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Background/Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the change in peripheral eosinophil count during postoperative pelvic radiotherapy and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities in patients with cervical cancer. Patients and Methods: The medical records of 163 patients with cervical cancer who underwent postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy between 2000 and 2016 were analyzed. Results: Among the peripheral blood cell counts, transient elevation of the eosinophil count was observed during radiotherapy. Of the 163 patients, 117 developed grade ≥2 diarrhea during radiotherapy, and 25 patients developed grade ≥2 late GI toxicities. In multivariate analysis, the maximum eosinophil count and age emerged as independent predictors of grade ≥2 acute diarrhea during radiotherapy, while bowel bag V40 Gy and age were predictive of grade ≥2 late GI toxicities. Conclusion: Early detection of transient elevation of eosinophil may facilitate early treatment of acute diarrhea during radiotherapy.

The deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique is effective for heart dose reduction in patients with left-sided breast cancer. In deep breathing, some women breathe in thoracic respiration; and others, in abdominal respiration. This study evaluated differences in dose reduction in organs at risk (OAR) and reproducibilities of the target and OAR between thoracic DIBH (T-DIBH) and abdominal DIBH (A-DIBH). Fourteen patients with left-sided breast cancer who had planned to receive whole-breast irradiation were included. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in free breathing (FB), T-DIBH, and A-DIBH, and the dosimetric indexes of the target and OAR for three treatment plans were compared. In T-DIBH and A-DIBH, two series CTs were taken in each breathing method and the displacements of the target and heart were calculated. The averaged mean heart doses (MHDs) were 1.5 Gy and 1.6 Gy in T-DIBH and A-DIBH, respectively, significantly lower than 2.7 Gy in FB (p

Purpose To evaluate whether MediQOL, which was developed as a care cosmetic for sensitive skin, causes a change in skin condition for subjects with dry skin requiring moisture retention. Subjects and methods This study includes 20 Japanese subjects with dry skin who required moisture retention, as identified by a dermatologist. The subjects used the novel MediQOL products twice a day for four consecutive weeks. A skin evaluation was performed by a dermatologist, and each subject completed a questionnaire prior to the study period and after two and four weeks of MediQOL use. Results After four weeks of MediQOL use, alleviation of skin dryness, redness, and itchiness was observed in the subjects. The water/oil content of the skin also improved during the study period. Conclusion Four weeks of MediQOL use resulted in the alleviation of skin dryness, redness, and itchiness and balanced the water/oil content of the skin. MediQOL is expected to be effective in improving the condition of various skin types, including oily, mixed, and sensitive skin as well as dry skin.

Background The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for localized prostate cancer. Patients and methods We investigated 25 patients treated with SBRT of 35 Gy per five fractions from May 2014 to March 2015. Results The median age of patients was 70 years, four (16%) patients were low risk and 21 (84%) were intermediate risk. Seven (28%) patients received neoadjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy. The median follow-up time was 53 months. Grade 2 acute and late genitourinary toxicities were observed in five (20%) and two (8%) patients and there were no Grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicities. There were no Grade 3 or higher acute or late toxicities at 2 years follow-up. The biochemical relapse-free survival rate at 2 years was 100%. Conclusion SBRT of 35 Gy per five fractions is a promising treatment method in the short term for prostate cancer.

Acetylcholine (ACh), a quaternary ammonium cation, is known as one of the itch inducer in atopic dermatitis (AD), an inflammatory skin disease with intense itching. Previous research has reported accumulation of ACh in lesional site of AD patients. Generally, ACh is metabolized by cholinesterase (ChE). Therefore, one of the causes of ACh accumulation may be the suppression of ChE activity. Increased levels of the multifunctional bioactive sphingolipid sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) have also been detected in AD. Since SPC possesses a quaternary ammonium cation, like ACh, it is possible that SPC affects the activity of ChE catalyzing ACh metabolization. We investigated whether SPC influences the activity of ChE by performing enzymatic analysis of ChE in the presence of SPC. We found that SPC strongly suppressed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, but the suppression of butyrylcholinesterase by SPC was quite low. The Michaelis constant (Km) of AChE in the presence of SPC increased, and the maximum velocity (Vmax) decreased, indicating that SPC acts as mixed-type inhibitor for AChE. The analysis of SPC analogs clarified the importance of both the quaternary ammonium cation and the carbon chain length of SPC for the AChE inhibitory effect and showed that SPC was unique in AChE inhibition among the sphingolipids in this study. These findings indicate a novel function of SPC on AChE inhibition. Thus, the inhibition activity of SPC may be a factor in the increase of ACh in AD.

