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Background Lutein is gaining attention as a strong antioxidant contained in foods. It accumulates in the human blood and retina, and is considered to play an important role in the body, especially in the eyes. Objective A method to determine the lutein content of raw spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) was developed with the aim of its enactment as a Japanese agricultural standard (JAS) measurement method for components beneficial to human health. Methods An interlaboratory study was conducted to evaluate an analytical method for the determination of lutein in spinach. The detection limit and quantification limit of lutein for this method were 0.2 and 0.7 mg/kg, respectively. Twelve participating laboratories independently analyzed test samples (five pairs of blind duplicates) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results After removal of a few outliers, the repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr), reproducibility (RSDR), and predicted RSDR of the evaluated method were 3.4–7.5, 4.6–13, and 7.5–8.5%, respectively, in a concentration range from 64.9–150 mg/kg. Conclusions The HorRat values (RSDR/predicted RSDR) of the lutein concentration were calculated to be 0.61–1.6. Highlights The study results indicate the acceptable precision of this method.

Background Lycopene has been the object of considerable research attention recently, and the effects of the intake of lycopene, or of tomato products, have been studied in various ways. In Japan, interest in the health-promoting function of food components has increased. Objective Developing a method to determine lycopene contents in tomato that meets the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS). Method In the proposed JAS method, the test sample consists of fresh tomatoes; a hexane–acetone mixture is utilized as the extraction solvent. A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the interlaboratory performance of the method. Results Ten laboratories participated and analyzed six test materials characterized by a lycopene content between 39 and 170 mg/kg as blind duplicates. After removing statistical outliers, RSDr ranged from 1.2 to 3.0% and RSDR ranged from 2.4 to 4.2%. The HorRat values were calculated and found to be in the 0.26–0.49 range. Conclusions The method for determining the lycopene content in tomato was evaluated by means of a collaborative study, and the reproducibility of this method was found to be acceptable. Highlights Intended for standardization in Japan, a method to determine lycopene content in tomato has been developed and shown to have acceptable precision in a collaborative study.

There is increasing interest in the development of noble metal separation/recovery processes, especially for applications to &ldquo, urban mining&rdquo, Common separation/recovery processes for noble metals use a solvent (liquid-liquid) extraction technique in hydrometallurgy. However, these processes are time-consuming and not environmentally friendly, because they use organic solvents for sequential metal ion extractions. Electrowinning is an alternative approach for selective metal precipitation that involves controlling the redox potentials of electrodes but requires specialized equipment and generates hydrogen as a byproduct at the cathode surface under dilute conditions. In the present study, we investigated selective gold recovery from a homogenous aqueous solution containing a mixture of dilute HAuCl4 and H2PtCl6 (5.0 &times, 10&minus, 5 M each) and aromatic amino acid-containing peptides (2.0 &times, 4 M each). Gold selectivity was determined by analyzing the compositions of the solids and supernatants obtained from the reaction mixtures. A much higher gold selectivity (gold/platinum (Au/Pt) atomic ratio = 7.5) was obtained using an anthracene-containing peptide compared to peptides containing one or two naphthalene ring(s). Our proposed approach is applicable to the sequential separation of several noble metal ions, such as Au, palladium (Pd), Pt, iridium (Ir) and rhodium (Rh), and simply requires developing aromatics suitable for each noble metal of interest.

The separation and recovery of noble metals is increasingly of interest, in particular the recovery of gold nanocrystals, which have applications in medicine and industry. Typically, metal recovery is performed using liquid–liquid extraction or electrowinning. However, it is necessary to develop noble metal recovery systems providing high selectivity in conjunction with a one-pot setup, ready product recovery, and the use of dilute aqueous solutions. In prior work, our group developed a selective gold recovery process using peptides. This previous research showed that RU065, a nonapeptide containing an anthracene moiety (at a concentration of 2.0 × 10−4 M), is capable of selective reduction of HAuCl4 to recover gold from a solution of HAuCl4 and H2PtCl6, each at 5.0 × 10−5 M. However, peptide molecules are generally costly to synthesize, and therefore it is important to determine the minimum required structural features to design non-peptide anthracene derivatives that could reduce operational costs. In this study, we used RU065 together with 23 of its fragment peptides and investigated the selective precipitation/recovery of metallic gold. RU0654–8, a fragment peptide comprising five amino acid residues (having two lysine, one L-isoleusine, and one L-alanine residue (representing six amide groups) along with an L-2-anthrylalanine residue) provided an Au/Pt atomic ratio of approximately 8, which was comparable to that for the full-length original RU065. The structural features identified in this study are expected to contribute to the design of non-peptide anthracene derivatives for low-cost, one-pot selective gold recovery.

