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This study aimed to (1) develop the physical fitness age, which is the biological age based on physical function, (2) evaluate the validity of the physical fitness age for the assessment of sarcopenia, and (3) examine the factors associated with the difference between physical fitness age and chronological age.Cross-sectional study.Community-dwelling older adults and outpatients.A formula for calculating the physical fitness age was created based on the usual walking speed, handgrip strength, one-leg standing time, and chronological age of 4,076 older adults from the pooled data of community-dwelling and outpatients using the principal component analysis. For the validation of the physical fitness age, we also used pooled data from community-dwelling older adults (n = 1929) and outpatients (n = 473). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. The association of D-age (the difference between physical and chronological ages) with cardiovascular risk factors, renal function, and cardiac function was examined.The receiver operating characteristic analysis, with sarcopenia as the outcome, showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of physical fitness age was greater than that of chronological age (AUC 0.87 and 0.77, respectively, p0.001). Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the D-age was significantly associated with sarcopenia after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.26; p0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis with D-age as the dependent variable, D-age was independently associated with a history of diabetes mellitus (or hemoglobin A1c as a continuous variable), obesity, depression, and low serum albumin level. D-age was also correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate derived from serum cystatin C, brain natriuretic peptide, and ankle-brachial index, reflecting some organ function and arteriosclerosis.Compared to chronological age, physical fitness age calculated from handgrip strength, one-leg standing time, and usual walking speed was a better scale for sarcopenia. D-age, which could be a simple indicator of physical function, was associated with modifiable factors, such as poor glycemic control, obesity, depressive symptoms, and malnutrition.

Background/aims Lips can easily become dry and rough and their biggest problems are drying and chapping. The cause of those problems is considered to be that the stratum corneum (SC) moisture is small and its barrier function is low. However, those problems decrease in subjects as they approach 40 years of age, after which problems due to their shape and color increase. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between SC properties of the lips during aging and to clarify the cause(s) of lip problems. Methods One hundred and 38 Japanese female subjects with normal skin ranging in age from 16 to 78 years were enrolled in the study. The capacitance and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) values, viscoelasticity, and color of their lips were measured and compared with their cheeks. Results The capacitance values for the lip and the cheek increased and TEWL values for both areas decreased with age. TEWL values for the lip decreased until ~30 years of age and this is considered to be related to the problem of drying. Although the maximum amplitude Uf of the lip increased with age, the Ur /Uf had no correlation with age. As for color, the L* and a* values decreased with age. Conclusion Age-related changes with regard to SC functions, viscoelasticity and color of the lips have been clarified for the first time, and it is clear that these changes are related to problems of the lips. Compared with the cheeks, differences with the lips are more apparent.

Background Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been established as a treatment of various hematologic malignancies and improved their prognoses. HSCT includes intensive chemotherapy and systemic radiation, which occasionally induces cardiac dysfunction. However, early predictor of cardiac dysfunction associated with HSCT is still elusive. Recently, left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been recognized as an early detector of cardiotoxicity. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed GLS and cardiac parameters in patients with hematologic malignancies before and after HSCT to explore HSCT-induced cardiac dysfunction. Methods Thirty-one consecutive patients undergone HSCT were enrolled and reviewed their cardiac comorbidities, medications, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy before HSCT. Transthoracic echocardiographic variables including GLS, cardiac troponin-I, and B-type natriuretic peptide were analyzed prior to and 1 month after HSCT. Results The patients were 49.7±13.5 years of age, 61% were male, and 52% had cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiac troponin-I was significantly increased following HSCT from 0.010±0.002 ng/ml to 0.016±0.014 ng/ml (P=0.02), indicating that HSCT should have certain impact on cardiac myocytes. Echocardiographic analyses revealed that LV GLS was significantly decreased after HSCT from −19.4±0.8% to −18.8±0.8% (P Conclusion GLS detected early decline of cardiac function after HSCT in the patients with hematologic malignancies. Further follow-up investigations will reveal relationship between GLS, troponin-I and prognosis of cardiac function after HSCT in patients with hematologic malignancies.

