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This article examines the state of religion in contemporary Japan from the perspective of consumerism and marketization, focusing on the influence spirituality movements have had on the established religious traditions of Buddhism and Shinto as well as traditional practices such as visiting family graves. By introducing statistical data, the article analyzes the popular notion of shifts “away from temples” and “away from shrines” in Japanese society. As a case study, the article discusses Ehara Hiroyuki and his use of media such as television and magazines, which situates his notion of spirituality within a religious marketplace dominated by the fluidity of individual choice. These trends are not alternatives to the religious practices and worldviews of traditional religions, but rather are in continuity with dominant social values such as reverence of ancestors.

The development of small molecule inhibitors of programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) has drawn research interest for the treatment of cancer. Recently, we reported the discovery of a novel dimeric core small molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. In an effort to discover more potent inhibitors, we further explored the dimeric core scaffold. Our investigations of the structure-activity-relationship revealed that introduction of lipophilic substituents onto one of the di-alkoxylated phenyl rings improved binding affinities to PD-L1, and inhibitory activities of PD-1/PD-L1 in cellular assays. Furthermore, conversion of the ether linker part to an olefin linker not only improved binding affinity but also led to slow dissociation binding kinetics. We also explored more potent, as well as downsized, scaffolds. Compounds bearing a linear chain in place of one of the di-alkoxylated phenyl rings exhibited good binding affinity with improved ligand efficiency (LE). Representative compounds demonstrated potent inhibitory activities of PD-1/PD-L1 in the submicromolar range in cellular assays as well as cellular function in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay with efficacy comparable to anti-PD-1 antibody. Our results provide applicable information for the design of more potent inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

In the published standards, selection criteria for bolt materials for high temperature and high pressure environments (exceeding 540°C (1000°F) and 300 lb) has not been specified. In addition, it seems that there are few studies that summarize how the initial bolt load and the flange nominal diameter affect the change over time of the bolt load under a high temperature environment. This paper proposed formulas to calculate the changes over time in bolt stress and gasket stress easily due to bolt creep by applying the mechanical relationship of bolted flange joint. The changes over time in the bolt stress and the gasket stress calculated by the proposed formulas were fairly good agreement with the FEM and the experiments. By utilizing proposed formulas, it is possible to predict when retightening should be carried out for bolted flange joints operated continuously for a long period of time. Furthermore, in the present paper, the effects of initial bolt load, internal pressure, bolt materials, and flange nominal diameters on the sealing performance under high temperature environments are clarified by utilizing proposed formulas and FEM. As a result, this paper shows that the increasing initial bolt load against bolt creep under a high temperature environment can not be expected to be effective, and that the size of internal pressure and flange nominal diameter has small effects on the change over time of bolt load.

The WHO's Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework is based on an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between health and education, and the need to take a holistic approach to health promotion in schools. We aim to clarify the degree to which the HPS framework is reflected in the national policies of eight target countries and the issues surrounding its successful implementation.Date were collected through two expert workshops with participants from eight Asian countries: Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand. In the first workshop, data collected on national policy were mapped against the HPS framework. From this, key issues were identified, and follow-up data collection was conducted in each country for a second workshop.We identified a policy shift toward the HPS framework in six out of the eight countries. Neither Japan nor Korea had changed their national policy frameworks to reflect an HPS approach; however, in the latter, model programs had been introduced at a local level. We identified various barriers to successful implementation, especially in relation to mental health and wellbeing.Given the recent shift toward the HPS approach in six out of the eight countries in this study, there is a need to conduct research to assess the impact of this framework on the health and wellbeing of students and school staff. At the same time, we call for more dialog in the context of Japan to explore the possible benefits of introducing the HPS framework into schools.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive USA300 clone is a highly pathogenic and global epidemic community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) clone. Athletes are particularly vulnerable to CA-MRSA infection because of the frequency of skin trauma, close-contact situations, and sharing of equipment that is customary in the athletic setting. We experienced a case of Japanese collegiate football player with septic pulmonary emboli secondary to infectious iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis caused by the USA300 clone. Here, we screened the nasal carriage of USA300 clone colonization among asymptomatic teammate of the patient to elucidate the infection route. Among 69 nasal samples, CA-MRSA strains were found in 5.8% (four samples). Molecular epidemiological analyses showed that three of the CA-MRSA strains were USA300 clone. Furthermore, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that all nasal USA300 clones showed 100% identity with the USA300 clone isolated from their teammate with critical infection. Our findings indicate that nasal colonization of the PVL-positive CA-MRSA, especially USA300 clone, pose a threat among contact sport athletes in Japan likewise other countries. An immediate infection control strategy for contact sport athletes is necessary to prevent outbreaks of PVL-positive CA-MRSA infections.

