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Lattice strain distribution in a silicon substrate covered by an aluminum conductor film has been investigated by a highly parallel X-ray microbeam combined with synchrotron radiation. To evaluate a very local and minute strain in the silicon substrate, intensity maps drawn from a series of rocking curves and reciprocal space intensity maps using an analyzer crystal were obtained using the X-ray microbeam. The results revealed that the deposition of the aluminum layer gave rise to nonuniform strain distribution in the silicon substrate through the silicon oxide layer and that the local strain in the silicon substrate beneath the aluminum film was mainly related to the lattice tilt variation. An intensity map of the rocking curves also revealed the large tilt of the lattice plane in the vicinity of the edge of the aluminum pad.

Recently, many superflares on solar-type stars have been discovered as white-light flares (WLFs). The statistical study found a correlation between their energies ($E$) and durations ($\tau$): $\tau \propto E^{0.39}$ (Maehara et al. 2017 $EP\& S$, 67, 59), similar to those of solar hard/soft X-ray flares: $\tau \propto E^{0.2-0.33}$. This indicates a universal mechanism of energy release on solar and stellar flares, i.e., magnetic reconnection. We here carried out a statistical research on 50 solar WLFs observed with \textit{SDO}/HMI and examined the correlation between the energies and durations. As a result, the $E$--$\tau$ relation on solar WLFs ($\tau \propto E^{0.38}$) is quite similar to that on stellar superflares ($\tau \propto E^{0.39}$). However, the durations of stellar superflares are one order of magnitude shorter than those expected from solar WLFs. We present the following two interpretations for the discrepancy. (1) In solar flares, the cooling timescale of WLFs may be longer than the reconnection one, and the decay time of solar WLFs can be elongated by the cooling effect. (2) The distribution can be understood by applying a scaling law ($\tau \propto E^{1/3}B^{-5/3}$) derived from the magnetic reconnection theory. In this case, the observed superflares are expected to have 2-4 times stronger magnetic field strength than solar flares., Comment: 43 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Several lines of studies have reported that olfactory perception is influenced by physical and hormonal conditions. In the present study, we investigated changes of olfactory perception during the menstrual cycle of the human. Cyclopentadecanolide vapor was used and its perception intensity was measured by 6-point category scale methods. We especially focused on a novel concept termed "olfactory contrast" that has been just very recently derived from the patch clamp experiment that uses the solitary olfactory receptor cell. The results obtained from 18 trials (15 subjects) showed that olfactory contrast was significantly enhanced at the ovulatory and/or menstrual phases. It is suggested that olfactory contrast, which we defined as a new parameter, provides a useful tool in many kinds of studies exploring the olfactory perceived ability.

The resolution of lithography used for the high-volume production of semiconductor devices has been improved to meet the market demands for highly integrated circuits. With the reduction in feature size, the molecular size becomes non-negligible in the resist material design. In this study, the excluded volume effects caused by adding high-concentration acid generators were investigated for triphenylsulfonium nonaflate. The resist film density was measured by X-ray diffractometry. The dependences of absorption coefficient and protected unit concentration on acid generator weight ratio were calculated from the measured film density. Using these values, the effects on the decomposition yield of acid generators, the protected unit fluctuation, and the line edge roughness (LER) were evaluated by simulation on the basis of sensitization and reaction mechanisms of chemically amplified extreme ultraviolet resists. The positive effects of the increase in acid generator weight ratio on LER were predominant below the acid generator weight ratio of 0.3, while the negative effects became equivalent to the positive effects above the acid generator weight ratio of 0.3 owing to the excluded volume effects.

An X1.6 flare occurred in AR 12192 on 2014 October 22 at 14:02 UT and was observed by Hinode, IRIS, SDO, and RHESSI. We analyze a bright kernel which produces a white light (WL) flare with continuum enhancement and a hard X-ray (HXR) peak. Taking advantage of the spectroscopic observations of IRIS and Hinode/EIS, we measure the temporal variation of the plasma properties in the bright kernel in the chromosphere and corona. We found that explosive evaporation was observed when the WL emission occurred, even though the intensity enhancement in hotter lines is quite weak. The temporal correlation of the WL emission, HXR peak, and evaporation flows indicate that the WL emission was produced by accelerated electrons. To understand the white light emission process, we calculated the energy flux deposited by non- thermal electrons (observed by RHESSI) and compared it to the dissipated energy estimated from a chromospheric line (Mg II triplet) observed by IRIS. The deposited energy flux from the non-thermal electrons is about 3 ~ 7.7 X 10^(10) erg cm^(-2) s^(-1) for a given low energy cut-off of 30 ~ 40 keV, assuming the thick target model. The energy flux estimated from the temperature changes in the chromosphere measured using the Mg II subordinate line is about 4.6 - 6.7 X 10(9) erg cm^(-2) s^(-1): ~6-22% of the deposited energy. This comparison of estimated energy fluxes implies that the continuum enhancement was directly produced by the non-thermal electrons., Comment: 29 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present overview and development activities of a soft X-ray photon-counting spectroscopic imager for the solar corona that we conceive as a possible scientific payload for future space solar missions including Japanese Solar-C. The soft X-ray imager will employ a Wolter I grazing-incidence sector mirror with which images of the corona (1 MK to beyond 10 MK) will be taken with the highest-ever angular resolution (0.5"/pixel for a focal length of 4 m) as a solar Xray telescope. In addition to high-resolution imagery, we attempt to implement photon-counting capability for the imager by employing a backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor as the focal-plane device. Imaging-spectroscopy of the X-ray corona will be performed for the first time in the energy range from ~0.5 keV up to 10 keV. The imaging-spectroscopic observations with the soft X-ray imager will provide a noble probe for investigating mechanism(s) of magnetic reconnection and generation of supra-thermal (non-thermal) electrons associated with flares. Ongoing development activities in Japan towards the photon-counting imager is described with emphasis on that for sub-arcsecond-resolution grazing-incidence mirrors.

