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The present kinematic and dynamic analysis of large-scale strike-slip faults, which enabled the formation of a collage of Altai terranes as a result of two collisional events. The Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous collision of the Gondwana-derived Altai-Mongolian terrane and the Siberian continent resulted in the formation of the Charysh–Terekta system of dextral strike-slip faults and later the Kurai and Kuznetsk–Teletsk–Bashkauss sinistral strike-slip faults. The Late Carboniferous–Permian collision of the Siberian and Kazakhstan continents resulted in the formation of the Chara, Irtysh and North-East sinistral strike-slip zones. The age of deformation of both collisional events becomes younger toward the inner areas of the Siberian continent. In the same direction the amount of displacement of strike-slip faulting decreases from several thousand to several hundred kilometers. The width of the Late Paleozoic zone of deformation reaches 1500 km. These events deformed the accretion-collision continental margins and their primary paleogeographic pattern.

Correlation and synthesis of published and new structural, paleomagnetic and geochronological data from Central Asia show the important role of strike-slip faulting in their evolution. The pattern of major strike-slip faults outlines a terrane collage produced by a Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous collision of the Gondwana-derived Altai-Mongolia-Tuva composite microcontinent with Siberia, and a Late Carboniferous-Permian collision of East Europe and Kazakhstan, with Siberia. The accreted continental margins were cut by strike-slip faults and conjugate thrusts into numerous terranes, which mixed with one another and disturbed the previous structural and facies framework. Those complex and multi-stage deformations resulted from the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous collision of Gondwana-derived terranes. The deformations reached their peak in the Late Carboniferous-Permian due to the collision of the Kazakhstan, East-European (Baltica) and Siberian continents. A system of sinistral strike-slip faults formed a mosaic-block structure of Central Asia along the margin of the Siberian continent as a result of the Late Carboniferous-Permian collision. This resulted in the formation of the Northern Eurasia continent. Early Mesozoic strike-slip faulting and conjugate thrusting resulted from the rotation of the Siberian and East European cratons.

A significant effort has been done towards the development of new catalysts for the synthesis of epoxides in a more environmental friendly way. We have found that a simple hexaaquoaluminum salt (2 mol% of Al(NO 3 ) 3 · 9H 2 O) is able to catalyze the epoxidation of cis -cyclooctene with high yields using aqueous (70 wt%) hydrogen peroxide. In THF we obtained 98% of conversion with 88% of selectivity for cyclooctene epoxide after 12 h.

Previously, it was reported that one group of propolis (Group 12) was identified in southeastern Brazil, and the botanical origin of the propolis was Baccharis dracunculifolia resinous exudates. It was also observed that honeybee (Africanized Apis mellifera) mainly visited the leaf buds or unexpanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia but rarely expanded leaves. B. dracunculifolia is dioecious with male and female inflorescences, and RPHPLC of the ethanolic extracts of the respective male and female bud resinous exudates showed the same profiles. RPHPLC profiles of propolis G12 leaf buds and unexpanded and expanded leaves of B. dracunculifolia showed similarity, but unexpanded leaves quantitatively decreased in chemical constituents as compared with leaf buds. In the case of expanded leaves, all chemical constituents were severely decreased or disappeared. Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) was also identified in both propolis and resinous exudates, and both ethanolic extracts contained the highest concentrations of this compound as compared with the rest of the chemical constituents.

Hymenopteran insects (sawflies, ants, bees, and wasps) have an unusual genetic system called haplodiploidy, where parthenogenetically produced haploid eggs become males, and fertilized, diploid eggs become females. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of such sex determination, including control at a single polymorphic locus. From experiments of mother-son mating and using a genetic marker, we show that a single multiallele locus controls sex determination in the turnip sawfly (Athalia rosae). We estimated the number of alleles at this single locus in a field population by analyzing the rate of diploid males in the field and the rate of diploid males by random crossing in the laboratory. Only one diploid male was discovered in 1306 diploid larvae collected in the field. However, the number of alleles calculated by random crossing in the laboratory was 45-50. We suggest that the effective population size may be much larger than that from the areas where we collected larvae, and that there are mechanisms for avoiding inbreeding, including protogyny, dispersion, and sperm displacement by second-mated males.

