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Bonobos (Pan paniscus) consume a variety of vertebrates, although direct observations remain relatively rare compared to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). We report the first direct observations of meat eating and sharing among bonobos at Iyema, Lomako Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. We collected meat consumption data ad libitum from June to November 2017 over 176.5 observation hours and conducted monthly censuses to measure the abundance of potential prey species. We observed 3 occasions of duiker consumption and found indirect evidence of meat consumption twice (n = 5). We identified the prey species as Weyn's duiker (Cephalophus weynsi) in all 4 cases that we saw the carcass. This species was the most abundant duiker species at Iyema, but other potential prey species were also available. Meat sharing was observed or inferred during all 3 observations. However, the individual controlling the carcass frequently resisted sharing, and aggressive attempts to take the carcass were observed. This report contributes to a growing body of data suggesting that wild bonobos consume meat at higher rates than previously thought, female control of carcasses is frequent but not exclusive, and meat sharing in bonobos is primarily passive but not without aggression.

Bonobos (Pan paniscus) consume a variety of vertebrates, although direct observations remain relatively rare compared to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). We report the first direct observations of meat eating and sharing among bonobos at Iyema, Lomako Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. We collected meat consumption data ad libitum from June to November 2017 over 176.5 observation hours and conducted monthly censuses to measure the abundance of potential prey species. We observed 3 occasions of duiker consumption and found indirect evidence of meat consumption twice (n = 5). We identified the prey species as Weyn's duiker (Cephalophus weynsi) in all 4 cases that we saw the carcass. This species was the most abundant duiker species at Iyema, but other potential prey species were also available. Meat sharing was observed or inferred during all 3 observations. However, the individual controlling the carcass frequently resisted sharing, and aggressive attempts to take the carcass were observed. This report contributes to a growing body of data suggesting that wild bonobos consume meat at higher rates than previously thought, female control of carcasses is frequent but not exclusive, and meat sharing in bonobos is primarily passive but not without aggression.

Background and Purpose Elevation of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid, during inflammation and injury plays a crucial role in the reception and transmission of sensory information via ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the biphasic effects of metabotropic glutamate mGlu5 receptor activation on responses to noxious heat.

The hydrolysis constants of Th(IV) were determined using the solvent extraction method in a NaClO4solution atI=0.1 and 25 °C. A trace amount of thorium below the solubility limit was used in order to avoid the formation of polynuclear species and colloids in the experiment. The values were compared with the literature data. Considering the effect of competitive hydrolysis reactions under weak acid conditions, the complexation constants of Th(IV) with a series of dicarboxylic acids containing different alkyl chain lengths were determined.

The present study was designed to construct reliable daily salivary progesterone profiles throughout the luteal phase to accurately evaluate the corpus luteum function. Furthermore, we investigated the clinical relevance of a simple midluteal salivary progesterone estimation for the diagnosis of luteal phase insufficiency by determining the diagnostic efficiency and cutoff values. A total of 121 women were divided into 3 groups; normal luteal function, luteal phase insufficiency and unclassified group, based on basal body temperature recordings and serum progesterone levels at 3 sampling points during the midluteal phase. Salivary progesterone values across the luteal phase of the normal luteal function group were significantly increased from day 1 to day 4, remained constant from day 5 to day 9 (mean ± SD, 318 ± 170 pmol/l on day 5, 287 ± 169 pmol/l on day 9; urinary LH surge = day 0) and decreased thereafter. Salivary progesterone concentrations in the luteal phase insufficiency group showed significantly lower values compared with those in the normal group between days 3 and 10. The cutoff values of 189 pmol/l in the midluteal phase yielded a sensitivity of 78.0% and a specificity of 76.5%. Our results suggest that daily salivary progesterone profiles during the luteal phase and a simple estimation of midluteal salivary progesterone appeared to be useful for the diagnosis of luteal phase defects.

