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We calculate in a general background gauge, to one-loop order, the leading logarithmic contribution from the graviton self-energy at finite temperature $T$, extending a previous analysis done at $T=0$. The result, which has a transverse structure, is applied to evaluate the leading quantum correction of the gravitational vacuum polarization to the Newtonian potential. An analytic expression valid at all temperatures is obtained, which generalizes the result obtained earlier at $T=0$. One finds that the magnitude of this quantum correction decreases as the temperature rises., Comment: Added references

We examine some features of the non-renormalizability induced through the use of low-energy effective Lagrangians in loop diagrams, in the context of a scalar model which is ultraviolet finite and partially soluble. In this framework, one can directly demonstrate the mechanism leading to the non-renormalizability of the effective theory. This behavior is generated by approximations that are applicable at low energies but are generally inappropriate for evaluating loop diagrams that contain virtual high-energy particles. However, it is explicitly shown that one can match the results obtained in the renormalized effective theory with those found in the full theory at low energy. We argue that the infrared sectors of these theories are inherently similar, independently of the matching procedure. A closed-form expression is obtained, to leading order in the energy expansion, for the complete effective Lagrangian at all orders in perturbation theory. The model may be useful to clarify certain aspects of realistic, but more complex, effective field theories., 8 pages, 4 figures

We examine, in the `t Hooft renormalization scheme, the analytic running coupling $\bar\alpha_t(Q^2)$ in QCD, using the two-loop $\beta$-function with positive expansion parameters $\beta_0$ and $\beta_1$. An exact integral representation is derived for this causal coupling, which is fully expressed in terms of the imaginary part of the Lambert function $W$. This integral form manifestly accounts for the universal value of the infrared limit $\bar\alpha_t(Q^2=0)= 4 \pi /\beta_0$., Comment: 9 pages, one figure; accepted for publication in Modern Physics Letters A

We study, in the imaginary time formalism, the relation between loops and on-shell forward scattering tree amplitudes in thermal field theories. This allows for an efficient evaluation, at all temperatures, of Green's functions with causal retarded boundary conditions. We present an application of this relation in quantum gravity coupled to scalar matter fields. We show that at one or two loops, involving planar diagrams, the 1PI retarded thermal Green's functions may respectively be expressed in terms of connected forward scattering tree amplitudes of one or two on-shell particles., Comment: 15 pages, four figures. Published in Physical Review D (typos corrected)

We study the Yang-Mills theory and quantum gravity at finite temperature, in the presence of Lagrange multiplier fields. These restrict the path integrals to field configurations which obey the classical equations of motion. This has the effect of doubling the usual one--loop thermal contributions and of suppressing all radiative corrections at higher loop order. Such theories are renormalizable at all temperatures. Some consequences of this result in quantum gravity are briefly examined., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To appear in the Canadian Journal of Physics (typos corrected)

Although dysphagia is a life-threatening problem in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the pathophysiology of oropharyngeal dysphagia is yet to be understood. This study investigated the tongue motor function during swallowing in relation to dysphagia and the severity of PD. Thirty patients with PD (14 males and 16 females; average age, 69.4 years), Hoehn and Yahr stage II-IV, in Osaka University Hospital are participated in this study. During swallowing 5 ml of water, tongue pressure on the hard palate was measured using a sensor sheet with 5 measuring points. The maximal tongue pressure at each measuring point during swallowing was compared between patients with PD and healthy controls. Subjective assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia was performed using Swallowing Disturbance Questionnaire-Japanese. The maximal tongue pressure at each measuring point was significantly lower in patients with PD than in healthy controls (8 males and 12 females; average age, 71.6 years). Furthermore, the maximal tongue pressure was significantly lower in dysphagic PD patients than non-dysphagic PD patients. Loss of tongue pressure production at the anterior part of the hard palate was strongly related to dysphagia in the oral phase as well as in the pharyngeal phase. An abnormal pattern of tongue pressure production was more frequently observed in dysphagic PD patients than in non-dysphagic PD patients. The results suggest that tongue pressure measurement might be useful for early and quantitative detection of tongue motor disability during swallowing in patients with PD.

