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Recently the ground vibration problems are prominent in the urban densely populated area because of the closeness of habited area with the environmental vibration sources. This paper shows the development of ground vibration isolation barrier consisting by group of circular drains embedded into the soil. Several field model test and experimental construction of isolation barrier near the commercial railway were done to verify the effectiveness of proposed technology. Effectiveness of this method was proved through these field tests. Numerical analysis by 2-D FEM with proper employment of the properties of barrier material explain the results of these field tests that shows the possibility of design of this vibration reduction barrier the site where ground vibration problems occurs.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Metal artifacts reduce the quality of CT images and increase the difficulty of interpretation. This study compared the ability of model-based iterative reconstruction and hybrid iterative reconstruction to improve CT image quality in patients with metallic dental artifacts when both techniques were combined with a metal artifact reduction algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective clinical study included 40 patients (men, 31; women, 9; mean age, 62.9 ± 12.3 years) with oral and oropharyngeal cancer who had metallic dental fillings or implants and underwent contrast-enhanced ultra-high-resolution CT of the neck. Axial CT images were reconstructed using hybrid iterative reconstruction and model-based iterative reconstruction, and the metal artifact reduction algorithm was applied to all images. Finally, hybrid iterative reconstruction + metal artifact reduction algorithms and model-based iterative reconstruction + metal artifact reduction algorithm data were obtained. In the quantitative analysis, SDs were measured in ROIs over the apex of the tongue (metal artifacts) and nuchal muscle (no metal artifacts) and were used to calculate the metal artifact indexes. In a qualitative analysis, 3 radiologists blinded to the patients’ conditions assessed the image-quality scores of metal artifact reduction and structural depictions. RESULTS: Hybrid iterative reconstruction + metal artifact reduction algorithms and model-based iterative reconstruction + metal artifact reduction algorithms yielded significantly different metal artifact indexes of 82.2 and 73.6, respectively (95% CI, 2.6–14.7; P < .01). The latter algorithms resulted in significant reduction in metal artifacts and significantly improved structural depictions(P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Model-based iterative reconstruction + metal artifact reduction algorithms significantly reduced the artifacts and improved the image quality of structural depictions on neck CT images.

It is well-known that aldehydes resulting from the in vivo oxidation of primary alcohols are toxic. Here, we experimentally demonstrate in rat models that the dipeptide cysteinylglycine (CG), formed in vivo from its oxidized product, cystinyl-bis-glycine (CbG), will sequester acetaldehyde and isoamyl aldehyde, two model aldehydes resulting from the oxidation of ethanol and isoamyl alcohol, respectively, and excrete them in urine as their respective conjugation products with CG. These data suggest that a whole series of toxic aldehydes can be sequestered and detoxified by CG and may prevent the flushing syndrome exhibited by individuals with a defective enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to acetate. The data also suggest the possibility of alleviating the hangover syndrome we believe to be caused by aldehydes, such as isoamyl aldehyde derived from short, branched-chain alcohols, present as congeners in certain alcoholic beverages. The sequestration of other toxic agents, such as cyanide, that can react with...

Background We had reported on the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) in normal children from the premature/neonatal period to the adolescence period by using two-dimensional echocardiography, and formulated equations to evaluate normal LVDd values by using body height as an index. There was an inflection point at around birth that seemed relevant to the fetal and neonatal periods for the relation of LVDd and body height. Methods We aimed to reveal the true inflection point and its meaning by using change point regression analysis. The study group consisted of 421 neonates and infants. The ages at examination ranged from 24 weeks' gestation to 1 year after birth. The subjects' body heights at examination were between 31 and 75 cm. Results The analysis showed no definite inflection point in height, and a flat bottom was observed between body heights of 48 and 55 cm. The inflection range seemed to mean the duration of the neonatal period, which connects the fetal and infantile periods. Conclusion The results revealed that neonates reach the infantile period slower than usually imagined, and the end of the neonatal period may be at the age when the body height is around 55 cm- in other words, at 2 months after birth. This manuscript might be the first one to consider the definition of the neonatal period using cardiovascular methods.