In recent years, the rate of burnout accidents due to excess energy capacity of surge arresters on medium-voltage distribution lines is increasing in lightning accidents. The upward lightning current from wind turbine in winter consists of ICC (Initial Continuous Current) and pulses superposing on it, and in many cases ICC dominates the measured charge amount. The authors calculate absorption energy of surge arresters on medium-voltage lines by the lightning strokes to the wind turbine in winter. From the calculated results, the authors show the influence of overhead ground wires, V-I characteristics of surge arresters and modeling method of lightning current waveforms.

Background Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) facilitates a lung cancer diagnosis. However, qualitative tissue characterization of lung tumors is difficult using EBUS. Integrated backscatter (IBS) is an ultrasound technique that calculates the power of the ultrasound signal to characterize tissue components in coronary arteries. We hypothesized that qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors is possible using the IBS technique. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the IBS technique can be used in lung tissue diagnoses. Methods Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer were prospectively enrolled. Surgical specimens of the lung and the tumor tissue were obtained, and the IBS values were measured within 48 h after surgery. Histologic images of lung and tumor tissues were compared with IBS values, and the relative interstitial area according to results of Masson’s trichrome staining were determined by using an imaging processor. Results The IBS values in tumor tissue were significantly lower than those in normal lung tissue (–50.9 ± 2.6 dB and –47.6 ± 2.6 dB, respectively; P P r = 0.53 and r = 0.67; P Conclusions Qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors was possible, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 85%, using the ultrasound IBS technique.

Summary The structural details of the essential entity of prion disease, fibril prion protein (PrP Sc ), are still elusive despite the large body of evidence supporting the prion hypothesis. Five major working models of PrP Sc structure, which are not compatible with each other, have been proposed. However, no systematic evaluation has been performed on those models. We devised a method that combined systematic point mutation with threading on knowledge-based amino acid potentials. A comprehensive mutation experiment was performed on mouse prion protein, and the PrP Sc conversion efficiency of each mutant was examined. The models were evaluated based on the mutation data by using the threading method. Although the data turned out to be rather more consistent with the models that assumed a conversion of the N-terminal region of core PrP into a β helix than with others, substantial modifications were also required to further improve the current model based on recent experimental results.

コーンドミートの粗タンパク質測定法に関し，5試験室に5種類のコーンドミートを材料として非明示で2点ずつ送り，燃焼法での室間共同試験を行った．共同試験において得られた併行相対標準偏差（RSDr ％）は0.36～1.7％ であり，室間再現相対標準偏差（RSDR ％）は1.3～2.0％ であった．また，室間共同試験データから求めたRSDRと予測RSDRの比であるHorRat（RSDR/PRSDR）は0.38から0.58であった．またこの結果を，同じ材料を用い，同時に行った日本農林規格（JAS）で規定されるコーンドミートのケルダール法での共同試験の結果と比較した結果，二つの測定方法の差はあったが，5材料中4材料がJIS Z8402-6〔ISO5725-6（1994）〕に記載されている二つの方法で測定したときのそれぞれの平均値の差の許容差の範囲内であった．残りの1材料は許容差を超えてケルダール法で得られた値に比較して燃焼法で得られた値が高くなったが，その差は0.33％ であり，JAS規格の基準値21％ の判断に影響を与えなかった．これらの結果，JAS規格のコーンドミートの粗タンパク質測定法における燃焼法の妥当性を確認した．

This case report details our experience with endovascular stent-graft repair for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a patient who was previously treated by left ventricular remodeling for dilated cardiomyopathy. Renal dysfunction with an elevated creatinine level (1.59 mg/dl) was managed by reducing the dose of contrast medium utilizing intravascular ultrasonography. Using a Zenith AAA endovascular device, the aneurysmal sac was successfully excluded and was thrombosed. Endovascular stenting is a good treatment option for abdominal aneurysm repair in patients with poor heart function and renal impairment.

