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The formation of high resistivity phases of nickel silicide in a small silicide area is a problem for the uniformity of the sheet resistance. It was found that implementing furnace annealing method, as the first annealing step, improves the nickel silicide sheet resistance uniformity at small areas. Low ramp rate and prolonged annealing duration by furnace anneal promote grain size growth of Ni 2 Si phase, which decreases the free energy change and suppresses the formation of high resistivity phases of nickel silicide. Increasing the first anneal temperature was also found to improve the sheet resistance uniformity of only p + active areas. Furthermore, increasing the temperature of Ni PVD stage or second anneal, promotes the formation of NiSi 2 phase.

The development of terahertz (THz) technology and science relevant to accelerator-based sources has been rapid, based on laser and semiconductor physics. To assure further progress of this scientific field, extremely intense radiation, involving gigawatt-class peak power, is needed. In addition to discussing the prospects for typical accelerator-based THz sources, such as coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) and free electron lasers (FELs), novel, advanced THz sources employing isochronous-ring and bunched-FEL approaches are proposed.

Marine recreational beaches are monitored for fecal contamination by Enterococcus spp. (ENT) counts. Although different ENT species in the environment tend to thrive in and originate from distinct hosts, the current monitoring method does not differentiate among species. Time-consuming isolation-based species identification precludes routine analysis of environmental ENT communities. Therefore, an isolation-independent DNA fingerprinting method was developed to characterize environmental ENT communities using DNA length polymorphism of the spacer region between the groES and groEL genes common to most ENT species. Capillary electrophoresis resulted in distinct peak sizes of PCR products that carried polymorphic groESL spacers (300-335 bp in length) among 8 different ENT species (Enterococcus avium, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans, and Enterococcus faecalis). Distortions in true species ratios observed in electropherograms were caused by PCR biases arising in a mixed ENT community DNA template. E. faecalis was overestimated and E. avium and E. faecium were underestimated compared to the original species ratios in the mixed community. The PCR product bias was constant between species, so good approximation of the species ratio in ENT communities is possible. In environmental samples, a high percentage of E. faecalis (96%) together with high total ENT counts were observed in samples collected from a sewer line and from several sites in a storm drain system where sewage leaks were suspected. In contrast, samples with400 CFU 100 ml-1 ENT were either dominated by E. mundtii or had 4 or more ENT species. The latter ENT community profiles are considered to be signatures of enterococci rarely associated with animals with low or of non-fecal origin.

The strength of the super-laminates of Ag/Fe and Ag/Ni was estimated by both tensile tests and Vickers micro-hardness test. The effect of annealing on the strength of super-laminates has been investigated from the viewpoint of the microstructure change at or near the interface in multilayer due to annealing. In the Ag/Fe and Ag/Ni systems, the strength of the super-laminates in the as-rolled condition increased with the decrease of the layer thickness and exceeded 1000 MPa for tensile test and 300 Hv for Vickers hardness test. The strength of all the specimens used in this investigation was increased by annealing at 473 K for 3.7 ks without the collapse of layer structure. It is considered that the high strength of super-laminates is closely related to the microstructure in the interfaces between two components. The increase of the strength by annealing can be considered as the strengthening effect of interfaces with lattice mismatch which is often observed on the epitaxial multilayered composites.

Micro-nano ZnO whiskers and dots have been selectively grown on sapphire substrate using Au/Pt catalyst arrays. The catalyst array was fabricated by employing a nanoindentation tester, which is simpler than conventional micro-nano fabrication techniques. The electric current heating (ECH) method was used to provide ZnO sources from a ZnO ceramic bar heated to about 1000 °C. The whiskers and dots were grown in the Vapor–Liquid–Solid (VLS) growth mode inside a gold image furnace. SEM images identified dramatic differences in the crystal structures grown at 940 °C, specifically, whiskers for Au catalyst and dots for Pt catalyst. Whiskers are characterized by diameters of 10 nm to sub-micron and lengths from sub-microns to tens of microns. Dots, however, have a uniform diameter of about 100 nm. We found growth beginning at the arrayed Au catalyst positions. In contrast, dots were formed, but no whiskers were observed around the Pt catalyst. These features are explained in terms of different catalyst melting points: VLS growth was realized for the Au catalyst but not for the Pt catalyst at 940 °C. Good to excellent quality ZnO whisker and dot crystals was confirmed by micro-photoluminescence (PL) measurement.