We have been developing a rotating mechanism and a linear motion mechanism for their usage in contamination sensitive space telescopes. They both are needed for ~1.4 meter optical telescope and its focal plane instrument onboard SOLAR-C, the next-generation spaceborne solar observatory following Hinode. Highly reliable long life performance, low outgassing properties, and low level of micro-vibration are required along with their scientific performance. With the proto-type mechanisms, the long life performance and outgassing properties of the mechanisms have been evaluated in vacuum chambers. The level of micro-vibration excited during the operations of the rotating mechanism was measured by operating it on the Kestler table. This paper provides the overall descriptions of our mechanism developments.

本研究は、脳卒中片麻痺患者(以下片麻痺患者)60例を対象とし、46例を立ち上がり可能 · 不可能群に分け、身体機能面の違いを明らかにし、その日常生活関連動作(以下APDL)における影響を比較 · 検討した。立ち上がり可能群は、不可能群と比較して非麻痺側下肢筋力、腹直筋筋力(以下腹筋筋力)、下肢Brunnstrom Stage(以下Br.stage)、立位バランスが有意に優れ、APDLも高値を示した。立ち上がり不可能な14例に対して通常の理学療法を2ヶ月間施行したところ、立ち上がりが可能となった例でも腹筋筋力、下肢Br.stage,非麻痺側下肢筋力、立位バランスが改善し、あわせてAPDLの得点も高くなることが分かった。これらのことから、片麻痺患者の床からの立ち上がり動作獲得には、腹筋筋力、両下肢機能、立位バランス反応が重要であり、APDLにも影響することが示された。

抗てんかん薬による過敏反応(hypersensitivity syndrome)の出現にウイルス感染が関与したと考えられる2例を報告した。患児1は脳炎/脳症を合併したHHV-6ウイルス感染症の8カ月女児で、phenobartibal投与後21日目より発熱と発疹を呈し、検査上は、血球減少と骨髄での血球貪食像を認めた。患児2は複雑部分発作に対してcarbamazepine投与中、11日目よりtoxic epidermal necrolysisの所見を呈し、のちに麻疹感染の合併が確認された4歳男児。2例ともに原因と考えられた薬剤の中止のみでは軽快せず、ガンマグロブリン製剤の投与は無効であったが、ステロイド剤の全身投与が有効であった。hypersensitivity syndromeの発症機序として高サイトカイン血症や免疫活性を有する薬物代謝産物の関与が想定されているが、ウイルス感染を伴うことによりこれらの反応が助長される可能性が示唆される。抗てんかん薬治療の副作用として、本症の存在を念頭におくことが重要である。

The adhesion of conidia of Pestalotiopsis neglecta occurs in four stages in a specific manner which allows the first cell most likely to germinate to become firmly attached its substrate while leaving the other two fertile cells free to be dispersed further, thereby increasing the chance of further successful infections. The first stage of adhesion involves the mucilaginous coating acquired from the conidial matrix and appears weak. The second stage of adhesion is also relatively weak and occurs at the bases of the pedicel. The third stage occurs with the release of a fibrillar adhesive substance from along the length of the pedicel to the top of the basal cell and at times a lesser amount of fibrillar material is released from the apical appendages. The fourth stage involves the release of fibrillar material at the point of germtube emergence. The third and fourth stages provide strong attachment.

A germination inhibitor in the spore matrix of Pestalotiopsis neglecta was strongly inhibitory to other mitosporic fungi, especially coelomycetes. Germination of conidia of P. neglecta was enhanced by an exogenous source of certain carbohydrates, especially pectin but also some sugars. Light was not important for germination or growth, and was not essential for reproduction, although the number of acervuli trebled when light intensity was increased from 210 μmol m−2 s−1 to 300 μmol m−2 s−1. The possible significance of these adaptations in the ecology of P. neglecta is discussed.

