Search

To identify longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and the factors influencing it among chronic, stable post-stroke patients.This prospective study included Japanese post-stroke patients who received day-care rehabilitation services and could undergo three life-space mobility assessments (at baseline, 12, and 24 months) for over 2 years, using the Life-Space Assessment (LSA) tool. Physical function, cognitive function, and activities of daily living were assessed by self-selected comfortable gait speed, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Functional Independence Measure Motor subscale (FIM motor) scores, respectively, in addition to age, sex, time from onset, stroke type, and comorbidities. A multivariable linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the longitudinal changes in LSA scores and associated factors.A total of 89 participants were enrolled. At baseline, the median age was 74 years, 33% were women, and median time from onset was 75 months. The LSA scores significantly declined over the two-year period. In the multivariate linear mixed-effects model adjusted for clinical characteristics, comfortable gait speed and age were significantly associated with changes in the LSA score, independent of FIM motor scores and MMSE scores.Life-space mobility may persistently decline, and gait function may be a determinant influencing these changes in community-dwelling chronic post-stroke patients.Implications for RehabilitationLimited life-space mobility leads to less frequent participation in social activities and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes such as hospitalization.Changes in life-space mobility should be considered in the rehabilitation care plan for chronic post-stroke patients.Life-space mobility may decline persistently in stable post-stroke patients, even if they have periodically received day-care rehabilitation services.Since gait speed is a predominant factor affecting life-space mobility, regular assessment of gait function and appropriate strategies are needed to prevent deterioration of gait speed in chronic post-stroke patients.

Hawaii has a multitude of scolytine (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolitinae) pests includingHypothenemus hampei, coffee berry borer, which is apest of coffee,Hypothenemus obscurus,tropical nut borer, a significant pest of macadamia nut, andXylosandrus compactus, black twig borer, a pest of many tropical and ornamental crops. The flat bark beetles,Carthartus quadricollis(Coleoptera: Silvanidae) andLeptophloeussp. (Coleoptera; Laemophloeidae), are known to predate on coffee berry borer and tropical nut borer but their natural history (feeding habits, reproduction and movement) are poorly understood. Studies were conducted using molecular, field, and laboratory assays to examine 1) flat bark beetle reproduction and movement in coffee and the broader agricultural landscape, 2) establishment of augmentative releases for biological control, and 3) predation rates onH. hampei,H. obscurusandX. compactus. Various life stages ofC. quadricollisandLeptophloeussp. were found in seven different plant species common to the agricultural landscape around coffee farms, suggesting these predators are feeding and reproducing on theses hosts. Molecular analysis indicated thatC. quadricollisandLeptophloeussp. predated onH. hampei, H. obscurusandX. compactusin coffee, macadamia nut, and mixed coffee-macadamia nut farms. Laboratory reared predators were recaptured near release sites on coffee farms at 1, 2, and 7 weeks after augmentative releases. Predation ofC. quadricollisonH. hampeieggs placed inside artificial coffee berries in coffee farms was about 40%. PredatorsC. quadricollisandLeptophloeussp. are natural enemies of some significant agricultural scolytine pests in Hawaii and have excellent potential for biological control with augmentative releases.

Kona coffee root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne konaensis) cause severe declines in ‘Kona Typica’ arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) trees in Hawaii. Defoliation and destruction of the root system result in significant yield losses and can kill the host. Grafting with other coffee (Coffea) species that exhibit tolerance to kona coffee root-knot nematodes is a viable solution for mitigating damage in the field. An infested field was established in 2006 with ‘Kona Typica’ scions grafted on seven accessions of promising rootstock and nongrafted ‘Kona Typica’ as the control. Four grafted trees of each accession were planted per plot with four repetitions. Yield data were assessed for the 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19 seasons. Three liberica coffee (Coffea liberica) accessions [‘Arnoldiana’ (‘Arnoldiana’ 1 and ‘Arnoldiana’ 2), ‘Dewevrei’, and ‘Fukunaga’ 1], demonstrated higher yields of coffee cherry compared with nongrafted ‘Kona Typica’ in the 2016–17 season. In the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, five accessions of liberica and ‘Nemaya’ robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) exhibited higher cherry yields than ‘Kona Typica’. Plant vigor was greater in trees grafted on ‘Arnoldiana’ and ‘Fukunaga’ compared with other accessions and nongrafted ‘Kona Typica’, with taller trees, higher vertical branches, thicker trunk circumferences, and overall better health. After 13 years in the field, nongrafted ‘Kona Typica’ showed the highest mortality, with 81% of trees lost. Liberica rootstocks performed consistently well in the presence of kona coffee root-knot nematodes, with the healthiest trees, highest yields, and least mortality of the coffee species evaluated.

Coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a serious pest of coffee worldwide and a new invasive pest in Hawaii. Adult flat bark beetles, mainly Leptophloeus sp. (75%) and Cathartus quadricollis (21%) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae and Silvanidae, respectively), were found inside CBB-infested coffee beans on the tree and molecular marker studies confirmed feeding on CBB. Research was conducted to better understand the ecology of these predators and explore ways to increase their role in suppressing CBB populations in coffee. Laboratory feeding assays demonstrated the capacity for adult and larval flat bark beetles to feed on all CBB life stages. The predators are widely distributed in the coffee growing areas on the island of Hawaii, but feed mainly in dried coffee on the tree rather than in ripening berries where initial crop damage occurs. Berlese funnel extraction of flat bark beetles from dried beans on the tree indicated that predator numbers can be relatively high (up to 23 adult predators per 150 bean sample). C. quadricollis was not susceptible to infection by the fungal biopesticide Beauveria bassiana which is used for field control of CBB in coffee. Leptophloeus sp. and C. quadricollis can be raised easily on a diet of cracked corn and cornmeal. Augmentative releases of generalist flat bark beetle predators like Leptophloeus sp. and C. quadricollis may be a useful component of integrated pest management programs against coffee berry borer and other scolytine pests.

Background A phase III clinical trial of pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Japan has revealed that pirfenidone attenuated the decline in vital capacity (VC) and improved progression-free survival (PFS). We conducted an extended analysis of the pirfenidone trial to investigate its efficacy with respect to IPF severity in the trial population. Methods Patients in the phase III trial were stratified by baseline pulmonary functions including %VC predicted, %diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide predicted, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry on exertion and were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe groups of functional impairment. The efficacy of pirfenidone for VC and PFS over 52 weeks was compared among the three sub-populations. Results Of 264 patients, 102 (39%), 90 (34%), and 72 patients (27%) were classified as having mild, moderate, and severe grades of functional impairment, respectively. This classification was associated with arterial oxygen partial pressure at rest and degree of dyspnea at baseline. While pirfenidone attenuated VC decline at all grades of severity, covariance analysis revealed pirfenidone to have better efficacy in the sub-population with mild-grade IPF. Mixed model repeated measures analysis confirmed that pirfenidone markedly attenuated VC decline in patients with mild-grade IPF compared to its effects in patients with moderate or severe IPF. Pirfenidone also improved PFS markedly in patients with mild-grade IPF. Conclusion This extended analysis suggested that pirfenidone exerted better therapeutic effects in patients with milder IPF. Further analysis with a larger population is needed to confirm these results.

Integrated pest management strategies were adopted to combat the coffee berry borer (CBB) after its arrival in Hawaii in 2010. A decision tree framework is used to model the CBB integrated pest management recommendations, for potential use by growers and to assist in developing and evaluating management strategies and policies. The model focuses on pesticide spraying (spray/no spray) as the most significant pest management decision within each period over the entire crop season. The main result from the analysis suggests the most important parameter to maximize net benefit is to ensure a low initial infestation level. A second result looks at the impact of a subsidy for the cost of pesticides and shows a typical farmer receives a positive net benefit of $947.17. Sensitivity analysis of parameters checks the robustness of the model and further confirms the importance of a low initial infestation level vis-a-vis any level of subsidy. The use of a decision tree is shown to be an effective method for understanding integrated pest management strategies and solutions.

G eant 4 is a toolkit for simulating the passage of particles through matter. It includes a complete range of functionality including tracking, geometry, physics models and hits. The physics processes offered cover a comprehensive range, including electromagnetic, hadronic and optical processes, a large set of long-lived particles, materials and elements, over a wide energy range starting, in some cases, from 250 eV and extending in others to the TeV energy range. It has been designed and constructed to expose the physics models utilised, to handle complex geometries, and to enable its easy adaptation for optimal use in different sets of applications. The toolkit is the result of a worldwide collaboration of physicists and software engineers. It has been created exploiting software engineering and object-oriented technology and implemented in the C++ programming language. It has been used in applications in particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator design, space engineering and medical physics.

This paper proposes a real-time testing method for multilevel signal interfaces. It utilizes multilevel drivers that can modulate both the voltage and timing of an output signal, and multilevel comparators based on a dynamic threshold concept. The authors also consider the impact on test cost of the proposed system and compares that cost with a conventional binary test system.

