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Purpose The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact on clinical outcomes resulting from re-irradiation for locally recurrent (LR) brain metastases (BM) using CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Materials and methods Seventy-seven patients with 254 LR BM lesions treated using SRS re-irradiation between January 2014 and December 2018 were analysed in this retrospective study. The local control (LC), overall survival (OS) rates, and adverse events were assessed. The adverse events were classified according to the Common terminology for adverse event (CTCAE) v5.0. Results The median follow-up duration was 8.9 months. The median age of the patients was 55 years (IQR: 47–62). The 3, 6, and 9-month LC and OS rates were 92.2%, 73.4%, and 73.4% and 79.2%, 61.0%, and 48.1%, respectively. On multivariate analysis the gender (male vs. female; HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.06–3.01; P = 0.028), type of first brain radiation (WBI vs. SRS) followed by re-irradiation using SRS (HR, 9.32; 95% CI, 2.77–15.27; P 12cc vs. ≤ 12cc; HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.10–3.11; P = 0.02), and recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) (I vs. II & III; HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.19–0.70; P = 0.001) were independent predictive factor for OS. Radionecrosis was reported in 3 patients. Conclusion With acceptable toxicity, SRS re-irradiation for LR BM showed a favourable rate for LC and OS and reported better OS for the female gender, a patient undergoing first brain radiation with SRS, tumour volume ≤ 12cc, and RPA-I. This result needs to be further evaluated in future clinical studies.

Acid-sensing ion channel 4 (ASIC4) belongs to the ASIC gene family of neuronal proton-gated cation channels, and is the least understood subtype among the members. Previous studies of ASIC4 expression in the mammalian central nervous system have shown that ASIC4 is abundantly expressed in the spinal cord and in various brain regions, such as the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and the cerebellum. However, the detailed distribution of ASIC4 transcripts in mammalian brains still remains to be elucidated. In the present study, radioactive in situ hybridization histochemistry with an ASIC4-specific cRNA probe was performed on wild-type mouse brains, followed by X-gal staining experiments with Asic4-lacZ reporter mice Asic4tm1a(KOMP)Mbp. It was found that ASIC4 mRNAs were widely expressed throughout the wild-type brain, but preferentially concentrated in the olfactory bulb, the piriform cortex, the caudate putamen, the preoptic area, the paraventricular nucleus, the medial habenular nucleus, the pretectal area, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the amygdaloid complex, the superior colliculus, the interpeduncular nucleus, and the granule cell layer of the ventral hippocampus, and these results were in agreement with the X-gal-positive reactions observed in the mutant brain. In addition, X-gal staining combined with immunohistochemistry identified intense signals for ASIC4 transcriptional activity in most of the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive principal neurons located in the basal forebrain cholinergic nuclei. Our data provide useful information to speculate possible roles of ASIC4 in diverse brain functions.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that emit less carbon dioxide have attracted much attention and rapidly become widespread, but further popularization of HEVs requires further technical advancement of mounted traction motors. Accordingly, our research group focuses on axial gap motors that can realize high torque density. In this paper, an axial gap motor with a novel interior permanent magnet (IPM) rotor structure is proposed and an examination of the proposed motor at the actual motor size of an HEV is presented. For comparison, we selected the newest radial gap-type 60 kW IPM synchronous motor equipped in the third-generation Toyota Prius. Under the condition that the size of the proposed motor be the same as the comparison motor, we confirmed through three-dimensional finite-element analysis that the proposed motor could output twice the maximum torque of the comparison motor. In addition, a comparison was made with a previously reported conventional IPM-type axial gap motor, and the proposed motor was found to be more effective in generating reluctance torque. Moreover, the proposed motor exhibited sufficient durability to irreversible demagnetization of the permanent magnets, to stress caused by rotating the rotor, and to unbalanced electromagnetic forces caused by axial rotor eccentricity.

Pseudomonas cichorii strain SPC9018 harbours hrp genes that encode a type III secretion system. The hrp mutants have reduced virulence on lettuce and lose virulence on aubergine. Of the hrp genes, the B3 gene (B3) is located next to hrpW, encoding a harpin, and is predicted to encode a small (12 kDa) acidic (pI = 5·21) chaperone. In this study, involvement of the two genes in SPC9018 virulence was analysed. An hrpW-mutant (CWN1) and a B3-deleted mutant (ΔB3) of SPC9018 lacked virulence on aubergine and had reduced virulence on lettuce. Furthermore, both mutants also lost their ability to induce the hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco leaves. The phenotypes were similar to those of the hrpL-deficient mutant (SPC9018-L). Transformation of CWN1 and ΔB3 with the plasmid containing hrpW and B3, respectively, originating from SPC9018 restored their virulence and ability to induce the HR in tobacco leaves. The population of CWN1 drastically decreased in aubergine following inoculation. In contrast, the population of ΔB3 was retained after inoculation, which was similar to that observed with SPC9018-L. RT-PCR analysis showed that hrpW and B3 are transcribed as a single transcript and its expression is dependent on HrpL. The two-hybrid analysis showed association of HrpW with the B3 protein. Therefore, HrpW can be implicated in the virulence of P. cichorii and its ability to induce the HR in tobacco, with some assistance from the B3 protein, probably acting as a chaperone.

