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Effects of Re substitution for Mn on the microstructure-property relationships in Mn30.4Re6.0Si63.6 thermoelectric material have been investigated in comparison with those in Mn36.4Si63.6. The rapid quenching using the meld spinning leads to relatively uniform distribution of Re. After sintering, the Nowotny chimney ladder phases known as the higher manganese silicide (HMS) are stabilized in both the Re-free and Re-substituted HMSs, and the chemical formulae become Mn15Si26 and Mn19Si33, respectively. The Re atoms are successfully substituted for Mn in the (Mn,Re)19Si33 HMS. The number density of the sublattice dislocation in the Re-substituted HMS is 1.6 times higher than that in the Re-free HMS, that causes a decrease in lattice thermal conductivity. Due to the impurity effect of the Re substitution, the electrical conductivity is supposed to be enhanced, resulting in the highest dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) among the investigated HMSs.

Costs are a barrier to improving residential environments during new construction and renovation. Previous research suggests that improving residential environments may contribute to improved health. If such health effects are quantified and recognized as economic benefits (lower medical costs and income from absenteeism), increased investment in residential improvements can be expected. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the benefits of improving health through improvement of residential environments considering individual and household attributes. The effects of residential environment improvements were quantified at the individual and household levels. Data were collected via nationwide surveys of more than 45,000 residents in 15,000 households in Japan. Health status was compared between good and poor residential environments. Results showed that an improved residential environment contributed to reducing the likelihood of the onset of cardiovascular, allergic and other diseases. The annual economic benefit of improving the thermal insulation of windows for a man living alone was 7,000 JPY for example. This study contributes to promoting residents’ health by quantifying the economic benefits of the health effects of good-quality residential environments, which then contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11.

Joint techniques are important to manufacture long superconducting tapes. It has been reported that GdBa2Cu3Oy (GdBCO) coated conductors have higher critical current and critical temperature than YBCO. However, it was reported that the joint resistance of GdBCO was found higher than that of YBCO. In this paper, the elemental distribution maps were investigated to examine the cause of joint resistance. Electron microscopy analysis of GdBCO showed the reduction of oxygen in GdBCO layer. This oxygen reduction may cause degradation of superconducting properties and increase of Ag-GdBCO interfacial resistance, which may have led higher joint resistance in Ag/GdBCO.

Numerical predictions of a series of shake-table tests are presented in this paper in order to examine the accuracy of a 3-D effective stress analysis in predicting the behavior of piles subjected to liquefaction-induced ground flow. For a rigorous assessment of the analysis, “Class B” predictions are reported in which numerical and constitutive model parameters were set before the event, and the target motion was used as an input motion in the analysis. Modeling of the stress–strain behavior of sand, identification of the initial stress state and critical numerical parameters in the 3-D seismic analysis of the soil–pile system are discussed in detail. Combined effects of kinematic loads due to large lateral ground movement and inertial loads on pile behavior are examined through a series of tests using different shaking direction, excitation amplitude and mass of the footing (load from the superstructure). By and large, very good agreement was obtained between the predicted and measured peak responses of the pile foundation, whereas the analysis underestimated the displacements of the sheet-pile wall and was less accurate in predicting the residual deformation of the foundation piles. Reasons for these discrepancies and limitations of the analysis method are discussed.

We fabricated a photo field effect transistor (photo FET) having a poly (N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) insulator layer. PVK was employed as a photosensitive insulator material for the Photo FET. In this photo FET, illumination of a blue light to the PVK insulator drastically improved the field effect mobility and the gate-switching ratio. This result would be due to that the photo-generated carriers in the PVK layer were effectively accumulated in the gate capacitor of the photo FET.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Predicting response to rtPA is essential in the era of endovascular therapy for stroke. The purpose of this study was to elucidate prognostic factors of early neurologic improvement and long-term outcome with respect to the development and reversion of leptomeningeal collaterals in recanalization therapy after acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed consecutive patients with proximal MCA occlusion treated with rtPA from 2007 to 2012 at 2 hospital stroke centers. All patients routinely underwent brain MR imaging before rtPA. To assess the reversion of collateral signs, we included patients who underwent follow-up MR imaging. We assessed the development and reversion of collaterals by using a combination of 2 MR imaging collateral markers, the hyperintense vessel sign and the posterior cerebral artery laterality sign. Early neurologic improvement was defined as a decrease in the NIHSS score of ≥10 or a score of ≤2 at 24 hours of treatment. RESULTS: Early neurologic improvement was observed in 22 of 48 eligible patients. The development of collaterals at arrival (15/22 versus 9/26, P = .042) was significantly associated with early neurologic improvement. Multivariate analysis adjusting for other variables showed that the development of collaterals at arrival (OR, 4.82; 95% CI, 1.34–19.98; P = .015) was independently associated with early neurologic improvement. Reversion of collaterals was significantly associated with successful recanalization (P < .001), and multivariate analysis showed that the reversion of collaterals was an independent prognostic factor of long-term functional outcome (OR, 5.07; 95% CI, 1.38–22.09; P = .013). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the development of leptomeningeal collaterals plays a crucial role in achieving early neurologic improvement, and reversion of collaterals predicts a favorable outcome via arterial recanalization after rtPA treatment for acute stroke.

