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This study assesses the effects of sending home energy reports utilizing the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) data to more than 1600 households in Japan. The treatment effect was verified using a panel data regression random effects model comparing the electricity consumption of a treatment group to which the report was sent with that of a control group that was not sent. The report was effective in winter and led to a 3.4% reduction in electricity consumption compared to the previous year in the average household. A further reduction of 5.4% for the households with higher electricity consumption for whom a significant reduction of 11.4% in the use of space heating was also observed. Although the treatment effect was not significant in summer for the average household, larger households reduced consumption by an overall average of 2%, with reductions of 6.8% and 7% in terms of space cooling and hot water use, respectively, from the previous month. In contrast, smaller households increased their space cooling consumption by more than 10% on average, which might be considered an undesirable boomerang effect. The accumulative treatment effect in a detached house group was also confirmed. Additionally, an accumulative two-year winter consumption reduction of 7.5% demonstrated the effectiveness of continual intervention.

Peripheral nerve injury occasionally causes chronic neuropathic pain with hyperalgesia and allodynia. However, its treatment is difficult. Here, we used a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model in rats to investigate the effects on experimental neuropathic pain of the human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene delivered into the nervous system by retrograde axonal transport following its repeated intramuscular transfer, using liposomes containing the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ). CCI (control) rats exhibited marked mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, and decreased blood flow in sciatic nerve and hind paw. All these changes were significantly reversed by HGF gene transfer. In the sciatic nerve in HGF-treated rats, the size-frequency distributions for myelinated and unmyelinated axons each showed a rightward shift, the number of myelinated axons5 microm in diameter was significantly increased, and the mean diameter of unmyelinated axons was significantly increased (versus CCI rats). Levels of P2X3, P2X4, and P2Y1 receptor mRNAs, and of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) mRNAs, were elevated in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia and/or sciatic nerve by CCI, and these levels were decreased by HGF gene transfer. These results may point toward a potential new treatment strategy for chronic neuropathic pain in this model.

A preliminary experiment for producing narrow-photon-energy cone-beam X-rays using a silicon single crystal is described. In order to produce low-photon-energy X-rays, a 100-μm-focus X-ray generator in conjunction with a (1 1 1) plane silicon crystal is employed. The X-ray generator consists of a main controller and a unit with a high-voltage circuit and a microfocus X-ray tube. The maximum tube voltage and current were 35 kV and 0.50 mA, respectively, and the X-ray intensity of the microfocus generator was 48.3 μGy/s at 1.0 m from the source with a tube voltage of 30 kV and a current of 0.50 mA. The effective photon energy is determined by Bragg's angle, and the photon-energy width is regulated by the angle delta. Using this generator in conjunction with a computed radiography system, quasi-monochromatic radiography was performed using a cone beam with an effective energy of approximately 17 keV.

The tungsten plasma flash X-ray generator is useful in order to perform high-speed enhanced K-edge angiography using cone beams because K-series characteristic X-rays from the tungsten target are absorbed effectively by gadolinium-based contrast media. In the flash X-ray generator, a 150 nF condenser is charged up to 80 kV by a power supply, and flash X-rays are produced by the discharging. The X-ray tube is a demountable diode, and the turbomolecular pump evacuates air from the tube with a pressure of approximately 1 mPa. Since the electric circuit of the high-voltage pulse generator employs a cable transmission line, the high-voltage pulse generator produces twice the potential of the condenser charging voltage. At a charging voltage of 80 kV, the estimated maximum tube voltage and current were approximately 160 kV and 40 kA, respectively. When the charging voltage was increased, the characteristic X-ray intensities of tungsten K α lines increased. The K α lines were clean, and hardly any bremsstrahlung rays were detected. The X-ray pulse widths were approximately 110 ns, and the time-integrated X-ray intensity had a value of approximately 0.35 mGy at 1.0 m from the X-ray source with a charging voltage of 80 kV. Angiography was performed using a film-less computed radiography (CR) system and gadolinium-based contrast media. In angiography of non-living animals, we observed fine blood vessels of approximately 100 μm with high contrasts.