This paper reports formally the occurrence and describes the damages by Semiaphis dauci (Fabricius, 1775) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphididae, Aphidinae, Macrosiphini) on arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) (Apiaceae) in Brazil. The infestation was initially noted on April/2002 at Núcleo de Produção de Mudas, Departamento de Sementes Mudas e Matrizes, Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento, São Bento do Sapucaí, State of São Paulo. Posteriorly the occurrence was detected in other parts of the municipality of São Bento do Sapucaí such as Serrano, Paiol Grande and Cantagalo, being the incidence higher in localities at lower altitudes. The colonies, with large number of individuals, were settled on both sides of the leaves and also hidden under petiole, but with lower number of specimens. The adult plants were underdeveloped and the growing of aphid colonies induced the blossoming. In the seedlings the symptoms were severer with reduction in the development and death of plants. When the colonies were placed in the dorsal side of the leaves, there was a tendency to wrinkling and rolling to upper side that was used as shelter by the aphids. Morphological characterization, illustrations and notes on biology of .. dauci and a survey of the Arthropoda related with .. xanthorrhiza are also presented. RESUMO Este trabalho efetua o registro formal de ocorrência e descreve os danos de Semiaphis dauci (Fabricius, 1775) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphididae, Aphidinae, Macrosiphini) em cultura de mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) (Apiaceae) no Brasil. A infestação foi observada, inicialmente, em abril/2002, no Núcleo de Produção de Mudas, Departamento de Sementes Mudas e Matrizes, Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral, Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento, São Bento do Sapucaí, SP. Posteriormente, a ocorrência foi detectada em outras localidades do município como Serrano, Paiol Grande e Cantagalo sendo que a incidência foi maior nas áreas de menor altitude. As colônias estavam localizadas em ambas as faces das folhas, e em menor número no pecíolo escondidas na bainha da folha. As plantas adultas apresentavam subdesenvolvimento e o aumento das colônias induzia o florescimento. Nas mudas os sintomas foram mais severos com redução no desenvolvimento e posterior morte das plantas. Quando havia formação de colônias na superfície superior das fo-lhas, havia tendência de encarquilhamento e enrolamento para cima, servindo de abrigo para os pulgões. Caracterização morfológica, ilustrações, notas sobre a biologia de .. dauci e levantamento dos Arthropoda relacionados com .. xanthorrhiza também são apresentados.

In order to develop a method for discrimination of Corynespora cassiicola isolates pathogenic to sweet pepper among Japanese isolates, this study analysed pathogenic variations of 64 Japanese isolates of C. cassiicola on perilla, cucumber, tomato, aubergine and sweet pepper, and their multigene phylogeny. Japanese isolates were divided into seven pathogenicity groups (PG1–PG7). The virulence of isolates in PG1–PG5 was restricted to perilla, cucumber, tomato, aubergine and sweet pepper, respectively. Isolates in PG6 were virulent to sweet pepper, tomato and aubergine. Isolates in PG7 were avirulent to all tested plants. Multigene phylogenetic analysis of the isolates based on β-tubulin, translation elongation factor 1-α, calmodulin and actin genes showed three divergent clusters, MP-A, MP-B and MP-C. These clusters included all isolates in PG1, PG2, PG8 and PG9 (MP-A), PG3 and PG5 (MP-B) and PG4 and PG6 (MP-C). Isolates in PG7 were distributed amongst all clusters. Furthermore, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using universal primers, Q17 (5′-GAAGCCCTTG-3′) and Q13 (5′-GGAGTGGACA-3′), facilitated discrimination of isolates virulent on sweet pepper amongst isolates in MP-B and MP-C, respectively. Together, a combination of the multigene analysis and the RAPD technique allowed the discrimination of the isolates virulent to sweet pepper.