The problem of eliminating divergences arising in quantum gravity is generally addressed by modifying the classical Einstein-Hilbert action. These modifications might involve the introduction of local supersymmetry, the addition of terms that are higher-order in the curvature to the action, or invoking compactification of superstring theory from ten to four dimensions. An alternative to these approaches is to introduce a Lagrange multiplier field that restricts the path integral to field configurations that satisfy the classical equations of motion; this has the effect of doubling the usual one-loop contributions and of eliminating all effects beyond one loop. We show how this reduction of loop contributions occurs and find the gauge invariances present when such a Lagrange multiplier is introduced into the Yang-Mills and Einstein-Hilbert actions. Moreover, we quantize using the path integral, discuss the renormalization, and then show how Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) invariance can be used to both demonstrate that unitarity is retained and to find BRST relations between Greens functions. In the Appendices, we show how the background field quantization can be implemented, consider the use of a Lagrange multiplier field to restrict higher-order contributions in supersymmetric theories, and derive the BRST equations satisfied by the generating functional., Eighteen pages, one figure. Published in Physical Review D (typos corrected)

A magnetic swallowing-detection system that can detect swallowing sounds and measure the distance between two magnetic coils was developed to detect the swallowing function non-invasively. The coils were set on both sides of the thyroid cartilage, and the distance between them changes in accordance with the movement of the thyroid cartilage. Swallowing sounds were detected by a piezoelectric microphone attached to the neck. The coils and microphone were installed in a holding unit that can be positioned at the front of the neck. The system was simultaneously used with videofluorography (VF) to measure nine healthy subjects while they swallowed liquid barium. To evaluate the correlation between the swallowing event detected by the magnetic swallowing-detection system and the swallowing event obtained from VF, two-dimensional positions of the hyoid bone in each VF image were detected. Based on the detection results, the swallowing starting time that was detected by the magnetic swallowing-detection system coincided with that determined from VF, namely, 38±172 ms. The coincidence among the peak time point of VF, that of the distance between the magnetic coils, and that of the swallowing sound appeared to have an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9. Correlation between the peak time points of the VF tracking waveforms, the peak time points of distance between the magnetic coils, and the peak timing of the swallowing sound had an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9. It can be concluded that the magnetic swallowing-detection system can detect swallowing movements simply and non-invasively without x-ray exposure.

Data on the vector analyzing power A y and the tensor analyzing powers A yy , A xx , and A xz in the reaction $\vec d$ d → 3H p at the deuteron energy of 200 MeV are presented over a full angular range in the c.m. frame. The signs of the tensor analyzing powers for forward and backward scattering are found to be sensitive to the D/S wave ratio in 3H and in the deuteron. High-precision experimental data are compared with the results of theoretical calculations performed on the basis of the multiple-scatteringmodel by using standard wave functions for the three-nucleon bound states and for the deuteron.

The data on the vector Ay and tensor Ayy, Axx, Axz analyzing powers for the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] reactions at Ed = 200 and 270 MeV are presented. The data demonstrate large values of analyzing powers and their strong variation versus the scattering angle. The observed negative sign of the tensor analyzing powers for these reactions at small angles clearly demonstrate the sensitivity to the D/S ratio of the 3H and 3He wave functions, respectively. The calculations performed within one-nucleon exchange model with the use of the standard three-nucleon bound state wave functions fail to reproduce the data on the tensor analyzing powers.

The data on the vector A y and tensor A yy , A xx , A xz analyzing powers for the $$ \vec d $$ d → 3H p reaction have been obtained at the energy of the initial deuteron of 200MeV in the angular range of 0–95 degrees in the c.m.s. The calculations performed within one-nucleon exchange model with the use of the standard three-nucleon bound state wave functions fail to reproduce the data on the tensor analyzing powers.

The investigation of the spin structure of d, 3H, and 3He has been performed at the RIKEN acceleration research facility and VBLHE. Vector A y and tensor A yy , A xx , A xz analyzing powers for $$ \vec d $$ d → 3Hen and $$ \vec d $$ d → 3Hp are presented at 270 MeV. Themirror channels (3Hen and 3Hp) are comparedto each other in order to find possible manifestation of charge-symmetry breaking. The preliminary results on the polarization observables for $$ \vec d $$ d → 3Hp at 200MeV are also presented. The obtained data are compared with one-nucleon-exchange calculations.As a byproduct, $$ \vec d $$ d → pX and $$ \vec d $$ 12C → pX breakup reactions are investigated at 140, 200, and 270MeV. The experimental data on $$ \vec d $$ p elastic scattering were obtained at 270, 880, and 2000 MeV at the Nuclotron. The polarization of the deuteron beam was measured at 270 MeV at the internal target station. The preliminary data on the vector A y and tensor A yy , A xx analyzing powers for the $$ \vec d $$ p elastic scattering at 880 MeV are presented. The calculations on A y , A yy , and A xx analyzing powers for the $$ \vec d $$ p elastic scattering at 880 MeV were performed in the framework of the multiple-scattering model.

