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The atomic switches have attracted wide attention owing to their applications in nonvolatile electric devices. The atomic switch is operated by the formation and dissipation of a metallic filament inside a metal sulfide film, which is controlled by a solid electrochemical reaction. Although the metallic filament is considered to consist of metal atoms, the chemical species of the metallic filament are difficult to be identified due to challenges in observing the metallic filament inside the solid. In this study, we report the investigation on the metallic filament in the atomic switch with metal sulfide based on point-contact spectroscopy (PCS). By cooling the atomic switch, the switch voltage increased to 1 V, which allowed for the PCS measurement. The PCS revealed that the metallic filament was composed of Ag atoms in the case of the Pt/Ag2S/Ag atomic switch. We applied this technique to the Pt/Cu2S/Ag and Pt/Ag2S/Cu atomic switches to uncover the formation process of the metallic filament. In both atomic switches, the chemical species of the metallic filament were Ag. The metal atoms were supplied from both the metal electrode and the sulfide layer.

We have investigated the effect of the bias voltage on the 1,4-benzenethiol (BDT) single-molecule junction using the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). By measuring the bias voltage dependence of SERS for the identical sample, we can clearly observe the blue shift of the vibrational mode at 355 cm–1by the application of the bias voltage. This measurement is possible by using a highly stable nanogap electrode which is fabricated with lithographic techniques. Meanwhile, the energy of other vibrational modes does not change with the bias voltage. The change in the bond strength can be explained by the charge transfer induced by the application of the bias voltage on the single-molecule junction. The theoretical calculation result reveals that the effect of bias voltage is a result of the rearrangement of the π system. The 355 cm–1mode is an out-of-plane mode of the aromatic ring. In the BDT single-molecule junction, the π system is delocalized on the sulfur atom. This delocalization is suppressed by the application of the bias voltage, and thus, the aromatic ring is more “benzene-like” and the out-of-plain vibration shifts to higher energy.

Study design:A cross-sectional study.Objectives:Neuropathic pain (NP) after spinal cord injury (SCI) tends to be hard to treat, and its heterogeneous properties make it difficult to identify and characterize. This study was conducted to assess the characteristics of SCI-related NP in detail.Setting:A single hospital for SCI rehabilitation.Methods:This study included 72 patients who were seen at our hospital in 2012 and 2013 and who had sustained SCI at least 3 months before enrollment. The patients completed the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) and the Short Form (SF)-36 Health Inventory. The NPSI score was analyzed for correlations with clinical presentations of SCI and SF-36 subitems.Results:Paresthesia/dysesthesia was the most common subtype of NP after SCI. With regard to location, below-level superficial NP was significantly more intense than at-level pain. Patients who underwent surgery showed significantly less evoked pain compared with patients with non-surgery. Patients reported significantly more severe pain if >1 year had elapsed after the SCI. Patients with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade of B for completeness of injury reported more intense NP than those with other grades. Among the SF-36 subitems, NP correlated significantly with bodily pain, general health and mental health.Conclusion:NP in SCI patients was significantly associated with the location of pain, the time period since the injury, surgery and quality-of-life factors. A more detailed understanding of the characteristics of NP may contribute to better strategies for relieving the pain associated with SCI.

A novel drying system based on self‐heat recuperation (SHR) technology, which recuperates both sensible and latent heat, was developed to reduce effectively the energy consumption for biomass drying. A fluidized bed dryer with internal heat exchangers was selected as the main dryer. Square wood chips of Pinus radiatawith average dimensions of 10 mm were selected as biomass sample. The relation between the required energy input and fluidization velocity and a comparison with the available mechanical vapor recompression (MVR)‐based drying technology were evaluated. The results prove that the proposed SHR technology could reduce the required energy consumption for biomass drying significantly at all evaluated fluidization velocities to about 2/3 of that required for MVR‐based drying technology.

In this paper, we introduce a tracking method for moving insect. Our method is robust image processing to change of illumination under orientation code matching. Further, based on an extended Kalman filter, it can track moving insects which are acting under the random motion. Through experiments, this paper shows effectiveness of our method.