Elevation of glutamate, an excitatory amino acid, during inflammation and injury plays a crucial role in the reception and transmission of sensory information via ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the biphasic effects of metabotropic glutamate mGlu5 receptor activation on responses to noxious heat.We assessed the effects of intraplantar quisqualate, a non-selective glutamate receptor agonist, on heat and mechanical pain behaviours in mice. In addition, the effects of quisqualate on the intracellular calcium response and on membrane currents mediated by TRPV1 channels, were examined in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons from mice.Activation of mGlu5 receptors in hind paw transiently increased, then decreased, the response to noxious heat. In sensory neurons, activation of mGlu5 receptors potentiated TRPV1-mediated intracellular calcium elevation, while terminating activation of mGlu5 receptors depressed it. TRPV1-induced currents were potentiated by activation of mGlu5 receptors under voltage clamp conditions and these disappeared after washout. However, voltage-gated calcium currents were inhibited by the mGlu5 receptor agonist, even after washout.These results suggest that, in sensory neurons, mGlu5 receptors biphasically modulate TRPV1-mediated intracellular calcium response via transient potentiation of TRPV1 channel-induced currents and persistent inhibition of voltage-gated calcium currents, contributing to heat hyper- and hypoalgesia.

The involvement of protein kinases in platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa was investigated using specific inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). PAF (10(-9)-10(-11) M) treatment of spermatozoa enhanced the acrosome reaction in a dose-dependent manner (32 +/- 4% at 10(-9) M, 28 +/- 4% at 10(-10) M and 24 +/- 3% at 10(-11) M respectively). When spermatozoa were preincubated with PKA, PKC and PTK inhibitor (KT5720, calphostin C and genistein) for 15 min prior to addition of PAF, there was a significantly reduced acrosome reaction induced by PAF, but complete inhibition was not observed. On the other hand, combined use of three inhibitors completely inhibited PAF-induced acrosome reaction to levels of non-treated samples. These results suggest that the induction of the acrosome reaction by PAF treatment may involve the activation of PKA, PKC and PTK signalling pathways, and that interaction between these pathways may regulate complex mechanisms of PAF-induced acrosome reaction.

The existence and time course of the human plasma membrane block to polyspermy were investigated by an in vitro fertilization assay using zona pellucida-free unfertilized oocytes, pronuclear oocytes and embryos. In the time course study using a high sperm concentration (10(5) spermatozoa ml-1), the number of penetrating spermatozoa at 30 and 60 min after insemination were 1.3 +/- 0.3 and 2.9 +/- 0.4, respectively. By 2 h after insemination, spermatozoa penetration reached a maximum. A lower maximum number of penetrating spermatozoa was observed at a low sperm concentration (10(4) spermatozoa ml-1), but the number of penetrating spermatozoa still reached a maximum by 2 h after insemination. A reinsemination experiment demonstrated that the number of penetrating spermatozoa was not significantly different between control and reinseminated oocytes, while sperm penetration was not observed in the oocyte beyond the two-cell stage. Furthermore, the number of binding spermatozoa decreased after fertilization and most of the four-cell stage embryos displayed no sperm binding. These results suggest that the plasma membrane block plays an important role in the prevention of polyspermy in the human oocyte, and that the plasma membrane block may involve permanent changes in the binding or fusion ability of spermatozoa in the oolemma after fertilization.

The direct effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) and the specific PAF receptor antagonist, CV-3988, on the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa were investigated. PAF (10(-7)-10(-11) M) increased the human sperm penetration rates in a sperm penetration assay at all doses > 10(-11) M. In contrast, treatment of the spermatozoa with 10(-5) CV-3988 caused a significant decrease in human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes and adversely affected sperm motility after 24 h of incubation. This suppression was reversed by the addition of PAF. The acrosome reaction was also enhanced by PAF treatment of spermatozoa but this effect was not observed in calcium-free medium. While 10(-5) M CV-3988 decreased the acrosome reaction, the inhibition was also reversed by the addition of PAF. These results suggest that PAF may have a direct role in the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa. These findings also suggest that PAF may have a clinical application in an in-vitro fertilization programme.

Localization and 3D mapping are important tasks, for a humanoid robot to move in a complex human environment. In This work, we present a feature tracking based visual odometry system using stereo vision to achieve simultaneous 6D localization and 3D mapping. A camera position can be estimated from 3D environmental depth data and a previous 3D map, and used to incrementally update the 3D map. Visual odometry was employed to compute the view transformation relating a pair of views. Experimental results that estimate camera trajectory and build a 3D map are accurately obtained. The system is more accurate than typical dead-reckoning system such as gyro sensors.

