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Species-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism in the intron of the androgen receptor gene (ar5) was found in glass to silver-stage individuals of Anguilla japonica (n = 51) and A. marmorata (n = 21). The sequence analysis of 16S rDNA from 328 anguillid leptocephali collected in the North Equatorial Current of the western North Pacific Ocean revealed the specimens to be A. japonica (n = 194), A. marmorata (n = 128), A. bicolor pacifica (n = 5) and A. luzonensis (n = 1). All leptocephali of A. japonica and A. marmorata were monomorphic and did not share an allele at the ar5 locus, indicating that the two species are reproductively isolated.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetically dominant neurodegenerative condition caused by an unique mutation in the disease gene huntingtin. Although the Huntington protein (Htt) is ubiquitously expressed, expansion of the polyglutamine tract in Htt leads to the progressive loss of specific neuronal subpopulations in HD brains. In this article, we will summarize the current understanding on mechanisms of how mutant Htt can elicit cytotoxicity, as well as how the selective sets of neuronal cell death occur in HD brains.

While nuclear power may experience a technological breakthrough in Europe with Generation IV nuclear reactors within 2040, several events could question this possibility such as the Fukushima accident, the climate issues and the electricity market liberalization. This paper aims at analyzing investment choices in power generation capacities in the European scope, using simple DSM-inspired approaches. The power company and interacting stakeholders in the investment choice process are considered as a complex system, and dependencies between investment drivers associated with each stakeholder are studied. Focusing on the value for the power company, the compatibility of each power company with each of considered technologies is assessed through a Domain Mapping Matrix, including not only technical drivers, but also associated policy and market drivers. Technology preferences are modeled for main European companies in a set of scenarios, these preferences being then used to explore trends in generation mix.

Three isomers of N,N′-dibenzy-biquinolinium dibromide were synthesized and their photoinduced coloration properties were investigated in the thin poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) films. Upon photo-irradiation, the colorless film of 4,4′-biquinolinium salt became intense purple and had a near IR-absorption at 970 nm, whose color gradually bleached, reaching original ones. While photo-induced absorption maxima of 6,6′-biquinolinium salt does not shift to longer wavelength and 5,5′-one exhibits thermochromism.

We treat 0+ -> 2+ neutrinoless double beta decays taking into account recoil corrections to the nuclear currents. The decay probability can be written as a quadratic form of the effective coupling constants of the right-handed leptonic currents and the effective neutrino mass. We calculate the nuclear matrix elements for the 0+ -> 2+ neutrinoless double beta decays of 76Ge and 100Mo, and demonstrate that the relative sensitivities of 0+ -> 2+ decays to the neutrino mass and the right-handed currents are comparable to those of 0+ -> 0+ decays.

Developments in the theoretical investigation of nuclear double-beta decay are reviewed. In particular, the neutrinoless mode is discussed in detail, since it is sensitive to lepton number violation as predicted by gauge theories beyond the standard model and it is expected to give important information on the nature of the neutrinos and the weak interaction. Various approximations made in the theoretical treatment of neutrinoless and two-neutrino double beta decay are examined, and the limits on the effective Majorana mass of the electron neutrino as well as the coupling constants of the right-handed leptonic current are presented.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels (K(ATP) channels) play important roles in regulating the resting membrane potential of detrusor smooth muscle. Actions of ZD0947, a novel KATP channel opener, on both carbachol (CCh)-induced detrusor contractions and membrane currents in human urinary bladder myocytes were investigated.Tension measurements and patch-clamp techniques were utilized to study the effects of ZD0947 in segments of human urinary bladder. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to detect the expression of the sulphonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) and the SUR2B antigens in human detrusor muscle.ZD0947 (or = 0.1 microM) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of the CCh-induced contraction of human detrusor, which was reversed by glibenclamide. The rank order of the potency to relax the CCh-induced contraction was pinacidilZD0947diazoxide. In conventional whole-cell configuration, ZD0947 (or = 1 microM) caused a concentration-dependent inward K+ current which was suppressed by glibenclamide at -60 mV. When 1 mM ATP was included in the pipette solution, application of pinacidil or ZD0947 caused no inward K+ current at -60 mV. Gliclazide (or =1 microM), a selective SUR1 blocker, inhibited the ZD0947-induced currents (Ki = 4.0 microM) and the diazoxide-induced currents (high-affinity site, Ki1 = 42.4 nM; low-affinity site, Ki2 = 84.5 microM) at -60 mV. Immunohistochemical studies indicated the presence of SUR1 and SUR2B proteins, which are constituents of KATP channels, in the bundles of human detrusor smooth muscle.These results suggest that ZD0947 caused a glibenclamide-sensitive detrusor relaxation through activation of glibenclamide-sensitive KATP channels in human urinary bladder.

