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Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) as right ventricular function is recently referred as an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Light ventricular function is related with SCD and adopted as a criteria of ICD implantation for primary prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of RVFAC and appropriate ICD therapy. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent initial ICD implantation for any diseases except for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Brugada syndrome and long QT syndrome were retrospectively enrolled from 2012 to 2018. Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters before ICD implantation were evaluated to investigate the association with appropriate ICD therapy. We analyzed RV function of patients undergoing echocardiography one year after implantation. RVFAC was measured by one physician and one echocardiologist. Results In total, 172 patients (60.3±13.6 years, 131 males) including 63 ischemic cardiomyopathy were enrolled. Ninety patients received an ICD as a secondary prophylaxis. Mean LVEF and RVFAC were 38.3±14.3% and 35.8±8.82%, respectively. There was no correlation between RVFAC and LVEF (correlation coefficient =0.274). Regarding appropriate ICD therapy events, the best cut-off value of RVFAC was 34.8%. The odds ratio of low RVFAC was 2.731 (95%CI: 1.456-5.121, P Conclusion RVFAC and RV function improvement may be important to stratify the prognosis of ICD patients.

Background For decades, ICD is a well-established therapy for improving prognosis of structural heart disease with severe cardiac dysfunction, and ICD for primary prophylaxis against sudden cardiac death were routinely provided. However, long-term prognosis and clinical course are different in each individual patient with an ICD, and it is moreover unclear what kind of factors might have influences on their clinical outcomes. Purpose The aim of this study is to clarify long-term prognosis and predictors of future major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in HFrEF patients with an ICD as primary prophylaxis in Japanese population. Methods We retrospectively analyzed our ICD database. Patients underwent primary prophylactic ICD implantation from 2006 to 2020 at our institute and met the criteria of ICD recommendation of the latest Japanese guideline. Its requirements are receiving optimal medication therapy, symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association classification II or greater), and severe cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is 35% or less). Additionally, prior NSVT is considered Class I ICD recommendation. In the case of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), ICD implantation was done at least 40 days after myocardial infarction and at least 90 days after revascularization. MACEs were defined as composite outcome of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and appropriate ICD therapies. Results A total of 148 consecutive patients were enrolled (male, 120 (81%); age, 62.1±11.8 years; LVEF, 23.0±5.86%; left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), 67.6±9.26mm; paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), 38 (26%); NSVT, 113 (76%); use of class III antiarrhythmic drugs, 48 (32%); ICM, 49 (33%); cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), 63 (43%)). One hundred twenty patients (81%) were programmed with a shock-only zone over 200 beats per minute. The median follow-up duration was 58.5 months. Among those 148 patients, MACEs were occurred to 60 patients (41%). As a result of dividing all patients into two groups by the occurrence of MACE, LVEF and LVDd were worse in MACE(+) group, whereas, MACE(−) had greater number of co morbidities. The results of cox-regression analysis showed LVDd (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, p Conclusions The incidence of MACEs in patients with an ICD and severe HFrEF was substantially high in this Japanese population. Etiology of ICM, left ventricle size, and AF were the potential risk factors for future MACEs. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at high risk of lethal arrhythmias, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) are widely used for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Apical HCM is a phenotype variant of HCM, with hypertrophy predominantly affecting apex, that was initially described 30 years ago. Apical HCM patients may have different clinical prognosis compared with other subsets of HCM. In previous studies, apical HCM patients seem to have a more benign prognosis than other types of HCM. However, little is known about the long-term outcomes of apical HCM patients and there are many unclear points. Moreover, there are few reports about the clinical prognosis in apical HCM patients with an ICD. Objective The aim of this study is to identify the difference between the prognosis of apical and the other types of HCM patients with an ICD. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the database of our ICD clinic. All subjects underwent ICD implantation between October 2006 and September 2018. We classified HCM patients into LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and midventricular obstruction (MVO), apical HCM and other non-obstructive types. We divided all the patients into apical and other types of HCM, and examined their background, incidence of appropriate ICD therapies, hospitalization for heart failure, electrical storm and death. Results A total of consecutive 64 Japanese HCM patients with an ICD (follow-up period, 86±24 months; age, 65±14 years; male sex, 83%; left ventricular ejection fraction, 56±14%; LV max wall-thickness, 19±7mm; LV apical aneurysm, 9.4%; 5-year risk of SCD, 4.4±2.1) were enrolled in this study. We classified them into 14 apical HCM and 50 other types of HCM patients. The clinical characteristics and major clinical events of these patients are shown in the Table 1. During the follow-up periods, there were no significant differences in the incidence of electrical storm, hospitalization for heart failure and death between the 2 groups (p=0.11; p=0.60; p=0.39). Appropriate ICD therapies occurred in 6 of 14 (43%) patients with apical HCM and 5 of 50 (10%) patients with other types of HCM (p=0.010). The risk factors of patients with apical HCM patients are shown in Table 2. Conclusions Appropriate ICD therapy was more prevalent in patients with apical HCM, compared to patients with other types of HCM. Aggressive intervention such as catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation may be considered in patients with apical HCM and higher score of 5-year risk of SCD. Further studies are needed to clarify the manifestations and long-term outcome of apical HCM patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

