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Low-density porous materials are useful in the design of shock absorption structure due to the properties of shock absorption, lightweight and formability. The mechanical behaviors of the materials have high-nonlinearity because they have complex inner structure in comparison with dense materials, and the structure causes difficulties in the analysis of their problems for the design. In this paper, the nonlinear behavior of the materials before the macroscopic crush condition is inspected to define the elastic properties of them by some tests of compression and shearing. Here, the nonlinearities in the initial of compression is eliminated by the adhered contact condition of specimen because the condition can reduce the localization of the mesoscopic cellular crush of the materials. Then, the elastic properties derived from the tests are compared with each other for validation, and it is revealed that the derived properties are coincided and the compression test with adhered contact condition can measure the Young's modulus with less influence of the localization of the mesoscopic cellular crush.

Low-density porous materials with a mesoscopic cellular structure exhibit complex mechanical behaviors macroscopically. The strain-rate dependency of plateau stress is one of the materials' characteristics, and it causes difficulties in the mechanical analysis of the behaviors. In this study, the level variation in the plateau stress is analyzed to formulate its strain-rate dependency. This dependency is investigated by performing various material tests under the conditions of quasi-static and dynamic compressions; results of these tests revealed that the dependency can be represented by the phenomenon of over stress. Then, Perzyna's equation is used to simulate the dependency with the concept of structure transformation of cellular materials. The compression tests with various strain-rates are simulated by using the formulated equations for analysing the over stress and structure transformation problems of the materials. Then, it is known that the strain-rate dependency of the plateau stress can be expressed by using Perzyna's equation, and it depends on the phenomenon of the cellular structure.

Vitamin K occurs in the natural world in several forms, including a plant form, phylloquinone (PK), and a bacterial form, menaquinones (MKs). In many species, including humans, PK is a minor constituent of hepatic vitamin K content, with most hepatic vitamin K content comprising long-chain MKs. Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) is ubiquitously present in extrahepatic tissues, with particularly high concentrations in the brain, kidney and pancreas of humans and rats. It has consistently been shown that PK is endogenously converted to MK-4 (refs 4-8). This occurs either directly within certain tissues or by interconversion to menadione (K(3)), followed by prenylation to MK-4 (refs 9-12). No previous study has sought to identify the human enzyme responsible for MK-4 biosynthesis. Previously we provided evidence for the conversion of PK and K(3) into MK-4 in mouse cerebra. However, the molecular mechanisms for these conversion reactions are unclear. Here we identify a human MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme. We screened the human genome database for prenylation enzymes and found UbiA prenyltransferase containing 1 (UBIAD1), a human homologue of Escherichia coli prenyltransferase menA. We found that short interfering RNA against the UBIAD1 gene inhibited the conversion of deuterium-labelled vitamin K derivatives into deuterium-labelled-MK-4 (MK-4-d(7)) in human cells. We confirmed that the UBIAD1 gene encodes an MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme through its expression and conversion of deuterium-labelled vitamin K derivatives into MK-4-d(7) in insect cells infected with UBIAD1 baculovirus. Converted MK-4-d(7) was chemically identified by (2)H-NMR analysis. MK-4 biosynthesis by UBIAD1 was not affected by the vitamin K antagonist warfarin. UBIAD1 was localized in endoplasmic reticulum and ubiquitously expressed in several tissues of mice. Our results show that UBIAD1 is a human MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme; this identification will permit more effective decisions to be made about vitamin K intake and bone health.

