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BackgroundWe have previously reported that stimulation of mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces differentiation of osteoclast-like cells having bone resorption ability1. Recently, we have shown that the combination of TNF-α and IL-6 can induce osteoclasts from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) via RANKL-independent pathways, and that there are functional differences between TNF-α and IL-6-induced osteoclasts (T6-OCs) and RANKL-induced, conventional osteoclasts (cOCs). In particular, the number of T6-OCs differentiated from PBMCs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) positively correlated with the modified total Sharp score (mTSS)2. On the other hands, no such correlation was observed between the number of cOCs from RA and mTSS.ObjectivesObjectives of this study were to compare the differentiational potential into T6-OCs of PBMCs from RA patients with those from healthy donors, to clarify mRNA and protein expressions of T6-OCs derived from PBMCs from patients with RA, and to identify tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) positive multinuclear cells with the same characters as T6-OCs histologically in the sub-chondral bone tissues from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsPBMCs and CD14+ monocytes derived from RA patients and healthy volunteers were stimulated with TNF-α and IL-6 or RANKL. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure expression levels of osteoclast-associated mRNA and protein. Consecutive sections of the proximal tibial bone tissue from patients with RA and OA (n=6 each) were stained by TRACP, and analyzed expression levels of osteoclast-associated molecules by immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe number of T6-OCs differentiated from PBMCs in RA patients was significantly increased compared to that in healthy volunteers. Expression levels of RANK mRNA and protein were clearly up-regulated in cOCs differentiated from CD14+ monocytes and were down-regulated in T6-OCs. In contrast, expression levels of MMP-3 mRNA and protein were obviously up-regulated in T6-OCs and down-regulated in cOCs. Therefore, we believe T6-OCs and cOCs were differently identified on bone tissue as TRACP+RANK-/MMP-3+ cells and TRACP+RANK+/MMP-3- cells, respectively. The numbers of TRACP+ osteoclasts in subchondral cancellous bone were significantly increased in RA patients compared to those in OA patients. Interestingly, numerous TRACP+/RANK-/MMP-3+ osteoclasts were present in the subchondral bone from patients with RA, on the other hands, no such cells observed in OA patients.ConclusionThe PBMCs of RA patients have definitely increased differentiation capacity into T6-OCs, which have potential of degrading chondral tissue. Additionally, cells having same characteristics with T6-OCs are observed in subchondral bone of patients with RA. These results suggest that novel T6-OCs may be involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of inflammatory bone destruction in patients with RA.References[1]Yokota K, Sato K, Miyazaki T, Kitaura H, Kayama H, Miyoshi F, Araki Y, Akiyama Y, Takeda K, Mimura T. Combination of Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Interleukin-6 Induces Mouse Osteoclast-like Cells With Bone Resorption Activity Both in Vitro and In Vivo. Arthritis & Rheumatology Jan;66(1):121-9, 2014.[2]Yokota K, Sato K, Miyazaki T, Aizaki Y, Tanaka S, Sekikawa M, Kozu N, Kadono Y, Oda H, Mimura T. Characterization and Function of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha and Interleukin-6-Induced Osteoclasts in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology Jul;73(7):1145-1154, 2021.AcknowledgementsWe are grateful to H. Kajiyama and Y. Araki (Saitama Medical University) for helpful discussion.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared

Our laboratory has been working on developing a practical structural health monitoring (SHM) system consisting of digital sensor network and a cloud server. The usefulness of such a system has been recognized by real estate companies, construction companies and design firms. We estimate the number of systems exceeded one hundred. In the SHM system, modal parameters such as natural frequency and damping ratio are important damage indicators to diagnose the condition of structures. However, existing conventional methods require the knowledge of expert to select the proper modal parameters. This is the barrier for promoting the system. Under an emergency event, we will not be able to have immediate help from the experts as they will be very busy to take care of so many buildings. In this paper, we propose an automatic estimation method to extract fundamental modal frequencies and damping ratios under the assumption we have information on mass distribution and mode shapes. We use these information to filter out the necessary modal information only so that any system identification methods that are applicable to single-degree-of-freedom systems will work well. To test the method, 40 story steel and RC building structural models were developed. They were simplified to tri-linear skeleton type nonlinear model to show the feasibility of the proposed method to nonlinear level as well. Finally, the method is applied to real tall buildings near Shinjuku Station. The building is 29 story and made of steel. It suffered nonstructural damage during Tohoku Earthquake of March 11, 2011.