This study investigated causes of attenuation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal on heavily T2-weighted (T2W) images in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion. Medical records and magnetic resonance images were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were classified into the following grades; grade 1, non-ambulatory paraparesis; grade 2, paraplegia with deep pain perception and grade 3, paraplegia without deep pain perception. The length of intramedullary T2W hyperintensity of the spinal cord, cranial/ caudal expansion of extradural compressive materials (ECM), and the CSF signal attenuation were measured. Ratios to the second lumbar vertebra (L2) were calculated for the length of intramedullary T2W hyperintensity (T2W:L2), cranial/caudal expansion of ECM (ECML:L2), and CSF signal attenuation (CSF:L2). The dogs were classified into focal or extended T2W hyperintensity groups according to the length [focal, shorter than length of L2; extended, longer than L2]. The area of EMC and the spinal canal were measured on transverse images at the lesion deriving occupancy ratio. The correlation between CSF:L2 and other data were analysed, and CSF:L2 was compared between the grades. In dogs with intramedullary T2W hyperintensity, the locations of CSF attenuation and the hyperintensity were compared if those locations were matched. Fifty-five dogs were included, 36 of which showed intramedullary T2W hyperintensity. Twenty-two of 36 dogs were considered as match of the location of the CSF attenuation and hyperintensity. CSF:L2 was significantly correlated with T2W:L2 in dogs with extended T2W hyperintensity (

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) as right ventricular function is recently referred as an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of RVFAC and appropriate ICD therapy in order to determine the cut-off value of RVFAC. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent initial ICD implantation for any diseases except for non-dilated phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and channelopathy were retrospectively enrolled from 2012 to 2018. Primary endpoint was an initial appropriate ICD therapy. Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters before ICD implantation were evaluated by one physician and one echocardiologist to be validated. Right ventricular dimensions and function were also measured to be analyzed. Results In total, 172 patients (60.3±13.6 years, 131 males) including 63 ischemic cardiomyopathy were enrolled. Ninety patients received an ICD as a secondary prophylaxis. Mean LVEF and RVFAC were 38.3±14.3% and 35.8±8.82%, respectively. There was little correlation between RVFAC and LVEF (correlation coefficient =0.274). Regarding appropriate ICD therapy events, the best cut-off value of RVFAC was 34.8%. The odds ratio of low RVFAC was 2.731 (95%CI: 1.456-5.121, P=0.00174). Secondary prophylactic cohort with low RVFAC showed highest incidence of appropriate ICD therapy as shown in the figure. In multivariate analysis, only low RVFAC is an independent predictor of appropriate ICD therapy (HR: 3.53, 95%CI:1.78- 6.99, P=0.0003). Conclusion Low RVFAC seemed independently associated with increased appropriate ICD therapy.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is frequent phenomenon in severe heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients, and causes any negative impacts on such patients. In the Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) and Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) guidelines, NSVT is regarded as a major component of indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. However, the long-term prognostic significance of NSVT in severe HFrEF is incompletely resolved. Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between prior NSVT episodes and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in HFrEF patients with an ICD as primary prophylaxis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed our ICD database. Patients underwent primary prophylactic ICD implantation from 2007 to 2018 following ICD recommendation of JCS and JHRS guidelines. Patients met the criteria of receiving optimal medication therapy, symptomatic heart failure (New York Heart Association classification II or greater), and severe cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is 35% or less). In the case of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), implantation of ICD was done at least 40 days after myocardial infarction and at least 90 days after revascularization. Incidence of NSVT episodes were identified through daily electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter ECG or monitor ECG in the hospital. MACEs were defined as composite outcome of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and appropriate ICD therapies. Results A total of 148 consecutive patients were enrolled (male, 120 (81%); age, 62.1±11.8 years; LVEF, 23.0±5.86%; left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd), 67.6±9.26mm; paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), 38 (26%); NSVT, 113 (76%); use of class III antiarrhythmic drugs, 48 (32%); ICM, 49 (33%); cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), 63 (43%)). The median follow-up duration was 58.5 months. As a result of comparison of the Kaplan-Meier curve between NSVT group (n=113) and non-NSVT group (n=35), cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and appropriate ICD therapy were not statistically different (Figures). Of those, MACEs were occurred to 60 patients (41%). The results of cox-regression analysis showed LVDd (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.12, p Conclusions In this Japanese population, the long-term prognosis of severe HFrEF patients is considered to be comparable regardless of prior NSVT episodes. However, the incidence of MACEs in patients with severe HFrEF after ICD implantation was substantially high. ICM, left ventricle size, and atrial fibrillation were the potential risk factors for MACEs as the previous reports showed.

Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization has been applied in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and medical science. To expand the scope of these applications, the nuclear singlet state, which is decoherence-free against dipolar relaxation between spin pairs, has been studied experimentally, theoretically, and numerically. The singlet state composed of proton spins is used in several applications, such as enhanced polarization preservation, molecular tagging to probe slow dynamic processes, and detection of ligand-protein complexes. In this study, we predict the lifetimes of the nuclear spin states composed of proton spin pairs using the molecular dynamics method and quantum chemistry simulations. We consider intramolecular dipolar, intermolecular dipolar between solvent and solute, chemical shift anisotropy, and spin-rotation interactions. In particular, the relaxation rate of intermolecular dipolar interactions is calculated using the molecular dynamics method for various solvents. The calculated values and the experimental values are of the same order of magnitude. Our program would provide insight into the molecular design of several NMR applications and would be helpful in predicting the nuclear spin relaxation time of synthetic molecules in advance.

This study investigated causes of attenuation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) signal on heavily T2-weighted (T2W) images in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusion. Medical records and magnetic resonance images were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were classified into the following grades; grade 1, non-ambulatory paraparesis; grade 2, paraplegia with deep pain perception and grade 3, paraplegia without deep pain perception. The length of intramedullary T2W hyperintensity of the spinal cord, cranial/ caudal expansion of extradural compressive materials (ECM), and the CSF signal attenuation were measured. Ratios to the second lumbar vertebra (L2) were calculated for the length of intramedullary T2W hyperintensity (T2W:L2), cranial/caudal expansion of ECM (ECML:L2), and CSF signal attenuation (CSF:L2). The dogs were classified into focal or extended T2W hyperintensity groups according to the length [focal, shorter than length of L2; extended, longer than L2]. The area of EMC and the spinal canal were measured on transverse images at the lesion deriving occupancy ratio. The correlation between CSF:L2 and other data were analysed, and CSF:L2 was compared between the grades. In dogs with intramedullary T2W hyperintensity, the locations of CSF attenuation and the hyperintensity were compared if those locations were matched. Fifty-five dogs were included, 36 of which showed intramedullary T2W hyperintensity. Twenty-two of 36 dogs were considered as match of the location of the CSF attenuation and hyperintensity. CSF:L2 was significantly correlated with T2W:L2 in dogs with extended T2W hyperintensity (p = 0.0002), while CSF:L2 was significantly correlated with ECML:L2 in dogs with focal or no T2W hyperintensity (p = 0.0103 and p = 0.0364, respectively). CSF:L2 in grade 3 was significantly greater than those in patients who were grade 1 or 2 (both p < 0.001). In conclusion, higher CSF:L2, which was frequently seen in grade 3, would be most consistent with a higher T2W:L2 which might indicate spinal cord swelling.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. AF-related stroke tends to be more severe, and the mortality rate is higher compared with stroke without AF. Recent cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have led to an improvement in the early detection of AF episodes. Previous studies showed that AF episodes detected by CIEDs are associated with ischemic stroke. However, little is known about the relationship between new-onset AF and ischemic stroke events in Japanese patients with CIEDs who have no prior AF and take no anticoagulant therapy. ESC guidelines for the management of AF recommend the use of CHA2DS2-VASc score as class I to predict the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with AF. However, the validity of the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores to predict ischemic stroke and major bleeding events in patients without AF remains unclear. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of ischemic stroke and major bleeding events in CIEDs patients without AF and assess the validity of CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores in this population. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the database of our CIEDs clinic. Every 6 months, CIEDs were checked using remote monitoring system. We examined the characteristics and incidence of ischemic stroke and bleeding events. In addition, we investigated the relationship between CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and the incidence of these events. Results We enrolled 620 consecutive patients who were followed up at our CIED clinic. We excluded patients who had a history of AF or had received anticoagulant therapies, 348 patients (follow-up period, 65±58 months; age, 70±16 years; male sex; 64%; defibrillator, 55%) were included in this study. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 2.8±1.5 points and 1.7±1.6 points, respectively. During the follow-up, 23 (6.6%) and 12 (3.4%) of 348 patients had ischemic stroke and major bleeding events, respectively. The incidence of ischemic stroke and major bleeding events stratified by the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were shown in Figure 1. Conclusion The risk stratification for ischemic stroke and major bleeding using the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores is valid in patients without AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1

