Search

A new Hague Treaty on international civil procedures would foster international cooperation. There have been international conflicts between courts on such issues as jurisdiction and extraterritoriality, involving cases in Japan, the US and Europe. A procedural treaty would facilitate the practices of international lawyers, who have developed viewpoints which do not favor one country over another.

Aims:To determine the effect of preoperative factors on the foveal thickness following vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. Methods:Fifty-eight eyes of 47 patients underwent vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema. In all eyes, no clear, visible vitreomacular traction was present. Twelve eyes were pseudophakic before vitrectomy, and 31 eyes underwent concurrent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of age, history of photocoagulation, diabetic retinopathy status, preoperative posterior vitreous detachment, HbA1c and serum creatinine levels within 2 weeks before surgery, lens status after surgery and follow-up period on the foveal thickness determined by optical coherence tomography. Results:The median preoperative visual acuity was 20/100 (range from 20/500 to 20/20), and the median postoperative visual acuity was 20/70 (range from 20/500 to 20/13). The preoperative visual acuity (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution; logMAR) was 0.73 ± 0.36 (mean ± SD; 20/107 Snellen acuity), and the mean postoperative logMAR visual acuity was 0.60 ± 0.39 (20/80), which was significantly better than the mean preoperative value (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.011). The mean ± SD of preoperative foveal thickness was 475.9 ± 172.5 µm, and the mean postoperative foveal thickness was 277.3 ± 171.9 µm. The mean postoperative foveal thickness was significantly thinner than the preoperative thickness (Student’s paired t test, p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a preoperative low HbA1c and postoperative pseudophakia were independently associated with the decrease in foveal thickness (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions:The greater reduction in foveal thickness in eyes with an IOL probably resulted from a relatively larger amount of vitreous being removed during the vitrectomy. Because the decrease in foveal thickness may be related to the preoperative glycemic control and the amount of vitreous, these factors should be considered in the planning for vitrectomy.

Zircon fission-track (F.T.) ages and paleomagnetic directions were measured on the Neogene series of the Oki-Dogo Island. The results of F.T. dating on the the Tokibariyama Formation show ages of 23.7 ± 1.3 and 20.0 ± 2.3 Ma, indicating the early Early Miocene. Paleomagnetic measurements of the Tokibariyama, Kori Formations (24–17 Ma) and the Oki Trachyte-Rhyolite (6.8 Ma) were done to reveal the movement of Oki-Dogo Island during the Japan Sea opening. The Tokibariyama and Kori Formations show an average declination of 39.9°. The Oki Trachyte-Rhyolite has the same average geomagnetic direction as the present day value. These results show that a clockwise rotation of 40° ± 15° of the Oki-Dogo Island occurred between 17 and 6.8 Ma which is similar to the main land of southwest Japan.

To investigate the possible association of a Fas ligand (FasL) gene mutation(s) or polymorphism(s) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). For amplification of the introns of the FasL gene, long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using exon-based primers was utilized, followed by partial sequencing to construct exon-specific oligonucleotide primers for the analyses of FasL genomic DNA in SLE patients. Structural defects were studied by use of a composite analysis of reverse transcriptase–PCR/single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts of the FasL gene in 35 SLE patients and PCR/SSCP analysis of FasL genomic DNA in 143 SLE patients. The sizes of the introns were ~0.6 kb for intron 1, 4.3 kb for intron 2, and 1.3 kb for intron 3. By SSCP analysis, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms in the FasL mRNA transcripts or in any of the 4 exons or areas of the introns adjacent to the exons. Using the same methods used in the present studies (PCR/SSCP), one group of investigators identified a structural defect of the FasL molecule in 1 of 75 SLE patients evaluated. Among the 143 SLE patients in the present study, however, we did not identify any mutations or polymorphisms of the FasL gene. Our results suggest that a FasL defect is not the major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Time evolutions of orientation function f(t) of uniaxially stretched polystyrene films were measured in temperature region higher than the glass transition temperature Tgby polarized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT IR). Time temperature superposition principle was valid for the data of f(t) obtained at T=108–130°C. From the observation of the master curve of f(t), it was found that the relaxation in time region from glass transition to the biginning of terminal flow can be observed. Further, from a comparison between f(t) and stress relaxation elastic modulus E(t), it was shown that the same information obtained by rheological measurement in non-linear region can be obtained by observation of f(t).

The precision of layering of crystals grown by the Phase-Locked Epitaxy (PLE) method, which controls the molecular beam by monitoring the reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) intensity, is investigated by photoluminescence from quantum-well structures and Raman scattering from superlattice structures. Peak energies and peak widths in the photoluminescence spectra show that the quantum-well widths are precisely controlled to one monolayer.

The intermolecular orbital method was applied to the orientation phenomena in the Diels-Alder reactions of 2-R-butadienes (R=Me, Ph, Cl, and CN) with methyl acrylate assuming the parallel biplanar transition state geometries. Although qualitatively correct predictions of paraorientation (major isomer) were obtained with the calculated overlap energies, it is suggested that the non-bonding interactions are overestimated. The simple perturbational molecular orbital method, which takes only the interactions at the terminal positions into account, was also unsatisfactory. However, frontier orbital interactions provided qualitatively correct prediction of the major isomeric product in every case.

