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Ultra-high-speed injection molding is a highly effective technique for realizing very thin-walled molded parts; its application to the production of new high value-added products is anticipated. The melt-flow behavior in ultra-high-speed injection molding is expected to differ from that in conventional molding. However, thus far, very few studies pertaining to the phenomena occurring within cavities and runners at such high filling speeds have been reported, thus necessitating the direct observation of melt-flow behavior inside the molds.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and seasonal influenza vaccines using the United States Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we calculated the adjusted reporting odds ratio (ROR) of GBS cases associated with seasonal influenza vaccines administered from August 2018 to July 2019. Additionally, we analyzed the time-to-onset profile. The total number of adverse events reported following vaccination during this period was 43,235. Most of the GBS patients received a cell culture-based quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (42.2%), quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (26.6%), or high-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (15.6%). The adjusted ROR of seasonal influenza vaccines for GBS was 3.44 (2.40–4.95). The adjusted ROR of sex (male) (as reference female) and 0.5–59 years (as reference ≥ 60 years) were 1.90 (0.73–4.95) and 1.57 (0.88–2.78). Male sex and advanced age were not risk factors for GBS. The median duration of GBS was 9.5 (4.0–21.5) days. GBS following seasonal influenza vaccination developed mainly within 14 days and 42 days at most. In sex-stratified analyses, the median durations of GBS in females and males were 12.0 (8.3–28.5) and 5.0 (3.0–15.5) days (P= 0.050). Therefore, our findings indicate that the incidence of GBS is associated with seasonal influenza vaccines, and careful monitoring of GBS is required for up to 42 days, especially in the first 14 days. Moreover, GBS may occur slightly earlier in males than in females.

The present paper describes observations of crater growth for various impact velocities up to ∼6 km s−1. Spherical polycarbonate projectiles (4.76 mm) were impacted vertically into dry sand targets at impact velocities viranging from 0.7 to ∼6 km s−1, and the temporal change (diameter growth) in diameter of crater cavities was measured by a high‐speed profilometer with 2000 frames per second. Our data show that the diameter growth follows a power law relation at the early stages, but the data at the later stages deviate from the power law relation. It is also shown that the power law exponent at the early stages decreases with increasing vi, indicating a possibility that the growth rate of the transient crater cavity decreases with increasing vi. On the other hand, the power law relation for final crater sizes in our data is consistent with the classical scaling relation for final crater sizes, which is thought to be independent of vi. Thus, our data may suggest that there is a difference in the power law behavior between the crater growth and the final crater sizes. Direct observations of transient crater growth were conductedWe found that the growth rate of transient crater cavities depends on impact velocityOur data suggest that there is a difference in the power law behavior between the crater growth and final crater sizes

Graphical abstract:

When an ultrashort and intense laser pulse is irradiated onto a target, generation of energetic ions and energetic X-ray has strong relations because electrons generate both ions and X-rays. In this work, we measured the relation between X-ray intensity and the ion energy. The temperature of X-ray was measure to be 300-350 keV when the laser intensity was 3.3$\,\times\,$1018W/cm2. The maximum proton energy was 1.65$\,\pm\,$0.25 MeV for the laser energy of 200 mJ at the optimum target position where X-ray intensity was maximum.

We have succeeded in measuring resistance across a single atomic step at electrical conduction through a monatomic-layer metal on a crystal surface. Using independent methods of direct electrical conductivity measurement with four-tip scanning tunneling microscope probes and scanning tunneling spectroscopy observation, the conductivity across a monatomic step was found to be about $5 \times 10^{3}\,\Omega ^{-1}$m-1. Through analyses of the Landauer formula for 2D conductors and the recent theoretical calculations, the electron transport across an atomic step is fairly modeled as a tunneling process. Important formulas of surface conductivity developed by the present research are given.