Background Prophylactic use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) is widely spread all over the world in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Apical HCM is a phenotype variant of HCM, with hypertrophy predominantly affecting apex, that was initially described 30 years ago. Apical HCM patients may have different clinical prognosis compared with other subsets of HCM. In previous studies, apical HCM patients seem to have a more benign prognosis than other types of HCM. However, little is known about the long-term outcomes of apical HCM and there are many unclear points. Moreover, there are few reports about the clinical prognosis in apical HCM patients with an ICD. Objective The aim of this study is to identify the difference between the prognosis of apical and the other HCM patients with an ICD. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the database of our ICD clinic. All subjects had been implanted with an ICD from October 2006 to August 2017. We classified HCM patients into LV outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and midventricular obstruction (MVO), apical HCM and other non-obstructive types. We divided all the patients into apical and other types of HCM, and examined their background, incidence of appropriate ICD therapies, hospitalization for heart failure, electrical storm and death. Results A total of consecutive 62 Japanese HCM patients with an ICD (follow-up period, 86±25 months; age, 67±14 years; male sex, 85%; left ventricular ejection fraction, 57±12%; LV max wall-thickness, 19±5mm; LV apical aneurysm, 9.7%; HCM Risk-SCD, 4.4±3.0) were enrolled in this study. We classified them into 14 apical HCM and 48 other types of HCM patients. The clinical characteristics and major events of these patients are shown in the Figure. During the follow-up periods, there were no significant differences in the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure, electrical storm and death between the 2 groups (p=0.40; p=0.22; p=0.23). Appropriate therapies occurred in 5 of 14 (36%) patients with apical HCM and 4 of 48 (8.3%) patients with other types of HCM (p=0.022). Conclusions Appropriate ICD therapy was more prevalent in patients with apical HCM, compared to patients with other types of HCM. However, the incidences of hospitalization for heart failure, electrical storm and death were not significantly different between two groups. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of RV function and appropriate therapy of ICD.Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Consecutive patients who underwent ICD implantation for any diseases were enrolled except for non-dilated phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and channelopathy. Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), RV basal diameter, RV end-diastolic area, and right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) were evaluated. RV systolic dysfunction was defined as RVFAC Results In total, 151 patients (60.9 ± 13.6 years, 117 males) consisting of 67 old myocardial infarction, 34 dilated cardiomyopathy, 19 cardiac sarcoidosis, and 31 others were enrolled. Eighty patients received an ICD as a secondary prophylaxis. Mean LVEF and RVFAC were 37.8 ± 13.9% and 33.2 ± 10.8%, respectively. RV systolic dysfunction was present in 86 (57.0%) patients, which was significantly associated with ICD therapy (odds ratio 2.313; 95% confidence interval 1.067-5.014; P = 0.034) according to a univariate analysis. There was no correlation between RVFAC and LVEF (correlation coefficient =0.064). Regarding the subjects LVEF > 35%, RV systolic dysfunction was an independent predictor of ICD therapy in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion RV systolic dysfunction was independently associated with increased ICD therapy despite of relatively preserved LVEF.