International audience; The Great East Japan earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, at 1446, and the subsequent tsunami led Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) beyond a design-basis accident. After the accident, the Japanese government and TEPCO compiled a roadmap toward an early resolution to the accident including, among the main activities, the employment and improvement of existing severe accident (SA) computer codes. In the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA), SA codes were developed after the accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 and widely employed to assess NPS status in the postulated SA conditions. Therefore, working plans have been set up with the country members of the OECD/NEA to apply existing SA codes to analyze the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi NPS Units 1, 2, and 3 and support the decommissioning, constituting an international program named Benchmark Study of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (BSAF). The objectives of the BSAF project are to analyze the accident progression of Fukushima Daiichi NPS, to raise the understanding of SA phenomena, to contribute to the improvement of the methods and models of the SA codes, and to define the status of the distribution of debris in the reactor pressure vessels and primary containment vessels for decommissioning. The present technical paper summarizes the achievements obtained through a comparison of the results, emphasizing the portions of the accident where all the participants reached a common consensus and identifying still open questions where future work should be directed. Consensus exists on the current condition of Unit 1, where a large fraction of the fuel is assumed to have relocated ex-vessel. On the other hand, larger uncertainties exist for Units 2 and 3, where in-vessel and ex-vessel scenarios produce a reasonable prediction of the accident progression.

A combination of strong spin–orbit coupling and electronic correlations in pyrochlore iridates produces a quantum insulator–metal transition that can be induced by applying a magnetic field along specific crystalline axes.

The measured electronic structure of Nd${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ through its metal-insulator transition indicates an unusual Slater to Mott crossover with reducing temperature. This constrains theoretical models which suggest this material has topologically protected magnetic states.

Electrons in the pyrochore iridates experience a large interaction energy in addition to a strong spin-orbit interaction. Both features make the iridates promising for realizing novel states such as the Topological Mott Insulator. The pyrochlore iridate Eu$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ shows a metal-insulator transition at $T_N \sim$ 120 K below which a magnetically ordered state develops. Using torque magnetometry, we uncover a highly unusual magnetic response. A magnetic field $\bf H$ applied in its $a$-$b$ plane produces a nonlinear magnetization $M_\perp$ orthogonal to the plane. $M_\perp$ displays a $d$-wave field-angle pattern consistent with octupolar order, with a handedness dictated by field cooling, leading to symmetry breaking of the chirality $\omega$. A surprise is that the lobe orientation of the $d$-wave pattern is sensitive to the direction of the field when the sample is field-cooled below $T_N$, suggestive of an additional order parameter $\eta$ already present at 300 K., Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures

We investigated the effectiveness of stroke volume variation (SVV) shown by the Vigileo-FloTrac™ system (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) to predict fluid responsiveness in patients undergoing airway pressure release ventilation (APRV). All 80 patients mechanically ventilated in the intensive care unit of our hospital from April to November 2010 were included in this study. After starting APRV, Ringer's lactate solution was administered for 30 minutes. Haemodynamic variables including heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI) and SVV were measured before and after volume loading. SVV before volume loading was significantly correlated with absolute change in SVV (ΔSVV) and percentage change in stroke volume index (ΔSVI) after volume loading (ΔSVV: P

This paper presents a method to measure the attention and emotion levels using the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signals around the prefrontal cortex. The brain blood oxygen concentration over the subjects’ brains is measured by NIRS while they watch the Japanese comic Rakugo and sad videos. The analysis has been done by using the first principal component of measured signals, and the paper proposes the hypothesis to relate the power of the first principal component and its distribution function to the emotion and the attention levels. To verify the hypothesis, an analysis has been performed of experiments in which both normal and dementia subjects watch videos. This paper raises the possibility of diagnosing dementia by measuring levels of emotion and attention.

We generalize the second law of thermodynamics in its maximum work formulation for a nonequilibrium initial distribution. It is found that in an isothermal process, the Boltzmann relative entropy (H-function) is not just a Lyapunov function but also tells us the maximum work that may be gained from a nonequilibrium initial state. The generalized second law also gives a fundamental relation between work and information. It is valid even for a small Hamiltonian system not in contact with a heat reservoir but with an effective temperature determined by the isentropic condition. Our relation can be tested in the Szilard engine, which will be realized in the laboratory.

We earlier proposed a new type of three-phase induction motor excited by a single-phase power supply that may be useful for conserving energy in the future. However, in order to practically use the motor, the output power and efficiency need to be further improved. Therefore, the distribution of magnetic flux density in the stator should be suitable one for the three-phase. This paper discusses the effect of magnetic anisotropy in the stator core on the performance characteristics of the motor.