The Large Helical Device (LHD) achieves high-performance plasma confinement by the coordination of the magnetic surface region and the chaotic field line layer. It is theoretically and experimentally shown that drift surfaces exist for highly energetic particles being extended over the last closed flux surface (LCFS) in the LHD. These particles are considered lost particles due to the loss-cone in the previous theories, where the analyses are limited inside the LCFS. The present theory predicts that the loss-cone is strongly reduced in the LHD and that highly energetic particles confined over the LCFS exist. These are consistent with the LHD experimental results in both the ICRF heating experiments and the low magnetic field neutral beam injection heating experiments. From particle orbit analyses and studies on the connection length of diverter field lines, it is also shown that plasma can exist in the chaotic field line layer located outside the LCFS in the LHD. The plasma in the chaotic field line layer is clearly detected by CCD-cameras in the LHD experiment. This ambient plasma might be expected to play the role of a kind of impregnable barrier for the core plasma, which suppresses both the MHD instabilities and the cooling of the core plasma due to charge exchange processes. The line-tying effects of diverter field lines that are slipped out from the chaotic field line layer can also stabilize the ballooning mode and the vertical displacement events of the plasma column.

Following the 19th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (Lyon, 2002), (1) three-time progress in the formation of ion-confining potential heights c including a record of 2.1 kV in comparison to those attained 1992–2002 is achieved for tandem-mirror plasmas in the hot-ion mode with ion temperatures of several kiloelectronvolts. (2) The advance in the potential formation gives the bases for finding the remarkable effects of radially produced shear of electric fields Er, or non-uniform sheared plasma rotation on the suppression of intermittent vortex-like turbulent fluctuations. (i) Such a shear effect is visually highlighted by x-ray tomography diagnostics; that is, spatially and temporally intermittent vortex-like fluctuated structures are clearly observed as two-dimensionally reconstructed visual structures for the first time in kiloelectronvolt order ion-cyclotron heated plasmas having a weak shear in GAMMA 10. (ii) However, during the application of plug electron-cyclotron heatings (ECH), the associated potential rise produces a stronger shear (dEr/dr = several 10 kV m−2) resulting in the disappearance of such intermittent turbulent vortices with plasma confinement improvement. X-ray observations also show elongation of a vortex structure from a circular into an ellipsoidal shape, as depicted in H-mode theories, with an outward shift. (3) For the physics interpretations and control of such potential and the associated shear formation, the validity of our proposed theory of the potential formation is extensionally tested under the conditions with auxiliary heating. The data described above fit well to the extended surfaces calculated from our proposed consolidated theory of the strong ECH theory (plateau formation) with Pastukhov's theory on energy confinement.

Standard diagnostics for fundamental plasma parameters and for plasma physics are routinely utilized for daily operation and physics studies in the large helical device (LHD) with high reliability. Diagnostics for steady-state plasma are under intensive development, especially for Te, ne (yttrium–aluminium garnet (YAG) laser Thomson, CO2 laser polarimeter), data acquisition in steady-state and heat-resistant probes. To clarify the plasma properties of the helical structure, two- or three-dimensional diagnostics are being aggressively developed: tangential cameras (fast SX TV, photon counting CCD, Hα TV); tomography (tangential SX CCD, bolometer); imaging (bolometer, ECE, reflectometer). Divertor and edge physics are important key issues for steady-state operation. Diagnostics for neutral flux (Hα array, Zeeman spectroscopy) and ne (fast scanning probe, Li beam probe, pulsed radar reflectometer) are also in advanced stages of development. In addition to these, advanced diagnostics are being intensively developed in LHD through domestic and international collaborations.

The wave propagation and absorption in planar microwave discharges without magnetic fields are calculated with nonuniformity in plasma density taken into account. When the wave is incident in the direction oblique to the density gradient, the field amplitude is strongly peaked at a position where the wave frequency coincides with the plasma frequency. The absorption coefficient of the wave for the oblique incidence is calculated to be much larger than for the parallel incidence. A comparative experiment of the plasma production is performed to find that the power coupling efficiency is larger for the oblique incidence antenna than for the parallel incidence antenna, especially in low collisionality regimes. The comparison between the calculation and the experimental result reveals that the mechanism of the efficient production of overdense plasmas in planar microwave discharges is due to the enhanced electric field near the plasma resonance and subsequent acceleration of electrons in the case of oblique i...

application/pdf, Two-dimensional simulator models are presented for microwave diagnostics. The models assume the Maxwell wave equation coupled with the equation of plasma current density in a cold magnetized plasma, which can describe propagation, reflection, and cross polarization scattering of the ordinary and extraordinary modes. The effects of waveguide for the microwave launcher and wall boundary of the vacuum vessel are included in the models. The simulations of ultrashort-pulse reflectometry with the use of incident subcyclic ordinary modes in the models are performed to test the problem of density profile reconstruction.