The development of small molecule inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 is eagerly anticipated for treatment of cancer. We focused on the symmetry of the ternary complex structure of reported small molecule ligands and hPD-L1 homodimers, and designed partially- or fully-symmetric compounds for more potent inhibitors. The design of the new compounds was guided by our hypothesis that the designed symmetric compound would induce a flip of sidechain of ATyr56 protein residue to form a new cavity. The designed compound 4 exhibited substantially increased binding affinity to hPD-L1, as well as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory activity in physiological conditions. Compound 4 also showed a dose-dependent increase in IFN-γ secretion levels in a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. These results not only indicate the feasibility of targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway with small molecules, but illustrate the applicability of the symmetry-based ligand design as an attractive methodology for targeting protein-protein interaction stabilizers.

Acute infectious endocarditis (IE) is a complex disease that presents as a serious clinical condition associated with a high mortality rate, especially due to intracranial hemorrhaging (ICH). The most common causative organism is Staphylococcus aureus. We herein report a patient with ICH following subacute IE with a positive blood culture for Cardiobacterium hominis. A review of the existing literature revealed that acute IE associated with Cardiobacterium has been reported to cause ICH in only seven previous cases. Prolonged culture-specific antibiotic therapy along with extended surveillance of blood culture is therefore essential for timely intervention.

Multiple lines of evidence indicate that antipsychotic agents could affect brain structures of schizophrenia patients. However, the effect of antipsychotic dosage or type on brain structure is uncertain. The present study retrospectively analyzed brain computed tomography (CT) images from a psychiatric hospital to examine the relationship between cumulative dose of antipsychotics and brain volume reduction in schizophrenia patients. A total of 43 patients with repeated relapse episode of psychosis were included and CT scans that were performed an average of 3.2 times per patient during nearly 13 years of follow-up were analyzed. The results revealed significant positive relationships of expansion of cerebrospinal fluid space with cumulative dosage of all antipsychotics and that of typical antipsychotics. Patients treated with antipsychotics including typical antipsychotics exhibited a greater volume reduction compared to patients treated with only atypical antipsychotics. The present study was one of the longest longitudinal studies examining the effects of antipsychotics on brain volume in schizophrenia patients. These results suggest a relation between cumulative lifetime antipsychotic dosage and progressive brain volume reduction in patients with schizophrenia. However, the effects of specific agent on brain structure are still uncertain, and more detailed analysis is needed.

Dopamine supersensitivity psychosis (DSP) in patients with schizophrenia is induced by treatment with a high dosage of antipsychotics for a long time period, and it is characterized by unstable psychotic symptoms. The upregulation of dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) provoked by antipsychotics underlies DSP. Aripiprazole does not cause an excessive blockade of DRD2 and is less likely to upregulate DRD2 by aripiprazole's dopamine partial agonistic profile. Aripiprazole; however, has a potential risk of inducing severe rebound psychosis in patients who have already developed dopamine supersensitivity. Recently, an animal model study suggested that aripiprazole could attenuate established dopamine supersensitivity. The present study was conducted to examine whether very slowly switching to aripiprazole could help patients with schizophrenia with dopamine supersensitivity while avoiding rebound psychosis. This study was a single-armed and open-labeled study in which patients were observed over a period of 2 years. Only 11 patients were ultimately recruited. Five patients were successfully switched to a sufficient dose of aripiprazole and completed the study protocol. These five patients did not present with severe DSP over the study period, but only one patient showed a large improvement in psychopathology. Five patients dropped out of the study, and one of these five showed a severe worsening of psychosis. The present study indicated that the introduction of aripiprazole in patients with DSP was difficult, but suggested that aripiprazole could contribute to attaining a stable state in psychosis if it was applied with careful observation.