The hanger reflex (HR) is an involuntary head rotation that occurs in response to a clothes hanger encircling the head and compressing the unilateral fronto-temporal area. Here, we developed an elliptical device to induce the HR and examined its utility for the treatment of cervical dystonia (CD). The study included 19 patients with rotational-type CD. The device was applied to each subject’s head for at least 30 min/day for 3 months. Severity scores on part 1 of the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale were evaluated at baseline and after the 3-month trial. Mean scores without and with the device were significantly different both at baseline (16.6 vs. 14.7, respectively; P < 0.05) and after the trial (14.9 vs. 13.6, respectively; P < 0.05). This preliminary trial suggests that our device can improve abnormal head rotation in patients with CD.

The delineation of the molecular pathology underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is being hampered by the lack of suitable biomarkers. We have previously reported that bromocriptine upregulates the endogenous antioxidative factor, neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP), sustains motor function and slows disease progression in ALS patients, implying the NAIP’s implication in ALS. Here, we aimed to verify a correlation of NAIP level with disease progression in ALS patients. The amount of NAIP in mononuclear cells (MNC) from peripheral blood from ALS patients (n = 18) and the age matched healthy controls (n = 12) was validated by NAIP-Dot blotting. Notably, the MNC-NAIP level in ALS patients (0.62 ± 0.29 ng) was nearly half of that in the healthy controls (1.34 ± 0.61 ng, P = 0.0019). Furthermore, the MNC-NAIP level in ALS patients and their ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score were evaluated through 1 year. Regression analysis of the MNC-NAIP vs ALSFRS-R indicated that a higher amount of MNC-NAIP was associated with a smaller change in ALSFRS-R at 12 months (R2 = 0.799; P = 0.016), suggesting that a progressive increment of the MNC-NAIP led to slower ALS progression. Our present report implies that NAIP will have broad implications for ALS symptoms as a risk factor and a promising prognostic biomarker.

We present a free-standing meta-surface for a high-transmission phase shift in the 3.0-THz band. The structure consists of subwavelength Au patterns with 278,273 units of meta-atoms on both the front and back of an ultrathin (4 μm thick) silicon substrate. The meta-surface for the low terahertz range has been fabricated by etching on a flexible polymer substrate with metal layers. High-precision fabrication of the meta-surface on a silicon substrate by semiconductor processing techniques is powerful and essential for the integration with terahertz semiconductor sources. Measurements by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) demonstrate a high transmission of 0.91 and a phase modulation of -0.86π at 2.8 THz agreeing well with simulations. The meta-surface in the high terahertz range can be applied in an ultrathin meta-lens for terahertz quantum cascade laser sources.

We report a novel, single mode optical fiber array coupler that couples the single mode fibers (SMFs) with grating couplers (GCs) on a silicon photonics chip and has D-shaped (DS) fibers. This DS fiber array coupler has obliquely polished tips of the SMFs that are fixed on a V-grooved glass, and a mirror plate is put on the polished tip surface of the fiber array coupler. Light that advances in the SMF is reflected by the mirror plate. The reflected light advances through the side face of the SMF, and couples with the GC on the silicon photonics chip. In the vicinity of the obliquely polished tips, the side face of the clad of the SMF is ground in such a way that the cross section of the SMF is formed into a D-shape to get good optical coupling with the GC. The DS fiber array coupler has extremely low-profile of 1.5 millimeters height above the silicon photonics chip surface. We fabricated the DS fiber array coupler, and measured coupling losses between this fiber array coupler and the GCs. The averaged additional optical coupling loss of 0.2dB due to the reflection structure is obtained for 93 coupling interfaces in the 11 fiber array couplers.

The freshwater crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus, is endangered in Hokkaido, Japan and inhabits burrows. Here, we applied environmental DNA (eDNA) method for evaluating the species distributions with comparing hand-capture method in the headwater streams. We detected the eDNA of C. japonicus from all sites, where we collected C. japonicus, and confirmed that eDNA can be applied to detect burrowing aquatic freshwater crayfish without disturbing their habitats.