A surface defect inspection system based on the spatial frequency filtering technique (SFFT) has been developed for patterned semiconductor wafers. The SFFT is very powerful in detecting tiny pattern defects and foreign particles on complex but periodic patterns, such as semiconductor memory wafers. In this application a spatial frequency filter, which has an opaque spotty pattern corresponding to the periodic pattern of the test object, is placed at the Fourier transform plane of the imaging lens and blocks the light diffracted by the regular periodic pattern. Thus, only random defects are projected on the image plane and not the regular periodic patterns, which makes the execution of defect detection very quick and easy. The developed system uses a photoplate as the filter, and takes in the filtered image directly by an ITV camera, detecting sub-micron defects in about 30 minutes for a 6-inch memory wafer. >

A fast, automated measuring system has been developed which provides 3D information about semiconductor wafer patterns nondestructively from scanning electron microscope images. The 3D measurement is conducted in two different ways for different patterns: one is pattern height measurement using only one image for trapezoidal patterns, while the other is height profile measurement for smoothly curved surfaces. The system proved capable of measuring 3D shape sufficiently fast (within 5 s) and with sufficiently good accuracy to control the semiconductor wafer process line. >

A 68-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma associated with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. Although the tumor thrombus reached the level of the right atrium, there were no other apparent metastases. Combination therapy with interferon alfa plus tegafur/uracil (UFT) was attempted with the expectation of reducing the tumor thrombus, but there was no change. Successful management was achieved with right radical nephrectomy, right auriculotomy, and partial cavectomy using cardiopulmonary bypass under high-grade hypothermia. After removal of the tumor and thrombus, blood loss was 13,900 ml during the patient's recovery. She had mild heart failure for about two weeks after the operation, but recovered. She was discharged on the 40th day after the operation. Proper preparation for blood transfusion is the key point of this operation.

A 51-year-old man underwent radical cystectomy with tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enteritis developed postoperatively. MRSA caused critical infections such as pneumonia and sepsis, which subsequently progressed to adult respiratory distress syndrome, massive melena and multiple organ failure. The patient was rescued by intensive management including mask continuous positive airway pressure, systemic vancomycin administration and intraarterial embolization to stop jejunal bleeding.

Receptor-type serine/threonine kinases (RSKs) have been organized into two distinct classes known as types I and II on the basis of sequence similarity. However, experiments have shown ligand specificities in the two classes and as a result type I and type II receptors can often bind to a common ligand. The transforming growth factor-beta- (TGF-beta) specific receptors represent such a case, where both type I and II receptors (T beta RI and T beta RII) are observed. Of additional interest is the observation that heteromeric associations of type I and II receptors can also enable signaling. To further elucidate the function of various RSKs, the extracellular domains of both alpha and beta chains from human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptors were linked to transmembrane cytoplasmic domains of RSKs. Chimeric receptors of human granulocyte-macrophage receptor (hGMR) alpha with T beta RI and hGMR beta with T beta RII were expressed in murine pre-B cell-derived Ba/F3 cells. These chimeras formed heteromeric complexes, transmitted TGF-beta signals, and were down-modulated in response to human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. However, experiments utilizing these chimeric receptors in different combinations revealed that only heteromeric associations of transmembrane cytoplasmic domains mediated signaling and down-modulation. Chimeric receptors with transmembrane cytoplasmic domains of activin receptor type II and bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II also provided signals in conjunction with chimeric T beta RI. As a result, these type II receptors may share a common potential to signal via T beta RI. hGMR-RSK chimeric receptors may be useful tools for the identification and characterization of the divergent signals mediated by individual RSKs.