The semiempirical HAM/3 method developed by Lindholm and coworkers about two decades ago has been known to have a deficiency that splits energies for the degenerate energy states. We have recently proposed a group-theoretical approach to remedy the internally broken symmetry of the HAM/3 Hamiltonians. In this paper, we present some results of its application to various small molecules with symmetry Td, C3v, and D3h. The proposed scheme gives correct degeneracy for these molecules. O método semi-empírico HAM/3, desenvolvido por Lindholm e colaboradores há mais de duas décadas, tem uma deficiência. As energias de excitação calculadas por HAM/3 para estados degenerados são desdobradas. Recentemente foi proposto um método para corrigir esta deficiência. Apresentamos aqui resultados de aplicações deste novo método para algumas moléculas com simetria Td, C3v e D3h. O esquema proposto apresenta a degenerescência correta para as moléculas estudadas.

Small spherical specimens of the tetragonal phase were obtained for ZrO 2 -1.40∼1.60mol% Y 2 O 3 . These specimens transformed into the stable monoclinic phase, either isothermally or athermally depending on being heated or subzero cooled, respectively. In this paper, the characteristic of the latter transformation was studied. The results include the dependence of M b temperature on the composition, grain size, and specimen size. Other characteristics of the martensitic transformation were also presented.

The process of preparing specimens of Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 single crystals grown by the flux method was reconsidered to clarify the magnetic and electronic properties of this nickel sulfide. Specimens obtained by removing fluxes with water were confirmed to have a residual ferromagnetic moment, as previously reported by the present authors. Specimens peeled a surface of as-grown crystals off by taking advantage of the quadratic layer characteristic of this crystal were ascertained to be diamagnetic and to exhibit magnetic properties intrinsic to Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 . However, the temperature dependence of the specific resistivity of the latter sample is similar to that of the former. Through examination of the experimental results, Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 was identified as a nonmagnetic semiconductor in a low spin 3d 8 configuration of Ni 2+ .

Ta 2 O 5 films were deposited on a rough surface with O 2 cluster ion beam assisted deposition and the reduction of surface roughness was studied. Stoichiometric Ta 2 O 5 thin films were deposited with O 2 cluster ion assisted deposition, and the film structure was very dense without porous and columnar structures. Smooth Ta 2 O 5 surfaces were realized even though they were deposited on a rough surface when O 2 cluster ion energy was 7 keV. As the surface smoothing effect by O 2 cluster ion irradiation was not dominant at O 2 cluster ion energy of 7 keV, smooth Ta 2 O 5 surface was mainly originated by additional deposition of very thin Ta 2 O 5 films.

O2 gas cluster ion beam (O2-GCIB) assisted depositions were studied to deposit high-quality Ta2O5, Nb2O5 and SiO2 films. The optimum irradiation conditions of O2-GCIB were the acceleration energy of 5–9 keV and the cluster ion current density over 0.5 μA/cm2, respectively. Nb2O5/SiO2 films deposited with O2-GCIB assist showed very uniform and dense structures without columnar or porous structures. Due to the significant surface smoothing effect of GCIB, the interface and top surface of Nb2O5/SiO2 multi-layer were quite flat. The interference filter deposited with O2-GCIB assist deposition was very stable and there was no shift of wavelength before and after environmental tests. As O2-GCIB is equivalently very low-energy ion beam and is able to deposit flat and dense amorphous films, it is suited to deposit multi-layered films where low-energy assisting ions are required.

This paper investingates what the magnetic characteristics of TbFeCo films would become if Ar and Kr were used as sputtering gases. The sample structure was glass / underlayer SiNx(u) / TbFeCo / protective layer SiNx(p), and the top three layers were deposited by magnetron sputtering. When Kr gas was used, the coercive force HC and effective perpendicular anisotropy Keff increased. The increase was not dependent on the difference in Curie temperature. The type of sputtering gas used was changed for deposition of the SiNx(u) and TbFeCo layers. Consequently, HC increased when TbFeCo was deposited by using Kr gas. Changing the kind of sputtering gas used seldom affected SiNx(u).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cranio-cervical inclination and pharyngeal airway space (PAS) by measuring these parameters at different head postures in the same subjects and to obtain a regression equation to correct the values measured. Fifty lateral cephalometric radiographs taken at five different head postures per individual were obtained from ten adults (seven males and three females) aged from 25 to 30 years with nose breathers and Class I occlusion. The changes in cranio-cervical inclination produced by head extension were correlated with changes in the variables describing the PAS. The OPT/NSL (cranio-cervical inclination in the second vertebrae) and C3-Me (distance between the third vertebrae and the Menton) correlated strongly with PAS-TP (the most proximal distance measured between the posterior pharyngeal wall and the tongue base) in the pharyngeal airway space (r = 0.807 and 0.854 respectively). The regression equations were Y = - 27.177+0.39X (Y = PAS-TP, X = OPT/NSL), and Y = -21.105+0.402X (Y = PAS-TP, X = C3-Me), respectively. From these equations we could conclude that an increase of 10 degrees in OPT/NSL or 10 mm in C3-Me increased the pharyngeal airway space (PAS-TP) by about 4 mm.

