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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.

In the current study, new advanced oxidation-resistant FeCrAl oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys were developed via the control of composition-processing conditions for nuclear energy systems. For the first time, a single-crystal like recrystallized FeCrAl ODS alloy was achieved with a unique crystallographic texture of (110) 〈211〉 and a high number density of fine nanoscale oxide particles. Evaluation of yield strengths at different temperatures showed higher values in transverse direction than longitudinal direction. The orientation dependence of yield strength up to 800 °C was attributed to lower value of Schmid factor in transverse direction. Accordingly, the critical resolved shear stress of this practical class of advanced materials was calculated in various temperatures.

We have newly developed a rice hull magnetic activated carbon (RH-MAC) and studied its adsorption property for humic acid from water and high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) characteristics. Rice hull was impregnated with an iron nitrate solution and heat-treated in both nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmosphere. In these processes, the rice hull changed to activated carbon that had a lot of mesopores and nanosize magnetite inside. Magnetization of RH-MAC increased with an increase in iron nitrate concentration during the process and reached 20.8 Am 2 /kg at 0.5 T. In the adsorption examination, it was able to adsorb humic acid effectively, and the removal ratio achieved 97.6% from a humic acid solution of 50 mg/L. In HGMS studies, we used the magnetic wire filter rounded on a magnet drum with 0.5-T permanent magnet and the slurry of RH-MAC concentration of 100 mg/L. Consequently, 99.4% of RH-MAC in the slurry of 2 L was captured in the magnetic filter at flow rates of 230 mL/min. These results show that this water purification system has higher removal ratio of humic acid than that for current advanced water treatments.

We have studied the removal of ammonia nitrogen from water by a magnetic zeolite (MZL) and a high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) to explore the possibility of an advanced water purification process. MZL was synthesized by the coprecipitation process using fly ash, sodium hydroxide solution, and ferric chloride solution. Large magnetization of over 10 $\text{A}\cdot \text{m}^{2}$ /kg at 2 T was derived for the typical MZL. The adsorption ratio of ammonia nitrogen for MZL achieved 83.4% in a 0.8-mg/L ammonia nitrogen solution. The adsorbed ammonia nitrogen could be released easily by NaCl solution due to an ion exchange reaction between Na and ammonia ions. Magnetic separation properties of MZL were studied by HGMS system with a superconducting magnet. At flow velocity of 0.5 m/s and 2 T, 99.8% of MZL could be magnetically separated.

We report a case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and portal hypertension developing in a liver with biliary microhamartomas (von Meyenburg's complex).The patient was a 55-year-old man who had a past medical history of diffuse multiple liver abscesses. During follow-up examination, a hypovascular nodule measuring 2.1 cm in diameter was incidentally found in segment 8 of the liver. Surgical resection was performed based on a suspected diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. A gastrofiberscopy examination detected characteristic findings of portal hypertensive gastropathy. During the laparotomy, multiple tiny cystic lesions were observed in a diffuse pattern across the liver surface. The liver parenchyma was slightly fibrotic and haemorrhagic. A histopathological examination revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with vascular invasions in von Meyenburg's complex. Multiple biliary adenomas were also observed among the biliary microhamartomas adjacent to the main tumour, suggesting that the malignant transformation of the biliary adenomas might have been responsible for the development of the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The histopathologic examination also revealed sinusoidal dilation and abnormal spacing of the portal tracts and central veins as evidence of portal hypertension.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation is expected to be safe and effective in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as well as in other endoscopic procedures. The present study aimed to clarify the usefulness and safety of CO2 insufflation in gastric ESD.A total of 102 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to CO2 insufflation (CO2 group, n = 54) or air insufflation (Air group, n = 48). Abdominal pain and distension were chronologically recorded on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The volume of residual gas in the digestive tract was measured by computed tomography performed immediately after ESD.Abdominal pain on a 100-mm VAS in the CO2 vs. Air group was 4 vs. 3 immediately after ESD, 4 vs. 4 one hour after the procedure, 3 vs. 3 three hours after the procedure, and 1 vs. 4 the next morning, showing no difference between the groups. In addition, there was no difference in abdominal distension on the 100-mm VAS over the time course of the study. The volume of residual gas in the digestive tract in the CO2 group was significantly smaller than that in the Air group (643 mL vs. 1037 mL, P0.001). The dose of sedative drugs did not differ between the groups. Neither the incidences of complications nor clinical courses differed between the groups.Compared with air insufflation, CO2 insufflation during gastric ESD significantly reduced the volume of residual gas in the digestive tract but not the VAS score of abdominal pain and distension.

