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Direct numerical simulations of turbulent flows over highly permeable porous walls were performed at various Reynolds numbers to examine the effects of the Reynolds number on permeable wall turbulence. The porous medium consisted of Kelvin cell arrays with porosity 0.95, and the permeability Reynolds number ReK ranged from approximately 7 to 50. Simulations with thin and thick porous walls were performed to investigate the effects of spanwise roller vortices associated with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The results show that the effect of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability becomes more significant with increasing the permeability Reynolds number, and spanwise rollers, for which length scale is an order of channel height, dominate turbulence when ReK x 30. Spanwise rollers reinforce the negative correlation between the wall-normal and streamwise velocity fluctuations close to the porous/fluid interface, and intensify the turbulent velocity fluctuations away from the porous walls, leading to increased frictional resistance. An investigation of the Reynolds number dependence of the modified logarithmic law indicates that the zero-plane displacement and equivalent roughness height are proportional to the square root of permeability, whereas the von Kármán constant increases with the permeability Reynolds number because of the increased mixing length resulting from the relatively large-scale velocity fluctuations induced by spanwise rollers. We developed a model for the modified log law for permeable wall turbulence based on permeability, and confirmed that the skin friction coefficient obtained from the model reasonably predicts the skin friction coefficient for several types of high-porosity porous media. Hence, permeability is a key parameter that characterizes the logarithmic mean velocity profiles over a variety of porous media with high porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of permeable porous walls on momentum and heat transfer in a rectangular duct were studied by means of direct numerical simulation of the turbulent conjugate heat transfer. For this purpose, airflow through a rectangular duct, partially filled with a porous medium consisting of aluminium square bars, was simulated at a bulk mean Reynolds number of 3500, where the geometry of the duct used was identical to that employed in the experimental study of Suga et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 884, 2020, A7). It was found that the large-scale perturbations arising from the Kelvin–Helmholtz type of instability developed over the porous medium wall, and the turbulence intensity, particularly in the porous wall-normal component, was enhanced significantly. The secondary flow was enhanced by a factor of three compared to that in a smooth-walled square duct flow, and could be characterized by a strong upward flow along the lateral walls and downward flow in the symmetry plane. The convection by the secondary flow considerably contributed to the momentum and heat transfer in the top half of the clear flow region, whereas the enhanced turbulence over the porous wall largely affected the momentum and heat transfer just above the porous medium wall, as seen in the case of a porous-walled channel flow. It should be noted that in the porous medium region, the mean temperature at the surface of the porous medium is non-uniform, with the solid- and fluid-phase temperatures reaching the equilibrium state. This could be correctly reproduced only with the conjugate heat transfer. It was found that the mean velocity dispersion as well as the turbulent velocity fluctuation contributed significantly to the energy transfer below the porous wall, which demonstrated the importance of the dispersion heat flux for heat transfer modelling of porous medium flows. Furthermore, it was observed that the secondary flow penetrated the porous medium region resulting in large-scale mean flow currents, which enhanced heat transfer inside the porous medium region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various tectonic models have been proposed to account for the widely distributed igneous activities in the southeastern part of the South China Block (SCB) during the Triassic–Jurassic period. One of the major contending debates is on the timing of initiation of the palaeo-Pacific plate subduction under the SCB, due to lack of unequivocal evidence for arc magmatism during the period in this region. The 191 ± 10 Ma (N = 5, MSWD = 12) calc-alkalic high-K I-type Talun metagranite occurs in the southern Tailuko belt of the Tananao metamorphic complex, Taiwan. In terms of age, this metagranite belongs to the Early Yanshanian igneous activity in the southeastern part of the SCB. However, its geographic position does not accord with the well-known general oceanward younging trend of the Yansnanian igneous rocks. In view of the large age uncertainty reported, this metagranite is redated in this study. Some zircons of this metagranite are high in U content and are metamict. Zircons with low U contents are analysed by SHRIMP yielding a more precise age of 200 ± 2 Ma (N = 