In the plasma flash X-ray generator, a 200 nF condenser is charged up to 50 kV by a power supply, and flash X-rays are produced by the discharging. The X-ray tube is a demountable triode with a trigger electrode, and the turbomolecular pump evacuates air from the tube with a pressure of approximately 1 mPa. Target evaporation leads to the formation of weakly ionized linear plasma, consisting of nickel ions and electrons, around the fine target, and intense K α lines are left using a 15-μm-thick cobalt filter. At a charging voltage of 50 kV, the maximum tube voltage was almost equal to the charging voltage of the main condenser, and the peak current was about 18 kA. The K-series characteristic X-rays were clean and intense, and higher harmonic X-rays were observed. The X-ray pulse widths were approximately 300 ns, and the time-integrated X-ray intensity had a value of approximately 1.0 mGy at 1.0 m from the X-ray source with a charging voltage of 50 kV.

The effect of temperature on the initiation of light-induced defects in a-Se targets of high-gain avalanche rushing photoconductor (HARP) camera tubes was studied. At room temperature, avalanche a-Se was found to be subject to both reversible and irreversible photodarkening. At 35 °C, the irreversible photodarkening component was completely absent. This result is attributed to the instantaneous annealing of light-induced metastable coordination defects at elevated temperatures. A model for the formation of permanent crystalline areas at low temperatures via transition states associated with light-induced metastable defects is proposed.

High-altitude hypoxia causes pulmonary hypertension in humans and animals. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a novel and long-lasting vasoconstrictor. However, no study has dealt with the effects of a hypobaric hypoxic environment (HHE) on ET-1 activity in the brain. We examined 134 male rats permanently exposed to the equivalent of 5500 m altitude for 1 to 8 weeks. In these HHE rats, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure was significantly raised. The level of ET-1 protein, measured by enzyme immunoassay, increased rapidly in the lungs on exposure to HHE, but decreased in the brain. The level of ET-1 mRNA, measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR, was raised at 1, 4, and 6 weeks' exposure in the lungs and at 4 or more weeks' exposure in 3 of 8 brain regions. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of brain sections, ET-1 mRNA and protein were detected in the endothelial cells, neurons, and astrocyte-like cells in control rats. In HHE rats, the immunoreactive intensity for ET-1 protein decreased rapidly with time in these cells within the brain, although a few weakly ET-1 protein-positive cells were detected until 8 weeks' exposure to HHE. Only a few weakly ET-1 mRNA-positive endothelial cells were detected in any HHE rats. Although the reactivity for ET-1 mRNA had decreased significantly in neurons and astrocyte-like cells at 1 and 2 weeks' exposure to HHE, it was again strong in both types of cells at 4 weeks' exposure to HHE. These results raise the possibility that during exposure to HHE, ET-1 production in the lung may play a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension, while a decrease in ET-1 production within the brain may help to protect neurons by preventing or limiting the constriction of cerebral microvessels during the hypoxia induced by HHE.

In the plasma flash X-ray generator, a high-voltage main condenser of approximately 200 nF is charged up to 50 kV by a power supply, and electric charges in the condenser are discharged to an X-ray tube after triggering the cathode electrode. Flash X-rays are then produced. The X-ray tube is a demountable triode connected to a turbo molecular pump with a pressure of approximately 1 mPa. As electrons from the cathode electrode are roughly focused onto a rod nickel target of 3.0 mm in diameter by the electric field in the X-ray tube, a weakly ionized linear plasma consisting of nickel ions and electrons forms by target evaporation. At a charging voltage of 50 kV, the maximum tube voltage was almost equal to the charging voltage of the main condenser, and the peak current was about 17 kA. When the charging voltage was increased, the linear plasma formed, and the intensities of K-series characteristic X-rays increased. The K-series lines were quite sharp and intense, and hardly any bremsstrahlung rays were detected. The X-ray pulse widths were approximately 700 ns, and the time-integrated X-ray intensity had a value of approximately 30 μC/kg at 1.0 m from the X-ray source at a charging voltage of 50 kV.