The preliminary results on the tensor T20 analyzing power for the 12C(\( \vec d \),p)13C* reaction with the excitation of 13C levels and the d(\( \vec d \),p)X reaction at the energies Td = 140, 200 and 270 MeV at the emission angle Θcm = 0° are presented. The data on the tensor Ayy and vector Ay analyzing powers for the 12C(\( \vec d \),p)13C* reaction at the energy Td = 270 MeV in the angular range from 4° to 18° in the laboratory are also obtained.

The data on the tensor Ayy, Axx, Axz and vector Ay analyzing powers in the dd->3Hen obtained at Td= 270 MeV in the angular range 0 - 110 degrees in the c.m. are presented. The observed negative sign of the tensor analyzing powers Ayy, Axx and Axz at small angles clearly demonstrate the sensitivity to the ratio of the D and S wave component of the 3He wave function. However, the one-nucleon exchange calculations by using the standard 3He wave functions have failed to reproduce the strong variation of the tensor analyzing powers as a function of the angle in the c.m., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables. Submitted to EPJA

The 12 C( d ⇒ , α ) 10 B * [2 + ] reaction at 0 ∘ has been proposed as a new tool to calibrate the deuteron beam polarization at intermediate energies. The absolute values of the deuteron polarizations were extracted for the first time by using this reaction at 270 and 140 MeV deuteron energies. The analyzing powers for the d ⇒ –p elastic scattering, which is used as a secondary reaction of a polarimetry, were determined by the new method.

RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility data on the tensor analyzing power T{sub 20} of the dd {sup {yields}} {sup 3}Hen and dd {sup {yields}} {sup 3}Hp reactions at zero angle for deuteron kinetic energies of 140, 200, and 270 MeV are reported. The observed positive sign of T{sub 20} clearly demonstrates the sensitivity to the D/S-wave ratio in the {sup 3}He and {sup 3}H wave functions in the energy range of the experiment. Data on T{sub 20} for the {sup 3}Hen channel are in agreement with those for the {sup 3}Hp channel within the experimental errors.

Sleep disorders are common in the general population and occur more frequently with advancing age. However, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been known to have various sleep disturbances beyond those to be expected from the effect of aging alone. We tried to quantify the various aspects of nocturnal sleep problems in PD using the PD sleep scale (PDSS). 64 patients with PD and 60 age- and sex-matched controls completed the PDSS. After neurological examinations, we assessed the degree of sleep disorder by the PDSS. We evaluated the severity of PD by the Hoehn and Yahr Scale and the unified PD rating scale (UPDRS). To compare the various aspects of nocturnal sleep problems in PD between in Japan and in the United Kingdom (UK), we referenced and compared our results with those by Chaudhui et al. The PDSS scores in PD group were significantly different from those in controls. Individual items of the scale showed good discriminatory power between PD and controls. Overall tendencies were the same in Japan and in the UK, but there were some different points, especially absence of refreshing quality of sleep in Japan. We believe that the PDSS provides an objective method for targeted therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disturbed sleep in PD even among countries with different cultures, such as Japan and the UK.

The data on the tensor analyzing power T 20 in the d d → He 3 n and d d → H 3 p reactions obtained at 140–270 and 140–200 MeV of the deuteron kinetic energy, respectively, and at zero degree were measured at RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. The observed positive sign of T 20 clearly demonstrates the sensitivity to the D / S wave ratios in the 3 He and 3 H in the energy domain of the measurements. The T 20 data for the 3 He– n and 3 H– p channels are in agreement within experimental accuracy.

The mechanism of neurological disturbances in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is controversial. We studied 12 patients with MELAS using conventional and diffusion weighted MRI (DWI) and MR spectroscopy (MRS), to look at the physiopathology of the stroke-like events. Although conventional MRI showed lesions in all patients, DWI was more sensitive. One patient did not show high signal on DWI 48 h after a from stroke-like episode, but MRS demonstrated a lactate peak in left occipital lobe; 2 weeks after the attack, high signal was demonstrated on the right frontal lobe where MRS had shown a lactate peak. Our findings suggest a possible predictive ability of (1)H-MRS, in showing early MELAS lesions and supports the hypothesis that mitochondrial metabolic dysfunction may precedes abnormalities on DWI.