For the superconducting cable operation in the real grid for over decades, one of the important technical challenges is maintaining vacuum rate of the thermal insulation cryostat vessels for avoiding system heat loss increase. When the vacuum rate is getting worse, turbo-molecular pumps etc. are usually adopted for that system. However, these pumps need to have some installation space and some electricity for the operation and moreover, periodic troublesome maintenance is needed. For the countermeasure of such issues, getter pump is selected and tested because of its smaller size, less electricity consumption and easy maintenance features. After confirming its effectivity as the vacuum pump by several investigations, this pump was employed for the termination vacuum vessel of the superconducting cable system in Yokohama. From the results of 3 weeks operation, evacuating performance exceeds turbo molecular pump and keeps vacuum state less than 1e-3 Pa stably, are confirmed respectively. This paper describes test results of the getter pump and its operation results for the real in grid system.

Aim The aim of the present study was to conduct apsychometric validation of the Japanese version of theFIQL (JFIQL).Method A retrospective analysis of data from theJFIQL was conducted. Wexner scores and FaecalIncontinence Severity Index (FISI) scores were collectedprospectively in patients with faecal incontinence whovisited our centre between 2008 and 2009. Forconvergent validity, the JFIQL scores were comparedwith stages on the Wexner scale for lifestyle alteration.To evaluate reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was calculatedfor internal consistency, whereas a test–retest study wasperformed to evaluate reproducibility. In assessingresponsiveness, JFIQL scores before and after treat-ments were compared in patients whose FISI scoresdecreased by ‡ 50%.Results Convergent validity and internal consistencywere determined in 70 patients (49 women; median age68.5 years). The JFIQL scores were significantly associ-ated with lifestyle alteration stages on the Wexner scale,demonstrating convergent validity in all four domainsand the generic score. Cronbach’s alpha was > 0.7 forgeneric scores and all domains except Embarrassment.The intraclass correlations for the 27 patients available forthe test–retest study were > 0.7 for generic scores and alldomains except Embarrassment. The median JFIQLscore improved significantly after treatment in the 23patients whose FISI scores decreased ‡ 50%, indicatinggood responsiveness in all four domains and the genericscore.Conclusion The JFIQL has been validated and is nowready for use in evaluating the symptom-specific qualityof life in Japanese patients with faecal incontinence.Keywords Faecal incontinence, quality of life, faecalincontinence quality of life, scale, validity, reliabilityWhat is new in this paperThis is the first study validating the Japanese version ofthe FIQL (JFIQL). The JFIQL was validated not only forconvergent validity and reliability, but also for respon-siveness, which has never been addressed before. We alsovalidated a generic JFIQL score in addition to scores forfour specific domains.

β-FeSi 2 thin films were prepared on FZ n -Si (1 1 1) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The structural properties and crystallographic orientation of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. This indicates that β-FeSi 2 /Si (2 0 2/2 2 0) and the single-crystalline β-FeSi 2 can be prepared using PLD. In photoluminescence (PL) measurements at 8 K detected by Ge detector, the PL spectra of the samples annealed at 900 °C for 1, 5, 8 and 20 h showed that the PL intensity of the A-band peak increased depending on annealing time in comparison with those of as-deposited samples. The intrinsic PL intensity of the A-band peak at 0.808 eV of the β-FeSi 2 from the 20-h-annealed sample was investigated for the first time by the PLD method detected by an InGaAs detector. This result has been confirmed by temperature dependence and excitation power density of the 20-h-annealed sample with the comparison of other defect-related band peaks of the sample. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation was also performed and the thickness of the thin films was found to be at 75 nm for 20-h-annealed. The thermal diffusion for the epitaxial growth of β−FeSi 2 /Si was observed when the compositional ratio of Fe to Si was around Fe:Si=1:2 for 20-h-annealed carried out by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). We discussed high crystal quality of the epitaxial growth and optical characterization of β-FeSi 2 achieved after annealing at 900 °C for 20 h.