Electron-emission properties of silicon field-emitter arrays treated with trifluoromethane plasma (Si:C-FEA) were evaluated under H2, CH4, CO, CO2, O2, and C2H4 ambients. Oxidizing gases, including O2 and CO2, make shortened the lifetime. However, reductive gases such as H2 and CH4 lengthened the lifetime longer. On the other hand, C2H4 caused a decrease of the emission current, despite the fact that C2H4 is considered to be one of the reductive gases. Furthermore, emission properties can be recovered by the aging process in an ultrahigh vacuum. This is probably attributable to physisorption and desorption of C2H4 molecules or decomposed molecules onto the emitter surface of the Si:C-FEA.

Strong spin–orbit coupling fosters exotic electronic states such as topological insulators and superconductors, but the combination of strong spin–orbit and strong electron–electron interactions is just beginning to be understood. Central to this emerging area are the 5d transition metal iridium oxides. Here, in the pyrochlore iridate Pr2Ir2O7, we identify a non-trivial state with a single-point Fermi node protected by cubic and time-reversal symmetries, using a combination of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Owing to its quadratic dispersion, the unique coincidence of four degenerate states at the Fermi energy, and strong Coulomb interactions, non-Fermi liquid behaviour is predicted, for which we observe some evidence. Our discovery implies that Pr2Ir2O7 is a parent state that can be manipulated to produce other strongly correlated topological phases, such as topological Mott insulator, Weyl semimetal, and quantum spin and anomalous Hall states., 5d transition metal iridates provide a platform to study the combined effects of strong spin orbit coupling and strong electronic correlations. Here, the authors find a quadratic band touching in the band structure of Pr2Ir2O7, suggesting it may be tuned to form various strongly correlated topological phases.

The half-filled topmost valence band of ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{4+}$ in several iridates such as ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{IrO}}_{4},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{IrO}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{CaIrO}}_{3}$ has been proposed to originate mainly from the spin-orbit coupled ${J}_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ states. In pyrochlore iridates ${R}_{2}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ ($R$: rare earth), some exotic electronic states are theoretically proposed by assuming ${J}_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ states. However, the octahedral coordination around Ir is trigonally distorted, which may affect the energy level scheme of Ir $5d$ states. Here, we report spectra of resonant elastic and inelastic x-ray scattering in ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ at the Ir $L$ edges. A large suppression of the magnetic scattering signal at the Ir ${L}_{\mathrm{II}}$ edge supports the ${J}_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ picture rather than the $S=1/2$ one. The inelastic scattering spectrum indicates that the magnitude of the trigonal field on the ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{4+}$ states is evaluated to be comparable to the spin-orbit interaction. The energy diagram of the $5d$ state is proposed based on the simple cluster model.

A new interferometric measurement system for gauge blocks which does not require wringing onto an auxiliary platen has been developed. The main characteristics of gauge blocks measured in this system are dimensions, coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) and temporal stability. The repeatability is better than 3 nm for dimensional measurements and a comparison of this system to a conventional one showed good agreement. In CTE measurements, the expanded uncertainty is 3.5 × 10 −8 / K. Precision temporal stability measurement is improved since wringing is not required. This interferometer enables better quality control in our gauge block production process.

Vanadium nitride thin films (VN) were sputter-deposited on silicon substrates in an argon gas atmosphere with a VN compound target. Nearly stiochiometric cubic VN films with different crystallographic orientations were achieved at ambient substrate temperature. The crystallographic structure of the film could be controlled through adjusting working argon pressure. Films with preferred (100) and (111) orientations were obtained at pressures of 0.5 and 2.0 Pa, respectively, regardless of the sputtering power; while amorphous film may form at a middle pressure of 1.0 Pa. Composition of the resultant films was analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. It was revealed that nitrogen deficiency was responsible for the amorphous state. The electronic states related to nitrogen vacancy were disclosed by valence band spectrum. The film compositional variation was discussed in the text.

Hafnium nitride films were deposited on silicon substrates by direct sputtering a compound target in an Ar atmosphere using a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering system. X-ray diffraction, x-ray photoemission spectrum, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry revealed the successful formation of cubic stoichiometric HfN films in a wide deposition condition range. The residual stress in stoichiometric HfN films is compressive, and depends strongly on Ar pressure and sputtering power. Unlike element metal deposition, a transition point of Ar pressure at which residual stress experiences from compressive to tensile state has not been found in stoichiometic HfN films. Although an increase in Ar pressure could lower the stress value, nitrogen enrichment was found at 2.0 Pa and much oxygen was incorporated in the film deposited at 3.0 Pa and above, which can lead to a dramatic increase in film resistivity. Shallow recoil implantation of HfN species receiving energy from fast Ar species reflected at the target surface is suggested responsible for the evolution of the stress. A possible explanation was also given for the stoichiometric composition.