Impulse flashover strength between foil conductors on printed wiring boards with and without backside electrode was measured in air at 20/spl deg/C and 40-45%RH. The smallest gap distance between the conductors is 0.05 mm. The thicknesses of the board were 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm. The experimental results show that the flashover for the board without backside electrode occurs when the electric field strength on the foil conductor edge reaches to about 100 kV/mm, which is independent of the gap distance. For the board with backing electrode, the flashover occurs at the independent value of the field strength only in the positive flashover at 0.8 mm of board thickness. In the other cases, the field strength at the flashover increases with the gap distance.

A minicapillary viscometer utilizing

Aspect ratios increase as metal device design rules decrease and, in the current metal etching process, this higher aspect ratio has lead to increased electron shading (Hashimoto, 1993) which has been shown to cause electrical and physical damage (Tabara, 1996) to the device. In case of Al etching, it is very difficult to satisfy the device's requirements due to its own characterization. In poly etching, the electron shading effect can be reduced by replacing the photoresist mask with a SiO/sub 2/ hard mask (Lee et al., 1998). This same method has been applied to Al etching and has demonstrated similar results. In this paper, we show that using an SiO/sub 2/ hard mask instead of photoresist is effective in preventing electrical damage in Al etching.

The authors introduce an expert system for supporting the operation of a primary substation which plays an important role in an electric power system. The system provides the substation operators with the results of diagnosis and necessary guidance. The system is provided with an event-driven reasoning system which flexibly changes the flow of reasoning in response to the events or changes in the state of the electric power system. To realize this event-driven reasoning, the system is composed of multiple inference modules centered around a blackboard. To verify the operation of the expert system on a real-time basis, a prototype of the expert system was connected with a simulator which simulates a power system and its faults. >

Engineers have to refer to various technical information to perform their job. Technical information have been accumulated in an electronic form as documents which contain texts, pictures and movies in enterprises. However, it needs expert knowledge to make use of these technical information. In this paper, we describe an ontology-centric framework, called intelligent corporate base (ICoB) which organizes a technical information into documents, assists a comprehension of documents and helps share information. We explain a prototype system for planning on repair work of transformers. Furthermore, we describe development and use of ontology for technical information sharing.

To observe the role of interleukin (IL)-6 in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).DA rats were immunized by injecting bovine myelin basic protein (MBP). mRNA of cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, IFN-gamma, and iNOS, were detected by RT-PCR. MBP was injected into ear to induce delayed type cutaneous hypersensitivity response (DTH). Histological studies were performed on the spinal cord with HE staining. Nitric oxide (NO) production from cultured murine macrophage clones was stimulated with LPS plus IFN-gamma.DA rats developed EAE disease with a peak of severity on d 13 and d 14. Am-80 (1.0, 3.0 mg/kg), a selective IL-6 inhibitor, inhibited the symptoms in terms of deterioration as observed by the clinical score, body weight and histological findings, in a dose-related manner. A high dose of Am-80 (3.0 mg/kg for 12 d) did not completely inhibit the disease, but delayed the symptoms and enhanced the delayed response. By prolonging the duration of treatment (18 d), Am-80 inhibited the onset of EAE during administration, but the symptoms of EAE appeared after the administration was stopped. Am-80 administerd for 12 d inhibited the DTH response on d 11 but not on d 22. RT-PCR studies demonstrated a strong expression of IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-beta 1, TNF-alpha, and iNOS mRNA in spinal cord 13 d after immunization. However IFN-gamma, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and iNOS mRNA expression (on d 13) was suppressed by Am-80, except in the case of IL-6, hence the effect of Am-80 on the expression of IL-6 mRNA was examined in additional experiments. After Am-80 was administered for 12 d or 18 d, the expression of IL-6 mRNA was inhibited on d 12 or d 18, but increased on d 13 or d 19, respectively.These findings suggest that inhibition of EAE by Am-80 is initiated by inhibition of IL-6 production.

The present study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of low-dose step-up follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) administration with conventional FSH protocol (FSH was injected daily starting with a dose of 150 IU), both combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI), for the treatment of unexplained infertility. A total of 97 unexplained infertility couples was randomly assigned to one or other of the two treatment groups, either conventional FSH with IUI (48 patients) or low-dose step-up FSH with IUI (49 patients), and only the first treatment cycle was evaluated in each protocol. The difference in pregnancy rates per cycle was not statistically significant between the low-dose FSH group and the conventional group [seven of 49 (14.3%) and seven of 48 (14.6%) respectively]. A significant reduction in the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was observed in the low-dose group (8.3% versus 27.1%, P < 0.05). The incidence of moderate OHSS requiring hospitalization was reduced significantly in the low-dose group (low-dose 0% versus conventional 16.7%, P < 0.01). However, the low-dose protocol did not completely prevent multiple pregnancies. Our results suggest that the low-dose step-up FSH treatment appeared to be useful for the treatment of unexplained infertility because of the high pregnancy rates and the significant decrease in the incidence of OHSS.

