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The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and to undertake a comparative evaluation of the prognostic value of comparing PNI, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in terms of prognostic utility. A retrospective study was conducted involving 203 consecutive patients with OSCC who were treated with radical surgery with curative intent. The PNI and systemic inflammatory response were developed, and their prognostic utility was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and log-rank testing showed that PNI (P< 0.001), NLR (P=0.011), PLR (P=0.013), and LMR (P=0.014) were significantly associated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis identified PNI as an independent prognostic factor for OSCC patients (P=0.029). In time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, PNI was continuously superior to that of NLR, PLR, and LMR. In conclusion, this study suggested that PNI offered an independent prognostic biomarker in OSCC patients undergoing radical surgery. However, this study was small and retrospective, thus further investigations are needed to clarify the utility of PNI for tailor-made treatments in clinical settings.

Background Human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is a potential driver oncogene. Although HER2-targeted precision therapy has been tested in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the demographic characteristics of HER2-positive NSCLC have not been systematically defined. Methods Patients with pathologically confirmed stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2, were prospectively registered. HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were performed to screen patients. HER2 mutations were identified by using direct gene sequencing. The aim of this study was to clarify the frequency, characteristics, and outcome of HER2-positive NSCLC. HER2 was defined as positive if the tumor harbored IHC3+, IHC2+/FISH+, or exon 20 insertion mutations. Results Of the 1,126 tumors screened, 34 (3.0%) were IHC3+, and 34 (3.0%) were IHC2+/FISH+. Among the 724 epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type tumors, 21 (2.9%) were HER2-mutant tumors, including A775-G776insYVMA (n = 15). Interestingly, the IHC3+ tumors and mutant tumors were entirely exclusive. Female patients had HER2-mutant tumors more frequently, whereas both IHC3+ and IHC2+/FISH+ tumors were detected more often in male subjects and smokers. Patients with an HER2-aberrant tumor had a significantly worse prognosis than those with epidermal growth factor receptor-positive and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive tumors, possibly due to the low proportion that received HER2-targeted therapies (n = 15 [26%]) and low response rates of 0% and 14% in patients with HER2-overexpressing and HER2-mutant tumors, respectively. Conclusions This prospective large-scale cohort study is the first to show comprehensively the frequency and clinical demographic characteristics of those with HER2-positive advanced lung tumors in detail, providing critical historical data for future drug development against HER2-positive NSCLC. Future treatment strategies would be developed stratified according to the types of HER2 aberrations. Trial Registry UMIN Registration No. 000017003; URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000019691

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is highly expressed in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MLL+ALL) with a dismal prognosis. We previously reported that FLT3 ligand (FL) stimulation induced cell cycle arrest in MLL+ALL cells leading to resistance against anti-leukemic agents. Given that FL stimulation enhanced transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 mRNA levels in MLL+ALL cells, we extensively examined the effect of TGFβ1 on the cell cycle progression and chemosensitivity in MLL+ALL cells, and found that TGFβ1 stimulation induced MLL+ALL cells into cell cycle arrest resistant to arabinosyl cytosine; its effect was markedly enhanced in synergy with FL. Thus, it is likely that TGFβ1 and FL, both abundantly produced by bone marrow stromal cells, function in a coordinated manner to render MLL+ALL cells chemoresistant, which should lead to the development of minimal residual disease (MRD) resulting in relapse. The use of inhibitors against FLT3 and TGFβ1 may become a useful strategy for eradicating MRD in MLL+ALL.

