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Chiral molecules can exhibit spin-selective charge emission, which is known as chirality-induced spin selectivity1,2. Despite the constituent light elements of the molecules, their spin polarization can approach or even exceed that of typical ferromagnets. This powerful capability may lead to applications in the chiral spintronics2field. Although the origin of spin selectivity is elusive, two microscopic phenomena have been suggested based on experimental results: effective enhancement of spin–orbit interactions3and chirality represented by a pair of oppositely polarized spins4,5. However, the hypotheses remain to be verified. Here we report the simultaneous observation of these two phenomena in an organic chiral superconductor by magnetoresistance measurements in the vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature. A pair of oppositely polarized spins is demonstrated by spatially mapping the spin polarity in an electric alternating current excitation. The obtained spin polarization exceeds that of the Edelstein effect6–10by several orders of magnitude, which indicates an effective enhancement of the spin–orbit interaction. Our results demonstrate a solid-state analogue of spin accumulations assumed for chiral molecules, and may provide clues to the origin of their molecular counterparts. In addition, the innovative capability of spin-current sourcing will invigorate superconducting spintronics research11.

A multiple-hydrogen-bond approach was applied to shorten Pt–X–Pt distances in Cl- and Br-bridged Pt chain complexes. [Pt(dabdOH)2Cl]Cl2(5) and [Pt(dabdOH)2Br]Br2(6) (dabdOH = (2S,3S)-2,3-diaminobutane-1,4-diol) contain hydroxy groups, which form additional hydrogen bonds with counteranions. 5has the shortest Pt–Cl–Pt distance (5.0747(8) Å) of all Cl-bridged Pt chain complexes reported to date. Furthermore, the smallest optical gap (1.45 eV for 5and 1.19 eV for 6) in any Cl- or Br-bridged Pt chain complex was achieved. 6has the highest electrical conductivity (1.9 × 10–5S cm–1at room temperature) of all Br-bridged Pt chain complexes. This study shows that the introduction of additional hydrogen bonds between the ligands and halides is effective to enhance the electronic properties of halogen-bridged metal complexes.

The plasma sensor on the sixth H‐II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) measured the depletion of electron density during some maneuver operations for attitude or altitude control. In this paper, we first discuss the on‐orbit observation of electron density depletion during the entire lifetime of the HTV. On‐orbit data showed that both altitude and attitude control maneuvers caused the depletion effect. The geocentric coordinates and universal time were also shown to confirm the depletion effect around the HTV by using other techniques, such as total electron content based on the Global Navigation Satellite System network. In the latter part of the paper, we discuss the cause of the depletion effect based on past literature. To analyze the interaction between thruster plume gas and ionospheric plasma, computational fluid dynamics simulations were conducted to analyze the number density distribution of molecules around the HTV. It was found that the combination of charge exchange and dissociative recombination possibly caused the depletion of electron density during altitude control maneuvers, due to neutral particles being ejected from the thrusters and a time delay in the reaction response. During attitude control maneuvers, the electrons of ionospheric plasma were pushed away from the plasma sensor by dense neutral clouds. The electron current sensor on the H‐II Transfer Vehicle that transports supplies to the International Space Station observed the depletion of electron density during maneuver operations in orbit. The present study showed the measured data and discussed the causes of electron density depletion. This discussion was supported by computational fluid dynamics and simple numerical analyses. The present study found that the distance between the thruster and monitor, and the time to chemical reaction are important parameters to clarify the cause of electron density depletion. The plasma sensor on the HTV observes electron density depletion during maneuver operations in the ionosphereComputational Fluid Dynamics simulations were conducted to clarify the number density distribution of neutral particles emitted from thrustersDissociative recombination and the push away effect are possible causes of electron density depletion