We obtained N- and Q-band observations of the Apollo-type asteroid 25143 Itokawaduring its close Earth approach in July 2004 with TIMMI2 at the ESO 3.6 m telescope. Our photometric measurement, in combination with already published data, allowed us to derive a radiometric effective diameter of $0.32 \pm 0.03$km and an albedo of 0.19$^{+0.11}_{-0.03}$through a thermophysical model. This effective diameter corresponds to a slightly asymmetrical and flattened ellipsoid of the approximate size of 520(±50) $\times$270(±30) $\times$230(±20) m, based on the Kaasalainen et al. (2005, Proceedings of the 1st Hayabusa Symposium, ASP Conf. Ser., submitted) shape model. Our studies show that the thermal observations lead to size estimates which are about 15% smaller than the radar results (Ostro et al. 2005, Met. Plan. Sci., submitted), slightly outside the stated radar uncertainties of ±10%. We determined a rather high thermal inertia of 750 J m-2s-0.5K-1. This is an indication for a bare rock dominated surface, a thick dust regolith can be excluded as well as a metallic surface. From our data we constructed a 10.0 μm thermal lightcurve which is nicely matched in amplitude and phase by the shape and spin vector solution in combination with our TPM description. The assumed S-type bulk density in combination with radiometric size lead to a total mass estimate of $4.5^{+2.0}_{-1.8} \times 10^{10}$kg.

We present thermal observations of MUSES-C mission target, (25143) 1998 SF36. The mid-IR radiation in the N-band (11.9 μm) was measured using the ESO 3.6 m telescope with TIMMI2. Assuming the Standard Thermal Model and combining the thermal flux in the N-band with the time-resolved absolute magnitude in optical, the derived diameter and the geometric albedo are 0.35 (±0.03) km and 0.23 (+0.07, -0.05), respectively. While these values are model-dependent, we conclude that this Apollo class asteroid is of small size and its albedo is consistent with spectroscopic classification as an S-type asteroid.

We performed cratering experiments on targets composed of glass beads with a power‐law size distribution that simulated the surface of rubble‐pile asteroids, and we improved the previously studied reduction factor on the crater size scaling relationship including the armoring effect using the momentum transfer efficiency. Cratering experiments were conducted using light gas guns at Kobe University and ISAS/JAXA to control the impact velocity, vi${v}_{\mathrm{i}}$, from 50 to 4,400 m s−1. Two kinds of mixed targets were prepared by mixing glass beads with diameters of 0.1, 1, 3, and 10 mm—one with the smallest diameter beads, and one without. The size ratio of the target bead to the projectile (diameter of 1–3 mm), ϕ$\phi $, changed from 0.03 to 10. The crater size scaling relationships for the mixed targets were found to depend on the first contacted bead size. Notably, first contact with a 10 mm‐sized bead reduced the crater radius by 35% in maximum. The reduction factor due to this armoring effect on the crater size scaling relationship is written as follows: f(ϕ)=1+8.99×10−3vi0.630.34ϕ−0.19$f(\phi )={\left[1+\left(8.99\times {10}^{-3}\right){v}_{\mathrm{i}}^{0.63}\right]}^{0.34}{\phi }^{-0.19}$; it decreased with the increase of the size ratio of the target bead to the projectile, while it increased with the increase of the impact velocity and approached unity. Our improved crater size scaling relationship that includes the reduction factor could be used to reconstruct the crater size frequency distribution on rubble‐pile asteroids such as Ryugu, and it may lead to a revision of the crater chronology of asteroids. A rubble‐pile asteroid, 162173 Ryugu, was explored by Hayabusa2, and the crater size frequency distribution on the surface was examined. Ryugu's surface age can be estimated from this size distribution using the impact crater chronology, but the size of the asteroids forming the craters is necessary for this estimate. The crater size scaling law is used to estimate the impactor size, but this law was established using homogeneous grains such as granular sand, so it might not be applicable for rubble‐pile asteroids covered with boulders of various sizes. Moreover, because it is well known that cratering efficiency is significantly reduced by an armoring effect when a smaller asteroid collides with a larger boulder, a scaling law that includes the armoring effect is required. In this study, we performed cratering experiments on the surface of simulated rubble‐pile asteroids and examined the armoring effect on the crater size. Based on the results, we improved the previously studied armoring effect and introduced the momentum transfer efficiency, β$\beta $, into the effect, instead of a restitution coefficient, which was assumed to be zero. Using this improved scaling relationship, a more accurate chronology can be established for the asteroid craters. We performed cratering experiments on glass bead targets with a power‐law bead size distribution at 50–4,400 m s−1The size of craters formed in the mixed bead target was speculated to be changed with the size of the first contacted beadThe armoring effect is less efficient for granular targets with a size distribution, compared with equal‐sized granular targets We performed cratering experiments on glass bead targets with a power‐law bead size distribution at 50–4,400 m s−1 The size of craters formed in the mixed bead target was speculated to be changed with the size of the first contacted bead The armoring effect is less efficient for granular targets with a size distribution, compared with equal‐sized granular targets