Work functions of transition metal nitride and carbide thin films were measured. The materials investigated were ZrN, NbN, HfN, TaN, HfC, and TaC. The films were prepared either by radio-frequency magnetron sputter deposition or by ion beam assisted deposition. The work function was measured by Kelvin probe in air. The work functions of ZrN and HfN ranged between 4.6 and 4.7 eV, and were similar to or slightly lower than that of NbN and TaN, 4.7 or 4.8 eV. The work function of TaC was approximately 5.0 eV. The higher work function of carbide may be attributed to lower electronegativity of carbon as compared to nitrogen.

When magnetic order is suppressed by frustrated interactions, spins form a highly correlated fluctuating "spin liquid" state down to low temperatures. Magnetic order of local moments can also be suppressed when they are fully screened by conduction electrons through the Kondo effect. Thus, the combination of strong geometrical frustration and Kondo screening may lead to novel types of quantum phase transitions. We report low-temperature thermodynamic measurements on the frustrated Kondo lattice Pr$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$, which displays a chiral spin liquid state below 1.5 K due to the frustrated interaction between Ising 4f local moments and their interplay with Ir conduction electrons. Our results provide a first clear example of zero-field quantum critical scaling that emerges in a spin liquid state of a highly frustrated metal., Comment: to be published in Nature Materials

This paper reports the eighth set of results of a series of grouped laser comparisons from national laboratories undertaken by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) at the request of the Comite Consultatif pour la Definition du Metre (CCDM, now the Consultative Committee for Length, CCL) during the periods July 1993 to September 1995 and March 1997 to July 1997. This comparison, like the previous seven, is expected to be listed as a key comparison in the context of the ongoing BIPM.L-K10 series. The results of this comparison involving five lasers, four from three countries of the Asia-Pacific group and one from the BIPM, meet the goals set by the CCDM in 1992 and adopted by the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM) the same year. The standard uncertainty (1 σ) of the frequency of the He-Ne laser stabilized on the saturated absorption of 127I2 at 633 nm is reduced to the level of 12 kHz (2.5 × 1011) when the lasers compared meet the recommended values of the parameters. The lasers were first compared with the BIPMP3 laser, with all the lasers set to the parameter values normally used in each laboratory; the results then ranged from −112.7 kHz to +24.9 kHz. After checking and correcting the values of all the parameters and replacing a contaminated iodine cell, the range was reduced to −31.5 kHz to +14.3 kHz. Under the latter conditions, the average frequency difference of the group of lasers, with respect to the BIPM4 laser, was −1.9 kHz with a standard uncertainty (1 σ) of 20.2 kHz. The best frequency stabilities, with relative Allan standard deviations of about 6.6 × 1012, 6.0 × 1013 and 1.3 × 1013, were observed with sampling times of 1 s, 100 s and 1000 s, respectively. The overall best value was 9.5 × 1014 for a sampling time of 6000 s.

We have fabricated a gated niobium nitride field emitter by the transfer mold method. A silicon mold was fabricated by anisotropical etching, followed by oxidation of the mold and deposition of niobium nitride. Niobium nitride thin films were prepared by ion-beam-assisted deposition. After attaching the sample to a glass substrate, the silicon mold was removed by mechanical and wet etching. A molybdenum thin film was then deposited by electron-beam evaporation. Formation of a gate aperture and an insulating silicon dioxide layer were performed by wet etching of only the apex, with other regions being protected by a photoresist layer. An electron emission test of the fabricated emitter array was performed in a high vacuum. We confirmed electron emission of up to 0.1 μA at the emitter–gate voltage of 30 V.

We have investigated the etching characteristics of Si{110} planes in aqueous potassium hydroxide (KOH) solutions containing ppb-level of Cu and Pb. It is found that ppb-level of Cu roughens the silicon surface and the etching rate is changed by ppb-level of Cu and Pb. The effects of Cu and Pb can be explained by the interaction between ions and hydrogen gas generated during etching based on oxidation–reduction potentials of Cu, Pb and H.