Complexation-induced chemical shifts and diffusion coefficients (HR-DOSY) of enantiomers with native and derivatized cyclodextrins were used for calculations of the apparent binding constants of three cyclohexanone inclusion complexes. Correlations between these data and high-performance liquid chromatography were established, revealing that this approach can be applied as an alternative method to predict enantiomeric discrimination. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, fibrinolysis is considered impaired by increased plasma concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1. However, several investigators found both coagulation and fibrinolysis to be activated in these patients. We further characterized the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis in lean and obese patients with type 2 diabetes. We studied 112 type 2 diabetic patients (66 lean, 46 obese) and 69 age-matched healthy subjects (46 lean, 23 obese). We measured plasma concentrations of fibrinogen and prothrombin F1+2 (F1+2) as indicating coagulation activity and plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP) and D dimer as indicating fibrinolytic activity. Plasma PAI-1 concentrations also were determined. Plasma concentrations of F1+2, PAP, D dimer, and PAI-1 were higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects. Plasma fibrinogen and F1+2 were similar between lean and obese diabetic patients, but plasma PAP and D dimer were significantly lower in obese than lean diabetic patients (P

The process of preparing specimens of Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 single crystals grown by the flux method was reconsidered to clarify the magnetic and electronic properties of this nickel sulfide. Specimens obtained by removing fluxes with water were confirmed to have a residual ferromagnetic moment, as previously reported by the present authors. Specimens peeled a surface of as-grown crystals off by taking advantage of the quadratic layer characteristic of this crystal were ascertained to be diamagnetic and to exhibit magnetic properties intrinsic to Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 . However, the temperature dependence of the specific resistivity of the latter sample is similar to that of the former. Raman scattering measurement indicated that this system undergoes no structural phase transition. Magnetic measurements in Co-doped specimens were carried out to obtain further information on the host substance. The appropriate band structure of Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 was calculated in terms of the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method in the local density approximation to understand the electronic properties of Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 . Through examination of the experimental results and the obtained band structure, Rb 2 Ni 3 S 4 was identified as a non-magnetic semiconductor in a low spin 3d 8 configuration of Ni 2+ .

A frame-cooled plasma grid for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) was designed in view of temperature and stress distributions using three-dimensional numerical simulations. As a material of the plasma grid, copper–chrome–zirconium was examined, since it has high mechanical strength as well as high thermal conductivity. The numerical simulations indicated that the plasma grid would be kept at about 300 °C, which is optimum temperature for negative-ion production. They also indicated that thermal stress in the plasma grid would be less than yield stress. To demonstrate it, a frame-cooled plasma grid, which corresponds to a subsegment of the ITER plasma grid, was fabricated; an experiment was performed with a prototype of an ITER ion source named Kamaboko source. Experimental results showed that its surface temperature is continuously kept at about 300 °C; it was demonstrated that the frame-cooled plasma grid is applicable to long pulse operations, meeting the temperature requirement for the cesium effect.