We investigated whether the incorporation of the sperm membrane into the oolemma contributes to the human plasma membrane block to polyspermy. We used zona pellucida–free oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or activated by parthenogenetic activation. Only two of the 35 pronuclear oocytes fertilized by spermatozoa (control) demonstrated one single penetrating spermatozoa. In contrast, the majority of ICSI and parthenogenetically activated pronuclear oocytes were penetrated with an average of three spermatozoa per oocyte. The number of fused and binding spermatozoa of ICSI and parthenogenetically activated oocytes were significantly higher than in control oocytes (3.5 ± 0.6 and 4.3 ± 0.6 for ICSI; 3.0 ± 0.3 and 3.8 ± 0.4 for activated and 0.2 ± 0.1 and 0.6 ± 0.2 for controls, respectively, P

Coliform group bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, salmonella and proteus were not detected in four samples of kusaya gravy, a kind of brine used for the production of special salt-dried fish in Japan. Vibrio parahaemolyticus at a level of 101/ml was presumptively detected only in one sample. When inoculated into the gravy at a level of 107-108/ml, none of these bacteria grew. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii rapidly decreased in number and were not detectable after 5 d. Staphylococcus aureus numbers reduced only 1 log cycle after incubation for 7 d in the gravy. These results indicate the safety of the gravy with respect to the organisms.

The prognostic factors and the causes for obit occurrence in ophidian envenoming are yet not completely clear.To determine the prognostic factors and the most probable causes for obit occurrence in ophidian envenoming.In the State of São Paulo were notified 12,639 cases of accidents by venomous snakes from 1988 to 1993. There were 43 deaths (0.34%). The variables from the accident notification reports were compared with the promptuary notes and/or with the death records (in lethal cases).The snake genus was classified in 11,297 accidents and in 41 from the lethal ones. Bothrops was responsible for 9,828 (87%) accidents and 28 (68.3%) deaths, Crotalus for 1,359 (12.0%) accidents and 13 deaths (31.7%) and Micrurus for 110 (1%) accidents and no death (p0.05). The information regarding to sex and age of the patients was available, respectively, in 12,620 and 12,527 accidents and in all lethal ones. There were 9,783 (77.5%) male patients in the accidents and 35 (81.4%) in the lethal cases (p0.05). Regarding to age, 15.9% of the patients and 41.8% of the ones who died were 50 years-old or more (p0.05). The most frequently bitten anatomic regions were: foot (42.2%), hand (20.6%), leg (17.6%), and ankle (13.1%) in the accidents, and foot (35.7%) and leg (35.7%) in the lethal cases (p0.05). Coagulation disorders occurred in 34 (91.9%) from 37 patients who died (those where this datum was available). The information above was not available in non lethal cases. The most common manifestations and complications implicated as possible death causes were: acute renal failure (34-79.1%), acute respiratory failure (28-65.1%), shock (18-41.9%), and sepsis (18-41.9%). Among all lethal cases but one without information, 29.4% of the patients died within the first two days after bite and 67.6% within the first 5 days. Acute respiratory failure was most common among the patients who died owing to crotalic envenoming, and sepsis was only seen in bothropic envenoming.Most of the accidents and obits are caused by Bothrops; Crotalus envenoming, leg bites, and accidents in 50 year-old patients (or more) are frequently lethal; the most common complication in lethal cases is acute renal failure.