BAG-1 is a Bcl-2-binding protein that functions as an anti-apoptotic molecule. In this report we show a possible correlation between BAG-1 expression levels and the probability of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) progression. We investigated BAG-1 expression levels in 22 patients diagnosed with early lesions (T1 and T2) of oral SCCs using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. High steady-state levels of BAG-1 were detected in 13 out of 22 cases (59%). High BAG-1 expression was observed more frequently in cases with nodal metastasis (89%) than in those without nodal metastasis (38%) (P

A 22-year-old female with origin unknown liver cirrhosis in the absence of serological markers for hepatitis B (HBV) except for HBV-DNA developed fulminant hepatitis with HBV after liver transplantation. The donor was her father with Gilbert’s syndrome who showed anti-HBs and low titer anti-HBc positive. Severe hepatitis developed in the grafted liver due to HBV at 11 months postoperatively. HBsAg and HBeAg became positive, while anti-HBs, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, and hepatitis C were negative. After hepatitis B infection was confirmed by a liver biopsy, treatment with HB immunoglobulin and prostaglandin E1 were initiated. Despite intensive-care support including frequent plasma exchange and continuous hemofiltration, the patient died at 16 months postoperatively. Pre-transplant serum HBV-DNA was positive in the recipient but negative in the donor, while immunopathologic studies for HBsAg and HBV-DNA were negative in the liver of both the recipient and donor. Therefore, acquisition of HBV in the recipient would be due to occult pre-transplant infection. In conclusion, the pre-transplant evaluation of HBV-DNA in the liver tissue and serum should be examined when liver transplantation is attempted in patients with origin unknown liver cirrhosis.

An organic solvent-stable protease (PST-01 protease) in a culture broth of organic solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PST-01 was purified by successive hydrophobic interaction chromatography using Butyl-Toyopearl gels. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PST-01 protease had a molecular mass of 38 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH for casein hydrolysis were 55 degrees C and 8.5, respectively. PST-01 protease was stable at pH 8-12 and below 50 degrees C and was determined to be a metalloprotease which was inhibited by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and phosphoramidon. PST-01 protease inhibited by EDTA was reactivated completely by the addition of zinc or cobalt ions. The stability of PST-01 protease in solutions containing water-soluble organic solvents or alcohols was higher than that in the absence of organic solvent. Furthermore, in general, PST-01 protease was more stable than commercially available proteases, namely, subtilisin Carlsberg, thermolysin, and alpha-chymotrypsin, in the presence of water-soluble organic solvents or alcohols.

processed with a wavelet analysis. The angular information of the Biodex dynamometer was synchronized with the telemetric transmitter during the muscle fatigue assessment. Owing to the high variance in the sEMGand isokinetic torque assessment data of the first and final (the 1st and the 32nd) repetitions of maximum knee extension, data from these two repetitions were excluded. The rates of the muscle fatigue and the sEMG spectral shape were calculated as the decline in each contraction number by the bivariate liner regression. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was assessed by the bioelectrical impedance analysis. All the assessment procedures in this study were administered to all subjects by one investigator. Results: The fatigue index was not significantly different in genders (males = 26.15± 2.65%, females = 18.73± 5.98%, effect size = 1.61, β = 0.394). The VL was significantly decreased linearly in the sEMG of mean-frequency (MNF) and high-frequency power(HF) for males and females. In addition, the Males exhibited higher reduction in MNF and HF than females. The males SMM values were significantly higher than females (males = 31.36± 1.86 kg, females = 20.04± 0.37 kg, p< 0.01, effect size = 7.56). Conclusion(s): This study demonstrated that there is a significant reduction in sEMG of MNF and HF in males. This data suggests that males have a higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers than females. Implications: Physical therapist engaged in rehabilitation should be aware of the gender-difference during resistance training or muscle assessment.