Computational study on the cross polarization scattering of ultrashort-pulse electromagnetic waves produced by magnetic fluctuations is presented. One-dimensional coupled wave equations for ordinary and extraordinary modes are solved for incident unipolar subcycle pulses in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma. It is shown that the peak frequencies in the spectral signals of the mode-converted reflected waves are determined from the Bragg resonance condition in the wave numbers of the ordinary mode, the extraordinary mode and the magnetic fluctuations for relatively short-wavelength localized magnetic fluctuations.

Electron acceleration by subcycle laser pulses is studied. It is shown in the particle simulations that the irradiation of an intense subcycle pulse on a thin plasma layer gives rise to a pickup of all plasma electrons on the spot and accelerate them to lead to a formation of the high-energy bunched electrons. The condition of generating coherent synchrotron radiation from the bunched electrons is estimated to apply to a bright X-ray source.

Teratogenicity studies of methyl bromide, a widely used fumigant, were conducted in rats and rabbits. Methyl bromide was dissolved in corn oil and administered orally to groups of 24 copulated female Crj:CD (SD) rats at dose levels of 0 (corn oil), 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg/day on days 6–15 of gestation and to groups of 18 artificially inseminated female Kbl:JW rabbits at 0, 1, 3 or 10 mg/kg/day on days 6–18 of gestation. Maternal rats and rabbits were euthanized on respective days 20 and 27 of gestation. Foetuses were examined for survival, growth and teratological alterations. Maternal toxicity was evident in the high-dose groups for both species. In these groups, maternal body weight gains and food consumption were significantly decreased during the dosing and post-dosing periods. Necropsy of maternal rats also revealed erosive lesions in the stomach and the surrounding organs. However, no treatment-related adverse effects were found in foetuses of the treated groups for both rat and rabbit studies. These results led to the conclusion that methyl bromide was not foetotoxic or teratogenic to rat and rabbit foetuses up to dose levels of 30 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively, at which maternal toxicity was evident for both species.

Hot ions with a strongly anisotropic distribution are created by radio-frequency waves and are sustained in the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. The main power drain from the hot ions is accounted for by classical transport processes. The dominant loss is electron drag, which is confirmed in auxiliary electron heating experiments. The anisotropic distribution of hot ions is also examined in terms of neutron yield from D - D fusion reactions. The ion pressure and the anisotropy drive unstable waves near the ion cyclotron frequency. A dispersion relation and spatial distributions of the unstable waves are examined by use of magnetic probes and reflectometry cross-polarization scattering measurements. The hot-ion plasma contains a multi-shell structure of impurities creating concentric layers of pressure-driven azimuthal velocity with strong shears.

A simulation study of ultrashort-pulse interactions is presented. One-dimensional wave equations for O- and X-modes are solved numerically and ultrashort-pulse reflectory is studied to analyze density-profile reconstruction by the measurement of reflected pulses. The two-dimensional propagation of the O-mode pulse is also studied.

The quartz friction vacuum gauge is based on pressure dependence of the resonance electric impedance of a miniature quartz oscillator of tuning fork shape. The results of the theoretical and the experimental studies clarified the properties of the gauge for various pure gases in the pressure range 10 −3 Pa to 1 atm. An algorithm, introduced in this study for calculating the pressure as a function of the impedance, improved the accuracy of pressure readings of the gauge and made it possible to analyze a binary mixture of gases. Pressure dependence of the resonance frequency of the oscillator was adopted as an additional quantity, depending on kinds of gases, and utilized to measure the pressure during purging of a vacuum chamber with hydrogen. An analysis with the gauge of a mixture of argon and helium was tested successfully for practical monitoring of concentration in the pressure range 1 atm to 1 Pa.

The characteristics of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics depend on the quantity and shape of fibers. The fiber-matrix separation and fiber orientation are caused by the flow during a molding process. Then, the product tends to be nonhomogeneous and anisotropic. Hence, it is very important to clarify the relations between separation-orientation and molding conditions. In this paper, we propose the measurement method which is called image intensity method for fiber orientation distribution by image processing. In order to examine the accuracy of intersection counting and image intensity methods, the fiber orientation of simulation figure is measured using image processing. The image intensity method is rather accurate compared with the intersection counting method.