10, MSWD = 4). In particular, theεHf(t) of these dated zircons ranges from +4.5 to +12.9. The metagranite mainly consists of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, with minor amounts of garnet, biotite, zircon, apatite, and pyrrhotite. Chlorite and calcite are secondary phases overprinted by the later tectonic event(s). Its initial Sr isotope compositional range is 0.70473–0.70588, andεNd(t), +2.4 to +3.6. The results demonstrate that the genesis of this metagranite could be attributed to the assimilation-fractionation of a depleted mantle-derived basaltic magma, which was most likely related to arc magmatism. The present study therefore offers key evidence that during the Mesozoic, the palaeo-Pacific plate subduction underneath the SCB would have taken place no later than the very early Jurassic. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives:To verify the effectiveness and safety of the addition of adipose-derived regenerative cells to autologous fat injection therapy.Methods:Unilateral vocal fold paralysis models were made by cutting the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in two pigs. At day 30, 0.5 ml adipose-derived regenerative cells mixed with 1 ml autologous fat was injected into the right vocal fold of one pig, with the other receiving 0.5 ml Ringer's solution mixed with 1 ml autologous fat. At day 120, fibrescopy, laser Doppler flowmeter, computed tomography, vocal function evaluation and histological assessment were conducted.Results:Although histological assessment revealed atrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle fibre in both pigs, there was remarkable hypertrophy of the thyroarytenoid muscle fibre in the area surrounding the adipose-derived regenerative cells injection site.Conclusion:The addition of a high concentration of adipose-derived regenerative cells to autologous fat injection therapy has the potential to improve the treatment outcome for unilateral vocal fold paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Lifetable demography and reproductive traits of a Kenyan strain of the rotiferBrachionus angulariswere investigated using individual and small batch culture approaches. The rotifer was identified morphologically before conducting studies at 20, 25 and 30 °C, usingChlorella vulgarisat 2.5 × 105to 2.5 × 107cells ml–1. The rotifers were highly fecund, producing 2.11 ± 0.07 offspring female–1day–1and reproductive, producing 8.43 ± 0.24 offspring female–1at 25 °C with 2.5 × 106algal cells ml–1. The highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.74 ± 0.02 d–1), specific population growth rate (0.49 ± 0.01), longest life expectancy at hatching (12.41 ± 0.28 d) and shortest generation time (2.87 ± 0.03 d) also occurred at 25 °C with 2.5 × 106algal cells ml–1. The duration of hatching to first spawning was shortest (2.86 ± 0.21 h) at 30 °C with 2.5 × 107algal cells ml–1and longest (8.83 ± 0.39 h) at 20 °C with 2.5 × 105algal cells ml–1. The highest population density (255.7 ± 12.6 ind. ml–1) was realised at 25 °C with 2.5 × 106cells ml–1on Day 8, whereas the lowest population density (122.0 ± 3.6 ind. ml–1) was realised at 20 °C with 2.5 × 105cells ml–1on Day 8. The lorica length and width of the Kenyan strain ofB. angularisare 85.6 ± 3.1 µm and 75.4 ± 3.6 µm, respectively. The rotifer optimally reproduces at 25 °C when fed with 2.5 × 106algal cells ml–1. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The extensive evaluation studies of the lattice Boltzmann method for microscale flows (µ-flow LBM) by the author's group are summarized. For the two-dimensional test cases, force-driven Poiseuille flows, Couette flows, a combined nanochannel flow, and flows in a nanochannel with a square- or triangular cylinder are discussed. The three-dimensional (3D) test cases are nano-mesh flows and a flow between 3D bumpy walls. The reference data for the complex test flow geometries are from the molecular dynamics simulations of the Lennard-Jones fluid by the author's group. The focused flows are mainly in the slip and a part of the transitional flow regimes at Kn < 1. The evaluated schemes of the µ-flow LBMs are the lattice Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook and the multiple-relaxation time LBMs with several boundary conditions and discrete velocity models. The effects of the discrete velocity models, the wall boundary conditions, the near-wall correction models of the molecular mean free path and the regularization process are discussed to confirm the applicability and the limitations of the µ-flow LBMs for complex flow geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plane thermal transpiration of a slightly rarefied gas that flows horizontally in the presence of weak gravitation is studied based on the fluid-dynamic-type equation and the slip-type boundary condition derived from the Boltzmann equation. We consider the situation where the Knudsen number (the mean free path divided by the channel width) is small and the dimensionless gravity (the channel width divided by the ascent height of the molecules against gravity) is of the order of the square of the Knudsen number. The fluid-dynamic equation is studied by the