A full-color twisted-nematic type liquid crystal display (TN-LCD) of 1.4-in diagonal size driven by organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) has been fabricated. This TN-LCD has 80/spl times/80/spl times/3 (RGB) pixel arrays addressed by pentacene TFTs with a channel width of 50 /spl mu/m. The contact resistance between the pentacene film and the source/drain electrodes has been reduced by selecting the exposure condition of the photoresist in patterning the electrodes. In addition, a solution-processed passivation film with a novel structure, consisting of photosensitive polyvinylalcohol and organosiloxane glass resin, has been developed to protect the TFTs against degradation induced by integration with TN-LCD devices. Consequently, it has been confirmed that the organic-TFT-driven TN-LCD fabricated in this paper is capable of displaying full-color moving images at a resolution of 80 pixels per inch.

The organic photoreceptor devices were fabricated with a planar configuration and were investigated the photoelectric properties. The optimization of the device structure was examined in terms of decrease of the dark current. In this study, the Au or Al electrode was prepared with planar configuration on the substrate and then organic semiconductor layer was successively prepared. The organic layer of p- or n-type semiconductor was prepared and it was consecutively over-coated with n- or p-type semiconductor, respectively. Since the difference between the work functions of Au and Al, the influence of the contact barrier on dark current was expected. The influence of the contact between an organic layer and an electrode was examined. The results indicated that the dark current is mainly due to the hole injection from the electrode and transport into the p-type layer. In the device without the contact between p-type semiconductor and electrode, the performance of the device was considerably improved by reducing the dark current.

The field effect transistor (FET) was fabricated with pentacene as an active layer and polymer insulator as a gate dielectric. Poly(γ-methyl-L-glutamate) [PMLG] and poly(methyl-methacrylate) [PMMA] were used as one of the polymeric gate dielectric. PMLG has the large dipole moment along the rod-like main chain and the small dipole moment in the side chain. The effect of the main chain dipole and/or the side chain dipole on the FET was compared with that of PMMA gate dielectric, which has dipole moment only at side chain. When PMLG gate dielectric was used, the hysteresis in the transfer characteristics was considerably increased as compared with that in the case of other polymeric gate dielectrics. It is considered that the large hysteresis behavior is taken place by both the dipole moments of the side chain and the main chain.

Although acute inflammatory polyneuropathy (AIP) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are both believed to be immune-mediated disorders, only a few cases have been reported in which these two diseases co-existed. We describe a case of a 67-year-old patient who developed quadriparesis, ophthalmoplegia and severe sensory impairment along with thrombocytopenia. Detailed examinations, including the measurement of anti-ganglioside antibodies and anti-glycoprotein-IIb-IIIa-IgG-producing B-cells, revealed that he developed AIP and ITP. By reviewing past similar reports, we noticed that AIP associated with ITP tends to manifest severe sensory impairment and is often preceded by upper respiratory tract infection, but not by gastrointestinal infection.

We have proposed novel photoresponsive green- and blue-emitting organic electroluminescent (EL) devices combining organic EL diodes with titanyl phthalocyanine as a photoconductive layer. By irradiating red and near-infrared (IR) lights to these devices, green and blue emissions were generated, respectively, well below the turn-on voltage. The results indicate that the devices act as an optical switch and up-converter. The EL response time using a laser pulse was about 300 μs. Above the turn-on voltage, enhancement of the EL intensities was observed with the light irradiation with the ratio of up to 10 4 .