Mutations of the genes encoding subunits of potassium voltage-gated channel, KCNQ2and KCNQ3, have been identified in patients with benign familial neonatal seizures (BFNS). This study set out to determine the frequency of microchromosomal deletions of KCNQ2or KCNQ3associated with BFNS.

A total of 353 samples of 29 types of seafood were tested for Salmonellaprevalence and total microbial population. Salmonella entericaserotype Weltevreden was isolated from 2 of 47 black tiger prawn samples. The contamination levels of Salmonellawere in a range of <30 to 40 most probable number per 100 g. In addition, one sample of black tiger prawns and two samples of white shrimp were positive for SalmonellainvAgene on PCR assay. Although the mean aerobic bacterial count was greater than 4 log CFU/g in most of the sample types, those in the two Salmonella-isolated samples of black tiger prawn were 7.48 and 5.18 log CFU/g, respectively. These results indicate the possibility that shrimp and prawns contribute to foodborne infections. The improvement of seafood quality is an important issue, and the information on contamination by pathogens should be provided as feedback to the originating country, with the aim of increasing safety.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) accounts for 3 to 12% of all epilepsies. In 2004, the GENESS Consortium demonstrated four missense mutations in Myoclonin1/EFHC1of chromosome 6p12.1 segregating in 20% of Hispanic families with JME.

It is known that well developed <111>//ND texture increases Lankford value (r-value) of not only bcc metals but also fcc metals and alloys. However, <111>//ND texture cannot be formed in fcc metals by conventional rolling and annealing processes. The <111>//ND orientation is one of the major components of shear texture. Accordingly, this orientation develops in aluminum sheet when shear deformation is introduced. Al-Mg-Si alloy 6016 sheet was processed by two-pass differential speed rolling at room temperature under a high friction conditions. The rolling direction of the second pass was so selected that the direction of shear deformation introduced in the second pass was either similar (unidirectional shear rolling) to or opposite (reverse shear rolling) to that in the first pass. The roll speed ratio was 2.0. Large shear strain was successfully introduced through the thickness uniformly by the differential speed rolling. The shear texture with major components of {001}<110> and {111}<110> were developed throughout the thickness. Though large reduction in thickness of 75% was applied to the sheets by the rolling, conventional rolling texture such as {112}<111> or {123}<643> orientation was not detected in any part of the thickness. By solution treatment after the rolling, intensity of shear texture weakened and grain size decreased. It has been found that r-value is improved by the differential speed rolling subsequently followed by solution treatment.

Background & Aims: Translation of hepatitis C virus is an essential step of viral replication and is mediated by an internal ribosome entry site. We previously reported that the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site is most active during the synthetic (S) or mitotic (M) phases and lowest during quiescent (G"0) phase. Here, we investigated host factors responsible for the regulation of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site. Methods: We synchronized the cell-cycle progression and evaluated gene-expression dynamics of host factors and kinetics of hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site activity in cells at various points during the cell cycle by using a complementary DNA microarray. We also validated the significance of identified host factors on hepatitis C virus replication in vivo. Results: Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site activity correlated with a gene cluster induced in the S and G"2/M phases. It is interesting to note that most initiation factors known to bind or interact with the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site [poly(rC)-binding protein 2, polypyrimidine tract binding protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 3, eukaryotic initiation factor 2@c, eukaryotic initiation factor 2@b, La protein, and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L] were induced during the S and G"2/M phases. Expression of La protein, polypyrimidine tract binding protein, and eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (p116, p170) were predominantly repressed in G"0 phase and induced in S and G"2/M phases. Suppression or overexpression of La protein and polypyrimidine tract binding protein in RCF-26 significantly changed hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site activity. In the livers of patients with chronic hepatitis C, expression of La protein was significantly increased and correlated with the amount of hepatitis C virus RNA. Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus uses host factors induced during cell division but not during quiescence for replication. Of these, La protein is a potent regulator and enhances hepatitis C virus replication in regenerating hepatocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of this study was to: (1) evaluate atrial electromechanical coupling using M-mode Doppler tissue; and (2) test its clinical impact for detecting atrial abnormalities in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Using Doppler tissue, the time intervals from the onset of P wave until the backward motions of the right and left atrioventricular rings in the apical 4-chamber view corresponding to the atrial contractions were measured. In paroxysmal AF group, these intervals were significantly longer than in the control group. Using the criteria that an abnormal time interval from the onset of P wave until the backward motion of the left atrioventricular ring is longer than 112 milliseconds, the sensitivity, the specificity, and the positive predictive values for paroxysmal AF are 73%, 93%, and 93%, respectively. This parameter is affected in patients with paroxysmal AF and should be useful for detecting atrial impairment related to paroxysmal AF.

