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In this paper we study primal-dual path-following algorithms for second-order cone programming problems (SOCP). We extend the standard long-step/semilong-step/short-step primal-dual path-following alogorithms for LP and SDP to SOCP, and prove that the long-step algorithm using the NT direction and the HRVW/KSH/M direction have O(n log e-1 ) iteration-complexity and O(n3/2log e-1 ) iteration-complexity, respectively, to reduce the duality gap by a factor of 1/e, where n is the number of the second-order cones. We also show that the short and semilong-step algorithms using the NT direction and the HRVW/KSH/M direction have and O(n log e-1 ) iteration-complexities, respectively.

A 72-year-old man developed a soft-tissue sarcoma anterior to his left knee. The tumour was excised widely combined with an extensive patellectomy. A gastrocnemius flap including Achilles tendon was used successfully to cover the soft-tissue defect and to reconstruct the knee extensor mechanism.

Photoreaction of triarylstibines with styrenes resulted in the formation of 2-aryl-1-phenylethanols accompanied by air oxidation. Formation of the products has been explained by the valence expansion of the oxygen-antimony-styrene complex to a five-valent intermediate, followed by reductive coupling.

The layered-step interior-point algorithm was introduced by Vavasis and Ye. The algorithm accelerates the path following interior-point algorithm and its arithmetic complexity depends only on the coefficient matrixA. The main drawback of the algorithm is the use of an unknown big constant\(\bar \chi _A \) in computing the search direction and to initiate the algorithm. We propose a modified layered-step interior-point algorithm which does not use the big constant in computing the search direction. The constant is required only for initialization when a well-centered feasible solution is not available, and it is not required if an upper bound on the norm of a primal—dual optimal solution is known in advance. The complexity of the simplified algorithm is the same as that of Vavasis and Ye. © 1998 The Mathematical Programming Society, Inc. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

In this paper we give a global convergence proof of the second-order affine scaling algorithm for convex quadratic programming problems, where the new iterate is the point which minimizes the objective function over the intersection of the feasible region with the ellipsoid centered at the current point and whose radius is a fixed fraction $\beta \in (0,1]$ of the radius of the largest "scaled" ellipsoid inscribed in the nonnegative orthant. The analysis is based on the local Karmarkar potential function introduced by Tsuchiya. For any $\beta \in (0, 1)$ and without assuming any nondegeneracy assumption on the problem, it is shown that the sequences of primal iterates and dual estimates converge to optimal solutions of the quadratic program and its dual, respectively.

2-Substituted and unsubstituted benzo[b]tellurophenes (3A a-e) were synthesized in one-pot from o-bromoethynylbenzenes (2) via three steps in good yields. Similarly, benzo[b]-selenophenes (3B a-e) and -thiophenes (3C a-e) were also obtained.

The complete bifurcation diagram as well as the basin of attraction for the logistic map is presented for the whole range of the control parameters, namely -2≤a≤4 where the system remains finite. Equivalence of the newly found bifurcation branch to the conventional branch is shown.

An intracellular alkaline serine protease gene of alkalophilic Thermoactinomyces sp. HS682 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis showed a putative promoter region, a putative transciptional termination signal, and an open reading frame of 963 bases, coding for a polypeptide of 321 amino acids. The protease expressed in E. coli was purified by DEAE-Toyopearl 650M and Sephadex G-75 chromatography. The N-terminal sequence (30 amino acids) of the purified protein was coincident with Aspl6–Val45 of the deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF. Fifteen amino acids in the N-terminal region were removed during the purification procedures. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity with microbial intracellular serine proteases. The molecular mass of this enzyme was estimated to be 38 kDa by SDS–PAGE. The enzyme was stable at pH 6.0–12.0 and below 60°C in the presence of Ca2 +. The temperature and pH optima of the enzyme were 65°C and pH 11.0, respectively. The enzyme was inhibit...

Background Owing to their complex nature, social interaction tests normally require the observation of video data by a human researcher, and thus are difficult to use in large-scale studies. We previously established a statistical method, a hidden Markov model (HMM), which enables the differentiation of two social states (“interaction” and “indifference”), and three social states (“sniffing”, “following”, and “indifference”), automatically in silico. New method Here, we developed freeware called DuoMouse for the rapid evaluation of social interaction behavior. This software incorporates five steps: (1) settings, (2) video recording, (3) tracking from the video data, (4) HMM analysis, and (5) visualization of the results. Results Using DuoMouse, we mapped a genetic locus related to social interaction. We previously reported that a consomic strain, B6-Chr6CMSM, with its chromosome 6 substituted for one from MSM/Ms, showed more social interaction than C57BL/6 (B6). We made four subconsomic strains, C3, C5, C6, and C7, each of which has a shorter segment of chromosome 6 derived from B6-Chr6C, and conducted social interaction tests on these strains. DuoMouse indicated that C6, but not C3, C5, and C7, showed higher interaction, sniffing, and following than B6, specifically in males. Comparison with existing method The data obtained by human observation showed high concordance to those from DuoMouse. The results indicated that the MSM-derived chromosomal region present in C6—but not in C3, C5, and C7—associated with increased social behavior. Conclusions This method to analyze social interaction will aid primary screening for difference in social behavior in mice.