Boron nitride (BN) films with a wide variety of nano-network structures (sp2and sp3bonds) were prepared using a reactive plasma-assisted coating technique, and their sputtering behavior was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nanoindentation analyses confirmed the presence of sp2- and sp3-bonded phases. Subsequently, the thickness change after plasma exposure was studied for various BN films. The sputtered depth of the prepared BN films after plasma exposure was shallower than that of the SiO2films. While no clear change was observed in the FTIR spectra, the leakage current and dielectric constant changed significantly owing to the surface modification during plasma exposure. The modified layer underneath the sputtered surface contained local defects that acted as carrier trapping or hopping sites. Sputtering behavior analysis, in combination with electrical measurements, is a useful methodology for designing a wide variety of BN films.

We report on the formation and optical characteristics of Eu-doped GaN (GaN:Eu)/GaN core–shell nanowires (NWs) grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. A moderate V/III ratio and growth temperature enable the incorporation of Eu3+ions into the GaN shells on GaN core NWs, resulting in red luminescence at room temperature whose peak intensity is more than 20 times larger than for a GaN:Eu film on planar GaN. The cathodoluminescence characterization corroborates that the observed enhanced Eu luminescence originates from the predominant formation of highly efficient Eu centers in the sidewalls of the GaN:Eu/GaN core–shell NWs.

The aims of this study were to determine the particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≥2.5 μm (PM2.5) and 2.5–10 μm (PM10–2.5) exposure levels of drivers and to analyze the proportion of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5in Bangkok, Thailand. Four bus routes were selected. Measurements were conducted over 10 days in August (rainy season) 2008 and 8 days in January (dry season) 2009. The mean PM2.5exposure level of the Tuk-tuk drivers was 86 μg/m3in August and 198 μg/m3in January. The mean for the non-air-conditioned bus drivers was 63 μg/m3in August and 125 μg/m3in January. The PM2.5and PM10–2.5exposure levels of the drivers in January were approximately twice as high as those in August. The proportion of total carbon (TC) in PM2.5to the PM2.5level in August (0.97 ± 0.28 μg/m3) was higher than in January (0.65 ± 0.13 μg/m3). The proportion of OC in the TC of the PM2.5in August (0.51 ± 0.08 μg/m3) was similar to that in January (0.65 ± 0.07 μg/m3). The TC exposure by PM2.5in January (81 ± 30 μg/m3) remained higher than in August (56 ± 21 μg/m3). The mean level of OC in the PM2.5was 29 ± 13 μg/m3in August and 50 ± 24 μg/m3in January. In conclusion, the PM exposure level in Bangkok drivers was higher than that in the general environment, which was already high, and it varied with the seasons and vehicle type. This study also demonstrated that the major component of the PM was carbon, likely derived from vehicles.Implications:Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in public transportation vehicles could have harmful health effects on both drivers and commuters in Bangkok, Thailand, where air pollution from vehicle exhaust is a serious problem. Exposure to fine particulate matter within moving vehicles has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus, the authors measured the levels of PM2.5within various types of transportation vehicles in Bangkok. The results are the first to demonstrate that drivers and commuters in Bangkok are exposed to a high level of PM2.5, which cannot be detected by current roadside monitoring, and suggest the need for further pollution control measures.

