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Deformable image registration (DIR) has been an important component in adaptive radiotherapy (ART). Our goal was to examine the accuracy of ART using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and to determine the optimal timing of replanning. A total of 22 patients who underwent volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for head and neck (H&N) cancers were prospectively analyzed. The planning target volume (PTV) was to receive a total of 70 Gy in 33 fractions. A second planning CT scan (rescan) was performed at the 15th fraction. The DSC was calculated for each structure on both CT scans. The continuous variables to predict the need for replanning were assessed. The optimal cut-off value was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In the correlation between body weight loss and DSC of each structure, weight loss correlated negatively with DSC of the whole face (rs = -0.45) and the face surface (rs = -0.51). Patients who required replanning tended to have experienced rapid weight loss. The threshold DSC was 0.98 and 0.60 in the whole face and the face surface, respectively. Patients who showed low DSC in the whole face and the face surface required replanning at a significantly high rate (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Weight loss correlated with DSC in both the whole face and the face surface (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05). The DSC values in the face predicted the need for replanning. In addition, weight loss tended to correlate with DSC. DIR during ART was found to be a useful tool for replanning.

The feasibility of estimating patient-specific dose verification results directly from linear accelerator (linac) log files has been investigated for prostate cancer patients who undergo volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Twenty-six patients who underwent VMAT in our facility were consecutively selected. VMAT plans were created using Monaco treatment planning system and were transferred to an Elekta linac. During the beam delivery, dynamic machine parameters such as positions of the multi-leaf collimator and the gantry were recorded in the log files; subsequently, root mean square (rms) values of control errors, speeds and accelerations of the above machine parameters were calculated for each delivery. Dose verification was performed for all the plans using a cylindrical phantom with diodes placed in a spiral array. The gamma index pass rates were evaluated under 3%/3 mm and 2%/2 mm criteria with a dose threshold of 10%. Subsequently, the correlation coefficients between the gamma index pass rates and each of the above rms values were calculated. Under the 2%/2 mm criteria, significant negative correlations were found between the gamma index pass rates and the rms gantry angle errors (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) as well as the pass rates and the rms gantry accelerations (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). On the other hand, the rms values of the other dynamic machine parameters did not significantly correlate with the gamma index pass rates. We suggest that the VMAT quality assurance (QA) results can be directly estimated from the log file thereby providing potential to simplify patient-specific prostate VMAT QA procedure.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prediction of mechanical error using DICOM-RT plan parameters for volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). We created plans for gantry rotation arcs of 360° and 180° (full-arc and half-arc VMAT) for six maxillary sinus cancer cases using a Monaco treatment planning system, and delivered the doses with a linear accelerator. We calculated DICOM-RT plan parameters, including gantry, multileaf collimator (MLC) positions and Monitor Units (MU). We compared plans with regard to gantry angle per MU (degrees/MU) and MLC travel per MU (mm/MU) for each segment. Calculated gantry angle/MLC position speeds and errors were evaluated by comparison with the log file. On average, the half-arc VMAT plan resulted in 47% and 35% fewer degrees/MU and mm/MU than the full-arc VMAT plan, respectively. The root mean square (r.m.s.) gantry and MLC speeds showed a linear relationship with calculated degrees/MU and mm/MU, with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.86 and 0.72, respectively. The r.m.s. gantry angle and MLC position errors showed a linear relationship with calculated degrees/MU and mm/MU with R2 of 0.63 and 0.76, respectively. Deviations from plan parameters were related to mechanical error for VMAT, and provided quantitative information without the need for VMAT delivery. These parameters can be used in the selection of treatment planning.

The authors fabricated pn diodes with Al+ implantation in p-type epitaxial layers, and investigated the influence of the implantation dose on reverse leakage currents. Only in the highest dose with the Al concentration of 2x1020cm-3, more than 90% of the devices showed high leakage currents above 10-4A at the maximum electric field of 3MV/cm. In such devices, almost all of the emissive spots corresponded to threading screw dislocations (TSDs) by the analysis of emission microscopy and X-ray topography. These TSDs were defined as killer defects with the estimated density of 500cm-2 in the case of the highest dose. The emissions were supposed to be due to microplasmas, since the spectra of the emissions were different from those of heat radiation. Condensation of Al atoms, nitrogen atoms and DI defects were excluded as the origin of the emissions by secondary ion mass spectrometry and low temperature photoluminescence analyses.