To classify lower limb dynamics in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), we conducted a clinical study by using pedaling exercise.Twenty-seven patients with idiopathic PD were included in this study. We measured rotational velocities of pedals during pedaling movements with a newly developed ergometer. The velocity waveforms exhibited different characteristics among patients, which could be categorized into four different clusters. In cluster 1, the amplitude on each side was constant and the relative phase was locked at 180 degrees. The pattern was the same as seen in normal subjects. In cluster 2, the amplitude on each side was constant, but the relative phase was locked at 90 degrees. In cluster 3, the amplitude on each side was modulated, and the relative phase drifted monotonously from 0 to 360 degrees during pedaling cycles. In cluster 4, the amplitude on each side was synchronously and irregularly modulated, and the relative phase fluctuated with intermittent spike-like decrement. In order to evaluate, the correlation between pattern and severity of PD, we divided 13 patients, who underwent measurement of pedaling patterns more than three times, into three groups, and found that the abnormal coordination pattern correlated with the presence of freezing phenomenon in patients with PD. Our clinical analysis may contribute in analyzing and classifying the dynamics of PD.

Dibaryons which have a very narrow decay width, called super-narrow dibaryons, are searched for by the p + d scattering at E p = 295 MeV. The experiment was carried out at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics employing a two-arm magnetic spectrometer. A good mass resolution of 0.95 MeV and background free condition have been achieved. No resonance has been observed in the mass region of 1896–1914 MeV. The upper limits of the dibaryon production cross section have been determined.

To study the three-nucleon force (3NF) effects without ambiguities from the Coulomb effect, the differential cross sections and the vector analyzing powers for the [Formula: see text] elastic scattering at En = 245 MeV have been measured at θcm = 85° - 180°. The data are compared to the results of Faddeev calculations using modern nucleon-nucleon (NN) forces with and without 3NF. Additionally we have a plan to extend our measurement to the forward angular region where the Coulomb effect is expected to be large. We carried out the test experiment and measured the differential cross sections at θcm = 21°.

Measurements of the tensor and vector analyzing powers Ayy, Axx, Axz, and Ay for the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] reactions were performed at Ed = 270 and 200 MeV over wide angular range. T20 at θ cm = 0° and 180° were also measured at Ed = 270, 200, and 140 MeV. Obtained data were compared with predictions based on one nucleon exchange approximation.

Somatotopic representation in the cerebral cortex of somatosensory stimulation has been widely reported, but that in the cerebellum has not. We investigated the latter in the human cerebellum by functional MRI (fMRI). Using a 1.5 tesla imager, we obtained multislice blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI with single-shot gradient-echo echoplanar imaging in seven right-handed volunteers during electrical stimulation of the left index finger and big toe. In the anterior and posterior cerebellum, activated pixels for the index finger were separate from those for the toe. This suggests that somatosensory stimulation of different parts of the body may involve distinct areas of in the cerebellum as well as the cerebral cortex.

Cross section, tensor analyzing power T 20 , and vector polarization correlation coefficient C y , y for the 3 He( d , p ) 4 He reaction have been measured at 0° and E d =140, 200, and 270 MeV. The data are compared with a calculation based on an impulse approximation taking the D-state admixtures in deuteron, 3 He, and 4 He explicitly into account. The reasonable agreement with the data is understood as a consequence of a close connection between the 3 He( d , p ) 4 He reaction and the d + N backward scattering.

The results on the vector Ay and tensor Ayy, Axx and Axz analyzing powers of the \(\vec dd \to {}^3Hen\) and \(\vec dd \to {}^3Hp\) reactions obtained at intermediate energies at RARF(RIKEN, Japan) are presented. The high precision experimental data are compared with the theoretical calculation within the one nucleon exchange model by using standard 3He, 3H and deuteron wave functions. The data demonstrate the sensitivity to the short-range 3He, 3H and deuteron spin structure.

Conventional immunoassays for haptens such as steroids and synthetic drugs are dependent on the competitive reaction between an unlabeled antigen (analyte) and a labeled antigen against a limited amount of anti-hapten antibody. Although noncompetitive immunoassay procedures such as two-site immunometric assays offer a much higher sensitivity, direct application of this principle to haptens has been difficult due to their small molecular mass precluding simultaneous binding by two antibody molecules. Here, we have attempted to develop a noncompetitive immunoassay system based on anti-idiotype or anti-metatype antibodies. Ursodeoxycholic acid 7-N-acetylglucosaminide (UDCA 7-NAG), which is a bile acid metabolite (molecular weight, 595.8), was selected as the model hapten. A/J mice were immunized with a monoclonal antibody against UDCA 7-NAG, which had been affinity-labeled with a relevant hapten derivative. The fusion between the immune spleen cells and P3/NS1/1-Ag4-1 myeloma cells yielded four kinds of alpha-type and two kinds of beta-type monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies, each recognizing the framework region and paratope of the anti-hapten antibody. The use of a selected combination between alpha-type and beta-type antibodies together with the anti-hapten antibody provided a noncompetitive assay system with a subfemtomole order sensitivity (detection limit, 118 amol) and a practical specificity.