Aims The present study examines the relationship between markers of endothelial dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy or consequent neuropathic foot ulceration in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods We studied 65 Type 2 diabetic patients including 25 diabetic patients without neuropathy, 27 with neuropathy but no history of foot ulceration, and 13 with neuropathic ulceration. Plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and soluble thrombomodulin (TM), measures of endothelial dysfunction, were determined by enzyme immunoassays. We performed various tests quantifying aspects of diabetic neuropathy including vibration perception threshold (VPT; for sensory neuropathy), coefficient of variation of R–R intervals (CVR–R; for cardiac autonomic neuropathy), and cold-induced vasodilation in the great toe for peripheral sympathetic neuropathy. Results CVR–R and cold-induced vasodilation were significantly diminished in patients with neuropathic foot ulceration compared with patients with neuropathy but no history of foot ulceration. Plasma vWF concentrations were positively correlated with VPT and cold-induced vasodilation test, and were inversely correlated with CVR–R. Multivariate analysis disclosed that VPT and percentage vasodilation were independent factors for plasma vWF. Plasma vWF was significantly elevated in patients with foot ulceration compared with patients without neuropathy or those with neuropathy but not foot ulceration. However, plasma TM concentrations did not differ between the three groups. Conclusions Diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulceration had severe impairment of cardiac autonomic and peripheral sympathetic nerves. Elevation of vWF in plasma was associated with neuropathic foot ulceration, linking endothelial dysfunction to foot ulceration.

X-ray spectroscopy is an advantageous tool for investigation of the shift and width of the energy levels in kaonic atoms, evoked due to strong interaction between nucleus and kaon. In order to study the 2p level shift in kaonic 3 He , the X-ray transition 3 p →2 d in liquid kaonic 3 He will be measured with a precision of

We will measure the x‐rays from kaonic 3He and 4He 3d→2p transition by using silicon drift detectors. Our precision goal is set to 1 eV to provide crucial information on the kaon‐nucleus strong interaction in the low energy limit. The experiment is to be performed as one of the first experiment in the J‐PARC hadron facility (J‐PARC E17). An overview and the present status of the experiment are presented.

We present an experimental study of Λ(1405) via the in‐flight (K−,n) reaction on the deuteron target (J‐PARC E31). We will measure all Σ+π−, Σ−π+ and Σ0π0 final states so that the isospin structure of the produced hyperon resonance state can be decomposed. In this report, we present an overview of the experiment and preparation status.

Evidence-based psychopharmacological algorithms for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia have been developed in many countries in the last decade. While it would be of interest to consider a common algorithm based on international consensus, algorithms and information on antipsychotics available in each country are limited. Inspired by the algorithm generated by the International Psychopharmacology Algorithm (IPA) Project, this algorithm for the treatment of schizophrenia has been developed by the Japan Psychophamacology Algorithm (JPA) Project. New antipsychotics, such as clozapine, olanzapine and quetiapine, are excluded from this algorithm, being currently unavailable in Japan. In the end there was no essential difference between the algorithms for the treatment of acute schizophrenic episodes. However, combined use of antipsychotics appears to be more common in Japan and the adjunctive use of L-DOPS or thyrotropin-releasing hormone is included in the JPA algorithm for the treatment of drug-refractory schizophrenia.

We investigate photoluminescence of Eu-related emission in a GaN host consisting of thin layers grown by organometallic vapor-phase epitaxy. By comparing it with a reference sample of Eu-doped Y₂O₃, we find that the fraction of Eu(3+) ions that can emit light upon optical excitation is of the order of 1%. We also measure the quantum yield of the Eu-related photoluminescence and find this to reach (~10%) and (~3%) under continuous wave and pulsed excitation, respectively.

Emission of muonium ($\mu^+e^-$) atoms from a laser-processed aerogel surface into vacuum was studied for the first time. Laser ablation was used to create hole-like regions with diameter of about 270$~\mu$m in a triangular pattern with hole separation in the range of 300--500$~\mu$m. The emission probability for the laser-processed aerogel sample is at least eight times higher than for a uniform one.

In the J-PARC E15 experiment, a K − pp search was performed via the 3 He(K − , n ) reaction at 1.0 GeV/c . A forward-going neutron is detected by a neutron counter with 15 m flight length, and decay particles from K − pp are simultaneously measured by a cylindrical detector system that surrounds a liquid 3 He target system. In March and May, 2013, we carried out the first physics data-taking with 5×109 incident kaons on the 3 He target, and we have obtained a preliminary exclusive analysis result of 3 He(K − , Λp )n reaction.