PURPOSE: Pediatric uroflowmetry curve interpretation is incompletely standardized. Thus, we propose new, objective patterning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uroflowmetry curves were obtained in 100 children presenting with daytime incontinence or enuresis. Each curve was compared with a standard curve generated from a published nomogram and a new patterning method was formulated. Staccato and interrupted patterns were defined using International Children's Continence Society criteria. The remaining curves were divided by the deviation of the maximal flow rate from the median nomogram value as certain patterns, including tower-greater than 130%, not abnormal-70% to 130% and plateau-less than 70%. The correlation between the presenting symptom and patterns or other uroflowmetry parameters was evaluated. Six pediatric urologists also patterned the same curves subjectively. RESULTS: All curves could be classified as 1 of the defined patterns using this method. Pattern distribution reflected the spectrum of presenting symptoms with more tower, interrupted and staccato patterns in children with daytime wetting than in those with monosymptomatic enuresis. Age adjusted voided volume was also smaller in the former group but post-void residual urine, and maximal and average flow rates did not correlate with presenting symptoms. Subjective patterning showed marked interobserver differences. When patterning applied by the current method was used as a reference, observer sensitivity for abnormal patterns inversely correlated with specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Subjective uroflowmetry patterning is liable to personal bias. The proposed method enables objective patterning that complies with International Children's Continence Society standardization and clinical presentation.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the oral cavity is an extremely rare clinical and pathological disease entity. It was originally described in the lung but has recently been reported in various anatomic sites. We report such a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the mandible in a 14-year-old girl. The patient presented with an aggressive ulcerative soft tissue mass of 3 months duration in the mandibular molar gingiva. Histologically, the lesion was composed of fibroblastic or myofibroblastic spindle cell proliferations with infiltrative margins in an inflammatory background. Immunohistochemically, the fibroblastic or myofibroblastic spindle cells were positive for vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and Ki-67 (MIB-1) but negative for desmin, pan-cytokeratin, S-100 protein, CD34, CD68, CD99, bcl-2, β-catenin, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, ALK-1, and p53. These spindle cells were focally and weakly Ki-67- (MIB-1-) positive. The MIB-1 labeling index was 5%. The results of in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded-RNA were negative. The ratio of IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cells was about 10%. A pathological diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor was made. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient has had no recurrence in the 10-year follow-up period. Although no evidence of oral inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor recurrence or malignant transformation has been reported, it has been observed that in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors of other regions, a prolonged follow-up is necessary after surgical resection. No other case of an IMT patient under 20 years of age has appeared in either the English or the Japanese literature.

In power systems the proper voltage ranges are predetermined in the individual voltage classes. In order to maintain the proper voltage ranges, we propose the voltage stability index VMPI (Voltage Margin Proximity Index), which defines the voltage stability from the point of view of the voltage magnitude limits. Many previous papers dealing with voltage stability preventive control have used control devices which take continuous values, such as static var compensators, but real power systems mainly utilize voltage control devices which take discrete values. Hence, in this paper, we propose voltage stability preventive control using the VMPI sensitivities in order to control devices which take discrete values. We generally require speed for preventive control in order to use it on line, but the VMPI takes time due to the performance of optimal power flow calculations. Consequently, we propose a practical voltage stability preventive control method using a calculation with initial estimates of the control devices and estimation of the VMPI sensitivities, which requires less calculation time. Simulations using the IEEJ West 30-machine 115-bus system have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 173(4): 28–37, 2010; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21033

In order to enhance the fusion reaction rate in inertial electrostatic confinement devices, it is necessary to increase the ion density with low cathode current and low background pressure. In order to accomplish the requirement, the authors suggest magnetic-assisted electrostatic confinement (MEC) scheme. The MEC relies on controlling the ion motion by applying an axial magnetic field to a system with cylindrical electrodes. In order to clarify the fundamental performances of the MEC device, particle-in-cell simulation was carried out. By reducing the background pressure, the ion confinement was improved resulting in the increase of the ion density. However, the ion density saturated due to space charge limitation. The estimated fusion reaction rate was about 5 × 106 1/s/m when the cathode voltage was −100 kV, the magnetic field was 200 mT, and the cathode current was 100 mA/m. The reaction rate, however, is expected to become higher since the ion density limitation is moderated by the electron which is not considered in the present analysis.

Numerous reports have documented the presence of autoantibodies working against naturally occurring cytokines in humans in health and disease. In most instances, their physiological and pathophysiological significance remains unknown. However, recent advances in the methodologies for detecting cytokine autoantibodies and their application in research focused on specific disorders have shown that some cytokine autoantibodies play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease. Additionally, levels of cytokine autoantibodies may also correlate with disease severity and progression in certain infectious and autoimmune diseases but not in others. This suggests that cytokine-specific pathogenic differences exist. While multiple lines of evidence support the notion that high avidity cytokine autoantibodies are present and likely to be ubiquitous in healthy individuals, their potential physiological role, if any, is less clear. It is believed that they may function by scavenging pro-inflammatory cytokines and thereby inhibiting deleterious 'endocrine' effects, or by serving as carrier proteins, providing a 'reservoir' of inactive cytokines and thus modulating cytokine bioactivity. A central hypothesis is that sustained or repeated high-level exposure to cytokines triggers defects in T-cell tolerance, resulting in the expansion of existing cytokine autoantibody-producing B cells.