The Lachman test is considered to be a reliable physical examination for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Patients with a damaged ACL demonstrate a soft endpoint feeling. However, examiners judge the soft and hard endpoints subjectively. The purpose of our study was to confirm objective performance of the Lachman test using joint auscultation. Human and porcine knee joints were examined. Knee joint sound during the Lachman test (Lachman sound) was analyzed by fast Fourier transformation. As quantitative indices of Lachman sound, the peak sound as the maximum relative amplitude (acoustic pressure) and its frequency were used. The mean Lachman peak sound for healthy volunteer knees was 86.9 ± 12.9 Hz in frequency and -40 ± 2.5 dB in acoustic pressure. The mean Lachman peak sound for intact porcine knees was 84.1 ± 9.4 Hz and -40.5 ± 1.7 dB. Porcine knees with ACL deficiency had a soft endpoint feeling during the Lachman test. The Lachman peak sounds of porcine knees with ACL deficiency were dispersed into four distinct groups, with center frequencies of around 40, 160, 450, and 1600. The Lachman peak sound was capable of assessing soft and hard endpoints of the Lachman test objectively.

Intrathecal baclofen(ITB)is used to treat intractable spasticity of various etiologies and can provide better control of spasticity through the adjustment of the dose administered through the pump. However, in patients who develop tolerance to baclofen with the standard simple continuous mode, a sharp increase in dose becomes necessary, and spasticity can become harder to control. We investigated whether switching from the simple continuous mode to the bolus infusion mode was effective in controlling spasticity in patients with baclofen tolerance. We reported four patients undergoing ITB therapy at our facility who were considered to have developed baclofen tolerance. We observed the number of bolus infusions and total dose suitable for maintaining spasticity control after switching from the simple continuous mode to the bolus infusion mode. After switching to the bolus infusion mode, the total dose could be reduced in the short term; however, in the long term, the frequency of bolus infusions had to be increased to maintain spasticity control. Two years after changing to bolus infusion six times a day, the total dose was higher than that in the simple continuous mode for two of the four patients, and was the same level in the other two patients. Our four cases suggest that bolus infusion is effective in patients with baclofen tolerance during ITB therapy. Therefore, the conditions of bolus infusion should be further investigated.

Therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS) need to be efficiently delivered to the target site of action at appropriate therapeutic levels. However, a limited number of effective drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases has been developed thus far. Further, the pharmacological mechanisms by which such therapeutic agents can protect neurons from cell death have not been fully understood. We have previously reported the novel small-molecule compound, 2-[mesityl(methyl)amino]-N-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl] acetamide trihydrochloride (WN1316), as a unique neuroprotectant against oxidative injury and a highly promising remedy for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). One of the remarkable characteristics of WN1316 is that its efficacious doses in ALS mouse models are much less than those against oxidative injury in cultured human neuronal cells. It is also noted that the WN1316 cytoprotective activity observed in cultured cells is totally dependent upon the addition of fetal bovine serum in culture medium. These findings led us to postulate some serum factors being tightly linked to the WN1316 efficacy. In this study, we sieved through fetal bovine serum proteins and identified two N-linked glycoproteins, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) and hemopexin (HPX), requisites to exert the WN1316 cytoprotective activity against oxidative injury in neuronal cells in vitro. Notably, the removal of glycan chains from these molecules did not affect the WN1316 cytoprotective activity. Thus, two glycoproteins, AHSG and HPX, represent a pivotal glycoprotein of the cytoprotective activity for WN1316, showing a concrete evidence for the novel glycan-independent function of serum glycoproteins in neuroprotective drug efficacy.

