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Abstract: The magnetism of Fe–Ni Invar alloys is very sensitive to the lattice constant, stress, and the number of nearest-neighbor Fe–Fe atomic pairs. Ion irradiation is a useful tool to alter the local atomic structure of a given material. Therefore, the effects of low-energy and light-ion irradiation on the magnetism of a Fe66Ni34 Invar alloy were investigated in this study. The Fe66Ni34 Invar alloy was irradiated with 50-keV protons at a fluence of 1×1015 ions/cm2 at room temperature. The Curie temperature was found to increase from 465K (before irradiation) to 535K (after irradiation). The X-ray absorption analysis of the fine structure of the alloy revealed that irradiation had no effect on the atomic structures surrounding Fe and Ni. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: AC susceptibility measurements in mechanically alloyed (MA) Ni–20at% Mn were made under hydrostatic pressures up to 7.5GPa. The results were compared with a bulk alloy made by the conventional method of melting. The Curie temperature decreased with pressure at the rate of −6.9 and −8.0K/GPa in MA and the bulk alloy, respectively. The transition temperature to the reentrant spin glass state increased at the rate of 1.2 and 1.7K/GPa in MA and the bulk alloy, respectively. The results were explained by assuming a Gaussian distribution of concentration fluctuation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pressure dependence of the irradiation-induced ferromagnetism recently found in Fe–Ni invar alloys was investigated under hydrostatic pressures up to 7.5GPa. A rectangular sheet of Fe–30.2at% Ni invar alloy was irradiated with 80MeV Xe ions. The range was much smaller than the thickness of the sample. The Curie temperature of the irradiated part increased by 63K, and the absolute value of the pressure coefficient, dT C/dp was smaller than that of non-irradiated part. The relation holds with for both non-irradiated and irradiated part. The itinerant character was not so much modified by irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The optimum management of patients with moyamoya disease remains controversial.Objectives: To examine retrospectively the correlation between the degree of haemodynamic stress and the clinical presentation by measuring cerebral haemodynamics and metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET).Methods: 57 patients with moyamoya disease (mean age 32 years, range 12 to 64), classified into five groups according to clinical manifestations, underwent PET measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMR(O2)), and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) using (15)O labelled gases. The regional values in patient groups were compared with a normal group.Results: CBF in non-symptomatic patients, patients presenting with transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), and patients with haemorrhagic onset (H) was not significantly lower than in normal controls in any region. CBV in the TIA group and in patients with infarction associated with TIA (I/TIA) was significantly higher than in the controls in most regions. OEF in the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex was significantly higher in the I/TIA group than in the controls. Patients in the H group and those with a permanent deficit with infarction (PD group) had decreased metabolism with normal OEF. Multivariate analysis to test the distribution of the three dimensional vector (CBF, CBV, OEF) showed significant differences between every possible pair among the six groups except NS v H and H v PD in the frontal cortex.Conclusions: The haemodynamic status of moyamoya disease is not uniform, and severe haemodynamic stress occurs in selected subgroups of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the fluorite-related cubic structure of yttria-stabilized zirconia. Data sets obtained from crystal X-ray diffraction; Average structure of single crystals; Ideal position of atoms in the structure.