Purpose Whereas fenestration at Fontan operation was reported to be effective for smooth initiation to Fontan circulation, subsequently developed aortopulmonary collateral arteries under the presence of remaining hypoxia were a matter of concern.So as our institutional policy, it is closed as much and early as possible (temporary fenestration). This study aimed to reveal long-term outcomes for patients at riskswho underwent Fontan operation with temporary fenestration. Methods Of 107 patients undergoing Fontan operation from 1995 to 2004, 79 patients (73.8%) were free from any risks (NR group) and 28 patients (26.2%) had risks for Fontan operation (R group). Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, heterotaxy syndrome with obstructive total anomalous of pulmonary venous connection, and individual cases with high preoperative pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), systemic ventricular end diastolic pressure (SVEDP) or low ejection fraction (SVEF) were defined as a risk for Fontan completion.Age at Fontan operation was older in R group (6.6 vs 2.3years-old, p = 0.0004). Preoperative PAP (12.8 vs 11.3mmHg, p = 0.03) and SVEDP (8.8 vs 7.1mmHg, p = 0.02) were higher and SVEF (53.7 vs 60.0%, p = 0.002) was lower in R group. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was not different. Fenestration was created in all patients in R group, then it was closed at the mean duration of 2.9 years after Fontan operation. Results Freedom from death or protein-losing enteropathy rate at 5, 10, and 15 years after Fontan operation were 97, 96, and 93% in NR group and 96, 93, and 86% in R group (log-rank: p = 0.20). Fifty-one patients (64.6%) in NR group and 17 patients (60.7%) in R group underwent serial catheter examinations at 5, 10, and 15 years after Fontan operation and exercise capacity testing at 15 years after Fontan operation (Figure). In R group, arterial oxygen saturation was lower and PVR was higher even after close of fenestration (Figure). In addition, 12 patients (71%) in R group developed significant veno-venous collaterals, which were defined by more than 3mm in diameter of collateral veins or a condition where pulmonary veins were contrasted in venography. On the contrary, cardiac index (CI), SVEDP, and PAP were not different and no significant difference on peak oxygen uptake and anaerobic threshold were observed between in 2 groups. Conclusions Although the mild cyanosis remained due to the development of veno-venous collaterals after the closure of temporary fenestration, CI, SVEDP and PAP well maintained in patients at risk for Fontan operation. These results might to lead acceptable life prognosis and freedom fromprotein-losing enteropathy rate for patients at risk for Fontan operation. Abstract P37 Figure

Skp1, a subunit of E3 Skp1/Cullin-1/F-box protein ubiquitin ligases, is uniquely modified in protists by an O2-dependent prolyl hydroxylase that generates the attachment site for a defined pentasaccharide. Previous studies demonstrated the importance of the core glycan for growth of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in fibroblasts, but the significance of the non-reducing terminal sugar was unknown. Here, we find that a homolog of glycogenin, an enzyme that can initiate and prime glycogen synthesis in yeast and animals, is required to catalyze the addition of an α-galactose in 3-linkage to the subterminal glucose to complete pentasaccharide assembly in cells. A strong selectivity of the enzyme (Gat1) for Skp1 in extracts is consistent with other evidence that Skp1 is the sole target of the glycosyltransferase pathway. gat1-disruption results in slow growth attesting to the importance of the terminal sugar. Molecular dynamics simulations provide an explanation for this finding and confirm the potential of the full glycan to control Skp1 organization as in the amoebozoan Dictyostelium despite the different terminal disaccharide assembled by different glycosyltransferases. Though Gat1 also exhibits low α-glucosyltransferase activity like glycogenin, autoglycosylation is not detected and gat1-disruption reveals no effect on starch accumulation. A crystal structure of the ortholog from the crop pathogen Pythium ultimum explains the distinct substrate preference and regiospecificity relative to glycogenin. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Gat1 is related to the evolutionary progenitor of glycogenin, and acquired a role in glycogen formation following the ancestral disappearance of the underlying Skp1 glycosyltransferase prior to amoebozoan emergence.

ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA: (black locust) plants were regenerated after co-cultivation of stem and leaf segments with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 (pMP90) that harbored a binary vector that included genes for β-glucuronidase (GUS) and hygromycin phosphotransferase. Successful transformation was confirmed by the ability of stem and leaf segments to produce calli in the presence of hygromycin, by histochemical and fluorometric assays of GUS activity in plant tissues, and by Southern blotting analysis. In this transformation system, about 2 months were required for regeneration of transgenic plants from stem and leaf segments. The frequency of transformation from stem segments was approximately 24%, and the morphology of regenerated plants resembled that of the original parental strain.

An outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 occurred in multiple prefectures of Japan in November 2009. We conducted two case–control studies with trace-back and trace-forward investigations to determine the source. The case definition was met by 21 individuals; 14 (66.7%) were hospitalised, but no haemolytic uraemic syndrome, acute encephalopathy or deaths occurred. Median age was 23 (range 12–48) years and 14 cases were male (66.7%). No significant associations with food were found in a case–control study by local public health centres, but our matched case–control study using Internet surveys found that beef hanging tender (or hanger steak), derived from the diaphragm of the cattle, was significantly associated with illness (odds ratio = 15.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.00–124.11). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of isolates from patients and the suspected food showed five different patterns: two in faecal and food samples, and another three in patient faecal samples only, although there were epidemiological links to the meat consumed at the restaurants. Trace-back investigation implicated a common food processing company from outside Japan. Examination of the logistics of the meat processing company suggested that contamination did not occur in Japan. We concluded that the source of the outbreak was imported hanging tender. This investigation revealed that Internet surveys could be useful for outbreak investigations.

The chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) is a very important ornamental flower worldwide. Damage due to both harmful insects and pathogenic microbes results in a loss of quality and leads to high control costs. To reduce the likelihood of such damage, we have developed genetically modified chrysanthemums by introducing a modified cry1Ab gene of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD-1 (mcbt) and a modified sarcotoxin IA gene of Sarcophaga peregrina (msar) with or without the 5’-untranslated region of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtADH-5’UTR, as ADH). The leaf discs were transformed using a disarmed strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, EHA105, carrying the binary vectors pBIK201BPS or pBIK201ABPS, which contain the mcbt and msar genes. The mcbt and msar genes were detected in all regenerated plantlets by Southern blot analysis, with a transformation frequency of 6.8%. Northern blot analysis revealed that the amount of the mcbt transcription was influenced by the transgene copy number in the genetically modified (GM) chrysanthemum. However, that of the msar transcript was influenced by the presence of the HSP terminator, regardless of the gene copy number. The GM chrysanthemums accumulated more than 1.31 µg of Cry1Ab per mg of total soluble protein and showed a strong resistance against 4 species of lepidopteran larvae (Helicoverpa armigera and others). All larvae died during the first instar stage. A strong resistance against white rust by Puccinia horiana was observed especially in the ADH::msar-transgenic chrysanthemum in which the expression level of sarcotoxin IA peptide was more than 19.5 µg per g fresh weight of leaves. These GM chrysanthemums will be useful in reducing control costs for lepidopteran insects and white rust disease.

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables are expected to be next generation transmission line because of the compact, lightweight, large capacity, and low loss features. Especially, since the YBa 2 Cu 3 O x (YBCO) tape has a high critical current, high magnetic-field property, low AC loss, and low cost, using YBCO tapes for a HTS cable seems to be one of the most promising ways to make the HTS cable attractive. Therefore, YBCO HTS cables have been studied extensively in Japan, the United States, Korea, and many other countries. We now believe that 275 kV class HTS cables will be used for future large capacity lines based on the needs of Japanese transmission networks for bulk transmission power in overhead transmission lines or gas insulated transmission lines (GIL). We started to develop the 275 kV class HTS cable for the new energy and industrial technology development organization (NEDO) project at 2008, and we have studied the applicability and the environmental and economic advantages of the 275 kV cable. This paper will introduce advantages and a conceptual design of the 275 kV HTS cable.

YBa 2 Cu 3 O y (YBCO) coated conductors were fabricated by trifluoroacetates (TFA)–metal organic deposition (MOD) previously using a single reel-to-reel (RTR) crystallization furnace with a gas flow system parallel to the tape surface which could realize only a low production rate. In this study, we developed a new multi-turn (MT) RTR furnace with a vertical gas flow system to increase the production rate of the crystallization step and attained the uniform reaction in the tapes of the multi-turn system. We fabricated YBCO films with different conditions partial pressure of water vapor, the total pressure and the gas flow volume using the MT-RTR furnace with the vertical gas flow system, in order to investigate the influence of the processing parameters on the growth rate and the superconducting properties of the YBCO films. It was found that the growth rate of the YBCO phase film increased under the conditions of the high gas flow rate, the low total pressure and the high water vapor partial pressure. As a result, 21 times higher J c value was attained at 17 times faster growth rate than that without controlling the processing parameters in the crystallization step. This is thought to be due to the suppression of coarsening of Y 2 Cu 2 O 5 and CuO particles in the precursor film. Consequently, the high I c,end-to-end value of 250 A was achieved in a 5 m long tape fabricated at the production rate of 3 m/h using the only two lanes of the entire MT-RTR crystallization furnace with 10 lanes.

A new method of time-resolved solution scattering utilizing X-ray multilayer optics is presented., 100 ps time-resolved X-ray solution-scattering capabilities have been developed using multilayer optics at the beamline NW14A, Photon Factory Advanced Ring, KEK. X-ray pulses with an energy bandwidth of ΔE/E = 1–5% are generated by reflecting X-ray pulses (ΔE/E = 15%) through multilayer optics, made of W/B4C or depth-graded Ru/C on silicon substrate. This tailor-made wide-bandwidth X-ray pulse provides high-quality solution-scattering data for obtaining photo-induced molecular reaction dynamics. The time-resolved solution scattering of CH2I2 in methanol is demonstrated as a typical example.

An experimental set-up for time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with 100 ps time resolution at beamline NW14A at the Photon Factory Advanced Ring is presented., An experimental set-up for time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with 100 ps time resolution at beamline NW14A at the Photon Factory Advanced Ring is presented. The X-ray positional active feedback to crystals in a monochromator combined with a figure-of-merit scan of the laser beam position has been utilized as an essential tool to stabilize the spatial overlap of the X-ray and laser beams at the sample position. As a typical example, a time-resolved XAFS measurement of a photo-induced spin crossover reaction of the tris(1,10-phenanthrorine)iron(II) complex in water is presented.

