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To resume trains operation as soon as possible after disasters, it is necessary to quickly find out locations of ballasted railway with insufficient lateral ballast resistance. In this study, a new method was proposed to evaluate the lateral ballast resistance using dynamic lateral excitation. The dynamic method was performed on 1/9-scale ballasted railway models with ballast densities of 1.5 and 1.6 g/cm3. The simple harmonic excitation was generated from a pair of 20g flywheels, and the accelerations of the vibrator and the central sleeper were recorded by sensors attached on the central sleeper and the vibrator, respectively. Based on the obtained data sets, maximum accelerations as well as the maximum amplitudes of the lateral displacements of the vibrator and the central sleeper were analysed. It was found that the maximum accelerations of the vibrator were higher than those of the central sleepers. This was also true for the maximum amplitude of the lateral displacements. The ratio of the maximum amplitude of the lateral displacement of the central sleeper to that of the vibrator was evaluated. It was found that the amplitude ratio of the track model with the ballast density of 1.5 g/cm3was higher than that with the ballast density of 1.6 g/cm3. This implies that the difference in the lateral ballast resistance owing to the difference in the ballast density may be detected based on the evaluation of the amplitude ratio.

The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) has important roles for tumorigenesis, but how it regulates cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains largely unclear. We identified insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a key target of NF-κB activated by HER2/HER3 signaling to form tumor spheres in breast cancer cells. The IGF2 receptor, IGF1 R, was expressed at high levels in CSC-enriched populations in primary breast cancer cells. Moreover, IGF2-PI3K (IGF2-phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase) signaling induced expression of a stemness transcription factor, inhibitor of DNA-binding 1 (ID1), and IGF2 itself. ID1 knockdown greatly reduced IGF2 expression, and tumor sphere formation. Finally, treatment with anti-IGF1/2 antibodies blocked tumorigenesis derived from the IGF1RhighCSC-enriched population in a patient-derived xenograft model. Thus, NF-κB may trigger IGF2-ID1-IGF2-positive feedback circuits that allow cancer stem-like cells to appear. Then, they may become addicted to the circuits. As the circuits are the Achilles’ heels of CSCs, it will be critical to break them for eradication of CSCs.

Net ecosystem production (NEP) by submerged aquatic vegetation plays a substantial role in capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide into aquatic ecosystems. In lakes and estuaries, the net uptake of carbon dioxide by submerged aquatic vegetation is mediated by stratification of the water column which suppresses the vertical flux of carbon dioxide between the upper and lower layers. The presence of submerged aquatic vegetation can also affect the strength of stratification such that the interactions between vegetation, stratification, and NEP can moderate the carbon dioxide emissions. Since stratification can occur in lakes and estuaries, there is need for a new numerical approach able to consider the effect of submerged aquatic vegetation on stratification, NEP, and carbon dioxide. This study aims to develop a model to investigate how stratification, mediated by vegetation density and flexibility, affects the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). After initial parameterization of coefficients based on experimental work, horizontal and vertical variations in DIC were successfully modeled by a spatially (horizontally) integrated DIC (SiDIC) model, which was validated with field observations from an estuarine and freshwater lake case study. The SiDIC model was able to reproduce the pCO2changes between daytime and nighttime throughout the water column. Sensitivity tests showed that the fluctuation of pCO2was controlled by the suppression of stratification due to the density of submerged aquatic vegetation. The results highlight the importance of resolving vegetation‐induced stratification when modeling the carbon budget within freshwater lakes and coastal environments. The key idea of the present study is that “vegetation‐induced stratification” suppresses vertical mixing in lakes and plays a substantial role in determining how much atmospheric carbon dioxide exchanges with the water. Field observations in Komuke Lagoon and Lake Monger were used to create a representative data set for understanding dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) metabolism in coastal and freshwater lake ecosystems, respectively. A spatially integrated DIC model was then created to reveal that the fluctuation of partial pressure of carbon dioxide was controlled by the suppression of stratification which is related to the density of submerged aquatic vegetation. The results demonstrate the effect of submerged aquatic vegetation on the vertical mixing of DIC, with implications for our understanding of carbon capture within aquatic ecosystems. Submerged vegetation promotes stratification in shallow freshwater and coastal lakes which can impact net CO2captureModel results demonstrate that vegetation properties mediate the diurnal pCO2excursion by influencing vertical exchange with the canopyThe results highlight the importance of resolving vegetation‐mediated changes in mixing when estimating carbon uptake by submerged canopies Submerged vegetation promotes stratification in shallow freshwater and coastal lakes which can impact net CO2capture Model results demonstrate that vegetation properties mediate the diurnal pCO2excursion by influencing vertical exchange with the canopy The results highlight the importance of resolving vegetation‐mediated changes in mixing when estimating carbon uptake by submerged canopies