Plusieurs sommes multiples de Dedekind ont ete introduites par B.C.Bernait, L.Carlitz, S.Egami, D.Zagier et A.Bayad. Dans cet article, apres avoir remarque la forme de Jacobi dans Bayad [4], la fonction cotangente dans Zagier [23], le resultat d'Egami sur les fonctions cotangentes [14] et leurs lois de reciprocite, nous etudions un cas special de la forme de Jacobi de Bayad [4] et deduisons une generalisation du resultat d'Egami sur les fonctions cotangentes et une generalisation du resultat de Zagier. De plus, nous considerons leurs lois de reciprocite.

Toxicity and efficacy of pemetrexed monotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with impaired renal function treated between May 2009 and May 2012 at Gifu University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 10 and 17 patients had a creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) of45 mL/min and ≥45 mL/min, respectively. The median age was higher in the Ccr45 mL/min group (78.9 years) than in the ≥45 mL/min group (65.2 years). The rate of neutropenia above Grade 3 was 30% in the Ccr45 mL/min group and 6% in the ≥45 mL/min group. Therefore, reducing the dose of pemetrexed should be considered in patients with impaired renal function. Non-hematologic toxicities were not correlated with the renal function. There was no treatment-related death, and most of the toxicities were mild and tolerable. Stable disease was observed in 6 patients (60%) in the Ccr45 mL/min group, and in 12 patients (70%) in the Ccr≥45 mL/min group, although some patients in both groups showed neither complete nor partial responses. The disease control rate and median progression-free survival time were 60% and 2.8 months in the Ccr45 mL/min group, and 70% and 2.9 months in the Ccr≥45 mL/min group, respectively. Thus, in this analysis, treatment with pemetrexed resulted in clinically equivalent efficacy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients regardless of the state of renal function.

Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) facilitates a lung cancer diagnosis. However, qualitative tissue characterization of lung tumors is difficult using EBUS. Integrated backscatter (IBS) is an ultrasound technique that calculates the power of the ultrasound signal to characterize tissue components in coronary arteries. We hypothesized that qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors is possible using the IBS technique. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the IBS technique can be used in lung tissue diagnoses.Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer were prospectively enrolled. Surgical specimens of the lung and the tumor tissue were obtained, and the IBS values were measured within 48 h after surgery. Histologic images of lung and tumor tissues were compared with IBS values, and the relative interstitial area according to results of Masson's trichrome staining were determined by using an imaging processor.The IBS values in tumor tissue were significantly lower than those in normal lung tissue (-50.9 ± 2.6 dB and -47.6 ± 2.6 dB, respectively; P .001). The IBS values of adenocarcinomas associated with a good 5-year survival rate were higher than those of non-adenocarcinomas (-48.1 ± 1.6 dB and -52.6 ± 1.4 dB; P .001). There were significant correlations between the IBS values and the relative interstitial area or micro air area in tumor (r = 0.53 and r = 0.67; P .01). After combining normal lung tissue and adenocarcinomas with a good prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity for establishing the presence of lung tumors were 84% and 85%.Qualitative diagnosis of lung tumors was possible, with a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 85%, using the ultrasound IBS technique.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), one of the most recently described growth factors, is produced by chondrocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-stimulated fibroblasts. CTGF was isolated from a chondrosarcoma-derived chondrocytic cell line, HCS-2/8, and found to be normally expressed in cartilage tissues, especially in hypertrophic chondrocytes, and also to stimulate both the proliferation and the differentiation of chondrocytes in vitro. Therefore, CTGF is thought to be one of the most important regulators of endochondral ossification in vivo. Herein we describe the expression pattern of the ctgf gene in the calcifying tissues of normal developing mouse embryos in comparison with that in core binding factor a1 (Cbfa1)-targeted mutant (cbfa1-null) mouse embryos, in which impaired development and growth were characteristically observed in the skeletal system. After 15 days of development (E15), the expression of ctgf was detected in the zone of hypertrophy and provisional calcification, in which ossification proceeds toward the epiphysis during the skeletal development of the mouse embryo. Furthermore, ctgf was expressed in developing molar and incisal tooth germs around the perinatal stage. However, no expression of the gene was found in the cbfa1-null mouse embryos. These results indicate that CTGF may have certain important roles in the development of the calcifying tissues in the mouse embryo.