TlInGaAs/TlInP/InP separate confinement heterostructures (SCHs) were grown by gas-source molecular-beam epitaxy and metal stripe laser diodes (LDs) were fabricated. Temperature variation of electroluminescence peak wavelength was as small as 0.06 nm/K due to the reduced temperature variation of band gap energy of TlInGaAs. Pulsed laser operation was achieved at 77–297 K. Threshold current density for the TlInGaAs/TlInP/InP SCH LD (0.6 kA/cm2 at 77 K) was smaller than that for the TlInGaAs/InP double heterostructure LD (0.8 kA/cm2 at 77 K), which is due to the increased refractive index for TlInP and the improved optical confinement. Temperature variation of main peak wavelength in the lasing spectra was as small as 0.07 nm/K, which is much smaller than those for the InGaAsP/InP Fabry–Perot LDs (0.4 nm/K) and distributed feed-back LDs (0.1 nm/K). (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

GaGdN single layers and GaGdN/GaN short-period superlattices (SLs) were grown on Al2O3(0001) substrates by radio frequency molecular beam epitaxy (RF-MBE) and their magnetic and structural properties were investigated. Both types of samples exhibited ferromagnetic characteristics at both 10 and 300 K. Clear hysteresis and clear saturation were observed in the magnetization vs. magnetic field curves at both temperatures. The GaGdN/GaN short-period SL samples showed significantly higher saturation magnetization than the GaGdN single layer samples. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

When an ultrashort and intense laser pulse is irradiated onto a target, generation of energetic ions and energetic X-ray has strong relations because electrons generate both ions and X-rays. In this work, we measured the relation between X-ray intensity and the ion energy. The temperature of X-ray was measure to be 300-350 keV when the laser intensity was 3.3?1018 W/cm2. The maximum proton energy was 1.65?0.25 MeV for the laser energy of 200 mJ at the optimum target position where X-ray intensity was maximum.

We have succeeded in measuring resistance across a single atomic step at electrical conduction through a monatomic-layer metal on a crystal surface. Using independent methods of direct electrical conductivity measurement with four-tip scanning tunneling microscope probes and scanning tunneling spectroscopy observation, the conductivity across a monatomic step was found to be about 5 ? 103?-1m-1. Through analyses of the Landauer formula for 2D conductors and the recent theoretical calculations, the electron transport across an atomic step is fairly modeled as a tunneling process. Important formulas of surface conductivity developed by the present research are given.

Basi-parallel anatomical scanning (BPAS)-MRI is a simple MRI technique to reveal the surface contour of the intracranial vertebrobasilar artery.The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of BPAS-MRI for observing the temporal course of unruptured vertebral artery (VA) dissection in patients by means of serial MR examinations. Since April 2003, we performed serial MR examinations in four patients with unruptured acute vertebral artery dissection. The frequency of the MR examinations during the follow-up period in each patient varied from twice within seven months to five times within 19 months. Both MRA and BPAS-MRI were obtained in each MR examination.We investigated the course of morphological changes within the dissected artery on BPAS-MRI (outer contour) and on MRA (inner lumen).Although the initial MRA showed fusiform dilatation, irregular stenosis or normal caliber at the dissected lesion, the initial BPAS-MRI disclosed fusiform dilatation in all of the four patients. In two patients, MRA finding of the VA lesion had changed, though the fusiform appearance had been stationary on BPAS-MRI. Then both dissolution of the fusiform dilatation on BPAS-MRI and normalization of the inner luminal caliber on MRA were confirmed within nine months.In one patient, fusiform dilatation on both BPAS-MRI and MRA resolved simultaneously on the MR examination at eight months after the initial symptom. In another patient, fusiform dilatation of the outer contour was still enlarging on BPAS-MRI ten months after the onset, though the fusiform dilatation on MRA had been stationary since the eighth week. We performed endovascular coil embolization in this patient eleven months after the initial symptom.Resolution of the fusiform dilatation on BPAS-MRI should be a healing sign of VA dissection. Persisting the fusiform dilatation or progressively enlarging outer contour on BPAS-MRI may be an unstable sign. BPAS-MRI provides more information about the instability of the dissected lesion. We should obtain not only MRA but also BPAS-MRI for the course observation of unruptured VA dissection.