Trichloramine (NCl3) is one of the major causes of the chlorine odor in drinking water. In the present study, a method was developed for analysis of NCl3 concentration in water using headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS–GC/MS). For quantification of NCl3, m/z of 51 was selected because other major m/z of NCl3 were also observed as fragments of trichloromethane (CHCl3) and the peaks of NCl3 and CHCl3 overlapped on the chromatogram. The limit of quantification for NCl3 was set to 15 μg-Cl2/L. The calibration curve of NCl3 was expressed as a quadratic curve because of the partial NCl3 decomposition. NCl3 concentrations in chlorinated ammonium solution were determined by HS–GC/MS and titration using N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine and ferrous ammonium sulfate (DPD/FAS), and the results using the two methods were similar at pH 6 and 7. However, at pH 8, NCl3 was detected using HS–GC/MS, but not using DPD/FAS titration. NCl3 concentrations in nine tap water samples were determined using HS–GC/MS and ranged from

EEG data obtained from 27 patients with presenile Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 28 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) were compared with data from 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Both patient groups exhibited more pronounced delta and theta activity and less prominent alpha and beta activity than the controls. AD, however, was accompanied by more severe slowing than SDAT. The slowing was distributed in the left temporal and frontal regions in AD, and bilaterally in the frontal regions in SDAT. As the severity of the dementia increased, delta activity alone increased in AD, whereas, there were significantly greater increases in both delta and theta activity and decreases in alpha and beta activity in SDAT. These EEG differences appear to be related to the degree of brain damage and the speed of progression of the disease process.

The technology of the sub-femtoliter volume control of liquids in nanometer range pipettes (nanopipettes) has been developed for carrying out surgical operations on living cells. We focus attention on an interface forming between oil and water in a nanopipette. The interface position can be moved by increasing or decreasing the input pressure. If the volume of liquid in the nanopipette can be controlled by moving the position of the interface, cell organelles can be discharged or suctioned and a drug-solution can be injected into the cell. Quantity volume control in the pico–attoliter range using a tapered nanopipette is controlled by the condition of an interface with a convex shape toward the top of the nanopipette. The volume can be controlled by the input pressure corresponding to the interfacial radius without the use of a microscope by preliminarily preparing the pipette shape and the interface radius as a function of the input pressure.

A laboratory size superconducting magnet to generate a magnetic force field of 1500 T/sup 2/ in a 40 mm diameter room temperature bore was developed. The magnet consists of Nb/sub 3/Sn and NbTi superconductors. In order to generate such a high magnetic force field, a superconducting magnet is combined with main coils and a reverse coil. The main coils generate a central field higher than 15 T. The reverse coil generates a reverse field to achieve a high magnetic field gradient of about 150 T/m in a region at a magnetic field of about 10 T. To avoid huge axial magnetic forces between the main coils and the reverse coil, the main coils are combined with three sections set asymmetrically. All coils are connected in series and also connected to a persistent current switch. Thus the magnet can be operated in persistent mode, which means that the magnet can maintain its field without supplying current. The field decay is less than 50 ppm/h. The sample can be kept in a micro gravity environment for more than one month. After shifting to persistent mode operation, the current lead can be removed from the cryostat, which allows the helium boil off rate to be reduced to less than 50 cc/h and the helium-refilling interval to be increased to more than one month. This magnet will enable epoch-making progress in the field of micro gravity application.