The transition of a Mott insulator to metal, the Mott transition, can occur via carrier doping by elemental substitution, and by photoirradiation, as observed in transition-metal compounds and in organic materials. Here, we show that the application of a strong electric field can induce a Mott transition by a new pathway, namely through impulsive dielectric breakdown. Irradiation of a terahertz electric-field pulse on an ET-based compound, κ-(ET)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br (ET:bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene), collapses the original Mott gap of ∼30 meV with a ∼0.1 ps time constant after doublon–holon pair productions by quantum tunnelling processes, as indicated by the nonlinear increase of Drude-like low-energy spectral weights. Additionally, we demonstrate metallization using this method is faster than that by a femtosecond laser-pulse irradiation and that the transition dynamics are more electronic and coherent. Thus, strong terahertz-pulse irradiation is an effective approach to achieve a purely electronic Mott transition, enhancing the understanding of its quantum nature.

This study evaluates 3‐D cloud effects on the radiation budget with a combined use of active sensor cloud profiling radar/CloudSat and imager Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Aqua data on the A‐train. An algorithm is devised for constructing 3‐D cloud fields based on satellite‐observed cloud information. The 3‐D cloud fields thus constructed are used to calculate the broadband solar and thermal radiative fluxes with a 3‐D radiative transfer code developed by the authors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cloud morphology on solar radiative transfer in cloudy atmosphere. For this purpose, 3‐D cloud fields are constructed with the new satellite‐based method, to which full 3D‐RT (radiative transfer) simulations are applied. The simulated 3‐D radiation fields are then used to examine and quantify errors of existing typical plane‐parallel approximations, i.e., Plane‐Parallel Approximation, Independent Pixel Approximation and Tilted Independent Pixel Approximation. Such 3D‐RT simulations also serve to address another objective of this study, i.e., to devise an accurate approximation and to characterize the observed specific 3D‐RT effects by the cloud morphology based on knowledge of idealized 3D‐RT effects. We introduce a modified approach based on an optimum value of diffusivity factor to better approximate the radiative fluxes for arbitrary solar zenith angle determined from the results of 3‐D radiative transfer simulations to redeem the overcorrections of these approximations for large solar zenith angles (SZAs). This new approach, called Slant path Independent Pixel Approximation, is found to be better than other approximations when SZA is large for some cloud cases. Based on the SZA dependence of the errors of these approximations relative to 3‐D computations, satellite‐observed real cloud cases are found to fall into either of three types of different morphologies, i.e., isolated cloud type, upper cloud‐roughened type and lower cloud‐roughened type. Such a classification offers a novel insight into error characteristics of the approximations that are interpreted in the context of specific cloud morphology. An algorithm is devised for constructing 3‐D cloud fields using MODIS/Aqua and CPR/CloudSat data focusing on water cloudsSolar and infrared broadband radiative fluxes are estimated in 3‐D cloudy atmospheres by using a Monte Carlo radiative transfer codeThe radiative effect of 3‐D cloud morphology is characterized

We measure the relative chemical shift between Si 1s and Si 2p, $\Delta $E$_{\rm 1s}- \Delta $E2p, for 0.20–1.96-nm-thick SiO2films formed on Si substrates using high-resolution high-energys x-ray radiation. It is found that $\Delta $E$_{\rm 1s} - \Delta $E2pis independent of SiO2film thickness for films thicker than 1.0 nm, whereas it is smaller for films thinner than 0.5 nm. The result, in conjunction with first principles molecular orbital calculations, indicates that the valence charge of the Si atom is larger for in ultrathin SiO2films than in the thicker SiO2films.

Thermal stability of Gd2O3/Si(100) interfacial transition layer was studied by analyzing the angle-resolved Si 2p and Gd 4d photoelectron spectra. Following results were obtained: The compositional depth profile of Gd2O3/Si(100) changed slightly by post deposition annealing (PDA) in nitrogen gas under atmospheric pressure below 300°C. The analyses of O 1s and Si 2p spectra indicated that the Gd-silicate consisting of Gd-O-Si bonds was produced near the Gd2O3/Si(100) interface without annealing and the amount of Gd-silicate increased by PDA above 400°C.