To compare complications, anigographical results, duration of postoperative hospital stay and cost for treatment of surgical clipping and coil embolization in the treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysm.One hundred and nine non-giant saccular aneurysms in 90 patients were treated by either endovascular treatment (E group) or direct surgery (S group) in our Neurosurgical Department between April 1996 and April 2002. The complications and angiographical results were reviewed. The duration of postoperative hospital stay and cost for the treatment were calculated from bills for health insurance for 38 operations and 12 embolizations in 47 patients whose aim of hospitalization was only treatment for their unruptured aneurysm.Neck clipping was performed for 89 aneurysms (S group), wrapping for four (S group), embolization using Guglielmi's detachable coils (GDCs) for 15 (E group), and failed embolization followed by clipping for one (E group). The postoperative temporary deficit (disappeared within one month) and permanent deficit was seen in five cases (6.7%) and in three cases (morbidity: 4.0%) of S group, and in one case (6.7%) and none (morbidity; 0%) of E group, respectively. No death was seen in both group (mortality; 0% in both group). The rate of angiographical complete occlusion of the aneurysm was significantly higher in S group (P = 0.015, 88% in S group vs 50% in E group). The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in E group (P= 0.000013, mean days: 17.1 in S group vs 6.3 in E group), but cost for treatment was rather cheep in S group (N.S., mean cost: 1684329 yen in S group vs. 2259011 in E group).This retrospective study suggested that surgical treatment may be less expensive treatment with higher rate of postoperative angiographical complete occlusion than coil embolization, and treatment-related complication rate was similar in both treatment.

We describe a rare case of having both symptomatic ipsilateral retinal embolization and asymptomatic cerebellar embolization occurring after carotid stenting with use of distal protect device. In this case, external carotid angiograms revealed accessory meningeal artery-ophthalmic artery and occipital artery-vertebral artery anastomoses. This case suggested that the protection for external carotid artery should be considered during carotid stenting to avoid retinal embolization and cerebellar or cerebral embolization in cases showing angiographical anastomoses between external carotid artery and ophthalmic artery or intracranial arteries.

We investigated the role of GDC embolization as a second choice for the treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysm.From september 1997 to may 2001, 139 ruptured aneurysms out of 151 consecutive ruptured aneurysms transferred to our hospital were treated by clipping (first choice) or GDC embolization (second choice). Patient selection was decided by more than two neurosurgeons under the policy that GDC embolization is the second choice of treatment. The mid-term (longer than three months) outcome of both group was examined.One hundred and nineteen Ans (BA two, IC-paraclinoid one, IC-PC or IC-Ach 36, IC-ant. Wall two, ACoA34, ACA six, MCA38) were treated by clipping (clipping group), 20 Ans (surgical difficulty; BA three, IC-paraclinoid three, VA dissection six, general complications; IC-PC two, IC-dissection one, ACoA four, VAPICA one) by GDC embolization (GDC group) within 24 hours after admission. SAH grade and GOS of each group were Gr1: 35&4, Gr2: 41&5, Gr3: 23&5, Gr4: 11&4, Gr5: 9&2, respectively, and GR: 79&14, MD: 8&3, SD: 11&0, VS: 8&0, D: 13&3 respectively. Good prognosis (better than MD) was gained in 73% of clipping group and 85% of GDC group. No rebleeding was seen in GDC group.GDC embolization for the cases with surgical difficulty or general complication raised the overall outcome. GDC embolization would be suitable for IC-paraclinoid Ans, BA-VA Ans, and ruptured VA dissections. Because of the good clinical outcome gained in the GDC group, GDC treatment would be the first choice of treatment for such aneurysms as geometrically suitable for coiling.

Endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in post-menopausal women. To assess the relationship between peripheral vascular reserve and cardiac function during exercise in post-menopausal women, 91 subjects, who had no ischaemic findings on myocardial SPECT, were assigned to four groups: pre-menopausal women (n13), post-menopausal women (n33), younger men aged 50 years (n10), and older men aged >50 years (n35). First-pass radionuclide angiography was performed before and during bicycle exercise to calculate ejection fraction (EF) and peripheral vascular resistance (VR). There were no differences in haemodynamic variables among the groups at baseline. The per cent increase in EF (exercise EF - resting EF)×100resting EF, and the per cent decrease in VR (resting VR - exercise VR)×100resting VR were depressed in the post-menopausal women (0.4±2 and 35±3, respectively) compared to the pre-menopausal women (10±3 and 47±3, respectively; P<0.05 each). Although the age dependent impairment is thought to cause this depression, neither the per cent increase in EF nor the per cent decrease in VR in the older men was significantly different from that in the younger men. Post-menopausal women exhibited depressed cardiac function during exercise, which may be related to the impairment of peripheral vascular function after menopause.

A simple method is proposed to control the size of alkanethiol-protected Au nanoparticles by heat treatment in the solid state. The mean diameter of the Au nanoparticles prepared by Brust's two-phase method (~1.5 nm) was evolved to 3.4−9.7 nm by heating to 150−250 °C in air. The uniform growth of nanoparticles was not observed when tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB), which was used as a phase-transfer agent during the preparation of Au nanoparticles, was removed before the particle growth process. The crystal structures of Au nanoparticles and alkanethiol ligand structures on Au nanoparticles were characterized before and after the heat treatment. The size-evolution mechanism was discussed on the basis of the thermodynamic model. The heat-treated Au nanoparticles easily formed self-assembled 2D superlattices with hexagonal packing, where the alkanethiol protective agents with an all-trans conformation were estimated to interpenetrate each other.

Prolonged impairment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function following exercise induced ischaemia has been well demonstrated. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of exercise induced ischaemia on the post-stress LV diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Seventy-four subjects with known or suspected CAD underwent gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 1 h after administration of 99mTc tetrofosmin according to a standard same day exercise rest protocol. LV volumes and ejection fractions (LVEFs) were determined by the Cedars-Sinai program. Fourier transformation of the gated SPECT volume curve was performed retaining the fourth order harmonics, and peak filling rate (PFR) and time-to-PFR (TPFR) were calculated from the derivative curve. In patients with exercise induced ischaemia (n26), 1 h post-stress PFR (2.66±0.75 s−1) and TPFR (119±12 ms) were significantly impaired in comparison to the resting PFR (3.06±0.74 s−1; P0.0002) and TPFR (114±10 ms; P0.03), respectively. In normal subjects (n26) and in patients with infarction (n22), the post-stress indices were similar to the resting values. When reduction of PFR or LVEF greater than the variability (2SD) of differences between the post-stress and resting values in the normal group was defined as significant impairment, six of the 26 ischaemic patients (23) had such changes in PFR. All these patients exhibited severe ischaemia and five of them had simultaneous systolic impairment. Only one (4) of the normal subjects and none of the patients in the infarction group showed such impairments. Stepwise logistic regression analysis of stress, scan and coronary variables revealed that the summed reversibility score, a scintigraphic index of ischaemic severity, was the only determinant of post-stress changes in LVEF and PFR. In conclusion, exercise induced LV diastolic impairment persists for a prolonged period after resolution of the ischaemic episode. The incidence and magnitude of the diastolic impairment are determined by the severity of the exercise provoked ischaemia.

CdS thin films of about 1 μm thickness were deposited from an aqueous solution containing Cd2+, Na2S2O3and gelatin as the protective colloid to stabilize the size of colloidal sulfur at from 30 to 40 nm and keep the concentration to an appropriate value during electrolysis. The effects of concentrations of Cd2+and S2O32−ions and the deposition potential on the composition of CdS films were studied. The reaction mechanism of CdS film formation on the electrode is discussed. CdS film, whose composition is uniform across the film and which does not contain excess metallic cadmium, can be deposited from a solution containing 0.50 to 2.00 mM Cd(NO3)2, 1.00 to 5.00 mM Na2S2O3and 1.0 × 10−7to 1.0 × 10−3wt % gelatin.