To test the effect of geographical isolation by ‘Blakiston's Line’ and the possibility of Bergmann's rule being valid, we comparatively examined the morphology of the crania, mandible and teeth of two subspecies of raccoon dog allopatrically distributed in Japan: Nyctereutes procyonoides albus and Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus. The Blakiston's Line is a biogeographic border separating mammalian and avian fauna in Japan, including N. p. albus and N. p. viverrinus. Most skull measurements of N. p. albus were larger than those of N. p. viverrinus, suggesting that the body size of N. p. albus could also be larger than that of N. p. viverrinus. Both subspecies were clearly isolated by Blakiston's Line and followed Bergmann's rule, with skulls of the northern subspecies, N. p. albus, larger than N. p. viverrinus. Premolars and molars of N. p. viverrinus were larger than those of N. p. albus, suggesting that N. p. viverrinus may be more frugivorous. The narrow postorbital constriction associated with development of temporal muscles in N. p. albus suggests this subspecies is more carnivorous.

To realize the high-voltage vacuum circuit breaker, we investigated the voltage-distribution ratio after current interruption at the double-break vacuum circuit breaker. We used the spiral CuCr (20%) electrodes and the axial magnetic-field CuCr (50%) electrodes as the experimental electrodes. At the double-break vacuum circuit breaker, where two vacuum interruptions that had the same and different characteristics of the electrode structure and contact materials were connected in series, there was a bias in the voltage-distribution ratio of each vacuum interrupter after current interruption. This seems to be because there was difference in the postarc current that passed through each vacuum interrupter after current interruption.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) arises from a human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected cell and has few therapeutic options. Here, we have uncovered a previously unrecognized role for a ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 in the survival of HTLV-I-infected cells. Unlike in lymphomas of the B-cell lineage, A20 is abundantly expressed in primary ATL cells without notable mutations. Depletion of A20 in HTLV-I-infected cells resulted in caspase activation, cell death induction and impaired tumorigenicity in mouse xenograft models. Mechanistically, A20 stably interacts with caspase-8 and Fas-associated via death domain (FADD) in HTLV-I-infected cells. Mutational studies revealed that A20 supports the growth of HTLV-I-infected cells independent of its catalytic functions and that the zinc-finger domains are required for the interaction with and regulation of caspases. These results indicate a pivotal role for A20 in the survival of HTLV-I-infected cells and implicate A20 as a potential therapeutic target in ATL.

Constitutively activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) has been associated with a variety of aggressive tumor types, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); however, the mechanism of its activation is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the molecular pathway that mediates constitutive activation of NF-kappaB in a series of HNSCC cell lines. We confirmed that NF-kappaB was constitutively active in all HNSCC cell lines (FaDu, LICR-LON-HN5 and SCC4) examined as indicated by DNA binding, immunocytochemical localization of p65, by NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression and its inhibition by dominant-negative (DN)-inhibitory subunit of NF-kappaB (IkappaBalpha), the natural inhibitor of NF-kappaB. Constitutive NF-kappaB activation in HNSCC was found to be due to constitutive activation of IkappaBalpha kinase (IKK); and this correlated with constitutive expression of phosphorylated forms of IkappaBalpha and p65 proteins. All HNSCC showed the expression of p50, p52, p100 and receptor-interacting protein; all linked with NF-kappaB activation. The expression of constitutively active NF-kappaB in HNSCC is mediated through the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, as NF-kappaB reporter activity was inhibited by DN-TNF receptor-associated death domain (TRADD), DN-TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF)2, DN-receptor-interacting protein (RIP), DN-transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), DN-kappa-Ras, DN-AKT and DN-IKK but not by DN-TRAF5 or DN-TRAF6. Constitutive NF-kappaB activation was also associated with the autocrine expression of TNF, TNF receptors and receptor-activator of NF-kappaB and its ligand in HNSCC cells but not interleukin (IL)-1beta. All HNSCC cell lines expressed IL-6, a NF-kappaB-regulated gene product. Furthermore, treatment of HNSCC cells with anti-TNF antibody downregulated constitutively active NF-kappaB, and this was associated with inhibition of IL-6 expression and cell proliferation. Our results clearly demonstrate that constitutive activation of NF-kappaB is mediated through the TRADD-TRAF2-RIP-TAK1-IKK pathway, making TNF a novel target in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