Polarization correlation coefficients have been measured atRIKEN for the \vec 3He(\vec d,p)4He reaction at intermediate energies. We propose a model for the (\vec d, p) reaction mechanism using the pd elastic scattering amplitude which is rigorously determined by a Faddeev calculation and using modern NN forces. Our theoretical predictions for deuteron polarization observables A_y, A_{yy}, A_{xx} and A_{xz} at E_d=140, 200 and 270 MeV agree qualitatively in shape with the experimental data for the reaction 3He(\vec d,p)4He.

The cross section, the deuteron vector ${A}_{y}^{d}$ and tensor analyzing powers ${A}_{\mathrm{ij}}$, the polarization transfer coefficients ${K}_{\mathrm{ij}}^{{y}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$, and the induced polarization ${P}^{{y}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$ were measured for the $\mathrm{dp}$ elastic scattering at 270 MeV. The cross section and ${A}_{y}^{d}$ are well reproduced by Faddeev calculations with modern data-equivalent nucleon-nucleon forces plus the Tucson-Melbourne three-nucleon force. In contrast, ${A}_{\mathrm{ij}}$, ${K}_{\mathrm{ij}}^{{y}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$, or ${P}^{{y}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$ are not described by such calculations. These facts indicate the deficiencies in the spin dependence of the Tucson-Melbourne force and call for extended three-nucleon force models.

We report on a 27-year-old man with Fabry disease who had widespread white-matter lesions (WMLs) despite the absence of renal or cardiac manifestations. Genomic analysis revealed a novel mutation: a GAT deletion at nucleotide position 234-236 in exon 5 of the coding region. After 12 months of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), most of the WMLs had disappeared. Cell counts and protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid also decreased. These findings suggest that ERT may play a role in the recovery of WMLs.

In search of new encephalitogenic myelin antigens, the 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) and 19 000 MW isoform of myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) were obtained as recombinant proteins by the baculovirus expression system in Spodoptera frugiperda cells and purified to homogeneity by immobilized metal chelate affinity chromatography (IMAC). The purified MOBP was soluble in water and showed retarded migration on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis similar to myelin basic protein (MBP). MOBP induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in nine of 15 susceptible SJL OlaHsd mice, causing death in two animals, whereas three of 14 BALB/c mice showed mild symptoms of EAE, manifested as transient weakness of hind limbs. In both mouse strains, periventricular infiltrates of mononuclear cells were observed. In addition, both 46 000 MW and 48 000 MW CNP isoforms were shown to be non-encephalitogenic for both mouse strains.

The scattering problem under the influence of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) potential is reconsidered. By solving the Lippmann-Schwinger (LS) equation we obtain the wave function of the scattering state in this system. In spite of working with a plane wave as an incident wave we obtain the same wave function as was given by Aharonov and Bohm. Another method to solve the scattering problem is given by making use of a modified version of Gordon's idea which was invented to consider the scattering by the Coulomb potential. These two methods give the same result, which guarantees the validity of taking an incident plane wave as usual to make an analysis of this scattering problem. The scattering problem by a solenoid of finite radius is also discussed, and we find that the vector potential of the solenoid affects the charged particles even when the magnitude of the flux is an odd integer as well as noninteger. It is shown that the unitarity of the $S$ matrix holds provided that a plane wave is taken to be an incident one., 22 pages, latex, 4 figures (not included) A comment for integral flux is added with two more citations. Corrections of trivial misprints in appendix C have been done

The experiment with polarized deuteron beam was performed at energies 140, 200 and 270 MeV at RIKEN, Japan, in December 2000. The high-momentum structure of the 3 He , 3 H and deuteron was investigated. For this purpose the angular dependence of the tensor and vector analyzing powers were measured for the reactions d + d →3 H + p and d + d →3 He + n . In this report the results on the tensor Axx, Ayy and vector Ay analyzing powers at 270 MeV are presented.