Clinical studies using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose suggest that this tracer may overestimate myocardial viability. This study aimed to elucidate whether 2-deoxyglucose accurately indicates myocardial viability at the early phase of myocardial infarction. Autoradiography with 14C-deoxyglucose was performed in fasting rats whose left coronary artery was occluded for 60 min and then reperfused. 14C-deoxyglucose was injected 30 min after the reperfusion (acute; n10) or 1 week later (subacute; n9). Infarction and risk areas were identified by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride or haematoxylin-eosin staining and methylene blue, respectively. Immuno-histochemical staining using anti-glucose transporter 1 and 4 antibodies was performed. At the acute stage, the uptake of deoxyglucose was consistent with the grade of anti-glucose transporter 4 expression. At the subacute stage, the uptake of deoxyglucose in poorly viable myocardium (543.4±343.7: normalized with the uptake at the right ventricle) as well as in the viable one (335.2±149.8) in the risk area was significantly greater than that in the remote area (116.4±94.9, P<0.01). Anti-glucose transporter 1 was expressed in the poorly viable area where inflammatory cells infiltrated. It is concluded that deoxyglucose uptake by inflammatory cells which express anti-glucose transporter 1 causes overestimation of myocardial viability at subacute stage.

Takamatsu is a harbor city of 330,000 people on the northern shore of Shikoku Island, southwest Japan. Earthquakes in the Nankai Trough, typically of magnitude M 8+, have been considered the primary source of seismic hazard for the island and Takamatsu. A major active fault system, the Median Tectonic Line, runs across the Shikoku from east to west near the north shore. There is no documented historical seismicity associated with this major fault system in Shikoku or with associated faults such as the 20 km Nagao Fault near Takamatsu. Therefore the trenches were cut across some of the more important faults to expose the record of past seismicity. Additional data on past seismicity is derived from paleo-liquefaction studies in the Takamatsu plain. This paper describes the trenching and paleo-seismic studies and discusses the implications of the findings for seismic hazard in Takamatsu.

Using scanning tunneling microscopy, reflection-high-energy-electron diffraction and in situ electrical-resistance measurements, we studied the relation between surface morphology and electrical resistance of a Si(100)2×3-Na surface phase. It was found that the step density and domain size of the 2×3-Na phase depended on Si coverages deposited prior to Na deposition, because the amount of Si atoms incorporated in the 2×3-Na phase is a definite value, 1/3 monolayer (ML). The evolution of surface morphology was found to influence the transport properties dramatically. The resistance was reduced for smoother surfaces with larger domains with the pre-deposited Si of around 1/3 or 4/3 ML, while it increased for rougher surfaces with the intermediate amounts of Si pre-deposition. These phenomena directly associate with carrier scattering due to surface roughness.

A new charge loss correction method using genetic algorithms (GA) has been proposed to improve gamma ray energy spectrum characteristics of CdZnTe detectors. The correction method is based on the analysis of signal waveform shapes taking into account the contribution of multiple interaction processes to pulse shape generation. A GA recognizes the charge deposition places for each signal and provides the related corrective factors of the pulse heights; the corrected pulse height spectrum was obtained by summing up the corrected pulse heights for each signal. An enhanced energy spectrum characteristic was obtained after the correction process for 662 keV photons. This method is simple and useful for pulse shape analysis; the results demonstrate promise for the successful application of GAs for digital signal processing data analysis.

The authors assessed the impact of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as an adjunct to standard psychiatric treatment of women with depression. Premenopausal women with newly diagnosed depression were randomly assigned to either control (osteopathic structural examination only; n = 9) or treatment group (OMT; n = 8). Both groups received conventional therapy consisting of the antidepressant paroxetine (Paxil) hydrochloride plus weekly psychotherapy for 8 weeks. Attending psychiatrists and psychologists were blinded to group assignments. No significant differences existed between groups for age or severity of disease. After 8 weeks, 100% of the OMT treatment group and 33% of the control group tested normal by psychometric evaluation. No significant differences or trends were observed between groups in levels of cytokine production (IL-1, IL-10, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6) or in levels of anti-HSV-1, anti-HSV-2, and anti-EBV antibody. There was no pattern to the osteopathic manipulative structural dysfunctions recorded. The findings of this pilot study indicate that OMT may be a useful adjunctive treatment for alleviating depression in women.