Dermatologic disorders such as atopic dermatitis arise from genetic and environmental causes and are complex and multifactorial in nature. Among possible risk factors, aberrant immunological reactions are one of the leading etiologies. Immunosuppressive agents including topical steroids are common treatments for these disorders. Despite their reliability in clinical settings, topical steroids display side effects, typified by skin thinning. Accordingly, there is a need for alternate effective and well-tolerated therapies. As part of our efforts to investigate new immunomodulators, we have developed a series of JAK inhibitors, which incorporate novel three-dimensional spiro motifs and unexpectedly possess both excellent physicochemical properties and antidermatitis efficacy in the animal models. One of these compounds, JTE-052 (ent-60), also known as delgocitinib, has been shown to be effective and well-tolerated in human clinical trials and has recently been approved in Japan for the treatment of atopic dermatitis as the first drug among Janus kinase inhibitors.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is prevalent around the world and is a causative agent of skin and soft tissue infections in healthy individuals. Particularly, Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive CA-MRSA strains occasionally cause life-threatening infections, such as septic pulmonary emboli (SPE) and infectious endocarditis. However, severe infections caused by PVL-positive CA-MRSA strains have rarely been reported in Japan. For the first time, this study reports the case of a 20-year-old Japanese college athlete with life-threatening PVL-positive CA-MRSA USA300 clone infection, including sepsis, SPE, and skin and soft tissue infections with iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis.

Background Approximately one-third of schizophrenia patients eventually develop treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Although the time course of TRS development varies from patient to patient, the details of these variations have not been clarified. The present study compared the duration of time required to achieve control of the first-episode psychosis (FEP) between patients who went on to develop TRS and those who did not, in order to determine whether a bifurcation point exists for the transition to TRS. Methods The present study included 271 schizophrenia patients. Based on the clinical assessment, each patient was assigned to a TRS (n = 79) or Non-TRS group (n = 182). Clinical factors relating to FEP treatment such as the duration of initial hospital admission and the degree of improvement were retrospectively identified. Results There was no significant difference in the duration of initial hospital admission (defined as the time from treatment introduction to successful discharge) between the two groups (mean of 87.9 days for TRS vs. 53.3 days for Non-TRS). The degree of improvement during initial hospital admission of the TRS group was significantly lower than that of the Non-TRS group (Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) of 50 points for TRS vs. 61 points for Non-TRS). Approximately half of the TRS patients showed an acute onset pattern and longer hospital admission (mean 169 days) for their FEP. The other half of TRS patients needed no hospital admission, indicating an insidious onset pattern with no clear psychotic episode and treatment introduction without hospital admission. Conclusions Future TRS patients can have difficulty in improvement during their FEP. There appear to be two distinct patterns for the development of TRS. One pattern is characterized by refractory positive symptoms and a longer period to control the first psychosis; the other shows latent or insidious onset and poor response to the initial treatment.

Although many studies report various factors related to future employment of schizophrenia patients, few identify the treatable or improvable ones. The responses to the first year of treatment and daily antipsychotic drug doses may be the treatable and improvable factors. We surveyed 235 schizophrenia outpatients in three facilities, of whom 129 and 106 were employed and unemployed, respectively. Through face-to-face interviews and medical record reviews, we investigated symptomatic and social functioning responses to the first year of treatment using the Global Assessment of Psychopathology Scale (GAPS) and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). We investigated daily antipsychotic drug doses and other clinical assessments at the interview time. Finally, we used multivariable logistic regression analysis. SOFAS-measured improvements in the period 6 to 12 months after beginning treatment and daily antipsychotic drug doses equivalent to less than 600 mg of chlorpromazine were identified as an employment-related factor, but GAPS-measure improvements were not. Social functioning improvements in the period 6 to 12 months after beginning treatment and low-to-moderate daily antipsychotic drug doses were detected as employment-related factors, suggesting that early efforts to improve social functioning and optimize antipsychotic drug doses could lead to future employment for schizophrenia patients.

The objective of this study was to consider the gender differences in the monthly variation in throwing distances among kindergarten children using different balls. The subjects of this study were 111 healthy males and 109 healthy females. The subjects’ throwing distances of softballs and tennis balls were measured in June and November. By a gender-based two-way analysis of variance (difference by ball type × difference by month), we observed that the throwing distance of softballs was less than that of tennis balls for both males and females. Moreover, we note that the throwing distance of both ball types was shorter in June than in November. A second two-way analysis of variance (difference by gender × difference by ball type) determined that the throwing distance variation ratio ((November/June) × 100) was greater for softballs than for tennis balls among females only; however, this difference was not significant. The above results show that the throwing distance of softballs is less than that of tennis balls. However, we observe that the selection of ball type has no major effect on the monthly variation in throwing distances among children and that the trend does not vary greatly between males and females.