We previously produced a transgenic mouse line designated MT-hMet30 by introducing the human mutant transthyretin (TTR) gene carrying the mouse metallothionein promoter, and showed that the presence of human variant TTR is sufficient for amyloid deposition in various tissues of these transgenic mice. However, the expression pattern of human mutant transthyretin gene in the mouse was different from that in man. To analyse pathologic processes, it is essential to establish a transgenic mouse line in which the development and tissue-specific expression of the human mutant TTR gene is the same as in man. Thus, we produced two additional transgenic mouse lines carrying the human mutant TTR gene containing either 0.6 kb (0.6-hMet30) or 6.0 kb (6.0- hMet30) of the upstream region. The expression levels of 6.0-hMet 30 gene in the liver and serum were the same as in man and about 10 times higher than those of 0.6-hMet30 gene in the liver and serum were the same as similar tissues to human patients except for the peripheral and autonomic nervous tissues. The amyloid deposition started earlier and was more extensive in 6.0-hMet30 than 0.6-hMet30 mice, suggesting that the serum levels of human mutant TTR are correlated with the occurrence and degree of amyloid deposition, to some extent. Neither amyloid deposition nor degenerative changes were observed in the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems despite the transgene expression in the choroid plexus of the 6.0-hMet30 mice. In the 6.0-hMet30 mice, amyloid deposition started at 9 months of age, although the serum level of human mutant TTR reached the adult level at 1 month. These results suggest that intrinsic environmental factors other than the mutant gene are involved in the late-onset deposition of amyloid fibrils. Transgenic mice described here should be useful for analysing such factors.

The involvement of protein kinases in platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa was investigated using specific inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). PAF (10(-9)-10(-11) M) treatment of spermatozoa enhanced the acrosome reaction in a dose-dependent manner (32 +/- 4% at 10(-9) M, 28 +/- 4% at 10(-10) M and 24 +/- 3% at 10(-11) M respectively). When spermatozoa were preincubated with PKA, PKC and PTK inhibitor (KT5720, calphostin C and genistein) for 15 min prior to addition of PAF, there was a significantly reduced acrosome reaction induced by PAF, but complete inhibition was not observed. On the other hand, combined use of three inhibitors completely inhibited PAF-induced acrosome reaction to levels of non-treated samples. These results suggest that the induction of the acrosome reaction by PAF treatment may involve the activation of PKA, PKC and PTK signalling pathways, and that interaction between these pathways may regulate complex mechanisms of PAF-induced acrosome reaction.

Objective To examine the reliability of the zona-free aged (1 day old) human unfertilized oocyte sperm penetration assay for assessing sperm fertilizing ability and to determine the predictive value of this assay for subsequent subzonal insemination (SUZI) outcomes. Design A total of 253 unfertilized oocytes from total fertilization failure patients and from good fertilization rate (>70%) patients in standard IVF were inseminated with donors' spermatozoa, and penetration rates were compared in each group. Two hundred seventy-two unfertilized oocytes from total fertilization failure, poor fertilization ( 30%) were inseminated with husbands' spermatozoa, and penetration rates were compared between the three groups. In 29 patients, the results of the zona-free assay performed in previous IVF were compared with the fertilization rates of subsequent SUZI. Results In the zona-free assay using donors' spermatozoa, there was no difference in penetration rates between the two groups (109/122, 89.3% versus 114/131, 87.0%). Penetration rates using partners' spermatozoa were positively correlated with fertilization rates in standard IVF (total fertilization failure 34/75, 45.3%; poor fertilization 56/77, 72.7%; normal fertilization 108/120, 90.0%). There was a significant difference in fertilization rates after SUZI between the patients with negative and positive penetration in zona-free assay (4/53, 7.5%, versus 54/174, 31.0%). Conclusion The zona-free human oocyte assay may primarily reflect sperm fertilizing ability. This assay also could be a reliable predictor for subsequent SUZI outcome.

The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in combination with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) for ovulation induction has been advocated for the treatment, particularly by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) of various types of infertility. The present study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of HMG alone with a short protocol of GnRHa/HMG for treatment of unexplained infertility. A total of 91 couples with unexplained infertility were randomly assigned to one of two treatments; either HMG with intra-uterine insemination (IUI) (45 patients, 62 cycles) or GnRHa/HMG with IUI (46 patients, 69 cycles) treatments. Progesterone concentrations on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration were significantly higher in HMG (1.5 +/- 0.9 ng/ml) versus GnRHa/HMG (0.8 +/- 0.6 ng/ml; P < 0.05) cycles. Furthermore, GnRHa suppressed the occurrences of premature luteinization (GnRHa/HMG 5.8% and HMG 24.2% respectively). However, there were no significant differences in HMG dose requirements, plasma oestradiol concentrations or follicular development on the day of HCG administration between the two groups. Nor were any significant differences found in the pregnancy rates between the two treatment protocols (GnRHa/HMG 13.0% and HMG 11.3% respectively). Our results suggest no beneficial effect of GnRHa/HMG compared to HMG alone for the treatment of unexplained infertility, based on pregnancy rates.