The effects of the average pore size in porous glass tube membranes on the performance of the cross-flow microfiltration were investigated using oil-in-water emulsion. The flux decline with filtration time was divided into two stages. The filtration mechanism in the first stage can be explained by three types of blocking filtration models such as the complete type for pore size 0.27 μm membrane, the intermediate type for pore size 0.75 μm membrane and the standard type for pore size 1.47 μm. The second stage can be also explained by the cake filtration model. The oil rejection is found to decrease with time initially, but is soon stabilized at a constant level. This was explained by the comparison among the average pore size, the pore size distribution of used membrane and the droplet distribution of the feed emulsion. The surfactant transmission of the cake filtration stage was 49% for 0.27 μm membrane, 80% for 0.75 μm membrane and 99% for 1.47 μm membrane.

A new type of power supply system for a gyrotron with collector potential depression (CPD) to enhance gyrotron efficiency was developed. The power supply system is composed of a main power supply (MPS) and an acceleration power supply (APS). The APS which provides the stable high field to the magnetron injection gun (MIG) of the gyrotron is the key point of the system. The DC-DC converter technique is applied to the APS and it can output 100 kV of maximum voltage within ±0.5% stability and 300 mA of maximum current. The CPD gyrotron operation was successfully achieved with an efficiency of 48% and power of 350 kW for 5 s at 110 GHz. The stable gyrotron operation, without regulation of MPS, which provides the d.c. input power to the gyrotron, has been demonstrated by the combination of the APS and MPS.

Recent studies have indicated that deposition of beta amyloid peptide in the brains of patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) is a consequence of abnormal processing of the beta amyloid protein precursor. In addition, reduced concentrations of various peptides have been measured in post-mortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with SDAT. We determined concentrations of the peptides derived from prepro-vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)--peptide histidine methionine-27 (PHM-27), peptide histidine valine (PHV) and VIP--and peptides derived from prepro-somatostatin (prepro-SS), SS-14 and SS-28, in CSF of patients with SDAT by radioimmunoassay combined with high performance liquid chromatography. We found significantly reduced levels of total PHM-immunoreactivity (IR) and PHV, and unaltered levels of PHM-27 and VIP in SDAT, compared with those in controls. Total SS-IR and SS-28 concentrations were significantly reduced in SDAT, while SS-14 levels did not differ from those of controls. These results suggest that an altered processing of the prepro-peptides of VIP and SS may occur in SDAT and that these alterations might have a significant role in the pathogenesis of SDAT.

Background: Studies suggest that long-term overloaded exercise may lead to working myocardium injuries, which could form structural bases for the occurrence of exercise-induced arrhythmia. However, little is known about the cardiac conduction system which initiates the rhythmic contraction of the heart. To explore whether cardiac conduction system is involved in the exerciseinduced cardiac injury, This paper discusses the subunit mRNA and current density of Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotidegated channels (HCN channel) of sinoatrial node at different time phrases after exhaustive exercise. Methods: 180 healthy adult male SD rats were equally assigned into 9 groups, including 1 control groups, 4 groups undergoing single exhaustive swimming (O group), and 4 groups undergoing 2-week repeated exhaustive swimming (R group). Rats underwent swimming with loading (3% of body weight) on their tails. 2-h exhaustive swimming was carried out for the repeated swimming groups 6 days per week for a total of 2 weeks. After 2-week normal feeding, 2-h exhaustive swimming was carried out for the single exhaustive swimming group. The samples were drawn from rats immediately, and at 4, 12, and 24h after exhaustive swimming. The mRNA expression of HCN channel subunit in SAN were analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, SAN cells isolation and whole-cell patch clamp analysis. Results: (1) The HCN1/4mRNA expression of the single exhaustive swimming group O-0h were significantly higher than that of control group (P