早期発症型歯周炎(侵襲性歯周炎)は, 全身的に健康であるにもかかわらず, 口腔内では比較的短期間に急激な歯周組織の破壊が起こることを特徴とする歯周炎である。疾患の重症度はビルレンスの強い細菌の関与や高い疾患感受性をもつ個人体質に依存していると考えられている。病状の進行に関しては, 若年期に急激な歯周組織の破壊が起こり, その後自然に停止する場合があると言われている。本症例報告では, 継続的な歯周治療が患者の都合によりほとんど施されなかった早期発症型歯周炎の一例について, 思春期前から18年間の臨床データを紹介する。患者は初診時11歳の女性。上顎前歯部の叢生を主訴に徳島大学歯学部附属病院矯正科を受診した。当時, 中程度の歯肉炎が認められたものの, 歯槽骨吸収像は観察されなかった。このとき患者は矯正治療の前段階として永久歯の抜歯が必要であると指摘されたため歯科矯正処置を断念した。6年後(17歳)に下顎左側第一大臼歯の疼痛を主訴に再来院した際には, 全顎にわたって重度の歯周炎が発症しており, 患歯をはじめ多数の部位に著しい歯槽骨吸収が生じていた。さらに, 21歳のときに再び下顎左側第一大臼歯に同様の症状を訴えて救急来院し, 同歯は抜歯に至った。その後, 治療は再び中断したが, 初診から18年後(29歳)に上顎大臼歯歯髄炎のため来院した際には, 歯肉の炎症や歯周ポケットが依然として残存していたものの, 歯槽骨吸収のさらなる進行はほとんど認められなかった。以上のように, この患者では思春期(10歳代)に急激な歯周組織の破壊が起こり, 思春期以後(17歳以降)に継続的な歯周基本治療を行っていないにもかかわらず, 歯周炎が大きく進行しなかったことが明らかとなった。本症例は従来言われていた「早期発症型歯周炎は自然に停止する場合がある」ことを示した興味ある報告と言える。

Processing of a continuous ceramic fiber/iron alloy composite by powder metallurgy was investigated. The preparation of a continuous ceramic fiber-reinforced iron alloy is feasible by mixing of continuous ceramic fibers and iron alloy powders in an ultrasonic equipment with acetone, followed by hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) or hot pressing (HPing) at 1273 K. In HPing, a volume fraction of ceramic fibers in the composite in which ceramic fibers are distributed uniformly depends upon a diameter of ceramic fibers and a mean particle size of iron alloy powders. When a volume fraction of ceramic fibers is more than an optimum value, the excess fibers aggregate, resulting in nonuniform dispersion of ceramic fibers. Nonuniform dispersion is also achieved because of the formation of ceramic fiber-free region when a volume fraction of ceramic fiber is less than the optimum value. In uniform dispersion of ceramic fibers, volume fraction of ceramic fibers in HIPed composite is higher than that in HPed composite. This is because ceramic fiber migration due to high stress occurs during HIPing. Therefore, to obtain the composite with uniform dispersion of ceramic fibers, the specimen is to be uniformly deformed during HIPing.

