic events was 26.6, 14.6, and 10.4 cases per 1,000 person-years in the insulin, OHA, and diet-alone groups, respectively. In the insulin and OHA groups, low-dose aspirin did not affect atherosclerotic events (insulin: hazard ratio [HR] 1.19 [95% CI 0.60-2.40]; OHA: HR 0.84 [0.57-1.24]). In the diet-alone group, low-dose aspirin significantly reduced atherosclerotic events, despite the lowest event rates (HR 0.21 [0.05-0.64]).Conclusions: Low-dose aspirin reduced atherosclerotic events predominantly in the diet-alone group and not in the insulin or OHA groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), acts as a partial agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and thus improves abnormalities of glucose metabolism and hypertriglyceridaemia in addition to its documented blood pressure-lowering effects. Recently, it has been demonstrated that telmisartan also lowers the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of cholesterol reduction. We measured serum levels of cholestanol, a cholesterol absorption marker, and lathosterol, a cholesterol synthesis marker, in 20 patients with both hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. Ten patients were treated with telmisartan and the remaining 10 with fluvastatin. After 3 months of treatment, total and LDL cholesterol levels decreased in the telmisartan group ( P < 0·01 for both total and LDL cholesterol levels) and the fluvastatin group ( P < 0·001 for both total and LDL cholesterol levels). The change in cholestanol level after 3 months of treatment was positively correlated with the levels of total ( R = 0·72, P < 0·05) and LDL cholesterol ( R = 0·81, P < 0·01) in the telmisartan group. The change in lathosterol level was positively correlated with the levels of total ( R = 0·88, P = 0·001) and LDL cholesterol ( R = 0·89, P = 0·001) in the fluvastatin group. Our results suggest that the cholesterol-lowering effect of telmisartan might be caused by inhibition of cholesterol absorption, whereas that of statins is by inhibition of cholesterol synthesis. If confirmed, co-treatment with the two agents may be useful for synergistically lowering cholesterol in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is no well-established treatment strategy for Babesia gibsoni infection. A new therapeutic protocol using atovaquone (ATV) and azithromycin (AZM) has been proposed, but there is concern about the possible induction of relapse and the emergence of ATV-resistant variants after treatment. Objective: To evaluate the clinical use of combination therapy with ATV and AZM as a first-line treatment of clinical B. gibsoni infection in dogs, and to investigate the emergence of ATV-resistant variants. Animals: Eight B. gibsoni naturally infected dogs showing signs of acute onset of disease. Methods: Retrospective case study. Eight clinical cases received combination therapy with ATV and AZM at Kagoshima University Veterinary Teaching Hospital during 2007–2008, and their clinical courses and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated. In addition, alterations in the cytochrome b ( CYTb) gene of B. gibsoni were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing techniques. Results: All of the dogs responded well to the treatment, with rapid improvement in their clinical condition and hematological parameters. However, 5 of the 8 dogs relapsed after treatment. Analysis of the CYTb gene strongly suggested the emergence of ATV-resistant variants after treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The combination of ATV and AZM can be used as a first-line treatment for dogs with babesiosis, but relapses occur. Attention should be paid to the possible in vivo selection of drug-resistant variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fabry disease is an X linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from deficiency of α‐galactosidase A activity. Although disease manifestations in heterozygous females with Fabry disease have been considered to be rare and mild, heterozygous patients with severe symptoms have recently been reported. In this study we focused on the clinical characteristics of Japanese females patients with Fabry disease and analysed data from 36 women. Data on clinical manifestations such as acroparaesthesia, hypohidrosis, angiokeratoma, corneal opacities, proteinuria, end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and cerebral infarction were obtained by questionnaire; these analysed by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the data from Japanese male patients. Eighty‐six per cent of female patients