The development of a portable X-ray generator with a cerium-target tube and its application to angiography are described. The portable X-ray generator consists of a main controller, a unit with a Cock–Croft circuit and an X-ray tube, and a personal computer. Negative high voltages are applied to the cathode electrode in the X-ray tube, and the tube voltage and current are regulated by the controller or the computer. The X-ray tube is a glass-enclosed double-focus diode with a cerium target and a 0.5 mm-thick beryllium window. The maximum tube voltage and current were 60 kV and 0.8 mA, respectively. The focal-spot sizes were 4 mm ×4 mm (large) and 1 mm ×1 mm (small), respectively. Angiography was performed with a computed radiography system using iodine-based microspheres. The tube voltage, the current, the distance between the imaging plate and the X-ray source, and the spot size were 60 kV, 0.4 mA, 1.5 m, and small, respectively. In this angiography, we observed coronary arteries and fine blood vessels of about 50 μm or less with high contrasts.

A fundamental study on quasi-monochromatic parallel radiography using a polycapillary plate and a copper-target X-ray tube is described. The X-ray generator consists of a negative high-voltage power supply, a filament (hot cathode) power supply, and an X-ray tube. The negative high-voltage is applied to the cathode electrode, and the anode electrode is connected to the ground. In this experiment, the tube voltage was regulated from12–25 kV, and the tube current was regulated within 3.0 mA by the filament temperature. The exposure time was controlled in order to obtain optimum X-ray intensity, and the maximum focal spot dimensions were approximately 2 mm ×1.5 mm. The polycapillary plate was J5022-21 (Hamamatsu Photonics Inc.), and the plate thickness was 1.0 mm. The outer, effective, and hole diameters were 87 mm, 77 mm, and 25 μm, respectively. Quasi-monochromatic X-rays were produced using a 10 μm-thick copper filter, and these rays were formed into parallel beams by the polycapillary, and the radiogram was taken using a computed radiography system utilizing imaging plates. In the measurement of image resolution, the resolution fell according to increases in the distance between the chart and imaging plate using a polycapillary. We could observe a 50 μm tungsten wire clearly, and fine blood vessels of approximately 100 μm were visible in angiography.

Telomeres are important in chromosome structure and function, protecting against their degradation. However, few studies have examined telomeres in growth plates within articular cartilage during normal development. We investigated frozen sections that were obtained from 57 reference autopsy cases (aged from 16 weeks of gestation to 91 years) and from 2 patients with thanatophoric dysplasia. In the reference cases, telomere length was significantly longer in growth plates obtained from the 10 cases that were aged from 16 weeks of gestation to 10 years than in those from 47 of the adult cases (aged 20 to 91 years). In fetal, neonatal, and child cases, telomerase activity was significantly higher in the hypertrophied zone (HZ) in growth plates than in the other 3 zones. The hTERT mRNA staining intensity (staining area) was stronger (larger) in HZ and the proliferating zone than in the calcified zone and resting zone. In thanatophoric dysplasia, telomere length and telomerase activity were short and low, respectively, compared with those of normal growth plates at an equivalent age, and expression of hTERT mRNA was negative or weakly positive in all 4 zones within growth plates. These results suggest that telomere length and telomerase activity have significant effects in the growth plates of articular cartilage, particularly at developmental ages from fetus to child. We speculate that short telomere length and low telomerase activity may be important for chondrocyte differentiation in rhizomeric shortening of the limbs in thanatophoric dysplasia.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) regulates cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis in various types of cells, including epithelial and endothelial cells, indicating that it probably promotes epithelial repair and neovascularization during wound healing. To better understand the effects of HGF on wound healing, we performed human HGF-gene transfer into skin wounds in rats. The rat HGF mRNA levels, and human and rat HGF protein concentrations in the wounds in HGF gene-transfer rats were significantly elevated at 3 days, 3 to 14 days, and 3 and 14 days after gene transfer, respectively. An expression of human HGF mRNA and protein was revealed in squamous cells in the epidermis, in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in blood vessels, and in fibroblasts in granulation tissues at 3, 7, and 14 days after gene transfer in HGF gene-transfer rats. The wound lesion area in HGF gene-transfer rats was significantly less than that in control rats from 3 to 7 days after gene transfer. The re-epithelialization rate, microvessel counts in granulation tissues, proliferating cell nuclear antigen index of fibroblasts in granulation tissues, and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen index in the epidermis of HGF gene-transfer rats were significantly increased at 3 and 7 days after gene transfer. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 and Colalpha2(I) mRNAs in the wounds of HGF gene-transfer rats were significantly decreased at 7 and 14 days, respectively. The hydroxyproline concentration in the wound was significantly less in HGF gene-transfer rats than in control rats at 3 days after gene transfer. These results suggest that HGF gene transfer into a skin wound may aid re-epithelialization and neovascularization in the early phase of wound healing, and that HGF may play a role in modulating cutaneous wound healing.