Many missense mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel subunit gene SCN1Awere identified in patients with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS) and severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), although GEFS is distinct from SMEI in terms of clinical symptoms, severity, prognosis, and responses to antiepileptic drugs. The authors analyzed the localization of missense mutations in SCN1Aidentified in patients with GEFS and SMEI to clarify the phenotype-genotype relationships.

Studies of global energy confinement and toroidal plasma current behaviour for the second harmonic 70 GHz ECH at B = 1–1.5 T are described with emphasis on the magnetic configuration effects in the helical-axis heliotron ‘Heliotron J’. At low densities of _e ≈ 1 keV in the core region, indicating the production of collision-less plasmas of electron collisionality ν^* ≪ 0.1, where ν^* = ν/(v_e/π R₀q). For medium densities of

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Abstract:  We made inoculations to determine the comparative virulence of blue-stain fungi isolated from Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.). Based on the symptoms caused by each fungus, the most virulent fungus was Leptographium wingfieldii. Also, Ophiostoma minus was relatively virulent while lesions induced by some species did not differ from those in the control treatment. Based on the results, we concluded that the pathogenicity of the blue-stain fungi varied widely, and thus their impact on the host most likely varies too.

The morphological features and dietary functional components of two strains (FPF-13 and Oninome-B) of Pholiota adiposa(numerisugitake mushroom) grown on artificial bed blocks were examined. The components examined were chitin, mannitol, trehalose, guanosine 5′-monophosphate, ergosterol, and β-glucan. There was a significant difference in the external shape of the two strains. However, the differences in the contents of functional components between the two strains, as well as between the pilei and stipes of the strains, were small. In both strains the trehalose content was much higher than the mannitol content, in contrast to those of Lentinula edodes. From a commercial point of view, Oninome-B has a clear advantage over other strains of P. adiposaowing to its less removable scale.

Abstract: Two species of Ophiostoma were isolated from four bark beetles (i.e., Cryphalus montatus, C. piceae, Dryocoetes hectographus, and Polygraphus proximus) infesting Abies veitchii and from their galleries in the wave-regenerated forests in the central part of the main island (Honshu) of Japan. One of them is described here as a new species, Ophiostoma subalpinum, and the other is identified as O. davidsonii, newly reported in Japan. Ophiostoma subalpinum is characterized by short ostiolar hyphae, oblong or allantoid ascospores enclosed in a thin, hyaline sheath, and a Pesotum anamorph.

Superconductivity and crystalline structure around columnar defects in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oxhave been studied by low temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy and microscopy (LT-STS/STM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Columnar defects have been generated by irradiation with 3.5 GeV 135Xe31+ions, 3.8 GeV 181Ta37+ions and 3.1 GeV 209Bi37+ions and the columnar defects-induced strain has been observed by TEM and LT-STM. The magnitude of the strain has been estimated to be 0.1–0.01% in the region of 6 nm from a columnar defect. The strain induced by a columnar defect does not bring about a remarkable change in the superconductivity in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox.

In previous conventional reports sperm and seminal plasma were not well separated and therefore it was highly probable that isoform (CK-BB) of seminal plasma was determined together with that of sperm. The authors developed a method to purify sperm specimen free from seminal plasma. Human sperm was purified by means of the continuous-step density gradient centrifugation with an inner column and the subsequent modified swim-up procedure. CK isoforms in the purified sperm and the seminal plasma were analyzed by ion exchange chromatography and electrophoresis. The purified sperm contained mitochondrial CK-MiMi as well as cytosolic CK, of which isoform was almost occupied by CK-MM but CK-BB was not detected. On the other hand, CK isoform in the seminal plasma was detected as CK-BB alone. CK activity in human sperm and seminal plasma were 2.0 ±0.7 ×10-6 IU/106sperm and 661 ±3 60 IU/L, respectively. CK activity in the seminal plasma gave no correlation with the semen parameters.