The expression of MHC class II molecules is normally restricted to antigen presenting cells. Aberrant expression of class II molecules, however, was detected in the thyrocytes of autoimmune thyroid diseases. We attempted to regulate the expression of HLA-DR molecules in thyroid carcinoma cells by expressing the exogenous poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase gene. We transfected a metal inducible expression plasmid capable of expressing poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase gene into thyroid carcinoma 8505C cells and the transformants, treated with metal and IFN-gamma, were separated by Magnetic Cell Separation. The activity of the synthetase was increased in the HLA-DR-enriched transformants as compared with that in control or the HLA-DR+ transformants. RNA blot analysis and flow cytometric analysis revealed that the IFN-gamma-inducible expression of HLA-DR molecules was depressed by the induction of exogenous poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase gene. This result indicates that HLA-DR expression was correlated with the level of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in human thyroid carcinoma cells. Furthermore we examined the level of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases. We observed a significant decrease in poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in the patients. Taken together with the previous observation, the decrease in poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase is closely linked to the aberrant expression of HLA-DR molecules in some autoimmune thyroid diseases.

We evaluated the efficacy of continuous drip infusion therapy with low dose cytosine arabinoside (AraC) and etoposide (VP16) in poor-condition patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Patients' age ranged from 19 to 85 years with a median of 63 years. Principally they received continuous drip infusion for 14 days with AraC (20 mg/day) and VP16 (50 mg/day). Complete remission (CR) rate was 58.3% (7/12) in untreated cases, 33.3% (2/6) in refractory cases to the standard chemotherapy, and 28.6% (2/7) in relapsed cases. The duration of CR ranged from 1.5 to 20 (+) months (median 8) in untreated group and from 2 to 22 months (median 10) in refractory and relapsed groups. Adverse effects such as gastroenterological symptoms appeared but were tolerable. Although infections due to myelosuppression appeared in 22 of 25 cases, they were well controlled by antibiotics. Chemotherapy-related death was not observed. Although CR rate and CR duration of this therapy were not sufficiently high, the regimen was effective in some patients with refractory or relapsed AML. Further studies are required to establish the efficacy, indication and safety of this treatment.

The IL-2 system which involves IL-2 production, IL-2 receptor expression, and response to IL-2, is associated with autoimmune phenomena. Immunologi-cal abnormalities including autoimmune phenomena are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IDDM. In this study, the production of IL-2, the responses to IL-2 and IL-2 receptor expression by peripheral blood T lymphocytes were compared in IDDM and normal non-diabetic children. The percentage of IL-2 receptor-positive circulating T cells was significantly increased in diabetic children, although IL-2 receptor expression induced by con A stimulation did not differ in the diabetic and control children. IL-2 production was significantly decreased in diabetic children compared with the control children. The response of stimulated T cells to IL-2 did not differ in IDDM and control children. In IDDM, IL-2 production by CD4-positive T lymphocytes within the IL-2 system is thought to be selectively defective. On the other hand, IL-4, which is also produced by CD4-positive T lymphocytes, was increased. Since IL-4 did not suppress IL-2 production, it would seem that the IL-2 producing subset in CD4+HLA-DR+ T cells is decreased in IDDM. These results suggest that in recent onset IDDM, IL-2 receptor-positive circulating T cells require an IL-2 supply.[Diabetologia (1994) 37: 476-482]