asymptotic analysis for the slow variation in the longitudinal direction, and the nontrivial leading order solution is obtained analytically. Due to the combination of gravity and the temperature gradient imposed along the channel, a pressure gradient is produced in both the vertical and the horizontal directions. The horizontal pressure gradient induces the flow even in the absence of the gradient of the sectionally averaged pressure. Although the pressure gradient produced is of the higher order of the Knudsen number, the flow induced by the gradient is of the order of the Knudsen number and thus has a relatively finite effect on the thermal transpiration. The velocity profile is considerably different from that of the conventional thermal transpiration due to the effect of weak gravitation. A direct numerical analysis of a flow through a long channel is conducted based on the model Boltzmann equation, and the mechanism of this phenomenon is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large eddy simulation (LES) using a mixed-time-scale (MTS) subgrid-scale (SGS) model is applied to the intake flows in simplified internal combustion engine geometry. A modified colocated grid system is employed to obtain results as precise as possible and to perform calculations in a stable way with a central difference scheme for convective terms. The results are compared with corresponding experimental data and the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation model results obtained using the low-Reynolds-number linear k- In addition, it is made clear that when the QUICK scheme is used in LES for the convective terms instead of the central difference scheme, the result obtained deteriorates owing to the numerical viscosity. The importance of the discretization method in practical LES is also confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tc-99m-Technegas-MAA single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-derived ventilation (V)/perfusion (Q) quotient SPECT was used to assess lung V-Q imbalance in patients with pulmonary emphysema. Methods: V/Q quotient SPECT and V/Q profile were automatically built in 38 patients with pulmonary emphysema and 12 controls, and V/Q distribution and V/Q profile parameters were compared. V/Q distribution on V/Q quotient SPECT was correlated with low attenuation areas (LAA) on density-mask computed tomography (CT). Parameters of V/Q profile such as the median, standard deviation (SD), kurtosis and skewness were proposed to objectively evaluate the severity of lung V-Q imbalance. Results: In contrast to uniform V/Q distribution on V/Q quotient SPECT and a sharp peak with symmetrical V/Q distribution on V/Q profile in controls, lung areas showing heterogeneously high or low V/Q and flattened peaks with broadened V/Q distribution were frequently seen in patients with emphysema, including lung areas with only slight LAA. V/Q distribution was also often asymmetric regardless of symmetric LAA. All the proposed parameters of V/Q profile in entire lungs of patients with emphysema showed large variations compared with controls; SD and kurtosis were significantly different from controls (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively), and a significant correlation was found between SD and A-aDO2 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: V/Q quotient SPECT appears to be more sensitive to detect emphysematous lungs compared with morphologic CT in patients with emphysema. SD and kurtosis of V/Q profile can be adequate parameters to assess the severity of lung V-Q imbalance causing gas-exchange impairment in patients with emphysema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed high-field magnetization measurements, M( H), on the Ni5(TeO3)4Br2 by using a pulse magnet. The Ni2+ ions ( S = 1) of this compound form a two dimensional distorted spin frustrated system (distorted kagome lattice), and undergo a Neel transition at T N∼29 K, due to the anisotropy. Below T N, a complex spin arrangement which contains ten spin sub-lattices was suggested by neutron scattering and electron spin resonance studies. We observed a step-like transition at H c∼11 T when T< T N. By contrast, at T> T N, the field-dependent magnetization curves behaved like a straight line. The H c is close to those obtained by previous spin resonance studies of Ni5(TeO3)4Br2 and Ni5(TeO3)4Cl2 in which a spin-flop-like transition was proposed to explain the field-dependent resonance spectra. Interestingly, the observed change in magnetization (Δ M) at H c corresponds to nearly one-half of the magnetic moment of Ni2+ ion, suggesting that the observed step-like behavior possibly corresponds to a spin-flip-like transition (i.e. from antiferromagnetic state to ferrimagnetic state). In addition, in the high-field region ( H> H c), the M( H) curves did not show plateau behavior, but exhibited the straight lines having finite slopes without any sign of saturation up to 55 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the difference of (18)F-FDG uptake kinetics between FDG-avid metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and FDG-avid benign LNs associated with various etiologies on dual-time point PET/CT scan, and to determine the optimal parameter for differentiation. Methods: The subjects were 134 FDG-avid metastatic LNs in 67 patients with NSCLC and 62 FDG-avid benign LNs in 61 patients with various lung disorders including NSCLC. PET/CT scan was performed at 2 time points (at 60 min and at 120 min) after intravenous injection of 4.4 MBq/kg (18)F-FDG. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on early and delayed scans and the percent change of SUVmax (%DeltaSUVmax) were measured at each FDG-avid LN. The optimal parameter for differentiation was determined by the receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Results: Delayed SUVmax was increased compared with early SUVmax in 114 (85.0%) FDG-avid metastatic LNs and 42 (67.7%) FDG-avid benign LNs, with significant higher delayed SUVmax than early values (7.0 +/- 5.0 vs. 5.9 +/- 3.4; P < 0.0001, and 3.0 +/- 1.3 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.0; P < 0.05, respectively). Early and delayed SUVmax and %DeltaSUVmax in metastatic LNs were significantly higher than those in benign LNs (P < 0.0001). The optimal parameter for the differentiation was the combined use of early SUVmax > 3.0 or delayed SUVmax > 4.0, yielding sensitivity of 88.8%, specificity of 80.6%, accuracy of 86.2%, negative predictive value of 76.9%, and positive predictive value of 90.6%. It provided better results than the use of early SUVmax > 3.0 alone (P = 0.019) or the optimal parameter for %DeltaSUVmax (>5%) (P = 0.012). However, 12 (19.3%) benign LNs were indistinguishable from metastatic LNs. Conclusions: Although dual-time point PET/CT scan enhances the difference of FDG uptake between FDG-avid metastatic and benign LNs and improves the differentiation when compared with a single scan, biopsy procedure may be still required for accurate assessment of LN status in patients with NSCLC and possible etiologies showing intensive FDG uptake in benign LNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify the difference of F-18 FDG uptake kinetics between FDG-avid non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and benign lesions associated with various etiologies on dual-time point PET/CT scan, and to determine the optimal parameter for differentiation. Materials and Methods: The materials were 76 FDG-avid solitary NSCLC in 76 patients and 57 FDG-avid solitary benign lesions associated with various etiologies in 61 patients. FDG PET/CT scan was performed at 60 and 120 min after intravenous injection of 4.4 MBq/kg F-18 FDG. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on early and delayed scans and the percent change of SUVmax (%DeltaSUVmax) between the two time points were measured. The optimal differential parameter was determined by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis and evaluation of diagnostic accuracy. Results: The mean +/- SD of early SUV max, delayed SUVmax and %DeltaSUVmax were 8.3 +/- 5.2, and 10.2 +/- 6.5, and 21.9% +/- 18.9 in FDG-avid NSCLC, and 3.8 +/- 3.2, 4.0 +/- 3.7, and 11.3% +/- 26.0 in FDG-avid benign lesions, respectively. Delayed SUVmax in NSCLC was significantly higher than early SUVmax (P < 0.0001); while not different in benign lesions. Percent change of SUVmax in NSCLC was also significantly higher than that in benign lesions (P < 0.01). The optimal parameter for the differentiation was delayed SUVmax > 5.5 and yielded sensitivity of 77.6%, specificity of 80.7% and accuracy of 78.9%, which provided better differentiation than the use of %DeltaSUVmax or the traditional parameter of early SUVmax > 2.5. However, 11 (19.2%) benign lesions were indistinguishable from NSCLC. Conclusion: Although delayed PET/CT scan enhances the difference of FDG uptake between FDG-avid NSCLC and benign lesions, and the use of delayed SUVmax > 5.5 appears to improve the differentiation of these hypermetabolic lesions compared with an early scan, careful interpretation and management for correct differentiation are still required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The functional mechanism of lung mosaic computed tomography attenuation (MCA) in pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and obstructive airway disease (OAD) has not yet been fully clarified. Purpose: To clarify the mechanism of MCA in these diseases by assessing the relationship between regional lung function and CT attenuation change at MCA sites with the use of automated deep-inspiratory breath-hold (DIBrH) perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-CT fusion images and non-breath-hold Technegas SPECT. Material and Methods: Subjects were 42 PVD patients (31 pulmonary thromboembolism, four primary/two secondary pulmonary hypertension, and five Takayasu arteritis), 12 OAD patients (five acute asthma, four obliterative bronchiolitis, and three bronchiectasis), and 12 normal controls, all of whom had MCA on DIBrH CT. The relationship between regional lung function and CT attenuation change at the lung slices with MCA was assessed using DIBrH perfusion SPECT-CT fusion images and non-breath-hold Technegas SPECT. The severity of perfusion defects with or without MCA was quantified by regions-of-interest analysis. Results: On DIBrH CT