2( S)-3’,4'-dimethoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavanone 7- O-neohesperidoside (1), hesperidin (2), astragalin (3), trifolin (4), nicotiflorin (5), narirutin (6), rutin (7), kaempferol 7- O-rutinoside (8), tangeretin (9) and nobiletin (10) were isolated from the MeOH extract of flowers of Citrus ‘Hebesu’. Structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of physical and spectral data. Absolute configuration and complete NMR spectral data for compound 1 are reported for the first time in this paper.

Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviour in a newly developed Cu-Sn-P alloy for heat exchangers and tubes was systematically investigated. For this purpose, Cu-Sn-P alloys with different content of Sn were deformed in compression at temperatures between 1073 K and 1213 K and at various strain rates from 2 x 10-4 s-1 to 2 x 10-1 s-1. The onset of DRX was more advanced with increasing temperature and with decreasing strain rate. Full DRX was not achieved at the testing conditions of lower temperature and higher strain rate even after straining to ε = 1.0. This tendency was more significant in the alloy with higher Sn content. With increasing Sn content, the flow stress and the obtained grains size became higher and finer, respectively. These experimental results indicate the important role of Sn for strengthening and microstructual control.

Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior in a Cu-0.65Sn-0.025P (mass%) alloy (Cu-Sn-P), which had been newly developed for high strength copper tubes, was systematically investigated. For this purpose, an orientation-controlled bicrystal ( =28o); a model samples of the as-casted billet having coarse columnar grains, was hot deformed in compression at 1073 K at true strain rates from 2 x 10-3 s-1 to 2 x 10-1 s-1 in vacuum. Appearance of peak stress, where DRX sets in, was much delayed in Cu-Sn-P alloy compared with that in Cu and the other copper alloys. While nucleation of new grains preferentially took place at grain boundary, this tendency became more significant with decreasing strain rate. Almost all the new grains were annealing twins (3) formed behind the migrating grain boundary. The more preferential nucleation at grain boundary with decreasing strain rate could be, therefore, reasonably understood by easier and more extensive occurrence of grain boundary migration at lower strain rate.

To reveal an essential biological role of menaquinone-4, we have clarified that dietary PK was converted to menaquinone-4 (MK-4) in animal tissues using deuterated vitamin K analogues. However, the kinds of analogue converted into MK-4 have not been elucidated. In this study, we examined structure-activity relationships in the conversion of several vitamin K analogues, with a substituted side chain, into MK-4 using cultured human cell lines. The results differed with the side chain of the analogues, that is, (1) the length of the isoprene unit and (2) the number of double bonds in the side chain. These findings would be useful for clarifying the mechanism of conversion of other vitamin K homologs into MK-4 as well as related enzymes.

Despite the widespread application of endoscopic therapy and the debate surrounding the use of prophylactic antibiotics to treat children with vesicoureteral reflux, many pediatric urologists still favor medical management. Breakthrough infection is one of the absolute indications for surgery. Data to predict breakthrough infection are warranted to manage cases of primary reflux.We reviewed medical records of 72 girls and 138 boys (mean +/- SD age at diagnosis 2.66 +/- 3.23 years) with primary vesicoureteral reflux who were followed with antibiotic prophylaxis at Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center. We examined multiple factors by univariate/multivariate analysis to elucidate risk factors for breakthrough infection.Breakthrough infection developed in 59 children (28%). On univariate analysis higher reflux grade (p0.05) and abnormal renal scan determined by (99m)technetium dimercapto-succinic acid (p0.0001) were significantly associated with breakthrough infection. On multivariate analysis abnormal renal scan was an independent risk factor for breakthrough infection (OR 11.08, 95% CI 0.76-1.72, p0.0001).Abnormal renal scan is an independent risk factor for breakthrough infection. Parents and physicians should remain aware that these patients are at high risk for breakthrough infection, which potentially could lead to renal damage.