Though various clinical conditions of aspergillosis can occur, depending essentially on the host’s immunological status, the focus of research in North American and European countries has mainly been on invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. There are, however, also many problems to overcome in chronic forms of aspergillosis. One of those problems is that there are no codified treatment guidelines for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Especially in Japan, this issue is more serious, because there are more cases with CPA due to the many aged people with past history of tuberculosis. Several clinical cases and case series have reported the usefulness of the various antifungal agents that are available. The new triazole, voriconazole, in particular, seems to be effective in the treatment of CPA. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of voriconazole in the treatment of CPA in non-immunocompromised patients. We conducted a prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter study over a 2-year period. For inclusion in the study, patients with confirmed or probable CPA were recruited in 11 hospitals of the National Hospital Organization in Japan. Clinical, radiological, serological, and mycological data were collected at baseline and 12 weeks after treatment or at the end of treatment. Among 77 patients enrolled in the study, 71 patients (mean age 65.9 years, 56 males and 15 females) were eligible for the study. All of the eligible patients presented with underlying lung diseases, including sequelae of tuberculosis (n = 35), non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (n = 8), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n = 8), interstitial pneumonia (n = 7), cystic lung disease (n = 4), pneumothorax (n = 3), bronchial cancer (n = 1), and others (n = 5). Voriconazole was indicated in 48 cases (68 %) as the first-line treatment for CPA and 23 patients previously received other antifungal therapies. Based on a composite of clinical, radiologic, serological, and mycologic criteria, good response was seen in 43 patients (60.6 %), no response was observed in 19 patients (26.8 %), and 4 cases (5.6 %) got worse. Five patients (7.0 %) were unassessable for efficacy. The common adverse events were visual disturbances (17 patients, 23.9 %), abnormal liver function test results (12 patients, 16.9 %), adverse psychological effects (3 patients, 4.2 %), and others (10 patients, 14.0 %). Treatment with voriconazole had to be stopped in 2 cases (2.8 %) because of serious adverse events (abnormal liver function test results). There was no association between adverse effects and trough voriconazole levels in serum. In Japan, voriconazole provides effective therapy of CPA in non-immunocompromised patients with an acceptable level of toxicity.

A new condition monitoring technique is under development which is based on electrostatic charge. This was originally employed for the detection of debris in the gas path of jet engines and gas turbines, and is now being developed for lubricated systems. Previous investigations have demonstrated the viability of this technique in dry and lubricated tribo-contacts using laboratory-based equipment. This paper reports on the evolution of wear during a tapered roller bearing test, using a suite of condition monitoring techniques, that incorporated electrostatic wear-site sensors to identify charge during surface wear and oil-line sensors to detect debris in oil scavenge lines. The multi-sensor arrangement also included a vibration accelerometer, thermocouples, inductive and ferromagnetic particle counters. Additionally, oil samples were taken during various stages of the test and were analysed for sub-100 μm debris content. Off-line debris analysis included optical particle counting, ferrography, spectrometric oil analysis and electron microscopy. Further tribological assessments included mass loss calculations and photographic evidence of damage. During the initial 7 h, running-in wear was identified by dynamic wear site charge, acceleration and temperature. Also at this time, increases in oil-line charge correlated with debris detection by the inductive sensor, optical particle counter and ferrographic analysis. Following running-in, benign wear was indicated by a reduction in wear site charge, acceleration and temperature, as well as reductions in oil-line charge, inductive and optical particle counts. Around 42 h, increases in inductive and optical particle count were considered to be an early indicator (or precursor) of the impending wear out phase. At 53.5 h, wear out was identified by increases in wear site charge, acceleration and temperature. Evidence of wear debris was shown by increases in oil-line charge, inductive and ferromagnetic particle count. The debris was further corroborated by optical particle count, ferrography and spectrometry. The test was then stopped after 63 h and post-test analysis confirmed outer race and roller spallation.

The emissions from the power line communication (PLC) system should be investigated for the influence to the electromagnetic environment. The method of moment (MOM) has been studied to estimate the emitted electric field. However, the MOM is difficult to treat the dielectric material of the cable. This paper proposes the method of creating the wire grid model considering the dielectric material of the power line cable. The radius of the wire was determined from the per unit length inductance of the cable. The admittance is inserted between wires to present the effect of the dielectric material, and the value is determined from the admittance calculated by using the FEM based on the two-dimension model. The other admittance was inserted between each wire and ground and the value was also determined from the FEM results. The appliances were presented by T-type network based on the measurement results. The common mode input impedance and radiated magnetic field were measured and compared with the calculated one, and the evaluation indicated that the well agreement was obtained. A simple model of the indoor power line system was constructed and the radiated magnetic field was calculated. The evaluation was indicated that the calculation results almost agreed with the measured one. These results mean that the wire grid model is effective to estimate the radiated electromagnetic field from PLC system.