Two published case reports described palliation of disease after Seihai-to therapy for refractory aspiration pneumonia caused by recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and cerebrovascular disease. We undertook an open-label trial in patients with relapsing aspiration pneumonia. Fifteen patients with relapsing aspiration pneumonia were randomly divided into conventional therapy group (n = 8) or Seihai-to group (n = 7). In Seihai-to group, patients were treated with Seihai-to in addition to conventional therapy (Western medicines). Frequency of feverish days and antibiotics-use, CRP value and chest CT or X-ray findings were compared between the two groups during the study period of 16 weeks. In the Seihai-to group, the latency of swallowing reflex was measured in 6 patients before and after administration of Seihai-to. The mean values of fever index, CRP value and antibiotics-use in the Seihai-to group were decreased significantly, compared with those of the conventional therapy group. However, the latency of the swallowing reflex after 4 weeks of treatment was not significantly changed (p = 0.249), compared with the latency before administration of Seihai-to. No adverse reaction was observed in either group. Seihai-to was effective in reducing relapse of aspiration pneumonia in this small group. Seihai-to might not improve the swallowing reflex, but might instead improve a defense mechanism or excessive inflammation caused by pneumonia in the lower airway. Further evaluation of Seihai-to therapy for patients with aspiration pneumonia in a larger population is warranted.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced alterations of gastrointestinal transit were studied in mice using activated charcoal. LPS (10 mg kg-1) induced biphasic alterations of intestinal transit. Increase (acceleration phase) and delay (lag phase) in gastrointestinal transit were observed at 90 and 480 min after LPS injection, respectively. LPS administration induced significant increases in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and nitrate levels in blood serum with maximal levels observed at 1.5, 4, and 8 h after LPS administration, respectively. The effects of recombinant human lzactoferrin (rhLF) on LPS- induced alteration of gastrointestinal transit, and production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and nitrate were also studied. Animals were pretreated with rhLF 24 hours before intraperitoneal administration of LPS. RhLF significantly increased gastrointestinal transit during the lag phase. In addition, rhLF decreased the level of TNF-alpha in endotoxaemic animals. The levels of IL-1beta and nitrate were not significantly changed by rhLF. In conclusion, the effect of LPS on gastrointestinal transit is biphasic and the mechanism controlling the second phase most likely depends on TNF-alpha production, while the first phase most likely does not depend on TNF-alpha. On the other hand, it may be regulated by IL-1beta and nitric oxide production.

There are many requiremends for measuring torque, such as non-contact with the shaft, small size of the measurment device, and simple installation. Other requirements include no special processing in the shaft and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, we have proposed three magnetostrictive-type torque sensors for a steering shaft using an inverse magnetostrictive effect.Generally, a magnetostrictive-type torque sensor for a low-carbon steel shaft has a large hysteresis to the torque and output fluctuation due to axis rotation (0-level fluctuation). In this sensor, we show that the hysteresis and the 0-level fluctuation on the output voltage can be drastically decreased.

Time variation of the source-drain current for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with aminopropyl and octadecyl groups on the insulator layer was examined. The source-drain current of both OFETs decreased with time immediately after the application of the gate voltage. The decrease in the source-drain current was very little in the OFET with an octadecyl group while it was very large in the OFET with an aminopropyl group. The origin of the decrease in the source-drain current was attributed to the dipole of the aminopropyl and octadecyl groups. The decrease in the source-drain current was observed in the OFET with the octadecyl group (that has a small dipole), indicating that the time variation of the source-drain current is very sensitive to the dipole of the insulator surface. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Pump–probe spectroscopic studies were made for a one-dimensional (1D) platinum dimethylglyoxime complex (Pt(dmg)2) under excitation in the exciton absorption band using 40 fs pulses. Oscillation with a period of 0.11 ps which is superimposed on the rise of the induced absorption due to the self-trapped exciton (STE) was found for the first time in this system. The oscillation damped with a time constant of 0.1 ps. In a previous work in which 150 fs pulses were used for excitation at various wavelengths, we found that the spectral shape of the induced absorption changed with time in 0.1–0.3 ps after instantaneous rise up. These results were reasonably explained by the formation and the thermalization of the STE. In the framework of the interpretation we have presented, the oscillation superimposed on the induced absorption is considered to originate from the wave packet motion of the STE during thermalization.