and perfusion SPECT, in contrast to no noticeable CT attenuation abnormality and fairly uniform perfusion in controls, 60 MCA and 274 perfusion defects in PVD patients, and 18 MCA and 61 defects in OAD patients were identified, with a total of 77 ventilation defects on Technegas SPECT in all patients. SPECT-CT correlation showed that, throughout the 78 MCA sites of all patients, lung perfusion was persistently decreased at low CT attenuation and preserved at intervening high CT attenuation, while lung ventilation was poorly correlated with CT attenuation change. The radioactivity ratios of reduced perfusion and the intervening preserved perfusion at the 78 perfusion defects with MCA were significantly lower than those at the remaining 257 defects without MCA (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Although further validation is required, our results indicate that heterogeneous pulmonary arterial perfusion may be a dominant mechanism of MCA in PVD and OAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adipose tissue serves as an integrator of various physiological pathways, energy balance, and glucose homeostasis. Forkhead box-containing protein O subfamily (FoxO) 1 mediates insulin action at the transcriptional level. However, physiological roles of FoxO1 in adipose tissue remain unclear. Research Design and Methods: In the present study, we generated adipose tissue-specific FoxO1 transgenic mice (adipocyte protein 2 [aP(2)]-FLAG-Delta 256) using an aP(2) promoter/enhancer and a mutant FoxO1 (FLAG Delta 256) in which the carboxyl terminal transactivation domain was deleted. Using these mice, we analyzed the effects of the overexpression of FLAG Delta 256 on glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Results: The aP(2)-FLAG-Delta 256 mice showed improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity accompanied with smaller-sized adipocytes and increased adiponectin (adipoq) and Glut 4 (Slc2a4) and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnf) and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (Ccr2) gene expression levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) under a high-fat diet. Furthermore, the aP(2)-FLAG-Delta 256 mice had increased oxygen consumption accompanied with increased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1 alpha protein and uncoupling protein (UCP)-1 (Ucp1), UCP-2 (Ucp2), and beta 3-AR (Adrb3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Overexpression of FLAG Delta 256 in T37i cells, which are derived from the hibernoma of SV40 large T antigen transgenic mice, increased expression of PGC-1 alpha protein and Ucp1. Furthermore, knockdown of endogenous FoxO1 in T37i cells increased Pgc1 alpha (Ppargc1a), Pgc1 beta (Ppargc1b), Ucp1, and Adrb3 gene expression. Conclusions: These data suggest that FoxO1 modulates energy homeostasis in WAT and BAT through regulation of adipocyte size and adipose tissue-specific gene expression in response to excessive calorie intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, hypogammaglobulinemia and low to normal numbers of circulating B cells. Mutations in the ICOS, TACI and CD19 genes have recently been identified in <10% of CVID patients. We, herein, describe two novel CD19 gene disruptions in an 8-year-old Japanese boy, who had been clinically diagnosed as having CVID at the age of 5 years. Flow-cytometric analysis demonstrated absence of CD19 and reduced CD21 expression on CD20-postive peripheral blood B cells. Mutation analysis of CD19 revealed a mutation in the splice acceptor site of intron 5 (IVS5-1G>T) of the maternal allele, resulting in skipping of exon 6, and a truncated protein product. The paternal allele was disrupted by a gross deletion encompassing at least the ATP2A1, CD19 and NFATC2IP genes. The patient had a small number of IgD− CD27+ memory B cells, in which somatic mutation were detected. His B cells showed substantial proliferation upon stimulation, but reduced IgG and IgA production in vitro. These findings extend the mutation spectrum of the CD19 deficiency to four, and confirm the homogeneity of the CD19 deficiency as a unique type of CVID.Genes and Immunity (2007) 8, 663–670; doi:10.1038/sj.gene.6364431; published online 20 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flare catalogue of the Yohkoh mission is compiled and linked to this article as an electronic supplement. For showing flare characteristics over wide energy range concisely, we provide the images of Hard X-ray Telescope (HXT) and the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), and the spectra of Hard X-ray Spectrometer (HXS) and Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) with the Wide Band Spectrometer (WBS) time profiles. The energy versus pulse height (PH) data channels in HXS and GRS are re-calibrated by using the data of the whole mission period. Secular gain changes are recognized in HXS, and the characteristics of power-law flare spectra simultaneously observed by HXT and HXS confirms the trend. The GRS gains are different for the flare observations during the previous maximum and for the current maximum. The total of 33 γ -ray events are observed, and for 12 of them γ-ray