A magnetic quadrupole lens system coupled to a 30° bending deflection magnet was designed and constructed to realize a beam focusing of Xe+ ions with the energy less than 200 eV. Compared to a triplet electrostatic quadrupole lens system, the quadrupole doublet magnetic lens system showed a larger beam transmission, indicating the mitigation of the space charge in the beam transport region free of the electrostatic field. The misalignment of the magnetic field axis was observed probably due to a slow change in magnetization of magnetic materials to construct the magnetic circuit of the quadrupole lens. A countermeasure to realign the beam axis by coupling the permanent magnets to trim coil electromagnets is proposed.

A 68-year-old man with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) later developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which was confirmed at autopsy at age 72 years. Because neuronal loss and AD-type pathologies (Braak stage II for neurofibrillary tangles) were scant, TDP-43-positive intracytoplasmic inclusions in hippocampal dentate granular cells and in neurons in the subiculum and amygdala, even though small in amount, may represent the earliest lesions of ALS-related dementia and could be the cause of dementia in this patient. Although the persistent elevation of creatine kinase from the onset could be a pointer to the presence of motor involvement, more accurate characterization of dementia, which may differentiate ALS-related dementia and AD, is necessary.

Background Several reports have shown expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in malignant skin tumors. COX-2 has also recently been reported as a marker of malignant melanoma (MM). Objective Our aim was to investigate whether there is a difference in the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 between malignant and benign melanocytic lesions of the skin. Methods We selected 40 archival cases of MM including 10 cases of superficial spreading melanoma, 10 of lentigo maligna melanoma, 10 of nodular melanoma, and 10 of acral lentiginous melanoma. For comparison, we also selected 35 benign melanocytic lesions, which included 15 nonatypical nevi and 10 atypical nevi. The remaining 10 cases were Spitz nevi. COX-2 immunohistochemical staining was performed, and intensities were assessed quantitatively. Results The MM group and the benign melanocytic nevi group showed a highly statistically significant difference in the intensity of COX-2 expression (P

On the basis of the general theory of stopping power for a system, where their electronic distributions are able to be treated as cylindrically symmetric, we derive the log-type formulae which are applied in the non-relativistic high-energy region. As well as the case of a free electron in a homogeneous system, we obtain analytically instructive solutions of stopping power in an inhomogeneous system of many-electrons, in which an effective impact parameter averaged over scattering angles is introduced. Numerical calculations are performed for fast protons into a Au〈1 0 0〉 string.

An ion moving with velocity v in a plasma, of mean electron velocity (3/4) vF > v, induces a wake due to virtual plasmons that can be described by a soliton of the coupling equations between the ion and the dynamical response of the medium. The soliton has the form of sech2 (z — vt) in the propagating direction z and produces an attractive running potential that can be viewed as the superposition of a pair of soliton states with opposite phase velocity. The dispersion relation of the soliton stated as a function of v is calculated.