We demonstrate an extremely high upper-critical-field, B c 2 , in the noncentrosymmetric heavy-fermion superconductor CeRhSi3 for a magnetic field along the tetragonal c-axis. The robustness of the superconductivity over the magnetic field is outstanding among the known superconductors. The extremely large B c 2 is attributed to the absence of the paramagnetic pair-breaking effect characteristic of noncentrosymmetric superconductors.

Pd 2 Mn 1+ x Sn 1− x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) alloys crystallize in the cubic L 2 1 structure. The lattice parameter a decreases linearly with increasing Mn concentration x . X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicate that the excess Mn atoms occupy the vacant Sn sites. All alloys exhibit the ferromagnetic behavior. The pressure change of the magnetic moment per formula unit at 5 K for Pd 2 MnSn is independent of pressure. The Curie temperature of Pd 2 Mn 1+ x Sn 1− x (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) alloys increases linearly with increasing x . Magnetization measurements make clear that the magnetic moment of Mn atoms, which substitute for Sn sites, is coupled antiferromagnetically to the magnetic moment of Mn atoms on the ferromagnetic Mn sublattice.

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the adsorption of Cs+ and Sr2+ by Na-exchanged clinoptilolite-rich zeolite rock from Akita (Northern Japan) were performed for the purpose of nuclear waste treatment. The thermodynamic parameters such as selectivity coefficient, thermodynamic equilibrium constant, and standard free energy of exchange were evaluated. These values indicated that the selectivity order was determined as Cs+ > Na+ > Sr2+. In order to discuss the adsorption mechanism of Cs+ and Sr2+ onto Na-exchanged clinoptilolite, the effective diffusion coefficients were calculated and two kinetic models, pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, were tested. For all systems studied, chemisorption seems significant in the rate-controlling step, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided the best correlation of the experimental data.

Este trabalho consistiu na modelagem hidrológica de uma microbacia hidrográfica utilizando-se o modelo HidroBacia, no qual o processo de infiltração da água no solo é representado por meio da equação de Green-Ampt modificada por Mein e Larson. Obtiveram-se, dentre os parâmetros desta equação, o potencial matricial na frente de umedecimento, a condutividade hidráulica e a umidade do solo na zona de transmissão, através de diversos métodos apresentados na literatura; desta forma, foram preparadas e testadas 36 combinações de dados de entrada, visando identificar as que apresentam melhor desempenho nas simulações do hidrograma de escoamento superficial com o modelo e se selecionaram, dentre os eventos de chuva-vazão registrados na microbacia, os 14 mais relevantes para realização das simulações. Das 36 combinações de dados de entrada testadas, seis apresentaram melhor desempenho na estimação dos hidrogramas. O modelo HidroBacia ainda necessita de aprimoramentos, juntamente com análises de sensibilidade, com vista a identificar possíveis incompatibilidades entre os dados de entrada e os respectivos resultados das simulações, uma vez que o modelo apresentou resultados incoerentes em determinadas situações.This work consisted of the hydrologic modeling of a small watershed using the HidroBacia model. The soil water infiltration process is represented by means of the Green-Ampt equation, modified by Mein and Larson, in this model. Among the equation parameters, matric potential in the wetting front, hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture in the "field saturation" were obtained using different methods based on previous scientific literature. Thirty six input data combinations were tested in order to identify those that showed better performance on the runoff hydrograph simulations with the model. Between the rainfall-runoff events registered on watershed, the most relevant (14) of them were selected to perform the simulations. Six of 36 input data combinations tested showed better performance in the hydrograph estimations. The HidroBacia model still needs more improvenents, as well as sensitivity analysis in order to identify incompatibilities between input data and the simulation results, since the model showed incoherent results under certain situations.