Employing an inductive energy storage system, a stable and high-repetitive sub-microsecond pulse generator is developed for generation of micro-plasma jets. Its operation is based on the current interruption by an SI Thyristor, coupled with MOSFETs connected in series. While being operated without loads, the pulse generator can reliably generate high-voltage pulses of ∼20 kV with pulse duration of about 400 ns at the repetition rate up to 10 kHz. At the operating frequency of 1 kHz, a maximal energy transfer efficiency of ∼57 % has been obtained with 3 kΩ resistor as a dummy load. Driven by this pulse generator, a 6 mm long N2 plasma plume at atmospheric pressure was successfully produced.

In stress-strain relationship on the compression process of low-density porous materials, nonlinear deformation is observed with the plateau region where much strain is occurred without stress increasing. This phenomena is useful to design the shock absorber in various machines,however it also causes difficulties in the deformation analysis of the materials because of its nonlinearities. In this paper, some types of uniaxial compression testings are conducted for inspecting the nonlinear-deformation behavior of the materials in compression process. Here, we use a kind of polystyrene foam as a typical porous material with closed cellular structure. In the results of uniaxial compression testings with some constant rates, it is shown that the plateau stress, which is the stress level of the plateau region, has the strain-rate dependency. In the compression testing which transmits compression rates for the mechanical inspection of the dependency, it is revealed that the dependency relates to the behavior of well-known overstress phenomena. Therefore, the viscoplastic constitutive equation presented by Perzyna is adopted to simulate the uniaxial compression process for the representation of the dependency. Compared results of testings and simulation, it is indicated that the overstress phenomenon in the compression process of the material can be simulated by using the viscoplastic constitutive equation, and this technique has the ability to inspect the dynamic deformation process of the machines in which are implanted the materials.

Pulsed power technology is of great interest from the point of view of numerous industrial applications such as material processing, toxic gas treatment, medical treatment, civil engineering and so on. This paper briefly reviews the recent progress of selected topics, which are the discharge produced plasma light source and micro plasma application.

Neutron Transmutation Doping (NTD), which is one of the semiconductor manufacturing methods, can produce impurity semiconductor with high quality. The neutron source currently used in the NTD is a nuclear reactor, which has some problems such as to become too old for use. Hence development of a new neutron source, which enables uniform irradiation, is desired. A new Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) device with a coaxial double cylindrical structure, which is especially designed to be capable of uniform neutron irradiation, was developed. As the feature of the device, it has triple electrode structure which consists of a cylindrical grid cathode between inner and outer anodes. Neutrons are centralized in the center of the device, and uniform neutron flux is obtained there. The device achieved a neutron production rate of 1.5×106 n/s, and uniform neutron flux distribution was provided in the central hole of device. The largest size of the uniform neutron flux area was 35.2% (25 cm) of sample irradiation area in the axial direction, and 54.3% (10 cm) in the radial direction.

An electron beam is widely used for various purposes in industry. We have developed a pulsed secondary electron emission gun (SEEG) which uses pulsed discharge and high voltage technology. The device has some inherent advantages, such as compactness in size and generation of a uniform and wide electron beam. The SEEG consists of a wire ion plasma source, a cathode plate in a vacuum chamber and an electron beam irradiation part. In this paper, we improved the SEEG for stable operation. Previously an abnormal electrical discharge in the vacuum chamber disturbed prolonged electron beam irradiation. Therefore, based on the simulation result of an electrical potential distribution, we installed a plate of reducing electric stress in the vacuum chamber. Then the stable operation of the SEEG became possible. In addition, we have conducted experiment on decomposition of toluene using the SEEG in N2 and Air. The decomposition rate in N2 was higher than that in air. The addition of O2 and increase of humidity in N2 decreased the decomposition rate. Reaction products such as benzene and xylene were identified in N2 by means of GC-MS. On the other hand, benzaldehyde and formic acid were identified in Air. It is conceivable that the difference of byproducts is caused by the presence or absence of OH radical.