Supplementing in vitro maturation medium with porcine follicular fluid (FF) improves maturation rate, male pronucleus formation, and monospermic fertilization of pig oocytes. This study examined, (1) if there are differences in FF derived from large follicles (LF, 5-6mm in diameter) and small follicles (SF, 3-4mm in diameter) on the effect of supplementing the maturation medium with FF on the progression of nuclear maturation, fertilization rate, and developmental competence of porcine oocytes; (2) whether the FF source influences the effect of the FF on the maturation medium on the survival rate and proliferation rate of cumulus cells (CCs) and the expansion of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs); (3) whether the oocyte source (oocytes collected from LFs or SFs) influences the effect of FF on the progression of the nuclear maturation of oocytes; (4) whether the factors in the FF that affect the kinetics of nuclear maturation are proteins, and the range of the molecular weight of the FF factors. In experiment 1, adding FF from LFs (LFF) significantly accelerated nuclear maturation and improved the fertilization rate; the developmental ratio was comparable with those of adding FF from SFs (SFF). In experiment 2, adding LFF, but not SFF, improved the CC survival rate, although the FF source did not affect the proliferation rate. Expansion of COCs was greater with SFF than LFF. In experiment 3, LFF promoted nuclear maturation of oocytes collected from only LFs. There was a significant interaction between the FF source and the oocyte source in the effect on nuclear maturation stages at 36 h of maturation. In experiment 4, treatment of FF with heat or trypsin diminished the difference between the effect of LFF and SFF on the progression of nuclear maturation. In addition, the predominant effect of LFF compared to that of SFF on nuclear maturation was not affected by ultrafiltration of the FF with a 30-kDa filter, but was diminished by ultrafiltration with a 100-kDa filter. The present study suggests that some proteins present in LFF that range in molecular weight from 30 to 100 kDa improve the developmental competence of oocytes probably via progression of nuclear maturation and cumulus cells viability.

Supersaturated Fe–1.2 wt.% Cu alloys were irradiated with 200 MeV Xe and 200 MeV Au ions at elevated temperatures. To make an irradiated region and an unirradiated region in specimens, a masking plate was put on the specimen during the irradiation. After the irradiation, the hardness was measured by using a conventional microhardness tester or a nano-indenter. We have found that the hardness only in irradiated region increases by the irradiation. The boundary of irradiated and unirradiated regions can be clearly identified by the difference in hardness. The present result implies that swift heavy ion irradiation can be used for the local modification of hardness in Fe–Cu supersaturated alloys.

Using several kinds of mathematical formulae of the modified Bessel function, and taking into account the uncertainty principle at mathematically singular point for inelastic interactions between a projectile and electron, we develop the theory of stopping power for cylindrical many-electron systems. Addition theorem, the formula of Wronskian and integral formulae of the modified Bessel function perform important roles in solving complex integral equation of stopping power discussed here. For a cylindrical free electron gas, we derive the theoretical solution of stopping power analytically. We also show the equipartion rule of contributions due to surface plasmon mode to stopping power for random systems.

Evaporative cooling of ultracold Yb atoms near the quantum-degenerate regime was experimentally studied. Three bosons of 170 Yb, 172 Yb, 176 Yb and two fermions of 171 Yb and 173 Yb were evaporatively cooled in a crossed far-off resonant trap (FORT). We observed that 170 Yb and 172 Yb were not concentrated into the crossed region. We found that, in the cases of 176 Yb atoms, atoms were concentrated well into the crossed region. The following evaporative cooling in the crossed region, however, did not work well. We performed the simultaneous trapping and sympathetic cooling in the crossed FORT by use of 172Yb-174Yb, 174 Yb- 176 Yb, 172 Yb- 176 Yb, and 171 Yb- 174 Yb pairs. We observed that evaporative cooling worked well. This result shows that we succeeded in the enhancement of the atom collision rate. Especially, by use of 174 Yb- 176 Yb mixture, we obtained cold 176 Yb whose phase space density was 0.02. We observed a large atom loss, which limited the further sympathetic evaporative cooling. We also evaporatively cooled 174 Yb in a ID optical lattice. Evaporative cooling worked very well because the atoms were initially trapped at a high density. After evaporative cooling, we obtained very cold atoms, and T/T F was estimated to be 1.2.

Estimation of the hip joint contact area and pressure distribution during activities of daily living is important in predicting joint degeneration mechanism, prosthetic implant wear, providing biomechanical rationales for preoperative planning and postoperative rehabilitation. These biomechanical data were estimated utilizing a generic hip model, the Discrete Element Analysis technique, and the in vivo hip joint contact force data. The three-dimensional joint potential contact area was obtained from the anteroposterior radiograph of a subject and the actual joint contact area and pressure distribution in eight activities of daily living were calculated. During fast, normal, and slow walking, the peak pressure of moderate magnitude was located at the lateral roof of the acetabulum during mid-stance. In standing up and sitting down, and during knee bending, the peak pressures were located at the edge of the posterior horn and the magnitude of the peak pressure during sitting down was 2.8 times that of normal walking. The peak pressure was found at the lateral roof in climbing up stairs which was higher than that in going down stairs. These results can be used to rationalize rehabilitation protocols, functional restrictions after complex acetabular reconstructions, and prosthetic component wear and fatigue test set up. The same model and analysis can provide further insight to soft tissue loading and pathology such as labral injury. When the pressure distribution on the acetabulum is inverted onto the femoral head, prediction of subchondral bone collapse associated with avascular necrosis can be achieved with improved accuracy.