A field experiment of TV White Space (TVWS) communications was conducted using developed systems following IEEE 802.22 and IEEE 802.11af standards and succeeded to have the world first throughput, distance, and application testing. The IEEE 802.22 system achieved throughput of 4.5 Mbps for uplink and 5.2 Mbps for downlink over 12.7 km. Also, feasibility of applications such as web browsing, video streaming and video talk was confirmed in multi-hop network where the IEEE 802.22 system was a backbone link and IEEE 802.11af was access area expansion. Furthermore, aggregating bandwidth of two discontinuous TV channels, throughput of 15.5 Mbps for downlink and 9.0 Mbps for uplink was achieved over 6.3 km.

We report an elderly woman with multiple sclerosis who showed an extensive cavity formation in the midthoracic cord in addition to multiple abnormal intensity signals in the central nervous system on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cavity decreased in size in response to corticosteroid therapy with an improvement in neurological symptoms. The autopsy demonstrated a slit-like cavity lined with no ependymal cells on the luminal surface in the lower cervical to midthoracic cord, with circumferentially distributed demyelinative lesions, leading to the pathological diagnosis of secondary syringomyelia. In this patient a limited necrosis formed in the spinal cord might have developed into a cavity formation with edematous fluid leading to subsequent episodes of neurological exacerbation.

Connective tissue growth factor/hypertrophic chondrocyte-specific gene product 24 (CTGF/Hcs24) is a multifunctional growth factor for fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, we established transgenic (Tg) mice that overproduce CTGF/Hcs24 under the control of mouse type XI collagen promoter. Tg mice could develop and their embryonic and neonatal growth occurred normally. But they showed dwarfism within a few months of birth. X-ray analysis revealed that their bone density was decreased compared with normal mice. The femurs in the hindlimbs in particular showed an apparent low density. These results indicated that overexpression of CTGF/Hcs24 affects certain steps of endochondral ossification. In addition, the testes were much smaller than normal and fertility was affected in Tg mice, indicating that CTGF/Hcs24 may also regulate the embryonic development of the testis.

Power Doppler imaging (PDI) is a new technique that enhances detection of low-velocity blood flow. We used this modality to assess gallbladder vasculature, especially drainage pattern and flow analysis of the cholecystic vein. The power Doppler equipment used in this study was the Acuson Sequoia 512 system (Mountain View, California). Subjects were 27 patients with acute cholecystitis, 9 with gallbladder polyps, 7 with adenomyomatosis, 6 with gallstones, 2 with gallbladder cancer, 8 with liver cirrhosis, 7 with fatty liver, 4 with portal occlusion resulting from tumor thrombus, and 2 with anomalous arrangement of the pancreatic-obiliary ductal system. Ninety vessels in 72 individuals were evaluated with PDI. Continuous wave-form signals (cystic veins) were delineated at the body of the gallbladder in 67% of 72 cases (90 vessels) and in the fundus in 22%. Vessels communicating with the cystic vein (drainage vessel) were then analyzed in 78 veins. The drainage vessel was assessed to be a portal branch of segment 5 of the liver (P 5) in 59%, a middle hepatic vein (MHV) in 38%, and the PV trunk in 3%. The cystic vein from the body drained into the P 5 in 74% and the fundus drained into the MHV in 75%. On fast Fourier transformation analysis of the cystic venous, flow, estimated maximal velocity (Vmax) was relatively high in patients with acute cholecystitis, gallbladder cancer and portal occlusion. Interestingly, the focal spared area in the fatty liver appeared to be perfused with cystic veins, in addition to having reduced portal blood flow. We conclude that power Doppler imaging may hold promise for assessing drainage pattern of the cystic vein.