Two types of metal complexes were investigated Square planar platinum complexes, which are typical low spin complexes, have large third-order nonlinear susceptibility. Octahedral iron complex, which is typical high spin complex, does not exhibit nonlinear optical effect. Spectral changes of evaporated thin films of above complexes were carried out in the high magnetic field. MHD effect was found by chronoamperometric measurements of metal complex in the high magnetic field. The possibility of the fabrication of magneto-optical device, which is made from metal complexes, is discussed.

The electronic structure of a one-dimensional metal complex, bis(dimethylglyoximato)platinum(II), was investigated by measurements of photoconductivity and electroabsorption (EA). The EA spectrum exhibited a large oscillatory signal just above the excitonic absorption band. The position of the oscillatory EA signal was located near the onset of the photoconductivity, and the oscillation profile showed field-dependent broadening. These features can be explained as the characteristics of the Franz–Keldysh (FK) effect. The oscillatory EA signal is reproducible by a numerical calculation of the FK effect, in which the effect of the one-dimensionality of this electronic system is taken into account.

Optical response due to the photo excited carrier or exciton dynamics in a one-dimensional (1D) dimethylglyoxime Pt complex [Pt(dmg)2] has been investigated by femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy. Measurements were made at several excitation energies between the exciton state and the free electron hole pair state. Induced absorption was observed in the low-energy side of the exciton band at any excitation energy. The spectral shape of the induced absorption changed with time between 0.1 and 0.3 ps after instantaneous rise up. These results can be explained by the formation and thermalization processes of the relaxed excited state on the adiabatic potential surface. The unthermalized relaxed excited state is formed in a very short time (

Under high current density, lots of organic electroluminescent devices (OELDs) exhibit a substantial decrease in an external quantum coefficient (ηext). Understanding the operating principles of the device is necessary to control the ηext roll off and achieve good performance of OELDs. In this study, we mainly discuss the possible dynamics of charge carrier in our device according to the transient behaviors of electroluminescence (EL) and current after voltage pulse was turn off. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Influence of back-channel electronic state on device characteristics was investigated for pentacene-based thin-film transistors (TFTs), where top surface of the semiconductor layer was covered with an LiF thin film. We observed higher field-effect hole mobility in the TFTs with the LiF-covered back channel than in the corresponding uncovered counterparts. In addition, the LiF-covered TFTs exhibited a decrease in turn-on voltages and an increase in off-state current depending on the thickness of the LiF layer and top- or bottom-contact configuration of the source and drain electrodes. We attributed the electronic effect brought about by the LiF coating to a downward band bending in the back channel originating from a rearrangement of the electronic energy-level alignment at the pentacene/LiF interface. The difference in the device characteristics from those of the uncovered TFTs was successfully explained by such electronic processes in the pentacene layer induced by the downward band bending in the back channel as a pseudo -back gate effect and generation of offsetting holes against the surface electronegativity. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Various types of metal complexes have received attention because of their large third-order nonlinear optical properties. Thin films of transition metal complexes with dionedioxime have been shown to form stacks perpendicular to the molecular plane, the central metal ions forming a quasi-one-dimensional chain of delocalized electrons. We have measured the imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, , of one such material, , by using the pump-probe method. We give a detailed derivation of the analysis of from the differential transmission data and present results near the lowest energy resonance of this material. Maximum values of the continuous wave susceptibility reached esu at resonance, with a relatively slow relaxation time of the order of 1 ns. The differential transmission crossed over from negative (saturation) to positive already on the low-energy side of the absorption band.

The crystal structure of Ca{sub 2}Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 9} was studied by X-ray and electron diffraction. Statistical atomic site positions were determined in an orthorhombic cell, a = 10.453(3), b = 3.720(2), c = 10.290(2) {angstrom}, space group Pnma. The local structure of Si{sub 2}O{sub 7} silicate anions was illustrated from the refined atomic positions. The Ca{sub 2}Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 9} structure could be explained by locally disordered arrangement of Y{sub 4}Al{sub 2}O{sub 9} monoclinic structure. The linear thermal expansion coefficient of Ca{sub 2}Y{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 9} ceramics measured by dilatometry was 9.3 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} C{sup {minus}1} from room temperature to 1500 C.