Inflammatory response differences between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice following ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and a single challenge were investigated. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1 levels were higher in C57BL/6 mice than in BALB/c mice. In contrast, IgG2a levels in C57BL/6 mice were lower than in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, the number of eosinophils infiltrating into lungs in C57BL/6 mice was significantly higher than in BALB/c mice after OVA challenge. The levels of the T helper 2 (Th2)-type cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, generated in challenged C57BL/6 lung tissue, were also higher than in BALB/c lung tissue. The participation of IL-4 and IL-5 in the induction of eosinophil infiltration into the lungs was confirmed in both strains of mice by injection of anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, following OVA stimulation, in vitro IL-4 and IL-5 production in splenocyte cultures from C57BL/6 mice was lower than in splenocyte cultures from BALB/c mice. These results indicate that C57BL/6 mice induce Th2-type responses in the lungs, while BALB/c mice induce T helper 1 (Th1)-type responses in the lungs, despite considerable production of IL-4 and IL-5 from splenocytes. Therefore, local immune responses are more important in the induction of allergic inflammation in the lungs and are different from systemic immune responses, which are thought to depend on genetic background.

This three part paper presents the experiment and numerical analysis of the friction of a thin-film rigid disk with circumferential surface texture. In Part III, we examine the friction of a disk on the unworn virgin and worn tracks at various relative humidities. The real contact areas and pressures on both tracks are estimated using the Hertz contact model of two-dimensional asperities in Part I and related to the frictional coefficients on the basis of the meniscus model in Part II. The analysis yields that the effect of meniscus is predominant in the flat contact situation, particularly on the worn track at high humidity, while the effect is negligible in the taper/flat edge contact situation on both the tracks even at high humidity.

This study examines the role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in airway microvascular leakage induced inflammatory mediators, which play an important role in asthmatic airways. Guinea-pigs were anesthetized and mechanically-ventilated with monitoring of arterial blood pressure, and airway microvascular leakage induced by intravenous injection of substance P (SP), leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and histamine was evaluated using Evans blue dye and Monastral blue dye in the presence and absence of the NO synthase inhibitors, L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and L-NG-monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA). The effect of a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, LY83583, on SP-induced dye leakage was also examined. Intravenous injection of SP (1 microgram.kg-1), LTD4 (1 microgram.kg-1) and histamine (100 micrograms.kg-1) significantly increased dye extravasation at all airway levels. Pretreatment with L-NAME (10 mg.kg-1 i.v.) and L-NMMA (100 mg.kg-1 i.v.) significantly inhibited SP-induced extravasation, and L-arginine (100 mg.kg-1 i.v.) reversed L-NAME-induced inhibition. L-NAME (10 mg.kg-1 i.v.) also significantly inhibited LTD4-induced dye extravasation only in central airways, and this inhibitory effect was abolished by a neurokinin-1 (NK1) antagonist, FK888 (10 mg.kg-1 i.v.) pretreatment. Histamine-induced dye extravasation was not affected by L-NAME. LY83583 (2.5 and 7.5 mg.kg-1 i.v.) partially but significantly reduced SP-induced dye leakage. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide plays a role in neurokinin-1 receptor-mediated airway microvascular leakage, and presumably involves the guanylate cyclase pathway.

Extremely large magnetoresistance is realized in the nonmagnetic layered metal PdCoO2. In spite of a highly conducting metallic behavior with a simple quasi-two-dimensional hexagonal Fermi surface, the interlayer resistance reaches up to 35 000% for the field along the [11̅ 0] direction. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the resistance becomes nonmetallic for this field direction, while it remains metallic for fields along the [110] direction. Such severe and anisotropic destruction of the interlayer coherence by a magnetic field on a simple Fermi surface is ascribable to orbital motion of carriers on the Fermi surface driven by the Lorentz force, but seems to have been largely overlooked until now., 単純な金属を磁気センサーに応用できる新メカニズムの発見. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2013-07-31.

The pyrochlore-type iridium oxide Eu${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ exhibits a metal-insulator transition at 120 K, accompanied by magnetic ordering. We used x-ray diffraction measurements with photon energies near the iridium ${L}_{3}$ absorption edge to analyze a single crystal to investigate the arrangement of Ir${}^{4+}$ magnetic moments. Resonant magnetic scattering at $\left(4n+2\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}0\right)$ was observed in the insulating phase, providing direct evidence of long-range ordering of Ir${}^{4+}$ magnetic moments with a propagation vector of $\mathbit{q}=\left(000\right)$. Our single-crystal structure analysis revealed that the lattice retains its face-centered-cubic structure across the metal-insulator transition, indicating all-in-all-out magnetic order, where all the magnetic moments on the four vertices of each Ir tetrahedron point inward or outward.