Although it has been suggested that acetylsalicylate (ASA)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Reye's syndrome, administration of ASA alone does not cause this syndrome in therapeutic doses. We noted, however, that Ca2+ plays important roles in the regulation of cellular functions. ASA at concentrations of 250 microM or less, which had little effect on succinate-linked respiration, impaired Ca2+ accumulation in liver mitochondria by causing an increase in Ca2+ release. ASA plus Ca2+, which in concentrations of 150 microM or less alone had little effect on mitochondrial respiration, inhibited state 3 respiration and dinitrophenol-induced uncoupling of respiration. In addition, ASA plus Ca2+ increased state 4 respiration and ATPase activity. These results indicate that ASA plus Ca2+ impaired mitochondrial ATP synthesis, and suggest that ASA and ASA-induced Ca2+ increases in cytosol form a vicious circle of effects. Furthermore, oral administration of ASA (150 mg/kg for 5 days running) to rats did not affect mitochondrial structure or liver function, but resulted in aberrations of mitochondrial respiration. These results suggest that even therapeutic doses of ASA may induce alteration in mitochondrial function.

TGF-beta is a multifunctional polypeptide which is involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and immunomodulation. Its signaling receptors on the cell surface are postulated to be the type I (TGF beta RI) and type II receptors (TGF beta RII). Previously, TGF beta RII has been cloned and was found to be a receptor type serine/threonine kinase (RSK). In an attempt to isolate novel RSKs expressed in mouse ES cells, we obtained a clone designated as ESK2, which was very closely related to human TGF beta RI. The amino acid sequence of the intracellular domain is completely identical and the transmembrane domain is identical except for one residue. The extracellular domain is 90% homologous with a deletion and an insertion of four amino acid residues. ESK2 also binds to TGF-beta in the presence of TGF beta RII, indicating that ESK2 is the mouse counterpart for human TGF beta RI.

The author performed sclerectomy in six cases of uveal effusion syndrome and examined the excised sclera histologically. From the findings of the sclera during the surgery and histological findings of the excised sclera, uveal effusion syndrome was divided into three groups: 1) nanophthalmos, 2) non-nanophthalmos with hypertrophic sclera, 3) non-nanophthalmos with normal thick sclera. In all cases, glycosaminoglycans were found to be deposited around the scleral collagen fibers. In the nanophthalmic eyes (group 1) and non-nanophthalmic eyes with the hypertrophic sclera (group 2), much glycosaminoglycans were demonstrated around the collagen bundles and enlarged the collagen bundle spaces. In these groups, sclerectomy procedures were successful and, based on the successful result of the operation, the cause of uveal effusion was considered to be disturbance of outflow of intraocular fluid through the hypertrophic sclera. In non-nanophthalmic eyes with normal thick sclera (group 3), few glycosaminoglycans was demonstrated around the collagen bundles with less abnormality, and sclerectomy procedure was not effective. In this group, the occurrence of uveal effusion was another cause but abnormal sclera.

e13103 Background: Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can be activated in vivo by dendritic cell (DC)- based vaccination. However, clinical responses to the immunotherapy with DC vaccination have only been observed in a minority of patients with solid cancer. Combination with other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy may overcome immunoresistance of cancer cells. In the current study, the clinical efficacy of the DC vaccine pulsed with the peptide derived from colorectal cancer-associated antigens in combination with chemotherapy has been evaluated in patients with advanced, inoperable colorectal cancer. Methods: Thirty-two patients with advanced, inoperable colorectal cancer refractory to standard treatment were entered into the study. DCs that were generated from CD14+ monocytes from leukapheresis by 6-day cultivation with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4, were matured by OK-432, a streptococcal agent, and were pulsed with the pancreatic c...

The author treated experimentally produced choroidal neovascularization (ChNV) with mild dye laser photocoagulation (PHC). We treated these ChNVs with 590 nm wavelength, 200 microns spot size, 0.2 second duration and 50 mW of power. Eleven eyes of nine rhesus monkeys were used. Then these ChNVs were examined clinically and histopathologically at 24 hours, 2 weeks and a month after therapeutic PHC. Small ChNVs, less than 1/3 disc diameter healed successfully and histopathologically most of them were coagulated and disappeared. A few poorly developed ChNVs remained, but were well enveloped by the proliferating retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. On the other hand, ChNVs of more than 1/3 disc diameter did not respond to weak PHC, grew actively over a month, and were not completely surrounded by proliferating RPE cells. These results suggest that by mild PHC, small ChNVs may be treatable, however, in large ChNVs, mild PHC may rather accelerate their activity.