Endothelial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the initial stage of atherosclerosis. Insulin resistance is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, especially coronary heart disease. To elucidate the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance or insulin resistance syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes, we investigated the correlation between plasma soluble thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), measures of endothelial dysfunction, and the degree of insulin resistance evaluated by homeostasis assessment models of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), or variables of insulin resistance syndrome. We studied 53 patients with type 2 diabetes, 23 treated with diet alone and 30 treated with sulfonylureas, who had normal renal function. The plasma soluble TM concentrations were highly correlated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001), the plasma insulin (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001), the systolic blood pressure (r = 0.45, p = 0.0005), and the plasma fibrinogen (r = 0.43, p = 0.0018), while they were inversely correlated with the serum HDL cholesterol concentrations (r=- 0.27, p = 0.0344). The plasma vWF concentrations were positively correlated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.35, p= 0.0151) and the plasma fibrinogen (r = 0.32, p = 0.0203), but not with the plasma insulin, the systolic blood pressure or the HDL cholesterol concentrations. Furthermore, plasma TM, but not vWF, was positively correlated with total number of variables of insulin resistance syndrome (r = 0.45, p = 0.0005). These results indicate that endothelial dysfunction may be associated with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance syndrome as well as insulin resistance, and that the plasma TM might reflect endothelial damage better than the plasma vWF in the state of insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The paper reviews and integrates new results on the evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean and its related geodynamics and geology of Altai-Sayan Region (ASR) in Central Asia. A revised terrane classification based on Vendian-Cambrian geodynamic units and evolution of terranes is described. Reactivated suture zones along the terrane boundaries are proposed. The obtained data suggest the important role of strike-slip deformations in the formation of mosaic-block structure of Central Asia. Those complicated and multi-stage deformations resulted from the Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous collision of Gondwana-derived terranes. The deformations reached their peak in the Late Carboniferous-Permian due to the collision of the Kazakhstan and Siberian continents. A system of sinistral strike-slip faults formed ASR along the margin of the Siberian continent as a result of the Late Carboniferous-Permian collision. The intrusion of granites occurred in East Kazakhstan and northwestern Gorny Altai in the Late Carboniferous and Permian. This resulted in the formation of the Northern Eurasia continent. Geodynamic evolution of the Paleo-Asian ocean and paleotectonics of ASR allow to recognize in the region the following five geodynamic stages: Vendian-Early Cambrian, Early Ordovician, Early-Middle Devonian, Late-Devonian-Early Carboniferous and Late Carboniferous-Early Permian times.

Phylogenetic relationships among vestimentiferans in the family Lamellibrachiidae collected from ten sites in the western Pacific were analyzed on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of part of a mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase I. The 103 individuals analyzed were tentatively classified into five species: namely, Lamellibrachia satsuma, three tentative species inhabiting Japanese waters and one tentative species from the Manus Basin. Phylogenetic analysis of the four tentative species, L. satsuma, and two lamellibrachiids, whose sequences had been reported previously, namely L. columna from the Lau Basin and L. barhami from the Oregon Margin and the Middle Valley, revealed that the lamellibrachiids from Japanese waters were not monophyletic. While two tentative species from Japanese waters and L. columna formed a monophyletic group, the other tentative species from Japanese waters was closely related to the tentative species from the Manus Basin. L. satsuma was shown to be phylogenetically distinct from other lamellibrachiids of the western Pacific. A lamellibrachiid that had been collected from the Nikko Seamount was also demonstrated to be L. sastuma.

A feature article based on the authors' works is given on the formation mechanisms of heterometalloxane bonds (HMB) at the solid interface between two dissimilar oxides or hydroxides under mechanical stress. After reviewing present understanding of HMB formation and associated technological advantages, principle and examples of computational analysis of HMB formation process are illustrated by using a molecular dynamics (MD) calculation and a discrete variational (DV)-Xα method, i.e. one of the molecular orbital (MO) calculation methods. Emphasis is laid on the importance of the states of low coordination and lower symmetry of the crystal field. Both states are easily acquired in a binary (hydr)oxide system under mechanical stress and play significant roles on the change of electronic states toward HMB formation and stabilization.