Introduction/Background Chemo-resistant ovarian cancer is a highly fatal disease and a new strategy is necessary to improve the prognosis. The oncogenic lethal small molecule erastin triggers a unique iron-dependent form of cell death termed ‘ferroptosis’. This new type of programmed cell death (PCD) is expected to induce eradication of chemotherapeutic resistant cancer cells. We demonstrated this new form of cell death in ovarian cancer cells. Methodology The epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines were treated with erastin, cisplatin (CDDP) and deferoxamine (DFO). Cell viability, glutathione (GSH) concentrations and whole (cytosolic and lipid) ROS production were assessed. The expression of protein markers for other types of PCD was identified by using western blotting. Results TOV-21G cells were the most sensitive to erastin among four ovarian cancer cell lines. The sensitivity to erastin was moderate in SKOV3ip1 cells, and resistant in CaOV3 and KOC-7C cells. DFO rescued growth inhibition induced by erastin. Erastin reduced intracellular GSH level, resulting in increase of whole ROS in TOV-21G cells. The basal GSH level was lower and the basal ROS level was higher in TOV-21G cells than KOC-7C cells. The expression of protein markers for apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy were not changed by erastin. Growth inhibition induced by CDDP was not rescued by DFO. A low-dose erastin combined with CDDP remarkably inhibited cell growth in TOV-21G cells. Conclusion Erastin induced ferroptosis in ovarian cancear cells of which intracellular GSH level was low. Ferroptosis had great potential to become a new approach in chemotherapies of ovarian cancer. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

Among the mechanisms responsible for cognitive dysfunction in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are albuminuria and oxidative stress. However, there may be other causes not yet identified. In fact, the full relevance of CKD patient drug use and its relationship to dementia has hardly been barely investigated. We identified drugs affecting cognitive function in CKD patients by analyzing the spontaneous reporting system in Japan using

For enhancing the energy efficiency of a manufacturing system as a whole, it is critical to optimize energy consumption including that in the utility systems, which supplies compressed air, and that in each production line. However, there has been no progress in the research of methods for optimization. Hence, in this research, a method, which is a hybrid of a manufacturing system simulation and computational fluid dynamics simulation, is proposed for evaluating the operation of both production lines and compressed air systems simultaneously. The proposed method is used to evaluate the deficiencies and excesses in the supply from a compressed air system and the reliability of the supply of a compressed air system in response to the daily production schedule. Moreover, the energy consumption per unit of production throughput is optimized for various compressed air feed.

We have measured the thermal conductivity in the frustrated two-leg spin ladder system of Bi(Cu1−xZnx)2PO6 single crystals with x = 0 and 0.02 with the spin quantum number S = 1/2 to investigate th...

Concerning a number of different kinds of physically vapor deposited (PVD) hard coatings on different substrates, four mechanical parameters were obtained using a series of new systematic measurement techniques which have been established by the authors. They were the interface toughness, film toughness, Young's modulus of and residual strain in film. The results were quantitatively compared with the results of conventional evaluation such as the critical load obtained by scratch tests and Young's modulus by indentation tests. The reasons for the ambiguities and insensitivity of the scratch test results were able to be clearly seen through the four parameters. Possible error in Young's modulus evaluated by indentation was also quantitatively examined.

Short period AlN/GaN quantum cascade (QC) laser structures that utilize a polarization field for electron injection were fabricated by hot wall epitaxy. A (GaN) n /(AlN) 1 short period superlattice with several molecular layers of AlN was designed in order to realize a mid-infrared laser. The QC structures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, atomic force microscopy and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy observation. The XRD patterns and cross-sectional TEM images showed that a well-controlled quantum cascade structure could be prepared by hot wall epitaxy without inter-diffusion of the layers.

[(AlN) 1 /(GaN) n 1 ] m /(AlN)n2-based quantum wells (QWs) constructed by periodically introducing several atomic layers of AlN into (AlN) 1 /(GaN) n 1 ) short-period superlattices have a great potential for the application to mid-infrared quantum-cascade lasers. Effective electron injection from the first to second subbands in the (AlN) 1 /(GaN) n 1 short-period superlattice is expected through the inserted (AlM) n 2 layer which has a large polarization field. The [(AlN) 1 /(GaN) n 1 ] m /(AlN) n 2 QWs were prepared by hot wall epitaxy, and the structure was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The quality of [(AlN) 1 /(GaN) n 1 ] m /(AlN) n 2 QW depends significantly on the quality of GaN buffer layer, and high-quality QW structures were prepared on GaN films grown on Al 2 O 3 (0001).