Long-term gas migration through clays cannot be simulated by conventional two-phase flow models alone owing to the presence of material deformation. In this article, an extended two-phase flow model that incorporates mechanical effects is proposed. The model allows the formation of preferential pathway and considers the relation between pore moisture and pore deformation. It was carried out with the intention of avoiding the complexity of a fully coupled thermal, hydraulic and mechanical modelling. In the new model, porosity, permeability, swelling pressure and pathways formation threshold depend on the water saturation. The model is validated on different gas injection experiments with controlled flow rate and controlled pressure. Some experiments are well known in the literature; some are new. In each case, an inverse approach is used to identify the model parameters. The results confirm that, depending on the type of bentonite (MX80, Avonlea, KunigelV1), modelling the gas migration could require the existence of a pressure-induced saturation-depending preferential pathway. In laboratory-scale experiments, the model leads to an accurate evaluation of the long-term gas migration trends, including not just the gas migration stage but also the water re-saturation level. In a field-scale experiment, the behaviour of the model in a realistic context is revealed.

Three-dimensional finite element method simulation was performed to clarify the mechanism on surface replication in microinjection moulding and thermal nanoimprinting. In particular, the filling flow behaviour into micro- and nanosurface features was discussed in comparison with the experimental results. The simulation results and the experimental results of injection moulding show possibility of the generation of air traps in the filling stage and it is considered that those air traps have a strong relation with replication shape and replication rate. The simulation results of thermal imprinting revealed the penetration behaviour of polymer melt into nanosurface features and showed that the aspect ratio of the surface features and imprinting pressure and temperature influenced flow behaviour in thermal imprinting.

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Conjugated polymers doped with fullerenes show excellent photoconversion efficiencies. However, due to the poor solubility of pure C60in common organic solvents, it was thought that some chemical modifications to C60were required in order to load conjugated polymers with comparable weights of fullerene. Here, we report a novel way to load large amounts of unmodified C60fullerene into the conjugated polymer poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexoxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene), MEH‐PPV. The principle of our approach is to separate the film‐deposition stage from the material‐solidification stage. That is, materials are quickly solidified from dilute solution into colloidal particles, which are large enough to be collected by electrophoretic deposition. Deposition from a mixture of separate suspensions of MEH‐PPV and C60fullerene resulted in films consisting of isolated particles. In contrast, by using a suspension made of a dilute solution of MEH‐PPV and C60, which was so dilute that traditional techniques such as spin‐coating were not applicable, an MEH‐PPV film doped with 20 mol‐% C60, corresponding to an almost 1:1 ratio by weight of molecularly dispersed C60, was easily obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the successful loading of an equivalent weight ratio of unmodified C60molecules into MEH‐PPV.

A numerical analysis and a water model study of the mold region of a billet continuous caster was performed with a novel injection concept using swirling flow in the pouring tube, to control the heat and mass transfer in the continuous casting mold. The following results were found:

It is possible to develop a selective epoxidation process for propene using heterogeneous catalysis in a forced-flow membrane reactor. The most innovative processes required two catalysts, Cs-Ag and Re-Ag, which were immobilized in the membrane pores of a micro-porous glassy (MPG) substance, and three different reactor systems for reaction gas flows in the membrane pores. The systems included a convection-flow reactor (CFR), a diffusion-flow reactor (DFR), and a packed-bed-flow reactor (PFR). The three types were examined over temperatures ranges from 420 to 525 K, while keeping the total conversion of propene to less than 10%. The membrane reactor systems followed two common Langmuir-type equations of reaction rates for CO₂ and propylene oxide (PO) formation under steady state operations at atmospheric pressure. The amount of the intermediate for CO₂ formation, whose structure retained the C&<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="bond.gif">;C&<IMG BORDER=0 SRC="bond.gif">;C bond of a propene molecule, was sensitively controlled by the types of catalysts and reactor systems used. Comparing the three immobilized catalysts, Cs-Ag, Re-Ag, and Ag₂O, the larger the amount of intermediate formed on the catalysts the higher was the propylene oxide (PO) selectivity and thus the PO selectivity followed the order of Re-Ag > Cs-Ag > Ag₂O. The CFR with Re-Ag/MPG clearly demonstrated hysteresis kinetics depending on the increase (C-up) or decrease (C-down) in the propene concentration. The PO selectivity was separately evaluated as 73-35% for the C-up and 35-21% for the C-down. The convection flow rate of reactants in the pores effectively contributed to an enhancement of the PO production rate from 18 to 41% of PO selectivity, for the reactant flow rate of 70-130 cm³ min^-1 at 483 K.
© 2003 Society of Chemical Industry

The electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured films from colloidal suspensions of a conjugated polymer poly(3-octadecylthiophene) (PAT18), as well as the preparation of the suspension by a simple mixing method, is reported. A colloidal suspension of PAT18 was prepared by pouring a toluene solution of the polymer into acetonitrile, which is not a solvent for the polymer. It was found that the suspension obtained was stable for more than two weeks, and the stability was related to the concentration of the polymer therein. In comparison with a toluene solution of PAT18, the colloidal suspension shows a considerable red-shift in the optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra, as well as a quenched photoluminescence, indicating the solidification of PAT18 in the suspension. The electrophoretic deposition of a PAT18 film from the colloidal suspension was successfully carried out. The film shows almost the same optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra as those of a spin-coated film. On the other hand, an atomic force microscopy study revealed a nanostructured surface morphology of the electrophoretically deposited films. Such nanostructured films are expected to be promising materials for electrochemical and sensor applications.

The electrophoretic deposition of nanostructured films from colloidal suspensions of a conjugated polymer poly(3‐octadecylthiophene) (PAT18), as well as the preparation of the suspension by a simple mixing method, is reported. A colloidal suspension of PAT18 was prepared by pouring a toluene solution of the polymer into acetonitrile, which is not a solvent for the polymer. It was found that the suspension obtained was stable for more than two weeks, and the stability was related to the concentration of the polymer therein. In comparison with a toluene solution of PAT18, the colloidal suspension shows a considerable red‐shift in the optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra, as well as a quenched photoluminescence, indicating the solidification of PAT18 in the suspension. The electrophoretic deposition of a PAT18 film from the colloidal suspension was successfully carried out. The film shows almost the same optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra as those of a spin‐coated film. On the other hand, an atomic force microscopy study revealed a nanostructured surface morphology of the electrophoretically deposited films. Such nanostructured films are expected to be promising materials for electrochemical and sensor applications.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-6 is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-(β) superfamily, and is most similar to BMP-5, osteogenic protein (OP)-1/BMP-7, and OP-2/BMP-8. In the present study, we characterized the endogenous BMP-6 signaling pathway during osteoblast differentiation. BMP-6 strongly induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in cells of osteoblast lineage, including C2C12 cells, MC3T3-E1 cells, and ROB-C26 cells. The profile of binding of BMP-6 to type I and type II receptors was similar to that of OP-1/BMP-7 in C2C12 cells and MC3T3-E1 cells; BMP-6 strongly bound to activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-2 (also termed ActR-I), together with type II receptors, i.e. BMP type II receptor (BMPR-II) and activin type II receptor (ActR-II). In addition, BMP-6 weakly bound to BMPR-IA (ALK-3), to which BMP-2 also bound. In contrast, binding of BMP-6 to BMPR-IB (ALK-6), and less efficiently to ALK-2 and BMPR-IA, together with BMPR-II was detected in ROB-C26 cells. Intracellular signalling was further studied using C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 cells. Among the receptor-regulated Smads activated by BMP receptors, BMP-6 strongly induced phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of Smad5, and less efficiently those of Smad1. However, Smad8 was constitutively phosphorylated, and no further phosphorylation or nuclear accumulation of Smad8 by BMP-6 was observed. These findings indicate that in the process of differentiation to osteoblasts, BMP-6 binds to ALK-2 as well as other type I receptors, and transduces signals mainly through Smad5 and possibly through Smad1.