Effect of phase change from unstable phase to stable phase on densification process by pressure sintering was studied by using mechanically alloyed powders. Powder mixtures of Ti and Si having the composition of Ti-37.5mol%Si were milled for 360ks and 3600ks. The latter powder showed homogeneous microstructure and amorphous-like XRD profile, although the former showed (Ti+Si) lamellar microstructure. Milled powders were vacuum hot pressed at a heating rate of 20 K/min up to 1273 K with applying constant pressure from 10 to 200 MPa, then kept for 10.8 ks. It was observed that the density of compacts increases suddenly at the temperature range between 869K and 900K for 3600ks MAed powder. This temperature range showed good agreement with that of the phase formation from amorphous to Ti5Si3. 360 ks MAed powder densified faster during heating stage, however 3600 ks MAed powder obtained higher final density after 10.8 ks holding at 1273 K due to the very fine spherical grains. It is concluded that fine grain superplastic deformation and internal superplastic deformation act an important roll in densification of MA powder having amorphous-like structure.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel cysteine-rich, secreted protein. Recently, we found that inhibition of the endogenous expression of CTGF by its antisense oligonucleotide and antisense RNA suppresses the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, the following observations demonstrated the angiogenic function of CTGF in vitro and in vivo: (i) purified recombinant CTGF (rCTGF) promoted the adhesion, proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner under serum-free conditions, and these effects were inhibited by anti-CTGF antibodies; (ii) rCTGF markedly induced the tube formation of vascular endothelial cells, and this effect was stronger than that of basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor; (iii) application of rCTGF to the chicken chorioallantoic membrane resulted in a gross angiogenic response, and this effect was also inhibited by anti-CTGF antibodies. (iv) rCTGF injected with collagen gel into the backs of mice induced strong angiogenesis in vivo. These findings indicate that CTGF is a novel, potent angiogenesis factor which functions in multi-stages in this process.

We developed a novel flow plasma system which could continuously treat water. Atmospheric nitrogen molecules entering the plasma were decomposed into the constituent atoms. Successive formations, f...

The presence of receptors specific for connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was demonstrated on a human chondrosarcoma-derived chondrocytic cell line, HCS-2/8. The binding of 125 I-labeled recombinant CTGF to HCS-2/8 cells was inhibited by unlabeled CTGF but not by PDGF-BB or bFGF. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of two classes of binding sites with Kd values of 18.6 and 259 nM on cells. A cross-linking study revealed the formation of 125 I-CTGF-receptor complex with an apparent molecular weight of 280 kDa. The 125 I-CTGF-receptor complex disappeared almost completely on the addition of unlabeled CTGF but not PDGF-BB or bFGF. In addition, the 125 I-CTGF-receptor complex was immunoprecipitated with anti-CTGF antiserum but not with anti-PDGF receptor antiserum. These findings suggest that CTGF directly binds to specific receptor molecules on HCS-2/8 cells.

In Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) which is the network around a human body, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication is one of the candidates for a realizing a high transmission speed. However, the antenna characteristics can be degraded due to influence of the human body. Also, broadband antennas which cover the bandwidth of UWB are too large for WBAN's antennas in general. In this paper, an antenna with a slot of a bow-tie shape focused and downsizing technique discussed. In comparison with the basic shape, it downsized by approximately 10% in the y-direction, 68% in the z-direction. And, average Front to Back ratio of 1.95dB is obtained in band from 4.7 to 10.6GHz.

When the great disaster strikes, it is most important for victims to receive and transmit appropriate information in order to evacuate immediately and to request for assistance and rescue. The Great East Japan Earthquake teaches us the importance of information communication technology (ICT) using wireless communication technology, e.g., television (TV), radio, the community wireless system for disaster, and mobile phone. However, after the disaster occurrence, particularly, mobile phones were left unusable for a long time due to network congestion, physical damage to base stations, and out-of-fuel of standby power systems. To combat these problems, the ICT services require more robustness, availability, flexibility, and redundancy. In this paper, we discuss the competence of IEEE standard 802.22-based wireless regional area network (WRAN) using television white space (TVWS) which can provide wide service area and utilize geographically or temporally unoccupied resource of TV frequency bands, although the frequency bands are allocated by regulatory domain. Furthermore, we introduce and evaluate a developed prototype of the WRAN equipment. The prototype provides point-to-multipoint service and throughput up to 12.2 Mbps in downstream (DS) and 9.5 Mbps in upstream (US).