The sp(2) /sp(3) domain fraction of multilayer graphene oxide (GO) is tuned in situ and in a non-volatile manner by using a proton-induced redox reaction at the interface of GO and the yttria-stabilized zirconia proton-conductor. This method opens the door for transparent, ultrathin, flexible, and low cost carbon-nanoionics devices that can control not only electronic transport, but also other properties such as photoluminescence and optics.

Somatic mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and IDH2 occur in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and cartilaginous tumors. Somatic mosaic IDH1/2 mutations are also reported in Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome, which are characterized by multiple central cartilaginous tumors. Although IDH1/2 mutation analysis against osteosarcoma has been performed in several studies, no IDH1/2 mutation has been reported. Herein, we newly report the IDH2-R172S mutation in three of 12 (25%) osteosarcoma patients, which was detected by direct DNA sequencing. No monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been reported against IDH2-R172S mutation. However, we demonstrate that the IDH2-R172S peptide was recognized by our established multi-specific anti-mutated IDH1/2 mAb, MsMab-1, in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis revealed that MsMab-1 reacts with PA tag combined recombinant proteins of IDH2-R172S. Furthermore, MsMab-1 stained IDH2-R172S-expressing osteosarcoma tissues in immunohistochemistry. The MsMab-1 stained nine of 32 (28.1%) osteosarcomas in a tissue microarray. This report is the first describing IDH2 mutations in osteosarcoma, which can be detected by MsMab-1 mAb. Taken together, these results show that MsMab-1 can be anticipated for use in immunohistochemical determination of IDH1/2 mutation-bearing osteosarcoma.

In situ hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HX-PES) and soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (SX-XAS) have been employed to investigate a local redox reaction at the carbon/Gd-doped CeO2 (GDC) thin film heterointerface under applied dc bias. In HX-PES, Ce3d and O1s core levels show a parallel chemical shift as large as 3.2 eV, corresponding to the redox window where ionic conductivity is predominant. The window width is equal to the energy gap between donor and acceptor levels of the GDC electrolyte. The Ce M-edge SX-XAS spectra also show a considerable increase of Ce3+ satellite peak intensity, corresponding to electrochemical reduction by oxide ion migration. In addition to the reversible redox reaction, two distinct phenomena by the electrochemical transport of oxide ions are observed as an irreversible reduction of the entire oxide film by O2 evolution from the GDC film to the gas phase, as well as a vigorous precipitation of oxygen gas at the bottom electrode to lift off the GDC film. These in situ spectroscopic observations describe well the electrochemical polarization behavior of a metal/GDC/metal capacitor-like two-electrode cell at room temperature.

The fully unsaturated dibenzoheteronins are prepared via a 1,8-dilithium intermediate, representing the first examples of fused nine-membered heterocyclic rings, with exception of dibenzothionin (VIa).

In this paper, we introduce a geometric theory which relates a geometric structure of convex optimization problems to computational complexity to solve the problems. Specifically, we develop information geometric framework of conic linear optimization problems and show that the iteration complexity of the standard polynomial-time primal-dual predictor-corrector interior-point algorithms to solve symmetric cone programs is written with an information geometric curvature integral of the central path which the algorithm traces. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the number of iterations is quite well explained with the integral even for the large problems with thousands of variables; we claim that the iteration-complexity of the primal-dual predictor-corrector path-following algorithm is an information geometric quantity. We also develop a global theorem about the central path for linear programs.

The phenomenon called critical slowing down is studied for some analytically tractable bifurcation points of the logistic map. The critical amplitude and the critical amplitude ratio are introduced to describe the critical behaviors more precisely when the critical exponents are identically unity for two critical behaviors which are to be compared. Since Hao predicted unity of the critical exponent for 1-d maps assuming exponential damping of the distance from the attractor, the assumption is checked. The result is that the shrinkage of the valid region of the assumption occurs as the adjustable parameter approaches one of the bifurcation points.

In this paper, we propose an infeasible-interior-point algorithm for linear programning based on the affine scaling algorithm by Dikin. The search direction of the algorithm is composed of two directions, one for satisfying feasibility and the other for aiming at optimality. Both directions are affine scaling directions of certain linear programming problems. Global convergence of the algorithm is proved under a reasonable nondegeneracy assumption. A summary of analogous global convergence results without any nondegeneracy assumption obtained in [17] is also given.

