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We investigate thermal emission from n-doped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells (QWs). Emission peaks with Lorentzian shapes (linewidth 11~19 meV) that reflect transitions between the first and second conduction subbands are observed in the mid-infrared range. It is demonstrated that the emission characteristics can be tuned by modifying the QW parameters. The peak emissivity is increased from 0.3 to 0.9 by modifying the doping density, and the peak wavelength is tuned from 6 to 10 μm by changing the well width. The obtained results are useful for the design of narrow-band thermal emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which characterized residual strain, surface roughness and dislocations of alloy layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy on silicon(001) substrates. Experimental details; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

This paper presents a new algorithmic framework for some basic problems on binary images. Algorithms for binary images such as one of extracting a connected component containing a query pixel and that of connected components labeling play basic roles in image processing. Those algorithms usually use linear work space for efficient implementation. In this paper we propose algorithms for several basic problems on binary images which are efficient in time and space, using space-efficient algorithms for grid graphs. More exactly, some of them run in O ( n log n ) time using O ( 1 ) work space and the others run in O ( n ) or O ( n log n ) time using O ( n ) work space for a binary image of n pixels stored in a read-only array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The remodelling of the adipose tissue by pioglitazone may be associated with the sustained therapeutic effects. We studied the effects of withdrawal of pioglitazone after 3-month treatment on glucose, lipid and high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels as well as liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Forty-nine Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned into the withdrawal group after 3-month treatment with pioglitazone (15 or 30 mg daily) and the non-withdrawal group. Results and discussion: Three-month treatment with pioglitazone improved glycaemic control, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA), dyslipidaemia and liver function tests in association with a marked increase in serum HMW adiponectin level. Three months later after the withdrawal of pioglitazone, however, fasting plasma glucose and HOMA increased, whereas serum HMW adiponectin decreased to the pretreatment levels. Dyslipidaemia also returned to the pretreatment level. On the other hand, liver enzymes at 3 months after the withdrawal remained lower after a mild rebound. In addition, the bone formation marker, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, was significantly reduced by pioglitazone treatment in post-menopausal women. Conclusions: The present study suggests that 3-month treatment with pioglitazone has no sustained beneficial effects except in liver function tests in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify possible differences in the cytokine/chemokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children with encephalopathy and febrile seizure. Interleukin (IL)-1β, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β were measured simultaneously in CSF supernatants from children with encephalopathy ( n = 8), febrile seizure ( n = 16) and fever without neurological complications ( n = 8). IL-8 in CSF from children with encephalopathy was significantly elevated compared to that in CSF from children with febrile seizure and fever without neurological complications. IL-8 in CSF was also higher than serum IL-8, suggesting that increased IL-8 was generated from glia cells or astrocytes, not by leakage from serum. Increased IL-8 in CSF in encephalopathy may protect against severe brain damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates the expression of genes that mediate cell survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis and is aberrantly activated in various types of malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We examined whether it could be a novel therapeutic target for RCC by using the STAT3 inhibitor WP1066.Methods: The antitumour activities and related mechanisms of WP1066 were investigated in vitro on renal cancer cell lines and in vivo on murine xenografts.Results: In Caki-1 and 786-O renal cancer cells, 5 muM WP1066 prevented the phosphorylation of STAT3, and 2.5 muM WP1066 significantly (P<0.01) inhibited cell survival and proliferation. WP1066 suppressed the expression of Bcl-2, induced apoptosis, and inhibited the basal and hypoxia-induced expression of HIF1alpha and HIF2alpha, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor secretion into cell culture medium. Human umbilical vascular endothelial cells cocultured with media from WP1066-treated cells showed significantly reduced tubulogenesis (P<0.05). Systemic oral administration of