Matrin 3 forms a family of nuclear proteins together with NP220s. Using cDNA sequences encoding rat matrin 3 as a probe, we isolated genomic clones of mouse matrin 3 gene and its two pseudogenes. The genuine mouse matrin 3 gene has an exon covering the N-terminal one third of matrin 3 with a sequence 99% identical to rat matrin 3 cDNA. The gene was localized to Chromosome 18C by in situ hybridization and mapped at 3.6 cM distal to D18Mit117 and 2.2 cM proximal to D18Mit14 on mouse Chromosome 18 by interspecific backcross analysis. One pseudogene has an exon-like sequence covering the N-terminal half of matrin 3 that is interrupted by an unknown sequence. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of RNA from mouse liver and brain using unique sequences of the genuine gene and the pseudogene confirmed the expression of only the former. The other pseudogene has a sequence only 80% identical to rat cDNA and is partially deleted and reversed. These pseudogenes were localized to Chromosome 4E2 and 8D2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel human adenovirus D (HAdV-65) isolated from feces of 4 children in Bangladesh who had acute gastroenteritis. Corresponding genes of HAdV-65 were related to a hexon gene of HAdV-10, penton base genes of HAdV-37 and HAdV-58, and a fiber gene of HAdV-9. This novel virus may be a serious threat to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Little-Parks effect is originally known as a phenomenon, where a critical temperature T c of the superconducting cylinder oscillates as a function of the applied magnetic field with a period of Φ 0 [R.D. Parks, W.A. Little, Phys. Rev. 133 (1964) A97]. It has been well known that a sort of the Little-Parks effect occurs in superconducting network samples, too [B. Pannetier, J. Chaussy, R. Rammal, J.C. Villegier, Phys. Rev. Lett. 53 (1984) 1845]. In this work we intend to prepare fine superconducting networks with the aid of a focused-ion-beam (FIB) microscope. It is very convenient to prepare various kinds of superconducting networks without preparing photo-masks in lithography. The networks thus obtained are examined by using a confocal laser microscope as well as an atomic force microscope. We developed the measurement system to trace a critical temperature T c as a function of the applied field. The LabVIEW-based system is designed to measure the Little-Parks effect automatically for various sorts of superconducting networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies impurity doping in indium phosphide layer grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy using tertiarybutylphosphine and organic doping sources. Methods used for the preparation of the substrates; Comparison of dimethyl and diethyl compounds of the group-VI elements; Plotting of the electron Hall mobilities of the selenium-doped indium phosphide layers as a function of the net electron concentration.

Abstract: Effect of high-energy heavy-ion irradiation on Fe-based invar alloys such as Fe–Ni, Fe–Pd and Fe–Pt alloys have been intensively investigated. A large increase of the Curie temperature of about 100K has been found in Fe–Ni invar alloys, while in Fe–Pd invar alloys a medium increase of about 30K was detected. On the contrary, a decrease of about 15K was observed in Fe–Pt invar alloys. Those differences in the irradiation effects are interpreted considering at least two competing physical origins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents an approach to estimate the sputtering yield of water in glow-discharge electrolysis. When a high positive voltage is applied to the electrode above the negative liquid surface, glow-discharge is generated between the electrode and the liquid surface under reduced pressure. Bombardment of the water surface by energetic projectiles in glow-discharge electrolysis (GDE) leads to ejection of atoms and molecules from the water surface. Although sputtering in GDE could be applied to film formation of oxide and diamond, virtually nothing is known about the sputtering yield of water.

Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in plasma rises by ultrafiltration during hemodialysis, and it consequently causes plasma refilling in which water moves from interstitial tissue to capillary space. Although hemodynamic stability is one of the important factors for good dialysis outcome, no informative and convenient indicators are available other than monitoring of blood pressure. Thus, we measured COP during hemodialysis whether COP can be used as an indicator for the hemodynamic status in comparison with hematocrit (Ht). Plasma osmolality, ultrafiltration volume, and the alteration of blood pressure were also measured to examine whether COP is associated with them. Sixteen patients hospitalized in this hospital were examined. Amongst them, 10 patients underwent both dialysis and ultrafiltration, while 4 patients received only dialysis and 2 patients were with ultrafiltration only by extracorporeal ultrafiltration method. Ultrafiltration was performed with constant speed to the dry weight for 4 h. The measurements of COP, plasma osmolality, Ht levels, and blood pressure were performed at 30 min (12.5% of the total water removal), 1 h (25%), 2 h (50%), and 3 h (75%) after the start of hemodialysis and also at the end of dialysis (100%). COP markedly rose by 26.0% (±13.3%) in the patients who received both dialysis and ultrafiltration, whereas Ht rose by only 13.6% (±5.21%). And