This paper describes a compact cooling system using a single-stage stirling-type cryocooler for a practical HTS sampler. The system was designed to cool down an HTS sampler module below 50 K, enabling a bandwidth of the chip more than 100 GHz. The system measures 150 mm in width, 140 mm in height and 310 mm in depth, and weighs 5 kg. Semi-rigid coaxial cables made of brass with a silver coated inner conductor were adopted for a signal to be measured and a trigger pulse. The loss for the signal line was less than 1.5 dB at 50 GHz with relatively small thermal inflow. Thermal inflows from low frequency lines, IF signal lines for control/output of the sampler and dc bias lines, were minimized by choosing proper wires. A new sampler module with reduced weight was placed on the cold stage, which was surrounded by double magnetic shields. The module was successfully cooled down to less than 50 K with cooling time of 1 h in the system. We have also succeeded in observing sinusoidal waveforms with the HTS sampler cooled by the compact cooling system.

We have succeeded in observing a pico-second current pulse accompanying a single flux quantum (SFQ) using a high- T c superconducting (HTS) sampler. The sampler circuit used in this study, an on-chip sampler, has two pulsers connected to each other at the comparator in one chip. The waveform of an SFQ current pulse from one pulser is measured by using another SFQ pulse from the other pulser as a sampling pulse. We observed a waveform exhibiting two peaks with 5.8 and 1.6 ps widths. Based on these values, we estimated the sampling-pulse width as 2.8 ps, suggesting the potential bandwidth for the HTS sampler of 125 GHz. This value coincides well with the bandwidth expected from the critical current-normal resistance ( I c R n ) product of the Josephson junctions of 1 mV.

We are developing waveform measurement systems using a high- superconducting (HTS) sampler. As one of the methods for introducing high-frequency signals into the sampler chip, we are testing optical input systems. A uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (UTC-PD), which has potential bandwidth of over 300 GHz, is used in the systems for converting optical signals to electrical ones in front of the sampler circuit. Our preliminary experiments revealed high enough sensitivity even at temperatures as low as below 40 K for the UTC-PD that is to be cooled with the sampler chip. In the present study, we test two types of modules. One packages the UTC-PD separately from the sampler chip, and the other integrates both of them. In the former type, the optical and sampler modules are connected using V-connectors. The modules are cooled with a cryocooler to the operating temperature of the sampler circuit, which is around 40 K. Signals to be measured are input into the UTC-PD with a 1.55-mum carrier wave. We have succeeded in observing sinusoidal waveforms of up to 20 GHz using both types of modules.

Friction and wear behaviours of rolling bearing in contaminated oil containing white-fused alumina particles were studied. The friction and wear processes were monitored using wear debris analysis, such as ferrography and spectrometric oil analysis program, and vibration analysis. Test bearing was a deep groove ball bearing (6002P5); Wear debris and worn surfaces of the bearing components were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the friction coefficient in the contaminated oil became lower by about 0.001 than that in the new oil for the large contaminants. The results of wear debris analysis showed that the large contaminants caused the high wear rate in the bearing. Three types of wear debris were commonly observed: thread-like debris, cutting chip debris, and plate-like debris. On the basis of the SEM observation results of the worn surfaces, wear mechanisms of these wear debris were discussed. The results of vibration analysis showed that the probability density function of vibration waveform was normal distribution in both the new and contaminated oils. In the contaminated oil, it changed depending on the contaminant size and the runtime, i.e. the progress of wear in the bearing. The result of wear debris analysis was related to that of vibration analysis and discussed.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) recipients are prone to infections. The incidences of mycobacterial infections after allo-SCT in several case series vary from less than 0.1-5.5%. However, no study has been published on tuberculosis following unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT). We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 113 adult patients with a median age of 54 years who underwent reduced-intensity UCBT (RI-UCBT) at Toranomon Hospital from March 2002 to May 2004. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections were diagnosed in three patients (2.7%), of these two patients developed primary infection and one patient developed reactivation of latent tuberculosis. The interval between RI-UCBT and the diagnosis of tuberculosis was 34, 41 and 61 days. All the patients had disseminated disease at diagnosis. Histological examination showed the lack of granuloma in caseous necrosis. Combination antituberculous treatments showed limited efficacy, and two patients died immediately after diagnosis. M. tuberculosis caused life-threatening illness, rapidly progressing in RI-UCBT recipients. The lack of granuloma in caseous necrosis suggests the impaired T-cell function in early post transplant phase of RI-UCBT. We should consider M. tuberculosis in the differential diagnoses of fever of unknown source after RI-UCBT.

OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors, such as socio-economic background, quality of antenatal care and availability of family planning, responsible for high maternal mortality in Surabaya, Indonesia. METHODS The study used a case-control design. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out, comparing 59 maternal deaths and 177 women survivors in the referral hospital, from 1996 to 1999. RESULTS The risk factors for maternal mortality were: living outside of Surabaya [odds ratio (OR) = 11.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.0-29.2], unemployment (OR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.7-13.8), unavailability of toilet facilities (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.0-7.7)

To evaluate the diagnostic value of a halo on computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), we retrospectively reviewed chest CT scans and autopsy reports for patients who had been admitted to our hospitals for the treatment of hematological malignancy. Pulmonary complications were suspected in all patients and chest CT scans were taken within a month of death. We examined the association between autopsy and CT findings in 48 patients who were diagnosed as IPA (n = 17), candidosis (n = 4), zygomycosis (n = 2), infiltration of hematological malignancy (n = 12), bacterial pneumonia (n = 6), cytomegalovirus pneumonia (n = 2), pulmonary hemorrhage (n = 2), or pulmonary congestion (n = 1). Patients with IPA showed a variety of CT findings, including halo (n = 13), nodules (n = 14), granular shadows (n = 3), masses (n = 6), consolidations (n = 9), wedge-shaped consolidations (n = 1), and cavitation (n = 2). In contrast, 0, 11 and two of the 31 patients without IPA showed halo, nodules and masses, respectively. These signs were more frequently observed in IPA patients than in non-IPA patients. The CT halo, especially, seemed to be specific for IPA in hospitalized neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies who developed antibiotic-resistant fever. For CT findings other than these three signs, there were no significant differences between IPA- and non-IPA patients.

The effects of material combinations on the friction and wear of PEEK/steel pairs are studied using blocks on a ring wear tester under oil-lubricated conditions. The rings are made of forged steel (SF540A) and a PEEK composite filled with 30 wt% carbon fibre. The surface roughness is 0.15 and 0.32 μm Ra, respectively. The blocks are also made of the same materials as the rings: the forged steel and the PEEK composite. Finished with an emery paper of #600, the surface roughness is 0.06 and 0.23 μm Ra, respectively. Sliding tests for 4 combinations of two materials are conducted. The load is increased up to 1177 N at 1 N s-1. The sliding velocity is varied in the range of 10 to 19 m s-1. In some cases, the ring temperature is measured with a thermocouple with a diameter of 0.5 mm, located 1 mm below the frictional surface. Results indicate that the forged steel's ring and the PEEK composite's block is the best combination among 4 combinations, because seizure does not occur under the increasing load up to 1177 N at the sliding velocity of 10–19 m s-1. In contrast, seizure occurs at 15 and 19 m s-1 in the other three combinations. However, the PEEK composite's ring shows a lower friction coefficient as compared to the forged steel's ring, when seizure does not occur. Wear scars are observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The seizure mechanisms are then discussed.

We study nuclear matter in terms of the quark versions of the alternative derivative coupling (ZM2 and ZM3) models, in which we describe the nucleon using the constituent quark model. The couplings of the scalar and vector mesons with nucleons are made density dependent through the factor in connection with rescaling of the quark-meson Lagrangian density. The quark structure of the nucleon appears as another factor in the coupling of the scalar meson with the nucleon. The present paper provides a comparative study of our models and structureless-nucleon models.

We have developed a data-acquisition (DAQ) system, whereby a CAMAC system is controlled using a graphical user interface (GUI) on a Windows NT TM system. This system has enabled easy DAQ operation with a sufficient data-acquisition performance, through the use of a CAMAC auxiliary crate controller. This system is now in practical use for measurements of ( e, e ′ X ) reactions at LNS.

Introduction of a magnetic spectrometer for the analysis of nuclear reaction products can open a new dimension in structure studies as well as reaction studies through the capability of achieving high-resolution and low-background measurements. Ion-optical matching methods to achieve better energy (momentum) resolutions than those inherent to the incident beam causing the reaction are described for a magnetic spectrometer using beams from an accelerator. They are the lateral dispersion matching, focus matching and also the kinematic correction. In addition the angular dispersion matching should be performed if better resolution of the scattering angle is important. These conditions are described in the first order approximation of ion optics. The diagnostic methods to realize the conditions of lateral dispersion matching and angular dispersion matching condition are briefly presented. The method described here can be applied for a good resolution spectroscopy of a reaction using a beam from ion source or a secondary beam with a larger energy spread.