Influence of repeated mechanical stresses/strains on AC losses (transport current losses and magnetization losses) in two kinds of multi-filamentary Bi2223/Ag-sheathed wires (twisted and non-twisted) for AC power cables was experimentally investigated. Repeated uni-axial tensile stresses/strains were applied to the wires in the longitudinal direction and the AC losses were measured electrically at 77.3 K. It was found that the influence of the repeated mechanical stresses/strains on the AC losses was different in the twisted and non-twisted wires. In the paper it is shown that the differences can be characterized by assuming that there are two kinds of critical currents of a sample wire, overall critical current across whole length of the sample wire and local critical current within the sample. Those critical currents are affected differently by the repeated mechanical stresses/strains. It is also shown that differences in manners of relations between the AC loss characteristics and the two kinds of critical currents can be explained assuming that different types of defects are caused by the repeated stresses in the two kinds of the wires.

The collection of low-resistivity particles is difficult by the conventional electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). The low-resistivity diesel engine particles are detached from a collection plate, which causes dust re-entrainment, resulting in a poor collection efficiency. The new electrohydrodynamically (EHD)-assisted ESP (EHD ESP) was developed to minimize re-entrainment. The EHD ESP utilizes the ionic wind, combined with electrostatic force to transport the charged particles effectively into the pocket zone attached to the collection plate. The pocket zones are designed as zero electrostatic field, i.e., no electrostatic repulsion force acting on particles by induction charge, so that no re-entrainment takes place. The electrode position with respect to pocket position influences the EHD streamlines and particle collection processes. The optimum electrode position was determined by observing the collection transport process into the pocket zone and collection efficiency. The particle-size-dependent collection efficiency was evaluated using a scanning mobility particle sizer and a particle counter.

Study design: A case report. Setting: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan. Patient: A 13-year-old woman presented progressive weakness in the lower extremities, with predominance on the right. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a huge syrinx. The patient also showed scoliosis, cleft palate, hearing impairment, excessive sweating, hairiness, dural ectasia, and malformation of the skull. Method and objectives: We treated a very rare case of Arnold–Chiari syndrome, which presented with flaccid paralysis. Methods of differential diagnosis and suitable treatment are discussed. Results and conclusion: Both the syrinx and muscle strength were quickly improved following placement of a syringo-peritoneal (S-P) shunt, after which the patient recovered the ability to walk. However, transient hypesthesia in the right hand occurred after the operation. The syrinx around the conus was thought to play a crucial role in the etiology of the patient case, which showed unique symptoms.

In order to understand the intrinsic Josephson tunnelling properties, the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of small-sized intrinsic Josephson junctions in (Bi 1-x Pb x ) 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O y (B(P)SCCO) single crystals with x = 0, 0.15 and 0.2 are investigated. By reducing the mesa size, reproducible I-V characteristics of intrinsic Josephson junctions were successfully measured. All fabricated mesas exhibit typical multiple branching in their I-V curves, which are independent of x. In addition, a well-defined gap structure without negative resistance is observed for the mesas that have dimensions less than a few μm 2 . The gap parameter Δ of these materials is ∼25 meV at 4.2 K. The critical current density J c at 4.2 K depends on x. The quasiparticle characteristics and the temperature dependence of critical currents are discussed by the d-wave tunnelling model.