An organic Mott insulator, $\beta \prime $-(BEDT-TTF)2ICl2, is metallized by application of extremely high pressure up to 9.0GPa. When the metallic state is stabilized, superconductivity with the highest transition-temperature ($T_{c})$among organic systems appears. The maximum Tcthat we observed was 14.2K(onset) at 8.2GPa. A magnetic-field effect on this superconductivity and normal-state properties are discussed in terms of comparison with other organic superconductors. Key words. Organic superconductor, high pressure.

A metallographic study of isothermal transformation products formed at the early stage of transformation was made in silicon alloyed high-carbon steels (C wt%=0.6, 0.8, 1.1 and 1.4) in the temperature range between 700 and 200 °C. Observations are summarized as a "morphology map" showing the formation temperature-carbon content fields of isothermal transformation products. In all steels investigated, the proeutectoid ferrite, upper bainite and lower bainite are formed at temperatures below the extrapolated A 3 line and above 600 °C, between 550 and 400 °C, and below 350 °C and above the Ms temperature, respectively. The microstructural-Bs temperature and the transition temperature from upper bainite to lower bainite are independent of the bulk carbon content, and around 550 and 350 °C, respectively. It is shown that above results can be explained by a diffusional model for the proeutectoid ferrite formation and a displacive model for the bainite formation.

Experimental results and explanations for the transition temperature from upper to lower bainites in carbon steels containing from 0.20 to 1.80 wt%C were presented metallographically and kinematically. The experimental results are summarized as follows : 1) Lower bainite is not formed in steels with less than 0.35 wt%C and no transition from upper to lower bainite occurs. 2) The transition temperature of steels containing from 0.54 to 1.10 %C indicates a constant temperature of 350°C and does not depend on the carbon content. It is important to note that a transition temperature of 350°C corresponds to the Ms temperature of a 0.55%C steel being the boundary of the martensite morphology between a lath and a plate. 3) Transition temperatures of steels with more than 1.10%C decrease along the a line below about 65°C from T0-composition line. The bainitic transformation is essentially a kind of the martensitic one and its nucleation site is considered to be a carbon depleted zone in austenite by the thermal fluctuation of carbon atom at an isothermal holding temperature. The supercooling of about 65°C below the T0-composition line at the carbon range more than 1.10 wt%C is attributed to the non-chemical free energy for the displacive growth of lower bainite.

Pulmonary ventilation and blood flow are reflected in dynamic chest radiographs as changes in X-ray translucency, i.e., pixel values. This study was performed to investigate the feasibility of ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) study based on the changes in pixel value. Sequential chest radiographs of a patient with ventilation-perfusion mismatch were obtained during respiration using a dynamic flat-panel detector (FPD) system. The lung area was recognized and average pixel value was measured in each area, tracking and deforming the region of interest. Inter-frame differences were then calculated, and the absolute values were summed in each respiratory phase. The results were visualized as ventilation, blood flow, V/Q ratio distribution map and compared to distribution of radioactive counts on ventilation and perfusion scintigrams. In the results, abnormalities were appeared as a reduction of changes in pixel values, and a correlation was observed between the distribution of changes in pixel value and those of radioactivity counts (Ventilation; r=0.78, Perfusion; r=0.77). V/Q mismatch was also indicated as mismatch of changes in pixel value, and a correlation with V/Q calculated by radioactivity counts (r=0.78). These results indicated that the present method is potentially useful for V/Q study as an additional examination in conventional chest radiography.