A survey was carried out into white line disease in 1781 Thoroughbred racehorses kept in stables at the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Miho Training Center (MTC) September-October 1996. The survey was conducted while horses were being shod by farriers. The horses that still exhibited damaged white lines after regular trimming were diagnosed as having white line disease. The factors recorded were age, sex, number of diseased horses, number of diseased hooves, number of lesions by region over the bearing border of the hoof and the classified length of such lesions. The percentage of total diseased horses was 11.5% (204 animals), with incidence increasing significantly with age (Por =0.01). Occurrence was independent of sex (P0.05) was more frequent in the fore- than in the hindhoof and developed more frequently at the toe than at any other region of the forehoof-bearing border. Most lesions ranged from 20 to 30 mm in length.

In monolayer cultures of P19 EC cells treated with both all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 (RA/BMP-4 treatment), many non-adherent apoptotic cells and activated caspase-3-positive cells were observed, but they were not observed in cells treated with RA or BMP-4 alone. Consistent with the appearance of activated caspase-3-positive cells, BMP-4 and RA together induced processing of caspase-9, Ac-DEVD-MCA cleavage activity and DNA fragmentation. These three activities were observed infrequently or not at all when cells were treated with RA or BMP-4 alone. In the RA/BMP-4 treatment-induced apoptosis, caspase-9 was upstream of caspase-3 in the enzyme cascade, and the caspase-9 to -3 step was key in the apoptotic pathway. Bcl-xL inhibited processing of caspase-9, Ac-DEVD-MCA cleavage activity and DNA fragmentation induced by RA/BMP-4 treatment. However, unlike staurosporine-induced apoptosis, cytochrome c, which activates caspase-9, was not detected in the cytosol of RA/BMP-4-treated cells. RA and BMP-4 may activate caspase-9 through an apoptotic pathway other than the Apaf-1/cytochrome c pathway. The prominent decrease of X-chromosome-linked inhibitory apoptosis protein (XIAP) in the cytosol may explain the activation of caspase-9 induced by RA and BMP-4 treatment.

Polarization transfer (PT) observables in the 12 C (p,p′) reaction at 0° for 392 MeV protons have been measured. The excitation strengths are decomposed into the spin-flip part and the non-spin-flip part by using the obtained PT observables. The PT observables for excitation of the 1+, T=0 and 1+, T=1 states are compared with distorted wave impulse approximation calculations. The strength ratios of the isoscalar spin-dependent term to the isovector tensor term and the isovector tensor term to the isovector spin-dependent term are reasonably consistent with the Franey and Love interaction.

The performance of n–γ pulse-shape discrimination for a liquid scintillation detector has been investigated for γ-ray count rates up to 50 kcps. A method in which the ratio of the total to partial charge in the anode pulse is directly measured has shown much improved quality of the pulse-shape discrimination when pile-up events are rejected; it can discriminate neutron events of 50 cps from γ-ray events of 29 kcps. The method with simple pile-up rejection has the advantage that only general purpose electronics are required.

The differential cross sections and analyzing powers have been measured for a proton knockout reaction from s 1/2 orbits of several target nuclei aiming at studying nuclear medium effects in the nucleon-nucleon interaction, and in-medium nucleon properties through it. It is confirmed from the cross section data that the reaction mechanism is simple and contribution from the multi-step processes is less than ten percent, only a few percent for a 12 C target case. The analyzing power shows a distinct reduction from the value of the free proton-proton scattering and the target dependence, which is equivalent to the density dependence, of the reduction suggests existence of a medium effect. The study has been extended to the measurement of other spin observables, polarization and spin-transfer coefficients, and a preliminary result is given.

Proton-proton bremsstrahlung events were measured at 400 MeV proton energy. Two arm spectrograph and a liquid-hydrogen target system with well tuned beam provided good event identification.

This study was undertaken to assess the capabilities of intrauterine ultrasonography performed while inflating the endometrial cavity with fluid and magnetic resonance imaging as a means to assess the depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial cancer preoperatively. Twenty women with endometrial disorders underwent preoperative intrauterine ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. We introduced the probe and hysteroscope simultaneously into the uterine cavity and observed both the uterine cavity surface and cross-sectional uterine muscle. We classified the depth of myometrial invasion as none, superficial (less than half of the myometrium), or deep (more than half of the myometrium). The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and intrauterine ultrasonography in assessing the depth of myometrial invasion was 85%. In two cases, intrauterine sonography was able to demonstrate superficial myometrial invasion that could not be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. In contrast, intrauterine ultrasonography was unable to diagnose myometrial invasion in two cases in which magnetic resonance imaging could diagnose it. Intrauterine sonography may be useful for estimation of myometrial invasion of endometrial cancer.