This paper describes the biodegradability of photodegraded polyethylene (PE) and commercial PEwax and molecular size limits of PE for biodegradation. Photodegradation was accelerated by Scott‐Gelead System. Photofragmented PE and commercial PEwax were used as a sole carbon and energy source for soil microorganisms, respectively. Biodegradation by microbial consortia was confirmed by the increase of viable cell numbers and GPC analysis of PE added. Significant weigh decrease of PE samples added was also observed. Both photofragmented PE and PEwax were suggested to be biodegradable up to Mw 5,000 or more: Mw lower than 500 was degraded by more than 40%. Mw 500–2,000 was by more than 10%. Mw higher than 2,000 was only by a few %. Logarithms of biodegradation ratio (%) and Mw were correlated to show linearity and to suggest the biodegradability limit close to Mw 10,000.

The reaction of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide results in the formation of peroxynitrite, a potent and relatively long-lived oxidant. In infectious diseases, these molecules are not only bactericidal but also toxic to host cells. Chorioamnionitis is often complicated by premature rupture of membranes and can be associated with placental abruption. These diseases are significant causes of premature low-birth-weight deliveries and consequently the morbidity and mortality of neonates. Lipopolysaccharide, bacterial endotoxin, is known to be elevated in the amniotic fluid of patients with chorioamnionitis. Lipopolysaccharide is known to induce the formation of NO and superoxide. We report here that nitrite/nitrate, stable metabolites of NO, were increased in serum from patients with chorioamnionitis. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated enhanced expression of inducible NO synthase and formation of nitrotyrosine, a footprint of peroxynitrite, in the placentae from patients with chorioamnionitis and also in patients with placental abruption. Furthermore, apoptotic cell death was also increased in the placentae from patients with both diseases. These results suggest that chorioamnionitis and a portion of placental abruption may share a common cascade of placental injury. Nitric oxide and its metabolities may play an important role in this cascade.

Background: Involvement of the serotoninergic system (S/S) in alcoholism has been suggested in both mice and humans. Previous studies have suggested the S/S genotype of the serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism to be associated with severe alcohol dependence marked by severe withdrawal symptoms. It has also been associated with alcoholics who exhibit a dissocial personality disorder.

We studied retrospectively the radiographs of 33 patients with late symptoms after scaphoid nonunion in an attempt to relate the incidence of scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse (SNAC) to the level of the original fracture. We found differing patterns for nonunion at the proximal, middle and distal thirds. The mean intervals between fracture and complaint were 20.9, 6.7 and 12.6 years and obvious degenerative changes occurred in 85.7%, 40.0% and 33.3%, for the six proximal-, eight middle- and two distal-third nonunions, respectively.Nonunion at the proximal and middle thirds showed the first degenerative changes at the radioscaphoid joint, and this was followed by narrowing of the scaphocapitate and then the lunocapitate joints. In our two nonunions of the distal third degenerative changes were seen only at the lunocapitate joint. Most patients with SNAC and nonunion of the middle or distal third showed dorsal intercalated instability; few patients with nonunion of the proximal third developed this deformity.We discuss the initial management of nonunion of the scaphoid at different levels in the light of our findings, and make recommendations.

Non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia was diagnosed in a girl at 3 weeks of age because of the typical clinical presentation, the elevated glycine concentration in urine, plasma and especially in cerebrospinal fluid and the normal profile of organic acids in urine. An EEG showed the typical burst suppression pattern. Therapeutic approaches with either pyridoxine (50 mg d-1) alone or in combination with N5formyltetrahydrofolate (3×3 mg d-1) or with strychnine (0.3 mg per kg body weight) did not result in improvement. In postmortem liver and brain of the patient the overall activity of the glycine cleavage system was deficient; examination of the activity of the individual components of the glycine cleavage system in the tissues revealed that the activity of the T-protein was undetectable, whereas that of the other components and of lipoamide dehydrogenase was normal.