[(AlN)1/(GaN)n1]m/(AlN)n2 quantum-cascade (QC) structures were prepared by hot wall epitaxy for midinfrared laser application, periodically inserting several atomiclayers of AlN into (AlN)1/(GaN)n1 short period superlattices. The (AlN)1/(GaN)n1 short-period superlattice has a large first-subband broadening, and effective population inversion between first and second subbands is expected through the electron injection into the second subband. The AlN/GaN quantum-well system grown to [0001] direction shows a large piezo-electric effect, and the effective electron injection into the second subband is expected by the periodically inserted AlN layers. The QC structure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The (0002) X-ray diffraction pattern showed good agreement with the theoretical one, and (10—14) reciprocal mapping of the cascade structure showed the QC structure was grown coherently on the GaN buffer layer.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) regulate transcription in a ligand-dependent way through two types of coactivator complexes: the p160/CBP histone acetyl transferase (HAT) complex and the DRIP/TRAP/SMCC complex without HAT activity. Here we identified a large human (h) coactivator complex necessary for the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) transactivation. This complex contains the GCN5 HAT, the c-Myc interacting protein TRRAP/PAF400, TAF(II)30, and other subunits. Similarly to known TFTC (TBP-free TAF(II)-containing)-type HAT complexes (hTFTC, hPCAF, and hSTAGA), TRRP directly interacted with liganded ER alpha, or other NRs. ER alpha transactivation was enhanced by the purified complex in vitro. Antisense TRRAP RNA inhibited estrogen-dependent cell growth of breast cancer cells. Thus, the isolated TFTC-type HAT complex acts as a third class of coactivator complex for NR function.

A series of AlN/GaN short-period superlattices with monolayer AlN were prepared by hot-wall epitaxy. The superlattice structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction through a comparison between the measured diffraction curves and simulated ones, which indicates good controllability of the HWE technique. Interband photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra were measured. Relatively strong PL emissions compared with conventional AlGaN/GaN superlattices were observed, which can be attributed to the small piezoelectric effect. A small Stokes shift should be noted, which may suggest small interface fluctuation in consistence with the XRD observation. The energy shifts of the band-edge emission with the GaN well thickness agree well with the calculated results within the envelope wave-function framework at least for the well thickness above 2 nm . Optical device applications such as light emitting devices in the ultraviolet and mid-infrared regions via interband and intersubband electron transitions are discussed.

(Molecular Cell 9, 553–562; March 2002)Recently, we were made aware that images in Figures 1B, 2F, and 3E were inappropriately manipulated such that they did not reflect the actual experimental data they claimed to represent. The experiments and figure preparation were done in the nuclear signaling laboratory in the IMCB. Because of the data handling issues, we wish to retract this paper and to sincerely apologize to the scientific community for any potential harm we may have caused.

We measured cerebral blood flow, oxygen metabolism, glucose utilization, and dopamine metabolism in the brain of a patient with corticobasal degeneration using positron emission tomography (PET). The clinical picture is distinctive, comprising features referable to both cortical and basal ganglionic dysfunction. Brain imagings of glucose and dopamine metabolism can demonstrate greater abnormalities in the cerebral cortex and in the striatum contralateral to the more affected side than those of blood flow and oxygen metabolism. This unique combination study measuring both cerebral glucose utilization and dopamine metabolism in the nigrostriatal system can provide efficient information about the dysfunctions which are correlated with individual clinical symptoms, and this study is essential to diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration.

We studied the chronic effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in a patient with spinocerebellar degeneration by measuring cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRG1c) using 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET). A 56-year-old female, who had suffered from progressive ataxia for 2 years, was treated by intravenous administration of 2 mg TRH for 3 weeks, and CMRG1c of the brain was measured before and after treatment. CMRG1c was markedly decreased in the cerebellum and there was no significant difference before and after the treatment, i.e. mean CMRG1c values were 4.92 and 4.90 mg/100 g/min, and the ratios of the cerebellum versus the frontal cortex were 0.50 and 0.51, respectively. The degree of disequilibrium of her body examined with stabilography became better by the 19th day and further improved by the 26th day after the start of TRH treatment. Based on the present study we conclude that long-term administration of TRH did not improve CMRG1c in the cerebellum, but evidently improved the sway of gravity center by stabilography. We speculate that the chronic effect of TRH was not necessarily due to an improvement of cerebellar function, because TRH receptors are widely distributed throughout the central nervous system.