One hundred forty-seven cases of ovarian endometriosis, encountered from 1976 to 1999 at Tsukuba University Hospital, were studied to clarify the incidence of malignant transformation. There were 18 cases (12.2%) of atypical endometriosis, among which we found a case (5.6%) of ovarian cancer arising from endometriosis not diagnosed before surgery. This is accounted for 0.7% of all ovarian endometriosis cases. Because the incidence was equal to that of the previous reports, it is most likely that the malignant change in ovarian endometriosis occurred in 0.7% of this disease.

We studied the preventive effects of socks against dermatophyte infection. Wearing various socks (cotton socks, nylon stockings, wool socks and "tabi"), a healthy volunteer walked on a bath mat on which a patient with tinea pedis had stepped earlier. The volunteer pressed her right foot with socks onto large agar medium (Foot-press method), then, took off the socks and performed the Foot-press method again. The number of colonies of isolated dermatophytes on the medium was counted. The number of isolated colonies from the sole after taking off the nylon stockings was larger than that from the foot wearing the stockings. Dermatophytes were also isolated from the sole after taking off cotton socks. In contrast, few dermatophytes were isolated from the sole after taking off wool socks or "tabi". On microscopic observation, fibers of the nylon stockings and cotton socks were seen to be loose enough for dermatophytes to pass through. In contrast with those socks, fibers of wool socks and "tabi" were tight or fluffy. In conclusion, the nylon stockings and cotton socks are unsatisfactory in preventing the adhesion of dermatophytes.

Objective To generate current data on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Japanese children, using DSM-III-R criteria. Method As part of an ongoing longitudinal study in a Japanese community sample, 114 mother-child dyads were interviewed when the children were approximately 8 years old. DSM-III-R disorders of the children were diagnosed through the administration of a structured diagnostic instrument, the parent and child versions of the Child Assessment Schedule, to both the children and their mothers. Results The prevalence rate for any diagnosis was 49.1%, which is similar to that of U.S. children and adolescents. Conclusion The Child Assessment Schedule is an appropriate scale for assessing the psychopathology of Japanese children, which is as prevalent as in a U.S. sample. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1999, 38(4):444–452

Well‐preserved fossil fungal bodies of four different morphologies were discovered on and in a permineralized bisexual cone of a Cretaceous cycadeoid, Cycadeoidella japonica Ogura. Three are identified as Coelomycetes based on the formation of numerous conidia in the pycnidial cavities or acervuli characteristic of the group. The other form shows a less diagnostic hyphal aggregation and can only be assigned to Deuteromycetes. Each of the three Coelomycetes is described as a new organ genera: Archephoma gen. nov., Meniscoideisporites gen. nov., and Palaeodiplodites gen. nov. Archephoma is comparable to the modern genus Phoma. Meniscoideisporites, characterized by meniscoid conidia, is not attributable to any living taxa based on reliable taxonomic characters. Palaeodiplodites gen. nov. is similar to modern genus Diplodia but has two conidiomatal types, pycnidial and acervular. These coelomycetous fossils are new to the fungal record earlier than the Tertiary and provide evidence for resolving the evolution...

In 2003–2004, anthracnoses of Enkianthus campanulatus and Rhynchosia acuminatifolia were found for the first time in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tokyo in Japan. These pathogens were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides based on their pathogenicity, morphology and ribosomal DNA spacer sequences.

33歳男性。10歳頃より下腿に米粒大の紅斑が出現し, 尋常性乾癬と診断されステロイド外用剤で加療されていた。平成7年, 39℃台の発熱と全身倦怠感が出現し, 同時に両手指の疼痛, 発赤, 腫脹, 運動障害を来し漸次増悪した。関節症性乾癬と診断され非ステロイド系消炎鎮痛剤を内服するも効果なくシクロスポリンの内服を開始した。1日400mg(6.35mg/kg)まで増量したが, 皮膚症状の改善を認めるものの, 関節症状は軽快せずメソトレキセート(7.5mg/週)に変更。その後皮膚症状は再燃するも関節症状は軽快した。関節滑膜生検では, 線維芽細胞様細胞や小血管の増生およびリンパ球, マクロファージの浸潤が認められた。入院後, 病巣感染の検索をしたところ歯根膿瘍がみつかり, 抜歯により加療したところ関節症状は徐々に消退し, メソトレキセート中止後も関節痛は自制内となった。細菌培養で歯根膿瘍から4種類の嫌気性菌が検出され, それぞれの細菌の培養上清を用いてリンパ球刺激試験を行ったが, 健常人との有意な差は認められなかった。