We have studied nanostructured (NS-) thin-film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices utilizing the ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) with the mean crystal sizes of ca. 2–4 nm doped with activator-ions. As compared to the conventional TFEL device, we have achieved a remarkable reduction in the operation voltages by >100 V0–p. Moreover, toward full-color emissions, EL emissions of three primary colors, i.e., red, green, and blue have been derived from Mn2+, Tb3+, and Tm3+ ions, respectively. In this article, we review the studies on the fundamental properties of ZnS NCs as well as the device performance of the NS-TFEL devices. We also discuss the excitation mechanisms of the activator-ions in the ZnS NCs. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The X-ray refraction imaging technique was applied to the quantitative study of hydrogen diffusion in titanium-hydride. Diffusivity and activation energy of hydrogen diffusion were determined by direct observation of the hydride. The hydride was formed on the surface of titanium by electrolytic-charging at 31, 63 and 98 °C. The specimens were cut into 1 mm thick slices for cross-sectional observations. The hydride layer was observed using the diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging (DEI) method. Boundaries between titanium and the hydride were observed as thick black or white lines parallel to the specimen surface in the DEI images similar to previously reported results. Hydride distribution caused by hydrogen diffusion from the surface was calculated using an assumed hydrogen diffusivity value and from the solution of the appropriate diffusion equation. The results were converted to the intensity profiles of refraction images of the hydride using the measured rocking curve from an analyzer. The calculated intensity profiles were compared to those obtained from the experimental results and the fitted diffusivity was determined by trial and error. The activation energy of hydrogen in titanium-hydride thus obtained, 0.55 ± 0.07 eV, showed good agreement with the widely accepted value obtained by the internal friction. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

4′-O-Methylalpinumisoflavone crystals which hitherto had been difficult to crystallize for X-ray diffraction analyses have been obtained from a demethylated product of O, O-dimethylalpinumisoflavone. The structural and conformational features of the crystal measured at 90 K are reported and compared with previously reported work of O,O-dimethylalpinumisoflavone and 5-O-methyl-4′-O-(3-methyl-but-2-en-1-yl) alpinumisoflavone. Each of these compounds is characterized by a six membered ring that is further fused to a benzopyrone isoflavone moiety resulting in a tricyclic ring system. This six membered ring shows a half-chair conformation in all the molecules studied, with the ring in the title compound showing the least Cremer-Pople puckering amplitude Q and shorter inter and intramolecular contacts. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Methods to permit more precise delineation of astrocytomas of different grades may have therapeutic utility. The authors selectively microdissected pure populations of cells from normal brain and astrocytomas. They performed two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis (2DGE) followed by protein sequencing. Differential expression was confirmed immunohistochemically. 2DGE identified proteomic patterns and proteins that differentiated normal brain from tumor and distinguished astrocytomas of increasing grade.

Thermal stability of Gd2O3/Si(100) interfacial transition layer was studied by analyzing the angle-resolved Si 2p and Gd 4d photoelectron spectra. Following results were obtained: The compositional depth profile of Gd2O3/Si(100) changed slightly by post deposition annealing (PDA) in nitrogen gas under atmospheric pressure below 300?C. The analyses of O 1s and Si 2p spectra indicated that the Gd-silicate consisting of Gd-O-Si bonds was produced near the Gd2O3/Si(100) interface without annealing and the amount of Gd-silicate increased by PDA above 400?C.

We measure the relative chemical shift between Si 1s and Si 2p, ?E31- ?E02, for 0.20?1.96-nm-thick SiO2 films formed on Si substrates using high-resolution high-energys x-ray radiation. It is found that ?E31 - ?E02 is independent of SiO2 film thickness for films thicker than 1.0?nm, whereas it is smaller for films thinner than 0.5?nm. The result, in conjunction with first principles molecular orbital calculations, indicates that the valence charge of the Si atom is larger for in ultrathin SiO2 films than in the thicker SiO2 films.

Single crystals of β'-(BEDT-TTF)2ICl2 were grown electrochemically. In the crystal growth we used a large glass cell of which inner volume was more than 200ml. In addition, the solution was replaced by newly prepared one every two months where total period of synthesis was about one year. As a result we obtained a number of large crystals over 10mg. The weight of the largest crystal is about 50mg. The crystallinity was confirmed by X-ray topograph imaging.