A four-channel times10-Gb/s parallel optical transceiver for high-capacity very-short-reach applications was developed. The transceiver module was fabricated with low-cost components such as polymer planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platforms and 1.3-mum Fabry-Perot laser diodes (FPLDs). The polymer PLC platform enables the FPLDs or waveguide photodiodes (WGPDs) to be butt-coupled to the polymer waveguide by low-cost passive alignment. Using 1.3-mum FPLDs and single-mode fibers (SMFs) achieves reliable transmission over 600 m. Widening the spacing between the waveguides up to 1 mm suppressed the interchannel crosstalk to below -39 dB. The fabricated transceiver was operated at 10 Gb/s per channel and it successfully demonstrated 600-m error-free transmission. The sensitivity of each channel was better than -14 dBm with an interchannel-crosstalk penalty of less than 0.7 dB

Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), a ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinase, has been implicated in the regulation or modulation of cell growth through multiple signaling pathways, but how PKR regulates tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced signaling pathways is poorly understood. In the present study, we used fibroblasts derived from PKR gene-deleted mice to investigate the role of PKR in TNF-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and growth modulation. We found that in wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF), TNF induced NF-kappaB activation as measured by DNA binding but deletion of PKR abolished this activation. This inhibition was associated with suppression of inhibitory subunit of NF-kappaB (IkappaB)alpha kinase (IKK) activation, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation, p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, and NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene transcription. TNF-induced Akt activation needed for IKK activation was also abolished by deletion of PKR. NF-kappaB activation was diminished in PKR-deleted cells transfected with TNF receptor (TNFR) 1, TNFR-associated death domain and TRAF2 plasmids; NF-kappaB activated by NF-kappaB-inducing kinase, IKK or p65, however, was minimally affected. Among the MAPKs, it was interesting that whereas TNF-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was abolished, activation of p44/p42 MAPK and p38 MAPK was potentiated in PKR-deleted cells. TNF induced the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated gene products cyclin D1, c-Myc, matrix metalloproteinase-9, survivin, X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (IAP), IAP1, Bcl-x(L), A1/Bfl-1 and Fas-associated death domain protein-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein in wild-type MEF but not in PKR-/- cells. Similarly, TNF induced the proliferation of wild-type cells, but this proliferation was completely suppressed in PKR-deleted cells. Overall, our results indicate that PKR differentially regulates TNF signaling; IKK, Akt and JNK were positively regulated, whereas p44/p42 MAPK and p38 MAPK were negatively regulated.

Insulation recovery characteristics after current interruption for a vacuum interrupter were investigated. We used spiral and axial magnetic field electrodes for comparison of the electrode structure, while CuBi and CuCr were also used for comparison of the contact material. This paper describes how the axial magnetic field electrode and CuCr (50%) performed best in our experimental data. In addition, we discussed reasons for the variation in characteristics between electrodes.

In this paper, we quantitatively investigated the impulse conditioning mechanism under nonuniform electric field electrodes in a vacuum. A negative standard lightning impulse voltage was applied between rod and plane electrodes whose materials were Cu-Cr, stainless steel and Cu and the gap lengths were d=5 and 10 mm, respectively. Experimental results revealed the transition of the breakdown (BD) sport region on the rod electrode and the corresponding BD field strength in the conditioning process. As a result, we found that the BD spot region started at the tip of the rod electrode and moved to the wider region of the rod electrode with lower electric field as the shots of the voltage application increased before the saturation of the BD voltage. Finally, by analyzing the results with an electric field strength, we propose that "the conditioning degree" along the electrode surface distributed directly proportional to the electric field distribution under a nonuniform electric field in a vacuum, irrespective of the electrode materials

The field dependence of the magnetization was measured for sintered Bi2223 high Tc superconductor under a field amplitude of 5?T from 10 to 90?K. These data were analysed using our critical state model involving an equilibrium magnetization Meq and exponential decay of Jc. Some magnetic parameters including the equilibrium critical current density were determined for the intra-grain?and inter-grain parts. The temperature dependences of the intra-grain?and inter-grain Jc were also discussed. It was revealed that single vortex pinning was dominant in the intra-grain part, and flux creep caused by collective pinning was confirmed in the inter-grain part.

For the promotion of zero emission society, the recycling of dust and sludge produced in the steel making process, leading to the recovery of valuable metals like Iron, Zinc, Nickel and Chromium, has highly attracted public attention. The Plant and Machinery Division of Nippon Steel Corporation has introduced the basic technologies of the rotary hearth furnace, DryIronTM Process, from Maumee Research & Engineering Inc. in the United States, and developed the process in order to recycle such dust and sludge effectively. In addition, the DryIronTM Process can also produce direct reduced iron from virgin iron ore and non-coking coal. In this paper, the features of the DryIronTM Process and the machine outline in Hikari Works of Nippon Steel Corporation are described.