足白癬および足からの直接の進達と考えられる爪白癬以外の生毛部, 頭部, 手白癬などの感染経路に関して, まず仮説を立て, 次にこの仮説上の感染経路が実際に起こりうるか実験的に検討した。仮説として, (1)病変部→非罹患部, (2)病変部→環境(マット, 下着, その他の日用品など)→非罹患部, (3)病変部→手指→非罹患部, (4)病変部→環境→手指→非罹患部を考えた。実験方法はTrichophyton mentagrophytesによる未治療の足白癬患者(25歳男)を感染源とし, 白癬に罹患していない健常人(42歳男)を被験者とした。培地として5-fluorocytosineなどを添加したサブロー·ブドウ糖寒天培地, 培養法として被験部位を直接圧抵するfoot-press培養法(足底), hand-press法(手掌と指腹), finger-press法(指腹)など, およびhairbrush法(頭髪)を用いた。仮説に対して, (1)患者の足底に被験者の皮膚(手, 手指, 頭髪, 肘)を接触後培養, (2)患者が踏んだ足拭きマット, あるいは足底を拭いた布タオルに被験者の皮膚を接触後培養, (3)足底に被験者の右手を接触, その右手で皮膚を擦過後培養, (4)患者が踏んだマットに被験者の右手を接触, その右手で皮膚を擦過後培養した。その結果, 全20検体のうち(1)の頭髪を除くすべての検体からT. mentagrophytesを分離した。とくに直接接触よりマット, タオル, 手指を介した方が, 多数の集落が生える傾向にあった。以上から前述の仮説上の感染経路のすべてに可能性があることが証明された。

A study on the prevention of angialgia induced by the high osmotic pressure of Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition infusion: Influence on the infusion system using Tandem method.During peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) infusions, angialgia more frequently occures than during other types of peripheral infusion. This is probably caused by the low pH, infusion speed and high osmotic pressure of PPN. We hypothesized that we could prevent angialgia by attenuating the osmotic pressures during PPN infusion. We therefore attempted examinations using the Tandem method as follows; It was possible to control the osmotic pressure in the effuent solution by changing the joining method of these infusions, thus suggesting that the specific gravity of these infusions affected the osmotic pressure.Specifically, we connected a hypotonic infusions (e.q., Soldem-3 A) with a low specific gravity to a PPN infusion (e.q., Amicaliq) with a high specific gravity, and the osmotic pressure of the effluent solution was maintained at a high level during the first 15 min, but thereafter gradually decreased. On the other hand, We connected a PPN infusion to a hypotonic infusion, and thus were able to maintain a low and constant osmotic pressure in the effluent solution.These results suggest that the Tandem method is useful in preventing angialgia due to the high osmotic pressure of PPN infusion. PPN infusion should thus be connected to a hypotonic infusion that has a lower specific gravity than that of the PPN infusion.

This study has clarified the conidiomatal development ofPestalotiopsis guepinii andP. neglecta on leaves ofGardenia jasminoides. Acervuli ofP. guepinii andP. neglecta developed in a similar manner, in two stages. In the first stage, cells aggregated, the central cell of the aggregates gradually disappeared, and the cells of inner layer produced numerous conidia. This conidioma was pycnidium-like in appearance, and in some cases ceased development at this stage. In the second stage, the upper layer of the pycnidium-like structure broke open, forming an acervular conidioma.

The development of conidiomatal structures is divided into three stages: primordia, cavity formation, and conidiogenesis. These ontogenetic features of conidiomata indicate diversity. This study clearly shows the difference in pycnidial development betweenPhyllosticta harai and a species ofSphaeropsis. InP. harai, a cavity is formed at the center of the pycnidium following the meristogenous or symphogenous primordium formation. This process is characterized by autolysis of cells at the pycnidium center. The pycnidial primordium ofSphaeropsis sp. is meristogenous. It can be assumed that the cavity is formed by dispersion and spacing of original hypha, with subsequent hypha filling the spaces between hyphal cells. The cavity enlarges gradually due to the mechanical force caused by successive conidium production and increasing conidial size.

We present science and development activities of the soft X-ray photon-counting spectroscopic imager for the solar corona that we conceive as a possible scientific payload for the Japanese Solar-C mission. The imager employs a grazing-incidence sector mirror of Wolter-I type with which images of the corona are to be taken in a wide temperature range (1 MK to beyond 10 MK) with the highest-ever angular resolution (0.5"/pixel for a focal length of 4 m) as an Xray telescope for the Sun. Moreover, by employing a back-thinned CMOS image sensor as the focal-plane device, we attempmt to implement photon-counting capability with which imaging-spectroscopy of the X-ray corona will be performed for the first time, in the energy range from ~0.5 keV up to 10 keV. The imaging-spectroscopic observations will provide totally-new information on mechanism(s) for magnetic reconnection, generation of supra-thermal electrons in the reconnecting magnetic structure during flares, and for the generation of hot coronal plasmas (heated beyond a few MK) which may be responsible for the formation of the hot cores of solar active regions.