This article examines the adoption of behaviors of the teen drug and delinquent subcultures among Asian Pacific youth within the framework of the theory of segmented assimilation. Alejandro Portes ...

This study uses data from the Asian Student Drug Survey to examine the extent to which social control and peer cluster theories explain drug and alcohol use among students of various Asian American subgroups. The data suggest that drug and alcohol use differs significantly among the various subgroups. Pacific Islander and Filipino American youths have the highest rates, whereas Chinese American youths have the lowest rates of use. Among some ethnic groups, families, friends, and teachers are unable to keep youths from using drugs and alcohol. Even so, families play an important role for Chinese and Asian Indians, and teachers are important in keeping Southeast Asians from drug and alcohol use. Commitment to school and to high moral standards also insulates youths from drug and alcohol use. Contrary to social control theory, however, use of drugs and alcohol by peers strongly affects alcohol and drug use. The data suggest that youths of all ethnic groups tend to use drugs and alcohol when their peers have tried marijuana, have gotten drunk, have been gang members, or have encouraged marijuana use. In general, the data are consistent with social control theory, with the exception of peer influence on drug and alcohol use as predicted by peer cluster theory.

We examined the sequential changes in neurotensin receptors in the striatum and substantia nigra of mouse brains lesioned with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by receptor autoradiography, in comparison with the alterations in dopamine uptake sites. The mice received four intraperitoneal injections of MPTP (10 mg/kg) at 1-h intervals and then the brains were analyzed at 6 h and 1, 3, 7, and 21 days after the treatments. [3H]Neurotensin and [3H]mazindol were used to label neurotensin receptors and dopamine uptake sites, respectively. [3H]Neurotensin binding was significantly decreased in the striatum from 6 h to 21 days after MPTP treatment. In the substantia nigra, pars reticulata also showed a significant decrease in [3H]neurotensin binding from 3 to 21 days post-MPTP treatment. However, no significant change in [3H]neurotensin binding was observed in the pars compacta even after 21 days. On the other hand, [3H]mazindol binding was markedly decreased in the striatum and substantia nigra from 6 h to 21 days after MPTP treatment. These results indicate that neurotoxin MPTP can produce a severe decrease in neurotensin receptors and dopamine uptake sites in the striatum and substantia nigra of mice. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the dysfunction in neurotensin receptors may be involved in the degenerative processes causing Parkinson's disease.

We investigated the chronological changes of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and dopamine uptake sites in the striatum and substantia nigra of mouse brain treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by quantitative autoradiography using [ 3 H ]SCH23390, [ 3 H ]raclopride and [ 3 H ]mazindol, respectively. The mice received i.p. injections of MPTP (10 mg/kg) four times at intervals of 60 min, the brains were analyzed at 6 h and 1, 3, 7 and 21 days after the last the injection. Dopamine D2 receptor binding activity was significantly decreased in the substantia nigra from 7 to 21 days after MPTP administration, whereas such binding activity was significantly increased in the medial part of the striatum at 21 days. There was no alteration of dopamine D1 receptor binding activity in either the striatum or the substantia nigra for the 21 days. The number of dopamine uptake sites gradually decreased in the striatum and the substantia nigra, starting at 6 h after MPTP administration, and the lowest levels of binding activity were observed at 3 and 7 days in the striatum (18% of the control values in the medial part and 30% in the lateral part) and at 1 day in the substantia nigra (20% of the control values). These results indicate that severe functional damage to the dopamine uptake sites occurs in the striatum and the substantia nigra, starting at an early stage after MPTP treatment. Our findings also demonstrate the compensatory up-regulation in dopamine D2 receptors, but not dopamine D1 receptors, in the striatum after MPTP treatment. Furthermore, our results support the existence of dopamine D2 receptors, but not dopamine D1 receptors, on the nigral neurons. The present findings suggest that there are differential vulnerabilities to MPTP toxicity in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic receptor systems of mouse brain.