右鎖骨下動脈起始異常に伴うnonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve（NRILN）の存在を予測できた食道癌症例に対する腹臥位胸腔鏡下食道切除術を経験したので報告する．症例は73歳男性，胸部つかえ感があり，上部消化管内視鏡で胸部中部および下部食道癌と診断された．CTで右鎖骨下動脈起始異常を認め，NRILNの存在が推測された．手術は腹臥位で胸腔鏡下に行い食道後面を横走し右側を上行する右鎖骨下動脈を認め，右迷走神経から反回する神経はなく，頸部操作で右迷走神経から直接分枝するNRILNを確認した．NRILNは右鎖骨下動脈起始異常に伴う先天奇形で比較的まれなものだが，食道癌における反回神経周囲リンパ節郭清は食道癌の手術において非常に重要である．NRILNを伴う食道癌でもCTなどでその存在を推測し慎重にリンパ節郭清を行うことで，術後反回神経麻痺などの重篤な合併症を起こさない安全なリンパ節郭清が可能と思われた．本症例はNRILNを伴う食道癌に腹臥位胸腔鏡下食道切除術を行った本邦初の報告である．

The purpose of this study is to measure the photoneutron emission rate after the shutdown of an operational BWR. The photoneutrons originate from the D(γ, n)H reaction in the moderator region, while the high-energy gamma rays are generated from 140Ba-140La transient equilibrium of fission products in irradiated fuel. The photoneutron emission rate is measured by means of the photoneutron signal ratio of the Start-up Range Neutron Monitor (SRNM). The ratio is defined as a ratio of the photoneutrons to neutrons originating from spontaneous fission and the oxygen (γ, n) reaction of actinides (242Cm, 244Cm, etc.) in irradiated fuel. The principle of the measurement of the photoneutron signal ratio is the large difference between the decay constants of the 140Ba-140La transient equilibrium and those of the actinides. The measurement of the SRNM signal was continuously carried out over several months, and the photoneutron signal ratio was evaluated by using the least-squares method to fit a theoretical model to...

We studied the role of composition grading in the strain relaxation process of SiGe films grown on Si(1 1 0) substrates by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The crystalline morphologies of the samples with and without a compositionally step-graded buffer layer were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The composition grading was found to suppress the nucleation of growth twins. It was found that the strain relaxation mechanism depended on the growth method of the SiGe layers. In addition, the evolution of the crystalline morphology during step-graded buffer growth was investigated in detail. The evolution of defects during the growth of the graded layers and its relevancy to the strain relaxation process were clarified.

FLAG-tag is one of the commonly used purification technologies for recombinant proteins. An antibody, M2, specifically binds to the FLAG-tag whether it is attached to N- or C-terminus of proteins to be purified. The bound proteins are generally eluted by competition with a large excess of free FLAG peptide. This requires synthetic FLAG peptide and also removal of bound FLAG peptide for M2 column regeneration. We have shown before that arginine at mild pH can effectively dissociate protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions, e.g. in Protein-A, antigen and dye-affinity chromatography. We have tested here elution of FLAG-fused proteins by arginine for columns of M2-immobilized resin using several proteins in comparison with competitive elution by FLAG peptide or low pH glycine buffer. Active and folded proteins were successfully and effectively eluted using 0.5-1M arginine at pH 3.5-4.4, as reported in this paper.

High-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies of (La, M)TiO 3 (M = Zn, Mn) prepared by M/Li ion exchange were performed to clarify the microscopic mechanism of ion-exchange reactions. At a macroscopic level, EDS analysis revealed that Zn and Mn atoms were homogeneously dispersed in matrix grains of (La, Zn)TiO 3 and (La, Mn)TiO 3 samples, respectively. EDS analysis also revealed that no segregation of Zn and Mn atoms was observed even in the vicinity of grain boundary regions. HREM and EDS analysis demonstrated that the microscopic mechanism of ion-exchange reactions was different by the ion-exchanged metals.