flare spectra are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface-wave amplitude (free-surface level) and the turbulent velocity field of the liquid phase of a plane wall-jet flow have been simultaneously measured by means of particle image velocimetry, which allows for the investigation of surface waves and wave-turbulence interaction. The Reynolds number, Weber number, and Ohnesorge number of the tested flow, based on the bulk velocity, height of the closed channel, and physical properties of water, were 3.6×104, 1.2×103, and 9.5×10-4, respectively. Based on the measured datasets of the velocity field and free-surface level, the characteristics of the wave-turbulence interaction as well as the statistics of surface waves and turbulent velocity field were studied. The characteristics of the turbulent velocity field near the wavy free surface obtained in this study were different from those obtained previously for open-channel flows with no shear at the interface or negligible deformation of the free surface. It was found that reverse vortex motion was predominant beneath the wave crest to a depth of about 2 mm under the tested flow condition at the near field of the wall jet, which was conjectured to be the main feature before the onset of breakup of the free surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To test the capability of an indirect MR lymphography (MRLG) using a conventional extracellular gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agent for localizing breast sentinel lymph node (SLN). Methods: A total of 1 and 0.5 ml of undiluted gadopentetate dimeglumine were injected subcutaneously into the two periareolar areas overlying each caudal mammary gland in 10 female dogs. Contiguous 2-mm-thick fast gradient echo MR images were acquired through the upper breast and axilla before and for 60 min after gentle massage at the injection sites, yielding 3D displays. The localized SLN was resected from the living animals, followed by post mortem examinations. MRLG (1 ml contrast agent injected) was also attempted in 5 female volunteers. Results: Even with 0.5-ml contrast agent, the MRLG clearly visualized the connection of SLN and lymphatic vessels directly draining from the injection sites, and the remaining distant nodes, with the maximal enhancement peaks within 10 min after massage. The 3D images provided comprehensive anatomy of these lymphatic pathways in each axilla. Of the 20 SLN and 128 distant nodes visualized on the MRLG, all the SLN (100%) and 107 (83.5%) distant nodes could be resected pre- and post mortem, in good correlation with the locations and sizes on the MR images. MRLG also effectively localized SLN in the volunteers, without significant adverse effects. Conclusion: An indirect MRLG using small volumes of conventional Gd-based contrast agent may have potential for accurate identification and surgical biopsy of breast SLN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gd-DTPA aerosol ventilation MR imaging was obtained using a modified aerosol delivery system with an aerosol reservoir to non-invasively assess regional lung ventilation in dogs.Material and Methods: Seven anesthetized, spontaneously breathing normal dogs inhaled 200 mmol Gd/l Gd-DTPA aerosol produced by an ultrasonic nebulizer, using an open-circuit aerosol delivery system with or without an aerosol reservoir. Fast gradient-echo MR images were sequentially acquired with an interval time of 1 min for 25 min before and after aerosol inhalation. The aerosol study was also performed using the aerosol delivery system with an aerosol reservoir in the same 7 dogs after airway obstruction with a balloon catheter, and in another 7 dogs after pulmonary arterial embolization with enbucrilate. An i.v. Gd-DTPA-enhanced dynamic MR study after i.v. bolus injection of a 0.1 mmol/kg dose of Gd-DTPA was combined to assess regional lung perfusion. Lung enhancement effect was evaluated by time-signal intensity curves and the subtracted ventilation- and perfusion-weighted images.Results: With or without the aerosol reservoir, the normal dog lungs were gradually and gravity-dependently enhanced with time after aerosol inhalation. The use of the aerosol reservoir, however, showed significantly greater lung enhancement without a significant increase in breathing rate and with minimal reduction in PaO2 of less than 5 mm Hg in these animals. The enhancement effect of i.v. injection of Gd-DTPA at pulmonary arterial perfusion phase was significantly greater compared to that of Gd-DTPA aerosol throughout the normal lungs, and the subtracted ventilation-weighted and perfusion-weighted images showed homogeneous but gravity-dependent aerosol deposition and perfusion. These images clearly defined the regionally matched perfusion-ventilation deficits in the lung regions distal to bronchial obstruction in all the airway obstruction dogs, and the regionally mismatched perfusion-ventilation in the embolized regions of all the pulmonary arterial embolization animals.Conclusion: Gd-based aerosol can non-invasively image regional lung ventilation in spontaneously breathing animals, using an adequate aerosol delivery system. The combined use of Gd-DTPA perfusion MR imaging may be acceptable for defining regionally impaired lung function associated with acute airway obstruction and pulmonary arterial embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a study that was conducted to analyze the 4-nonylphenol (NP), 4-nonylphenol mono- and diethoxylates and other 4-alkylphenols in water and shellfish from rivers flowing into Lake Biwa, Japan. Water and shellfish samples were collected from the Fujima and Shintori rivers once every month from June 1999 to March 2000. The two rivers flow into Lake Biwa. For water samples, NP, NP1EO (nonylphenol monoethoxylate) and NP2EO (nonylphenol diethoxylate) were detected all the year round at high frequency (59/60) in the two rivers. 