Mixed crystals of the one-dimensional metal complexes, bis(dimethylglyoximato)platinum(II) and bis(diethylglyoximato)platinum(II), were synthesized by a coevaporation technique. The continuous energy shift of the d−p transition was observed in the UV−vis absorption spectra of the coevaporated films. This energy shift shows that despite the difference in the crystal lattices between the two precursor complexes, both the metal complexes had mixed into the same column forming one-dimensional superstructures. Conventional X-ray diffraction and total reflection X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the anisotropic variation of the lattice constants depends on the mixing ratio. While the lattice constant parallel to the columns was approximately proportional to the mixing ratio, the variation of the constants perpendicular to the columns deviated substantially from a linear relation. This indicates that the one-dimensional framework of the mixed columns was maintained even though there is significant latti...

Optical response due to the photo-excited carrier or exciton dynamics in the excited state of a one-dimensional metal complex (Pt(dmg)2) has been investigated by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Measurements were made under various excitation photon energies within the absorption band which originates from the delocalized electronic states along the 1-D chain. Around the lowest-energy absorption peak, absorption bleaching was found to be larger and its decay faster compared to those in higher-energy region. Furthermore, an induced absorption which is considered to be due to a bi-exciton or relaxed excited state was observed.

Effects of the metal—metal distance on the third-order nonlinear optical property of one-dimensional platinum complexes were investigated. Glyoximes with several alkyl substituents were synthesized as a ligand for one-dimensional platinum complexes. All prepared platinum complexes had linear platinum chains in the solid state and had different platinum—platinum distance depending on the steric hindrance of alkyl substituents. They showed the 5dZ2—6pZ transition band in the visible region, of which peak wavelengths were well related to the platinum—platinum distance. Frequency dispersion of the third-order nonlinear susceptibilities ¢(3) for evaporated thin films of platinum—alkyldione-dioxime complexes was estimated by the third-harmonic generation measurements. It was revealed that the shorter metal—metal distance gave the larger ¢(3).

We investigated the influence of electron temperature and rf bias on charge build‐up caused by electron shading in inductively‐coupled plasmas (ICP) at 2 to 40 mTorr in Ar. We used Si substrates covered with a 500‐nm‐thick SiO2 film which had a line‐and‐space pattern. We measured the electron and ion currents going into the Si substrate through the dielectric structure. When the pattern size decreases, the electron current through the dielectric structure is suppressed and the floating potential increases. We also measured the change in the floating potential of the sample as the electron temperature was increased. As the electron temperature is increased from 2 eV to 4 eV by controlling the gas pressures, the floating potential difference increases between samples with different pattern sizes. To investigate the influence of rf bias (13.56 MHz) on charge build‐up, we measured differences in the dc self‐bias voltage between samples with different pattern sizes. dc self‐bias voltage differences increase wi...

An acute and direct effect of epinephrine (Epi) on muscle proteolysis was investigated using a single-pass mode of rat hindquarter perfusion. The rate of tyrosine (Tyr) release at > 30 min with cycloheximide was regarded as the muscle proteolytic rate. Infusion of Epi (500 nM) to the hindquarters of fed rats led to a sharp decrease in the Tyr release to 50% within 5 min, accompanied by an increase in perfusion pressure and edema around the perfused tissues. To clarify the mechanism, alpha- and beta-antagonists were used together with Epi. A mixture of 10 microM prazosin and 10 microM yohimbine (alpha-adrenergic blockade) before or after Epi infusion completely prevented the edema development and resulted in a new steady state to 80% of the initial rate. On the contrary, 100 microM propranolol (a beta-antagonist) with Epi did not abolish the edema and caused fluctuation in Tyr release. Whether the above results are affected by changes in Tyr transport at the plasma membrane was tested by measuring Tyr efflux from the perfused muscle. Only a beta-adrenergic blockade significantly reduced the rate constant of Tyr efflux from the intracellular pool by 13%. These results suggested that the suppression of Tyr release by alpha-adrenergic activity was mainly due to the effect on Tyr efflux, whereas that by beta-adrenergic activity was not at the Tyr transport level but at the proteolysis level, demonstrating that Epi directly inhibits proteolysis of skeletal muscle via the beta-adrenoceptor.

Macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) is a chemotactic factor that activates the receptor tyrosine kinase RON. The involvement of Ras in MSP-induced signal transduction was investigated. Here we demonstrate that, in RON-transfected MDCK cells, an active GTP-bound form of Ras was rapidly accumulated by MSP treatment and the Ras-guanine nucleotide exchange activity in SOS immunoprecipitates was concomitantly increased. GAP activity was not changed under the same conditions used. Furthermore, the SH2 domain of adaptor protein GRB2 but not Shc, associated with the activated RON-β chain, and GRB2-SOS complexes translocated from the cytosol to the membrane upon MSP treatment. These results strongly suggest that MSP activates Ras through RON, and that MSP-induced activation of Pas might be controlled by both the enhancement of catalytic exchange activity of SOS and its translocation to the membrane where its target Ras is localized.

A radio‐frequency glow discharge between dielectric electrodes is observed by spatiotemporal optical emission spectroscopy. No emission from an excited Ar ion is observed in the dielectric electrode discharge, but it is observed in a discharge with metallic electrodes under the same external conditions. On the other hand, marked excitation of Ar(3p5) on the driven dielectric is observed. The maximum of the spatiotemporal net excitation rate profile is larger and the amplitude of the current is smaller compared with the discharge sustained by metallic electrodes. These differences are attributed to the effect of surface charge on the dielectric. The dielectric immersed in the discharge is exposed to the ion and electron fluxes, and is charged negatively to balance both fluxes. The accumulated charge on the dielectric is estimated by a capacitor in series with the grounded electrode. As a result, the surface charge affects the field just in front of the dielectric and enhances excitation and ionization.

Particle growth and subsequent extinction in plasma reactors for surface processing has been investigated in a parallel-plate radiofrequency discharge at 13.56 MHz in Ar with (-CF2CF2-)n and its fragments as an impurity. The space- and time-variation of the radiofrequency plasma structure is mainly studied simultaneously with the particle size and density by both spatiotemporally resolved optical emission spectroscopy and Mie scattering of laser light. A correlation is demonstrated between the particle size/density and the radiofrequency plasma structure.

The third-order non-linear optical properties of evaporated thin films of d8 transition metal complexes with dionedioxime have been estimated by third harmonic generation. They formed one-dimensional structures and showed large optical non-linearities. Resonance effects were observed for respective metal complexes. The maximum χ(3) value of 5.6 × 10−11 esu was obtained at the near three-photon resonance wavelength for the platinum complex. The delocalized electrons in linear metal chains may be essential for exhibiting large non-linear optical effects.

Numerical chromosome aberrations were studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using pericentromeric DNA probes specific for chromosomes 3 and 17 in 18 oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 3 lymph nodes as control. Disomy 3 and 17 was detected in approximately 90% of control cells, and in 60.9 +/- 4.0% and 62.7 +/- 3.6% of SCCs, respectively. Polysomy 3 and 17 significantly increased in SCCs when compared to controls. The pattern of chromosome aberrations varied considerably between cases. There was no obvious relationship between the degree of polysomies and clinicopathological factors such as tumor-differentiation, stage of the disease and clinical outcome. Chromosome aberrations by FISH did not correlate with DNA aneuploidy by flow cytometry. Our results indicate that oral SCCs are more frequently associated with the increased copy number of chromosomes 3 and 17 than previously thought, and that a correlation between chromosome aberrations by FISH and DNA aneuploidy by flow cytometry is not obvious.

Various forms of adrenocortical insufficiency can cause musculoskeletal symptoms such as muscle pain, tautness of the limbs, arthralgia, and flexion contractures. However, the findings of neurological investigations are inconclusive and have not been well summarized.We report the case of a 61-year-old man with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency who presented with musculoskeletal symptoms, including flexion contractures. We performed three neurological investigations: nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and muscle biopsy analysis. Further, we reviewed reports of 16 patients with various forms of adrenocortical insufficiency and musculoskeletal symptoms by considering the findings of these three investigations.From the literature review, we found that (a) analysis of muscle biopsy is the most sensitive technique, followed by electromyography and then nerve conduction studies; and (b) the longer the duration of the musculoskeletal symptoms, the greater the incidence of abnormal findings with all three techniques.Physicians may prioritize neurological investigations, depending on these findings.