This research considered the effect of differences between instruction patterns in consecutive, selective reaction-time tests administered to early childhood participants. Participants included 62 young male children (mean age 5.3 ± 0.6 years, mean height 107.4 ± 5.5 cm, mean mass 17.9 ± 2.2 kg). Starting from a standing position, each participant rapidly moved eight times on a sheet—either left, right, forward, backward, or diagonal—in accordance with the given target. Five different combinations were used; each combination required participants to move in each of the eight possible directions once, including the four diagonal directions. On each pattern, the total times for all participants were added to yield a consecutive, selective reaction time for that pattern. Single-factor dispersion analysis results did not indicate a statistically significant difference in reaction times between the test patterns (the level of significance was determined as 0.05). Furthermore, a greater-than-medium correlation between the five patterns with regard to their total consecutive, selective reaction-times was observed. Consequently, while no large difference was demonstrated between patterns, a relatively high correlation was observed between patterns on consecutive, selective reaction-time tests administered to young children.

Dopamine supersensitivity psychosis (DSP) resulting from antipsychotic treatment is related to treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), and its treatment has not been established to date. Maintaining thoroughly stable occupancy of the dopamine D2 receptor by risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) is one strategy for treatment. In this study, RLAI was given as an adjunctive medication to oral antipsychotic(s), which were switched partially and gradually to RLAI in 108 treatment-resistant patients for an additional 1-year follow-up in a 2-year study, and to compare the effects in 72 patients with a DSP history (DSP group) and 36 patients without this history (NonDSP group). Although both groups showed significant improvements in the total Brief Psychotic Rating Scale (BPRS) score during the follow-up period, greater improvement was observed for the DSP group than the NonDSP group. High doses (> 850 mg chlorpromazine-dose combined of oral antipsychotics and RLAI) did not significantly change in both groups throughout the study period; however, extrapyramidal symptoms, including tardive dyskinesia, were significantly improved only in the patients with DSP. This study strongly suggested that the RLAI treatment, even with only partial switching, provides relief from refractory symptoms, particularly for patients with a history of DSP. Clinical trial registration: http://www.umin.ac.jp/:UMIN000008487

Background Although a variety of factors are known to be significantly related to poor prognosis in schizophrenia, their interactions remain unclear. Dopamine supersensitivity psychosis (DSP) is a clinical concept related to long-term pharmacotherapy and could be one of the key factors contributing to the development of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The present study aims to explore the effect of DSP on progression to TRS. Methods Two-hundreds and sixty-five patients were classified into either a TRS or Non-TRS group based on retrospective survey and direct interview. The key factors related to prognosis, including the presence or absence of DSP episodes, were extracted, and each factor was compared between the two groups. Results All parameters except for the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) were significantly worse in the TRS group compared to the Non-TRS group. In particular, the TRS group presented with a significantly higher rate of DSP episodes than the Non-TRS group. Regression analysis supported the notion that DSP plays a pivotal role in the development of TRS. In addition, deficit syndrome was suggested to be a diagnostic subcategory of TRS. Conclusions Our data confirmed that the key predicting factors of poor prognosis which have been established would actually affect somehow the development of TRS. In addition, the occurrence of a DSP episode during pharmacotherapy was shown to promote treatment refractoriness.

This article explores the current situation of personalized primary prevention of lifestyle diseases based on individuals’ genome information in Japan. The Japanese healthcare system and regulatory framework of genetic testing have been reviewed because they relate to the issue. From our perspective, clinics and health check-up centers in Japan are appropriate centers for implementing measures for primary prevention of lifestyle diseases. For example, we researched a predictive genetic testing program for diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome. Based on our interviews with physicians and experts, we identified the following factors that are critical to the effective use of genetic testing for primary prevention of lifestyle diseases: an institutional framework for evaluating the credibility of predictive genetic testing; psychological effects (both positive and negative) of predictive genetic testing; and education of physicians and other health professionals in lifestyle disease genetics and effective communication with patients.