Given a certain monotone horizontal linear complementarity problem (HLCP), we can naturally construct a family of systems of nonlinear equations parametrized by a parameter t ∈ (0, 1] with the property that, as t tends to 0, the corresponding system “converges” to the HLCP. Under reasonable conditions, it has been shown that each system of the family has a unique solution and that, as t tends to 0, these solutions converge to a specific solution of the HLCP. The main purpose of this paper is to study the asymptotic behavior of the derivative of the trajectory of solutions and therefore obtain information on the way the trajectory approaches the solution set of the HLCP. We show that the trajectory of solutions converges to the solution set along a unique and well-characterized direction. Moreover, if the HLCP has a solution satisfying strict complementarity then the direction forms a definite angle with any face of the feasible region which contains the limit point; otherwise, the direction is tangent to some face of the feasible region.

In this paper we show that a variant of the long-step affine scaling algorithm (with variable stepsizes) is two-step superlinearly convergent when applied to general linear programming (LP) problems. Superlinear convergence of the sequence of dual estimates is also established. For homogeneous LP problems having the origin as the unique optimal solution, we also show that 2/3 is a sharp upper bound on the (fixed) stepsize that provably guarantees that the sequence of primal iterates converge to the optimal solution along a unique direction of approach. Since the point to which the sequence of dual estimates converge depend on the direction of approach of the sequence of primal iterates, this result gives a plausible (but not accurate) theoretical explanation for why 2/3 is a sharp upper bound on the (fixed) stepsize that guarantees the convergence of the dual estimates.

We report herein the cases of two patients with Crohn's disease complicated by a psoas abscess. The first patient was a 29-year-old man who underwent definitive surgery after acute inflammation had been controlled by nutritional therapy. In the second patient, a 37-year-old man, the abscess required drainage under local anesthesia prior to surgery. Both patients have been free from recurrence of any abdominal symptoms for about 2 years since undergoing surgery. Although psoas abscess is still regarded as a rare complication, with the increasing prevalence of Crohn's disease in Japan it has become one of the most important complications requiring surgical intervention.

In this paper we give a new convergence analysis of a projective scaling algorithm. We consider a long-step affine scaling algorithm applied to a homogeneous linear programming problem obtained from the original linear programming problem. This algorithm takes a fixed fraction ź≤2/3 of the way towards the boundary of the nonnegative orthant at each iteration. The iteration sequence for the original problem is obtained by pulling back the homogeneous iterates onto the original feasible region with a conical projection, which generates the same search direction as the original projective scaling algorithm at each iterate. The recent convergence results for the long-step affine scaling algorithm by the authors are applied to this algorithm to obtain some convergence results on the projective scaling algorithm. Specifically, we will show (i) polynomiality of the algorithm with complexities of O(nL) and O(n2L) iterations for ź

Background & Aims: Capsaicin is known to contract smooth muscles and to have an excitatory action on thin, primary afferent neurons. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that intragastric capsaicin may have an excitatory effect on colonic motility. Methods: Mongrel dogs equipped with five strain-gauge force transducers on the colon (C1–C5) were used. In 5 dogs, the effect of intragastric capsaicin (0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/kg) on colonic motility in the presence or absence of the cholinergic blockers atropine and hexamethonium was studied. In 4 dogs, the effect of capsaicin (0.5 mg/kg) administration into a vagally innervated or denervated gastric pouch on colonic motility was investigated. Results: Motility at C2–C3, C1–C3, and C1–C5 was significantly increased by 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/kg of capsaicin, respectively. The excitatory effect of capsaicin on colonic motility was inhibited by atropine and hexamethonium. Colonic motility at C1–C4 was significantly increased by capsaicin administration into a vagally innervated pouch but was not affected by capsaicin administration into a vagally denervated pouch. Conclusions: These results indicate that intragastric capsaicin predominantly stimulates motility in the proximal half of the colon through neural pathways, probably through a vagovagal reflex, but sympathetic involvement cannot be excluded.

In this paper we present new global convergence results on a long-step affine scaling algorithm obtained by means of the local Karmarkar potential functions. This development was triggered by Dikin’s interesting result on the convergence of the dual estimates associated with a long-step afflne scaling algorithm for homogeneous LP problems with unique optimal solutions. Without requiring any assumption on degeneracy, we show that moving a fixed proportion $\lambda $ up to two-thirds of the way to the boundary at each iteration ensures convergence of the iterates to an interior point of the optimal face as well as the dual estimates to the analytic center of the dual optimal face, where the asymptotic reduction rate of the value of the objective function is $1 - \lambda $. We also give an example showing that this result is tight to obtain convergence of the dual estimates to the analytic center of the dual optimal face.