An electrode design with no use of three-phase boundary was investigated using palladium electrode. The hydrogen evolution rate of the palladium electrode cell using SrZr0.9Y0.1O3 − α electrolyte followed Faraday’s law up to 180 mA cm−2, and the anode and cathode overpotentials were significantly lower than those of a platinum electrode cell, suggesting that the palladium electrode is effective to improve the performance of the hydrogen-pumping cell using SrZrO3-based electrolyte. The rate-determining step (RDS) for electrode reaction was also investigated by changing the electrode morphology and hydrogen partial pressure, and it was suggested that the RDS of the anode is a reaction at electrode/electrolyte interface.

The objective of this study was to assess the possibility of developing a clinical minimally invasive and standardized method to evaluate the relationship between the microstructure of the jaw bone and systemic bone turnover. For this purpose, we performed standardized bone biopsy of the alveolar bone, and compared the 3D bone microstructure using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and biochemical markers of bone turnover. We evaluated a total of 9 samples taken from 6 patients by standardized biopsy using a trephine bur. BMD was evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Regarding the biochemical markers of bone turnover, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and serum osteocalcin (OC) were used as bone formation markers, and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were selected as bone resorption markers. We scanned micro-CT images of these samples. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular spacing (Tb.Spac), fractal dimension, trabecular bone pattern factor (TBPf) and node-strut (Nd.Nd/TV, TSL/TV) were measured. Regarding the correlations between the parameters of bone microstructures, TB/TV, Tb.N, fractal dimension, and node-strut seemed to be positively correlated and Tb.Spac and TBPf seemed to be negatively correlated with each other, but Tb.Th seemed to have a low correlation with other parameters. OC and/or BAP showed a significantly high correlation with many structural parameters (p < 0.05%). In conclusion, some microstructural parameters may change according to the systemic bone turnover.

The therapeutic advances in breast cancer have improved the survival of patients with early disease; however, survival improvement of patients with recurrent disease remains ambiguous. In this retrospective study, we examined whether disparities in survival improvement exist in patients with recurrent breast cancer with distant metastasis.The survival time of 126 patients who experienced recurrence at distant sites from 1990 through 1996 was compared to that of 195 patients who did from 1997 through 2003.A significant survival improvement was observed in the patients who experienced recurrence in the period of 1997-2003 in comparison to the other period in the subsets with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease, those who received adjuvant hormonal therapy, and those with a disease-free interval (DFI) of 24 months or more. However, no significant survival improvement was observed in each counterpart. The median survival time (MST) from the first relapse of patients with ER-positive disease in the recurrence period of 1997-2003 was 18.8 months longer than that in the recurrence period of 1990-1996 (46.6 months vs. 27.8 months). The MST of patients with a DFI of 24 months or more in 1997-2003 was 20.3 months longer than that in the other time period (47.2 months vs. 26.9 months).The survival of recurrent breast cancer has improved with disparities. The ER status and the DFI are associated with a survival improvement of women with recurrent breast cancer with distant metastases.

We investigated the growth temperature dependence of the defect morphologies in the SiGe films grown on Si(1 1 0) substrates. The substrate temperature range in this investigation was 700–800 °C. The samples were comprised of compositionally graded and uniform layers. A transition in the strain relaxation mechanism from microtwin formation to dislocation generation was newly found, which occurred at 800 °C.

The growth of SiGe crystals on a V-groove patterned Si(1 1 0) substrate and the fabrication of pMOSFET using this material were carried out. The crystalline and surface morphologies were significantly improved compared to those of a film grown on a planar Si(1 1 0) substrate. A self-organized selective growth was observed, which was attributed to the local enhancement of the sticking coefficient. A significant enhancement of drain conductance was accomplished, which was attributed to the lower effective mass of strained SiGe crystal which became effective by the improvement of crystalline morphology.

The implication of the surface inclination for the crystalline and surface morphologies of SiGe films grown on Si(1 1 0) substrates was investigated. Compositionally step-graded SiGe films were grown on an exact substrate and on a vicinal substrate by using gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. By comparing the reciprocal space maps (RSM) and cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) images, the implications of microtwin formation for the surface morphology and for the crystal lattice structure were also investigated.