Abstract: Single crystals of β′-(BEDT-TTF)2ICl2 were grown electrochemically. In the crystal growth we used a large glass cell of which inner volume was more than 200ml. In addition, the solution was replaced by newly prepared one every two months where total period of synthesis was about one year. As a result we obtained a number of large crystals over 10mg. The weight of the largest crystal is about 50mg. The crystallinity was confirmed by X-ray topograph imaging.

Although the reactivity of tropylium ion with aromatic substrates is low, the reaction of azepinium ion with aromatic substrates such as benzene, phenol, furan, and thiophene resulted in the formation of 2-aryl-2H-azepine as a major product. An exceptional result in the formation of ring-contracted product was observed in the reaction with pyrrole.

Background & Aims: Although a significant amount of regenerating gene (REG) I@a protein is present not only in normal gastric mucosa but also in gastric cancer tissues, its pathophysiologic role in gastric cancer development remains unclear. We investigated REG I@a protein expression in early gastric cancers, and examined whether cytokines are responsible for REG I@a gene expression and whether REG I@a protein has a trophic and/or an antiapoptotic effect on gastric cancer cells. Methods: Early gastric cancer specimens were analyzed histologically using immunohistochemistry for REG I@a protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The effects of cytokines on REG I@a promoter activity and its messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in AGS (a kind of gastric cancer cell line) cells were examined by luciferase reporter assay and Northern blot analysis, respectively. Effects of REG I@a protein on cell growth and H"2O"2-induced apoptosis in AGS cells were examined by 3,-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphatase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. Results: REG I@a-positive early gastric cancers showed a significantly higher PCNA labeling index and more severe inflammatory cell infiltration in adjacent gastric mucosa than the negative cancers. REG I@a gene expression and its promoter activity were enhanced by interferon (IFN)-@c and interleukin (IL)-6. REG I@a protein promoted cell growth and cell resistance to H"2O"2-induced apoptosis in AGS cells. These effects were abolished by concomitant treatment with anti-REG I@a antibody. REG I@a protein enhanced Akt phosphorylation and Bcl-xL expression in AGS cells. Conclusions: REG I@a gene is inducible by cytokine stimulation and its gene product may function as a mitogenic and/or an antiapoptotic factor in the development of early gastric cancer.

We consider a model equation for 3D vorticity dynamics of incompressible viscous fluid proposed by K. Ohkitani and the second author of the present paper. We prove that a solution blows up in finite time if the $$ L^1 $$ -norm of the initial vorticity is greater than the viscosity.

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AbstractWe consider two-dimensional water-waves of permanent shape with a constant propagation speed. Two theorems concerning the uniqueness of certain solutions are reported. Uniqueness of Crapper’s pure capillary waves is proved under a positivity assumption. The proof is based on the theory of positive operators. Also proved is the uniqueness of the positive gravity waves of infinite depth with moderately large amplitude. This is accomplished by a combination of new inequalities and a numerical verification algorithm. Possibilities and impossibilities of other uniqueness theorems are discussed.

We consider two-dimensional water-waves of permanent shape with a constant propagation speed. Two theorems concerning the uniqueness of certain solutions are re-ported. Uniqueness of Crapper’s pure capillary waves is proved under a positivity assumption. The proof is based on the theory of positive operators. Also proved is the uniqueness of the positive gravity waves of infinite depth with moderately large amplitude. This is accomplished by a combination of new inequalities and a numerical verification algorithm. Possibilities and impossibilities of other uniqueness theorems are discussed.

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Electroreflectance (ER) studies have performed on thermally oxidized porous Si (PSi) showing red and/or blue band photoluminescence (PL). Two ER features observed between 1.2 eV and 3.1 eV are found to be quite insensitive for degree of oxidation, so that their transition energies can be expressed as a function of the effective crystal size of Si nanocrystals. The peak energies of red-band PL as well as blue-band PL are discussed for PSi followed by different oxidation in terms of the effective crystal size as well as distortion of three-dimensional electronic structure still retaining in Si nanocrystals which is also evaluated from ER results.