It is well-known that one of the major limitations to achieve a good performance in mechanical systems is the presence of friction. High resolution positioning systems operating with accuracies in nanometer region usually exhibit relatively large steady-state tracking errors or even oscillations if controllers are designed without considering friction. Consequently, this paper aims at improving the position control of a high precision stage using a synchronous piezoelectric device driver (SPIDER) by comparing the performances of three friction compensators. These friction compensators detect friction in the system and use this information to modify the control input. The first using bang-bang control is based on the well-known static friction model. The second is a friction state observer based on the dynamic friction LuGre model, and the third is a feed-forward compensator based on the LuGre model. In order to effect a fair comparison, three friction compensators uses the same identified friction parameters in controller synthesis. The performance comparisons are presented by means of experimental results on the proposed high precision stage using SPIDER.

A new wear reduction method, which is based on a static friction without slipping, is developed for a frictionally fast feeding piezoactuator. This method is required for overcoming the problems related to the scattering of particles due to the use of a contact type actuator. Furthermore, wear reduction result in a frictionally driving actuator with a long-term stability for various applications, such as the electron beam inspection in the next-generation semiconductor industry.

An arbitrary pattern exposure system has been developed by employing a liquid crystal display (LCD) with 1600 /spl times/ 1200 pixels for the formation of projection images in place of a conventional reticle. The minimum pattern size becomes 11.5 /spl mu/m, which corresponds to the aperture size of each pixel on the LCD. For the purpose of quick turnaround time (TAT), the exposure system was directly connected to the circuit design system with the transmission control protocol/internet protocol network. From the experimental results on patterning of a typical electronic circuit data with the area of 46/spl times/ 46 mm, it was confirmed that the TAT from the output of design data to the finish of the exposure becomes less than 28 min. By using this system, reduction of the production cost in the printed wiring boards fabrication is expected.

The effects of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the ozone decay and the di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) decomposition during ozone/hydrogen peroxide (O 3 /H 2 O 2 ) process were investigated (DBP-d 4 was used instead of DBP). Four surface waters, two secondary municipal sewage effluents (SMSEfs) and Suwannee river natural organic matter were used as DOM. The ozone decompositions in the DOM solutions were separated by instantaneous ozone consumption and slower ozone decay. The effect of H 2 O 2 addition on the ozone decay was clearly observed at slower ozone decay. Ozone decomposition rate at slower ozone decay increased linearly with H 2 O 2 dose. DBP-d 4 was exponentially decreased with ozone consumption. Ozone consumption required to decompose 90% of DBP-d 4 ((ΔO 3 ) 90% ) in SMSEFs was higher than those in surface waters. The (ΔO 3 ) 90% per DOC of DOM values were from 22 to 23 μmole/mgC for SMSEFs and from 10 to 17 μmole/mgC for surface waters. The (ΔO 3 ) 90% values were correlated to specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA 254 ) for surface waters.

A compressed atom model is developed to study the one-electron energy level in the FLAPW (full-potential linearized augmented plane wave) calculation. The reference energy level in the FLAPW calculations is shown to be dominated by the exchange-correlation potential. Taking this into account it is possible to evaluate the absolute deformation potential.

In order to improve the flexural and the inter-laminar shear strength of coal tar pitch-based 2D-C/C composites, fillers (carbon blacks and colloidal graphite) have been introduced between the UD layers before the first infiltration of pitch. Matrix parts made of the filler/pitch-based cokes showed fine mosaic microtextures. They were found at the interface between the layers. Whereas the tensile strength is not affected, the flexural strength and the ILSS were significantly increased by the addition of fillers. The original structure of the inter-layer matrix parts and the decrease of the number of flaws were found to be responsible for the improvement of the shear strength of the 0/90° UD layers.

Two years after the start of operations at the Tokachi Association for Municipal Waste Disposal and Treatment Services municipal waste incineration plant (name: Kuririn Center), which generates 400°C steam, an investigation of the plant's superheater tubes was conducted. The investigation consisted primarily of analyzing ash deposits, measuring tube wall thickness loss and observing tube sections after removal. The concentration of Cl in the deposited ash was found to increase as the temperature of the gas rose, and the amount of deposited ash tended to increase as the temperature of the gas rose. Tube damage consisted primarily of a uniform loss in thickness. Intergranular corrosion and other local corrosion was not observed. The results of thickness-loss measurements showed that, after approximately two years in operation, tubes (SUS310) lost a maximum of 0.45 mm in thickness due to high-temperature corrosion in locations where the steam temperature reached 400°C. Superheater tubes were also apparently damaged from the effects of a soot blower, resulting in an observed maximum loss of 0.9 mm thickness after approximately two years. Furthermore, the rate of thickness loss tended to increase after one year had passed.