Objective: To report the results of prenatal triple marker screening on a population of Japanese pregnant women. Methods: From April 1994 through March 1999, a total of 32,925 native Japanese women with singleton pregnancies requested a triple marker-screening test. Multiples of the median values for 3 markers and individual risks for each patient were calculated following adjustment for the Japanese weight correction factor. The risk cut-off values used for Down syndrome (T21), open spina bifida (OSB) and trisomy 18 (T18) were 1:295, 1:290, and 1:100, respectively. Follow-up information was collected postpartum and statistically analyzed. Results: Detection rates (DR) of T21 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 58, 94, and 83%, respectively. DR of T18 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 75, 79, and 79%, respectively. DR of open neural tube defects (ONTD) was 100%. Conclusions: The first cumulative data of an intervention program and prospective follow-up studies in Japan have proven to be similar to other published reports. Individual risk values were calculated for each pregnancy for T21, T18 and ONTD. This screening program is more effective than age-dependent screening for detecting T21, T18 and ONTD pregnancies.

Vinyl sugar ester, 6-O-vinyladipoyl-d-glucose (VAG), was polymerized with vinyl fatty acid esters in dimethylformamide (DMF) with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to produce new amphiphilic polymers having branches of sugar and fatty acid esters. The influence of structural variations by changing the length of the alkyl chain of fatty acid moiety was examined by measurements of the surface tension and biodegradability.

High molecular mass copolymers (P(EH/EO)s) were synthesized by coordination anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) and epichlorohydrin (EH), and P(EH/EO)s were used for the preparation of the ion-conducting matrix. The copolymers having EO unit contents of less than 63 mol% were amorphous, and subjected to the complexation with lithium perchlorate. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the P(EH/EO)/LiClO4 complexes was expressed by the Williams–Landel–Ferry equation. Optimal conductivity was observed as a function of salt concentration. This is the result of two contradictory factors: the increase of glass transition temperature (negative for the ionic conductivity) and the increase of carrier number (positive for the ionic conductivity) with increasing lithium perchlorate concentration. The ionic conductivity strongly depended on EO unit contents in the copolymers. The introduction of EO units to poly(epichlorohydrin) main chain increased the ionic conductivity as did the addition of 20 wt% poly(oxyethylene) glycol monomethylether of molecular mass 750. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal-dominant disease caused by a deficiency of porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase. Patients with AIP present with neurological syndromes such as autonomic neuropathy, peripheral axonal neuropathy or central nervous system dysfunction. We report serial MRI of a patient with AIP who had cortical and subcortical cerebral changes. A 29-year-old woman with a 6-month history of AIP had an attack with severe hyponatraemia and generalised convulsions, treated with haem arginate and supportive therapy. MRI showed central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis and cortical laminar necrosis. These are not common in AIP, but are likely to have been caused by rapid correction of hyponatraemia and by vasospasm, which could be induced by AIP.

An inductance calculation method, which is based on calculating the current distribution of a fluxoid-trapped superconducting loop by using the expression of momentum and the Maxwell equations, is reconstructed to enable calculation of arbitrary 3D structures which have a ground plane (GP). Calculation of the mutual inductances of the superconductor system is also incorporated into the algorithm. The method of images is used to save computational resources, and the mirror plane is demonstrated to be just at the effective penetration depth below the upper boundary of the GP. The algorithm offers accurate results with reasonable calculation time.

We propose a new class of SFQ logic circuits. In this new approach, an SFQ pulse represents the transition between "zero" and "one". By using these two bits of information, a one-to-one correspondence between input and output can be realized. Since the correspondence is then the same as in semiconductor circuits, this method permits logic design without clock elements. In order to carry out this logic, we propose the most fundamental element, a new DC/SFQ converter. A computer simulation and low-speed test were performed. Both results showed that this converter operates correctly with a wide margin. Moreover, this converter also provides the basis for many other logic elements such as AND, OR, and XOR.