High speed steel rolls, which have excellent wear resistance compared with conventional rolls, have been used for work rolls in No. 2 hot strip finishing train at Kure Works since 1989. Now, the proportion of these work rolls is almost 100 %. As a result, schedule free rolling is achieved and roll consumption is extremely reduced.

To examine the role of endogenous nitric oxide in allergic airway inflammation, we investigated the effect of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), on antigen-induced airway microvascular leakage in actively sensitized guinea pigs by using Evans blue dye. Three weeks after sensitization with ovalbumin (10 μg), the tracheas were cannulated, and lungs were artificially ventilated. Animals were pretreated with atropine and propranolol (both 1 mg/kg, intravenously) to avoid neural modification. Ovalbumin inhalation (3 mg/ml, 1 minute) challenge caused significant microvascular leakage in all airway portions, which was significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with intravenous injection of l--NAME (1 and 10 mg/kg) but not with the inactive enantiomer d-NAME (10 mg/kg). This inhibition by l-NAME was significantly reversed by co-administration of l-arginine (100 mg/kg, intravenously). Pretreatment with a vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine (20 μg/kg, intravenously), had no inhibitory effects on antigen-induced airway microvascular leakage despite increasing systemic blood pressure. Inhalation of representative mast cell–derived mediators, histamine (2 mg/ml, 1 minute) or leukotriene D 4 (5 μg/ml, 1 minute), produced significant microvascular leakage in all airways. l-NAME (10 mg/kg, intravenously) partially but significantly inhibited leukotriene D 4 –induced leakage, whereas histamine-induced leakage was not affected. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide acts to increase airway microvascular leakage after airway allergic reaction. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1996;98:144-51.)

The effect of repeated allergen inhalation challenge on the airway excitatory nonadrenergic noncholinergic (e-NANC) nerve-mediated bronchoconstrictor response was studied in ovalbumin (OA) sensitized guinea-pigs. Three weeks after sensitization, OA inhalation, 0.03% for 3 min (challenged group), or saline inhalation (control group) was repeated every day for 4 weeks. The e-NANC nerve function was examined in vitro by means of isometric tension measurement of main bronchi. After pretreatment with atropine (10(-6) M) and propranolol (10(-6) M), we performed electrical field stimulation (EFS) or exogenous neurokinin A (NKA) administration. In the challenged group, EFS-induced main bronchial contraction was significantly greater than that of the control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), but exogenous NKA-mediated responses were almost the same in both groups. The e-NANC-induced main bronchial contractions after EFS were enhanced by pretreatment with the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon, to the same degree in the control and challenged groups, indicating that the peptide degradation mechanisms were not impaired even in the challenged group. Substance P immunoreactivities in the lung of the challenged group were significantly higher than those of the control group. These results suggest that chronic airway inflammation after repeated allergen challenge increases excitatory nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerve function, possibly by enhancing sensory neuropeptide production and/or release.

To enhance formatting efficiency in high density hard disk drives, it is desirable to decrease the number of embedded servo signals. As a consequence, the sampling rate of servo systems has been becoming lower. In this situation, it is difficult to attain fast track seeking by using only a feedback controller. This paper presents a high-speed track seek technique, based on two degree-of-freedom control. A new reference model is developed by focusing on the attainment of fast track seeking through the effective use of a voice coil motor, which functions as a disk head actuator. The model generates reference trajectories, allowing high-speed movement. Also, in order to quickly settle the disk head to a target track under various disturbances, an initial value compensation (IVC) method to minimize a quadratic performance index is developed. Experimental results, using a 3-1/2 inch hard disk drive, confirm the validity of the proposed method.

We report the anisotropic magnetotransport of Nd2Ir2O7 single crystal under high magnetic field (B) up to 50 T with B along various directions. Only for B // [001] direction, a novel semimetal state is realized under high magnetic field evidenced by a field-induced insulating-semimetalic phase transition with critical field BMI~12 T related to the destruction of all-in-all-out (AIAO) state. In contrast, abnormal magnetotransport hysteresis behavior is observed for B // [111] direction below the metal-insulator transition temperature (TMI), and magnetotransport reveals the Ir spin structure keep in the AIAO state under high magnetic field with temperature just below TMI, in prospect to realize Weyl semimetal state.