Nanoionic devices have been developed to generate novel functions overcoming limitations of conventional materials synthesis and semiconductor technology. Various physical properties can be tuned and enhanced by local ion transport near the solid/solid interface. Two electronic carrier doping methods can be used to achieve extremely high-density electronic carriers: one is electrostatic carrier doping using an electric double layer (EDL); the other is electrochemical carrier doping using a redox reaction. Atomistic restructuring near the solid/solid interface driven by a DC voltage, namely, interface nanoarchitechtonics, has huge potential. For instance, the use of EDL enables high-density carrier doping in potential superconductors, which can hardly accept chemical doping, in order to achieve room-temperature superconductivity. Optical bandgap and photoluminescence can be controlled for various applications including smart windows and biosensors. In situ tuning of magnetic properties is promising for low-power-consumption spintronics. Synaptic plasticity in the human brain is achieved in neuromorphic devices.

Perovskite oxide Y3+-doped BaCeO3 (BaCe1-x Y x O3- d: BCY) is a promising material as an electrolyte of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that operate in the intermediate- temperature (IMT) region. The electrical conductivity of the bulk crystal exhibits a high proton conductivity of ~7.0×10-2 S·cm-1 at 800 ºC and ~1.0×10-2 S·cm-1at 400 ºC in a wet atmosphere. The proton adsorption and conduction mechanisms have been extensively studied by theoretical and experimental approaches. In order to realize hydrogen separation membranes for hydrogen production in the high-temperature region, Matsumoto and co-workers have developed a Ru5+-doped BCY (BCRY) ceramic that exhibits the electron-proton mixed conduction in moist reducing atmosphere at approximately 800 ºC. When the Ru5+ concentration is in the range of 5~10 mol%, BCRY ceramics exhibit the mixed conduction of 3.0~6.0×10-3 S·cm-1. Although such a mixed conductor can be used as an anode electrode of SOFCs, BCRY thin films have not been realized thus far. Therefore, understanding of the detailed electrical and structural properties of BCRY thin films is most important for the material design of SOFC electrodes. In this study, we present the structural and electrical properties at the surface and bulk regions of BCRY thin films and discuss the role of Ru5+substitution in terms of electron structure. The BCRY thin film was deposited on Al2O3 and Nb-doped SrTiO3 (Nb-STO) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The flow rate of Ar gas, the deposition pressure, and substrate temperature were set at 20 sccm, 5.0×10-3 Torr and 600 ºC, respectively. The film thicknesses were changed between ~100 and ~477 nm. The structural property of the BCRY thin films were characterized as a function of film thickness by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The electrical conductivity was measured by the AC impedance method in dry atmosphere in a temperature region from 200 to 600 ºC. The measurement frequency region was from 0.1 Hz to 32 MHz. In order to probe conducting carriers, the conductivity was measured by changing oxygen gas partial pressure (P O2). The electronic structure was characterized by photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The energy resolutions of PES and XAS were 100 and 60 meV, respectively, at h n= 700 eV. The a- and c-axes-oriented BaCe0.85Ru0.05Y0.10O3- d thin films have been deposited by RF magnetron sputtering. The thin films have mixed valence states of Ce4+ and Ce3+. The activation energy for the conductivity of film thicker than 200 nm at the surface region and bulk region are 0.26 eV and 0.60 eV, respectively. The thin films exhibit ion conduction at the bulk region and electron-ion mixed conduction at the surface region. Proton conductions are also observed in the surface state and bulk state. The Fermi levels (E F) locate at the middle position in the band gap region, although E F of the BaCe0.90Y0.10O3- d thin films locates on the valence band side. These results indicate that the Ru5+ions and protons act as donor ions in BCRY thin films.

Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is known as solid electrolyte materials with oxide ion conduction and is used for sensor and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Recently, Wagner et al. has reported proton conductivity in YSZ single crystals at high temperature. Furthermore, Scherrer et al. has also reported proton conduction in YSZ thin films prepared by various technique. However, the existence of proton conduction of YSZ thin film at intermediate temperature (IMT) region has not been clarified thus far. In this study, we present the structural and electrical properties at IMT region of YSZ thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. YSZ thin films were deposited on Al2O3 substrates at various temperatures by RF magnetron sputtering using ceramics target. The 8 mol % Y2O3-doped ZrO2 target was prepared by solid phase reaction. The flow rate of Ar gas and the deposition pressure were set at 0.67 sccm, 8.0 × 10-3 Torr. The structural property of the YSZ thin films were characterized as a function of film thickness by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The conductivity of the deposited thin film was measured by AC impedance method at the temperature region of 200-500 ℃. The measurement frequency region was from 0.1 Hz to 32 MHz. In order to probe conducting carriers, the conductivity was measured by changing oxygen gas partial pressure (P O2). The electronic structure was characterized by photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The lattice constant of the (111)-oriented thin film increases with increasing film thickness due to relaxation of lattice distortion. The 80 nm thick film exhibits the oxide ion conduction with the activation energy of ~ 1.13 eV. Although the conductivity of 160 nm thick film dose not depend on atmosphere during measurement, the 80 nm and 120 nm thick films have higher conductivity in atmosphere than that in dry atmosphere. The activation energy of 80 nm thick film is ~ 0.76 eV and of 120 nm thick film is 0.82 eV. The electrical conductivity depends on film thickness. These results indicate that the thin film has proton conduction at the surface in the temperature region.