This paper describes the results of in-situ measurements of magnetic susceptibility in landslide deposits along the Tsurukawa fault zone in central Japan. The measured magnetic susceptibility values range from 0.4 to 9.6×10–3 (in SI) and correspond to the proportions of the two component materials, weathered volcanic ash and faulted rock fragments. The study shows that landslide deposits along the Tsurukawa fault zone are composed of varying proportions of weathered volcanic ash. The results contrast with some general assumptions concerning landslides along fault zones in Japan.

The effect of co-existing compounds on the decompositions of three target compounds (i.e., 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), 1,4-dioxane, and 17β-estradiol) using the ozone/hydrogen peroxide (O3/H2O2) process was investigated. Their reactivities toward HO• are assumed to be of the order of 109 /M · s. The decomposition rate of TCB was much higher during the O3/H2O2 process than during ozonation in the presence of bicarbonate ion, an inhibitor of radical chain reactions. 17β-Estradiol, a highly reactive target compound toward ozone, was decomposed at lower ozone dose than TCB and 1,4-dioxane, lowly reactive target compounds toward ozone, in the presence of humic acid. The reactivities of the co-existing compounds toward HO• were significantly related to the treatment efficiency of TCB when their concentrations as TOC were similar. The effect of humic acid, fulvic acid, and glucose, target compounds highly reactive toward HO•, on the decomposition of TCB was similar regardless of co-existing compounds. On the other hand, significantly lower effect of acetate and oxalate ions, target compounds lowly reactive toward HO•, on the decomposition of TCB was observed. Ozone dose required for the decomposition of TCB was inversely proportional to TCB concentration when HO• generated was greatly scavengedby co-existing compounds. On the other hand, ozone dose required for the decomposition of TCB was less affected by TCB concentration when HO• generated was used effectively for the decomposition of TCB.

The mechanical behaviour of undirectional and 2D-laminate coal-tar pitch-based carbon/carbon composites was investigated in tension and bending conditions (3 and 4-point loading tests) at room temperature. One of the major drawbacks of such highly anisotropic structures is their poor resistance to delamination (high sensitivity to local shear components). In order to improve their interlaminar shear strength, carbon blacks were introduced between the unidirectional plies of the 2D-C/C specimens prior to the pitch infiltration. The damage and the failure mechanisms were identified by microscope observations on both UD and 2D-C/C composites. Two families of damage modes were identified, involving limited interfibre cracks and inter-layer delamination cracks homogeneously distributed within the composite. The fracture process is assigned to the propagation of the macrocrack in the failure envelope through a large intra and inter-layer delamination process interrupted by fibres/bundles fracture. Acoustic emission analysis was performed during the tests. An approach using a combination of acoustic emission waveform parameters as indicators of the physical damage of the composite is discussed.

When phenylbutyne ( 1 ) was incubated in rat liver S-9, reduction of triple bond and regioselective hydroxylation occurred to give phenylbutane ( 3 ) and (2 S )-4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-ol ( 2 ), respectively. In the reaction of ( 1 ) with baker's yeast, reduction of triple bond occurred to give ( 3 ). In the incubation of 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one ( 6 ) in rat liver, (2 S )-4-phenyl-2-butanol [(2 S )- 8 ] were afforded from control rat liver, while (2 R )-isomers [(2 R )- 8 ] were isolated from PB treated rat liver. 2,3-Epoxy-1-phenyl-1-butanone ( 10 ) was enantioselectively reduced to give the corresponding (1 R ,2 S ,3 R )- and (1 R ,2 R ,3 S )-epoxy alcohols ( 11 , 12 ) in high optical yields in rat liver and baker's yeast. However, in the same reaction of 2,3-epoxy-4-phenyl-2-butanone ( 13 ), reduction of ketone proceeded enantioselectively in baker's yeast to give (1 S ,2 S ,3 R )- and (1 R ,2 R ,3 R )-epoxyalcohols ( 14 , 15 ) in high optical yields (each 98% ee).