Luminescence from individual nitrogen pairs (NN) were studied in nitrogen δ-doped gallium phosphide. Density of NN pairs (NN3,4,5,6) were directly measured by counting the spot density in μ-photoluminescence images in samples with different nitrogen densities. It was found that all the NN densities depend on the square of nitrogen sheet density suggesting that NN3∼6 definitely consists of two nitrogen atoms, although quantitative discrepancy was found for NN5 and NN6. In high resolution polarized spectrum of single NN4, two different polarization patterns due to different N-N orientation were observed. Single photon generation from a single NN4 was demonstrated under pulsed optical excitation at 30 K. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The formation of different types of twins were observed in SiGe/graded buffer/Si(110) heterostructures grown at different substrate temperatures using gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. It was found that the growth twins were dominant when the substrate temperature was lower than 700 °C. The growth at higher substrate temperature effectively suppressed the nucleation of growth twins and resulted in the formation of another type of defect, microtwin lamellas, which accompany the strain-relaxation process.

Nitrogen (N) δ-doping in GaP was studied using low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition at 650 °C. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy measurements revealed that the profile of atomic N concentrations is abrupt and symmetrical, indicating a good-quality δ-doping. For the δ-doped sample of a dilute N sheet density, spatially dependent emission spectra from N-related isoelectronic traps were observed at 30 K with micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL). Besides the well-known NNi pairs, as well as the so-called A line, a new peak was observed at 2.2847 eV. We successfully mapped the spatial distribution of NN4 pairs by using 0th order diffraction of a spectrometer with a narrow-band pass filter. By applying this technique to several samples with different N sheet densities, it was found that the densities of NNi and the new peak have square and cubic dependence on the sheet density of N atoms, respectively. After identifying a single NN4 pair using the μ-PL, strong photon antibunching under continuous optical pumping was demonstrated, which is good evidence for clear single-photon emission from an individual N–N pair.

To elucidate the heme acquisition system in pathogenic bacteria, we investigated the heme-binding properties of the third NEAT domain of IsdH (IsdH-NEAT3), a receptor for heme located on the surfaces of pathogenic bacterial cells, by using x-ray crystallography, isothermal titration calorimetry, examination of absorbance spectra, mutation analysis, size-exclusion chromatography, and analytical ultracentrifugation. We found the following: 1) IsdH-NEAT3 can bind with multiple heme molecules by two modes; 2) heme was bound at the surface of IsdH-NEAT3; 3) candidate residues proposed from the crystal structure were not essential for binding with heme; and 4) IsdH-NEAT3 was associated into a multimeric heme complex by the addition of excess heme. From these observations, we propose a heme-binding mechanism for IsdH-NEAT3 that involves multimerization and discuss the biological importance of this mechanism.

The purpose of this study is to compare the measured and calculated ratios of neutrons originating from 242Cm and 244Cm in commercial BWRs in order to evaluate the prediction error for a weakening start-up range neutron monitor (SRNM) signal due to the decay of in-core neutron sources over a ten year period. Measurements were carried out over a period of several months, using the least-squares method to fit the time series of SRNM signals with the theoretical model. Neutron sources of each fuel assembly were calculated by the macroscopic depletion model of a plant process computer. The ratios of neutrons originating from 242Cm and 244Cm detected by each SRNM were calculated by whole core fixed source calculation using the nodal expansion method. One BWR core measurement was taken at the beginning of the cycle and three BWR core measurements were taken in the middle of the cycle. A comparison of the measured and calculated ratios of 242Cm and 244Cm number densities showed reasonable agreement. The slight d...

In Fukushima Prefecture, one million hatchery-reared juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus have been released annually in the stock enhancement program since 1996. A community-based management system is used for this flounder fishery, where fishers pay 5% of their annual landings to operate the stock enhancement program. Also, since 1993, fishers have consented not to catch flounder < 30 cm total length to maximize economic gains from the investment in stock enhancement. Our fish market surveys revealed that released flounder annually contributed an additional 30–90 tons to the catch. However, the economic efficiency of stocking has reduced since 1996, which has been largely attributed to a decline in fish price and recapture rate. Another problem is that the population dynamics of wild flounder have never been considered during implementation of the stock enhancement program. The occurrence of a dominant year-class of wild flounder causes a dramatic increase in landings and removes the need t...