Recent experiments related to macro- and micro-instabilities in the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror are described. A stability boundary of a flute interchange mode was revealed experimentally. The pressure anisotropy becomes strong with an increase in the β value in the central cell. The critical β of the central cell for the flute interchange mode depends on the pressure anisotropy. The Alfven ion-cyclotron (AIC) mode which is driven by the anisotropy in the velocity space is spontaneously generated well below the theoretically predicted absolute boundary. The performance of the macro- and micro-stabilities in ICRF-heated plasma of the central cell is related to the pressure anisotropy.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed for the detection and quantification of the conventional postnatal uterotonic drug, methylergometrine, in human breast milk using a C-18 reversed-phase column by isocratic elution. The analytical method consisted of sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction, and the fluorescence detection required only 8.5 min per sample for separation and quantitation. This assay gave intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of less than 7.9% and 7.7%, respectively, and the detection limit was approximately 50 pg/ml. This method was applied for drug level monitoring in the breast milk of patients given methylergometrine.

A rat bladder cancer cell line BC31ad, previously reported to constitutively release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), was found to produce an interleukin (IL)-1-like factor inducing proliferation of murine thymocytes in a standard costimulation assay (LAF activity). IL-1-like factor was partially purified by DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-200 and MonoQ-FPLC chromatographies from the serum-free conditioned medium of a BC31 adderived clone, C19, to the specific activity of 3.2 x 10(6) U/mg and characterized as a protein of molecular weight 17 kDa with isoelectric point 5.2. LAF activity of IL-1-like factor was specifically neutralized with anti-rat IL-1 alpha but not with anti-rat IL-1 beta. These findings show that the IL-1-like factor is rat IL-1 alpha, although the precise molecular relationship with monocyte IL-1 alpha is unclear. Furthermore, IL-1 alpha was shown to be primarily located in the cytosol and plasma membrane without spontaneous release. A kinetics study indicated that it was leaked into the medium late in culture resulting from cell destruction, in contrast to TNF alpha which was released as the cell number was increased. We discussed the possible role of IL-1 alpha as an autocrine or paracrine growth regulator.

We report a case of successful treatment of a ruptured distal aortic arch aneurysm with cardiac tamponade by using selective cerebral perfusion for protecting the brain. A 79-year-old man had sudden onset of severe chest and back pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) suggested an acute aortic dissection. He was immediately transferred to the emergency room of our hospital. Echocardiography performed on admission revealed intrapericardial fluid, and hemodynamic monitoring suggested cardiac tamponade. After pericardiocentesis and removal of 400 ml bloody fluid, his hemodynamic condition became stable. Enhanced chest CT showed ruptured distal aortic arch aneurysm with pericardial and pleural effusion. Emergency patch plasty of the aneurysm under extracorporeal circulation (ECC) was performed, assisted by selective cerebral perfusion and deep hypothermia. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, except for minor transient respiratory troubles, and he was able return to his usual activity.

The effect of end plugging of the ion on the Alfven ion cyclotron instability in a mirror-confined plasma is studied. The dispersion equation in the uniform-plasma approximation is derived by assuming a loss cone distribution of the ion, taking into account the end plugging, and is solved numerically. It is shown that the end plugging effect of filling the loss cone mainly causes the reduction of the temperature anisotropy of the ion, leading to the suppression of the instability.

Bounce resonance heating and associated radial transport in a magnetic mirror are studied. A general expression for the absorbed power and radial particle flux due to bounce resonance is obtained by use of a gyrokinetic equation with the eikonal representation for waves. It is shown that the power absorption yields the outward (inward) particle flux with positive (negative) azimuthal mode number of RF wave fields, and that the power emission, i.e., instabilities, yields the reverse particle flux with the same mode number for the ion. The particle flux for the electron is opposite that for the ion.

application/pdf, Alfvén-ion-cyclotron modes are generated over a wide range of anisotropy parameter β⊥(T⊥/T∥)2 in ICRF-heated central cell plasmas of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. The fluctuations are observed at a small driving force in the convectively unstable region predicted theoretically in an infinite plasma. Before reaching the β limit of β⊥=3.52×(T∥/T⊥)2, above which the absolute instability is predicted, relaxation of pressure anisotropy is observed for the first time by use of an array of diamagnetic loops together with a Faraday cup and secondary-electron emission detectors.

The quartz friction vacuum gauge is based on change in the resonance impedance of the quartz oscillator for a wrist watch with ambient gas pressure. Thermal change and fluctuation of the resonance impedance limit the lowest measurable pressure to 1 Pa for the practical gauges and to 0.1 Pa under well-controlled experimental conditions. In this study, nitrogen gas pressures down to 0.01 Pa were measured with an error of about 10% by adopting the quartz oscillator designed to detect the temperature as a function of the resonance frequency as the sensor.