the curve for COP increase was sigmoid shape, whereas that for Ht showed linear change. On the other hand, in the patients whose Ht levels showed low values, the curves for both COP and Ht showed similar pattern. These results suggest that COP is a more sensitive indicator to be monitored for the hemodynamic status than Ht during hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] 16-MeV Au3+ ions were irradiated to Fe66Ni34 alloy. [•] Magnetic properties of Fe66Ni34 were changed by the irradiation. [•] T c of a part of sample increases due to the irradiation. [•] FCC structure is stable before and after irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hydrogen-induced modification of electronic structures, magnetic states, and crystal structures of transition metal (TM = Fe, Co, and Ni) monohydrides was investigated using TM K-edge x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), x-ray diffraction, and first-principles calculations. The TM hydrides undergo narrowing of TM 3d density of states (DOS) and significant shifts in the Fermi energy EF due to hydrogenation, which is responsible for the magnetic properties of the TM hydrides: ferromagnetic FeH, ferromagnetic CoH, and paramagnetic NiH. The reconstruction of the electronic structure is mainly attributed to the appearance of bonding and antibonding states together with hydrogen-induced volume expansion. We demonstrate that the characteristic XMCD profile of the TM hydrides near the absorption edge probed the reconstruction of the electronic structure above EF. The pressure dependence of XMCD revealed that the ferromagnetic state of FeH is less stable than that of CoH under pressure. The different hydrogenation processes between CoH and NiH at room temperature are reported by means of x-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The character of thermal diffusion of magnetic atoms has been investigated in Ni–Mn mechanical alloys around Ni3Mn composition by monitoring magnetic properties during the atomic ordering process. Observed susceptibility versus temperature curve after annealed at the ordering temperature of 693K for 50h shows at least four steps. Those multi steps came into two at the final stage of annealing for 1000h. The step at the highest temperature corresponds to the Curie temperature T C of Ni3Mn. The observed variation of T C with annealed time was explained by solving a diffusion equation, and the range of the concentration fluctuation was determined to be 4nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Ce1− x La x Ru2 system has been studied for its superconducting and normal-state properties by high-pressure ac-susceptibility measurements as a function of temperature in the range of 4.3–300K using a cubic anvil pressure cell. The CeRu2 compound shows a sharp transition at the T c that becomes wider with increasing pressure, getting as wide as ∼1.8K at a pressure of 7.5GPa. The transition for the Ce0.91La0.09Ru2 appears with a width of ∼0.7K (about 3 times wider than that for the CeRu2 at 0.5GPa) and gets wider with increasing pressure, similar to the case of the CeRu2 system. The pressure-dependent broadening and anomalous T c behavior of the Ce1− x La x Ru2 could be related to the Fermi surface topological instability that drives the system to get phase separated in the superconducting and weakly antiferromagnetic domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurements of AC-susceptibility versus temperature curves were made in thin plates of both ordered and disordered Fe-28.3at.%Pt invar alloys before and after swift heavy ion irradiation. In disordered Fe–Pt invar alloy the Curie temperature decreased about 15K by the irradiation of 200MeV Xe-ions to the fluence of 1014 ions/cm2. In ordered Fe–Pt invar alloy the Curie temperature decreased about 128K to the value just coincide with that of irradiated disordered alloy. By comparing these data to the previous one for Fe–Ni invar alloys, it was concluded that there exist at least two mechanisms having opposite contribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The high pressure technique developed in physics may give a new possibility if it is applied to a biological study. We have been studying the tolerance of small living samples such as planktons and mosses, and found that all of them were alive after exposed to extremely high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5 GPa. This technique has been extended to a higher plant Trifolium lepens L. (white clover). A few seeds of white clover were exposed to 7.5 GPa for up to 6 days. After the pressure was released, they were seeded on agar, or directly on sowing soil. Seventeen out of the total 22 seeds exposed to the high pressure were found to be alive. Those exposed for up to 1 day and seeded on agar germinated roots. Those exposed for up to 1 h and seeded on soil germinated stems and leaves. The present technique has the possibility of being applied to improve breed of plants and to discover a very strong species that stands against very severe environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the electrical and optical properties of InP grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy with extremely low V/III ratios. Use of tertiarybutylphosphine as the semiconductor precursor; Characterization of the grown wafers by Nomarski microscope, Van der Pauw method and photoluminescence; Increase in acceptor content in the ratio range.