The formation of external carotid artery (ECA) pseudoaneurysms caused by stab wounds is a rare vascular anomaly. Although the surgical exploration of the ECA segment is the standard treatment, endovascular treatment (EVT) can be considered if there is difficulty in identifying the source of bleeding in the injured regions that are difficult to operatively access. Here we treated a young patient who had hemorrhagic instability with hemorrhage-induced coagulopathy caused by a zone III cervical stab wound with a pseudoaneurysm from the main trunk of the ECA; the patient underwent EVT and successful hemostasis. A literature review based on the data available on PubMed was conducted, and 15 published reports of 82 penetrating ECA injuries treated by EVT were identified. We concluded that EVT appears to be an effective surgical alternative for patients with hemorrhage-induced coagulopathy caused by a ruptured ECA pseudoaneurysm after a cervical stab wound.

The formation of external carotid artery (ECA) pseudoaneurysms caused by stab wounds is a rare vascular anomaly. Although the surgical exploration of the ECA segment is the standard treatment, endovascular treatment (EVT) can be considered if there is difficulty in identifying the source of bleeding in the injured regions that are difficult to operatively access. Here we treated a young patient who had hemorrhagic instability with hemorrhage-induced coagulopathy caused by a zone III cervical stab wound with a pseudoaneurysm from the main trunk of the ECA; the patient underwent EVT and successful hemostasis. A literature review based on the data available on PubMed was conducted, and 15 published reports of 82 penetrating ECA injuries treated by EVT were identified. We concluded that EVT appears to be an effective surgical alternative for patients with hemorrhage-induced coagulopathy caused by a ruptured ECA pseudoaneurysm after a cervical stab wound.

Understanding of time-dependent deformation and fracture propagation in rock is essential, since the knowledge of the long-term integrity of rock is required for many subsurface structures excavated in a rock mass. Time-dependent fracture propagation has been invoked as a potential key mechanism responsible for the increase in seismicity preceding earthquake ruptures and volcanic eruptions. In engineering projects, and in preventing natural hazards, the study of subcritical crack growth and the long-term strength of rock is necessary. Since the long-term strength is affected by the values of the subcritical crack growth parameters, it is important to know the influence of the surrounding environment on the subcritical crack growth parameters and long-term strength. The influence of the surrounding environment on the subcritical crack growth parameters, however, has not been completely clarified yet. In this study, the subcritical crack growth parameters were estimated under various environmental conditions on igneous rocks (andesite and granite) using the Double-Torsion method. Based on the results of subcritical crack growth parameters estimations, we calculated the long-term strength of rock. It was shown that the subcritical crack growth parameters were affected by the environmental conditions such as the temperature, humidity and existence of water. Especially, it was shown that the subcritical crack growth index in water was smaller than that in air. When the relative humidity of the air was higher, subcritical crack growth index tended to be smaller. The subcritical crack growth index at 90 per cent relative humidity was close to the value in water. By the calculation based on the results of our subcritical crack growth parameters estimation, it was shown that long-term strength decreased under the conditions of higher temperature, humidity in air and in water. It is concluded that the subcritical crack growth parameters and long-term strength are affected by the surrounding environment, that is, by the temperature, relative humidity and water. To ensure the long-term stability of rock, dry conditions, at low temperature, are most suitable.

Background Haemorrhagic shock is a major cause of death in the acute care setting. Since 2009, our emergency department has used intra-aortic balloon occlusion (IABO) catheters for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). Methods REBOA procedures were performed by one or two trained acute care physicians in the emergency room (ER) and intensive care unit (ICU). IABO catheters were positioned using ultrasonography. Collected data included clinical characteristics, haemorrhagic severity, blood cultures, metabolic values, blood transfusions, REBOA-related complications and mortality. Results Subjects comprised 25 patients (trauma, n = 16; non-trauma, n = 9) with a median age of 69 years and a median shock index of 1.4. REBOA was achieved in 22 patients, but failed in three elderly trauma patients. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased after REBOA (107 vs. 71 mmHg, p

地盤や岩盤のような鉱物と空隙からなる二相構成材料の力学的性質は内部構造に強く依存している。そこで本研究では，マイクロフォーカスX線CTを使用してガラスビーズ充填試料の断層撮影をおこない，二相構成材料の微小空隙構造の評価手法について基礎的な検討をおこなった。二相構成材料の空隙構造を定量的に扱うためには，空間的な相分離が必要となる。そこで，撮影条件を変えることによりボクセルサイズやCT値の頻度ヒストグラムの分散を変化させ，それの二相構造画像の相分離に与える影響について検討した。その結果，頻度ヒストグラムの分散が二相構造画像の二相分離に影響を与えること，および粒径／ボクセルサイズ比が27から29の範囲で二相構成材料の二相分離が可能かどうかの境界があることがわかった。さらに，その結果を用いてガラスビーズ充填試料の空隙率を評価したところ，粒子の充填配列に依存して33～37%の値が得られた。