Alfven ion-cyclotron modes are generated in an ICRF heated plasma in the central cell of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror. Identification of the mode, wave characteristics and its effects for the plasma parameters are described. General results of the GAMMA 10 experiments are also reviewed including the experimental scaling of the potential confinement.

Using Ki-67, a monoclonal antibody, the proliferating capacity of 15 salivary gland tumours, including nine pleomorphic adenomas, four adenoid cystic carcinomas, one mucoepidermoid carcinoma and one acinic cell carcinoma was determined immunohistochemically, using normal salivary gland tissue as a control. The frequency of Ki-67 positive cells was 4.7 per cent in the normal salivary gland and one per cent in pleomorphic adenomas, whereas the average frequency in malignant tumours was 18.3 per cent. Among adenoid cystic carcinomas, the frequency was related to the morphological type; the solid sub-type had the highest frequency of Ki-67-positive cells. As this sub-type is recognized as the most aggressive of these tumours, this technique has the potential of providing an early indication of the clinical behaviour of a tumour.

Sand erosion tests were performed on the resin matrix and the composites reinforced with glass chopped strand mat. The experimental apparatus used was the sand blasting type erosion tester. Crashed glass beads of 350 pm in average diameter were used as impingement particles. Glass fiber contents of composites were changed from 20 to 40 wt%. Experimental results showed the damage of the composites was controlled by a brittle mode damage and this behavior was emphasized with an increase of glass fiber contents. The characteristic results were recognized in the effect of attack angle on the erosion rates. At higher angles of attack, the erosion rates were larger with increasing of glass fiber contents. But at lower angles, the erosion rates were smaller with increasing of glass fiber contents. The maximum erosion rates of the FRP was obtained at higher angle of attack in comparison with the matrix resin. By SEM observation of the eroded surface, the different erosion damage form between higher angles of attack and lower angles of attack was recognized. The eroded surface of the matrix part in the FRP was the same as that of the resin specimen without glass fiber. On the other hand, the erosion behavior of glass fiber in the FRP was largely affected by angle of attack. At lower angle of attack, especially, the angle between impact direction of particle and the direction of fiber orientation gave the serious effect on the behavior of the erosion damage.

The estimation method of life of resin for FRP matrix based on flexural strength in a corrosive environment was studied. The corrosion tests of iso-phthalic unsaturated polyester resin and epoxy resin cured with various contents of phthalic anhydride and accelerator were carried out by immersing into KOH solution. These resin systems showed the surface-reaction type or corroded-layer forming type corrosion. The thickness of specimen or corroded-layer decreased with increase of immersion time linearly. The effects of concentration of KOH solution, composition of resin system, and temperature on the rate of decrease of the thickness were investigated. The estimation method of life was proposed for surface reaction type resin and corroded-layer forming type resin without pits or cracks, which was based on considering the effects of various factors on the corrosion rate. For corroded-layer forming type resin with pits of cracks, a method which estimates the life for safer side was obtained by assuming the corrosion rate equal to the growth rate of cracks.

The glycoprotein hormones CG, LH, FSH, and TSH are composed of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. The beta-subunit confers hormone specificity, while the alpha-subunit is homologous within a species. To help in determining the antigenic structure of the common alpha-subunit, six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the free or heterodimeric alpha-subunit of human (h) gonadotropic hormones have been prepared and, along with two previously isolated mAbs, have been characterized for binding specificity to alpha- and beta-subunits and the human glycoprotein hormones, CG, LH, FSH, and TSH. Each mAb was derived from hybidomas of FO myeloma cells fused with spleen cells from mice immunized with free alpha-subunit, hCG or hFSH. mAbs A101, A102, and E512 were specific for the alpha-subunit but showed the highest affinity for the intact hormone; K2.18, K94.6, E501, E502, and E511 were specific for free alpha. All of the antibodies inhibited binding of 125I-hCG to luteal membrane receptor, and 125I-labeled mAbs did not recognize hCG/receptor complex. Characterization by two-site binding assays using alpha, hCG, or hFSH as antigen revealed that all the mAbs bind to unique sites on alpha which may be overlapping, and which are modified in the intact hormone. The antigenic sites for mAbs E502, E511, and K2.18 are at least partially linear because they bind to reduced, carboxymethylated alpha.