4-tert-butylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol, bisphenol A were detected at lower concentrations and at lower frequency (16/60). Composition of NP, NP1EO and NP2EO was 21%, 45% and 34% in Fujima river water and 19%, 55% and 26% in Shiratori river water.

The HXS and GRS detectors on Yohkoh observed the 14 July 2000, X5.7 flare, beginning at ∼ 10:20 UT, ∼ 4 min before the peak in soft X-rays. The hard X-rays and γ-rays peaked ∼ 3 min later at ∼ 10:27 UT. Solar γ-ray emission lasted until ∼ 10:40 UT. Impact of high-energy ions at the Sun is revealed by the γ-ray lines from neutron capture, annihilation radiation and de-excitation that are visible above the bremsstrahlung continuum. From measurement of these lines we find that the flare-averaged spectrum of accelerated protons is consistent with a power law ge10 MeV with index 3.14±0.15 and flux 1.1×1032 protons MeV−1 at 10 MeV. We estimate that there were ∼1.5×1030 erg in accelerated ions if the power law extended without a break down to 1 MeV; this is about 1% of the energy in electrons > 20 keV from measurements of the hard X-rays. We find no evidence for spectral hardening in the hard X-rays that has been suggested as a predictor for the occurrence of solar energetic particle (SEP) events. This was the third largest proton event above 10 MeV since 1976. The GRS and HXS also observed γ-ray lines and continuum produced by the impact of SEP on the Earth's atmosphere beginning about 13 UT on 14 July. These measurements show that the SEP spectrum softened considerably over the next 24 hours. We compare these measurements with proton measurements in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the relationship between thallium-201 chloride kinetics and proliferative activity in brain tumours, a single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) study was performed and the results correlated with monoclonal antibody MIB-1 staining of the tumour tissue. [sup 201] Tl SPET was performed 10 min (early scan) and 2 h (delayed scan) after intravenous administration of [sup 201] Tl (111 MBq) in 34 intra-axial tumours including 24 malignant tumours, and in 27 extra-axial tumours including one malignant tumour. Tumour [sup 201] Tl kinetic parameters [early and delayed uptake ratios (ER and DR, respectively), retention index (RI), and the ratio of tumour delayed activity to early activity (Td/Te)] were compared with tumour tissue MIB-1 labelling indices (MIB-1 LI) representative of tumour cell proliferative activity. In the intra-axial tumours, ER and DR and MIB-1 LI were significantly higher in the malignant tumours than in the benign tumours. ER and DR were significantly correlated with MIB-1 LI (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but RI and Td/Te were not. In the extra-axial benign tumours, ER was as high as that in the intra-axial malignant tumours, while MIB-1 LI was equal to that in the intra-axial benign tumours. There were no significant correlations between any [sup 201] Tl kinetic parameters and MIB-1 LI. This study indicates that [sup 201] Tl ER may be the most reliable parameter for predicting the proliferative activity of intra-axial tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have found a new type of three-dimensional quantized Hall effect (QHE) in layered semiconductors Bi2−xSnxTe3 (x≤0.0125) single crystals. The Hall resistivity is not expressed in a universal relation applicable for a conventional QHE and depends appreciably on the doped Sn concentration x. The flat Hall plateaus are visible at higher Landau levels but are rather suppressed at lower regions. The calculated Landau levels of the upper valence band (UVB) with the best-fit band parameters are in excellent agreement with the experiments, including spin splitting. For Bi2−xSnxTe3, the Sn-originated impurity band (IB) has resonant nature and enhances the density of states at the Fermi level of UVB. The charge transfer occurs between the quantized UVB and the resonant IB or the lower valence band (LVB) for Bi2−xSnxTe3 or Bi2Te3, respectively, and the Landau levels are enhanced appreciably. We have revealed that the quasi-localized states are formed in quantized three-dimensional density of state spectra. We have proposed a possible model for the present QHE, which is a modification of Mani's model, where the quasi-localized state is formed at the disorder-originated tail of each Landau level. In the quasi-localized regime, the IB or LVB are responsible