WP1066 to mice for 19 days significantly inhibited the growth of Caki-1 xenograft tumours (P<0.05), and pathological analysis of xenografts of WP1066-treated mice showed decreased immunostaining of phosphorylated STAT3 and reduced length of CD34-positive vessels (P<0.05).Conclusion: Our results suggest that using WP1066 to inhibit the STAT3 signalling pathway could be a novel therapeutic strategy against RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug resistance continues to be a serious problem in cancer therapy. We investigated whether indomethacin, which inhibits cyclooxygenases, is able to overcome doxorubicin resistance in K562/ADR leukemia cells. Indomethacin at 10 microM increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and vincristine in K562/ADR cells. Intracellular glutathione content was elevated in K562/ADR cells. Indomethacin treatment decreased glutathione content and glutathione-conjugates in K562/ADR cells. Increased expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) was observed in K562/ADR cells, but this expression was decreased by indomethacin treatment. The activity of the gamma-GCS promoter from K562/ADR cells decreased after indomethacin treatment in MDA231 cells. These data strongly suggest that the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin increases the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin by decreasing the intracellular contents of glutathione and its conjugates with decreasing expression of gamma-GCS by inhibiting gamma-GCS promoter activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to study the three-dimensional (3D) effects of the source current and the electromagnetic (EM) pulse on the distribution of upper atmospheric electric field and ionization created. A new lightning model has been employed; i.e., we have included a horizontal channel in addition to the conventional vertical channel. The effects of the horizontal lightning channel are summarized as follows: (1) the effect of a vertical channel plays a fundamental role in the whole view of sprite initiation; (2) the position of a sprite is shifted from the position of its parent vertical channel in response to the length of a horizontal channel; and (3) we observe very fine structures with local maxima and minima in the “reduced” electric field (the electric field divided by the neutral gas density). These theoretical inferences are discussed and compared with the observational facts so far reported (such as lateral shift of sprites, morphological difference of sprites, etc.). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, has three proPO genes ( DoxA1, CG8193 and CG2952). DoxA1 has been shown to encode proPO A1, one of the two proPO isoforms (A1 and A3). However, which of CG8193 or CG2952 encodes proPO A3 has so far remained elusive. In Northern analysis, CG8193 expression was strong during the larval stage, yet expression of CG2952 was not detected at any stage. Immunoblot analyses with specific antibodies detected CG8193 in the larval hemolymph at the mobility of the endogenous proPO A3, though no signal for CG2952. These results indicate that the expression of CG2952 is very low and that CG8193 is the gene that encodes proPO A3. Processing of A1 and A3 isoforms in adult homogenate and activity of recombinant proPOs were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a high-strength Ta-reinforced Nb3Sn conductor for high-magnetic-field magnets. In our previous work, it was demonstrated that the Ta-reinforced Nb3Sn conductor had good characteristics against mechanical stress and strain. In this study, we made a 2-D calculation code for a stress-strain analysis, and derived the stress and strain of the magnet using some physical values such as the Young's modulus of the conductors, magnet dimensions and so on. According to the calculation results of some model magnets, the Ta-reinforced Nb3Sn conductor could be used without extra support structures. Hence, the conductors are fit for high-magnetic-field and large-scale magnets such as NMR and SMES magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tsukuba Magnet Laboratory (TML) and the High Field Laboratory for Superconducting Materials collaborated on the design study of a 50 T-class hybrid magnet. The highest fields of the hybrid magnet were examined with the existing 15 MW DC source at the TML used for the resistive insert magnet. The strength of the Cu-Ag wire exceeds 1400 MPa in ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Several upper-design stresses corresponding to the Cu-Ag wire strength were placed on Bitter disks to evaluate the resistive insert. The design was conducted with two inner radii, 29 mm and 19 mm. Resistive insert magnets are consist of three-layered coaxial Bitter coils operated with the 20 T outer superconducting magnet with a room temperature bore of ~400 mm. In this hybrid magnet, a UTS of 1200 MPa is needed for the Bitter disks of the resistive insert to generate 46 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new on-chip microwave generator for manipulating superconductive quantum bits (qubits) have been