A high-temperature, oxygen compatible, and compact laser molecular beam epitaxy (laser MBE) system has been developed. The 1.06 μm infrared light from a continuous wave neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used to achieve a wide range and rapid control of substrate temperature in ultrahigh vacuum and at up to 1 atm oxygen pressure. The maximum usable temperature was limited to 1453 °C by the melting point of the nickel sample holder. To our knowledge, this is the highest temperature reported for pulsed laser deposition of oxide films. The efficient laser heating combined with temperature monitoring by a pyrometer and feedback control of the Nd:YAG laser power by a personal computer made it possible to regulate the substrate temperature accurately and to achieve high sample heating and cooling rates. The oxygen pressure and ablation laser triggering were also controlled by the computer. The accurate growth parameter control was combined with real-time in situ surface structure monitor...

AgNiO2, a model compound of an S=1/2 triangular lattice, was studied by muon spin relaxation in addition to ac, dc susceptibility, electrical resistivity and neutron diffraction. The relaxation rate shows a sharp peak at around TN=28 K followed by a sudden decrease of initial asymmetry indicating a magnetic ordering. Three internal fields ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 T were obtained from the muon precession period. However, a neutron diffraction experiment failed to detect any magnetic order at low temperatures. From these results, it was concluded that magnetic coherence is confined to small domain compared with the coherence length of neutron diffraction due to spin frustration.

La radiosensibilite des fibroblastes diploides humains est liee a l'expression de p53, et a la perte de cellules en cycle resultant d'un arret irreversible en phase G 1 ; dans les cellules n'ayant pas une fonction p53 normale, on ne constate aucun arret, et elles sont plus radio-resistantes. Dans des conditions favorables a la reparation de lesions potentiellement lethales dues a l'irradiation, la proportion de cellules bloquees en phase G 1 baisse, et les chances de survie sont accrues. Bien differente est la reaction des cellules cancereuses humaines. Le blocage par irradiation en phase G 1 est minime ou inexistant dans les cellules cancereuses p53+, et la perte de la fonction normale p53 n'a pas d'effet constant sur leur radiosensibilite. Ces resultats laissent penser que l'expression de p53 n'est pas un indice fiable permettant de prevoir la reaction des tumeurs solides a la radiotherapie.

Although an abundance of anecdotal and journalistic articles about Asian Americans as a model minority has appeared in the past two decades, a review of the literature revealed surprisingly few empirical studies on this subject. Specifically, no research has been done on whether Asian Americans perceive themselves as a model minority and how they are perceived by other racial groups. In this paper, the results of a sample survey of a large public land-grant university on Asian Americans' self-perceptions and other racial groups' perceptions of Asian Americans in terms of their preparedness for college, motivation, and expectations of future career success are reported. Using whites as a comparison group, it was found that Asian Americans perceived themselves as more prepared, motivated and more likely to have greater career success than whites. Also, the perceptions that Asian Americans were superior to whites in those three areas were shared by whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. In contrast, the other three minority groups each viewed itself as inferior to whites in each of the three areas measured, and were so viewed by the other racial groups as well. The implications of these findings are explored.

Prebreakdown phenomena in dielectric liquids which have various molecular structure are observed in detail for point-to-plane electrode configuration under an impulse voltage condition. Experiments are carried out by using a high-speed schlieren photography and a current measurement system by LED simultaneously.

We report a case with bilateral paramedian thalamic infarcts. The patient showed a dramatic personality change characterized by childish behavior and euphoria; which remained unchanged for 2 years after the onset. 'Vorbeireden' characterized by approximate answers was also observed. Anterograde amnesia had quite improved after 2 years, while retrograde amnesia for 1 year prior to the stroke onset and vertical gaze palsy remained unchanged. An MRI scan demonstrated bilateral medial thalamic and right midbrain infarcts without other lesions in the brain. A position emission tomography study showed that cerebral metabolic rate for glucose was markedly decreased in both thalami and in the cerebellum, and only slightly decreased in the parietal and occipital cortical regions. Cerebral metabolic rates of glucose in the frontal and temporal cortices were within normal range. The paramedian thalamic lesions per se may be responsible for the patient's personality change, 'Vorbeireden', and amnesia.