We report a 67-year-old female patient with ventricular septal perforation after weak blunt chest trauma. She tumbled down on a frozen street. Approximately 1 week later, the patient was aware of shortness of breath on exertion. On admission, holosystolic murmur was detected on chest wall and routine electrocardiogram examination showed ST-T change which suggested myocardial ischemia. Acute myocardial infarction and ventricular septal defect with left-to-right shunt was suspected. The echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed the muscular type ventricular septal perforation near the apex with large left-to-right shunt flow (82% shunt ratio). The congestive heart failure was controlled successfully by conservative medical treatment. Surgical repair was scheduled on the 28th day after initial chest trauma because of large left-to-right shunt. A hole of about a diameter of 2 cm with fibrous edge of the muscular septum was closed through a left ventriculotomy using a Dacron patch under cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged without symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Various types of wireless systems can be classified as follows: fixed wireless access (FWA) systems, in which wireless terminals are in a fixed location; wireless LAN systems serving offices or homes; nomadic wireless access (NWA) systems, enabling seamless access from hot spots as well as from homes and offices; mobile wireless access (MWA) systems that can be accessed from moving vehicles. The paper discusses the current status of wireless access and how far wireless technology is geared to broadband access services, mainly in terms of NWA, FWA, and wireless LAN systems. Increasing the speed of FWA systems to 100 Mbps for compatibility with optical fiber services is one development goal. For NWA, commercial services based on 36 Mbps systems in the 5 GHz band are expected to begin competing in the market shortly. We anticipate that for home and office wireless LAN systems products based on 5 GHz, 36 Mbps system, high-speed LAN technology and with a variety of value-added functions will become available.

For the purpose of creating a mobile multimedia society, the part of broadband communication in next generation mobile communication systems should be supported by wireless LAN technologies. Especially for public service applications, wireless LAN requires several features, i.e., to have as high mobility as cellular systems have and a high data rate which cannot be obtained with cellular systems. The authors confirmed those capabilities using the 5 GHz/25 GHz OFDM wireless LAN systems HiSWANa/ARIB STD-T70 and HiSWANb/ARIB STD-T83. As for a high-speed mobile system, Japan Railway's express train "Shikoku Ishizuchi" was chosen and transmission at 95 km/hour up to a distance of 800 meters was achieved. As for the high data uplink requirement, the emergency medical system was recommended and a 10 Mbps wireless uplink was achieved when transmitting cardiograph information and video signals from, respectively, the ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and video cameras viewing the patient and the scene of the accident.

For producing a high density and high energy plasma in the GAMMA10 tandem mirror, the high harmonics ICRF waves were employed. The axial wave number of excited fast Alfven waves with the frequency of 41.5 MHz was measured for the wide range of plasma parameters with magnetic probes. It was found that the plasma density increased clearly by applying the high harmonics ICRF (f = 41.5MHz) and the radial mode transition of excited fast Alfven wave was observed at nl ∼ 5 × 10 13 cm −2.

The authors discuss probe position error analysis for bi-polar near-field measurement by computer simulations. Computer simulations are performed using a 21*21 planar array antenna (0.5 lambda spacing). Results on random error and systematic error are presented. >

Standardization bodies such as ETSI-BRAN, IEEE802.11 and MMAC (Multimedia Mobile Access Communication systems) promotion council have been actively and collaboratively developing the specifications of 5-GHz-band broadband wireless access systems. Given this situation, NTT has been developing a 5-GHz band advanced wireless access (AWA) system aligned with the ETSI-BRAN HIPERLAN/2 and MMAC standards. This paper outlines the 5 GHz-AWA system and highlights the new techniques applied to AWA.

Male PD strain rats are sterile in the homozygous condition (pd/pd) due to abnormal spermatogenesis detectable at around nine weeks of age. Previous studies have indicated electron microscopic abnormalities in the Sertoli cells of pd/pd males at three and 12 weeks of age. Since spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell function depend on gonadotropins (luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones [LH and FSH]) and testosterone, production and/or secretion of these hormones might be altered in pd/pd males. The aim of the study reported here was to investigate the hormonal status of pd/pd males at three, six, and nine weeks of age. Although alteration was not evident in the LH-immunoreactive cells, FSH-immunoreactive cells in pd/pd males were small in size with scant cytoplasm and were reduced in number and area (73 and 51% of phenotypically normal pd/+ males, respectively) at three weeks of age, although serum FSH concentration was similar to that in pd/+ males. At six and nine weeks of age, percentages of the areas occupied by LH- and FSH-immunoreactive cells in pd/pd males were higher than those in pd/+ males. Serum FSH concentration in pd/pd males was significantly high at nine weeks of age, although a difference in serum LH and testosterone concentration was not evident. These results suggest that FSH production in pd/pd males is decreased at three weeks of age. This might be associated with the Sertoli cell abnormalities and subsequent abnormal spermatogenesis seen in adult life.