3037 Background: Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) can be activated in vivo by dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination. However, clinical responses to the immunotherapy with DC vaccination have only been observed in a minority of patients with solid cancer. Combination with other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy may overcome immunoresistance of cancer cells. It has been shown previously that gemcitabine as well as S-1 sensitises human pancreatic carcinoma cells against CTL-mediated lysis. In the current study, the clinical efficacy of the DC vaccine pulsed with the peptide derived from pancreatic cancer-associated antigen in combination with gemcitabine/S-1 has been evaluated in the patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer. Methods: Thirteen patients with advanced, inoperable pancreatic cancer refractory to standard treatment were entered the study. DCs that were generated from CD14+ monocytes from leukapheresis by 6-day cultivation with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4 were matured by OK-432, a streptococcal agent, and were pulsed with the pancreatic cancer-associated antigen. These DCs (1 x 107) were intradermally administered 5 times at 14-day intervals concomitantly combined with gemcitabine and/or S-1. Results: Of the 13 patients, complete response (CR) was observed in 2 (15.4%), partial response (PR) in 7 (54.8%), stable disease (SD) in 2 (15.4%), progressive disease (PD) in 2 (15.4%). Response rate was 69.2%. Survival rate, quality of life, and performance status were markedly increased. Severe side effects of more than grade 3 that were assessed in accordance with NCI-Common Toxicity Criteria v.2.0, were not observed. Conclusions: It was strongly suggested that the DC vaccination pulsed with cancer associated-peptid in combination with gemcitabine and/or S-1 was safety and effective in the patients with the inoperable pancreatic cancer refractory to standard treatment. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Among 21 cases of retinoblastoma (28 eyes) treated during the past 14 years in our clinic, 14 cases were unilateral, and 7 were bilateral. The average ages at the first visit were 27 months in unilateral cases and 7.2 months in bilateral cases. In all unilateral cases, in all of which the tumors were large (over group III according to Reese's classification), we removed the affected eye, and all patients survived without any evidence of metastasis or recurrence during a 5-year follow-up period. In bilateral cases, we removed the advanced eyes in which the tumors were large (over group III according to Reese's classification) in all cases, and the contralateral eyes underwent conservative treatment by radiotherapy, photocoagulation or chemotherapy. When tumors in contralateral eyes were small (Group I or II in Reese's classification), tumors of the retina subsided and all patients survived without recurrence or metastasis. However, when the tumors were large (group V), tumors of retina did not subside and survival was very poor. Our results show that the prognosis for survival in bilateral cases depends mainly upon the size of the tumor in the remaining eye.

We have evaluated norfloxacin (NFLX) tablets for therapeutic effectiveness and safety in children. The results are summarized as follows. 1. A clinical study was performed on 14 children with infections, including 12 with urinary tract infections and 2 with acute bronchitis. Doses ranging from 1.7 to 5.4 mg/kg body weight were given b.i.d. or t.i.d.. Lengths of treatment ranged from 3 to 15 days. The therapeutic responses were considered "excellent" in 8 and "good" in 5, with an efficacy rate of 93%. 2. Side effects were observed in 2 cases, one with light-headed feeling and one with vomiting. In clinical laboratory tests, eosinophilia was found in 2 cases and GOT was slightly elevated in 1 case. It has been concluded that NFLX is a usable drug for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

The coexistence of a shell-model aspect and an α-cluster aspect in 20 Ne is studied using a model space which is constructed by combining a (1s0d) 4 shell-model space and a microscopic 16 O core plus α-cluster model space. A method is given for calculating matrix elements of one- and two-body operators between basis states of this model space. We assume a microscopic Hamiltonian which involves a two-body effective interaction consisting of central, L - S and Coulomb potentials. The states below the α-decay threshold are obtained by diagonalizing the Hamiltonian, while for those above the threshold, the α- 16 O scattering phase shifts are calculated by solving a coupled scattering equation variationally under an appropriate boundary condition. Energy levels, reduced α-widths and B (E2) values are calculated and compared with experimental values. Three K π = 0 + bands built on 0 1 + (g.s.), 0 2 + (6.72 MeV) and 0 4 + (8.6 MeV) states and the first K π = 0 − band on the l 1 − state at 5.79 MeV are successfully described by the present model.