Porcine pancreatic extracts (PXs) have previously been shown to decrease blood ionized calcium in BALB/c mice (T. Yoneda, Y. Takaoka, and G. R. Mundy. FEBS Lett., 278: 171-174, 1991). In the present study, we show that the PX is effective in preventing progression of hypercalcemia and decreasing osteoclastic bone resorption associated with a human squamous carcinoma in nude mice. PX inhibited osteoclast-like cell formation in mouse bone marrow cultures and bone resorption in organ cultures of fetal rat long bones which had been stimulated by serum-free culture supernatants of this cancer. In addition, PX increased food intake, decreased weight loss, and prevented development of cachexia. In parallel with these effects, PX prolonged survival of tumor-bearing animals. PX might have therapeutic potential for management of hypercalcemia and cachexia associated with malignancy.

Field-emission current from titanium-oxide nanostructures is increased by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The field-emission current after UV irradiation was tens of times larger than that before irradiation. The enhancement in electron emission by UV at 365 nm is larger than that at 405 nm. The increased emission current did not decrease after the irradiation was stopped but did decrease after the sample was exposed to air. This suggests that surface cleaning by photon induced reaction is the origin of the observed current enhancement.

The direct effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) and the specific PAF receptor antagonist, CV-3988, on the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa were investigated. PAF (10(-7)-10(-11) M) increased the human sperm penetration rates in a sperm penetration assay at all doses10(-11) M. In contrast, treatment of the spermatozoa with 10(-5) CV-3988 caused a significant decrease in human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes and adversely affected sperm motility after 24 h of incubation. This suppression was reversed by the addition of PAF. The acrosome reaction was also enhanced by PAF treatment of spermatozoa but this effect was not observed in calcium-free medium. While 10(-5) M CV-3988 decreased the acrosome reaction, the inhibition was also reversed by the addition of PAF. These results suggest that PAF may have a direct role in the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa. These findings also suggest that PAF may have a clinical application in an in-vitro fertilization programme.

Histiocytosis X is a disorder of the reticuloendothelial system with manifestations usually present in the form of one of three entities, namely; Letterer-Siwe disease, Hand-Schüller-Christian disease and eosinophilic granuloma of the bone. A 32-year-old female was admitted to our hospital in July 1990 because of a bilateral diffuse granular abnormal shadow in the chest. She had a history of bilateral pneumothorax in July 1987. She had been suffering from diabetes insipidus since October 1987, and amenorrhea since January 1989. Miliary tuberculosis, fungus disease, pneumoconiosis, sarcoidosis and collagen disease of the lung were excluded by laboratory examinations, and by observation of the clinical course. Histiocytosis X often combines pneumothorax, diabetes insipidus, amenorrhea and an abnormal radiograph of the chest. We suspected this case was one of Histiocytosis X. But, in her lung biopsy, neither Langerhans cells nor Birbeck granules were found. Furthermore S100 protein immunoperoxidase stain was negative. Therefore, we posit the existence of a new and different subtype of Histiocytosis X without histological findings.

From 1986 to 1989, 8,721 accidents caused by poisonous snakes have been notified to the Government of the State of São Paulo (Brazil), Health Department, which represented the average annual incidence rate of 6.8 to 7.4/100,000 persons. The classification of the snake genus had been possible in 6,834 cases and the distribution was: Bothrops (85.6%), Crotalus (13.3%) and Micrurus (1.1%). The vast majority of cases (5,807) occurred from November to April. The age distribution shows that 74.4% of the accidents had been suffered by people from 10 to 49 year old people with great predominance in males (77.0%). The anatomical areas more frequently bitten were feet and ankles (52.8%), hands (20.5%) and legs (17.2%). At the health center 67.5% of the patients had been treated within the first, second and third sixth hour after the accident. The distribution according to the severity of poisoning was: light (53.5%), moderate (38.3%) and severe (8.2%). The case fatality rate was 0.4%, 60,954 vials of various anti-venoms were used (an average of 7.0 vials per patient). Accidents owing to poisonous snakes are frequent in the State of São Paulo; the most important genus is Bothrops; the young male population is more often attacked; they are an important cause of death.