A evapotranspiração de uma cultura é uma das principais informações exigidas para o manejo de irrigação e para fins de planejamento do uso da água. Dentre as abordagens disponíveis para a estimativa do consumo de água pelas plantas, destaca-se o uso de coeficientes de cultura (Kc) associados a estimativas da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo). Buscou-se determinar, aqui, os valores de Kc para as diferentes fases fenológicas do feijoeiro comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cultivar em lançamento UENF-47, através da utilização de um lisímetro de pesagem e compará-los com os valores propostos pela FAO 56. Concluiu-se que as equações de ajustamento propostas por Allen et al. (1998) se mostraram eficientes para a correção e ajustamento dos coeficientes culturais obtidos neste experimento e que os coeficientes culturais das fases 3 (Kc méd) e 4 (Kc fim) sugeridos também por Allen et al. (1998) se ajustaram bem ��s condições de cultivo do feijoeiro cultivado no período de outono/inverno, em Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ.The evapotranspiration of a crop is one of the main information required for proper irrigation management and to develop an efficient water usage plan. Among the methods to estimate the amount of water that is consumed by plants, the use of crop coefficients (Kc), associated with estimates of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo), stands as one of the most promising. This work aimed to deterime the values of Kc for different phenological phases of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of the cultivar UENF-47. Determination of Kc values was performed using a weighing lisimeter and results were compared with values obtained through the FAO 56 standard. Results showed that the adjustment equations proposed by Allen et al. (1998) were adequate for fitting the values of Kc obtained in this experiment. It has been shown that the crop coefficients for phenological phases 3 and 4 proposed by Allen et al. (1998) are adequate for the conditions of crop growth observed in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, during the autumn/winter period.

Voltage decreases of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) are affected by the relative humidity of the reaction gas inside the cells. A study was conducted to establish a method for measuring relative humidity and current distribution inside PEFC cells in order to identify the factors affecting the voltage decay of such fuel cells. The humidity distribution was measured using a humidity sensor for directly monitoring the relative humidity of the reaction gas flowing through the air flow channel of the cathode separator. The current distribution was measured directly by attaching a current sensor to the rib of the cathode separator. Typical results of relative humidity and current distribution are described and interpretations are discussed.

Steering angle over 20 degrees two-axis optical beam steering prototype that employs a mirror on a two-axis gimbal is developed, which takes advantage of two-dimensional planner surface acoustic wave actuator. For the actuation of 20 degrees of tilt angle, 10 ms duration of driving power input is required for actuation, then additional 10 ms for mirror structure's damping produced complete angle holding. Note that any power supply is unnecessary to hold the angle. The resolution of the angle was 0.003 degree because of high-resolution ability of the actuator. The beam steering prototype showed 10/sup 4/ dynamic range of angle positioning ability.

Arthropathy in dogs induced by ofloxacin, a quinolone antimicrobial agent, was pathophysiologically investigated. In the in vivo studies, ofloxacin was administered orally once or twice at 20 mg/kg/day to male juvenile (3-month-old, n = 3) or adult (36-month-old, n = 2) dogs, and the humeral and femoral heads were examined pathologically. Unlike adult dogs, fluid-filled vesicles were macroscopically observed on the articular surfaces of one juvenile dog 24 hours after a single treatment with ofloxacin. These lesions were seen in all juvenile dogs by twice dosing. Microscopically, fissures or cavity formations in the middle zone of the articular cartilage were noted only in juvenile dogs. Furthermore, the cartilage matrix from the abnormal area to the articular surface showed a decreased safranin-O staining intensity, suggesting proteoglycan depletion. Ultrastructurally, chondrocytes in the middle zone of juvenile dogs displayed dilatation of the cisternae in the rough endoplasmic reticulum as an initial hallmark. In the in vitro studies, chondrocytes isolated from the articular cartilage of naive juvenile dogs were exposed to ofloxacin at 6.3–100 μg/ml for 24 hours. Although no changes were noted in the deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, protein synthesis, or proteoglycan release at concentrations of up to 100 μg/ml, the proteoglycan synthesis was evidently decreased in a dose-dependent manner from 12.5 μg/ml. The results obtained suggest that the inhibitory action of ofloxacin on proteoglycan syntheses in the chondrocytes may largely contribute to the early morphologic features in the articular cartilage of the juvenile dog.