for the carrier reservoir to regulate the Hall resistivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of a new diluted magnetic semiconductor Bi[sub 2 – ][sub x]Fe[sub x]Te[sub 3] (0≤x≤0.08) were grown. For all crystals, the transition into a ferromagnetic state with easy axis parallel to the C[sub 3] axis was observed at temperature T[sub c] increasing with iron concentration and reaching 12 K at x = 0.08. An increase in the Seebeck coefficient, anomalous Hall effect, and resistivity jump at T = T[sub c] were also observed. The frequency of the de Haas–van Alphen oscillations decreases with increasing x, indicating the donor properties of Fe. © 2001 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year-old child presented with severe type-7 adenoviral pneumonia, after the resolution of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates of the pneumonia. Xenon-133 ventilation and Tc-99-m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) perfusion studies revealed a localized airflow obstruction and matched perfusion defect, and marked air trapping in the remaining lungs, and these abnormalities were not detected and not suspected even with CT. Thereafter, in a relatively short period, the child developed persistent bronchiectatic changes and pulmonary hyperinflation throughout the lungs. However, the scintigraphic findings were not significantly changed. This is the first description of radionuclide scintigraphic findings which clearly showed an irreversible long-term functional effect of adenoviral pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A phantom study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of body contour definition with Compton scatter photons from external sources of technetium-99m pertechnetate (Tc-99m) to create a fusion image of CT and SPECT images.Methods: External sources of 1 mCi (37 MBq) Tc-99m were placed on each collimator, and body-contour SPECT images were obtained with an energy window of 100 keV +/- 25% for detecting 90 degrees and 180 degrees Compton scatter photons of Tc-99m from the body surface in water-filled cylindrical and hexagonal phantoms, and in a chest phantom with a Tc-99m-avid simulated lung nodule and multimethod surface markers. In the chest phantom, each transaxial SPECT slices was registered with the corresponding CT slice by using image-matching soft ware. A summation of the registered images yielded a three-dimensional (3-D) fusion image of this phantom.Results: This method clearly visualized the body contour on all the SPECT slices in all the phantoms except for the complex hexagonal phantom. There was no significant difference between the known and SPECT-measured diameters of the cylindrical phantom. The fit of CT and SPECT images of the chest phantom was achieved with a mean alignment error of 5% in visual inspection, which was improved to 0.2% after correction of the magnification of the SPECT images according to the resultant dimensional differences. The 3-D fusion image of this phantom effectively visualized the anatomic location of the lung nodule and surface markers.Conclusion: This simple method effectively provided boundary information on the cold phantoms. Although further improvements in the registration technique with CT images are desirable, the body-contour SPECT image obtained by this method has the potential for accurately creating a 3-D fusion image with CT images, and is a feasible way of anticipating the anatomical localization of a target tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcutaneous and tissue space emphysema following surgical extraction of mandibular third molars is a rare and serious complication of dental surgery. Recognition of mediastinal emphysema following surgical extraction is difficult because there are no absolute clinical symptoms and signs. We present two cases of emphysema following extraction of a lower third molar and discuss the contribution of CT to the early recognition of the presence and spatial migration of air and to clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fermentation characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains which overexpress a constitutive OLE1 gene were studied to clarify the relationship between the fatty acid composition of this yeast and its ethanol productivity. The growth yield and ethanol productivity of these strains in the medium containing 15% dextrose at 10 °C were greater than those of the control strains under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions but this difference was not observed under other culture conditions. During repeated-batch fermentation, moreover, the growth yield and ethanol productivity of the wild-type S. cerevisiae increased gradually and then were similar to those of the OLE1-overexpressing transformant in the last batch fermentation. However, the unsaturated fatty acid content (77.6%) of the wild-type cells was lower than that (86.2%) of the OLE1-recombinant cells. These results suggested that other phenomena caused by the overexpression of the OLE1 gene, rather than high unsaturated fatty acid content, are essential to ethanol fermentation by this yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]