In the engineering design of a negative-ion beam source for a high-power neutral beam injection (NBI) system, one of the most important issues is thermo-mechanical design of acceleration grids for producing several tens of MW ion beams. An acceleration grid for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor–neutral beam injection (ITER–NBI) system will be subjected to the heat loading as high as 1.5 MW. In the present paper, thermo-mechanical characteristics of the acceleration grid for the ITER–NBI system were analyzed. Numerical simulation indicated that maximum aperture-axis displacement of the acceleration grid due to thermal expansion would be about 0.7 mm for the heat loading of 1.5 MW. From the thin lens theory of beam optics, beamlet deflection angle by the aperture-axis displacement was estimated to be about 2 mrad, which is within the requirement of the engineering design of the ITER–NBI system. Numerical simulation also indicated that no melting on the acceleration grid would occur for a heat loading of 1.5 MW, while local plastic deformation would happen. To avoid the plastic deformation, it is necessary to reduce the heat loading onto the acceleration grid to less than 1 MW.

In neutral beam injection (NBI) systems for next generation tokamaks such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), insulation gas around beam sources will be irradiated with neutrons and gamma rays generated by nuclear fusion reactions. To evaluate the influence of radiation, irradiation experiments were performed using the 60Co gamma rays. Ionization current and voltage-holding characteristics of various gases, such as air, SF6, C2F6, CO2, and mixing gas of air and SF6, were investigated up to an absorbed dose rate of 0.45 Gy/s. Saturation current flowing through the gases proved to increase linearly with gas volume, gas pressure, an absorbed dose rate. Saturation current also increased with molecular weight of the gases. During irradiation, voltage-holding capability was degraded by about 10%; the degree of the degradation did not depend on the absorbed dose rate. Mixture of a small quantity of SF6 gas and air proved to be effective from the viewpoint of suppressing ionization current, since air containing a small amount of SF6 gas has lower ionization current and higher voltage-holding capability. An experimental formula for estimating saturation current was obtained on the basis of experimental results. Using the experimental formula, ionization current at the ITER-NBI system was estimated to be higher than 2 A; such a high ionization current is not acceptable. Instead of gas insulation, other insulating method like vacuum insulation will be necessary.

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of Lipiodol-computed tomography (CT), power Doppler (PD) sonography, and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).TACE was performed by injecting an emulsion consisting of Lipiodol and a chemotherapeutic drug, followed by gelatin sponge particles, into 54 patients with 84 HCC lesions. Five to 7 days later, Lipiodol-CT, PD sonography, and dynamic MRI were performed. Findings from the three modalities were correlated with relapse within 1 year after TACE.All lesions with blood flow on PD sonography or intratumoral enhancement on dynamic MRI relapsed regardless of the findings with Lipiodol-CT. None of the negatively enhanced lesions on dynamic MRI relapsed regardless of the Lipiodol-CT findings. However, the readers could not evaluate the contrast uptake in 14 lesions that were already hyperintense on the precontrast images. These cases were considered unsuitable for qualitative assessment and reduced the applicability of MRI to 83% of the examined lesions (70 of 84). Although PD sonography perfectly predicted relapse in superficial (0-5 cm from abdominal surface) lesions of the right hepatic lobe, blood flow in deep (5 cm) or left lobe lesions was undetectable regardless of the occurrence of relapse. As a result, Lipiodol-CT displayed 76.0% sensitivity, 67.6% specificity, and 72.6% accuracy. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PD sonography were 34.0%, 100%, and 60.7%, respectively. In the 70 lesions in which evaluation was possible, dynamic MRI achieved 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 100% accuracy.Of the three modalities, dynamic MRI was the best for evaluating the efficacy of TACE in the treatment of HCC. We also found that superficial lesions of the right lobe are good candidates for PD sonography. However, high signals on precontrast MR images, motion artifacts, and ultrasonic attenuation remain key limitations.

To elucidate the relationship between the recovery of skin temperature in an extremity after exposure to cold water and various factors associated with diabetes, we measured skin temperature in type2 diabetic patients (N=61) and control subjects (N=16). A thermo-tracer was used in thermographic measurements. The right third toe of each subject was immersed in cold water at 0 degrees C for 10 sec. Rt represents the recovery rate of skin temperature at t min after exposure. Rt was significantly reduced in the diabetic patients every 5 min in the 20 min period following exposure compared with control subjects. The diabetic patients group exhibited a significantly positive correlation between R20 and the ankle-brachial index. R20 in the diabetic patients showed a significantly positive correlation with the reduction in systolic blood pressure at the arm observed in Schellong's test. In addition, R20 showed a significantly negative correlation with plasma levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. However, the severity of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy was not significantly related to R20 in the diabetic patients. The present data indicate that the recovery of skin temperature after immersion in cold water was markedly reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as compared with healthy control subjects. Peripheral arteriosclerosis, impaired sympathetic nerve function and the activation of the blood coagulation system may all contribute to this reduced recovery of skin temperature.