The crystallographic features of the ferroelectric domain structures in (Sr1-xBax)Bi2Ta2O9 single crystals have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The unique 90° domain structures were found in these single crystals. In SrBi2Ta2O9 with x = 0, particularly the majority domains with the ±[1 1 0]t polarization vectors in the tetragonal notation are divided by the minority ones with the vectors, which were observed as a curved-line contrast in dark field images.

Background. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is an important mediator of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Little is known about the role of PDGF in the regulation of intraglomerular extracellular matrix turnover. Method. Effects of PDGF on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 (TIMP-2), and type IV collagen by cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs) were examined in the present study. Secretion of MMP-2, TIMP-2, and type IV collagen by HMCs was quantified with an enzyme immunoassay. Collagenase activity of HMCs was evaluated by gelatin zymography. Results. Recombinant human PDGF (10–20 ng/ml) stimulated MMP-2 secretion by HMCs in a dose-dependent fashion. PDGF (20 ng/ml) increased TIMP-2 secretion by HMCs to a lesser extent. Enhanced activity of 72-kDa collagenase derived from HMCs incubated with PDGF was demonstrated by zymography. Although PDGF alone did not affect type IV collagen secretion by HMCs, PDGF increased type IV collagen secretion in the presence of TIMP. Conclusions. PDGF may contribute to intraglomerular matrix turnover by up-regulating secretion and activation of MMP-2 by HMCs.

The effect of casting and homogenizing treatment conditions on the formation of several Al–Fe–Si intermetallic compounds in 6063 aluminum alloy was investigated using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The four kinds of alloys containing 0.1 to 0.5 mass% Fe were melted and then cooled at three different cooling rates ranging from 0.06 to 50 K/s, following the homogenization at 858 K for 54 ks and 2400 ks. The Al–Fe–Si compound particles were extracted from the alloy ingots using the thermal phenol method. The as-cast 0.1 mass% Fe ingot obtained at the casting cooling rate of 0.06 K/s had a largest amount of the β phase among the ingots investigated. When this ingot was homogenized at 858 K for 54 ks and 2400 ks, the amount of the β phase decreased, while that of the α′ phase increased. On the other hand, the as-cast 0.5 mass% Fe ingot obtained at the casting cooling rate of 50 K/s had the largest amount of the α phase among the ingots investigated. When this ingot was homogenized at 858 K for 54 ks, a large amount of the α phase remained. However, the homogenization at 858 K for 2400 ks resulted in the transformation of the α phase to the α′ phase. The main phase in the as-cast 0.2 mass% Fe ingot obtained at the casting cooling rate of 5 K/s, close to the industrial cooling rates, was the β phase. The β phase gradually decreased, and the relative amounts of the α and α′ phases increased during homogenization at 858 K for 54 ks. Furthermore, almost all of the Al–Fe–Si intermetallic compounds were transformed into the α′ phase in the ingots homogenized at 858 K for 2400 ks.