For the metastasis and invasion of cancer cells, destruction of extracellular matrix is essential. In this process, collagen is broken down by some matrix metalloproteinases. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) is able to cleave type IV collagen, and membrane-type-1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) induces activation of proMMP2. We investigated the expressions of MT1-MMP and MMP2 and their relation to both clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Eighty-nine specimens of NSCLC were examined using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Each metalloproteinase was expressed within the cytoplasm of tumor cells with or without stromal cells in NSCLC. Tumors in which tumor cells strongly stained for MT1-MMP mRNA or protein made up more than 50% of the tumor area were found in 44 and 26% of cases, respectively. The corresponding values for MMP-2 mRNA and protein, were 51 and 26%. Our analysis of clinicopathological findings revealed a significant positive relationship between MT1-MMP mRNA and p-M. The correlation between MMP2 protein-staining status and overall survival rate reached significance in the univariate analysis. However, an association was not demonstrated in the multivariate analysis. The detection of MT1-MMP and MMP2 is likely to be of limited value in informing the prognosis in NSCLC.

The expression of p27(Kip1), a negative regulator of the cell cycle, has been reported to correlate with the biological behavior and prognosis of several tumors. However, its prognostic importance in transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT) has not previously been investigated. We investigated p27(Kip1) protein expression using immunohistochemistry in 132 cases of TCC-UUT and also its relation to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity, p53 oncoprotein immunoreactivity, clinicopathologic parameters, and clinical outcome. A positive expression of p27(Kip1) protein was recognized in 94.7% of the samples and was apparent within tumor nuclei. In the normal urothelium, its expression was identified in all cell layers. A positive expression of p53 oncoprotein was recognized in 27.2% of the patients. The PCNA index was 7.4 to 93.1% (mean, 66.4%). Examination of the relationships between the expression of p27(Kip1) protein and clinicopathologic findings, PCNA index, and the expression of p53 oncoprotein revealed that the expression of p27(Kip1) protein decreased significantly with stage and grade. In a univariate analysis of disease-free and overall survival rates, no correlation was found between the expression of p27(Kip1) protein and prognosis. The expression of p27(Kip1) protein appears to be of little or no value in informing the prognosis in TCC-UUT.

The quantum efficiency of photo-charge generation and avalanche multiplication in amorphous selenium (a-Se) photodetectors were measured over considerable ranges of photoexcitation wavelengths (420–600 nm) and electric fields (10–112.5 V/μm) for several different a-Se target thicknesses (8–35 μm). An avalanche multiplication factor of 1000 is shown for a 35 μm thick a-Se layer at an electric field of 98 V/μm. The experimental results on quantum efficiency can be explained by the Onsager theory of electron–hole pair dissociation in conjunction with an electric field-induced delocalization of states.

The p53 gene, which is located on human chromosome 17, encodes for a nuclear phosphoprotein and is thought to regulate cell growth and proliferation. Although the immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder has been shown to correlate with clinicopathologic findings and prognoses, there have been no such reports on TCC of the upper urinary tract (TCC-UUT). The present study investigated the prognostic value of p53 oncoprotein in TCC-UUT. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 149 TCC-UUT patients were analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. Immunohistochemically, p53 oncoprotein was recognized as positive in 26.8% of the samples. The immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein was significantly (P < .05) correlated with both stage, grade, and pattern of growth. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 58.4% and 69.7%, respectively. A univariate analysis of survival showed that stage, grade, pattern of growth, and the immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein have a significant effect on disease-free and overall survival rates. In the final models of multivariate analysis, only stage for disease-free survival, and stage and the immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein for overall survival were found to be progressive or prognostic factors. Detection of immunoreactivity for p53 oncoprotein appears to be of real value in deciding the prognosis of TCC-UUT.