生駒山地西麓地域(東大阪市河内地域)から産出する縄文時代後期および晩期の土器の中には,その胎土が暗褐色～茶褐色を呈し,角閃石類を多量に含むという特徴を有する土器群があることが知られている.これらの特徴を有する土器は,“河内の土器”と一般的に呼称されており,他地域の土器とはもちろん,この地域のほかの土器とも容易に識別される.これらの土器について,土器薄片を作成し,偏光顕微鏡下において観察と記載とを行った.その結果,(1)これらの胎土中の粒子の大きさ分布は5μmから250μmの範囲で,破砕物が一般的に示すフラクタル性(スケーリング則)を有すること,(2)粘土の質・量とも断層内物質の一般的特徴を有すること,(3)粘土は一般的に用いられていたものとは異なり,接着性が非常に高い特異なものであることが明らかになった.さらに,鉱物・岩石片からなる粒子には,破片状の尖った外形を呈するものが多く,断層岩に特徴的な粒内微小断層や微角礫状組織あるいはカタクラサイト状組織を呈するものもあり,顕著な不連続的波動消光や双晶面のたわみ・キングバンドや機械的双晶という変形岩・断層岩を特徴付ける組織が多いこと,が明らかになった.以上のような土器胎土の特徴から,その材料として断層内物質が用いられた可能性がきわめて大きいと考えられ,胎土材料としてほかの材料を考えることは困難である.その産地としては,岩石学的・地質学的特徴から生駒山地西縁を南北に走る生駒断層の破砕帯が最も可能性が高いものとしてあげられる.

Anatomical variations around the hepatoduodenal ligament greatly influence surgical procedures and the difficulty of operations. Here, we report the case of a deceased donor with midgut malrotation (MgM) and anatomical variation. We also present an anatomical comparison between MgM and normal cases.The donor, a male in his 60s, was diagnosed with MgM based on preoperative computed tomography. Intraoperatively, the liver graft was harvested from the proper hepatic artery (PHA), but its length was too short for reconstruction. Therefore, the hepatic artery was reconstructed at both the left and right hepatic arteries.The length of the proper hepatic artery (l-PHA) and main trunk of the portal vein (l-PV) was compared between MgM and control groups (n = 9) using computed tomography. The ratio of PHA (r-PHA) and PV (r-PV), which was calculated as the l-PHA or l-PV divided by the patient's height, was also compared.The r-PV was 1.3% in the MgM group and 1.6% in the control group (P = .09). The r-PHA was 0.23% in the MgM group and 0.92% in the control group (P.01). Thus, the PHA was significantly shorter in the MgM group. Additionally, anatomical variations of the hepatic artery were confirmed in four cases.Preoperative radiological evaluation is not always adequate for identifying anatomical abnormalities in deceased donors. MgM is a rare but important anomaly because of the possibility of associated anatomical variations of the hepatic artery.

A total of 1788 non-diabetic subjects, screened by a general health check, had either glycosuria or marginal elevation of fasting blood glucose and/or HbA1c. They were followed by repeated 100 g oral glucose tolerance tests for up to 8 years. Their initial mean age was 52 years and the mean BMI was 23.2. Low insulin secretory response was defined when the insulinogenic index, a ratio of increment of plasma insulin to that of plasma glucose 30 min after oral glucose load, was lower than 0.5. Cumulative incidence of diabetes with fasting blood glucose (FBG) exceeding 120 mg dl-1 was significantly higher in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) than in non-IGT, and in each of IGT and non-IGT groups, the incidence was significantly higher for low than normal insulin responders. The mean initial plasma insulin response in subjects who developed diabetes was significantly lower than in those who remained non-diabetic with the same category of glucose tolerance at baseline irrespective of the degree of glucose intolerance. The mean baseline BMI did not differ whether or not they developed diabetes, but a few cases who developed diabetes despite normal initial insulin response were much more obese. Fasting insulin levels did not correlate with FBG during the course of development of diabetes. We suggest that defective insulin secretion plays a predominant role in the non-obese subtype of NIDDM which includes the majority of Japanese patients, while both insulin resistance and insulin secretory defect are important in the obese subtype for the development of diabetes.