The Stark effect was used to assign four series of the transitions in the heavily perturbed spectrum of methanethiol in the 14 μm region: K=0 and two K=1 series of Atorsional symmetry and K=0 series of Esymmetry. Effective parameters were determined for each series. The K=0 levels of Asymmetry in the ν8state were found to be perturbed by a Fermi-type resonance.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF.

A pnp-type GaAs inversion-base bipolar transistor was fabricated for the first time. The common emitter current gain obtained was ?=1010 at 77 K. By measuring the FET mode operation of the GaAs IBT, it was confirmed that the two-dimensional electron gas really worked as a base of the transistor.

Pretreatment of Rats with an Organophosphorus Insecticide, Chlorfenvinphos, Protects against Subsequent Challenge with the Same Compound. IKEDA, T., KOJIMA, T., YOSHIDA, M., TAKAHASHI, H., TSUDA, S., AND SHIRASU, Y. (1990). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 14, 560–567. A single oral pretreatment of rats with chlorfenvinphos (CVP) reduced toxicity of the same compound subsequently administered. This protection occurred 8 hr and became maximal 24 hr after the oral pretreatment at a dose of 15 mg/kg (about half of its LD50). The 24-hr pretreatment with CVP increased the LD50 of CVP threefold, but did not change the type of toxic signs and time to death caused by CVP. The CVP pretreatment did not appreciably change the toxicities of the cholinergic agonists, carbachol and oxotremorine, but significantly increased the toxicity of another organophosphate, dichlorvos. Oral treatment of rats with CVP (15 mg/ kg) inhibited brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. This inhibition became maximal at 4 hr (about 20% of control) and lasted more than 24 hr after the administration. Twenty-four hours after oral administration of CVP (15 mg/kg), the second dose (CVP 30 mg/kg, po) was less effective in inhibiting cholinesterase activities of the brain, erythrocyte, and plasma compared with naive rats treated with the same dose. The difference in brain AChE activity between control and CVP pretreatment groups was greater in magnitude than that measured in erythro-cytes. CVP concentration in plasma after the oral administration of CVP (30 mg/kg) was decreased by the CVP pretreatment. Area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC) in the CVP-pretreated group was about one-fourth of AUC in the control group. This decrease in the AUC was comparable to the decrease in the toxicity of CVP. Thus, the protection against subsequent CVP challenge may be due to the reduction in the inhibition of brain AChE activity caused by the decrease in plasma CVP concentration.

A new type of transistor called the miniband base transistor is proposed and fabricated. The miniband base transistor uses, as an entire base layer, a superlattice of the same conduction type as an emitter and a collector. The superlattice base is designed so that the injected electrons are in the first excited miniband, while base current carriers are in the ground miniband. The minigap between these two minibands is expected to suppress LO-phonon scatterings and to increase the current gain. The transistor is fabricated using an AlGaAs/GaAs superlattice. Electrical measurements indicate that the superlattice base is effective for improving the current gain of the hot-electron transistor at small collector voltage.

Long lasting RHEED oscillations during MBE growth of GaAs and AlxGa1-xAs are observed. Using these oscillations, accurate measurements of GaAs, AlxGa1-xAs growth rates and the Al mole fraction xwere performed during the growths. The phase of the RHEED oscillations was analyzed by computer and molecular beam shutters were operated at a particular phase. This computer controlled phase-locked epitaxy (PLE) was applied to grow precisely defined (GaAs)2(AlAs)2bi-layer superlattices. Raman scattering spectra showed split lines characteristic of superlattices. This PLE method is invulnerable to molecular beam fluctuations.

Differences in the Mode of Lethality Produced through Intravenous and Oral Administration of Organophosphorus Insecticides in Rats. TAKAHASHI, H., KOJIMA, T., IKEDA, T., TSUDA, S. and SHIRASU, Y. (1991). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 16, 459–468. This study was undertaken to investigate the possibility that mechanisms other than cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition account for the acute toxicity of organophosphorus insecticide. Both the P═O type insecticide (direct ChE inhibitors: chlorfenvinphos and dichlorvos) and the P═S type insecticide (indirect ChE inhibitors: diazinon and fenthion) were employed. Rats treated with lethal doses of intravenous and oral P═O type insecticides and oral P═S type insecticides exhibited typical signs of anti-ChE poisoning along with marked inhibition of brain and erythrocyte ChE activity. In contrast, rats given lethal doses of intravenous P═S type insecticides exhibited tonic convulsions and opisthotonos, with only slight inhibition of ChE activities. When P═O type insecticides were intravenously administered to anesthetized and conscious rats, animals exhibited typical anti-ChE poisoning signs in cardiorespiration: hypertension and apnea which were antagonized by atropine. After administration of lethal doses of P═O type insecticides, breathing disappeared before the cessation of heart beats. Rats receiving lethal doses of intravenous P═S type insecticides did not show hypertension, but exhibited transient cessation of breathing and heart beats. Breathing was observed after the disappearance of heart beats. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was characterized by spike and wave complexes. The EEG and cardiorespiratory changes were not antagonized by atropine. It was concluded that lethality following intravenous P═S type insecticides may be independent of ChE inhibition.

The effect of an undoped spacer layer up to 300 A thick adjoining a triple-barrier diode is studied. Larger peak-to-valley ratios and smaller full-widths at half maximum (FWHM), compared to conventional triple-barrier diodes, are obtained for the resonant current-peaks in these samples. It is explained that a main cause of the peak broadening is the random distribution of silicon ions in the heavily doped layer adjoining the barrier.