We present DC transport measurements of the valence to conduction band (Zener) tunneling current in ap–i–ndiode with an ultrathin intrinsic layer containing a (GaAs)5/(AlAs)2multi-quantum well structure. According to recent theoretical predictions, the DC current should show maxima as a function of the reverse bias voltage that reflect the formation of Wannier–Stark resonances. So far, Wannier–Stark resonances have only been observed optically and never in a regime of strong Zener tunneling. Experimentally, we find the second derivative of the current-voltage characteristics to show a weak oscillatory structure indeed, indicating the existence of Wannier–Stark resonances in Zener tunneling.

The lymphoproliferation (lpr) mutation causes the defective expression of Fas Ag, which normally transduces an apoptotic signal into cells. T cells from mice homozygous for this mutation overexpress the counter-receptor, Fas ligand. In this study, we investigated the effects and regulatory influences attributable to Fas ligand overexpression on lymphocyte development to clarify the role of Fas system-mediated apoptosis in lymphopoiesis in vivo. Nonirradiated severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice grafted with a fetal thymus (FT) plus fetal liver cells (FLC) from MRL-lpr/lpr mice (Fas Ag-defective mice), or with FT from C3H-gld/gld mice (Fas ligand-defective mice) plus FLC from C3H +/+ mice, developed FLC-derived T and B cells. In contrast, SCID mice grafted with FT from MRL-lpr/lpr Thy-1.1 mice plus FLC from MRL +/+ Thy-1.2 mice (chimera 1) developed few FLC-derived T and B cells in the spleen, and the thymus of the recipients also contained few FLC-derived T cells. In addition, when SCID mice grafted with FT from MRL-lpr/lpr Thy-1.2 mice (H-2k) were co-transplanted with FLC from C57BL/10 Thy-1.1 mice (H-2b) (chimera 2), FLC-derived T and B cells developed normally. Thy-1.1 + cells from chimera 1 expressed Fas ligand mRNA about threefold higher than those from chimera 2, and seven- to eightfold higher than Thy-1.2+ cells from SCID mice grafted with FT from MRL +/+ Thy-1.2 mice by Northern blot analysis. These findings indicate that overexpression of Fas ligand on T cells significantly impairs both T and B cell development. Furthermore, the Fas ligand overexpression sufficient to impair lymphopoiesis appears to require MHC-restricted T cell activation. These results suggest that the Fas system suppresses lymphopoiesis in vivo.

Previous studies have evaluated left ventricular dimensions in children using two-dimensional echocardiography, but there is little information on gender differences and on the longitudinal development of the dimensions of the left ventricle. Our objective was to assess, by two-dimensional echocardiography, the normal size of the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) in children, its differences by sex, and the rate of its development using height, weight, and body surface area as indices. The study group consisted of 437 patients (264 males, 173 females) with a history of Kawasaki disease but with no coronary artery lesions, as determined by repeated echocardiographic and other examinations. A total of 1595 examinations were done over an average of 6.7 years. The increase in LVDd was significantly more rapid in (1) children below 2 years of age than in older children of either sex and (2) in males who were 11 and 12 years old than in males who were 10 years old. Significant gender differences were observed in the increase in LVDd by all indices (p < 0.001).

It has been predicted that resonances between Stark-ladder states and the Zener tunneling current gives rise to oscillatory structure in the derivative of the Zener current. In order to clarify the prediction, we carried out measurements in a p-i-n diode whose intrinsic region consists of a very thin superlattice, and observed oscillatory structure in the second derivative of the current. Electroreflectance (ER) measurements in the same structure were carried out to clarify the relation between the oscillatory structure in the Zener tunneling current and Stark-ladders. The results of the ER measurements are in good agreement with the calculated Zener current.