Accepted: 1997-02-06, 資料番号: SA1001914000

In order to obtain the standard treatment results of medically inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Stage I in the post-CT scan era, a retrospective analysis of patients who were treated by radical radiotherapy was performed.149 cases treated between 1980 and 1989 were accumulated from ten large hospitals in Japan. All patients received a total dose of 55-75 Gy (mean 64.7 Gy) with conventional fractionation. For evaluation of treatment results, complete response (CR) rate, median survival period and long-termed survival rates were used.The median survival of the all cases was 27.2 months and the actuarial 3- and 5-year survival rates were 34.2% and 22.2%, respectively. CR was obtained in 57 cases (38%). The CR rate was strongly correlated with the long-term survival (5-year survival rate in CR group: 35.1% compared with PR + NC group: 14.1% (P0.0001)). The size of tumor was also of prognostic importance. In 116 patients who died within 5 years after treatment, 66 patients (57%) died of local tumor regrowth.Although the medically inoperable NSCLC patients in Stage I should be offered curative radiation therapy, development of some new steps to increase the CR rate and local control rate is urgently needed.

Thin films of rare earth (RE)-doped BiFeO3 (where RE=Sm, Ho, Pr and Nd) were grown on LaAlO3 substrates by using the pulsed laser deposition technique. All the films show a single phase of rhombohedral structure with space group R3c. The saturated magnetization in the Ho- and Sm-doped films is much larger than the values reported in the literature, and is observed at quite a low field of 0.2 T. For Ho and Sm doping, the magnetization increases as the film becomes thinner, suggesting that the observed magnetism is mostly due to a surface effect. In the case of Nd doping, even though the thin film has a large magnetic moment, the mechanism seems to be different.

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia results in severe impairment of steroid biosynthesis in the adrenal glands and gonads that is manifested both in utero and postnatally. We recently found mutations in the gene for the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in four patients with this syndrome, but it was not clear whether all patients have such mutations or why there is substantial clinical variation in these patients.We directly sequenced the gene for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in 15 patients with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia from 10 countries. Identified mutations were confirmed and recreated in expression vectors, transfected into cultured cells, and assayed for the presence and activity of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein.Fifteen different mutations in the gene for steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were found in 14 patients; the mutation Gln258Stop was found in 80 percent of affected alleles from Japanese and Korean patients, and the mutation Arg182Leu was found in 78 percent of affected alleles from Palestinian patients. We developed diagnostic tests for these and eight other mutations. Thirteen of the 15 mutations were in exons 5, 6, or 7, and all rendered the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein inactive in functional assays. Some mutants with amino acid replacements were capable of normal mitochondrial processing, indicating that the activity of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein is not associated with its translocation into mitochondria. Steroidogenic cells lacking the protein retained low levels of steroidogenesis. This explains the secretion of some steroid hormones by the ovaries after puberty before affected cells accumulate large amounts of cholesterol esters.The congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia phenotype is the result of two separate events, an initial genetic loss of steroidogenesis that is dependent on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and a subsequent loss of steroidogenesis that is independent of the protein due to cellular damage from accumulated cholesterol esters.

We present new ASCA observations covering the 0.5-10 keV X-ray range of the cooling neutron star candidates PSR 0656+14 and PSR 1055-52. Previous ROSAT observations had shown that two-component models, either two blackbodies or a blackbody plus a power-law, provided the best spectral fits to their X-ray emission. The combined ASCA and ROSAT spectrum of PSR 0656+14 reveals two blackbody components with T ≈ 8 × 105 K and T ≈ 1.5 × 106 K and shows evidence that a power-law component is needed to account for higher energy photons. This three-component fit gives a reduced χ2 that is half the value of a more conventional two component fit (1.3 as compared to 2.4). The fit to the combined spectrum for PSR 1055-52 yields a two-blackbody fit with T ≈ 8 × 105 K and T ≈ 3.7 × 106 K. Our results favor the existence of a hot polar cap in each of these pulsars with the ratio of the polar cap area to the neutron star surface area being 7 × 10-3 and 3 × 10-5 for PSR 0656+14 and PSR 1055-52, respectively. The results are compared to models that make predictions of polar cap heating processes.