Integrable Duffing’s mappings have been constructed on the basis of a scheme presented by Suris. The Poincare–Birkhoff resonance condition determines the periodic behavior of the orbit close to the fixed points of the integrable mappings. In the region far apart from the fixed points, the nonlinear effect modifies the property of the periodic orbits. Here, the global behavior of periodic orbits of the integrable Duffing’s maps is investigated by applying the Fourier analysis on the individual orbits.

In the numerical integration of nonlinear differential equations, discretization of the nonlinear terms poses extra ambiguity in reducing the differential equation to a discrete difference equation. As for the cubic nonlinear Schrodinger equation, it was well known that there exists the corresponding discrete soliton system. Here, representing the discrete systems by the mappings, we explore structure of the integrable mappings. We introduce the first kind and the second kind of Duffing’s map, and investigate temporal evolution of the orbits. Although the smooth periodic orbits are in accord with the solutions of the Duffing equation, the integrable Duffing’s maps provide much wider variety of orbits.

This paper reports on protocols for plant regeneration and transformation of Asarina procumbens Mill. (syn. Antirrhinum asarina L.). Asarina is an ornamental plant, in this study we successfully achieved shoot regeneration from stem explants on MS medium supplemented with zeatin. Furthermore, the transformation system was established via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with stem segments. The A. tumefaciens strains EHA105, GV2260 and GV3101 each harbouring binary vector pSMAK251 containing uidA and npt II genes were used in this establishment. Kanamycin-resistant shoots regenerated directly on the selection medium containing 2 mg l - 1 zeatin, 100 mg l - 1 kanamycin, and 250 mg l - 1 cefotaxime six weeks after co-cultivation. Fifty to 73% of regenerated shoots showed GUS expression through the histochemical GUS expression analysis. PCR and Southern blot analysis confirmed the existence of npt II and uid A genes in these GIJS expressed transformed plants. This is the first report of successful genetic transformation in Asarina procumbens Mill.

While there has been great effort to establish universal behavior of the sequence of period-doubling bifurcation in Hamiltonian systems with few degrees of freedom, the nature of the period-doubling bifurcation is far more complicated in two-dimensional maps. Though the onset of instability is determined by a local, linear property of the system, the area of a bifurcated region in the phase space increases gradually when the control parameter increases beyond the critical threshold. Scaling laws for the growth process of the period-doubling bifurcation are elucidated for the period-2 step-1 accelerator mode and for the fundamental fixed orbit in the standard map.

The authors have studied the magnetization characteristics of an array of high Tc superconductor (HTS) bulks. Experiments using pulsed field magnetization were carried out at 77 K. In the experiment, the width of the applied pulse current was varied; i.e.: (1) the wave-front length of the pulse magnetization current; and (2) the wave-tail length of the pulse magnetization current were changed independently. The authors measured the magnetization pattern of single HTS bulks and that of arrayed HTS bulks. Furthermore, several HTS bulks were arranged in array and inserted into a pulse magnetization coil wound by copper wire. The measured trapped magnetic flux distribution in this experimental setup was compared with experimental results from "field cooling". The experimental result shows that the trapped magnetic flux density is lower in the pulse magnetization than in the "field cooling". Also, the flux density pattern of pulse magnetization shows a conspicuous sag in the center of the bulk. As for the effect of the width of the applied pulse wave, the wave-front length affects strongly the trapped magnetic flux density. Meanwhile, the effect of the wave-tail length was very mild.

The period-2, step-1 accelerator mode in the standard map undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation when the stochastic parameter A exceeds the value 0.6512. The structural transition observed in the boundary islands is studied thoroughly using higher-order symmetry analysis. After the formation of dominant 5-cycles around the central island at A =0 .6500, the boundary region displays 7-cycles inside 12-cycles at A =0 .6506. Then, the principal island undergoes a period-doubling bifurcation around A =0 .6515, although the surrounding boundary islands retain the characteristic structure of the original period-2 mode. After the completion of the period-doubling bifurcation around A =0 .6520, the principal island splits into a period-4 mode, and the surrounding higher-order periodic islands become satellites of the period-doubled mode. Analysis of the higher-order symmetry structure reveals that such intricate processes are associated with the splitting of the principal island with accompanying boundary islands formation.

The regular motions in nonlinear Hamiltonian dynamical systems have been best studied in terms of the symmetry analysis based on the involution decomposition. As for the standard map, because of its intrinsic periodicity, there appear various orders of the accelerator modes, a special type of regular motions. Extension of the involution decomposition taking account of the periodicity makes it possible to investigate the symmetry structure of the accelerator modes. Explicit analysis has been carried out for the period-2, the period-3 and the period-4 accelerator modes. The present approach proves to be useful for other mappings with proper periodicity.