Inclusive deuteron spectra ( d 2 σ dΩdp ) have been measured for the reaction np → dX at neutron energies of 1.0 and 2.0 GeV. A quasi-monochromatic neutron beam was used, along with a liquid hydrogen target. Recoil deuterons at laboratory angles from 3° to 15° were tracked in wire chambers surrounding a 1.5 T·m dipole magnetic field. Particle identification was achieved using time-of-flight and momentum measurements. The deuteron data are compared with the predictions of a one-nucleon-exchange model with σ meson production. At 2 GeV the missing mass spectra suggest the large role played by both the η and ϱ mesons in deuteron production.

Differential cross sections and analyzing powers ( ${A}_{y}$) have been measured for the proton knockout reaction from ${s}_{1/2}$ orbits of three kinds of target nuclei at ${E}_{p}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}392\mathrm{MeV}$. The ${A}_{y}$ values are reduced from those of free proton-proton scattering and the reduction rate is found to depend on target. For the present setting, where the recoil momentum is almost zero, an averaged density seen through this reaction can be estimated and it reaches almost half of the saturation density in some cases. The reduction of ${A}_{y}$ shows a monotonically decreasing function of the averaged density, which strongly suggests the existence of a nuclear medium effect on the nucleon-nucleon interaction.

In 1978, the first case of hepatitis E was identified as non-A, non-B hepatitis. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is believed to be one of the common causes of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis in developing countries and is rare in developed countries, except in patients with a history of travel. However, an increasing number of chronic HEV infection cases have recently been reported in developed countries. In these countries, immunosuppressed patients with HEV infection, such as organ transplant recipients, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients or patients with haematological malignancies, could develop chronic hepatitis E (CHE) infection. Approximately 60% of HEV infections in immunocompromised patients after solid organ transplantation evolve to CHE without antiviral treatment. Clinical manifestations of CHE are often nonspecific symptoms. Many patients with CHE infection are asymptomatic, but some have jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, fever and asthenia. Several extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported. Although chronic HEV infection can result in progressive severe liver failure and cirrhosis, diagnosis is often controversial because of the lack of specific diagnostic criteria. Many CHE cases are diagnosed by HEV RNA-positive serum or stool for >6 months. Immunosuppressive drugs, interferon-alpha and ribavirin have been used for treatment. Diagnostic reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction is useful for estimating treatment efficacy. Preventive measures for HEV infection have been discussed, while systematic guidelines have not yet been reported.

A neutron beam line has been constructed at the KEK-proton synchrotron. Neutrons have been produced by the disintegration reactions of deuterons in a 6 cm thick beryllium target. Deuteron beams of 2–6 GeV have provided neutron beams of 1–3 GeV. The neutron flux increases with the deuteron energy. The typical beam intensities obtained were 1 × 108, 2 × 108, and 3 × 108 neutrons per 1011 deuterons of 2, 4, and 6 GeV, respectively. The neutron-momentum width, Δpp, was measured to be (4 ± 1) % in sigma at 1 GeV.

A method to control the direction of the magnetic-moment circulation in ferromagnetic nanoscale rings is presented. This method involves controlling the domain-wall (DW) motion using the gradient of the DW energy along the circumference in cooperation with an external magnetic field. Since it is free from the DW pinning and depinning process, the method is applicable even under strong thermal disturbance. Magnetic-force-microscopic observation was performed for Ni81Fe19 rings 500 nm in diameter in which the gradient of the DW energy was introduced by decentering the rings. The result indicates perfect controllability of the magnetic-moment circulation at room temperature, demonstrating its potential for a wide range of applications in magnetic memory devices.

We describe a neutron beam monitor in the few GeV region developed for an experiment of the n + p → d + γ differential cross section measurement at the KEK-PS. It was used to monitor the profile and the flux of the neutron beam. The detector is a 3-plane plastic scintillator hodoscope. We present the design and performance of the monitor. The detection efficiencies evaluated with various Monte Carlo simulation codes are compared to the results of the measurements.

Human neutrophil antigens (HNAs) play an important role in a variety of clinical conditions including immune-mediated neutropenia, non-hemolytic transfusion reactions, and transfusion-related acute lung injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency distribution of HNAs-1 to -5 among the Japanese population. We analyzed samples from 570 healthy Japanese by molecular and serologic techniques to estimate the gene frequencies of HNAs-1 to -5. DNA samples were obtained and typed for the HNA-1 (n = 523), -3 (n = 570), -4 (n = 570), and -5 (n = 508), by molecular techniques. The HNA-1 genotype was determined by using a commercial polymerase chain reaction-reverse sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-rSSOP) kit. The HNA-3 to -5 genotypes were determined by the PCR-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP), previously described, with a small modification. The HNA-2a phenotype was determined in 301 donors by granulocyte immunofluorescence test. In Japanese, the gene frequencies of HNA-1a, -1b, and -1c were 0.623, 0.377, and 0.000, respectively. The frequency of HNA-2a phenotype was 0.987, and the gene frequencies of HNA-3a and -3b were 0.654 and 0.346, respectively. HNA-4a and -4b were found at 1.000 and 0.000, respectively, and HNA-5a and -5b at 0.840 and 0.160, respectively. We describe, for the first time, the frequencies of all HNAs (HNA-1 to -5) among the Japanese population. This study will be helpful for the prediction of the risk of alloimmunization to HNA, especially to determine the risk of HNA alloantibody production by transfusion of HNA incompatible blood and feto-maternal incompatibility.