G-protein-mediated inhibition of presynaptic voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels is comprised of voltage-dependent and -resistant components. The former is caused by a direct interaction of Ca(2+) channel alpha(1) subunits with G beta gamma, whereas the latter has not been characterized well. Here, we show that the N terminus of G alpha(o) is critical for the interaction with the C terminus of the alpha(1A) channel subunit, and that the binding induces the voltage-resistant inhibition. An alpha(1A) C-terminal peptide, an antiserum raised against G alpha(o) N terminus, and a G alpha(o) N-terminal peptide all attenuated the voltage-resistant inhibition of alpha(1A) currents. Furthermore, the N terminus of G alpha(o) bound to the C terminus of alpha(1A) in vitro, which was prevented either by the alpha(1A) channel C-terminal or G alpha(o) N-terminal peptide. Although the C-terminal domain of the alpha(1B) channel showed similar ability in the binding with G alpha(o) N terminus, the above mentioned treatments were ineffective in the alpha(1B) channel current. These findings demonstrate that the voltage-resistant inhibition of the P/Q-type, alpha(1A) channel is caused by the interaction between the C-terminal domain of Ca(2+) channel alpha(1A) subunit and the N-terminal region of G alpha(o).

Purpose: We have previously noted marked acceleration in the proliferative activity of parathyroid cells in rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Using this proliferative potential we investigated whether transplantation of these enlarged parathyroids into normal rats would induce hyperparathyroidism and renal stones. Materials and Methods: We used 26-week-old male rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia as donors, and 5-week-old normal male Sprague-Dawley rats and rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia as recipients. Enlarged parathyroid glands were transplanted into group 1-Sprague-Dawley rats with no treatment, group 2-Sprague-Dawley rats that received FK-506 as an immuno-suppressor, group 3-rats with spontaneous hypercholesterolemia rats that underwent parathyroidectomy plus FK-506 administration and group 4-Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent parathyroidectomy plus FK-506 administration. Parathyroidectomy was performed in recipients before transplantation to ensure a low calcium condition. Results: Grafts were rejected within 11 and 15 weeks in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In group 3, 78% of the grafts were successful even after 19 weeks. In group 4 graft survival was 30% at 15 weeks with complete rejection at 19 weeks. In group 3 gradually elevated serum parathyroid hormone was observed as well as stone plaques containing calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate in renal tubules located mainly in the corticomedullary junction. An increased number of plaques was associated with higher parathyroid hormone. Conclusions: Our study shows that transplanted parathyroid glands function with an immunosuppressive agent and the maintenance of hypocalcemic conditions, and they secrete sufficient parathyroid hormone to demonstrate hyperparathyroidism. Plaque in these kidneys indicates an early stage of urolithiasis caused by hyperparathyroidism.

In vitroand in vivobioactivity studies were performed to assess the biocompatibility of CaOP2O5glassreinforced hydroxyapatite GRHA composites. The ability to form an apatite layer by soaking in simulated body fluid SBF was examined and surfaces were characterized using FTIR reflection and thinfilm Xray diffraction analyses. Qualitative histology, histomorphometric measurements, and pushout testing were performed in a rabbit model for characterizing boneimplant bonding. Under thein vitroconditions using SBF, an apatite layer could not be formed on GRHA composites within 8 weeks. Results of pushout testing showed bonding between the composites and bone, ranging from 130–145 N after 2 weeks of implantation. After the longest implantation period, 16 weeks, the GRHA composite prepared with the higher content of CaOP2O5glass showed the highest bonding force, 606 ± 45 N, compared to 459 ± 30 N for sintered HA. Development of immature bone and modifications in the turnover of a more mature bone on the surface of GRHA composites were similar to those on sintered HA. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 54: 463–469, 2001