A complete set of analyzing powers for the $\stackrel{P\vec}{d}d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{}^{3}\text{H}p$ reaction at the kinetic beam energy of 200 MeV has been measured in the full angular range in the c.m. frame. The observed signs of the tensor analyzing powers ${A}_{yy}$, ${A}_{xx}$, and ${A}_{xz}$ at forward and backward directions have clearly demonstrated the sensitivity to the ratio of the $D$- and $S$-wave components of the triton and deuteron, respectively. The new high-precision data are compared with the prediction of the relativistic multiple-scattering model by using standard wave functions of the three-nucleon bound state and of the deuteron.

Precise measurements of the deuteron to proton polarization transfer coefficients for the d-p elastic scattering have been made at 135 MeV/u at RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. The obtained results are compared with the Faddeev calculations based on modern nucleon-nucleon forces together with Tucson-Melbourne Tucson-Melbourne' and Urbana–Argonne type of three nucleon forces.

HtrA2/Omi is a mitochondrial serine protease that promotes the apoptotic processes, but the relationship between HtrA2/Omi and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether abnormal expression of HtrA2/Omi occurs in patients with ALS.We prepared autopsied spinal cord tissues from 7 control subjects, 11 patients with sporadic ALS (SALS) and 4 patients with Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-related familial ALS (FALS). We then performed immunohistochemical studies on HtrA2/Omi using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from all of the cases.In the control subjects, the anterior horn cells were mildly to moderately immunostained with HtrA2/Omi. In the patients with SALS, strong HtrA2/Omi immunoreactivity was found in some skein-like inclusions and round hyaline inclusions as well as many spheroids, but Bunina bodies were immunonegative for HtrA2/Omi. In the patients with SOD1-related FALS, Lewy body-like hyaline inclusions were observed in three cases and conglomerate inclusions were observed in the remaining case, and both types of inclusions were intensely immunopositive for HtrA2/Omi.These results suggest that abnormal accumulations of HtrA2/Omi may occur in several types of motor neuronal inclusions in the anterior horn from SALS and SOD1-linked FALS cases, and that HtrA2/Omi may be associated with the pathogenesis of both types of ALS.

Making use of the droplet–epitaxial technique, we realized a series of GaAs/AlGaAs nanostructured samples, starting from the same initial Ga droplet configuration, in which the nanostructure morphologies are progressively changed, via the As partial pressure provided during the growth, from islands, to single rings and, eventually, to concentric ring structures. We report a detailed characterization of the different structure morphologies, electronic structures and carrier dynamics via AFM and photoluminescence measurements as well as through theoretical simulations. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

This paper focuses on feedback control of the air-fuel ratio (AFR) for a motorcycle engine. A feature of this paper is to identify a simple model from the fuel injection time to the AFR, which captures the dynamics in various operating conditions. The model is composed of a single transfer function and a lookup table storing the gain and delay relative to the nominal model as functions of the engine speed, throttle position and water temperature. A compensator for changes of the delay is constructed using Smith predictor. An Hinfin controller is designed to handle unmodeled dynamics and disturbances. The effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated by experiments.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Aberrant messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing of several genes has been reported to explain some of the symptoms in DM1, but the cause of muscle wasting is still unknown. By contrast, many forms of muscular dystrophy are caused by abnormalities of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). alpha-Dystrobrevin is a key component of the DGC in striated muscle and plays important roles in maturation and signal transduction by interacting with alpha-syntrophin. The goal of this study was to investigate alternative splicing of alpha-dystrobrevin in DM1 and examine alpha-syntrophin binding of different alpha-dystrobrevin splice isoforms.Splicing patterns of alpha-dystrobrevin in DM1 muscle were studied by reverse-transcriptase PCR. Expression of the variant splice isoform was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Alternatively spliced isoforms were expressed in cultured cells to investigate interaction with alpha-syntrophin. alpha-Syntrophin expression was examined by immunoblotting.alpha-Dystrobrevin mRNA including exons 11A and 12 was increased in both skeletal and cardiac muscle of DM1 patients. The aberrantly spliced alpha-dystrobrevin isoform was localized to the sarcolemma, and showed increased binding with alpha-syntrophin. Furthermore, levels of alpha-syntrophin associated with the DGC were increased in DM1 muscle.Alternative splicing of alpha-dystrobrevin is dysregulated in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) muscle, resulting in changes in alpha-syntrophin binding. These results raise the possibility that effects on alpha-dystrobrevin splicing may influence signaling in DM1 muscle cells.