Differential cross sections and analyzing powers for the proton-proton bremsstrahlung have been measured at 389 MeV incident energy. At the present kinematical conditions, an enhancement of the cross sections due to the Δ current contribution is predicted. The measured cross sections are larger than the theoretical predictions including the Δ current contribution.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease without proven effective therapy. A multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase III clinical trial was conducted in Japanese patients with well-defined IPF to determine the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone, a novel antifibrotic oral agent, over 52 weeks. Of 275 patients randomised (high-dose, 1,800 mg x day(-1); low-dose, 1,200 mg x day(-1); or placebo groups in the ratio 2:1:2), 267 patients were evaluated for the efficacy of pirfenidone. Prior to unblinding, the primary end-point was revised; the change in vital capacity (VC) was assessed at week 52. Secondary end-points included the progression-free survival (PFS) time. Significant differences were observed in VC decline (primary end-point) between the placebo group (-0.16 L) and the high-dose group (-0.09 L) (p = 0.0416); differences between the two groups (p = 0.0280) were also observed in the PFS (the secondary end-point). Although photosensitivity, a well-established side-effect of pirfenidone, was the major adverse event in this study, it was mild in severity in most of the patients. Pirfenidone was relatively well tolerated in patients with IPF. Treatment with pirfenidone may decrease the rate of decline in VC and may increase the PFS time over 52 weeks. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Seizure behaviors of PEEK materials were studied using a block-on-ring wear tester under severe lubricated conditions. The blocks were unfilled-PEEK and its composite filled with 30wt.% of carbon fiber. For the comparison, a white metal (WJ2) was also tested. The ring was a forging steel (SF540A). Two kinds of seizure tests under an increasing load and under a constant load were conducted. In the increasing load test, the load was increased up to 1177N at an increasing rate of 1N/s. In the constant load test, the load was kept constant for 30 minute. The ring temperature was measured at 1mm below the surface and its influence on the friction behavior was studied and discussed.

When various anti-Coxsackie B3 virus antibodies were examined for the neutralizing activity in cultures under liquid medium, some antibodies including monoclonal antibodies gave abnormally low titers in the neutralization test in Vero cells, in comparison with the other cells such as HeLa, FL, HEp-2, or primary monkey kidney cells. The neutralization titer of these antibodies was, however, similar in all these cells by plaque reduction assays under agar overlay, i.e., the above phenomenon was restricted to cultures under liquid medium. The reduced neutralization titer in Vero cells under liquid medium was found to be brought about by protease-sensitive factor(s) released by Vero cells, because (1) the addition of Vero cell culture fluid resulted in a marked reduction of neutralizing titer in primary monkey kidney cells, and (2) the activity of the Vero cell factor was destroyed by trypsin (20 micrograms/ml for 1 h). As three-day incubation of virus-antibody complex in Vero cell culture fluid resulted in a partial restoration of virus infectivity, the binding of antibody to virions appears to be competed by the Vero cell factor.

Between 1986 and 1988, epidemiologic studies were carried out in a small rural community in an Andean region of Ecuador, where cutaneous leishmaniasis is highly endemic. A total of 25 human cases, positive for Leishmania parasites by culture and/or smear, were examined. Fourteen of the cases were in infants less than one year of age, suggesting intradomiciliary transmission of the disease. Clinically, many of these cases were similar to descriptions of "uta," a form of cutaneous leishmaniasis which occurs in Andean regions of Peru and is reportedly caused by L. peruviana. Of the 11 positive cultures obtained from human cases in the present study, eight were identified by molecular characterization as L. mexicana and three were identified as L. major-like. Two additional isolates of L. mexicana were also made from an infected dog and from a sand fly, Lutzomyia ayacuchensis, living in the region, thus implicating the latter species as possible reservoir and vector, respectively, of L. mexicana in this highland community. The significance and validity of recent isolates of L. major-like parasites from the New World are also discussed., American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 44(2), pp.205-217; 1991

We propose the quark mean field model including derivative coupling between quarks and scalar mesons in nuclear matter. This model concisely interprets an increasing size of the nucleon as well as a modification of coupling constant in the nuclear environment.