We studied the plasma insulin response during a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in subjects with NIDDM and various other conditions associated with glucose intolerance. The criteria for definite diabetes and previously definite diabetes is proposed for those whose fasting blood glucose (FBG) is, or has been, greater than 140 mg dl-1 in the past. A diabetic type glucose tolerance with FBG lower than 140 mg dl-1 was called 'equivocal diabetes'. Insulin response was almost invariably lower in definite diabetes and previously definite diabetes compared to control groups with similar degree of glucose intolerance even in the states of non-diabetic glucose tolerance. This was in contrast to other conditions which are often associated with glucose intolerance such as corticosteroid treatment, post-gastrectomy, liver diseases, in which insulin response is increased with the impairment of glucose tolerance as far as the FBG remains below 140 mg dl-1. The low insulin response in definite diabetes can be represented by a decreased insulinogenic index, the ratio of increment of plasma insulin (muU ml-1) to that of blood glucose (mg dl-1) 30 min after the glucose load. Insulin response was judged to be low when this index was less than 0.5. Low insulin response was a reproducible feature, better than the category of glucose tolerance. It was highly correlated with acute insulin response (AIR) elicited by intravenous glucose injection. The prevalence of low insulin responders was high among groups with a family history of NIDDM. Diabetes with elevated FBG occurred more frequently in low insulin responders than in normal insulin responders. Fasting and 2-h insulin levels are lower in definite diabetes than in control groups with similar blood glucose levels. The so-called inverted-U shape relationship of plasma insulin to blood glucose was not so apparent in definite diabetes. We conclude that a low insulin response to oral glucose, as represented by a low insulinogenic index, is an important inherent characteristic in definite diabetes and probably plays a predominant role in the pathogenesis of NIDDM in most Japanese patients.

The clinical efficacy of troglitazone, a new oral hypoglycaemic agent was investigated in Type 2 diabetes in combination with sulphonylureas. Two hundred and ninety-one patients with Type 2 diabetes (age 21-81 years) whose previous glycaemic control by sulphonylureas was judged stable but unsatisfactory (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > 8.3 mmol I-1) were randomly allocated into the troglitazone treatment group (troglitazone group, n = 145) or the placebo treatment group (placebo group, n = 146). They were treated by test drugs for 12 weeks in combination with the same dose of sulphonylureas before the trial. One hundred and twenty-two patients who received troglitazone and 126 patients who received placebo were evaluated for efficacy. The baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the troglitazone group, FPG and HbA(1c) decreased significantly after the treatment (before vs after, FPG: 10.8 +/- 2.0 mmol I(-1) vs 9.2 +/- 2.5 mmol I(-1), p< 0.001; HbA(1c): 9.2 +/- 1.4% vs 8.5 +/- 1.5%, p< 0.001). FPG and HbA(1c) did not change after the treatment in the placebo group (before vs after, FPG: 10.5 +/- 1.7 mmol I(-1) vs 10.7 +/- 2.2 mmol I(-1); HbA(1c): 9.0 +/- 1.5% vs 9.2 +/- 1.6 %). Serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol did not change in either group, however, serum triglyceride significantly decreased in the troglitazone group. No serious adverse events occurred in either group. In conclusion, troglitazone 400 mg day(-1) had a significant hypoglycaemic effect in combination with sulphonylureas without any serious adverse events. Troglitazone, developed as an insulin action enhancer, can be a useful hypoglycaemic agent in the treatment of patients with Type 2 diabetes who are not well controlled by sulphonylureas alone.