The effects of 100 keV He-ion irradiation on the early stage of plastic deformation of copper polycrystals were studied by examining dose-dependence of the yield stress at 77 K and slip behavior at 90 K, and ultra-micro hardness measurements on thin surface damaged layers were also carried out at room temperature. The yield stress increased slightly at a dose of 2 × 1021ions/m2, but did not increased at 2 × 1019ions/m2. The hardness increased markedly at 2 × 1021ions/m2 and slightly at 2 × 1019ions/m2. The slip behavior was markedly different between unirradiated surfaces and irradiated ones at a higher dose, and slightly at a lower dose. These facts show that the very thin surface damaged layer affects the mechanical properties of fcc bulk materials. The possibility of the use of ultra-micro hardness testing in He irradiation effects is also briefly discussed.

The development of a countermeasure known as a “vertical stabilizer”, for the suppression of the aerodynamic instability of long-span suspension bridges with stiffening truss-girders is presented. At first, the suppression effect is demonstrated by wind tunnel dynamic response tests. Subsequently, the mechanism of aerodynamic stabilization is investigated using flow visualization and pressure measurements. From these test results, it is concluded that the wind induced oscillation of stiffening truss-girders is due to the reattachment of the separated flow from the leading edge. When the vertical stabilizer is installed, however, the resulting reseparation from the bottom edge of vertical stabilizer and the air stream blowing through the center grating of the deck, lead to the suppression of wind induced oscillation. Evidence is presented that these effects are maintained in a turbulent flow.

Background: Although kyphosis and its mobility are reported to be associated with walking ability in elderly people, the causal relationship between them has not been clarified. Purpose:Toclarify the foot pressure pattern in individuals with kyphosis and examine the relationship between spinal kyphosis, mobility, foot pressure pattern, and walking ability. Methods: In 61participants, total inclination and thoracic, lumbar, and sacral anglesweremeasured by the SpinalMouse (IdiagAG,Switzerland). Forty-one of the 61participantswith total inclination >6 degrees and/or lumbar angle < 16 degrees were classified as the kyphosis group (6 men, 35 women; mean age, 78.5 years). The other 20 participants were classified as the control group (3 men, 17 women; 75.5 years). Spinal mobility of the total, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine was measured. Walking speed and step length at a comfortable walking speedweremeasured on a flat and straight 10-m course. Simultaneously, the foot pressure pattern was measured by the insole-type foot pressure measurement system (F-Scan II, Nitta, Japan). The anteroposterior length of the center of pressure (COP) path, expressed as the percentage of the foot length (%Long), the transverse width of the COP path, expressed as the percentage of maximum foot width (%Trans), and the partial foot pressure in the heel, central, metatarsal, hallux, and lateral toe area, expressed as the percentage of body weight (%PFP), were calculated. Results: Walking speed (0.8± 0.3 vs. 1.1± 0.3m/s, p= 0.031) and step length (0.4± 0.1 vs. 0.5± 0.1m, p= 0.042) in the kyphosis groupwere significantly lower than those in the control group. Total inclination in the kyphosis group was significantly higher than that in the control group (8.3± 8.2 vs. 1.0± 3.2 degrees, p= 0.007). Lumbar angle (−1.4± 17.2 vs. 24.9± 4.3 degrees, p= 0.008) and sacral inclination (−3.1± 9.3 vs. 9.9± 4.5 degrees, p= 0.008) in the kyphosis group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In the kyphosis group, mobility of the total, lumbar, and sacral spine was significantly lower than that of the control group. The %Long, %Trans, and %PFP of the hallux (4.4± 3.6 vs. 15.1± 6.4%, p= 0.034) and lateral toes (4.2± 3.2 vs. 9.7± 5.4%, p= 0.036) in the kyphosis groupwere significantly lower than those in the control group. A significant correlation was found between spinal inclination and %PFP of the hallux (r=−0.344) and lateral toes (r=−0.310). The %PFP of the hallux (r=0.560) and lateral toes (r= 0.437) also correlated with total spinal mobility. Conclusion(s): In individuals with spinal kyphosis, a decreased walking ability was evident, and severe kyphosis and low mobility of the spine were associated with low toe pressure. Thus, low toe pressure might induce insufficient driving forces, causing decreased walking ability. Implications:We should pay careful attention to the presence of low toe pressure in individuals with spinal kyphosis.