Nuclear pairing field is investigated within the framework of functional integrals. The equations of motion for the quasiparticles are obtained, in the presence of dynamic and static mean fields, using the stationary phase approximation. Small fluctuations of the pairing fields around their mean values are considered. In the limit of static mean fields, the stationary phase contribution to energy together with the leading term of quadratic corrections reproduces the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov energy of the quasi-particle vacuum state.

The strenghts of the β- and the γ-decays leading to 8 Be (2 + ; E x ≈3MeV) are calculated as functions of the excitations energy of the broad final state. A microscopic continuum wave function is used. Comparison is made with the experimental data.

A number of BF3 counters was irradiated under operating conditions in a neutron field 1.2×104 nv and gamma ray fields of various fluxes between 15 and 64000 R/h. The counters underwent a degradation common to all regardless of the kind and flux of the external radiation. The degradation speed was slower for the operation at a lower gas multiplication and at a higher temperature, 40°C. Many of the counters exhibited a recovery at a certain amount of irradiation (∼ 104 R and ∼ 1010 nvt) and were stable for further irradiation. The degradation was characterized by the signal pulse height reduction. The cathode inner surface analysis was conducted after the irradiation. More fluorine was found on the cathode surface of a recovered counter than on that of a non-recovered one. The deterioration-recovery mechanism is discussed.

The method developed in the preceding paper is applied to the calculation of the spectra of positrons produced in the U + U collision. Matrix elements of the radial derivative operator between adiabatic basis states are calculated in the monopole approximation, with the finite nuclear size taken into account. These matrix elements are then modified for the supercritical case with the use of the analytical method presented in paper I of this series. The coupled differential equations for the occupation amplitudes of the basis states are solved and the positron spectra are obtained for the U + U collision. It is shown that the decomposition of the production probability into a spontaneous and an induced part depends on the definition of the resonance state and cannot be given unambiguously. The results are compared with those obtained by Reinhardt et al.

We have calculated the neutrinoless double beta decay rate of 76Ge. We take into account for the first time a relativistic correction to the nuclear current including weak magnetism. Its effect is to cancel a considerable part of the decay amplitude and we obtain less stringent upper limits on the neutrino Majorana mass and the right-handed weak leptonic current compared with previous calculations.

The neutrinoless ββ decay rates of 76 Ge, 82 Se, 128, 130 Te are calculated in the quasi-particle random appproximation using a realistic effective NN interaction. The reduction of the 0νββ decay nuclear matrix elements due to ground-state correlations is much weaker than that of the 2νββ decay matrix elements, and we can deduce stringent limits on the Majorana neutrino mass and the right-handed leptonic currents from experimental data on νββ decay.

We use the quasi-particle random-phase approximation (QRPA) with a realistic effective nucleon-nucleon interaction to describe the positron β + -decay of the neutron-deficient single-closed-shell nuclei 148 66 Dy 82 , 150 68 Er 82 and 152 70 Yb 82 . In this framework we study the effect of the particle-particle interaction strength on the β + -transition strengths in these nuclei. We are able to reproduce the experimental strengths by reasonable values of the interation parameters, not very different from nucleus to nucleus.

The role of the δ( 3 2 , 3 2 ) isobars, present in the nuclear medium, to the 0 + → 2 + ββ-decay is considered. As an application the 48 Ca → 48 Ti decay is examined in detail. It is found that there exist many shell-model Δ-containing components in the nuclear wave functions which tend to cancel each other. As a result, contrary to expectations, this contribution is not very much larger compared to the usual two-nucleon contribution.