From the standpoint of the general theory of a dielectric function e in inhomogeneous many-electron systems, and under high frequency approximation, we derive the formula of stopping power for a system, where the electron density is able to be treated as cylindrical. Using the method of decoupling and iteration in the Green's function, we also derive the formula, in which higher power contributions for ω−1 expansion in e are taken into account through a mean value ωI. Extrapolating such a formula to the uniform system, we have exactly the same result as the well known one for the free electron gas.

he effects of Mn excess and deficiency on the magnetoresistive properties of La-Sr-Mn-O thin films were investigated. Epitaxial and textured films of La0.72Sr0.28MnyO3-δ (y: 0.86-1.58) were prepared by rf sputtering on (100) SrTiO3 and (110) sapphire single crystal substrates, respectively. The resistivity of the epitaxial films was less than 10% of that of the textured films, and the resistivity of all the films decreased with increasing Mn content. The Mn content and substrate material affected the temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance as well as the crystal quality of the films. The nonstoichiometry of manganese played a significant role in the electric and magnetic properties of La-Sr-Mn-O thin films.

The administration of corticosteroids induced apoptosis of thymocytes in vivo. Among various adhesion molecules examined, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1, CD106) was shown to be strongly expressed in these apoptotic cells. Flow cytometric analysis also showed the expression of VCAM-1 in apoptotic thymocytes. An RT-PCR study demonstrated the expression of VCAM-1 mRNA in thymocytes. Splenic lymphocytes and other lymphoid cell lines also expressed VCAM-1 during the process of apoptosis. VCAM-1 mRNA expression was also observed in RT-PCR performed on these cell lines.

The authors collaborated with computer scientists, psychologists, artists, and others to create a highly realistic, computer-generated walkthrough of an existing forest. Funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, this work supported current experiments at the University of Arizona's Department of Psychology. Researchers hope to determine the level of realism needed in computer-generated visualizations or animations of natural scenes for humans to reach conclusions about the virtual environment similar to those they would have reached by experiencing the actual site. The plan is to compare subjects' responses to actual, video taped, and photographed walkthroughs, and computer simulated walkthroughs.

In multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in cattle, a considerable number of morphologically poor-quality embryos continue to be produced; this is one of the limiting factors of the technique. Apoptosis has often been implicated in developmental arrest and fragmentation; these are regarded as poor traits of embryonic quality in mammalian pre-implantation embryos. In the present study, apoptosis was assessed in morphologically poor-quality embryos in comparison with good-quality embryos that were recovered from a MOET programme. Retarded embryos (two to 16 cell stage), morulae with severe fragmentation and morphologically good-quality morulae recovered from superstimulated cows at day 7 post-insemination were subjected to TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and Hoechst staining. Cell nuclei that showed both TUNEL staining and apoptotic morphology were considered to be apoptotic. Apoptotic index (AI) was calculated as the percentage of apoptotic cells per embryo. Fifteen of 17 retarded embryos and 10 of 15 morphologically poor-quality morulae did not show signs of apoptosis. The mean AIs in the morphologically poor-quality embryos (two to 16 cell stage, 2.2%; poor morulae, 1.3%) were as low as that in the good-quality embryos (2.9%). These results suggest that another mode of developmental arrest and/or fragmentation that is independent of apoptosis occurs in morphologically poor-quality embryos recovered from MOET programmes.

Aims: To determine the minimum perceived visual analog scale (VAS) difference repeated after 7 days. Methods: An experimental paired design of different controlled pain levels administered by an iontophoretic device. Each study subject received two stimuli, which were separated by a 7 day interval. Subjects were asked to assess their pain levels using a 10 cm VAS and to assess whether the two painful stimuli were different or the same. Results: 40 volunteers were studied. None of the subjects with a VAS difference of 0–0.9 cm could differentiate the difference in pain intensity between the first and the second stimulus. Seven of the nine subjects with a VAS difference of exactly 1.0 cm distinguished the second electrical stimulus as more or less painful than the first electrical stimulus. All 21 subjects with a VAS difference greater than 1.0 cm differentiated the intensity between the first and the second electrical stimuli.