The BaPrO3 (BPO) is expected as a candidate for anode materials in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using oxide protonics material as a solid electrolyte, due to a possible presence of mixed conductivity or holes (electrons)and protons. BPO ceramics has the possibility of electron-ion mixed conduction because of auto-ionization of Pr+4/Pr+3. Therefore, the electrode of fuel cell should be used as thin film form. However, details of high mixed conduction of BPO thin film have not been clarified thus far. In this study, we have deposited the BPO thin films on Al2O3 (0001) single crystal and Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The deposition pressure and substrate temperature were set at 4.0×10-3 Torr and 500 °C, respectively. In order to obtain the high mixed conduction of the thin film, the influence of film thickness was probed between 60 and 170 nm. The BPO thin film was characterized by XRD, AC impedance method, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The AC impedance was measured by means of a frequency response analyzer in the frequency range of 0.1 Hz – 32 MHz. Impedance spectra were collected at temperatures between 200 °C and 600 °C with a step of 25 °C. The measurement atmosphere used dry Air (the mix gas of O2 and Ar) and wet Air (the mix gas of O2 and Ar and H2O). The electrode made a Pt comb type electrode by RF magnetron sputtering. In order to probe conducting carriers, the conductivity was measured by changing by gas partial pressure. The prepared thin films exhibit highly a-axis orientation. The lattice constant of a-axis decreases with increasing film thickness. We conformed the electron structure by XPS and RPES in order to prove the mixed valent states of Pr4+ and Pr3+. This originates the changes of lattice constant with film thickness. The electrical conductivity increases and the activation energy decreases with increasing film thickness. The activation energy does not match with the energy separation between the Fermi level and the top of valence band. However, the conductivity at 300 °C depends on the oxygen partial pressure, indicating the existence of electron-oxygen ion mixed conduction. The thin films below 100 nm have proton conductivity in wet atmosphere. The above results indicates that the thin film has proton conduction in addition to electron-oxygen ion mixed conduction.

Ln1-x Sr x FeO3 (Ln=La, Nd) bulk crystal exhibits various electrical and magnetic properties by Ln substitution. In particular, Ln1-xSrxFeO3 has been extensively studied in the bulk and thin film forms due to electrochemical application of cathode electrode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). However, La1-x Sr x FeO3 thin film as electrode is not practical material since the mixed conduction is low. Therefore, new cathode material with high mixed conduction and durability is necessary for realization a practical SOFC device. In this study, we have prepared the Nd0.6Sr0.4FeO3 thin film on Al2O3 substrate by RF magnetron sputtering and characterized its electrical conductivity. The Nd0.6Sr0.4FeO3 (NSFO) thin film was deposited on Al2O3 (0001) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering using a ceramics target. The NSFO ceramics target for sputtering was prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The flow rate of Ar gas, the deposition pressure , and substrate temperature were set at 0.67 sccm , 8.0×10-3 Torr and 700 ˚C, respectively. The film thickness was changed between ~42 and ~160 nm. The structural properties of the NSFO thin films were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The electrical conductivity was measured by the AC impedance method in dry atmosphere in a temperature region from 300 to 700 ˚C. The measurement frequency region was from 0.1 Hz to 32 MHz. In order to probe conducting carriers, the conductivity was measured by changing oxygen gas partial pressure (PO2). The electronic structure was characterized by photoemission spectroscopy (PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The energy resolutions of PES and XAS were 100 and 60 meV, respectively, at hν=1010 eV. The lattice constant of the (112)-oriented thin film increases with increasing film thickness due to relaxation of lattice distortion. The chemical composition of the thin film was confirmed by PES. The electrical conductivity depends on film thickness. The conductivity increases with film thickness in 40~112 nm and decreases in 156 nm. This result is closely related to the lattice constant. The 112 nm thick film exhibits high conductivity and low activation energy (EA) of 0.45 eV. The EA is in a good agreement with the band gap obtained by PES and XAS, indicating the electron conduction. Furthermore, the conductivity above 500 ˚C does not depend on oxygen gas partial pressure, which corresponds to ionic conduction. The above results indicate that the Nd0.6Sr0.4FeO3 thin film has the oxygen ion-electron mixed conduction.