Background:Many studies have demonstrated that thoracoscopic lobectomy is superior to open thoracotomy in terms of short-termoutcomes in patientswith early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, few studies have analyzed the predictor of the postoperative deteriorationof performance status or complication in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy, despite considerable research in open thoracotomy. Besides, those studies did not cover the physical functions such as a muscle strength or an exercise capacity. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify predictors of short-term outcomes including the postoperative deterioration of the performance status and cardiopulmonary complications and to determine whether preoperative physical function including the lower-limb muscle strength and exercise capacity is associated with the short-term outcomes. Methods: Between June 2005 and October 2012, we retrospectively reviewed 188 consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy and the perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation for preoperative stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Demographic, lung and physical functions, surgical, and oncologic data were initially analyzed by using univariate analysis. Those with a P value of less than 0.2 of univariate analyses were used as independent variables in themultivariate logistic regression analyses. Pulmonary rehabilitation that consisted of postoperative early mobilization and progressive exercise training was administered during the patients’ hospitalization. Results: The incidences of postoperative deterioration of performance status and cardiopulmonary complication were 13.8% (n= 26) and 19.1% (n= 36), respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that percent of predicted diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (

ing has also been reported with normal cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure) Cranial nerve VI palsy may result from generalized increased intracranial pressure or localized pontine ischemia. In severe iron deficiency anemia, the neurologic abnormalities are probably also related to deficient iron in cytochrome enzymes and other metalloenzymes involved in oxygen metabolism, DNA synthesis, and catecholamine and steroid metabolism. 1,4'7 Our patient had papilledema as a result of increased intracranial pressure. Bilateral cranial nerve VI palsies were also most likely a result of increased intracranial pressure; this interpretation is supported by the bilaterality of these deficits, the associated headache, the elevated lumbar puncture opening pressure 5 days after admission, and the rapid reversal of neurologic abnormalities with treatment. The patient's syncopal episodes most likely resulted from postural hypotension in combination with inadequate blood oxygen content. Normal to elevated platelet counts often accompany iron deficiency anemia, although thrombocytopenia has also been reported. 8 Our patient's thrombocytopenia persisted until her fifth day of hospitalization, and then rapidly resolved. The role of iron in the regulation of thrombopoiesis is not well elucidated. On the basis of clinical observations and animal studies, Karpatkin et al. 9 postulated that a minimal amount of iron is necessary for platelet production, and that iron may also have a role in inhibiting excessive platelet production. The blood in our patient's stools during hospitalization likely resulted from nasal and gingival bleeding, and was possibly augmented by intestinal polyp bleeding. During hospitalization, her father's medical records were obtained and revealed that he had multiple intestinal polyps with malignant change. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was also diagnosed. In this autosomal dominant multisystemic disease, chronic recurrent bleeding occurs despite normal platelet and Coagulation studies. Epistaxis is the most common initial symptom, followed by intestinal bleeding. 1~ The intestinal lesions are characteristically small nodular angiomas surrounded by a pale halo and located primarily in the stomach and duodenum, 1~ unlike the lesions seen in our patient. She therefore appears to have had both generalized polyposis and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.