High incidence of graft failure in unrelated cord blood transplantation using a reduced-intensity preparative regimen consisting of fludarabine and melphalan

口腔扁平上皮癌を対象にフッ化ピリミジン系抗癌剤の代謝活性化酵素であるorotate phosphoribosyltransferase（OPRT），thymidylate synthase（TS）およびThymidine phosphorylase（TP）の発現と薬剤奏効性との関連を検討した。術前化学療法（NAC）を施行した31例の投与前生検組織に発現するこれらの酵素を画像解析を用いて定量化し，他の臨床病理学的因子を含めカテゴリー化後，二項ロジスティック回帰分析を行った。結果，奏効性に影響を与えた独立因子はOPRT，TS，およびp53蛋白であった。特に，OPRTが最も強い影響力を示した。奏効の条件としてOPRTの高発現，TSおよびp53蛋白の低発現が必要とされた。よって，フッ化ピリミジン系抗癌剤の効果発現にOPRTを介したリン酸化経路が主体と考えられた。しかも腫瘍組織中に発現するOPRT，TSの評価は薬剤選択の重要な判断材料になり得ると示唆された。

A 69-year-old woman presented with obstructive jaundice and a 30-mm hypoechoic mass in the pancreatic head on ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed enlargement of the pancreatic head with dilatation of the upstream main pancreatic duct and no dilatation of the proximal biliary tree. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed a localized irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct in the head of the pancreas. Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) was performed under the diagnosis of pancreatic head cancer. Histopathological examination showed fibrosis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, suggesting the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Serum IgG concentration was within normal limits immediately after the operation but was elevated 4 months later, when MRI showed enlargement of the remnant pancreas, with a peripheral rim of low intensity. Oral administration of prednisolone was initiated, at a dose of 5 mg/day. The serum IgG concentration declined and MRI showed improvement of the pancreatic enlargement and the disappearance of the peripheral rim. AIP has not relapsed for 1 year so far, with the patient being kept on 5 mg/day prednisolone. This communication reports a patient with AIP showing an interesting clinical course.

This paper has tried to apply the response surface approximation method in the structural optimization techniques to develop aluminum beverage can ends. Geometrical parameters of the end shell are selected as design variables. The analysis points in the design space are assigned using an orthogonal array in the design-of-experiment technique. A finite element analysis code is used to simulate the deforming behavior such as the buckling strength and central panel displacement of the end shell under internal pressure. On the basis of the numerical analysis results, the response surface of the buckling strength and panel growth are approximated in terms of the design variables. By using a numerical optimization program, the weight of the end shell is minimized subject to constraints of the buckling strength, panel growth suppression and the other design requirements. A numerical example on 202 end shell optimization problem has been shown in this paper.

Nano-scale structural analysis of (La,Fe)TiO3 prepared by Fe/Li ion-exchange has been performed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and analytical electron microscopy. An ion-exchange reaction has been microscopically confirmed. On the other hand, the nano-crystalline bcc-Fe phase segregates as a secondary phase at grain boundaries. Interfaces between grain boundaries and matrix grains of (La,Fe)TiO3 maintain the coherency. The bcc-Fe phase at the grain boundaries may be the origin of the ferromagnetic behavior in (La,Fe)TiO3.

Gastric cancer is a common cancer worldwide. Chromatin remodeling complexes have emerged as tumor suppressors and include AT-rich interaction domain-containing proteins (ARIDs) 1A, 1B, and 2. We examined their expression and clarified their roles in gastric carcinogenesis.The expression of ARIDs was studied by immunohistochemistry in 469 gastric carcinoma and 47 adenoma samples and was analyzed according to clinicopathological factors.Low expression rates of ARID1A, 1B, and 2 in gastric carcinoma were 20%, 10%, and 15% respectively. ARIDs are correlated to each other. Low expression of ARID1A was related to advanced tumor and vessel infiltration. Loss of ARID1B and ARID2 was also related to tumor progression, but their relationship was weaker than that of ARID1A.ARID1A is the strongest tumor suppressor in gastric carcinogenesis among ARIDs. Their aberration might be caused by shared mechanisms such as mutation and methylation.