Few studies have investigated the prognostic value of a variety of cell-biological parameters in cases of urachal adenocarcinoma, a rare neoplasm. The authors examined three cell-biological parameters--DNA status, proliferating cell-nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, and argyrophilic nucleolar-organizer region (AgNOR) counts--in surgically resected, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded urachal adenocarcinomas from 41 patients. The authors quantified DNA distribution in 200 cancer cells from a section of each tumor, stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, using a microspectrophotometer. The authors also measured the number of PCNA immunostaining cells in 1,000 nuclei, and AgNORs counts in 200 nuclei, from sections of each tumor. There were eight specimens with group 1 DNA distribution (defined as a DNA content of under 4c in >90% of the cells), 21 of group 2 DNA distribution (more than 4c in >10% of the cells and more than 6c in 10% of the cells). The percentage of PCNA-positive cells was 19% to 91% (median, 59.5%), and the mean AgNOR count was 2.2 to 8.8 (median, 5.3) granules per nucleus. The 5-year survival rate for all 41 patients was 50.2%. Initial univariate analyses indicated that tumor stage, histological differentiation, and DNA status had a significant effect on survival. In the final models using multivariate analysis, only tumor stage and histological differentiation were found to be prognostic factors. These investigations confirm the vital importance of tumor stage and histological differentiation as predictors of patient survival. The three cell-biological parameters the authors studied do not appear to be important parameters for predicting survival.

In an attempt to differentiate malignant pleural mesothelioma from pulmonary adenocarcinoma by histochemical and immunohistochemical means, the glycoconjugate profiles of five reactive mesothelial lesions, 29 mesotheliomas (20 epithelial, three biphasic, and six fibrous types), and 38 well-differentiated pulmonary adenocarcinomas (34 papillary, two tubular, and two bronchioloalveolar types) were tested with ABH blood group-related antigens (BGR-Ag) antibody and Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) which agglutinates human type A erythrocytes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained by the avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex method. Reactive mesothelial lesions and malignant mesothelioma of the pleura were not stainable with BGR-Ag antibody or HPA, irrespective of the blood group type. In pulmonary adenocarcinoma, however, the test with BGR-Ag antibody showed a high positive rate with the compatible blood group type, especially in type O cases (83%). Using HPA, reactions of adenocarcinoma with types A and AB also demonstrated high positive results (94% and 100%, respectively), but even with types B and O positive reactions occurred in 80% and 33% of cases, respectively. The findings suggest that positive reactions with either BGR-Ag antibody or HPA can be indicative of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Mesotheliomas produce body cavity effusion in about 70% of cases. Their cytologic diagnosis is hindered by the existence of a wide range of sensitivities, (according to the guidelines for pathologic diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma) and by the absence of a key histologic diagnostic feature, invasion of tumor cells into preexisting tissue. Early in the incidence of mesothelioma, there is just effusion, without pleural thickening, and in some cases mesothelioma cells appear in effusions temporarily, not permanently. Therefore, correct diagnosis requires effusion-sampling at the right time. The characteristic cell-features of epithelioid mesothelioma revealed by effusion cytology include: (1) cell clusters (ball-like structures, papillary structure, window-formation, cell-to-cell engulfment, and type 2 collagenous stroma), (2) round or oval nucleus with one or two prominent nucleoli, (3) multinucleated cells, (4) thick basophilic cytoplasm, (5) blurring of the cell contour, and (6) hump-like cellular processes (following the general rule for clinical and pathological record of lung cancer of the Japan Lung Cancer Society). Provided some critical criteria are met—such as a history of asbestos exposure, pleural thickening, high content of hyaluronic acid in effusions—a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma may be possible by effusion cytology alone.

Cubic SiC crystals (β-modification) were grown from Si solution in a graphite crucible at about 1550 °C. Several crystals with hexagonal pillar shape were found in these crystals, and are believed to have grown under quasi-equilibrium conditions. The side surfaces of the hexagonal pillar consisted of four {111} and two {100} planes, and the long axis was in the 〈110〉 direction. The crystallographic polarities of the four {111} planes were determined using the anomalous X-ray dispersion effect and the chemical etching technique. It was confirmed that the neighboring two{111} planes are the complementary planes of opposite polarities.