This report presents five cases of Apert's syndrome with features of acrocephaly, characteristic face and complete syndactyly of the hand and foot with bony fusion. Three cases out of five showed preaxial Polydactylies of the foot, considered to be one of the characteristic features of Carpenter's syndrome. In the remaining two cases, the first digital ray of the foot was broad and deformed. In addition one case had a postaxial Polydactyly of the hand. Three cases showed severe deformity of the shoulder; two had dysplasia and one had synchondrosis of the glenohumeral joint. On the basis of our findings in this, we feel that there is much phenotypic overlap between Apert's and Carpenter's syndrome. A polydactylous presentation of the hand and foot can be found in not a few cases of Apert's syndrome and it is not always an exclusive feature of Carpenter's syndrome.

The biochemical and therapeutic responses to dietary therapy were studied in a 25-month-old girl and a 1-month-old girl with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA-emia), which was unresponsive to vitamin B12.

The quadriceps femoris muscle and the muscularis mucosae of the rectum from two children with mitochondrial myopathic syndrome associated with lactic acidosis were studied by electron microscopy. Striking morphological abnormalities of mitochondria were noted not only in the skeletal but also in the smooth muscle cells. Endothelial cells of blood capillaries distributed in these affected muscles were so greatly swollen that the capillary lumen was almost occluded. In contrast, surface epithelial and glandular epithelial cells of the rectum contained normal mitochondria, and fenestrated capillaries in the propria mucosae remained intact. Long-term ischemia resulting from occlusive changes of the capillary wall may be responsible for the mitochondrial alterations of muscle cells.

A nationwide neonatal sreening program for phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria, histidinemia and galactosemia was started in Japan in 1977. The total number of infants screened had reached 6,311,754 by March, 1982. A follow-up study revealed the incidence of the disease in Japan: 1/108,823 for PKU; 1/450,840 for hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA); 1/1,577,939 for biopterin deficiency; 1/525,980 for MSUD; 1/1,051,959 for homocystinuria; 1/8,371 for histidinemia, and 1/788,969 for galactosemia type 1. The incidences of PKU, HPA, homocystinuria, and galactosemia (type 1) were found to be markedly low in Japan as compared with those in Caucasian countries. There was no great difference in the incidence of MSUD between both. On the other hand, the incidence of histidinemia was higher in Japan.

Non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder of glycine metabolism characterized by elevated concentrations of glycine in plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The fundamental defect was found to lie in the glycine cleavage system. It is of significance that the major pathway for the catabolism of glycine was elucidated through the studies of hyperglycinaemia. The present knowledge about non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia is described in clinical and biochemical aspects.

Sisters with a mild variant of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia resulting from a defect in the T-protein of the glycine cleavage system had different clinical outcomes. The older sister was ascertained at 6 months of age because of mental retardation. She received only brief treatment with sodium benzoate from 11–15 months and at 15 years of age is profoundly retarded and has epilepsy. The younger sister was diagnosed 36h after birth, was treated with strychnine, sodium benzoate and arginine from the neonatal period and at 27 months of age is only moderately retarded and free of seizures. The possible role of strychnine in the improved outcome is discussed.

A 10-month-old male infant with vitamin B12 non-responsive methylmalonic acidaemia is reported. Laboratory results revealed hyperkalaemic, hyperchloraemic, metabolic acidosis with slight azotaemia. The urinary pH decreased (below 5.5) to compensate for acidaemia. Levels of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration were low. The renal biopsy showed tubulo-interstitial nephritis. We suggested the diagnosis of type 4 renal tubular acidosis, subtype 2, i.e. hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism. We suggest that chronic renal disease may be a common complication of methylmalonic acidaemia.

Isolated extension of the index finger after extensor indicis proprius (EIP) transfer was studied. In cadavers, the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle of the index finger received distinct innervation from the posterior interosseous nerve and was well separated, with its own innervation, from the other EDC muscle. Examination of von Schroeder's type I juncturae tendinum (JT) between the index and long finger showed two types: von Schroeder type 1A (16 of 27 hands; 59%) was fascia only; von Schroeder type IB (11 of 27 hands; 41%) was thin filamentous bands. In clinical cases, 3 hands were type IA and 10 were type IB. Retained independent index finger extension was obtained in all patients with excision of the JT between the index and long finger following EIP transfer.