(1) トマチンのバイオアッセイ法の確立を目的として数種類の動物培養細胞について検討を行った.供試細胞のうち接着細胞のHepG 2, HuH 6KK, NIH 3T 3は,アッセイに適していたが,浮遊細胞のU937, HL 60は不適であった.(2) トマチンのアッセイについてはアラマーブルー法,化学発光法,MTT法,WST-1法等を検討した.その結果,HepG 2細胞と化学発光法の組み合わせが優れていることが明らかになり,トマチンを感度良く短時間で検出できた.(3) 化学発光法によりトマト果実(桃太郎)中のトマチンの定量を試みた結果,未熟果実からは353mg/kg新鮮組織重量,成熟果実からは5.42mg/kg新鮮組織重量のトマチンが検出された.また,着果後3, 6, 8週目のトマトを測定し,成熟するにつれてトマチン含量が減少することを確認した.(4) 品種別には,原種に近いL. peruvianumやL.hirsutumから高濃度のトマチンが検出された.(5) 供試した遺伝子組換えトマトと非組換えトマトのトマチン含有量の差は認められず,その濃度は栽培品種と同レベルであった.

(1) ジャガイモに含まれるα-ソラニンならびにα-チャコニンのHPLCによる簡易分析法の検討を行った.分析カラムとしてInertsil C8,移動相として20mMリン酸緩衝液(pH=6.8)+アセトニトリル(67:33)混合溶液を使用し良好なクロマトグラムを得た.(2) ジャガイモからα-ソラニンならびにα-チャコニンを抽出する方法の検討を行い,抽出溶液にメチルアルコールを用いた簡易な方法を確立した.(3) ジャガイモの各部位よりGAの定量を試みたところ,細根から最も高濃度のGAが検出され,葉,塊茎(表層部),茎からもGAが検出された.可食部である塊茎(髄質部)からは,GAは検出されなかった.

In this paper, we present a recently developed physical layer implementation of IEEE 802.22 prototype. The prototype includes the following components: a channel (CH) unit, a Medium Access Control Layer (MAC) Control unit, a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and a Radio Frequency (RF) control unit. The prototype is developed in a flexible and scalable platform to enable future enhancement for higher data rate application. In order to achieve higher data rate, the prototype is designed to accommodate multiple channel units for multiple channel access capability. A channel unit consists of a MAC Layer unit, a Physical Layer (PHY) unit and a Transceiver (TRX) unit. In this paper, we will concentrate our discussion on the physical layer implementation of IEEE 802.22 prototype and show the Bit Error Rate (BER) performances of the implemented physical layer of IEEE 802.22 prototype.

調査研究はある河川水における微量化学物質を検索し, モニタリング物質の濃度レベルを調査することである。微量化学物質の検索及び濃度レベル調査はジクロロメタン抽出・フロリジルカラムクロマトグラフィー・GC/MSの組み合わせで行った。ある水系における6月の水稲農薬は約1μg/L強であり, 非水稲農薬と農薬の分解生成物の合計濃度は約0.2μg/Lであった。この水系では農薬及び分解生成物は7月上旬に最高値になり, 数μg/L～数十μg/Lに達すると推測された。その他に, 各有機リン酸トリエステルは数ng/L～数十ng/Lの範囲で, ナフタレン類は数ng/L～数十ng/Lで, コレステロールは数μg/Lで検出されていた。

The optimized structures of nitrosyl pentaammine chromium complex [Cr(NO)(NH 3 ) 5 ] 2+ ( A ) at three different spin multiplicities, doublet ( A2 ), quartet ( A4 ), and sextet ( A6 ), were obtained by ab initio calculation at B3LYP/6-31G ∗ (6-31+G ∗ for NO) level of theory. The complex A was most stable at the lowest spin multiplicity (doublet), which is in harmony with the previous magnetic measurement ( μ eff =1.8 BM) of the perchlorate of A , [Cr(NO)(NH 3 ) 5 ](ClO 4 ) 2 ( A ′ ) . The X-ray structure of A ′ was determined: Cr–N(NO), 1.677(6) A; N–O, 1.180(7) A; Cr–N(NH 3 , trans ), 2.140(5) A; Cr–N(NH 3 , cis ), 2.080(6)–2.096(6) A; Cr–N–O, 179.9(6)°. The optimized structure ( A2 ) is in good agreement with the experimental one. The present result shows that the covalent type π bondings between Cr and N(NO), which is ascribed to the overlapping between two π ∗ orbitals of NO and two π orbitals of Cr, cause the extra stabilization of A2 .