Background The Lachman test is clinically considered to be a reliable physical examination for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. However, the test involves subjective judgement of differences in tibial translation and endpoint quality. An auscultation system has been developed to allow assessment of the Lachman test. The knee joint sound during the Lachman test was analyzed using fast Fourier transformation. The purpose of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate knee joint sounds in healthy and ACL-deficient human knees. Methods Sixty healthy volunteers and 24 patients with ACL injury were examined. The Lachman test with joint auscultation was evaluated using a microphone. Knee joint sound during the Lachman test (Lachman sound) was analyzed by fast Fourier transformation. As quantitative indices of the Lachman sound, the peak sound (Lachman peak sound) as the maximum relative amplitude (acoustic pressure) and its frequency were used. Results In healthy volunteers, the mean Lachman peak sound of intact knees was 100.6 Hz in frequency and −45 dB in acoustic pressure. Moreover, a sex difference was found in the frequency of the Lachman peak sound. In patients with ACL injury, the frequency of the Lachman peak sound of the ACL-deficient knees was widely dispersed. In the ACL-deficient knees, the mean Lachman peak sound was 306.8 Hz in frequency and −63.1 dB in acoustic pressure. If the reference range was set at the frequency of the healthy volunteer Lachman peak sound, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83.3%, 95.6%, 95.2%, and 85.2%, respectively. Conclusion Knee joint auscultation during the Lachman test was capable of judging ACL deficiency on the basis of objective data. In particular, the frequency of the Lachman peak sound was able to assess ACL condition.

Antioxidant defense is crucial in restoring cellular redox homeostasis. Recent findings have suggested that oxidative stress plays pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, an anti-oxidative stress remedy might be a promising means for the treatment of such disorders. In this study, we employed a novel ligand-based virtual screening system and identified a novel small molecule, N-(4-(2-pyridyl)(1,3-thiazol-2-yl))-2-(2,4,6-trimethylphenoxy) acetamide (CPN-9), which selectively suppressed oxidative stress-induced cell death in a cell-type-independent manner. CPN-9 upregulates NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key transcriptional regulator of the expression of phase II detoxification enzymes and antioxidant proteins, and Nrf2-regulated factors such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM). The CPN-9-mediated upregulation of HO-1, NQO1, and GCLM was abolished by Nrf2 knockdown. Moreover, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine reduced the protective effect of CPN-9 against oxidative stress-induced cell death with concomitant diminishing of Nrf2 nuclear translocation. These results indicate that CPN-9 exerts its activity via the reactive oxygen species-dependent activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in cultured cells. It is noteworthy that the postonset systemic administration of CPN-9 to a transgenic ALS mouse model carrying the H46R mutation in the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene sustained motor functions and delayed disease progression after onset. Collectively, CPN-9 is a novel Nrf2 activator and a neuroprotective candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS.

Superconductivity and optoelectronics have developed almost independently and had very rare interactions with each other in science and technologies. However recent interdisciplinary research opens up the potential for developing new optoelectronic devices. This review paper presents our recent theoretical and experimental demonstrations that superconductivity significantly modifies and accelerates photon generation processes. We have prepared superconducting light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting at ∼1.6-µm optical-fiber communication band for the experimental demonstrations. This new-type LED operation is based on a unique physics related to Cooper-pair interband transition in a semiconductor, and further research leads to the solid-state simultaneously generated photon-pair sources for the potential application in quantum information and communication.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by a selective loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Since oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the progression of motor neuron loss observed in ALS, anti-oxidative agents could be an important therapeutic means for the ALS treatment. We have previously developed a drug screening system allowing the identification of small chemical compounds that upregulate endogenous neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP), an oxidative stress-induced cell death suppressor. Using this system, we identified the dopamine D2 receptor agonist bromocriptine (BRC) as one of NAIP-upregulating compounds. In this study, to prove the efficacy of BRC in ALS, we conducted a set of preclinical studies using a transgenic ALS mouse model carrying the H46R mutation in the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene ALS(SOD1(H46R)) by the post-onset administration of BRC. ALS(SOD1(H46R)) mice receiving BRC showed sustained motor functions and modest prolonged survival after onset. Further, BRC treatment delayed anterior horn cell loss, and reduced the number of reactive astrocytes and the level of inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the spinal cord of late symptomatic mice. In vitro study showed the reduced level of extracellular TNF-α after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in BRC-treated mouse astrocytes. BRC-treated ALS(SOD1(H46R)) mice also showed a reduced level of oxidative damage in the spinal cord. Notably, BRC treatment resulted in an upregulation of anti-oxidative stress genes, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and the generation of a glutathione (GSH) in SH-SY5Y cultured neuronal cells in a dopamine receptor-independent manner. These results imply that BRC protects motor neurons from the oxidative injury via suppression of astrogliosis in the spinal cord of ALS(SOD1(H46R)) mice. Thus, BRC might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of ALS.