Our single crystal study of the magnetothermal and transport properties of the pyrochlore iridate Eu${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ reveals a continuous phase transition from a paramagnetic metal to an antiferromagnetic insulator for a sample with stoichiometry within $\ensuremath{\sim}$1$%$ resolution. The insulating phase has strong proximity to an antiferromagnetic semimetal, which is stabilized by several $%$ level of the off-stoichiometry. Our observations suggest that in addition to electronic correlation and spin-orbit coupling the magnetic order is essential for opening the charge gap.

We have studied the effect of pressure on the pyrochlore iridate ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$, which, at ambient pressure, has a thermally driven insulator to metal transition at ${T}_{\mathrm{MI}}\ensuremath{\sim}120\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. As a function of pressure, the insulating gap closes, apparently continuously near $P\ensuremath{\sim}6\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. However, rather than ${T}_{\mathrm{MI}}$ going to zero as expected, the insulating ground state crosses over to a metallic state with a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity, suggesting that these ground states have a novel character. The high-temperature state also crosses over near 6 GPa from an incoherent to a conventional metal, implying that there is a connection between the high- and the low-temperature states.

1. In order to examine whether K+ channels play a role in antigen-induced airway responses, the effect of K+ channel blockers on antigen-induced airway smooth muscle contraction and mediator release was examined in vitro in guinea-pigs actively sensitized with ovalbumin (OA). 2. Tracheal strips from sensitized animals were suspended in organ baths under a resting tension of 1 g and isometric tension was continuously measured. Cumulative concentration-response curves to OA (0.1-1000 ng ml-1) or histamine (10 nM-1 mM) were obtained in the presence and absence of K+ channel blockers. 3. OA (10, 100 or 1000 ng ml-1) was incubated with minced lung tissues from the same animals for 15 min in the presence and absence of K+ channel blockers, and released histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) in the incubating medium were measured. 4. Apamin, a small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (PK,Ca) blocker, (0.1, 0.3 and 1 microM) significantly inhibited OA-induced smooth muscle contraction, while charybdotoxin (ChTX, 10 nM), an intermediate and large conductance PK,Ca blocker, and iberiotoxin (IbTX, 3 nM), a large conductance PK,Ca blocker, were without effect. Apamin (0.3 microM) had no effect on exogenously administered histamine-induced airway smooth muscle contraction, suggesting that the inhibition of OA-induced contraction by apamin did not occur at the smooth muscle level. 5. The inhibition of OA-induced contraction by apamin (0.3 microM) was not significantly affected by pretreatment with a leukotriene antagonist, ONO-1078 (10 microM), but was abolished by pretreatment with a histamine H1-receptor blocker, pyrilamine (1 microM). 6. Apamin by itself (up to 0.1 MicroM) had no effect on spontaneous histamine release from minced lung tissues. Histamine release induced by low and intermediate concentrations of OA (10 and 100 ng ml-1)was significantly suppressed by apamin pretreatment (P

This article discribes a model following control system enabling disk drives to achieve high-speed track access. In this kind of control system, a prediction from a model plays an important role in reducing access time. We propose a new reference model based on a numerical model of the VCM (voice coil motor) used as the disk drive actuator. Taking the VCM actuator dynamics into account, the reference model generates a reference trajectory to achieve high-speed head positioning. Simulation and experimental results for a typical hard disk drive indicate the validity of the proposed method.

Tantalum nitride thin films were prepared by ion beam assisted deposition technique. Depositions were performed at some different ion-atom arrival rate ratio, and the film properties such as nitrogen composition, crystallinity, and work function were investigated. The relation between ion-atom arrival rate ratio and nitrogen composition was quite similar to that of niobium nitride, which was investigated previously. The structure of the present films was amorphous from X-ray diffraction analysis. The work function slightly decreased with an increase in the nitrogen composition. This result is also similar to that of niobium nitride. The absolute value of the work function was similar to or slightly higher than that of niobium nitride.