had at least one clinical sign of Fabry disease. Their most common symptoms were acroparaesthesia and corneal opacities, and diagnosis was most commonly based on family history. The cumulative incidences of angiokeratoma, corneal opacities, proteinuria, ESRD, LVH and cerebral infarction were significantly lower in female than in male patients. However, corneal opacities, proteinuria and LVH developed progressively in female patients as well as in male patients. The incidence of LVH was especially high in older female patients and the cumulative incidence of LVH in women over 68 years of age was 100%. We consider that the term X‐linked 'recessive' is inappropriate for Fabry disease because of the high prevalence of its pathognomonic signs in heterozygous female patients. Careful and long‐term evaluation of clinical signs is important in heterozygous females patients with Fabry disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Asia-Pacific countries, both environmental modernization and hereditary traits of Mongoloid reported to cause rapid increase in lifestyle-related diseases (LRD). However, reproducibility of reported responsive-factors is low. To examine this, a decision-tree method of complexity-model was applied to select LRD-responsive-factors. Genomic DNA was collected from Asia-Pacific regions. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on genomic DNA were determined as hereditarytrait-factor. Three indices of LRD (BMI, body fat, and serum leptin levels) were classified according to published criteria. WEKA Machine-learning system was used as decision-tree software. Age was added as a factor with different dimension. Selected factors were validated by other statistical methods. In Thai-males, GLUT1 (glucose-transporter 1)-SNP was most-responsive to body fat, followed by USF1-SNP (transcription-factor for lipid metabolism). Differences between genotypes were validated (P = .002 for GLUTI by Levene's, P = .071 for USF1 by ANOVA). Responsive-factors of Thai-females, Palau-males and Palau-females, were consisted with SNPs and age, and varied by groups. Convincing responsive-factors were not selected from mixed-data. Decision-treeanalysis successfully selected the convincing results. Responsive-factors differed by ethnic group and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular damage over time and the alterations of neuronal subtypes was characterized in the striatum after 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion in rats. We investigated the immunohistochemical alterations of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive (cholinergic-positive), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic parvalbumin (PV)-positive, GABAergic nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase)-positive interneurons, neuronal nuclei (NeuN)-positive spiny projection neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive strocytes and microglial response factor-1 (MRF-1)-positive microglia in the striatum after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. In the present study, transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats caused severe damage against interneurons as well as spiny projection neurons in the striatum. In contrast, a significant increase in the number of GFAP-immunopositive astrocytes was observed in the ipsilateral striatum 15 days after focal cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, a significant increase of MRF-1 immunoreactivity was observed in microglia of the ipsilateral striatum 7 days and 15 days after focal cerebral ischemia. Among three types of cholinergic interneurons, GABAergic PV-positive interneurons and GABAergic nNOS-positive interneurons, the severe damage of cholinergic and GABAergic PV-positive interneurons was more pronounced than that of GABAergic nNOS-positive interneurons after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Furthermore, the present results suggest that GABAergic nNOS-positive interneurons in the striatum after focal cerebral ischemia undergo cellular death in a delayed manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on an investigation carried out to study the fatigue strength of friction stir welding joints of aluminium alloy 6082 extruded shape. It discusses the results of the fatigue tests done on the 6082 extruded shape using a hydraulic fatigue-testing servomechanism and the occurrence points of fatigue fractures. According to the results, the fracturing points occurred more frequently in the mother materials than joint areas, and corrosion pits were observed in the board surface.