proposed. To perform practical quantum computation, on-chip microwave generators, which can be controlled by single flux quantum (SFQ) circuits, are desirable because multiple qubits can be driven simultaneously with high accuracy by an SFQ control circuit and the number of wires between qubits and room-temperature electronics can be reduced. The proposed on-chip microwave generator is composed of an SFQ clock generator, which generates a periodic SFQ pulse train, and a band-pass filter. A sinusoidal microwave can be obtained by filtering an output of the SFQ clock generator. Simulation results indicate that the generated microwave has a sharp spectrum, which can be chopped by controlling the SFQ clock generator. Moreover, a phase of the generated microwave can be accurately controlled by adding a phase control circuit, which is composed of cascaded toggle flip-flops, between the SFQ clock generator and the filter. The results indicate that we can perform fast and accurate quantum gate operations using the proposed on-chip microwave generator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Growth of secondary plasmodia of the clubroot pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae was studied in dual culture of P. brassicae and turnip suspension cells. Suspension culture of P. brassicae-infected turnip cells was achieved by using P. brassicae-infected callus in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0·1 mg 2,4-D L−1 and 0·02 mg kinetin L−1. The shape of secondary plasmodia in suspension cells was spherical-to-subspherical. A few young plasmodia divided and became numerous spherical, small plasmodia which eventually formed a plasmodial cluster. The plasmodia fused and became vegetative plasmodia. Infected cells were significantly larger than noninfected cells. Secondary plasmodia moved within transformed turnip suspension host cells by cytoplasmic streaming of the host cells. Secondary plasmodia divided in synchrony with the transformed turnip cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is attributable to several mechanisms, including alteration of topoisomerase IIa gene expression. Our previous studies have shown that transient transfection with a vector containing either Drosophila or human topoisomerase IIalpha gene into drug-resistant tumor cells enhanced their drug sensitivity. Furthermore, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus, Ad-hTopoIIalpha, containing the human topoisomerase IIa gene that was able to selectively increase etoposide sensitivity in drug-resistant tumor cells. We also examined Ad-hTopoIIalpha for therapeutic efficacy in vitro using additional etoposide-resistant cell lines, including a mouse breast cancer cell line and a human leukemia cell line. The etoposide-resistant mouse breast cancer cell line FvP, which is derived from FM3A, and etoposide-resistant human breast cancer cell line, MDA-VP, which derived from MDA-P cells showed increased sensitivity to etoposide as well as increased expression of human Topoisomerase IIa mRNA, but this was not seen in FM3A and MDA-P cells. On the other hand, the etoposide-resistant human leukemia cell line K562/MX2 and the parental cell line K562/P did not show enhanced sensitivity against etoposide or an increase in human Topoisomerase IIa mRNA. Using a recombinant adenovirus containing beta-galactosidase gene (Ad-beta-gal), K562 cells were not transducted by the recombinant adenovirus, while both etoposide-sensitive FM3A cells and etoposide resistant FvP cells were transducted by recombinant adenovirus. Ad-hTOP2alpha and etopside treatment showed reduced inoculated tumor weight in the mice. We concluded that a recombinant adenovirus containing the human Topoisomerase IIalpha gene might be a powerful tool for overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer cells, but not in leukemia cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KRN 8602 (MX2) is a novel morpholino anthracycline derivative having the chemical structure 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino-13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin hydrochloride. To investigate the mechanisms of resistance to MX2, we established an MX2-resistant phenotype (K562/MX2) of the human myelogeneous leukaemia cell line (K562/P), by continuously exposing a suspension culture to increasing concentrations of MX2. K562/MX2 cells were more resistant to MX2 than the parent cells, and also showed cross-resistance to etoposide and doxorubicin. Topoisomerase (Topo) IIalpha protein levels in K562/MX2 cells were lower of those in K562/P cells on immunoblot analysis and decreased expression of Topo IIalpha mRNA was seen in K562/MX2 cells. Topoisomerase II catalytic activity was also reduced in the nuclear extracts from K562/MX2 cells when compared with K562/P cells. Aberrant methylated CpG of Topo IIalpha gene was observed in K562/MX2 cells when compared with the parent line on methylation-specific restriction enzyme analysis. To overcome the drug resistance to MX2 and etoposide, we investigated treatment with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5AZ), which is a demethylating agent, in K562/MX2 cells. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment increased Topo IIalpha mRNA expression in K562/MX2 cells, but not in K562/P cells, and increased the cytotoxicity of MX2 and etoposide. Methylated CpG was decreased in K562/MX2 cells after 5AZ treatment. We concluded that the mechanism of drug resistance to MX2 and etoposide in K562/MX2 cells might be the combination of decreased expression of Topo IIalpha gene and increased methylation, and that 5AZ could prove to be a novel treatment for etoposide-resistant cell lines, such as K562/MX2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing urbanization has resulted in an uneven distribution of population, industries, and water in urban areas; thus, imposing unprecedented pressures on water supplies and water pollution control. These pressures are exacerbated during the periods of drought and climatic uncertainties. The purpose of this paper is to summarize emergence of water reclamation, recycling and reuse as a vital component of sustainable water resources in the context of integrated water resources management in urban and rural areas. Water quality requirements and health and public acceptance issues related to water reuse are also discussed. Reclaimed water is a locally controllable water resource that exists right at the doorstep of the urban environment, where water is needed the most and priced the highest. Closing the water cycle loop not only is technically feasible in agriculture, industries, and municipalities but also makes economic sense. Society no longer has the luxury of using water only once. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that exchange transfusion with liposomal hemoglobin (LH) reduces the microheterogeneity of regional myocardial flows while sustaining cardiac function. Neo Red Cell mixed with albumin was used as the LH solution, in which the LH volume fraction was 17∼18% and hemoglobin density was nearly two-thirds smaller than in rat blood. Regional myocardial flows in left ventricular free walls were measured by tracer digitalradiography (100-μm resolution) in anesthetized rats with or without 50% blood-ER exchange transfusion. Within-layer flow distributions showed lower heterogeneity with (n = 8) than without (n = 8) LH transfusion. No extravasation of hemoglobin was confirmed by 3,3-diaminobenzidin staining (n = 2). Carotid flow increased by 68% due to LR transfusion, whereas arterial pressure and heart rate remained unchanged. On the other hand, cross-circulated rat hearts (n = 7) were used to evaluate the effects of 50% blood-ER exchange on coronary flow and tone preservation under 300-beats/mm pacing and l00-mmHg perfusion pressure. Blood-LR exchange caused a 71% increase of coronary flow and 10% decrease of percent flow increase during hyperemia after 30-s flow interruption. Myocardial O2 supply and consumption increased by 9% and 10%, respectively, whereas myocardial O2 extraction remained unchanged. The large increases of in vivo carotid flow and coronary flow in cross-circulated hearts due to LH coperfusion could be explained by the reduction of apparent flow viscosity. These results suggest that under LH coperfusion, the microheterogeneity of myocardial flows decreases with increased coronary flow while fairly preserving coronary tone and cardiac function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective IgA deficiency is the most common form of primary immunodeficiency, the molecular basis of which is unknown. To investigate the cause of selective IgA deficiency, we examined what stage of B-cell differentiation was blocked. DNA and RNA were extracted from three Japanese patients with selective IgA deficiency and three with a partial IgA deficiency. In selective IgA deficiency patients, I α germline transcript expression levels decreased and α circle transcripts were not detected. Stimulation with PMA and TGF- β1 up-regulated I α germline and α circle transcripts. In some patients, IgA secretion was induced by stimulation with anti-CD40, IL-4 and IL-10. In partial IgA deficiency patients, I α germline, α circle transcripts and C α mature transcripts were detected in the absence of stimulation. Our findings suggest that the decreased expression level of I α germline transcripts before a class switch might be critical for the pathogenesis of some patients with selective IgA deficiency. However, in patients with a partial IgA deficiency, B-cell differentiation might be disturbed after a class switch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