The three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator is a novel quantum state of matter where an insulating bulk hosts a linearly-dispersing surface state, which can be viewed as a sea of massless Dirac fermions protected by the time-reversal symmetry (TRS). Breaking the TRS by a magnetic order leads to the opening of a gap in the surface state and consequently the Dirac fermions become massive. It has been proposed theoretically that such a mass acquisition is necessary for realizing novel topological phenomena, but achieving a sufficiently large mass is an experimental challenge. Here we report an unexpected discovery that the surface Dirac fermions in a solid-solution system TlBi(S1-xSex)2 acquires a mass without explicitly breaking the TRS. We found that this system goes through a quantum phase transition from the topological to the non-topological phase, and by tracing the evolution of the electronic states using the angle-resolved photoemission, we observed that the massless Dirac state in TlBiSe2 switches to a massive state before it disappears in the non-topological phase. This result suggests the existence of a condensed-matter version of the "Higgs mechanism" where particles acquire a mass through spontaneous symmetry breaking., Main Manuscript: 16 pages, 3 figures; Supplementary Information: 8 pages, 8 figures

The laminar distribution and morphological features of parvalbumin-immunoreactive [PV(+l)] neurons, one of the subpopulations of GABAergic neurons, were studied in the rat olfactory bulb at a light microscopic level. In the main olfactory bulb of adult rats, PV(+) neurons were mainly located in the external plexiform layer (EPL), and a few were scattered in the glomerular layer (GL), mitral cell layer (ML), and granule cell layer (GRL); whereas PV(+) neurons were rarely seen in the accessory olfactory bulb. The inner and outer sublayers of the EPL (ISL and OSL) appeared to be somewhat different in the distribution of PV(+) somata and features of PV(+) processes. PV(+) somata were located throughout the OSL, and PV(+) processes intermingled with one another, making a dense meshwork in the OSL; whereas, in the ISL, PV(+) somata were mainly located near the inner border of the EPL, and PV(+) processes made a sparser meshwork than that in the OSL. PV(+) neurons in the EPL were apparently heterogeneous in their structural features and appeared to be classifiable into several groups. Among them there appeared five distinctive types of PV(+) neurons. The most prominent group of PV(+) neurons in the OSL were superficial short-axon cells, located in the superficial portion of this sublayer and giving rise to relatively thick processes, in horizontal or oblique directions, which usually bore spines and varicosities. Another prominent group of PV(+) neurons extended several short, branched dendrites with spines and varicosities, which appeared to intermingle with one another, making a relatively small, spherical or ovoid dendritic field around the cell bodies; most of them resembled Van Gehuchten cells reported in previous Golgi studies. A third distinctive and most numerous group of PV(+) neurons were of the multipolar type; their somata and processes were located throughout the EPL. Their relatively smooth processes with frequent varicosities and a few spines were extended horizontally or diagonally throughout the EPL. A fourth group, which could be a subtype of the multipolar type, were located in or just above th ML and extended several thin, smooth dendrites in the EPL, some of which appeared to reach the border between the GL and EPL. Occasionally, axonlike processes arose from their cell bodies and extended into the ML. This fourth type of PV(+) neuron was named inner short-axon cells. A fifth group of neuron was located in the ML; processes of these neurons were extended horizontally, so they were named inner horizontal cells. PV(+) processes from the fourth and the fifth group of cells appeared to make contacts on mitral cell somata. In the GL some presumably periglomerular cells were also PV(+). In the GRL, PV(+) neurons were small in number, but they were also heterogeneous in their structural features; Some were identified as Golgi cells. This study shows a tremendous heterogeneity in morphological features of a chemically defined subpopulation of GABAergic interneurons in the olfactory bulb.