This paper proposes the use of low-density parity check (LDPC) codes with short block lengths such as 1-K bits for magnetic recording. In general, there is a degradation in bit error rate as the block length of the LDPC codes decreases. Yet, we show that short LDPC codes do not suffer from degraded sector-error-rate performance if the sector size is 32 K bits and if long Reed-Solomon codes over GF(2/sup 12/) are used. This is due to the unique error distribution of iterative decoding. Shorter codes significantly reduce the amount of buffer memory in the iterative decoder and make hardware implementation more feasible.

The possible involvement of human herpesvirus type 6 in obliterative bronchiolitis after bone marrow transplantation

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for clinical T1b-2N0M0 esophageal cancer and to compare outcomes for operable and inoperable patients. Patients with stage I esophageal cancer (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] 2009), excluding patients with cT1a esophageal cancer, were studied. All patients had histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma. Operable patients received cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60 Gy including a 2-week break. Inoperable patients received nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60-70 Gy without a pause. End-points were overall survival rate (OS), cause-specific survival rate (CSS), progression-free survival rate (PFS), and locoregional control rate (LC). Thirty-seven operable patients and 30 medically inoperable patients were enrolled. There was a significant difference in only age between the operable group and inoperable group (P = 0.04). The median observation period was 67.9 months. In all patients, 5-year OS, CSS, PFS, and LC were 77.9%, 91.5%, 66.9%, and 80.8%, respectively. Comparison of the operable group and inoperable group showed that there was a significant difference in OS (5-year, 85.5% vs. 68.7%, P = 0.04), but there was no difference in CSS, PFS, or LC. Grade 3 or more late toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 3.0 was found in seven patients. Even in medically inoperable patients with stage I esophageal cancer, LC of more than 80% can be achieved with chemoradiotherapy. However, OS in medically inoperable patients is significantly worse than that in operable patients.

Background and aims : Mediastinal emphysema sometimes develops following esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) without perforation because the esophagus has no serosa. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) insufflation during esophageal ESD may reduce the incidence of mediastinal emphysema. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence and severity of post-ESD mediastinal emphysema in patients receiving CO 2 insufflation vs. standard air insufflation during esophageal ESD. Patients and methods : A total of 27 patients who had undergone esophageal ESD with insufflation of CO 2 between July 2009 and March 2010 were enrolled in this study (CO 2 group). Another 105 patients who had undergone esophageal ESD with air insufflation between March 2004 and May 2009 were included as historical controls (air group). Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) was carried out immediately after ESD. A conventional chest radiograph was taken the next day. Mediastinal emphysema findings on MDCT and radiography were compared between the groups. Results : Mediastinal emphysema detected by chest radiography was 0 % in the CO 2 group vs. 6.6 % in the air group (n.s.). Mediastinal emphysema on MDCT was significantly less frequent in the CO 2 group compared with the air group (30 % vs. 63 %; P = 0.002). The severity of mediastinal emphysema also tended to be lower in the CO 2 group. Conclusions : Whereas mediastinal emphysema detected by radiography is not so common, MDCT immediately after ESD revealed a certain prevalence of post-ESD mediastinal emphysema. Insufflation of CO 2 rather than air during esophageal ESD significantly reduced postprocedural mediastinal emphysema. CO 2 can be considered as insufflating gas for esophageal ESD.

A method is developed to evaluate nondestructively multiple cracks on the surface of materials. The method is based on the d.c. potential drop technique. Multiple two-dimensional cracks of unknown depth are inspected, where the distance between the cracks is known. First the distribution of the potential drop between both sides of each crack is measured on the cracked surface. Next the distribution of the potential drop is calculated numerically by assuming the depth of every crack. Then by comparing the measured and calculated potential drop, a correction factor is obtained for the assumed depth of the respective cracks. Modifying the crack depth by the correction factor is repeated until the difference between the measured and calculated distributions of the potential drop is minimized. It is shown that multiple cracks are sized accurately by the present method.