Superconducting transport is measured between two superconducting electrodes at the n-type semiconductor side of a superconductor-based LED where a Josephson junction is formed. The characteristics of the Josephson junction are found to be modulated by applying voltage to the normal electrode at the p-type semiconductor side. The Josephson junction characteristics show an extraordinary sensitivity to the radiative recombination process, which we estimate as the recombination efficiency.

The aim of Neuromodulation is the elimination of dysfunction or chronic discomfort related to neurological disorders by modulating the neural activity in specific parts of the central nervous system (Holsheimer, Neuromodulation 1(2) (1998) 57–61). Therefore, it is the treatable method for many symptom of various disease. Neuromodulation for movement disorder are DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), ITB (Intrathecal Baclofen) and SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulation) commonly. Each of them improves not only motor dysfunction but also complicated symptoms. This accessory effects leads to further improvement of motor function. I will talk about following three cases in this symposium Improvement effect of DBS on sleep disorder of Parkinson’s disease SCS for intractable pain improves deep sensation, lower limb blood flow and mood disorder. Pain relief effect of ITB for CRPS. Recently, many pain physician have been discussing about central dysfunctional pain like CRPS. Chronic migraine is another well-known intractable disease attributable to the same mechanism with prevalence of 1.4–2.2% in Japan. Neuromodulation can possibly improve the activity of daily life of such patients. I will refer to Neuromodulation for headaches, mainly ONS (Occipital Nerve Stimulation).

Objective: To assess current trends in laparoscopic surgery, involving trocar insertion and wound closure.Design: Postquestionnaire survey.Setting: A consortium of 64 hospitals belonging to the Japanese Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy (JSGOE).Patient(s): NoneIntervention(s): None.Main outcome, Measure(s): Common clinical practices.Result(s): To assess procedural safety, the author issued a multicenter questionnaire directed at expert gynecologic laparoscopists authorized by the JSGOE. We received 64 completed surveys (a 59% response). Acknowledged differences in trochar insertion and wound closure, as in previous reports, were associated with rare intraoperative complications, such as rupture of larger blood vessels and intestines, trocar site bleeding/infection, and port-site hernia. The questionnaire also revealed strategies for prevention, formulated by those having experienced these complications.Conclusion(s): Laparoscopic surgical complications are largely attributable to trocar insertion. The body of preventive measures contributed by respondents to our questionnaire is therefore worthy of note, in order to increase the relative safety of this procedure.

妊娠中および帝王切開術直後に発生した癒着性イレウスに対して，大建中湯エキスを服用することにより，保存的に加療できた症例を経験した。症例は29歳女性。15歳の時に小腸軸捻転にて開腹歴あり。妊娠11週に癒着性イレウスを発症したため，大建中湯を投与したところ，大量の下痢便を認め症状は軽快。その後，胎児ジストレスにて36週に緊急帝王切開を施行。腹壁前面に小腸の強固な癒着を認めた。術後4日目に術後癒着性イレウスの診断にて，大建中湯を経口投与した。6日目に，軟状便および排ガスを認め，9日目には経口摂取を開始。その後は異常なく25日目に退院した。妊婦の高齢化に伴い，イレウス合併妊娠の報告が数多く認められる。妊娠中は母子ともに，重篤化しやすく外科的処置が必要となることが多いが，妊娠中や出産時に発生した癒着性イレウスに対して，大建中湯を用いることにより，保存的に改善する症例もあると考えられる。

Laparoscopic adenomyomectomies are performed in women with localized uterine adenomyosis with desired fertility. Both monopolar electric knives and Harmonic Scalpels® have been widely used in laparoscopic procedures; however, resection is not always easy, because both adenomyomatic and normal myometrial tissue develop heat degeneration with these devices, and the interface between abnormal and normal tissue is unclear. Here we report a successful adenomyomectomy using a cold knife (Endoscalpel®) following use of a Harmonic Scalpel®. The interface became clearer and the adenomyomatic lesion was resected.

Herein we report a clinical case involving trans-cervical resection (TCR) of a submucosal myoma protruding into the cervix with a stalk connected to the uterine cavity through the internal os. Before performing TCR, there was concern that leakage of fluid from the cervix would obscure the operative field. In this case, we chose TCR and successfully treated the submucosal myoma protruding into the cervix. TCR is an extremely effective procedure in terms of reliable homeostasis and diminishing the remaining tumor and stalk.