On March 7, 2011 from 19:48:00 to 20:03:00 UT, the solar neutron telescope located at Mt. Sierra Negra, Mexico (4,600m) observed a 8.8sigma enhancement. In this paper, we would like to try to explain this enhancement by a hypothesis that a few GeV gamma-rays arrived at the top of the mountain produced by the Sun. We postulate that protons were accelerated at the shock front. They precipitate at the solar surface and produced those gamma-rays. If hypothesis is confirmed, this enhancement is the first sample of GeV gamma-rays observed by a ground level detector., 7 pages, 10 figures

Sera from patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) from the United States (US), Japan, and Britain demonstrate similar reactivity to the major target antigens BPAG1 and BPAG2. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the epitope specificity of circulating autoantibodies in patients with BP from the US and Japan is similar as mapped by binding to fusion proteins encoded by BPAG1. Sera from patients and controls with BP from the US and Japan were assayed for reactivity to intact BPAG1 and BPAG2 by immunoblot, and to fusion proteins encoded by BPAG1 by immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Significant reactivity to fusion proteins encoded by the carboxyl region (FP 16-8) and coiled-coil region (FP3) was seen in sera from the US and Japanese patients, but not from normal controls from the US or Japan. Sera from US and Japanese patients differed in their response to FP7; namely, the reactivity of sera from US patients but not from Japanese patients to FP7 was significantly different from the reactivity of their respective control sera. The reasons for this difference in reactivity are unknown but may reflect genetic or environmental factors relevant in the generation of an autoantibody response to these target antigens.

We report a case who was clinically and histopathologically diagnosed as herpetiform pemphigus (HP) and associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). However, immunofluorescence studies demonstrated concurrent anti-cell-surface and anti-basement-membrane-zone antibodies in the patient's serum. Immunochemical studies showed that the patient's serum reacted with both the pemphigus foliaceus antigen and the two bullous pemphigoid antigens. Subsequently, the patient developed AIHA. Both anemia and skin lesions were successfully treated with oral prednisolone. We believe that this is the first case with HP in association with AIHA. The presence of autoantibodies against multiple antigens suggests an abnormal immunologic tolerance in the antibody production system in this patient.

We describe a 31-year-old Japanese woman with generalized pustular psoriasis treated with PUVA who subsequently developed a bullous disease. Throughout the disease course, there was no phase of psoriasis vulgaris. Although several reports describe coexistence of psoriasis vulgaris and bullous disease such as bullous periphigoid, coexistence of generalized pustular psoriasis without any phase of psoriasis vulgaris and bullous disease is rare. As for the bullous disease, direct immunofluorescence study showed IgG and C3 deposition along the basement membrane zone. Indirect immunofluorescence disclosed IgG antibasement membrane zone antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence on 1 mol/l sodium chloride-split skin demonstrated linear IgG staining almost exclusively on the dermal side of the split. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that the antibody was directed to neither epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen nor bullous pemphigoid antigens. Considering the unusual clinical course, we suspect the possibility of a novel autoimmune blistering disease.

76歳の男性。半年前に陰嚢両側に結節があるのに気付いた。陰左側に径15 mm, 右側に12 mmの有茎性で表面顆粒状の暗紅色結節を認めた。病理組織学的に, 乳頭腫状の表皮増殖, 真皮上層に泡沫細胞の集塊と毛細血管の拡張と増生を認め, verruciform xanthomaと診断した。本邦で陰嚢多発例は自験例を含め14例報告されている。

White-light emissions were observed from an X1.7 class solar flare on 27 January 2012, using three continuum bands (red, green, and blue) of the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) onboard the Hinode satellite. This event occurred near the solar limb, and so differences in locations of the various emissions are consistent with differences in heights above the photosphere of the various emission sources. Under this interpretation, our observations are consistent with the white-light emissions occurring at the lowest levels of where the Ca II H emission occurs. Moreover, the centers of the source regions of the red, green, and blue wavelengths of the white-light emissions are significantly displaced from each other, suggesting that those respective emissions are emanating from progressively lower heights in the solar atmosphere. The temperature distribution was also calculated from the white-light data, and we found the lower-layer emission to have a higher temperature. This indicates that high-energy particles penetrated down to near the photosphere, and deposited heat into the ambient lower layers of the atmosphere., Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

The criteria determining the effectiveness of a particular zeolite for gas separation are the physical pore size and the location, size, and charge of any cations present. To date the experimentalist has had to use a great deal of intuition when selecting a zeolite for a specific use. Computer modelling of such systems, using a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo method, has been successful in elucidating the behaviour of adsorbates in a wide range of systems. Successful predictions for adsorption isotherms for nitrogen, oxygen and argon have been previously reported by the authors for zeolites A, X and Y with calcium and sodium cations. The aim of the work reported in this paper is to investigate the air separation properties of a different, although similar system namely: zeolite X with lithium cations. The simulations performed using Cerius2 molecular modelling software are able to predict adsorption isotherms for nitrogen and oxygen gases, both as single component, and as binary mixtures in Li-X. Further the predicted equilibrium separation factor is calculated to be in the range of 6 to 13 at room temperature, making this system ideal for the preferential adsorption of nitrogen and production of oxygen.