The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with acute hip fracture was examined in a population on Sado Island in Japan. There were 85 cases of hip fracture among this population in 2004, giving an overall incidence of hip fracture of 121.4 per 100,000 population per year. This study included 50 of the 85 cases, and these cases were defined as the hip fracture group. Patients older than 70 years without established osteoporosis who were admitted to the hospital on the island during almost the same period for treatment of an orthopedic condition other than a hip fracture were defined as the control group. The levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), intact parathyroid hormone (intact PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, and the number of remaining teeth were examined in each group. In the hip fracture group, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, urine N-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), bone mineral density (BMD) of the nonfractured hip, the presence of a vertebral fracture on X-ray, severity of dementia, and physical activity level were also examined. Both the serum 25-OHD and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in patients with hip fracture than in controls, and the intact PTH level was significantly higher in patients with hip fracture. The number of remaining teeth was correlated with age, and was also significantly correlated with 25-OHD. In the hip fracture group, 62% of the subjects had hypovitaminosis D (25-OHD <20 ng/ml) and one-fifth of cases with hypovitaminosis D showed elevated PTH levels (>65 pg/ml). On the other hand, in the control group, hypovitaminosis D occurred in 18.9% of the subjects, and only one case showed elevated PTH. The serum 25-OHD level showed a decrease as the severity of dementia progressed and the activity level decreased. Our results indicate that about two-thirds (62%) of hip fracture patients had vitamin D insufficiency, suggesting that this condition may be closely associated with hip fracture in elderly people. Therefore, the serum 25-OHD level may be a useful index for the risk of hip fracture in elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant Zeeman effects of excitons were studied in hybrid nanostructures of diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) quantum wells (QWs) with ferromagnetic Co, where the DMS-QW wires with the width of 200 nm were sandwiched in the Co wires with the width of 400 nm. When the direction of the Co magnetization is normal to the wire plane, a magnetic field B ⊥ Co flux perpendicular to the well plane can be applied from the Co wires to all of the DMS-QW wire. In addition, the use of a Co/Pt multilayered film with the perpendicular magnetization at zero external field was examined instead of the pure Co film. The excitonic photoluminescence spectrum from the DMS-QW shows significant broadening in the hybrid structures, indicating the giant Zeeman shift of excitons induced by B ⊥ Co flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two methods were developed for the quantitative sampling of rotifers and cladocerans attached to aquatic macrophytes while separating them from plankton. We named them the “covering method” and the “picking-up method.” We consider the covering method to be better for estimating the abundance of animals on plants, but it requires hard work on a boat. In contrast, the picking-up method is simple and easy to perform, but it seems to estimate animal abundance with some errors. The densities of rotifers and cladocerans on emergent and submerged plants in two Japanese lakes were estimated by the two methods, and the results were compared. The densities of most animals (e.g., the rotiferans Brachionus, Mytilina, Lepadella, and Colurella, and the cladoceran Alona) estimated by the picking-up method did not differ from those estimated by the covering method. In contrast, the densities of the rotiferans Monostyla, Euchlanis, and Trichocerca estimated by the picking-up method tended to be lower than those estimated by the covering method. These suggest that the picking-up method is suitable for estimating many densities, except for some rotiferan genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There have been many studies reporting reduced volume of the hippocampus or other limbic structures in patients with schizophrenia, but the literature is inconsistent.Aims: To compare patients with either first-episode or chronic schizophrenia with controls using high-resolution volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.Method: Thirteen patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 27 with chronic schizophrenia and 31 controls had 1.5 mm coronal slices taken through the whole brain using a spoiled-grass MRI acquisition protocol.Results: The parahippocampal gyrus was reduced significantly on the left side in patients with chronic schizophrenia compared with controls for both male and female patients, whereas the hippocampus was reduced significantly on both sides only in female patients. There were no significant reductions in any structure between patients with first-episode schizophrenia and controls.Conclusions: Volumetric reduction seen in patients with chronic schizophrenia may be due to an active degenerative process occurring after the onset of illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective radiographic and clinical analysis of 102 symptomatic patients with 104 scaphoid nonunions of at least 1 year's duration was conducted. Osteoarthritis occurred in 22% of non-unions of less than 5 years' duration, 75% of those of 5 to 9 years' duration, and 100% of those of 10 years' duration or more. An all-over incidence of osteoarthritis in the wrist was 55%. Osteoarthritic changes occurred initially at the scaphoid-radial styloid joint which were manifested by radial styloid pointing and/or dorsal radioscaphoid osteophyte formation, later progressing to the midcarpal joint. Osteoarthritis at the scaphoid-radial styloid joint was significantly associated with dorsiflexed intercalated segment instability (DISI) deformity. An overall incidence of DISI deformity of the wrist was 56%, and the frequency of DISI pattern increased with longer duration