Electron emission characteristics of needle-shaped titanium dioxide (TiO2) cathodes fabricated by a printing method and the change in current densities before and after ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation were investigated. A field enhanced surface treatment by applying a high electric field to the printed TiO2 cathodes was found to be effective for improvement in field emission, resulting in protrusion of TiO2 nanorods from the cathode surface and field emission at and above 2.5V∕μm with a current density of about 1mA∕cm2 at 8V∕μm. The emission current density of TiO2 cathodes can be increased by UV light irradiation with gradual increase and decrease from and to the initial level with and without UV light.

Membrane preparations from monkey and pig hypothalami bound [125]insulin specifically. The binding appeared to be greater by preparations from anterior than posterior portions of the pig hypothalamus. Binding was time dependent, and its dissociation was first order with a half-time at 22°C of 14 min. Desalanine insulin was as effective as native insulin in inhibiting the binding of [125I]insulin, while proinsulin was less effective and desoctapeptide insulin still less effective in accord with their biologic activities. Binding by membranes from cortex and thalamus appeared to be less than from hypothalamus. [125I]lnsulin was infused into an arterial split monkey brain preparation to determine if insulin that was blood borne bound specifically to the primate hypothalamus. Half the brain was perfused with [125I]insulin alone and the other half with [125I]insulin plus an excess of unlabeled insulin. Radioautography showed specific binding of insulin localized to the median eminence, infundibular nucleus, and microvessels. Thus, the monkey and pig hypothalami bind insulin with characteristics similar to those reported for known target tissues for insulin. Furthermore, insulin from the blood stream binds to specific anatomical structures in the hypothalamus of the monkey.

To study the lattice instability of 1T-TiSe2, phonon dispersion curves are calculated by taking into account the effective ion-ion interaction caused by the electron—lattice coupling which is linear in ionic displacements. It is found that the temperature dependence of the effective interaction leads to a complete softening of the L−1(1) mode which corresponds to the superlattice structure of TiSe2 below 200 K.

Effects of lattice fluctuations on physical properties related to the charge density wave transition are studied using the thermal Green's function method. The renormalized phonon frequency and the lattice fluctuation are solved self-consistently in the mode-mode coupling approximation. We show that characteristic temperature dependences of lattice fluctuations in the q-space can give rise to anomalous temperature variations of spin susceptibility χs and electrical resistivity r near the transition temperature, which explain well the anomalous temperature dependences of χs and r observed in 1T-TiSe2.

To study the lattice instability of 1T-TiSe2, phonon dispersion curves are calculated as functions of temperature by taking into account the effective ion-ion interactions caused by electron-lattice interaction. From the standpoint of the softening of phonon frequency we conclude that one of the transverse modes at the L point freezes as the distortion at the phase transition.

A new database system was designed and constructed in order to provide the newest and most reliable numerical data on thermophysical properties of fluids to the scientific and technical community as quickly as possible. The database is concerned with 12 kinds of property data: density, specific volume, compressibility factor, vapor pressure, specific heat, specific enthalpy, specific entropy, viscosity, thermal conductivity, surface tension, refractive index, and dielectric constant of 340 pure fluids under all conditions of seven convenient physical states. Only the most probable data, which were critically evaluated in advance, are compiled as functions of temperature and pressure in the form of either numerical data tables or correlation formulas. Property values at desired grid points of temperature and pressure can be obtained in SI units directly or by interpolations with some supplementary information, such as the grade of reliability, source bibliography, and fundamental physical constants of the fluid. The database is usable as conversational processing by TSS, the tabulation of property data in a batch processing, and one of the subroutine libraries in the computation of a user's program. Ten kinds of application programs are prepared for multipurpose retrievals so that anyone can use the database without any special knowledge of the structure or machine languages of this system.

A new mechanism is proposed for the magnon-phonon interaction in KCoF 3 . The interaction Hamiltonian is derived by treating the vibration-modulated crystal field and the spin-orbit interaction as perturbations. The mechanism can well explain the experimental results of the inelastic neutron scattering and the Raman scattering.

To study the lattice instability of 1TTiSe2 the electronic susceptibility is calculated for several phonon modes at the symmetry points in the Brillouin zone, using the electronic band structure obtained by a tight-binding fit to the Zunger and Freeman band of this compound. The wave number and mode dependences of electron-lattice interaction are included. It is found that the electronic susceptibility is the largest for one of the transverse modes at the L point and for the amplitude ratio of the Ti and Se displacements of 3:1. Therefore this mode is most likely to be realized in the low temperature phase, as observed.