The approximate energy expression for neutron matter is refined with respect to the tensor forces. The refined energy expression includes the main part of the three-body-cluster kinetic-energy terms caused by tensor correlations appropriately. Furthermore, the new energy expression guarantees necessary conditions on tensor structure functions. Significant improvement is seen in the numerical results of the variational calculation with the refined energy expression for neutron matter.

We isolated highly-purified photochemically active photosystem (PS) II reaction center (RC) complexes from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using a histidine-tag introduced to the 47 kDa chlorophyll protein, and characterized their spectroscopic properties. Purification was carried out in a one-step procedure after isolation of PS II core complex. The RC complexes consist of five polypeptides, the same as in spinach. The pigment contents per two molecules of pheophytin a were 5.8 ± 0.3 chlorophyll (Chl) a and 1.8 ± 0.1 β-carotene; one cytochrome b 559 was found per 6.0 Chl a molecules. Overall absorption and fluorescence properties were very similar to those of spinach PS II RCs; our preparation retains the best properties so far isolated from cyanobacteria. However, a clear band-shift of pheophytin a and β-carotene was observed. Reasons for these differences, and RC composition, are discussed on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of complexes.

Photochemically active photosystem (PS) I complexes were purified from the chlorophyll (Chl) d-dominated cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina MBIC 11017, and several of their properties were characterized. PS I complexes consist of 11 subunits, including PsaK1 and PsaK2; a new small subunit was identified and named Psa27. The new subunit might replace the function of PsaI that is absent in A. marina. The amounts of pigments per one molecule of Chl d' were 97.0 +/- 11.0 Chl d, 1.9 +/- 0.5 Chl a, 25.2 +/- 2.4 alpha-carotene, and two phylloquinone molecules. The light-induced Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy and light-induced difference absorption spectra reconfirmed that the primary electron donor of PS I (P740) was the Chl d dimer. In addition to P740, the difference spectrum contained an additional band at 728 nm. The redox potentials of P740 were estimated to be 439 mV by spectroelectrochemistry; this value was comparable with the potential of P700 in other cyanobacteria and higher plants. This suggests that the overall energetics of the PS I reaction were adjusted to the electron acceptor side to utilize the lower light energy gained by P740. The distribution of charge in P740 was estimated by a density functional theory calculation, and a partial localization of charge was predicted to P1 Chl (special pair Chl on PsaA). Based on differences in the protein matrix and optical properties of P740, construction of the PS I core in A. marina was discussed.

Effects of carbon fiber on strength were studied in the carbon fiber reinforced Cu-33at%Al alloy-joint device of aluminum to copper. Although chemical reactions induced the strong bonding of interface, they decayed the strength of fine fibers, resulting in occurrence of the welding brittleness. To enhance the fracture resistance, the carbon fiber reinforced metal (CFRM) joint device was successfully developed by using a duplex-coated carbon fiber felt. The high joint strength was obtained. The carbon fiber acted as a deformation resistance by fiber-reinforced mechanics. Static and dynamic frictions at the joint interface probably prevented the pullout of fibers from matrix.

In order to strengthen carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), effects of a pre-stressing on mechanical properties in stress-strain curve of tensile test have been investigated. The pre-stressing remarkably improves the apparent elastic coustant, tensile strengrh and fracture strain. They probably depend on the residual compressive stress induced by the pre-stressing in CFRP.

Photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes, found in aquatic photosynthetic organisms, contain a variety of carotenoids and chlorophylls. Most of the photosynthetic dinoflagellates possess two types of light-harvesting antenna complexes: peridinin (Peri)-chlorophyll (Chl) a/c-protein, as an intrinsic thylakoid membrane complex protein (iPCP), and water-soluble Peri-Chl a-protein, as an extrinsic membrane protein (sPCP) on the inner surface of the thylakoid. Peri is a unique carotenoid that has eight C=C bonds and one C=O bond, which results in a characteristic absorption band in the green wavelength region. In the present study, excitation relaxation dynamics of Peri in solution and excitation energy transfer processes of sPCP and the thylakoid membranes, prepared from the photosynthetic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., are investigated by ultrafast time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. We found that Peri-to-Chl a energy transfer occurs via the Peri S1 state with a time constant of 1.5 ps or 400 fs in sPCP or iPCP, respectively, and that Chl c-to-Chl a energy transfer occurs in the time regions of 350-400 fs and 1.8-2.6 ps.