Genetic abnormalities in mitochondrial complex assembling factors are associated with leukoencephalopathy. We present a 1‐year‐old girl with consciousness disturbance after a respiratory infection. Brain MRI revealed leukoencephalopathy with bilaterally symmetrical hyperintensity in the substantia nigra, medial thalamic nuclei, and basal nuclei, as well as cavities in the cerebral white matter and corpus callosum. Lactate levels in the spinal fluid were high, while magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the cerebral white matter and basal nuclei showed high peak lactate levels, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. The respiratory enzyme activity of complex I was reduced to 17% to 21% in skeletal muscle. Whole exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous variations in NDUFAF3, involved in the assembly of mitochondrial complex I (c.342_343insGTG:p.117Valdup, c.505C > A:p.Pro169Thr). Two‐dimensional, blue‐native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate‐PAGE revealed reductions in Q‐module (NDUFS2, NDUFS3, and NDUFA9) and P‐module (NDUFB10 and NDUFB11) subunits, indicating disruption of mitochondrial complex I assembly. Our report expands the spectrum of clinical phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants of NDUFAF3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was shown in our previous reports that a few spores of moss Venturiella could tolerate the very high pressure of 20 GPa for 30 min and germinated a protonema to the length of 30 μm. However, these spores did not grow any further, and disappeared at around 30 days of incubation after seeded. On the other hand, colonies of blue-green alga Microcystis flos-aquae came to appear about 76 days after the moss spores were seeded. Many of these colonies appeared at the places where the moss spores had disappeared. These colonies were formed by the algae that had adhered to the spore cases of the moss and survived after exposure to the very high pressure of 20 GPa. Though the appearance of the colonies of high pressure exposed algae was delayed by about 50 days compared with that of the control group which was not exposed to high pressure, there seems no difference in their shape and color from those of the control group. The pressure tolerance of blue-green alga is found to be enormously strong, and it can survive after exposure to the high pressure which corresponds to the depth of about 550–600 km from the surface of the Earth, just above the lower mantle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proposed an ultra-high amplitude-sensitive multi-slot sub-wavelength Bragg grating (MS-SW BG) waveguide sensor on silicon on insulator (SOI) platform with a thick silicon waveguide (WG) and analyzed the design and performances. The MS-SW BG sensor with a thick waveguide supports multi-transverse modes for the first and second modes, whose stopbands (SBs) have different center wavelengths and bandwidths to form a mid-transmission band (MTB) between these SBs. By adjusting sensor parameters, the MTB can be made sharp and steep, and these spectral profiles shift in response to a refractive index change in the surrounding medium. Due to the sharp spectral feature of the MTB, ultra-high amplitude-sensitive performance can be realized. The sensor length is as short as about 10 μ m for a grating period count of 21. With an additional increase of the period count the transmission peak count in the MTB region increases, and the shortest wavelength peak among them exhibits steeper slope which is suitable for higher sensitivity. The appearance of the MTB is explained by coupled mode theory and band structure approach. The structural design is investigated from viewpoints of WG thickness, WG width, duty ratio of the grating and so on to demonstrate an ultra-high amplitude sensitivity of 5000 RIU−1 with transmission loss limit up to 3 dB. • MS-SW BG is considered as an amplitude sensitivity sensor. • High amplitude sensitivity is obtained by shifting SBs to be closer to each other. • The combined SBs edge region forms a sensing peak which optimization is considered. • Obtaining amplitude sensitivity of 5000 RIU-1 with a sensor length of 45.6 μ m. • Considered sensing method shows promise for cheaper sensing systems on SOI platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous studies on the tolerance of living organisms such as planktons and spores of mosses to the high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5 GPa, we showed that all the samples could be borne at this high pressure. These studies have been extended to the extreme high pressure of 20 GPa by using a Kawai-type octahedral anvil press. It was found that the average diameter of the spores ofVenturiellaexposed to 20 GPa for 30 min was 25.5 μm, which is 16.5% smaller (40.0% smaller in volume) than that of the control group which was not exposed to high pressure. The inner organisms showed a further extent of plastic deformation. As a result, a gap appeared between the outer cover and the cytoplasm. A relationship has been obtained between the survival ratio and plastic deformation of spores of mossVenturiellacaused by the application of ultra high pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The experiment on the search for life under very high pressure done for small animal tardigrades has been extended to a plankton, Artemia. It was found that cysts, or dried eggs, of Artemia remain alive after being exposed to a very high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5GPa for 42h. We are convinced that at least two kinds of small animals are still alive after being exposed to such high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5GPa, which corresponds to the pressure at the depth of about 180km