The present case report details our experience with the hybrid approach for multiple aneurysms in the aortic arch, thoracoabdominal aorta, and around the aortic bifurcation. Total arch replacement for the arch aneurysm under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with antegrade cerebral perfusion was the first stage of aneurysm repair. Five months later, bifurcated graft replacement with debranching of four abdominal branches was undertaken as the second stage of treatment. Finally, stent-graft repair for chronic dissection of the thoracoabdominal aorta was performed utilizing a Gore-Tex Tag endovascular prosthesis. Over 7 months of treatment, all aneurysms were excluded from the aortic blood flow and pressure without abdominal organ dysfunction except a transiently elevated total bilirubin level. Although the patient had an episode of minor gastrointestinal bleeding after discharge, he is currently leading a normal life without limitations at home 5 months after the stent-graft repair.

Abdominal aortic dissection (AAD) is a rare pathology and potentially causes rupture or other serious complications. This case report details our experience in endovascular aneurysm repair for AAD in a patient who had a history of coronary bypass surgery. Circumferential dissection of terminal aorta showed stenosis of true lumen as well as blood flow present in the pseudolumen. Using Zenith AAA endovascular device, the entry site was closed and the pseudolumen was thrombosed successfully. In the present report, published data on AAD were reviewed and endovascular aneurysm repair as a treatment option has been discussed as well.

The transmission of prions to animals with incongruent prion protein (PrP) gene (referred to as cross-sequence transmission) results in a relatively long incubation period and can generate a new prion strain with unique transmissibility designated as a traceback phenomenon. For example, cross-sequence transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prions to human generated variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) prions which retained the transmissibility to mice expressing bovine PrP. This finding suggests that traceback studies could enable us to identify the origin of prions. There are two distinct phenotypes in dura mater graft-associated Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (dCJD), with the majority represented by a non-plaque-type of dCJD (np-dCJD) and the minority by a plaque-type of dCJD (p-dCJD). To identify the origin of p-dCJD, we performed a traceback study using mice expressing human PrP with methionine homozygosity (129M/M) or valine homozygosity (129V/V) at polymorphic codon 129. The characteristics of p-dCJD such as the accumulation of abnormal isoform of PrP (PrP(Sc)) intermediate in size between type 1 and type 2, and plaque-type PrP deposition in the brain were maintained after transmission to the 129M/M mice. Furthermore, the 129V/V mice were more susceptible to p-dCJD prions than the 129M/M mice and produced type 2 PrP(Sc) that were identical in size to those from the 129V/V mice inoculated with sporadic CJD prions from a patient with 129V/V and type 2 PrP(Sc) (sCJD-VV2). In addition, we performed intracerebral transmission of sCJD-VV2 prions to the 129M/M mice as an experimental model for p-dCJD. These 129M/M mice showed the accumulation of the intermediate type PrP(Sc) and plaque-type PrP deposition in the brain. These results suggest that p-dCJD could be caused by cross-sequence transmission of sCJD-VV2 prions to individuals with the 129M/M genotype.

The genotype (methionine or valine) at polymorphic codon 129 of the human prion protein (PrP) gene and the type (type 1 or type 2) of abnormal isoform of PrP (PrP(Sc)) are major determinants of the clinicopathological phenotypes of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Here we found that the transmission of sCJD prions from a patient with valine homozygosity (129V/V) and type 2 PrP(Sc) (sCJD-VV2 prions) to mice expressing human PrP with methionine homozygosity (129M/M) generated unusual PrP(Sc) intermediate in size between type 1 and type 2. The intermediate type PrP(Sc) was seen in all examined dura mater graft-associated CJD cases with 129M/M and plaque-type PrP deposits (p-dCJD). p-dCJD prions and sCJD-VV2 prions exhibited similar transmissibility and neuropathology, and the identical type of PrP(Sc) when inoculated into PrP-humanized mice with 129M/M or 129V/V. These findings suggest that p-dCJD could be caused by cross-sequence transmission of sCJD-VV2 prions.