An ultra low noise and highly selective, experimental 2 GHz band cryogenic receiver front end (CRFE) has been newly developed for mobile communication base stations. It utilizes a high- Q superconducting filter, a very low noise cryogenic amplifier, and a highly reliable cooler that is very compact. The equivalent noise temperature ( T eq ) of the CRFE is less than 50 K (0.69 dB of NF). According to current device data, T eq of normal temperature front ends in the 2 GHz band is typically 300 K (3 dB of NF). Thus, the improvement in sensitivity on mobile communication base station reception is estimated at 250 K (2.31 dB). If the CRFEs apply to W-CDMA base station receptions instead of normal temperature front ends, it is impossible to expand the coverage of a base station by about 70%. Alternatively, the capacity in W-CDMA system is able to increase by 10–160%. Furthermore, the transmission power of the user equipment can be reduced in proportion to the NF improvement.

To evaluate the relationship between joint effusion, contrast enhancement of effusion, nitric oxide concentration in TMJ fluid and TM joint pain.Nonenhanced T1- and T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo sequences were performed in 77 patients with TMD. The nitric oxide concentration in TMJ fluid was analysed spectrophotometrically by the Griess reaction.Some or marked effusion was seen in five (9%) of the 56 asymptomatic joints and in 55 (56%) of the 98 symptomatic joints. The prevalence of contrast enhancement of joint effusion was significantly higher in the joint pain group than in the joint sound or asymptomatic joint groups (chi2 test, P0.001). On postcontrast T1-weighted images, there was no evidence of synovial proliferation in patients with TMD. Anterior disk displacement without reduction was detected in 93% of the TMJs with marked effusion. The degree of joint pain correlated with raised nitric oxide concentration (Spearman's rank correlation, P0.05).Painful joints are more likely to demonstrate contrast enhancement of joint effusion. Nitric oxide concentration in TMJ fluid is closely associated with inflammatory changes and painful TM joints.

An irradiation detection method using the difference of the radiation sensitivity of the heat-treated microorganisms was developed as one of the microbiological detection methods of the irradiated foods. This detection method is based on the difference of the viable cell count before and after heat treatment (70 °C and 10 min). The verification by collaborative blind trial of this method was done by nine inspecting agencies in Japan. The samples used for this trial were five kinds of spices consisting of non-irradiated, 5 kGy irradiated, and 7 kGy irradiated black pepper, allspice, oregano, sage, and paprika, respectively. As a result of this collaboration, a high percentage (80%) of the correct answers was obtained for irradiated black pepper and allspice. However, the method was less successful for irradiated oregano, sage, and paprika. It might be possible to use this detection method for preliminary screening of the irradiated foods but further work is necessary to confirm these findings.

The superconducting coherence length $\ensuremath{\xi}$ of Zn- or Ni-doped ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{6.9}$ single crystals was measured through the diamagnetic susceptibility in the reversible region, and through the resistivity in the mixed state. Upon impurity doping, $\ensuremath{\xi}$ increases along both the in- and out-of-plane directions, which suggests that the doped impurities act as pair breakers. The in-plane $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is well explained by the pair-breaking theory of d-wave superconductivity. On the other hand, the increase of the out-of-plane $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is larger than the theoretical prediction, which might indicate that the interplane coupling of the order parameter is modified by the impurities.

A method for magneto-thermal-fluid analysis, taking account of natural convection using a semi-Lagrange coordinate system, is developed. The developed method is applied to a simple induction heating model in which the steel plate is heated due to an eddy current. It is shown that the result, considering the convection in air, is different from the result neglecting it

In order to clarify the origin of a strong peak effect in the magnetization curve of NdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− δ crystals, we investigated the superconductivity transition behavior of the in-plane resistivity in static magnetic fields up to 8 T. Comparing the results for the samples exhibiting and not exhibiting the peak effect, we found that the former (peak effect sample) shows lower resistivity above the vortex melting temperature. This implies that the pinning force is effective in the vortex liquid state. We also found that the normal state resistivity behaviors of some samples were unusual, indicating inhomogeneous current flow. These results suggest an existence of sheet-like pinning centers perpendicular to the conduction planes.