The objectives of this study were to identify a plant extract that would improve stratum corneum functions and to elucidate the mechanism(s) involved. Based on the information that stratum corneum functions depend on the level of ceramide in the stratum corneum, we identified a Eucalyptus extract that was able to increase the level of ceramide in human keratinocytes in culture and in human stratum corneum and that improves the stratum corneum water holding and barrier functions. Addition of the Eucalyptus extract to human keratinocytes in culture increased the level of ceramide in a dose-dependent manner and also increased the biosynthesis of ceramide, glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin. Topical application of the Eucalyptus extract on the dry skin of human subjects induced by acetone and diethylether treatment resulted in a significant increase in ceramide level in the stratum corneum, a significant improvement in its water-holding function and an improvement in its barrier function. The addition of macrocarpal A, one of the main components of the Eucalyptus extract, to human keratinocytes in culture increased the level of ceramide and the mRNA expression of serine palmitoyltransferase, acid sphingomyelinase, neutral sphingomyelinase, glucosylceramide synthase and glucocerebrosidase in a dose-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the increased content of ceramides in the stratum corneum may underlie the therapeutic effect of the Eucalyptus extract. Our results also indicate the possibility that macrocarpal A is the key component that stimulates the synthesis of ceramide in the stratum corneum.

Muon spin rotation and relaxation experiments in the pyrochlore iridate Eu${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ yield a well-defined muon spin precession frequency below the metal-insulator/antiferromagnetic transition temperature ${T}_{M}=120$ K, indicative of long-range commensurate magnetic order and thus ruling out quantum spin liquid and spin-glass-like ground states. The dynamic muon spin relaxation rate is temperature-independent between 2 K and $~{T}_{M}$ and yields an anomalously long Ir${}^{4+}$ spin correlation time, suggesting a singular density of low-lying spin excitations. Similar behavior is found in other pyrochlores and geometrically frustrated systems, but also in the unfrustrated iridates BaIrO${}_{3}$ and Sr${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{4}$. Eu${}_{2}$Ir${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$ may be only weakly frustrated; if so, the singularity might be associated with the small-gap insulating state rather than frustration.

We examined the effect of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on neurogenic airway microvascular leakage. Male Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (250–350 g) were anesthetized with urethan (2 g/kg ip). The cervical artery and vein were cannulated for monitoring blood pressure and injecting drugs, respectively. Atropine and propranolol (each 1 mg/kg i.v.) were administered 30 min before the experiment. After pretreatment with saline (vehicle for NPY) or NPY (1–100 micrograms/kg i.v.), Evans blue dye (30 mg/kg iv) was administered. Then, bilateral vagal nerves were electrically stimulated (5 V, 7 Hz, 5-ms duration for 3 min) to induce airway plasma leakage. Airways were divided into four sections [trachea (Tr), main bronchi, central intrapulmonary airways (IPA), and peripheral IPA] and incubated in formamide (37 degrees C for 16 h). The concentration of Evans blue dye was measured by spectrophotometer. Furthermore, we examined the effect of NPY on exogenous substance P- (0.3 microgram/kg i.v.) induced plasma extravasation. Bilateral vagal stimulation significantly increased leakage of dye in Tr to peripheral IPA. NPY did not affect basal leakage but did significantly inhibit neurogenic plasma extravasation in a dose-dependent manner with maximal inhibitions of 42.3 (Tr), 67.7 (main bronchi), 38.2 (central IPA), and 26.3% (peripheral IPA) at 30 micrograms/kg. Exogenous substance P-induced plasma extravasation was not inhibited by NPY. We conclude that NPY inhibits neurogenic inflammation by prejunctional inhibition of neuropeptide release from airway sensory nerve terminals.

The etching of irradiated polymethyl-methacrylate films was studied by an ultrasonic technique using a new etching agent—chlorinated acetic acid solution. Hole density increased with increasing number of chlorine atoms in the chlorinated acetic acid molecule. Trichloro acetic acid was the most effective etching agent. Hole diameter and density were affected by etching conditions such as the concentration of trichloro acetic acid solution, etching time and etching temperature. Holes with a diameter from 0.2 to 0.5 μm were formed by ultrasonic etching using 25% trichloro acetic acid solution for 6 h at 20°C.

The effects of irradiation of UV light on the growth of diamond from the gas phase were studied in the range of substrate temperatures from 300 to 500 °C, using microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition. The increase in the growth rate due to UV irradiation was observed at all the temperatures studied. At 300 and 400 °C, the change in morphology and crystal quality has been noted.