The incommensurately modulated structure of the synthetic compound Cu2.12V4O11, Mr = 514.48, has been determined based on 8111 intensity data of 2763 main, 4863 1st-order and 485 2nd-order satellite reflections; R = 0.123, Rw = 0.041. For 5376 observed reflections, R = 0.042 and Rw = 0.039. The compound crystallizes monoclinic in the superspace group Cm(0, γ, 0) [γ = 0.2285(1)] with lattice Parameters a = 15.3004(2) Å, b = 3.60866(9) Å, c = 7.33566(9) Å, β = 101.851(1)°; V = 396.40(1) Å3, Z = 2, Dx = 4.310 Mgm−3. The double chains of edge-shared VO6 octahedra along [010] are connected through common corners and form layers V4O11 parallel to (001), between which the Cu ions are accomodated within two kinds of tunnels running parallel to [010]. While the tetrahedral Cu sites in one tunnel are occupied almost at random, the occupancies and y coordinates of those in the other tunnel are modulated in such a way, that the slight over-population of Cu ions may not cause short Cu–Cu distances. The positional modulation of V and O sites can be interpreted as a slight wavy deformation of the V4O11 layer as a whole.

In this second part of a three-part series presenting a symbolic interactionist (SI) theory of fashion, the theory presented in part one is used to demonstrate the process by which a theory can be constructed, illustrating the movement through the contexts of discovery, theoretical synthesis, and formalization in the model of scientific inquiry presented by Nagasawa, Kaiser and Hutton (1989). This paper uses theoretical synthesis to move us from the concrete realm to abstractions about the fashion process. Generalizations are derived and combined with existing theoretical statements, and then conjectures are made to provide a theoretical "leap. " Lastly, verbal statements of fashion axioms are subjected to a process of formalization for purposes of deriving hypotheses. Relationships among axioms and derived theorems are provided, and examples from the literature demonstrating the theory's utility are considered.

Previously, we reported that the expression of hsp65 within and on host macrophages correlates closely with protection against infection with Toxoplasma gondii in mice. Herein, we propose that gamma delta T cells play a crucial role in the induction of hsp65 and also in the protective immune response to T. gondii. Intraperitoneal inoculation with this protozoan resulted in hsp65 being expressed on and in host peritoneal macrophages and resulted in an increase of T cells bearing the gamma delta receptor with Thy-1+ and Thy-1- phenotypes in the peritoneal cavity and spleen. When mice were depleted of gamma delta T cells by the administration of a mAb, hsp65 expression was markedly decreased. In contrast, the expression of this protein was rather enhanced and gamma delta T cells were prominently expanded in mice depleted of alpha beta T cells. The protection in mice treated with the mAb paralleled the magnitude of hsp65 expression. Mice depleted of gamma delta T cells died most frequently in the early stages of infection, whereas most of those depleted of alpha beta T cells survived the early stages of lethal infection with T. gondii. However, the latter group of mice did not definitely control the T. gondii infection in its late stages. IFN-gamma was not essential for either the expression of hsp65 or the resistance induced by gamma delta T cells, as demonstrated in mice treated with mAb to murine IFN-gamma. These findings indicated that gamma delta T cells having both the Thy-1+ and Thy-1- phenotypes contribute to hsp65 expression within and on macrophages in an IFN-gamma-independent manner. This, in turn, plays a role in the development of protective immunity during the early stage of this parasitic infection.

In this first part of a three-part series explaining fashion as a social process, a symbolic interactionist (SI) theory is presented to explain why appearance styles continue to emerge, be adopted and change. Unlike existing theories that tend to explain how a particular style diffuses through a social system, this theory draws on SI and extracts underlying concepts that, we propose, instigate and perpetuate changes in appearance styles: ambivalence, symbolic ambiguity, and negotiation. Five principles and associated theoretical statements are developed to explain fashion in general, followed by a more specific look at transitional cultural contexts, using the contemporary, U.S. context for the purpose of illustration.

In order to investigate the spin state of azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, we have measured the thermal conductivity along the c-axis, $\kappa$c, perpendicular to the spin diamond-chains. It has been found that the temperature dependence of $\kappa$c shows a broad peak at ~ 100 K, which is explained as being due to the strong phonon-scattering by the strong spin-fluctuation owing to the spin frustration at low temperatures below ~ 100 K. Furthermore, it has been found that the temperature dependence of $\kappa$c shows another peak at low temperatures below 20 K and that $\kappa$c is suppressed by the application of magnetic field along the c-axis at low temperatures below ~ 35 K. In high magnetic fields above ~ 8 T at low temperatures below ~ 6 K, it has been found that $\kappa$c increases with increasing field. The present results have indicated that both spin-singlet dimers with a spin gap of ~ 35 K and antiferromagnetically correlated spin-chains with the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of ~ 5.4 K are formed at low temperatures, which is consistent with the recent conclusion by Jeschke et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 217201 (2011)] that the ground state of spins in azurite in zero field is a spin-fluid one. In addition, a new quantum critical line in magnetic fields at temperatures above 3 K has been proposed to exist., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of the Physical Society of Japan