Serum concentration of soluble thrombomodulin (TM) is thought to be a marker for endothelial damage. Although several studies have reported that serum TM concentrations are increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, there is little information on the physiological function of soluble TM in human plasma. To evaluate the relationship of soluble TM in plasma between coagulation and/or fibrinolysis system in patients with diabetes, we measured plasma soluble TM, protein C activity (a natural anticoagulant induced by thrombin–TM complex), prothrombin F1+2 (a direct marker of thrombin generation), and plasmin–α2-antiplasmin complex (PAP) and D dimer (measures of fibrinolytic activity) in 55 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The plasma concentrations of soluble TM (P

Beamlet–beamlet interaction in an acceleration region of a multi-aperture hydrogen negative ion source was experimentally studied. Deflection angle of beamlets was measured in the case of both five-row beamlets and three-row beamlets at the beam energy ranging from 86 to 178 keV. The deflection angle of beamlets at the edge of a beam was about 3 mrad larger than that at the center of the beam. The deflection angle was independent of beam energy at the same perveance. Repulsive force due to the beamlet–beamlet interaction proved to be inversely proportional to the square of distance approximately. From a beam trajectory calculation, shaping of a grid was confirmed to be effective to compensate the beamlet–beamlet interaction.

We have performed X-band ESR measurements on InP:Er epitaxial layers grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy, which were grown at the substrate temperatures of 530°C (sample A) and 580°C (sample B). Sample A shows a slightly anisotropic resonance aroundg = 6 with hyperfine structure due to the167Er (I = 7/2) isotope at 3 K. This result is similar to the result for Erdoped bulk InP and it indicates that Er3+ ions are located in In tetrahedral sites. On the other hand, we do not see such a resonance for sample B, suggesting that the local symmetry of Er in sample B is different from sample A. The difference between samples A and B is consistent with the fluorescence-detected extended X-ray absorption fine structure results that the coordination number of Er depends on the growth temperature.

Reduction of the α,β-unsaturated ester moiety of (+)-methyl hardwickiate with magnesium in methanol afforded methyl (4aS,6S,8aS,1R,5R)-5,6,8a-trimethyl-5-[2′-(3″-oxoyl)-ethyl-perhydro-1-naphthalenyl]-carboxaylate, while reduction with sodium in n-propanol, followed by esterification with diazomethane, furnished its C-4 epimer. After comparison of the 1 H - and 13 C -NMR data of these compounds with those reported for crolechinic acid isolated from Croton lechleri, a stereochemical revision for the natural product is suggested.

The article reports on the progress made by the ITER European Home Team in strong interaction with the ITER Joint Central Team and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute regarding several key aspects of the beam source for the ITER injectors: (1) Integration of the SINGAP accelerator into the ITER injector design. This is a substantially simpler concept than the multiaperture, multigap (MAMuG) accelerator of the ITER NBI reference design that has the potential for significant cost savings and that avoids some of the weaknesses of the reference design such as the need for intermediate high voltage potentials from the high voltage power supply and pressurized gas insulation. (2) High energy negative ion acceleration using a SINGAP accelerator. (3) Long pulse (i.e. >1000 s) negative ion source operation in deuterium. (4) RF source development, which could reduce the scheduled maintenance of the ITER injectors (as it uses no filaments), and simplify the transmission line and the auxiliary power supplies for the ion source.

To determine whether a difference exists in the relative ability of power Doppler sonography and conventional color Doppler sonography to detect the intratumoral vasculature of hepatocellular carcinoma based on lesion size and location.Sixty patients with 88 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions that showed tumor staining on angiography and were enhanced on dynamic computed tomography were evaluated. Power Doppler sonography and color Doppler sonography were used to detect the intratumoral vasculature, and their sensitivity to blood flow was evaluated.Power Doppler sonography showed a superior detection rate for lesions smaller than 2 cm and located 4-8 cm from the abdominal surface in the right hepatic lobe as compared with color Doppler sonography (p0.01). Neither power Doppler sonography nor color Doppler sonography depicted the intratumoral vasculature of lesions located more than 8 cm from the abdominal surface (n = 14). Both color Doppler imagings exhibited a low detection rate for lesions in the left hepatic lobe (n = 31, p0.01).Power Doppler sonography should be applied in the evaluation of small or intermediate depth lesions because it is more sensitive to these lesions than color Doppler sonography, but it is not useful for left lobe and deep lesions.