of non-union. There was an increased incidence of avascular necrosis of the proximal fragment with time, especially after 20 years. There was no correlation between symptoms of pain and the severity of arthritis or the duration of non-union, but a good correlation between the duration of non-union and reduced grip strength or decreased wrist motion. A symptomatic non-union of the scaphoid is significantly likely to progress to osteoarthritis according to a predictable sequence, becoming worse both radiographically and clinically with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective radiographic and clinical analysis of 102 symptomatic patients with 104 scaphoid non-unions of at least 1 year's duration was conducted. Osteoarthritis occurred in 22% of non-unions of less than 5 years' duration, 75% of those of 5 to 9 years' duration, and 100% of those of 10 years' duration or more. An all-over incidence of osteoarthritis in the wrist was 55%. Osteoarthritic changes occurred initially at the scaphoid-radial styloid joint which were manifested by radial styloid pointing and/or dorsal radioscaphoid osteophyte formation, later progressing to the midcarpal joint. Osteoarthritis at the scaphoid-radial styloid joint was significantly associated with dorsiflexed intercalated segment instability (DISI) deformity. An overall incidence of DISI deformity of the wrist was 56%, and the frequency of DISI pattern increased with longer duration of non-union. There was an increased incidence of avascular necrosis of the proximal fragment with time, especially after 20 years. There was no correlation between symptoms of pain and the severity of arthritis or the duration of non-union, but a good correlation between the duration of non-union and reduced grip strength or decreased wrist motion. A symptomatic non-union of the scaphoid is significantly likely to progress to osteoarthritis according to a predictable sequence, becoming worse both radiographically and clinically with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the central nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster 3rd instar larvae, eight continuous cell lines have been established (named ML-DmBG1 to 8). Using ML-DmBG2, single colony isolation was carried out and six colonial clones were obtained. All reacted to the antibody to horseradish peroxidase, which is a neuronal marker in insects. Acetylcholine, a known neurotransmitter in Drosophila, was detected in three of the colonial clones by high performance liquid chromatography. Therefore, it is concluded that the established colonial clones are neural cells originating in the larval central nervous system. Among them, some variation was observed with respect to morphology, acetylcholine content, and reactivity to anti-HRP. The variation may reflect the heterogeneity of cells composing the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six patients with avulsion fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers are reported. Operation was performed in all cases. Judging from the operative findings, the radiological assessment of fragment shape is helpful in treatment. Surgery is recommended when the fragment is triangular or rectangular in shape because the fracture involves the articular surface. Conservative treatment is effective if the fragment is round because the articular surface of the joint is not involved in this type of fracture. The avulsed fragment often overlaps the metacarpal head and a collateral ligament injury is likely to be misdiagnosed. It is important to suspect this injury and assess the shape of the whole fragment for a good functional result. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

32 patients with scaphoid non-union were examined to clarify the relationship between pre-operative radiographic sclerosis in the proximal fragment and signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, the correlation between changes in signal intensity in the proximal fragment and surgical outcome after bone grafting and internal fixation was investigated. Proximal fragment sclerosis was observed in seven patients. Comparison of the T1 and T2-weighted images with those of the 25 patients without proximal fragment sclerosis revealed no differences. Therefore, there was no relationship between sclerotic changes on plain radiography and the degree of avascularity of the proximal fragment assessed by MRI. None of the patients who had low signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images achieved union within 5 months after surgery. Thus the detection of signal intensity on both T1 and T2-weighted images can be useful to predict the prognosis after the surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A hybrid nanostructure of diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum well (DMS-QW) has been fabricated by using a ferromagnetic Co/Pt-multilayered film with perpendicular magnetization. The nanoscale disk of DMS-QW with a diameter of 80 nm was embedded in the magnetic film generating magnetic fields perpendicular to the DMS-QW plane. As a result, exciton photoluminescence with circular-polarization properties arises in a zero external field, due to the giant Zeeman effects of excitons. It indicates that the perpendicular magnetic fields applied from the Co/Pt film align the exciton spins in the DMS nanoscale disk, acting as a nanoscale magnet for semiconductor spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant Zeeman effects of excitons in a hybrid nanostructure of diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) quantum well (QW) with ferromagnetic Co have been demonstrated, where the DMS-QW wire with the width of 200 nm is sandwiched in the Co wires and magnetic fields nearly perpendicular to the well plane can efficiently be applied from the Co wires to all of the DMS QW. The spectral shape of excitonic photoluminescence and the field dependence show clearly that the microscopic perpendicular fields generated from the Co wires induce the giant Zeeman shifts of excitons in the DMS QW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which examined the production and regulation of extracellular superoxide dismutase and renal glomerular mesangial cells. Methods; Results; Discussion.