Both pemphigus vulgaris antigen (PVA; Dsg3) and pemphigus foliaceus antigen (PFA; Dsg1) are members of the desmoglein subfamily of the cadherin supergene family. Another desmosomal cadherin, desmocollin, is occasionally recognized by certain pemphigus sera. We present a 38-year-old Japanese male who showed clinically and histopathologically typical features of pemphigus vulgaris, whose sera reacted with all PVA, PEA, and desmocollins using immunoblotting of both human epidermis and bovine snout epidermis. Studies using domain-specific fusion proteins of PFA and PVA suggested that this patient's serum reacted with the intracellular domain of PEA and the extracellular domain of PVA, the latter of which seems to be responsible for initiating the skin lesion. The patient's serum showed reactivity with human desmocollin and was shown to react with bovine Dsc2 fusion protein, further suggesting the significance of anti-desmocollin autoantibodies in pemphigus. These results indicate that certain pemphigus cases may produce antibodies against multiple antigen molecules, although the complex mechanism of the production of autoantibodies remains to be elucidated.

We describe a 60-year-old woman with atypical pemphigus and IgA-λ monoclonal gammopathy. Histopathologic study of vesiculopustular lesions showed intraepidermal acantholytic and neutrophilic blisters. Direct immunofluorescence revealed intercellular IgG deposition with concurrent deposits of IgA and C3. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting studies revealed that the patient had circulating IgG anti-intercellular antibodies that recognized the 150 kd desmoglein (pemphigus foliaceus antigen) in bovine desmosome preparation. Immunoblot studies with human epidermal extract showed that the IgG of this patient exclusively reacted with the 140 kd protein (between the 150 kd human desmoglein and the 130 kd human pemphigus vulgaris antigen), the nature of which is currently unknown. The patient also had IgA anti-intercellular autoantibodies, which reacted with the desmoglein in the bovine desmosome sample but did not show any reactivity in human epidermal extract.

We reported a method for predicting incompatibility by which the buffer capacity of each injection into several infusion types was previously considered. Using the previous method, however, it was difficult to predict the physical incompatibility when a corticosteroid injection was added in the admixture. The present research at this time is to examine a better method capable of predicting the physical incompatibility in admixing several injections including corticosteroids into a number of infusions. The study revealed the following results.We newly introduced the theoretical consideration due to the critical point pH in order to predict the incompatibility. Critical point pH means the critical state whether externals of the sample solution change macroscopically when the pH of the sample solution changed with 0.1 N NaOH or HCl solution. It is useful in the following respect. With the previous method admixtures of Solu-medrol® and Arnicaliq® infusions were considered to be incompatible as to be predicted that the crystal formation is caused at pH 4.67. In our experimental it was shown not to admit the crystal formation at pH 5.28 even if at 24 hours later. Therefore, admixing Solumedrol® to Amicaliq® infusion can possibly be predicted when the pH exceeds 5.28. Introducing critical point pH thus suggests that our newly concept will become a more useful prediction method than the previous ones for physical incompatibility in admixing several injections into some infusions.

Background: Although dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a relatively common disease in Caucasian populations, this disease is very rare in Asian populations including the Japanese. Methods and Results: We present a Japanese DH patient, who showed a fibrillar pattern of deposition of IgA, IgG, IgM and C3. The HLA typing revealed no B8/DR3. The survey of the Japanese literature and the comparison to studies on American or European DH revealed several interesting differences: high frequency of the fibrillar pattern, relatively high incidence of deposits of immunoglobulins other than IgA, rarity of gluten-sensitive enteropathy and HLA-B8/DR3 in Japanese DH. Conclusion: The present study suggests that there may be a significant difference in pathophysiology between Caucasian and Japanese DH patients.

We report science and development activities of the X-ray/EUV telescope for the Japanese Solar-C mission whose projected launch around 2019. The telescope consists of a package of (a) a normal-incidence (NI) EUV telescope and (b) a grazing-incidence (GI) soft X-ray telescope. The NI telescope chiefly provides images of low corona (whose temperature 1 MK or even lower) with ultra-high angular resolution (0.2-0.3"/pixel) in 3 wavelength bands (304, 171, and 94 angstroms). On the other hand, the GI telescope provides images of the corona with a wide temperature coverage (1 MK to beyond 10 MK) with the highest-ever angular resolution (~0.5"/pixel) as a soft X-ray coronal imager. The set of NI and GI telescopes should provide crucial information for establishing magnetic and gas-dynamic connection between the corona and the lower atmosphere of the Sun which is essential for understanding heating of, and plasma activities in, the corona. Moreover, we attempt to implement photon-counting capability for the GI telescope with which imaging-spectroscopy of the X-ray corona will be performed for the first time, in the energy range from ~0.5 keV up to 10 keV. The imaging-spectroscopic observations will provide totally-new information on mechanism(s) for the generation of hot coronal plasmas (heated beyond a few MK), those for magnetic reconnection, and even generation of supra-thermal electrons associated with flares. An overview of instrument outline and science for the X-ray photoncounting telescope are presented, together with ongoing development activities in Japan towards soft X-ray photoncounting observations, focusing on high-speed X-ray CMOS detector and sub-arcsecond-resolution GI mirror.