The kinetics of the reaction of CO2 with secondary an alkanolamine linked with alkyl group, methylaminoethanol (MAE), ethytaminoethanol (EAE) and n-butylaminoethanol (BAE), for CO2 recovery from power plant flue gases was investigated using a stirred tank absorber with a plane unbroken gas-liquid interface at 298 K. To evaluate the reaction rate constant from the CO2 absorption rate data under the fast-reaction regime, a combined parameter containing the solubility and diffusivity for N2O in aqueous solutions of sterically hindered amines; MAE, EAE and BAE, was measured using a wetter-wall column apparatus at the same temperature. For further practical evaluation of the reaction rate, apparent rate constants for EAE under the process condition of CO2 removal from power plants were investigated.

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (lpr) mice develop autoantibodies, vasculitis, and glomerulonephritis, which are similar to human systemic lupus erythematosus, and acquire a generalized, nonmalignant, lymphoproliferative disorder. CD4- CD8- CD3+ TCR alphabeta+ (double-negative, DN) T cells accumulate in spleen and lymph nodes, and become a major T cell population in vivo. These DN T cells, however, are refractory to various stimuli, including CD3, IL-2, CD28, PMA, and PHA. Recently, the lpr gene mutation has been identified as a mutant gene for Fas, resulting in expression defects of Fas Ag. It is still unclear, however, what kinds of mechanisms cause the dysfunction of lpr DN T cells. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms in abnormal DN T cells, biochemical analyses were conducted for the expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of the vav proto-oncogene product (Vav) in DN T cells from lpr mice. We demonstrated that Vav, a 95-kDa cytoplasmic protein, from lpr mice was constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated several times higher than in control +/+ mice, while expression of Vav protein in lpr and +/+ mice was equal. Additionally, in contrast with +/+ T cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav, which normally increases within a minute of stimulation via TCR, did not increase in lpr DN T cells following PHA or Ab activation. Taken together with the suggested roles of Vav in multiple receptor-mediated signal transductions, our findings suggest that the functional abnormalities of lpr DN T cells may be related to Vav abnormal tyrosine phosphorylation, which could lead to impaired signaling between surface receptors and G proteins in this cell population.

The data obtained by different types of intracellular perfusion were compared. As the ligated cells cannot be space-clamped , the efficiency of compartmentclamping was evaluated, showing that the difference I/V (current-voltage) profile between space-clamped and compartment-clamped data could be approximated by a straight line. The time-dependence of the clamp currents was not affected by the clamp technique. The comparison of different sets of data was quantified by fitting the I/V curves with a mathematical model (Beilby and Walker, 1996). The I/V curves of ligated cells perfused with 1 mM ATP showed the closest similarity to intact cells with resting potentials of — 220 + 10 mV (7 cells) and similar model parameter values. The cells under open-end perfusion with ATP showed less hyperpolarized resting p.d.s (potential differences): — 175±12mV (4 cells). For both preparations the —ATP data were similar with resting p.d.s at — 80 + 12 mV (5 ligated cells, 7 open-end cells). The excited state was more pronounced in open-end cells (resting level: — 59+_12mV, 5 cells) than in ligated cells (resting level: —65 ±12 mV, 7 cells). In open-end cells the pump responded faster to changes of ATP concentration than the excitation channels. The cells stabilized with Pb(NO3)2 were strongly depolarized both with ATP: -80 ± 10 mV (6 cells) and without: 0 +10 mV (6 cells). Most model parameters differed from those in the intact cells. The excited state was abolished.

Effects of cytochalasin B and mycalolide-B on cytoplasmic streaming, organizations of actin filaments and the transvacuolar strand were studied in root hair cells ofHydrocharis, which shows reverse fountain streaming. Both toxins inhibited cytoplasmic streaming and destroyed the organizations of actin filaments and transvacuolar strands. However, we found a great difference between these toxins with respect to reversibility. The effects of cytochalasin B were reversible but not those of mycalolide B. The present results suggest that actin filaments work as a track of cytoplasmic streaming and as a cytoskeleton to maintain the transvacuolar strand. The usefulness of root hair cells ofHydrocharis in studying the dynamic organization of actin filaments of plant is discussed.