Background: Most Japanese pediatric neurologists attempt other treatments before using adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy for West syndrome (WS), and even then, they use only a low-dose synthetic ACTH to avoid serious adverse effects. In this multi-institutional study, the authors analyzed the initial effects, adverse effects, and long-term outcome in patients treated with low-dose synthetic ACTH in Japan. Methods: The medical records of 138 patients with WS, who were treated with low-dose synthetic ACTH therapy for the first time at the authors’ institutions between 1989 and 1998, were analyzed. Results: At the end of ACTH therapy, excellent effect on seizures was noted in 106 of 138 (76%) patients, good effect in 23 (17%), and poor effect in 9 (7%). Initial effects on EEG were excellent in 53 of 138 (38%) patients, good in 76 (55%), and poor in 9 (7%). As for seizure prognosis at the time of follow-up, 51 of 99 (52%) patients were seizure-free, whereas 48 (48%) patients had seizures. Mental outcome was normal in 6 of 98 (6%) patients, mild mental retardation in 16 (16%), moderate mental retardation in 26 (27%), and severe mental retardation in 50 (51%). The initial effects of ACTH on seizures and long-term outcome were not dose dependent (daily dosage 0.005 to 0.032 mg/kg, 0.2 to 1.28 IU/kg; total dosage 0.1 to 0.87 mg/kg, 4 to 34.8 IU/kg). The severity of adverse effects correlated with total dosage of ACTH, and the severity of brain volume loss due to ACTH correlated well with the daily dosage and total dosage of ACTH. Conclusion: Low-dose synthetic ACTH therapy is as effective for the treatment of WS as the higher doses used in previous studies. The dosage of synthetic ACTH used in the treatment of WS can be decreased as much as possible to avoid serious adverse effects.

A Novel fabrication technology of a PDMS micro structure which has implanted metal electrodes was proposed. A fluoro resin under layer was used to avoid the clack generation by the residual stress of the metal layer. First prototype device was fabricated and tested its heating function. The temperature distribution of 3-D micro heating structure was simulated using FEM tool.

Significance of Wnt signaling with beta-catenin mutations on solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas was studied by immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis. On immunohistochemistry, all 18 SPNs tested showed diffuse cytoplasmic/nuclear positivity for beta-catenin. Upon direct DNA sequencing of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene, 15 (83%) of the 18 SPNs showed 1-bp missense mutation in codons 32 (5 cases), 33 (3 cases), 34 (3 cases), 37 (3 cases), and 41 (1 case). Immunoreactivity for cyclin D1, one of the intranuclear targets of beta-catenin complexes, was found in tumor cells of more than half the tumor cells of all of the 18 SPNs. The present study strongly suggested a significant role of Wnt signaling, mostly associated with beta-catenin mutations in the tumorigenesis of SPN.

BACKGROUND—Human β-defensin 2 (hBD-2) plays a role in the innate defence system at mucosal surfaces. Colonisation of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach is an important pathological factor in gastrointestinal illnesses, including gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric adenocarcinoma. AIMS—To evaluate the antibacterial role of hBD-2 against H pylori infection in the gastric mucosa. SUBJECTS—Biopsied gastric mucosa specimens from H pylori positive (n=6) and H pylori negative (n=6) individuals were used. H pylori was determined by the presence of urease activity and microscopic examination. METHODS—The specimens were examined for hBD-2 expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridisation. The antibacterial effect of hBD-2 against H pylori was evaluated by the number of colony forming units of H pylori after incubation with 0, 10−9, 10−8, 10−7, 10−6, or 10−5 M of hBD-2 peptide. RESULTS—All six H pylori positive specimens expressed a high level of hBD-2 mRNA while hBD-2 mRNA was not detected in the H pylori negative specimens by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry using anti-hBD-2 antiserum revealed that hBD-2 was expressed in the surface epithelium of H pylori infected specimens. In gastric specimens obtained after H pylori eradication, hBD-2 immunoreactivity had dramatically decreased. In situ hybridisation confirmed that hBD-2 transcripts were localised in the epithelium of H pylori infected gastric specimens. Incubation with hBD-2 reduced the growth rate of cultured H pylori in a dose dependent manner, and incubation with 10−5 M hBD-2 completely inhibited the proliferation of H pylori. CONCLUSIONS—H pylori infection induces hBD-2 expression in the human gastric epithelium. hBD-2 inhibited the growth of H pylori in vitro, suggesting that hBD-2 plays an antibacterial role in H pylori induced gastritis. Keywords: human β-defensin 2; Helicobacter pylori; gastritis; antimicrobial peptide