Endoconidium formation was observed in five strains ofGeotrihum candidum. As a vegetative hyphal cell was vacated, an adjacent cell proliferated into it, forming an endoconidium. This type of endoconidium formation resembles holoarthric conidogenesis.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus, a recently identified disease entity, is associated with autoantibodies against a variety of epidermal proteins including desmoplakins I and II, and the 230-kDa bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen. We report an 84-year-old Japanese man who had typical clinical and histopathological features of BP, but in whom indirect immunofluorescence, using normal human skin as the substrate, revealed concomitant serum antibasement membrane zone and antikeratinocyte cell surface autoantibodies. His serum showed reactivity similar to that which is seen with antidesmoplakin monoclonal antibody on immunofluorescence of cardiac muscle and urinary bladder. With immunoblotting, using various antigen sources, the patient's serum reacted with desmoplakins I and II, and with both the 230- and 180-kDa BP antigens. Immunogold electron microscopy also indicated the presence of antidesmoplakin antibodies. Although the significance of the antidesmoplakin antibodies in this patient is unknown, the findings in this case may provide an insight into understanding the occurrence of antidesmoplakin antibodies in paraneoplastic pemphigus.

We report instrument outline as well as science of the photon-counting soft X-ray telescope that we have been studying as a possible scientific payload for the Japanese Solar-C mission whose projected launch around 2019. Soft X-rays (~1- 10 keV) from the solar corona include rich information on (1) possible mechanism(s) for heating the bright core of active regions seen in soft X-rays (namely, the hottest portion in the non-flaring corona), (2) dynamics and magnetohydrodynamic structures associated with magnetic reconnection processes ongoing in flares, and even (3) generation of supra-thermal distributions of coronal plasmas associated with flares. Nevertheless, imaging-spectroscopic investigation of the soft X-ray corona has so far remained unexplored due to difficulty in the instrumentation for achieving this aim. With the advent of recent remarkable progress in CMOS-APS detector technology, the photon-counting X-ray telescope will be capable of, in addition to conventional photon-integration type exposures, performing imaging-spectroscopic investigation on active regions and flares, thus providing, for example, detailed temperature information (beyond the sofar- utilized filter-ratio temperature) at each spatial point of the observing target. The photon-counting X-ray telescope will emply a Wolter type I optics with a piece of a segmented mirror whose focal length 4 meters, combined with a focal-plane CMOS-APS detector (0.4-0.5"/pixel) whose frame read-out rate required to be as high as 1000 fps.

In 1999 and 2000, powdery mildew was found on leaves, stems, peduncles and flower buds of chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus (Hook.) Voss) in Tokyo, Japan. The causal agent was identified as Sphaerotheca fusca Blumer emend Braun.

A study was made of the cytoarchitecture of the lateral and medial frontal cortex in the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). The frontal cortico-cortical connections of areas 46, 8, 6, and 4 were investigated by injection of wheat-germ agglutinine conjugated to horseradish peroxiase (WGA-HRP) into different regions of areas 46, 8, and 6. The lateral region of the frontal lobe of the baboon consists of broad areas of motor (area 4), premotor (area 6), and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, each of which is further divided into subdivisions with distinct cytoarchitectural features: areas 4a, 4b, 4c; 6 a alpha, 6a beta, 6a gamma, and 6b beta; 8A and 8B; 45; 46 and 46ps; 9; 10; and 12. Although the frontal cortex of the baboon brain exhibits the same basic cytoarchitectural features as the frontal corticies of the cercopithecus (campbelli?) (Vogt and Vogt, '19) or the macaque (Walker, '40; Barbas and Pandya, '87, '89), the baboon frontal cortex is very different from that of the macaque and cercopithecus in terms of cytoarchitecture: (1) the baboon frontal cortex has an additional area, termed here "6a gamma", within area 6, which has cytoarchitectural characteristics that are intermediate between those of areas 6 and 8; (2) the aggregation of giant pyramidal cells (greater than 50 microns in diameter) is found only in area 4a in the baboon, whereas such aggregates are found in areas 4a and 4b and, occasionally, in area 4c in the macaque; and (3) area 46 of the prefrontal cortex of the baboon can be subdivided into the cortex that surrounds the principal sulcus (area 46) and the upper and lower banks of the principal sulcus (area 46ps). Retrogradely WGA-HRP labeled cells and anterogradely WGA-HRP labeled terminals coexisted in the frontal cortex in a columnar fashion, indicative of a reciprocity among the connections. The frontal cortico-cortical connections of areas 46, 8, 6, and 4 in the hamadryas baboon were organized as follows: (1) areas 46, 8, and 6 were connected to one another, (2) area 4 was connected only to area 6, and (3) these connections showed a gross ventrodorsal topography: the ventral regions of each of areas 46, 8, and 6 were connected more strongly to the ventral than the dorsal regions of the other areas; the dorsal regions of each of areas 46, 8, and 6 were connected more strongly to the dorsal than the ventral regions of the other areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Molecular dynamics calculations have been used to investigate structural and dynamical aspects of the two-dimensional hexagonal mesophase of sodium octanoate and water. To model this liquide-crystalline «middle soap» phase, comprised of rod-shaped amphiphillic aggregates, we have employed a periodically replicated molecular dynamics cell with hexagonal boundary conditions. The cell contained a single cylindrical aggregate of 90 octanoate anions, an equivalent number of sodium cations, and 838 water molecules