below the surface of the Earth, i.e., Mantle pressure. The results of the present investigation suggest the possibility that Artemia, as well as tardigrade may have traveled through outer space in a large meteorite, and reached the Earth alive from another planet or galaxy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The experiment on the search for life under very high pressure done on small animal, tardigrade, has been extended to the moss Ptychomitrium. Several spore placentas of the moss Ptychomitrium were sealed in a small Teflon capsule together with fluorinate as liquid pressure medium. The capsule was put in the center of a pyrophillite cube. This cube was compressed by six tungsten–carbide second-stage anvils with a front edge length of 4.0mm. These anvils were compressed by a first stage, 250ton press. It was proven that 80–90% of the spores were alive and germinated after being exposed to the maximum pressure of 7.5GPa for up to 48h. Furthermore, a relatively high germination rate of about 35% was retained even after exposure to 7.5GPa for 6 days. The pressure tolerance of moss is found to be much stronger than tardigrades. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Changes in body composition of college wrestlers undergoing rapid weight reduction were evaluated over time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This study evaluated 12 wrestlers (male, 18-22 years of age) who participated in Japan's 2005 intercollegiate wrestling tournament. For this study, MRI (of the right femoral region and the trunk), as well as measurements of body weight, body fat percentage and body water content, were performed 1 month and 1 week prior to the weigh-in, on the day of the weigh-in, on the day of the match (after the match), and 1 week after the weigh-in. A survey of food and fluid intake was also conducted. Results: Several variables were significantly lower on the day of the weigh-in than one month prior: body weight (p<0.01, -7.3% (SD 1.6%)); body fat (p<0.05, -9.3 (5.8(%) body water content (p<0.01, -5.9 (1.6)%); trunk cross-section (p<0.01, -13.2 (4.4)%), including separate measurements of trunk viscera, trunk muscle, and trunk fat; quadriceps muscle; lower subcutaneous; and food intake (p<0.01, 122 (20)). At 1 week after the match, all metrics had recovered to their levels measured 1 month before the weigh-in. Certain variables that were highly sensitive to hydration recovered more rapidly: they had reached their initial levels when measured immediately after the match. Conclusion: Rapid weight reduction reduced the wrestlers' cross-sectional areas of muscle and fat tissues, which tended to recover through rehydration after the weigh-in. These results suggest that rapid weight reduction of wrestlers induced changes in different regions of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Terrestrial tardigrade is known to show very strong anti-environmental character at a dehydrated state called “tun” state. It was reported to be alive after exposed to the hydrostatic pressure of 0.6GPa, which was almost twice higher than the limit for most bacteria and multi-organisms. However, the limit of the hydrostatic pressure above which tardigrades cannot survive is unknown. We performed an experiment to put tardigrades into high hydrostatic pressure of 7.5GPa, more than 10-times higher than investigated so far, and convinced that they can survive after exposure to 7.5GPa for up to 12h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurements of AC-susceptibility versus temperature curves were made in thin plates of disordered Fe-30.6at.%Pd and Fe-34at.%Pd invar alloys before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation. In both alloys the Curie temperature increased about 20–25K by the irradiation of 200MeV Xe-ions to the fluence of 1014 ions/cm2. By comparing these data with the previous one for Fe–Ni and Fe–Pt invar alloys, it was concluded that there exist at least two mechanisms having opposite contribution. One is the negative pressure effect through the lattice expansion and another is the selective knock on of constituent atoms through the difference of the atomic radius. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Both ordered and disordered Ni–Mn alloys have been irradiated with 230MeV-Xe ions up to the fluence of 1014 ions/cm2 using a tandem accelerator. No significant changes have been observed in 80at.% Ni–Mn alloy in either ordered or disordered state. However, the Curie temperature and the spin glass transition temperature of ordered 75at.% Ni–Mn alloy decreased significantly by the irradiation. These results can be explained by considering the atomic disordering by the irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiac syndrome X, and intracoronary low-dose acetylcholine infusion is a widely used diagnostic modality for studying the coronary artery endothelial function. The authors herein report 2 cases of cardiac syndrome X with coronary artery endothelial dysfunction and microvessel spasm. The findings of non-invasive testing were positive for ischemia. Coronary angiograms appeared entirely normal in both cases. However, the intracoronary infusion of low-dose (1.5-15 microg/minute) acetylcholine demonstrated an impairment of the coronary blood flow response and consequently provoked an ST-segment elevation in an electrocardiogram. The coronary angiograms showed no spasm in the epicardial arteries. These patients are thus suggested to have cardiac syndrome X with microvessel spasms associated with coronary artery endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Long term Helicobacter pylori infection leads to atrophic gastritis but the relation between H pylori infection and autoimmune related atrophic gastritis (AIG) remains unclear. We studied