We have prepared b-axis-oriented VO2 thin films by RF magnetron sputtering using oxygen radicals as the reactive gas. The VO2 thin films consist of a mixed-valence V3+/V4+ state formed by oxygen vacancies. The V3+ ratio strongly depends on the film thickness and the oxygen partial pressure of the radical gun during deposition. The lattice constant of the b-axis increases and the metal–insulator transition (MIT) temperature decreases with decreasing V3+ ratio, although the VO2 thin films with a high V3+ ratio of 42% do not exhibit MIT. The bandwidths and spectral weights of V 3d a1g and bands at around the Fermi level, which correspond to the insulating phase at 300 K, are smaller in the VO2 thin films with a low V3+ ratio. These results indicate that the control of the mixed-valence V3+/V4+ state is important for the MIT of b-axis-oriented VO2 thin films.

Anatase TiO2−δ thin film was prepared by RF magnetron sputtering using oxygen radical and Ti-metal target. Degrees of the TiO2−δ crystal orientation in the thin film depends of the oxygen gas pressure ( ) in the radical gun. The (004)- and (112)-oriented TiO2−δ thin films crystallized without postannealing have the mixed valence Ti4+/Ti3+ state. The electrical conductivities, which corresponds to n-type oxide semiconductor, is higher in the case of (004)-oriented TiO2−δ thin film containing with high concentration of oxygen vacancy. The donor band of TiO2−δ thin film is observed at ∼1.0 eV from the Fermi level (E F). The density-of-state at E F is higher in (004)-oriented TiO2−δ thin film. The above results indicate that the oxygen vacancies can control by changing the of the oxygen radical.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined whether ileojejunal transposition (IJT) stimulates the growth of the pancreas or the nontransposed segment of small intestine, and ascertained whether this trophic effect is altered by the location of transposed gut segment. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Transposition of the ileum to the proximal small intestine stimulates a marked mucosal growth of the transposed ileal segment; the cellular mechanisms responsible for this adaptive hyperplasia are not known. METHODS: The distal quarter of the small intestine (distal ileum) was transposed into the proximal (Type I), middle (Type II), or distal (Type III) portions of the remaining small intestine. On postoperative day 28, the pancreas and scraped mucosa from the segments of transposed ileum, proximal ileum, and duodenum were obtained, weighed, and examined for DNA and protein content. RESULTS: All types of IJT increased mucosal weight and DNA content of the transposed ileum. Types I and II IJT produced a significant proliferation of the pancreas and mucosa of the duodenum and proximal ileum. The magnitude of proliferative increases was greatest in Type I IJT. CONCLUSIONS: Ileojejunal transposition appears to be an excellent model to examine the mechanisms by which intestinal epithelial cells proliferate in response to luminal nutrients or humoral factors.

SrTiO3 (STO)-based all-solid-state electric-double-layer transistors (EDLTs) with a Li4SiO4 (LSO) lithium ion conductor (i.e., electrolyte) or Y-stabilized-ZrO2 (YSZ) proton conductor were fabricated. While the LSO device showed significant drain current enhancement at room temperature, the YSZ device needed high temperature to achieve comparable drain current enhancement due to the difference in ionic conductivity between the two electrolytes. Subthreshold swing (S), which is a parameter used to evaluate the steepness of drain current enhancement in field-effect transistors (FETs), was calculated to be 66 and 227 mV/dec, respectively, for LSO and YSZ EDLTs. The 66 mV/dec is very close to the theoretical limit (60 mV/dec) for conventional FETs, indicating that LSO is more suitable for STO-based EDLTs and that the type of solid electrolyte used greatly affects EDLT switching characteristics.

The a- and c-axes-oriented BaCe0.85Ru0.05Y0.10O3−δ (BCRY) thin films have been deposited on Nb-SrTiO3(100) substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. Such BCRY thin films have mixed valence states of Ce4+ and Ce3+. The activation energies (E A) for the conductivity of films thicker than 200 nm are 0.23–0.26 eV, which corresponds to half E A of bulk ceramics, below 400 °C. The BCRY thin films exhibit ion conduction at the bulk region and electron–ion mixed conduction at the surface region. Proton conduction is also observed in the surface state in addition to the mixed conduction. The Fermi levels (E F) locate at the middle position in the band gap region, although E F of the BaCe0.90Y0.10O3−δ thin films locates on the valence band side. These results indicate that the Ru5+ ions and protons act as donor ions in BCRY thin films.

The structural and electrical properties of a c-axis-oriented BaCe0.85Ru0.05Y0.10O3−δ (BCRY) thin film on an Al2O3(0001) substrate depending on film thickness have been studied. The lattice constant of the c-axis decreases with increasing film thickness. The electrical conductivity is higher in the thin film with a small lattice constant. The activation energy (EA) of the dry BCRY thin film with a high conductivity is 0.26 eV, which corresponds to half of that of the bulk ceramic. The BCRY thin film exhibits electron–ion mixed conduction with a small EA of 0.18 eV below 400 °C in H2O atmosphere. The Ce3+ state created by oxygen vacancies, which locates at the top of the valence band, plays an important role in the electron–ion mixed conduction or proton conduction of the BCRY thin film.