In this study, we used Herbaspirillum sp. B501gfp1 (B501gfp1), an isolate from wild rice, to investigate the interaction between a non-host nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacterium and micropropagated sugarcane plants under aseptic condition. Two Japanese sugarcane plants (Saccharum sp.) cultivars (cvs) NiF8 and Ni15 were inoculated using B501gfp1 in two inoculum doses of 108 and 102 bacterial-cells-per-milliliter suspension. The results showed that bacterial cells colonized both the root and stem tissues, and colonization was apparent in the intercellular spaces. Higher bacterial numbers were detected in plant tissues inoculated with the higher inoculum concentration treatment. Bacterial numbers also varied between the two cultivars, with the higher values determined in cv Ni15. This study provides evidence that Herbaspirillum sp. B501gfp1, a rice isolate, could colonize sugarcane tissues, suggesting non-specificity of host plant among endophytes.

DNA helicases are known to play important roles in the maintenance of genome integrity including the replication of trinucleotide repeats in the cells. Here, we report the HFM1 gene, which encodes the putative human DNA helicase. The HFM1 gene comprises 39 exons mapping to human chromosome 1p22.2. The HFM1 cDNA encompasses 4931 nucleotides with a single open reading frame (ORF) of 1435 amino acid residues encoding a predicted 172 kDa protein (hHFM1). The deduced protein sequence shares similar domain and motif structures to those of Mer3, a DNA helicase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; seven consecutive motifs conserved among the DEXH-box type of DNA/RNA helicases at the N-terminal and a single putative zinc finger motif at the C-terminal regions of the protein. Further, the HFM1 transcript is preferentially expressed in testis and ovary. Collectively, hHFM1 is the evolutionally conserved putative human DNA helicase, which may function as a modulator for genome integrity in germ-line tissues.

越後平野中部を対象として, 層相や土砂の堆積速度の地域的差異を検討し, 完新世後期における河川供給土砂の堆積場の変化と地形発達を明らかにした. 同地域では縄文海進時に内湾が形成され, 7,000～6,000yrsBPには湾奥部にまで海水の影響が及んだ. 縄文海進高頂期以降, 内湾は縮小と拡大を繰り返しながら, 信濃川の供給土砂によって徐々に埋積された. 土砂の堆積場の中心は, 完新世後期を通じて海側に移行する傾向が認められ, 4,000yrsBP以降には臨海部における土砂の前方付加や砂丘の形成が集中的に進行した. 一方, 堆積場の中心から外れた内陸側の氾濫原においては, 土砂の垂直的な堆積が徐々に進行し, その過程においては河川の洪水による土砂の堆積が少ない1,400～1,000yrsBPの「安定期」と, 土砂の堆積が活発化した1,000～800yrsBPの「堆積期」が認められた. 現在, 西川と中之口川の間の氾濫原にみられる自然堤防群の大半は, 1,000～800yrsBPに生じた河川の洪水による土砂堆積の活発化にともなって形成された.

Three endophytic bacterial strains (Burkholderia sp. no. 25, Enterobacter sp. no. 35 and Klebsiella sp. no. 38) isolated from sweet potato and sugarcane were examined for their ability to incorporate the gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) via conjugation and electroporation. Enterobacter sp. no. 35 and Klebsiella sp. no. 38 were successfully tagged with the gfp gene by conjugation using pTn5kmgfpmut1. Fluorescence microscopic observation of Brassica oleracea inoculated with gfp-tagged endophytes revealed that Enterobacter sp. no. 35 and Klebsiella sp. no. 38 colonized the junctions between the lateral roots and the main roots.

By using a duplex-coated carbon fiber felt, copper welding to aluminum is successfully developed. The first step of the welding method is that the felt is contacted and wrapped with molten aluminum, which is solidified under gravity pressure. The second step is that the aluminum-welded felt is contacted and wrapped with a molten copper, which is solidified under gravity pressure. The carbon fiber junction device is a fiber-reinforced alloy and acts as a joining part of copper and aluminum. Tensile strength of the junction device of carbon fiber reinforced Cu-25 at%Al alloy is higher than those of a Cu-25 at%Al alloy and an aluminum rod.