The 37-collar-spined echinostomes Echinostoma paraensei, E. caproni, and E. trivolvis are digeneans that live in the intestine of small mammals and birds. Comparative studies of the eggs of these species were done using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The egg of E. caproni was the largest of the three species studied, whereas the egg of E. trivolvis was the smallest in both length and width. The SEM study showed differences in the aboperculum region of the eggs in all three species. The TEM study showed that the eggshell of all three species consisted of three layers, but no difference in eggshell structure was observed in any species.

Co substituted Bi2212 samples of Bi 2.1 Sr 1.9 Ca(Cu 1−x Co x )O 8+ δ ( x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and Tc = 85,71,52,35 K) were prepared, and their electronic density states were characterized by a low temperature STM. The experimental results revealed that superconducting gap-like features were rapidly destroyed, while pseudogap-like features were enhanced with increasing impurities, suggesting that the origin of the pseudogap is different from that of a superconducting gap. We suggested a two phase-like model to explain the behavior of a gap map and a gap distribution function. On the other hand, spatial gap and pseudogap inhomogeneity persisted in all Co concentrations. This indicates that the origin of inhomogeneity is not related to in-plane disorder or impurities.

We have developed a new starting solution consisting of non-fluorine (F-free) yttrium salt, barium trifluoroacetate and copper octylate with focusing on a high-speed production of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− y (YBCO) coated conductors by the trifluoroacetate–metal-organic deposition (TFA–MOD) method. High critical current density ( J c ) was recognized in the YBCO films fabricated on CeO 2 buffered ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD)-Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 /Hastelloy substrates from the new starting solution at a wide range of the heating rates in the calcination process (2 → 25 °C/min, 2.3 → 2.4 MA/cm 2 ). Additionally, any degradation of J c performance (higher than 2 MA/cm 2 at 77 K, self-fields) up to about 0.4 μm per single coating was not observed in the YBCO films fabricated from the new starting solution at the heating rate of 5 °C/min in the calcination process. The relationship between fluorine contents in the single coating film and J c performance of the YBCO films suggested that the fluorine content in the single coating film determines the quality (bulk density, uniformity, etc.) of the precursor film.

YBa2Cu3O7−y (YBCO) long tapes derived from the metal-organic deposition (MOD) method using the starting solution containing trifluoroacetate (TFA) have been developed with high critical currents (Ic) over 200 A/cm-width. However, high speed production of YBCO films is simultaneously necessary to satisfy the requirements of electric power device applications in terms of cost and the amounts of the tapes. In this work, we developed a new TFA-MOD starting solution using F-free salt of Y, TFA salt of Ba and Cu-Octylate for application to the coating/calcination process and discussed several issues by using the Multi-turn (MT) Reel-to-Reel (RTR) system calcination furnace for the purpose of high throughput without degradation of the properties. The coating system was improved for uniform deposition qualities in both longitudinal and transversal directions. YBCO films using the new starting solution at the traveling rate of 10 m/h in coating/calcination by the MT-RTR calcination furnace showed the values of the critical current density of 1.6 MA/cm2 as thick as 1.5 μm at 77 K under the self fields after firing at the high heating rate in the crystallization.

The bifurcation process of the period-2 step-1 accelerator mode in the standard map has been investigated throughly. The formation of dominant 5-cycles around the central island and the subsequent period doubling of the central island have been analyzed by studying the structure of higher order symmetry lines. The present analysis confirms that analysis of the higher order symmetry structure provides a systematic approach for investigating the higher order complex structure in the standard map.

The authors are investigating the possibility of using bulk magnets in the Maglev system. It is considered that bulk magnets for the Maglev system must be composed of numerous superconducting bulks arranged in rows and columns for each magnet pole because a bulk superconductor with a high critical current density doesn't have a sufficiently large size for Maglev magnet. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the flux-trapping characteristic of superconducting bulks arranged in array. Flux-trapping experiments are performed using the melt-processed YBaCuO superconducting bulks arranged in rows and columns, in which each bulk individually has a magnetizing coil, and the bulks are magnetized by field cooling. It is found that, when the superconducting bulks are arranged in rows and columns, the trapped flux density and the generated magnetic field are smaller than those when a superconducting bulk is used alone. The rate of decreases in the trapped flux density and the generated magnetic field becomes larger with increases in the number of superconducting bulks arranged in array. The trapped flux decreases conspicuously in particular at a superconducting bulk surrounded by other superconducting bulks.