Although to date there have been no conclusive pathophysiological findings in support of the degenerative theory of the etiology of schizophrenia, the results of neuroimaging studies have suggested that progressive changes in the brain do occur during the clinical course of schizophrenia. However, there has been no report on alterations in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) under resting condition, which was compared between the first-episode and the chronic patients of schizophrenia and healthy controls. Therefore, in this study, we applied three-dimensional stereotactic surface projection analysis of resting SPECT (3D-SSP SPECT) in patients with first-episode (n=18) and chronic schizophrenia (n=23) and age-/sex-matched healthy controls (n=40). The rCBFs in the middle/inferior/medial frontal gyrus and the anterior cingulate gyrus were significantly decreased in both patient groups, relative to the respective controls (Z>3.0, P

Pb(Zr 0.52 Ti 0.48 )O 3 (PZT) piezoelectric thin films with thickness of 0.7–2.2 μm were prepared on Pt/Ti-coated SiO 2 /Si (0.5 μm/300 μm) substrates by the sol–gel method. The piezoelectric coefficient e 31 of the PZT thin film was − 12.5 ± 0.3 C/m 2 , which is evaluated by measuring the tip displacement of PZT-coated cantilevers of the dimensions 50 mm long, 4 mm wide, and 0.3 mm thick. The prepared PZT films demonstrated excellent piezoelectric properties and have large potential applications in MEMS devices. Micro-machined ultrasonic sensors, in which PZT-coated membrane functioned as sensing element, were fabricated and their properties were also characterized.

Following the discovery of JTK-109 ( 1 ) as a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, [(a) Hirashima, S.; Suzuki, T.; Ishida, T.; Noji, S.; Yata, S.; Ando, I.; Komatsu, M.; Ikeda, S.; Hashimoto, H. J. Med. Chem. 2006 , 49 , 4721. (b) Hashimoto, H.; Mizutani, K.; Yoshida, A. Int. Patent Appl. WO 01/47883, 2001.] further studies toward the improvement of the cellular potency have been performed. A greater than 40-fold improvement was achieved through replacing the biphenyl moiety with a 2-morpholinophenyl group and the benzimidazole ring with the tetracyclic scaffold to afford compound 7 with an excellent replicon potency (EC 50 = 7.6 nM).

Synthesis of carbon nanocoils was carried out by the simple apparatus based on hot-filament CVD at catalyst temperatures below 450oC. Copper was vacuum evaporated onto the nickel particles formed by scratching the poly-crystal nickel plate with sandpaper. These particles were used for the catalysts for synthesis of nanocoils. Heating was not performed at all for forming these particles. Ethanol as a carbon source was introduced into the chamber with argon gas. Synthesis was performed at atmospheric pressure. Carbon nanocoils could be synthesized at temperatures above 400oC. The yield of nanocoils in total carbon fibers is about 80% at 400oC. The diameter of these products decreases with the decrease of diameter of catalyst particles.

A chlorine adsorption process was proved to be effective to disperse the diamond powder agglomerated in a baking process. The oxidation of no diamond carbon on the diamond surface was suppressed in this process and the agglomerates were broken down into constituent particles by cutting the bonds between the diamond particles.The chlorine adsorption process is also useful as an intermediate step for providing oxygen-containing hydrophilic group on the non-diamond surface layer of baked diamond particles.

Effects of crosslinks on plastic strain recovery in epoxy glass was studied by means of thermally stimulated strain recovery (TSSR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Two types of samples were prepared from bisphenol-A type epoxide monomer: one had a crosslinked structure cured by 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane and the other had a linear uncrosslinked structure polymerized by aniline. Both specimens were compressed first in the rubbery state and subsequently compressed further in the glassy state. After compressed in the glassy state, the specimens were subjected to the TSSR and the DSC measurements. The TSSR results indicated that the amount of plastic strain recovering at temperatures below the glass transition temperature T g was larger for the crosslinked sample than for the linear sample. On the other hand, the DSC results indicated that the amount of exothermic heat flow at temperatures below T g was less for the crosslinked sample than for the linear sample. These results presumably indicate that, for the crosslinked epoxy glass deformed in the glassy state, glass-like strain recovers quite cooperatively with rubber-like strain at temperatures below T g , in contrast to independent recovery of these strains in the linear epoxy glass.