Novel 2-alkyl-1-benzotellurepines (11) and 2-alkyl-7-benzoselenepines (12) were obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of di[o-(1-buten-3-ynyl)phenyl] ditellurides (8) and diselenides (9), together with 2-alkylidene-2H-tellurachromenes (13) and 2-alkylidene-2H-selenachromenes (14), respectively, via the phenyltellurol and phenylselenol intermediates (70). The dimers (8, 9) were readily prepared from the 4-alkyl-1-(o-bromophenyl)-1-buten-3-ynes (7) by successive treatment with tert-butyllithium, tellurium or selenium powder, and potassium ferricyanide in one pot. The 2-alkyl-1-benzothiepines (16) were obtained directly from the enynes (7) by successive treatment with tert-butyllithium, sulfur powder, and ethanol in one pot. To examine the chemical behavior of the novel tellurepine ring, several reactions of 2-tert-butyltellurepine (11c) were carried out

A practical computational procedure has been proposed that provides key electronic parameters of a polymer (fundamental bandgap, ionization energy, electron affinity, and intrachain electron and hole mobilities) determining its suitability as a donor or acceptor in organic optoelectronic materials. Series of oligomer calculations at the Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr level with and without a self-contained asymptotic correction using the 6-31G** basis set were performed. The bandgap, ionization energy, and electron affinities of a polymer are extrapolated from those of its oligomers obtained from the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied orbital energies in the Koopmans-like approximation. This scheme has been applied to conjugated polymers having the poly(p-phenylene), poly(thiophene), or poly(pyrrole) backbone as well as to PCBM. The observed values of the electronic parameters have been reproduced within less than 1 eV in most cases. With the predicted values of these parameters, estimates of the open-circuit voltage and drift potential have been made for 22 valid donor-acceptor combinations. Several potentially useful combinations have been identified including the poly(thiophene):PCBM. The electron and hole mobilities have been found to correlate more strongly with the conformation (planarity) than the bandgap, but otherwise do not differ significantly.

Stereocontrolled syntheses of biotin-labeled oligosaccharide portions containing the Galβ1-3GalNAc core of the TES-glycoprotein antigen obtained from larvae of the parasite Toxocara and their analogues have been accomplished. Trisaccharides Fuc2Meα1-2Gal4Meβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (A), Fucα1-2Gal4Meβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (B), Fuc2Meα1-2Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (C), Fucα1-2Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-OR (D) and a disaccharide Fuc2Meα1-2Gal4Meβ1-OR (E) (R = biotinylated probe) were synthesized by block synthesis using 5-(methoxycarbonyl)pentyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1--3)-2-azide-4-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside as a common glycosyl acceptor. We examined the antigenicity of these five oligosaccharides by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results demonstrate that the O-methyl groups in these oligosaccharides are important for their antigenicity and the biotinylated oligosaccharides A, B, C and E have high serodiagnostic potential to detect infections caused by Toxocara larvae.

Background and Aim There is a paucity of data on the cell block (CB) method for bile cytology. We compared the diagnostic efficacy of the CB method with that of conventional smear cytology for bile obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a randomized controlled trial manner. Methods A total of 137 patients with biliary tract lesions suspicious of malignancy who had undergone bile collection under ERCP were recruited to this study. After sampling, the bile was randomized to the CB method (n = 69) or to smear cytology (n = 68). CB sections were prepared using the sodium alginate method and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin, Alcian blue–periodic acid–Schiff stain, and immunohistochemical stains. Both Papanicolaou and Giemsa stains were used for smear cytology. Results The final diagnosis was malignancy in 94 patients: bile duct cancer, 42; pancreatic head cancer, 34; gallbladder cancer, 16; and ampullary cancer, two. The diagnostic accuracy of the CB method and that of smear cytology were 64% and 53%, respectively (P = 0.20). The sensitivity of the CB method (53%) was significantly better than that of smear cytology (28%; P = 0.014). Their respective sensitivities were 80% and 31% (P = 0.002) for bile duct cancer, 20% and 15% (P = 1.0) for pancreatic head cancer, and 30% and 67% (P = 0.30) for gallbladder cancer. Conclusion The CB method for bile cytology showed a higher diagnostic yield than smear cytology. Its diagnostic sensitivity was satisfactory in cases of bile duct cancer.