Molecular dynamics calculations have been used to probe the structure of a small sodium octanoate micelle in aqueous solution. The simulation system consisted of 15 octanoate ions, 15 sodium ions and 718 water molecules in a periodically replicated box. Electrostatic interactions were treated with a Ewald method. Two simulations were performed with slightly different models for the water, namely: SPC and SPC/E. Over the course of the roughly 400 ps trajectories, the micelle remained intact with the hydrocarbon chains on the inside and the carboxylate groups on the outer perimeter. The counterion distribution has been examined and compared for the two models. The micelle displayed significant fluctions in shape and had an average radius of about 9 A. Relatively little water penetrates beyond the head-group region. The average chain conformation in the micelle interior has been compared with that of an isolated monomer in solution.

Deficiency of the ninth component of human complement (C9) is the most common complement deficiency in Japan, with an incidence of approximately one homozygote in 1000, but is very rare in other countries. Genetic analyses of Japanese C9 deficiency have shown that a C-to-T transition leading to TGA stop codon for Arg95 in exon 4 of the C9 gene (Arg95Stop) is common in Japanese C9 deficiency. To determine the prevalence of heterozygous carriers of the Arg95Stop mutation in a Japanese population, we collected DNA samples from 300 individuals in two of the four main islands of Japan. Heterozygote detection was performed with an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system designed to detect exclusively only one of the normal and mutant alleles, followed by confirmation with PCR/single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and direct sequencing. Twenty individuals were heterozygous for the Arg95Stop mutation. None was homozygous. The prevalence of carriers of the Arg95Stop mutation was 6.7% (20/300). An estimated frequency (0.12%) of complete C9 deficiency due to homozygous Arg95Stop mutation was consistent with frequencies determined by serological studies.

Toxicokinetics (TK) is usually performed by measurement of the total drug concentrations in plasma. However, free drug concentrations in plasma are considered to correlate directly with toxicodynamics (TD). In the present study, to evaluate the applicability of TK/TD analysis based on free drug concentrations, we investigated the TK/TD of clofibrate, which binds to albumin with a higher ratio, using an albumin-deficient mutant strain, Nagase analbuminemia rats (NAR). TK, blood chemistry, histopathology, drug and fatty acid metabolizing enzymes and microarray analysis in the liver were examined after a 4-day oral administration of clofibrate. Compared to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, the parent strain of NAR, 4.1-fold higher AUC(0-24hr) based on free drug concentrations (3445 versus 844 microg.hr/ml) was observed in NAR when both rats showed the same level of AUC(0-24hr) based on the total drug concentrations (4436 versus 4237microg.hr/ml). Additionally, more severe hepatocellular hypertrophy, increase in aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), decrease in total cholesterol (T.CHO), phospholipid (PL), triglyceride (TG), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), and increase in the mRNA levels of fatty acid metabolizing enzymes (FAOS, CAT, and CPT) were observed in NAR at the same dose. These results demonstrated that NAR developed more severe toxicities and pharmacological effects than SD rats correlating with the higher AUC of the free drug concentrations. The results also suggested that TK/TD analysis based on the free drug concentration is appropriate to interpret the relationship between exposure and toxicity in cases of protein binding saturation including protein decrease or species differences on protein binding, especially when drugs showing a higher protein binding ratio are dosed.

The incidence of palsy in the third, sixth and seventh cranial nerves was studied with regard to central nervous system involvement in diabetic patients. Among 1961 diabetic patients, 19 (0.97%) demonstrated cranial nerve palsies. Nine out of these 19 patients showed facial palsy; 6 palsy of the oculomotor nerve; 2 palsy of the abducent nerve; and 3 both oculomotor and abducent nerve palsies. In contrast, only 5 out of 3841 non-diabetic patients (0.13%) had any cranial nerve palsies; all 5 were cases of facial palsy. The incidence of cranial palsies in diabetic patients was significantly higher than that in non-diabetic patients (P less than 0.01). Concerning age, sex, the state of glycemic control, diabetic complications and method of treatment, there were no differences disclosed in the diabetic patients with cranial nerve palsy. The incidences of diabetic complications were compared between the patients with facial palsy and those with ophthalmoplegia. Only one out of 9 patients with facial palsy (11%) had diabetic complications, whereas 7 out of 10 patients with ophthalmoplegia (70%) demonstrated diabetic complications and the difference was significant. Thus ophthalmoplegia appears to be more closely related to diabetic metabolism while facial palsy is less strongly correlated with diabetes.