For production of low cost coated conductor tapes, the TFA-MOD (metal organic deposition using trifluoroacetates) process is one of the promising methods and textured NiW alloy substrates are expected to be a candidate for their substrates. However, the superconducting properties obtained on the NiW substrates are not high enough due to lack of understandings on YBCO grain growth on the NiW. In this work, MOD growth conditions such as molar ratio (Ba/Y) of the starting solution, the crystallization temperature and P (O 2 ) (O 2 partial pressure) especially on the NiW substrates were studied. Compositional effects of the starting solution on I c values have a trend having the highest value at Ba/Y = 1.5, which is similar to those on IBAD substrates, though the I c values of YBCO on NiW are lower. One of the differences between YBCO layers on NiW and IBAD could be explained by the significant difference in a -axis oriented grain growth. The higher temperature and/or the lower PO 2 were required to suppress the nucleation for a -axis oriented grain growth on the NiW. 1 m-long RTR production exhibited the end-to-end I c value of 221 A/cm w, which could be improved further by the optimization of the process conditions.

One of the applications of a bulk magnet in which flux is trapped in oxide superconducting bulks is a superconducting magnet for Maglev systems. We are investigating the possibility of using bulk magnets in Maglev systems. It is believed that bulk magnets far Maglev systems must be composed of superconducting bulks arranged in rows and columns for every pole, because a superconductor made of melt-processed Y-Ba-Cu-O with a high critical current density is smaller in size than the pole. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the flux-trapping characteristics of superconducting bulks in an array. Flux-trapping experiments are performed using melt-processed Y-Ba-Cu-O superconducting bulks arranged in rows and columns, in which each bulk has a magnetizing coil (an individual magnetization method) or all bulks have one magnetizing coil centered at outer bulks in an array (unified magnetization method), and the bulks are magnetized by field cooling. The magnetic field on the superconducting bulks arranged in an array is smaller than that of the single bulk arrangement because the magnetic field generated by the surrounding superconducting bulks acts to weaken the field of the surrounded suerconducting bulk. Furthermore, in the case of the individual magnetization method, the magnetic field applied is decreased during field cooling so that the trapped flux is smaller too. The rate of decrease in the individual magnetization method is larger than the rate of decrease in the unified magnetization method. It is clear that the unified magnetization method is more suitable than individual magnetization for magnetizing bulk magnets for aglev systems, which require a high magnetic field and large-scale system.

Des souris porteuses d'un deficit immunitaire (SCID), manquant de lymphocytes T et B, ont ete infectees chacune a JO avec 40 metocercoires d'Echinostoma trivolvis. Les souris du groupe teste ont recu une injection quotidienne de dexamethasone pendant deux semaines et ont ete necropsiees a J5, J8, J J 2, J 15, J20 et J30 apres infection (p. i.). Les souris temoins, non traitees par dexamethosone, ont ete chacune infectees avec 40 metocercoires d'echinostome a J0 et necropsiees les memes jours que les souris traitees. Chez les souris temoins, l'elimination des vers commence vers J8 p. i. et les vers sont completement elimines a J15 p. i., ce qui correspond au pic d'hyperplasie des cellules caliciformes vers J12 p. i. Chez les souris traitees, l'hyperplasie des cellules caliciformes est supprimee de maniere significative et les vers sont conserves jusqu'a J15 p. i. avant d'etre elimines apres la derniere injection de dexamethasone. Les mastocytes de la muqueuse, dont le nombre augmente avec l'infection par l'helminthe pour atteindre un pic vers 15 p. i., est apparemment supprime par le traitement a la dexamethasone. Chez les temoins, le nombre d'eosinophiles augmente vers J15 p. i. puis diminue. Chez les souris traitees, le nombre d'eosinophiles augmente comme chez les souris temoins, mais est supprime de maniere significative en comparaison aux temoins pendant la periode experimentale. Dons aucun des deux groupes il n'a ete observe d'elevation notable des taux seriques d'lgM, IgA et IgG determines par ELISA au cours de l'experimentation. Ces resultats indiquent que le traitement par dexamethasone retarde l'elimination d'E. trivolvis par l'intestin des souris SCID, simultanement a la suppression de l'hyperplasie des cellules caliciformes. Les auteurs en concluent que le systeme immunitaire de l'hote n'est pas implique dans l'elimination des vers, et que les cellules effectrices de l'elimination des vers sont les cellules caliciformes, dont le nombre augmente notablement lors de l'infection par E. trivolvis.

The surface tension of aqueous solutions of tetradecyl-trimethylammonium chloride (TTAC) and decyltrimethylammonium chloride (DeTAC) were measured as a function of temperature at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration under atmospheric pressure. The entropy and energy of adsorption from the monomeric state and from the micellar state and also the entropy and energy of micelle formation for TTAC were evaluated and compared with those of dodecyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (DTAC). The values of ΔMWs and ΔMWu for TTAC and DTAC systems show that the micelle formation is driven by the entropy at low temperatures and by the energy at high temperatures.