Abstract:Objective: The present study was designed to examine the involvement of bradykinin in thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by chronic constriction nerve injury (CCI) using B₁ and B₂ receptor antagonists and mutant kininogen-deficient rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and Brown Norway (B/N-) rats given CCI treatment on day 0, were used as a model of neuropathic pain. Either a kinin B₁ antagonist des-Arg⁹-[Leu⁸]-bradykinin or the receptor B₂ antagonist HOE-140 was constantly infused into the left jugular vein of SD rats on days 15 to 22 after CCI. Vehicle-treated rats and sham-operated rats without nerve injury were also prepared as controls. In all rats, we observed pain behavior, and measured the latency period of paw withdrawal from the thermal stimuli and, with von Frey filaments, the mechanical pain threshold, before surgery and on days 14 and 22 after CCI. B/N-Katholiek rats, which congenitally lack plasma kininogen and release no kinin, were also tested for hyperalgesic parameters. Expression of kinin receptor mRNA in the dorsal root ganglia was detected by RT-PCR. Results: Most of the rats (88%)showed some pain behavior, which was reduced to 67% by a B₁ antagonist and to 57% by a B₂ antagonist infused between days 15 to 22. Thermal hyperalgesia was significantly reduced from 7.25 ± 0.41 sec (mean ± SEM) to 8.36 ± 0.41 sec in paw withdrawal latency on day 22 by a B₁ antagonist and from 7.24 ± 0.19 sec to 8.23 ± 0.21 sec by a B₂ antagonist (P < 0.05). Mechanical hyperalgesia was also ameliorated from 0.02 ± 0.007 g force to 0.16 ± 0.08 g force in pain threshold by a B₁ antagonist and from 0.03 ± 0.007 g force to 0.10 ± 0.003 g force on day 22 by a B₂ antagonist. Moreover, deficient B/N-Katholiek rats showed a low incidence of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia on day 14. Expression of both B₁ and B₂ receptor mRNAs was detected in the lumbar dorsal ganglia ipsilateral to the site of the ner ve injury. Conclusion: These data suggests that kinin were at least partly involved in yielding nociceptor hypersensitivity up to day 14 after CCI. Bradykinin and its B₁ and B₂ receptors were involved in the maintenance of hyperalgesia.

The effective diffusivities of neptunium and plutonium in Inada granite have been determined using the through–diffusion method. Experiments were performed under anaerobic conditions in the presence of carbonate. The actinides are expected to be present as carbonato or carbonatohydroxo complexes. Effective diffusivity (De) obtained were (4.0 ± 1.5) × 10−13m2s−1for neptunium and (2.0 ± 1.6) × 10−13m2s−1for plutonium. Effective diffusivities of neptunium and plutonium in granite were estimated based on the pore diffusion model and compared with the experimentally obtained values.

The picosecond transient infrared spectrum of the excited charge-transfer (CT) state of 4-(pyrrol-1-yl)benzonitrile (PBN) has been recorded in the frequency range of 1700−920 cm^-1. The CT state of PBN gives several quite strong infrared bands. The band at 1219 cm^-1 shifts toward the high-frequency side with increasing delay time between pump and probe pulses. This frequency shift is attributed to vibrational relaxation. Some of the transient bands (1429, ~1290, 1219, and 964 cm^-1) are very close in frequencies to those observed for the benzonitrile moiety of the excited CT state of 4-(dimethylamino)benzonitrile (DMABN). This finding implies that the benzonitrile groups of PBN and DMABN are decoupled from the electron-donating (pyrrole or dimethylamino) groups, and it can be explained by the twisted intramolecular charge-transfer model. To make this point clear, however, further discussion is necessary on the band assignments and on correlation between structure and spectral pattern.