Characean cells have contributed significantly to various areas of plant cell biology such as cell motility and membrane transport. Since characean cells are very large, various kinds of operations can easily be applied to them. Development of techniques of intracellular perfusion and permeabilization of plasma membrane has facilitated studies on functions of the plasma membrane and the vacuolar membrane (or tonoplast) which is specific to plant cells. The present article is aimed at reviewing the contribution of characean cells to the study of electrophysiological characteristics of plant membranes. Our attention was mainly focused on experiments using plasma membrane-permeabilized cells and intracellularly perfused cells.

The effect of carboxamidemethylated Fc fragment (CM-Fc) from human serum immunoglobulin G on mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was studied. CM-Fc enhanced the MLR response when added at the start of cultivation, but suppressed the response when added 48 h after onset of cultivation. The Fc fragment had no effect. CM-Fc elevated the levels of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor when added at the start of splenocyte cultivation, and somewhat did so when added 48 h after onset of cultivation. These elevations caused the induction of prostaglandin E2 in MLR culture supernatant. The suppression of MLR by CM-Fc was abrogated by the addition of indomethacin. We considered that CM-Fc regulated the immune response being affected to the function of macrophages.

Solid cell nests of the thyroid gland were studied in 44 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. In 10 (22.7%) patients, solid cell nests were revealed in the vicinity of tumour foci (five cases) or in the contralateral thyroid lobe and isthmus (four cases); in one case the location was indeterminate. In all seven cases in which immunohistochemical studies were carried out, solid cell nests showed negative staining for thyroglobulin, calcitonin and chromogranin A, findings which were distinct from those in medullary thyroid carcinoma. It is therefore suggested that solid cell nests of the thyroid are not precursors of this tumour.

The early history of the high electron mobility transistor illustrates the way in which a new device idea occurs and is developed towards commercialization. The events which took place in our laboratory are described in this paper.

Childhood thyroid cancer is known to be aggressive. High incidence of lymph node and distant metastasis are characteristic features of these cases. In adult, reduced expression of nm23-H1/nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase has been correlated with cancer invasion and metastasis in some tumor types. Therefore, we examined the expression of nm23-H1 gene product in childhood thyroid carcinomas in Japan. 27 primary thyroid carcinomas and 8 metastatic lymph nodes were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody H1-229. 21 out of 23 cases (91%) of papillary carcinomas were positively immunostained, whereas none of the 4 follicular carcinomas showed any immunoreactivity. No correlation was found between the nm23-H1/NDP kinase antigen expression and nodal involvement or distant metastasis in primary tumors. However, only 50% (4 out of 8) of metastatic lymph nodes from papillary carcinoma were positively stained, demonstrating a significant decrease comparing to those of primary sites. These data indicate that the expression of nm23-H1/NDP kinase cannot predict tumor metastatic potential in childhood thyroid cancer.

Previously we reported the selective binding of human acrosome-reacted spermatozoa to monoclonal antibody-coated paramagnetic beads. In the present paper, the fusing ability of spermatozoa that bound to the beads was estimated by micro-injecting them into the perivitelline space of hamster oocytes. Acrosome-reacted human spermatozoa were collected by monoclonal antibody-coated paramagnetic beads. Bead-bound spermatozoa were selected under a microscope and micro-injected into the perivitelline space of hamster oocytes. When the injection was begun 5 min after mixing spermatozoa with the beads, 6.6% of the injected spermatozoa fused with an oocyte. However, when the injection was begun 30 min after the mixing, no fusion occurred. Moreover, when spermatozoa were injected with the beads attached to their head, no fusion was observed. The fusing ability of spermatozoa thus prepared was compared with that of randomly chosen and injected spermatozoa. Using spermatozoa from 10 healthy volunteers, 22 independent experiments were performed. The overall fusion rate of injected, randomly selected spermatozoa was 2.8%, whilst that of bead-selected spermatozoa was 7.3%. Selection of spermatozoa by beads appeared to be beneficial to the fusion event.