This paper is focused on piezoelectric actuator for precision stage system which has nano-scale resolution. Nanometer order positioning techniques are necessary for semiconductor manufacturing and its inspection. For these demands, we propose the nonresonant-ultrasonic motor(NRUSM) as driving source of positioning stage. One can use as the stage driving device in a SEM chamber, because NRUSM is non-magnetic device. In addition NRUSM is able to be made compact, can be equipped at various miniature tools, for instance, manipulation, pumping, probing systems, having nano scale resolution. NRUSM is also adopted to Reticle Free Exposure system which can make the flexible patterning by fine displacing of mask patterns. NRUSM's weak point is the occurrence of a wear because of friction caused by the ultrasonic motor. However this wear can be cut down by reducing the slipping. A previously proven effective solution, by which the driving keeps in the range of static friction without the slipping, results in long life time, high-durability and decrease of particles. We propose two solutions to reduce the slipping: driving method and change of structure. The former is control method using variable frequency instead of constant frequency. The latter is increase of friction tips because static frictional force is proportional to number of the tips.

The three-dimensional topological insulator is a quantum state of matter characterized by an insulating bulk state and gapless Dirac cone surface states. Device applications of topological insulators require a highly insulating bulk and tunable Dirac carriers, which has so far been difficult to achieve. Here we demonstrate that Bi(2-x)Sb(x)Te(3-y)Se(y) is a system that simultaneously satisfies both of these requirements. For a series of compositions presenting bulk-insulating transport behaviour, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals that the chemical potential is always located in the bulk band gap, whereas the Dirac cone dispersion changes systematically so that the Dirac point moves up in energy with increasing x, leading to a sign change of the Dirac carriers at x~0.9. Such a tunable Dirac cone opens a promising pathway to the development of novel devices based on topological insulators.

We have performed spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of Bi2Te3 and present the first direct evidence for the existence of the out-of-plane spin component on the surface state of a topological insulator. We found that the magnitude of the out-of-plane spin polarization on a hexagonally deformed Fermi surface (FS) of Bi2Te3 reaches maximally 25% of the in-plane counterpart while such a sizable out-of-plane spin component does not exist in the more circular FS of TlBiSe2, indicating that the hexagonal deformation of the FS is responsible for the deviation from the ideal helical spin texture. The observed out-of-plane polarization is much smaller than that expected from existing theory, suggesting that an additional ingredient is necessary for correctly understanding the surface spin polarization in Bi2Te3., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and a man-made chemical. Perchlorate compounds, such as perchlorate salts and perchloric acid, are used in various products, including rocket/missile propellants, munitions, explosives, fireworks, airbag initiators, and road flares. Perchlorate is known to interfere with iodine uptake by the thyroid gland. Since 1997, perchlorate has been detected in water as well as in various media (e.g., soil, food, milk, beverages, and plants). The occurrence of perchlorate was initially reported in the United States, but it is currently reported to be present in other countries. Anthropogenic perchlorate is considered the main source of perchlorate contamination in the environment. The potential sources are manufacturers of perchlorate and perchlorate-containing products and those using perchlorate in operations, alongside other users of perchlorate-containing products. Perchlorate is also known to be present naturally in many groundwaters. This article reviews the origins of perchlorate and examples of its presence as a contaminant in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water. The occurrence of perchlorate in the drinking water of water systems in several countries is also summarized, and perchlorate concentrations in various types of bottled water are described.

Three cases are reported of the association of childhood onset of thoracic aortic calcification with mucocutaneous candidiasis, endocrine dysfunction and recurrent non-fungal pulmonary disease. The aortic calcification affects the thoracic aorta and the low lumbar aorta and common iliac arteries, sparing the mid-lumbar aorta and its major branches. Ischemic signs and symptoms of the head and neck and lower limbs are absent. This peculiar, slowly progressive vascular calcification, although unexplained to date, appears to be a non-random part of the more common candidiasis-endocrinopathy syndrome.

This paper presents an adaptive friction compensation algorithm based on LuGre friction model with only measurements of position for a high precision stage using a synchronous piezoelectric device driver (SPIDER). Two observers are used to estimate an unmeasured friction state in LuGre model. Adaptive control laws are derived on the basis of the Lyapunov technique for estimating unknown friction parameters, and compensating friction force. Lyapunov's direct method is used to prove the robust global convergence of position tracking errors. Experimental results taken from SPIDER system confirm that the proposed control method achieved fine positioning with respect to friction behavior.