This paper proposes an automatic testing method in which the testing data is constructed on the basis of state-transition specifications and the testing of real machines with embedded software is automatically performed. In automatic testing based on specifications, in general a test scenario with the same extent of abstraction as the specification is difficult to convert to testing data that can be used by the automatic tester. In the proposed testing method, the event action in the state-transition specification is related to the setting and referral of the memory value in the embedded debugger, which makes it possible to convert the test scenario to testing data and to perform the testing automatically. A CASE tool to support the proposed testing method is realized and its performance is evaluated. The effectiveness and the problems of the proposed testing method are noted. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 86(9): 64–75, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10182

Submicron-sized diamond particles having hydrophilic groups on the surface were heated either in an atmosphere of hydrogen or inert gas. The surface variation of the diamond during heating was observed by means of TG-mass spectrometry and TEM obsavation.The hydrophilic diamond particles had an atoms-deep disordered zone near the outer surface. This structure was not affected significantly by heating in hydrogen at 1473K, while it increased significantly in depth after heating in nitrogen at 1473K. It is thus estimated that the removal of oxygen or oxygen-containing functional group could trigger the graphitization of the surface of diamond.

A submicron-sized diamond under 50 nm was prepared by ball-milling synthetic single crystalline diamonds. The average particle size from the crushed of the diamond exhibited a linear relation with its specific surface area as plotted on a double logarithmic coordinate, and the resultant diamond could be easily distinguished from a polycrystalline diamond made by dynamic compression. The submicron-sized diamond surface was chemically active and easily attacked by oxidizer or hydrogen under heating. Also TEM observation showed a thick non-diamond carbon layer on the surface of the submicron-sized diamond heated in nitrogen. Its formation apparently was triggered by the removal of oxygen from the diamond surface.

The chemical state of implanted Mg atoms has been studied in 2.48 ×1017 Mg+ ions cm-2-implanted silica glass by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that Mg atoms were coordinated with oxygen atoms, irrespective of the heat treatment at 900°C in an argon gas atmosphere. Mg ion implantation caused oxygen deficient species (SiOx) and increased the refractive index by about 5%. The oxygen deficient species and the refractive index change were stable against the heat treatment.

Series of gain-of-function missense mutations in PDR1 and PDR3 that encode transcription factors are known to increase the expression of ABC transporters that extrude various kinds of drugs out of a cell, leading to pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR). Previously, the PDR1-H176 (L309S) allele from a clotrimazole (CTZ)-resistant sake yeast mutant has been cloned and found to be sufficient to confer PDR and improved fermentative activity on the arginase-deficient (car1/car1) sake yeast HL163. In this study, another PDR1 and three PDR3 a!leles were cloned from other CTZ-resistant mutants. These alleles contain different missense mutations, PDR1-2 (M308I), PDR3-C21 (L950S), PDR3-C231 (G948D), and PDR3-11 (G957D). The gene recombinants containing each of the mutations found in CTZ-resistant mutants were constructed using the wild-type sake yeast K1001. The gene recombination was designed to generate only a nucleotide replacement without any other DNA changes such as insertion of external DNA fragments. The resultant recombinants that were heterozygous for each of the mutations showed various degrees of drug resistance that were comparable to those of the CTZ-resistant mutants. The recombinants, except one introduced with PDR1-H176, also fermented sake mash faster and produced higher amounts of alcohol than K1001 did. These results demonstrated that PDR1-2, PDR3-C21, PDR3-C231, and PDR3-11 are sufficient to confer PDR and improved fermentative activity on K1001, and suggested that previous results in which fermentative activity of HL163 was significantly improved by PDR1-H176 must have depended on its genetic background, probably arginase deficiency.

The inundation process caused by the penetration of swells and long-period waves into the mouth was investigated through field observation and numerical analysis, taking the Segami River flowing into Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture as the example. Due to the river improvement for flood control, the riverbed was deepened, enhancing vulnerability against wave penetration. The effectiveness of the plan constructing a detached breakwater off the river mouth and a reduction pond in the river was confirmed by the numerical analysis.