The clinical value of transvaginal ultrasonography in the evaluation of the uterine cervix of pregnant women was studied. Comparison with conventional transabdominal ultrasound in 24 pregnant subjects revealed that transvaginal ultrasound was superior, because the transabdominal technique usually requires a full bladder, which causes deformation and elongation of the cervix. Digital examination showed dilatation of the internal os in only ten (38.5%) of 26 patients in whom it had previously been shown by transvaginal sonography. Transvaginal ultrasonography has the advantage of providing natural and objective information on the cervix. The values of three sonographic signs found transvaginally for predicting preterm delivery were evaluated in a total of 130 at-risk patients and 129 control subjects. Shortening of the cervical length by −1.5 SD or more was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (11.3% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.01). A dilated internal os of more than 5 mm before 30 weeks of gestation was associated with preterm delivery more often than an undilated internal os (33.3% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.01). Dynamic changes in the degree of dilatation of the cervical canal which were found in nine women were significantly related with preterm delivery (p < 0.05). But, in the at-risk group, only dilatation of the internal os had a predictive value for preterm birth. From these data, dilatation of the internal os on transvaginal ultrasonography was proved to be an early and important predictor of preterm delivery. Copyright © 1992 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of Co/Cr multilayer films were investigated. Films are comprised of hcp Co and bcc Cr. The crystallographic structure of the film was affected by the substrate temperature, particularly in the case of small layer thicknesses. Films sputtered at high substrate temperatures had larger perpendicular anisotropy than those sputtered at low temperatures. The saturation magnetization per unit Co volume decreases with decreasing Co layer thickness. Alloying at interfaces causes the decrease of Co layer magnetization. The thickness of the alloy layers is estimated at 2.5 A to 5.0 A. Films prepared on glass substrates were annealed in vacuum at 300°C and 500°C. Diffusion coefficients and activation energies were calculated from the decrease in magnetization due to annealing; the activation energy for diffusion was between 0.2 and 0.5 eV.

Co/Cu multilayer films were prepared by rf sputtering, both with and with-out a substrate bias voltage V B =?30 V. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the layer boundaries in ?30 V biased films are sharper, and the orientation of (111) planes are better, than in films prepared without a bias voltage. In films with zero bias, the MR ratio increases monotonically with the Cu layer thickness d Cu up to about 40 A, and then decreases. On the other hand, in films prepared with a ?30 V bias the MR ratio oscillates with d Cu , and peaks appeared at d Cu = 23, 36 and 48A. The maximum MR ratio was obtained for the structure [Co(15.1 A)/Cu(24.3 A)] 30 /Cu(50 A), with a value of 13.1% at room temperature and 17.0% at 110K. In this film, the interlayer coupling strength J was very small, 0.008 erg/cm2. The sharpness of the MR change, ?R/R(H s )·?H, was a very large 2.2 kOe?1 The different d Cu dependences of films prepared with a ?30 V bias and with zero bias is thought to originate in the different qualities of the layer boundaries. The extraordinary Hall effect and the planar Hall effect are discussed.

Using a thin-layer chromatographic technique, we have identified the photoassimilates that are transported intercellularly from branchlets to internodes in Chara corallina. An internode-branchlet complex having a primary apex was used in these experiments. After feeding 1 mol m -3 NaH 14 CO 3 to a branchlet for 10 min, the 14 C-labelled photoassimilates ( 14 C-photoassimilates) found in the sol endoplasm of the branchlet were composed of sucrose, amino acids, malate, and sugarphosphates

The 110-kDa intracellular phosphoprotein (110K) described previously by this laboratory as a common IgM autoantigen in SLE and certain other systemic autoimmune disorders and viral infections is identified as nucleolin in the present investigation. Using rabbit antiserum to rat nucleolin as a probe, IgM autoantibody-reactive 110K co-migrated with human lymphocyte nucleolin in one- and two-dimensional immunoblots. Rabbit anti-nucleolin also specifically depleted autoreactive 110K from detergent lysates of human cells. Because nucleolin shares amino acid sequence similarity and/or forms dynamic particles with other prominent autoantigens, the present observation raises the possibility that the nucleolin/anti-nucleolin system may be of special significance for the development of humoral autoreactivity to nuclear Ag.