The influence of a nuclear reaction on atomic positron production in heavy-ion collisions is investigated. Using statistical concepts, we describe the nuclear S matrix for a heavy-ion induced reaction as a statistically fluctuating function of energy. The positron production rate is then dependent on the autocorrelation function of this S matrix, and on the ratio of the ''direct'' versus the ''fluctuating'' part of the nuclear cross section. Numerical calculations show that in this way, current experimental results on positron production in heavy-ion collisions can be reproduced in a semiquantitative fashion.

A keyless entry system for locking and unlocking vehicle doors, and for opening the trunk is described. This system utilizes a small (ordinary credit-card size) card transponder with a built-in personal identification code that can be carried in a pocket or a briefcase and the user does not have to take it out for use because the signal transmission is effected by inductive coupling between the card and loop antennas built into the door mirror housing and rear bumper. By touching a switch provided near the trunk keyhole, the user can open the door or trunk as if there were no locks. For anti-theft security and reliability, the system incorporates a twin-loop antenna that generates a rotating magnetic field, and a detection system to prevent the card transponder from being left inside the vehicle. This system has been installed in the luxury classes of Nissan models in the Japanese market. >

Two-neutrino ββ decay rates of 76Ge, 82Se, 128, 130Te are calculated in the quasi-particle random phase approximation using a realistic effective NN interaction. The decays are strongly suppressed, in agreement with the experimental data, when a reasonable amount of particle-particle interaction is taken into account.

The neutrinoless ββ decay rate of the process 76Ge(0+1) → 76Se(2+1) has been calculated taking into account both the two-nucleon and Δ-isobar mechanisms. Since there occurs a cancellation in the contribution of the two-nucleon mechanism, the Δ mechanism becomes important. Using the calculated nuclear matrix elements, the upper limits on the effective coupling constants of right-handed leptonic currents |〈λ〉

With increasing nuclear charge Z (and finite nuclear size), the lowest bound-state solution of the Dirac equation changes into a resonance located in the positron continuum (supercritical atom). We develop a formalism which enables us to treat this resonance explicitly in the manner of a quasibound state. The processes of electron and positron production in heavy-ion collisions of total charge Z/sub 1/+Z/sub 2/> or approx. =170 can then be formulated analytically in such a way that all the rapid energy dependence due to this resonance is made explicit. The definition of the resonance wave function involves some ambiguity. As a consequence, the decomposition of the transition amplitude for positron production into a ''spontaneous'' and an ''induced'' part cannot be given unambiguously. The coupled time-dependent equations for the occupation amplitudes of the adiabatic single-particle states contain matrix elements which are smooth functions of the energy, and which can be calculated easily. The application of this formalism to positron production in supercritical atoms is presented in the following article by one of us (T.T.).

Starting from a quantum-mechanical description of the total system consisting of an electron and two nuclei, the semiclassical equation for the transition amplitude between electronic adiabatic basis states is derived for the case of the Rutherford scattering. This method is then generalized to include the effect of nuclear elastic and inelastic collisions. The total transition amplitude for a reaction in which both the electron and nuclei are excited is expressed as products of three factors summed over the intermediate atomic states. Of these three factors, the first and the third are the semiclassical atomic transition amplitudes before and after the nuclear collision, respectively, and the second is the $S$-matrix element for the nuclear collision.

We have calculated the 0νββ and 2νββ decay rates of the transition 76 Ge(0 + 1 ) → 76 Se(0 + 1 ). We took into account a relativistic correction to the nuclear current including weak magnetism. The nuclear two-body transition operator for the 0νββ decay originating from this correction acquires a finite range due to the finite extension of the nucleon and the short-range NN correlations reduce its matrix element only moderately. The contribution from this “second-forbidden” transition plays a dramatic role in the 0νββ decay caused by a specific admixture of a right-handed leptonic current because of the high momentum of the virtual neutrino exchanged between nucleons and systematic cancellations in “allowed” and other “second-forbidden” 0νββ transitions. A new limit on the right-handed current coupling strength |〈 η 〉| −8 was obtained, which is more stringent by an order of magnitude than that obtained recently by the Osaka group.