Intense negative ion source producing multimegawatt hydrogen/deuterium negative ion beams has been developed for the neutral beam injector (NBI) in TOKAMAK thermonuclear fusion machines. Negative ions are produced in a cesium seeded multi-cusp plasma generator via volume and surface processes, and accelerated with a multistage electrostatic accelerator. The negative ion source for JT-60U has produced 18.5 A/360 keV (6.7 MW) H− and 14.3 A/380 keV (5.4 MW) D− ion beams at average current densities of 11 mA/cm2 (H−) and 8.5 mA/cm2 (D−). A high energy negative ion source has been developed for the next generation TOKAMAK such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The source has demonstrated to accelerate negative ions up to 1 MeV, the energy required for ITER. Higher negative ion current density of more than 20 mA/cm2 was obtained in the ITER concept sources. It was confirmed that the consumption rate of cesium is small enough to operate the source for a half year in ITER-NBI without maintenance.

We investigated whether rats with obstructive jaundice produced with bile duct ligation for 2 weeks are more susceptible to the additional stress of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration than sham-operated rats and also examined the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on LPS stimulation in rats with bile duct ligation. The effects of LPS on the mitochondrial glutathione pool and on oxidative stress of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were investigated in cholestatic rats. Serum concentrations of α-glutathione S-transferase showed that lipopolysaccharide stimulation caused more severe hepatocellular injury in cholestatic rats than in sham-operated rats. In addition, concentrations of mitochondrial reduced and oxidized glutathione and hepatic adenosine triphosphate showed that LPS stimulation decreased mitochondrial function more in cholestatic rats than in sham-operated rats. Intraperitoneal administration of NAC for 2 weeks significantly improved mitochondrial function and decreased hepatocellular injury. However, the oxidative stress of polymorphonuclear leukocytes that had infiltrated hepatic tissue was increased by NAC. The present results indicate that the cholestatic liver is susceptible to the additional stress of LPS, that NAC suppresses the adverse effects of LPS in cholestatic livers, and that the oxidative stress of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is not significantly involved in mitochondrial dysfunction or hepatocellular injury in this model.

We apply evolutionary algorithms to the approximation of a three-dimensional image of a human face using a triangular mesh. The problem is how to locate a limited number of node points such that the mesh approximates the facial surface as closely as possible. Two evolutionary algorithms are implemented and compared. The first does selection and reproduction in the population of node points in a single triangulation. The second is a genetic algorithm in which a set of different triangulations is regarded as a population. We expect that such evolutionary computation can be used in other engineering applications which share the same problem of surface approximation.

In order to establish algorithms for mood disorders in Japan, over 300 psychiatrists completed a questionnaire. They were asked to recommend various drug treatments for particular cases. The order in which the drugs were recommended was taken into consideration. References were made to the randomized double blind study conducted by the working group. Evidence was ranked according to its probability, with the addition of case reports and medical opinions, since conclusions derived from the randomized double blind study alone did not give a full representation. Japanese documentation was referred to as much as possible in order to represent Japanese characteristics. Algorithms were made for eight subtypes; acute mania, bipolar depression, mild or moderate, severe major depression, psychotic depression, rapid cycling bipolar disorder, dysthymic disorder and major depression with advanced cancer. Major depression and bipolar disorder algorithms are discussed in this paper. Clinical psychopharmacological evidence in Japan was insufficient to generate these algorithms for mood disorders. These algorithms may need revision according to future advances in clinical psychopharmacology. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 1999; 3: 277-285).

We have investigated OMVPE-grown InP doped with Er by fluorescence EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) in order to study the local structures around Er atoms, so as to understand the luminescence property of Er atoms in semiconductors. The EXAFS analysis revealed that the Er atoms substituted into the In-site of InP, in the samples grown below 550°C, which exhibited high efficiency of luminescence, while the Er atoms constructed the NaCl-structure ErP, in the samples grown above 580°C, which exhibited low efficiency of luminescence.