The influence of chromium on the bismuth-system superconductors (Bi-SC) was found as a by-product in a crystal synthesis experiment using a high-temperature-pressure-vessel (HTPV). The main product in the HTPV was found to be a 2 2 0 1 phase of the Bi-SC, while the product in air from the same raw materials was a 2 2 1 2 phase. This difference is attributed to an impurity from the HTPV. It was found from other experiments that chromium stabilizes the 2 2 0 1 phase of the Bi-SC and chromium decreases the 2 2 1 2 phase.

The CNS inflammatory reaction occurring after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) involves the upregulation of numerous cytokines and prostaglandins. Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition is a well-established pharmacological anti-inflammatory agent. Previous studies have shown marked increases in COX-2 expression in neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells following brain injury. COX-2 inhibition has been shown to be beneficial following various types of brain injury. This experiment investigates the role of COX-2 activity in early brain injury following SAH. CD-1 mice were subjected to an endovascular perforation model of SAH or SHAM surgery. Following experimental SAH animals were treated with the specific COX-2 inhibitor, NS398, in dosages of either 10 or 30 mg/kg. Neurological performance and brain edema were evaluated 24 and 72 h after SAH. NS398 at 30 mg/kg significantly reduced SAH-induced neurological deterioration. NS 398 at 30 mg/kg resulted in a trend toward the reduction of SAH-induced cerebral edema. Treatment had no effect on mortality. This experiment provides preliminary evidence that COX-2 inhibition is an effective pharmacological intervention for the prevention of brain edema and the preservation of neurological function following SAH.

The CNS inflammatory reaction occurring after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) involves the upregulation of numerous cytokines and prostaglandins. Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition is a well-established pharmacological anti-inflammatory agent. Previous studies have shown marked increases in COX-2 expression in neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells following brain injury. COX-2 inhibition has been shown to be beneficial following various types of brain injury. This experiment investigates the role of COX-2 activity in early brain injury following SAH. CD-1 mice were subjected to an endovascular perforation model of SAH or SHAM surgery. Following experimental SAH animals were treated with the specific COX-2 inhibitor, NS398, in dosages of either 10 or 30 mg/kg. Neurological performance and brain edema were evaluated 24 and 72 h after SAH. NS398 at 30 mg/kg significantly reduced SAH-induced neurological deterioration. NS 398 at 30 mg/kg resulted in a trend toward the reduction of SAH-induced cerebral edema. Treatment had no effect on mortality. This experiment provides preliminary evidence that COX-2 inhibition is an effective pharmacological intervention for the prevention of brain edema and the preservation of neurological function following SAH.

Methylene blue is a very strong photoactive dye that has an absorption peak (668 nm) that corresponds well to a popular low-cost diode laser. However, it has not been used in photodynamic tumor therapy and immunodiagnostics because it cannot be covalently coupled to protein. Therefore, methylene blue derivatives having a succinimido or maleimido functional group were synthesized and coupled to antibody, serum albumin and transfemn proteins. Incorporation of dye into antibody protein at high ratios (more than three per molecule) caused precipitation and loss of antibody activity. Inclusion of one or more carboxylic acid residues in the methylene blue derivative before coupling to protein alleviated the precipitation problem, and up to 36 methylene blue dye molecules could be attached to an antibody fragment using bovine serum protein as a carrier. Methylene blue derivatives and protein complexes formed from them oxidized luminol when stimulated with red light. The new dye conjugates were used in an optically pumped chemiluminescence immunoassay for α-fetoprotein. These compounds and techniques should also be useful for photodynamic tumor therapy where it is desired to attach a red-absorbing photoactive dye to antibody protein.

A new chemiluminescence procedure was established that eliminates the need to use a separate oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide for chemiluminescence detection reactions. In the procedure called optically pumped chemiluminescence (OPC), reg light energy is used by a photosensitive dye to oxidize luminol and generate blue light. By pulsing the excitation light and measuring chemiluminescence during the off time, light scattering background was eliminated and sensitivity enhanced 10-fold