Abstract: Osteopontin (OPN), a noncollagenous adhesive protein, may possibly be implicated in atherosclerosis, in which macrophages and activated T lymphocytes could have higher OPN levels within the atherosclerotic plaques. However, it is not known whether a higher OPN level is a cause or a result of atherosclerosis or whether it has a promoting or inhibitory effect on atherosclerosis. To clarify the role of OPN in atherosclerosis, we developed a transgenic mouse (OPN-TG) in which the exogenous OPN gene was designed to be expressed by hematopoietic cells, expressing OPN, which carried the immunoglobulin enhancer (Eμ)/SV40 promoter. In OPN-TG, the expression of exogenously transfected OPN RNA was found in lymphoid organs, such as the thymus and spleen, and the kidney. In the present study, OPN-TG mice were assigned into two groups, an atherogenic diet group (15% fat, 1.25% cholesterol) for 3 months or a standard diet group (4% fat), and both groups were compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice to investigate the relationship between osteopontin and the atherosclerotic lesion. In wild-type mice, OPN mRNA was detected in kidney, but not in lymphoid tissues. In both OPN-TG and wild-type mice fed with control diets, atherosclerotic lesions were not found in the aortic sinus or the thoracic and abdominal aorta. In both OPN-TG and wild-type mice fed with atherogenic diets, a high incidence of atherosclerotic lesions was noted in the aortic sinus. The atherosclerotic lesions were significantly larger in OPN-TG as compared with those in control littermate mice (size: 33.8% ± 23.4% vs 10.9% ± 20.4%, respectively, P < 0.05). Activated foamy macrophages within atherosclerotic plaque in OPN-TG expressed a considerably larger amount of OPN compared with such macrophages in control mice. The OPN protein detected in the atherosclerotic lesions was not due to the deposition of serum OPN, but mainly due to in situ production by the infiltrating macrophages. Thus, these results suggest that OPN is atherogenic and that macrophages expressing OPN can be easily activated and thus promote atheromatous lesions if a high fat diet is consumed.

Abstract: The ermB and mefE genes are important in terms of their responsibility for macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae. We investigated the distribution of the ermB and mefE genes in erythromycin A-resistant S. pneumoniae isolated in our hospital during the period 1995–1998. All amoxicillin-low-susceptible isolates were considered to be resistant to erythromycin A. All isolates with resistance to erythromycin A (minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs], ≥0.5 μg/ml) possessed ermB or mefE genes. The MICs of erythromycin A for most mefE-positive isolates ranged from 0.5 to 2 μg/ml. On the other hand, approximately 85% of ermB-positive isolates demonstrated high-level resistance to erythromycin A (MICs, ≥4 μg/ml) while the others showed low-level resistance (MICs, 0.5 to 2 μg/ml). In ermB-positive isolates with low-level resistance, high-level resistant mutants were selected with a frequency of 3.1 × 10−6–1.8 × 10−3 on agar containing 4-32 MIC of erythromycin A, whereas in mefE-positive isolates, no high-level resistant mutants were detected. Mutants from ermB-positive isolates with low-level resistance showed reversibility and heterogeneity. Our data indicated a wide distribution of erythromycin A-resistant isolates with mefE or ermB genes among amoxicillin-low-susceptible S. pneumoniae in Japan. In addition, it is likely that ermB-positive isolates with low-level resistance show heterogeneous high-level resistance.

Initial dynamics of photo-induced ionic (I) to neutral (N) phase transition in tetrathiafulvalene- p -chloranil (TTF-CA) was investigated by femtosecond reflection spectroscopy with various excitation intensities. A charge transfer excitation in the I phase produces N donor (D 0 )-acceptor (A 0 ) strings within 2 ps. For a weak excitation intensity, these initial N states decay with a life time of 300 ps at 4 K, but rather multiply leading to macroscopic I-N conversion within 20 ps at 77 K just below the N-I transition temperature T NI . Near T NI , we also found the coherent motion of the macroscopic N-I domain boundary with a period of 85 ps.