summary This study evaluated the mandibular condyle displacement on the working side while masticating certain foods with different textures. For referencing the mandibular condyle movement, the range of voluntary border movement of the mandibular condyle was determined based on the analysis of the sagittal, left lateral and right lateral border motion using Posselt's figure. The test foods consisted of cheese, peanuts, and beef jerky. During mastication of cheese and peanuts, the amount of displacement of the mandibular condyle in all directions was within the range of border movement. Significant posterior and superior shifts of the mandibular condyle were observed during mastication of beef jerky, compared with the findings obtained during border movement. Accordingly, it is suggested that prolonged mastication of hard fibrous foods, may stimulate the temporomandibular joint structure and mandibular dysfunction patients should limit their intake of such foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents how the space of spheres and shelling may be used to delete a point from a d-dimensional triangulation efficiently. In dimension two, if k is the degree of the deleted vertex, the complexity is O(k log k), but we notice that this number only applies to low cost operations, while time consuming computations are only done a linear number of times. This algorithm may be viewed as a variation of Heller's algorithm,[sup 1,2] which is popular in the geographic information system community. Unfortunately, Heller algorithm is false, as explained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let π(a, b) denote the shortest path between two points a, b inside a simple polygon P, which totally lies in P. The geodesic distance between a and b in P is defined as the length of π(a, b), denoted by gd(a, b), in contrast with the Euclidean distance between a and b in the plane, denoted by d(a, b). Given two disjoint polygons P and Q in the plane, the bridge problem asks for a line segment (optimal bridge) that connects a point p on the boundary of P and a point q on the boundary of Q such that the sum of three distances gd(p', p), d(p, q) and gd(q, q'), with any p' ∈ P and any q' ∈ Q, is minimized. We present an O(n log³ n) time algorithm for finding an optimal bridge between two simple polygons. This significantly improves upon the previous O(n²) time bound. Our result is obtained by making substantial use of a hierarchical structure that consists of segment trees, range trees and persistent search trees, and a structure that supports dynamic ray shooting and shortest path queries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering experimental results obtained on three prototype compounds, TMMC, CsCoCl 3 (or CsCoBr 3 ), and Cu Benzoate, we discuss the importance of non-linear excitations in the physics of quantum (and classical) antiferromagnetic spin chains. soliton dyons spinons breathers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G proteins play important roles in transmembrane signal transduction, and various isoforms of each subunit, α, β and γ, are highly expressed in the brain. The Gγ[sub 5] subunit is a minor isoform in the adult brain, but we have previously shown it to be highly expressed in the proliferative region of the ventricular zone in the rat embryonic brain. We show here that Gγ[sub 5] is also selectively localized in a proliferative region in the adult rat brain, including the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and rostral migratory stream. The Gα[sub i2] subunit colocalized with Gγ[sub 5] in these regions, the two subunits being present in neuronal precursors and ependymal cells but not in proliferating astrocytes. In addition, intense staining of Gγ[sub 5] was seen in axons of the olfactory neurons, which are known to regenerate. These results suggest specific roles for Gγ[sub 5] in precursor cells during neurogenesis so that this isoform might be a useful biological marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated, by Northern blotting, ELISA, and a chemotaxis assay, the expression of IL-8 mRNA, the production of IL-8 protein, and the biological activity of mononuclear cells (MNC), polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and plasma, respectively, from patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). IL-8 mRNA expression by MNC and PMN, the level of IL-8 protein, and the neutrophil chemoattractant activity within plasma were all increased in the acute phase of KD, and were significantly elevated following IVIG therapy. The level of chemotactic activity of neutrophils, but not that of monocytes, in response to F-met-leu-phe was decreased in patients with KD after IVIG. The increased expression of IL-8 in PMN and MNC, the increased plasma level of IL-8 and the decreased level of neutrophil chemotactic activity of the patients who received IVIG therapy might inhibit the accumulation of neutrophils at the sites of inflammation, and may thus reduce the risk of aneurysm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the art gallery problem restricted to edge guards and straight walkable polygons. An edge guard is the guard that patrols individual edges of the polygon. A simple polygon P is called straight walkable if there are two vertices s and t in P and we can move two points montonically on two polygonal chains of P from s to t, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise, such that two points are always mutually visible. For instance, monotone polygons and spiral polygons are straight walkable. We show that └(n+2)/5┘ edge guards are always sufficient to watch and n-vertex gallery of this type. Furthermore, we