the effects of H pylori infection on the pathophysiology of AIG in mice. Materials and methods: BALB/c nu/nu mice (n=40) with or without H pylori infection received splenocytes from neonatally thymectomised mice to induce AIG. Half of the mice were orally infected with H pylori prior to AIG induction. Histological findings, and local and systemic immune responses were serially evaluated. Results: Two and six months after transfer, parietal cells in uninfected mice were depleted while those in infected mice were well preserved. The degree of gland atrophy (p<0.01), hyperplasia (p<0.01), gastric pH (p<0.05), and serum gastrin levels of infected mice were significantly lower than those of uninfected mice. Serum antiparietal cell antibody levels gradually decreased in infected mice, and were significantly lower than those of uninfected mice at six months (p<0.05). Real time polymerase chain reaction studies revealed significantly higher interleukin 4 (p<0.05) and transforming growth factor β (p<0.05) gene expression in the gastric mucosa in infected mice than in uninfected mice at both two and six months after AIG induction. Conclusions: H pylori infection inhibited the development of AIG in mice. Th2-type immune responses and transforming growth factor β in the gastric microenvironment might be involved in the inhibitory effects of H pylori infection on the development of AIG, in which Th1-type responses have an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease is associated with complications in multiple organs. However, there are very few reported cases of patients with Crohn's disease with muscle symptoms and/or high serum creatine phospho-kinase (CPK) levels. We report here a patient with Crohn's disease who experienced skeletal muscle damage with extremely high serum CPK level during treatment with an elemental diet. The non-parenteral administration of large amounts of carbohydrate and limited glycogen degradation capability may be a possible causative mechanism for this elemental diet-induced muscle damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intertidal stratigraphy has been instrumental in demonstrating the hazard posed by great earthquakes at the Cascadia subduction zone, but inferring an earthquake history from interbedded sequences of peat and mud is complicated by many factors that influence sedimentation and relative sea-level change on both tectonic and nontectonic coasts. Rapid-to-sudden rises in relative sea level marked by sharp contacts between intertidal peat and overlying mud or sand may reflect coseismic coastal subsidence and tsunami deposition or, alternatively, nonseismic hydrodynamic changes in estuaries. Reconnaissance coring at 16 sites in the marshes fringing a narrow, protected tidal inlet of Coos Bay, supplemented by diatom and 14 C analyses at four sites, reveals a stratigraphic record too fragmentary and ambiguous to distinguish seismic from hydrodynamic causes for more than three of the 10 rises in relative sea-level identified. Only three sharp contacts have the wide extent and evidence of substantial (.0.5 m) submergence that distinguish them from similar contacts produced by nonseismic processes. Correlation with stratigraphic sequences at other estuaries shows that the fringing marshes suddenly subsided and were partially buried by tsunami sand during a great plate-boundary earthquake about 300 years ago. Similar contacts were produced by earthquakes about 1500–1800 years ago, and perhaps about 2400–2700 years ago. Other earthquakes with substantially less subsidence may also have occurred, but evidence is too ambiguous to reconstruct a more complete history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Performed free coagulant hemodialysis to patients having hemorrhage with the hope to avoid aggravation of bleeding caused by anticoagulant agent from dialysis.Method: Examined 19 cases of patients with bleeding tendency, whether it is possible to perform free coagulant hemodialysis by using PAES membrane, EVAL membrane, PS membrane, Cellulose triacetate membrane and Vitamin-E modified-dialysis membrane.Result: With PAES membrane, the result showed a non- blockade rate of 91% after four hours and 100% after two hours. Therefore, blockade was prevented with a fairly high rate. In cases of blockade, most of them were possibly avoidable with a little contrivance as the reason were lack of establish blood flow rate, faulty position of a needle, etc.Conclusions: By using PAES membrane, it was possible to perform free coagulant hemodialysis. In order to completely have no blockade of blood lines in the future, we must strive further on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We report a patient with urosepsis, Lleptospira syndrome, TTP-HUS syndrome, fulminant hepatic failure, vasculitis syndrome and TSS treated with plasma component exchange.Methods: Conditions for plasma component exchange were membrane plasma separator(Evacure EC-3A), substitute fluid(3 % albumin solution), blood flow rate(150 mL/min), filtration rate(30 mL/min), quantity of substitute fluid(4,600 mL) and anticoagulant(nafamostat mesilate 30 mg/hr).Result:Plasma component exchange in combination with hemodiafiltration induced a rapid remission of both hepatic toxicity and renal failure caused by streptococcal sepsis. Membrane plasma separator evacure EC-3A allowed the use of 3% albumin solution as substitute fluid. Colloid osmotic pressure temporarily increased after the treatment, but within 24 hours, returned to the same level as before the treatment.Conclusion: Plasma component exchange using a membrane plasma separator may allow the use of albumin instead of fresh frozen plasma(FFP) as substitute fluid, which results in a lower risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]