This paper describes how it has been pointed out in recent years that many concrete structures are likely to accrue the initial defects in construction work because of the massive and complicated configuration and function of concrete structures. The service life of concrete structures and the structural performance will be lowered due to loading and environmental attack such as carbonation, frost action, and drying shrinkage. In the last few decades, various types of chemical admixtures have been developed, with emphasis on making highly durable concrete and on producing highly flowable concrete for self-compacting. A new cement dispersing agent for retempering, denoted as cement dispersing agent (CDA) was examined in this paper to confirm its effect on fundamental properties of concrete. This chemical agent is used not only to improve the performance on vibrating consolidation of fresh concrete, but also to increase the resistance to segregation of concrete. The addition of agent will promise the dispersion of cement particles and the reduction of bleeding of concrete. The CDA is a negative ion type cement dispersing agent having a main component of Polyester fiber. The benefit of CDA is given in the dosage of a small amount of agent (0.5~1.0g/m3). The improvement in vibrating consolidation of fresh concrete was depended on late addition for retempering. It was observed by the vibrating table-type consistency meter. From the tests for bleeding, setting, mechanical properties, durability, and micro structures of concrete such as Vickers hardness and pore size distribution, the benefit of CDA was also confirmed.

The influence of the dipole of an insulator surface on temporal changes in the source-drain current was investigated by using organic field-effect transistors with a surface-modified SiO2 insulator. The source-drain current decreased drastically with respect to time when the dipoles of the insulator surface displaced slightly. In order to obtain highly stable organic transistors, it is thus necessary to remove the mobile dipoles from the insulator surface.

大腸癌201例のパラフィンブロックをもちい FCM により DNA index (以下DI) を測定した. aneuploidは108例 (53.7%) に出現した. DNA ploidy と臨床病理学的因子との関係では, 部位 (結腸/直腸) およびリンパ管侵襲 (-/+) と有意に相関した. Aneuploid を DI 別に分類すると, 1.01から1.5が47例, 1.51から2が47例, 2.01以上が14例であった. DIはいずれの因子とも相関しなかった. Aneuploid は diplo-id にくらべ有意に予後不良であったが, 組織学的進行度別に検討すると, stage IV でのみ aneuploid の生存率が低かった. DI 別に予後を検討すると, DI が大きくなるほど不良である傾向を認めた. Cox の比例ハザードモデルを用い予後因子の多変量解析を試みたところ, stage, 肉眼型, 部位, リンパ管侵襲, DIの順に有意な重みを示したが, DNA ploidy は有意ではなかった.以上の成績は, 大腸癌患者の予後を推測する上でDNA ploidy よりも DI の検討が重要であることを示唆した.

Background. The AirWay Scope (AWS) is a new fibreoptic intubation device, which allows visualization of the glottic stractures without alignment of the oral, pharyngeal, and tracheal axes, and thus may be useful in patients with limited cervical spine (C-spine) movement. We fluoroscopically evaluated upper C-spine movement during intubation with the AWS or Macintosh or McCoy laryngoscope. Methods. Forty-five patients, with normal C-spine, scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to one of the three intubation devices. Movement of the upper C-spine was examined by measuring angles formed by adjacent vertebrae during intubation. Time to intubation was also recorded. Results. Median cumulative upper C-spine movement was 22.38 ,3 2.38, and 36.58 with the AWS, Macintosh laryngoscope, and McCoy laryngoscope, respectively (P,0.001, AWS vs, Macintosh and McCoy). The AWS reduced maximum movement of the C-spine at C1/C2 in comparison with the Macintosh or McCoy laryngoscope (P¼0.012), and at C3/C4 in comparison with the McCoy laryngoscope (P¼0.019). Intubation time was significantly longer in the AWS group than in the Macintosh group (P¼0.03). Conclusions. Compared with the Macintosh or McCoy laryngoscope, the AWS produced less movement of upper C-spine for intubation in patients with a normal C-spine. Br J Anaesth 2008; 100: 120‐4

The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in a group of 1,043 healthy Japanese people was compared with that of hepatitis A virus (HAV), which was used as a marker of fecal-oral exposure. No statistically significant relationship was observed between seropositivity for HAV and that for H. pylori. Therefore, the fecal-oral spread of H. pylori is of limited relevance in Japan.