To elucidate the diagnostic efficacy of the cell block (CB) method by comparing it with that of conventional smear cytology for pancreatic juice obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in a randomized controlled trial fashion. A total of 170 patients with pancreatic lesions suspicious of being malignant who underwent pancreatic juice collection without giving secretin under ERCP were enrolled in this study. After sampling, the pancreatic juice was randomized to the CB method (n = 85) or to smear cytology (n = 85). CB sections were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid Schiff-Alcian blue, and immunohistochemical stains. Both Papanicolaou stain and Giemsa stain were used for smear cytology. The final diagnosis was malignancy in 54 patients: pancreatic cancer, 45; intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma, six; and endocrine tumor, three. The number of patients with a cytological borderline malignancy in the CB group (3.5%) was significantly smaller than that in the smear group (27.1%) (P 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of the CB method and that of smear cytology were 76.5% (65/85) and 74.1% (63/85), respectively (P = 0.72), and their respective sensitivities were 50% (14/28) and 38.5% (10/26) (P = 0.39). The sensitivity of the CB method (88.9%) was better than that of smear cytology (42.9%) for invasive ductal carcinoma in the pancreas head (P = 0.048). The CB method using immunostaining for pancreatic juice cytology showed a much lower rate of equivocal borderline malignancy and a tendency for a higher diagnostic yield compared with smear cytology. Its diagnostic sensitivity, however, was not satisfactory except for pancreatic-head cancer.

The proliferative activity of gut mucosa is increased with aging. Neurotensin (NT), a tridecapeptide localized to the distal small bowel, stimulates growth of gut mucosa; the effects of aging on gut NT are not known. Young (4-mo-old), adult (1-yr-old), and aged (2-yr-old) male Fischer 344 rats were killed; the ileal mucosa was scraped, weighed, and extracted for measurement of NT mRNA by slot-blot and Northern hybridization; and the relative NT transcription rate was determined by a nuclear run-on assay. In addition, NT tissue content and plasma levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, and full-thickness sections of ileum were examined for age-dependent alterations of NT endocrine cell (N-cell) number using immunohistochemical staining. Slot-blot and Northern-blot analyses showed that the steady-state levels of NT mRNA were increased threefold in the adult group and eightfold in the aged rats. In addition, NT peptide content and plasma levels were significantly increased in the aged group. The dramatic increases in the abundance of NT mRNA were not associated with increases in either NT transcription or N-cell number. In summary, we have demonstrated an age-dependent increase in the constitutive levels of ileal NT mRNA that appears not to be due to concomitant increases in transcription, suggesting that NT mRNA is increased by mechanisms involving mainly a posttranscriptional process. In addition, we have shown corresponding increases in the levels of both tissue and plasma NT with aging, indicating that expression of NT does not remain the same throughout life but actually increases with aging in the rat.

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of 2a, 7b-dihydrocyclobuta[b]-1-benzometalloles (6a-e), prepared from the corresponding 1-benzometalloles (3) containing Si, Ge, P, or As via three steps, resulted in valence isomerization with ring-opening to give 1, 1-dimethyl-1-benzosilepine (7a), 1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-benzosilepine (7b), 1, 1-dimethyl-1-benzogermepine (7c), 1-phenyl-1-benzophosphepine 1-oxide (7d), and 1-phenyl-1-benzarsepine 1-oxide (7e). The oxides (7d, e), on treatment with trichlorosilane, underwent deoxygenation to afford 1-phenyl-1-benzophosphepine (7f) and 1-phenyl-1-benzarsepine (7g). The 1-benzometallepines (7a-g) thus obtained are hitherto unknown heterocyclic ring compounds, and their thermal stabilities and several reactions were examined.

The Group 14 (Si, Ge, and Sn), Group 15 (P, As, Sb, and Bi), and Group 16 (Se and Te) 2-trimethylsilyl-1-benzometalloles (7) were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding metal reagents with β, o-dilithio-β-trimethyl-silylstyrene intermediate (6), which was derived from phenylacetylene or o-bromoiodobenzene via three steps. The trimethylsilyl group in 7 could be readily removed by treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride to give the C-unsubstituted 1-banzometalloles (10).

The heterozygous germline mutation of runt-related protein 2 (RUNX2) causes cleidocranial dysplasia. To clarify the involvement of RUNX2 in human osteogenesis, fetal bones and various bone tumors were immunohistochemically examined. During both membranous and endochondral ossification in the fetus (n= 8), RUNX2 was expressed not only in osteoblastic cells but also in surrounding mesenchymal cells and early stage chondrocytes. Such an expression pattern was recapitulated in bone tumors: RUNX2 was unequivocally expressed in osteosarcoma (n= 20) and fibrous dysplasia (n= 10), regardless of the site of occurrence, cell morphology or amount of neoplastic osteoid. RUNX2 expression was limited to less differentiated cells in chondrogenic tumors (n= 20). We further analyzed whether RUNX2 expression was regulated by bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), which is critical for osteoblastic differentiation. With real-time polymerase chain reaction, the RUNX2 mRNA level was correlated with BMP-2 mRNA level, and both levels were significantly higher in three osteosarcoma cell lines than in three chondrosarcoma cell lines. With treatment of recombinant BMP-2, the RUNX2 mRNA level was significantly altered in these cell lines. RUNX2 expression is constitutive in developing and neoplastic human osteogenesis, and is most likely to be regulated by BMP-2.