also show that if the given polygon is straight walkable and rectilinear, then └(n+3)/6┘ edge guards are sufficient. Both of our upper bounds match the known lower bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD4+ cells from autoimmune-prone C57BL/6 lpr/lpr mice contain two subpopulations. B220- CD4+ and B220+CD4+ cells. Highly purified B220- CD4+ cells from C57BL/6 +/+ and lpr/lpr mice were examined by comparing functional characteristics and expression of cell surface antigens and T cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 complex. Both lpr B220+CD4+ and B220+CD4- CD8- cells, most of which were PgP-1 positive, expressed TcR/CD3 complex on the cell surface at lower level as compared with B220- CD4+ cells of age-matched normal mice. In addition, the B220- CD4+ cells were heterogeneous on the basis of surface expression of PgP-1 and CD3 antigens. Normal levels of TcR Cα-. Cβ- and Vβ8-specific mRNA were found in the B220-CD4+ cells and B220+CD4+ cells as compared with normal B220+CD4+ cells, while Vβ8-specific mRNA was preferentially expressed only by B220+CD4--CD8- cells. Either B220+CD4+ cells and B220+CD4- CD8- cells failed to respond to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) as assessed by proliferative responses and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). However, appreciable levels of reactivity to anti-CD3 MoAb were detected in the B220- CD4+ cells, although the responsiveness of this subset to such stimuli were reduced, compared with those of normal control. These results indicate that the B220- CD4+ cells in lpr mice are phenotypically and functionally distinct from normal B220-CD4+ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune-prone mice homozygous for the 1pr gene develop prominent lymphadenopathy composed mainly of Thy-1+ CD8- CD4- B220+ cells. Expression patterns of B220vsCD4 on lymph node cells from 1pr mice were analysed using two-colour flow microfluorometry. B220+CD4+ cells, which were hardly seen in lymph nodes of B6-+ / + mice, increased significantly in B6-lpr mice with ageing. Functional analysis of purified B220+ CD4+ cells from 1pr mice revealed that these cells scarcely responded to T cell mitogens with or without rIL-2. Furthermore, B220+ CD4+ cells were defective in IL-2 production when cultured with Con A. On the other hand, B220-CD4+ cells from B6-lpr mice showed an ability to respond to T cell mitogens similar to that of B220- CD4+ cells from B6-+/+ mice. These results indicate that an unusual T cell subset expressing both B220 and CD4 in 1pr mice is functionally defective, but the intrinsic ability of B220- CD4+ cells is almost intact as compared with the counterpart in normal mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents research that modified the rabbit equivalent of the erythroid-type transporter, GLUT1, using complementary DNA to code for a deletion mutant that lacks most of the intracellular C-terminal domain. Methods; Results; Discussion.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to fabricate the planar type patch clamp ion-channel biosensor, which is suitable for the high throughput screening, using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The micropore with 1.2 μm diameter is formed through the top Si layer and the SiO2 box layer of the SOI substrate by focused ion beam (FIB). Then the substrate is assembled into the microfluidic circuit. The human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cell transfected with transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is positioned on the micropore and the whole-cell configuration is formed by the suction. Capsaicin is added to the extracellular solution as a ligand molecule, and the channel current showing the desensitization unique to TRPV1 is measured successfully. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although many reports have described laparoscopic minor liver resections, major hepatic resection, including right or left lobectomy, has not been widely developed because of technical difficulties. This article describes a new technique for performing laparoscopy-assisted right or left hepatic lobectomy using hilar Glissonean pedicle transection. Laparoscopic mobilization of the right or left hepatic lobe is performed, including dissection of the round, faliciform, triangular, and coronary ligaments. The right or left Glissonean pedicle is encircled and divided laparoscopically. A parenchymal dissection is then performed though the upper median or right subcostal incision, through which the resected liver is removed. We successfully performed this procedure in 6 patients without blood transfusion or serious complications. Laparoscopy-assisted hepatic lobectomy using hilar Glissonean pedicle transection can be feasible and safe in highly selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We studied the magnetic transition of Mn1+ δ As1− x Sb x after various heat treatments. It was found that quenching from a melted state and subsequent annealing give a sharp magnetic transition in the present system. The peaks of the magnetic entropy change, , in 0–5T have almost the same high value of about 34J/Kkg for . The origin of large will be discussed from the thermodynamical point of view. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High-power blue-violet laser diodes with aspect ratio as low as 2.3 and threshold current down to 33 mA have been realized. The relationship between threshold current and optical confinement factor was investigated in order to minimize the beam divergence angle perpendicular to the junction plane (θ[sub ⊥]). θ[sub ⊥] was found to decrease with reduction of the optical confinement factor, whereas threshold current density increased. A new layer structure, in which a p-typed cladding layer was located next to an AlGaN electron blocking layer, and a GaInN guiding layer was inserted between the active and the AlGaN electron blocking layer, was effective for obtaining small θ[sub ⊥] while maintaining low threshold current. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improvement of an all-optical modulation scheme that utilizes an intersubband transition is proposed and investigated in connection with intersubband carrier relaxation dynamics. N-doped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells are pumped by an ultrashort (∼120 fs) intersubband-resonant pulse and probed by an interband-resonant white-light continuum. Ultrafast modulation speed of ∼0.4 ps is demonstrated, which is faster than that of the previous scheme by as much as a factor of 10. It is found that a large part of the carriers, which are excited from the first conduction subband to the second conduction subband, transfer to unknown trapping states at a relaxation time that is comparable to that of the pump–pulse duration. The existence of the carrier relaxation path via L valley subbands is strongly suggested as the cause. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a case report on a patient with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC). Medical history and clinical manifestations of the patient; Improvement in the daily activities of the patient using a portable ventilator; Information on SEDC.

Y-Ba-Cu-O films were deposited on Al-coated Si substrates by the plasma-spray method. The Al buffer layer appears to be effective in yielding crack-free adhesive Y-Ba-Cu-O films. Resistance measurements indicate that the films exhibit a superconducting phase below 90 K. Results of x-ray microanalysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm that the Al buffer forms an Al2O3 layer and prevents precipitation of Cu at the film/substrate interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on 11 March 2011, radioactive materials were released into the atmosphere resulting in environmental contamination. Following the implementation of environmental decontamination efforts, the Radiation Dose Registration Centre of the Radiation Effects Association established the radiation dose registration system for decontamination and related workers to consolidate and prevent the loss of radiation records. This article presents statistics on the radiation doses of decontamination and related workers using official records. Since approximately 10 years have passed since the accident in Fukushima, the types of work conducted in the affected restricted areas have changed over time. Therefore, changes in radiation dose for each type of work and comparisons with nuclear workers are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creep behavior and elastic properties of cold-drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films, annealed in the range 60–240 °C have been investigated by means of microindentation testing. Two indentation methods have been used. The imaging method has been employed to examine the viscoplastic properties of the polymer materials while the depth-sensing method was used for the determination of Young's modulus values. The creep behavior (plastic flow) of cold-drawn PET is shown to be intimately correlated to the nanostructural changes occurring upon annealing. The observed decrease in the rate of creep, when the glassy material is annealed at 60 7°C, has been associated with the emerging smectic structure, which confers to the material a higher mechanical performance. The elastic properties of the smectic phase are found to be comparable to those of the glassy state. Young's modulus E values of the semicrystalline samples are discussed in light of the parallel model of crystalline and amorphous layers. E values are shown to depend on the crystalline lamellar thickness and the degree of crystallinity. Results suggest that Young's modulus values of the amorphous constrained regions within the crystals are higher than the E value of the fully amorphous material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We studied the magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) of Mn1+ δ As1− x Sb x by direct measurements. It is found that the adiabatic temperature change of x=0.1 and 0.3 is about 10K in a field change of 5T. These results directly demonstrate giant MCEs of Mn1+ δ As1− x Sb x . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]