The gld mouse represents a fascinating animal model of autoimmune disease, which is characterized by massive development of Thy-1.2+B220+ CD4-CD8- cells. These cells thus have double positive markers for T and B cells, but are double negative for CD4 and CD8 markers and are thus designated DN cells in the present context. An additional important feature in gld mice is a defect in expression of Fas ligand. To investigate the regulatory role of bone marrow-derived cells for the development of these DN cells and of gld autoimmunity, we constructed chimeric mice transplanted with fetal liver cells or fetal thymus from gld mice into nonirradiated severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. These chimeric mice regenerated, developed both these DN cells and the gld autoimmune syndrome and also generalized lymphoproliferative disorders. However, when fetal liver cells from both gld and non-gld mice (C57BL/10 Thy-1.1 mice) were co-transplanted into SCID mice, the development of DN cells was apparently inhibited. Further, this inhibition was also seen in SCID mice that had been grafted with both gld and non-gld fetal thymus revealing the pivotal role played by T cells in development of DN cells. When B cells purified from non-gld (C3H+/+) mice were transplanted into SCID mice grafted with gld fetal thymus, the development of DN cells was not inhibited. Taken together, these findings indicate that T cells from non-gld mice inhibit the expression of gld features, e.g., lymphoproliferation, immune-based nephritic disease, and autoantibody production. These findings also suggest that the Fas ligand is selectively expressed on T cells.

The k-space resolution function of a triple-crystal diffractometer is calculated for an arrangement of three perfect silicon single crystals Bragg diffracting in nondispersive Laue geometry. A comparison is made with the results of measurements using synchrotron radiation in the energy range from 80 to 150 keV. In this case, absorption is very weak and according to dynamical theory the width of the diffraction pattern of thick perfect single crystals is proportional to the wavelength λ, whereas its Lorentzian tails are proportional to λ2. Together with the fact that the Bragg angles are only of the order of 2°, this leads to a concentration of the starlike k-space resolution function into a narrow band parallel to the reciprocal-lattice vector G. For diffraction of 80 keV synchrotron radiation at the silicon 111 reflection, the full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the intensity distribution in the scattering plane is 1.1 × 10−5 A−1 perpendicular to G and 2.2 × 10−4 A−1 parallel to G. The observed differences in the contributions from monochromator and analyzer crystal to the resolution function are explained by the finite width of the electronic window of the detector counting chain and the non-Bragg scattering contribution from the crystals. If annealed Czochralski-grown silicon single crystals with a mosaicity of ~3′′ are used as monochromator and analyzer, the resolution is reduced by one order of magnitude, but for studies of imperfect samples or of diffuse scattering large gains in intensity can be accomplished this way.

Late airway changes are frequently observed in long-term surviving rat lung allografts. In this present study, we investigate this problem using the mixed lymphocyte reaction, graft-versus-host assay (popliteal lymph node assay), skin grafting from the donor strain to the lung allograft recipient, and histology to evaluate this problem. The results show that spleen cells from recipient rats with long-term surviving lung allografts possessed alloreactivity in mixed lymphocyte reaction against both donor and third-party ACI antigens. Suppressor cell activity was not detected in spleen cells from these recipient rats. The popliteal lymph node assay showed that the response to recipient spleen cells was detectable but weaker than that of naive spleen cells from the same strain. Mean survival time of skin grafts from the donor strain to long-term allograft survivors was significantly longer than that between donor and recipient strains. Chest roentgenograms revealed opacification of long-term surviving lung allografts at 2 to 3 wk after skin transplantation that was coincident with the rejection of the skin grafts, and histologic examination of the lung allografts revealed changes compatible with acute rejection. We conclude that alloreactivity can be demonstrated in rats with long-term surviving lung allografts and suggest that late airway changes in these lungs are immunologically mediated.