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Superconducting joints of Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 (BaK-122) tapes were fabricated by a simple cold-pressing method. The interfaces of the superconducting cores were prepared by two different methods; (i) peeling off a part of the Ag sheath (PO joint) and (ii) angle polishing of one edge of each tape (AP joint). For the PO joint, a critical current ratio (CCR =Icjoint/Ictape, where Ictape and Icjoint are critical currents in tapes and joint parts, respectively) of 30% at 4.2 K and 3.5 T was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the jointing area was not fully connected when the applied pressure was insufficient, and that cracks were induced in the superconducting core around the ends of the joint when the pressure was too high. These are considered to be factors that caused lowering of a CCR value. On the other hand, in the case of the AP joint, the formation of such gaps in the joint interface as well as inhomogeneous deformations and cracking around the joint-ends were successfully avoided. As a result, high CCR values of 80 ∼ 90% at 4.2 K under 0.5 ∼ 3.5 T were achieved, demonstrating that superconducting wires/tapes with sufficient length can be fabricated based on iron-based superconductors, which possibly opens up the potential for high-field magnet application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Calcineurin-inhibitor–induced pain syndrome (CIPS) was used as a reference in the literature as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome related to calcineurin inhibitors. Much of the literature describes CIPS that occurred after kidney and bone marrow transplantation. We describe a rare case of CIPS in induction immunosuppression before kidney transplantation, under administration of an anti-rheumatoid drug. Methods A 53-year-old woman had pre-status of ABO-incompatible living kidney transplantation. The patient had rheumatoid arthritis, but that was well-controlled with salazosulfapyridine as an anti-rheumatoid drug. Fourteen days before transplantation, she received induction immunosuppressive therapy consisting of tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and she stopped taking salazosulfapyridine. The third day after that treatment, she had a high fever, fatigue, and joint pains of the knees, elbows, and wrists. Results When the patient stopped taking TAC and MMF and started taking salazosulfapyridine again, she soon recovered. Next, we challenged same induction immunosuppression therapy with administration of salazosulfapyridine; however, the patient had the same symptom. We considered that the symptom was caused by TAC or MMF, and we did not challenge-test each drug. We found that taking only TAC caused the same symptom for the patient. Also, we challenged cyclosporine (CsA) with MMF and confirmed that she did not have the symptom. Conclusions We decided that drugs of the induction immunosuppression therapy were CsA, MMF, prednisolone, and basiliximab. The patient received induction therapy with plasmapheresis and rituximab in addition to the above-mentioned drugs, and we performed ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation for her. The post-surgical course was good, without acute rejection, and she had no pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated difference in the transport properties between Al 0.1 In 0.9 Sb/InSb and Al 0.1 In 0.9 Sb/InAs 0.1 Sb 0.9 quantum wells (QWs). The resistivity of InSb QWs increases exponentially with decreasing temperature, while that of InAs 0.1 Sb 0.9 QWs is much lower than that of InSb QWs, showing low resistivity even at low temperature. Energy band diagram calculations of InAs x Sb 1− x /Al 0.1 In 0.9 Sb quantum wells (QWs) revealed that the bottom of the conduction band of the InAs x Sb 1− x well moves downward with increasing As content x . The bottom of the InSb QWs lies above the Fermi level ( E F ), resulting in depletion of the QW, while that in InAs 0.1 Sb 0.9 QWs lies under E F at low temperature. These calculation results support the experimental difference of the resistivity and sheet carrier density between two types of the QWs well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) was administered by gavage to groups (10 males and 10 females) of Sprague-Dawley specific pathogen-free rats for 6 weeks from day 4 after birth at doses of 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/day. Each pup was subjected to a variety of observations to examine for development effects/changes after birth: general condition, clinical signs, functional examinations, grip strength and spontaneous movement, body weight and feed consumption, external differentiation, ophthalmological examination, urinalysis (including water consumption), hematology, blood chemistry, necropsy, organ weight, and histopathology. During the study period, no deaths occurred in any group and there were no observed effects from administration of GOS. Therefore, it was concluded that GOS had no effects on the development of animals 4 days after birth. Since, there were no abnormalities due to administration of GOS in the macroscopic examination, organ weight or histopathology of the reproductive organs or differentiation (incisor eruption and eyelid opening) of males or females, it was concluded that repeated oral administration of GOS at 2000 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks from day 4 after birth hadno effects on postnatal development. The no observed effect level of GOS by repeated oral administration for 6 weeks from day 4 after birth was 2000 mg/kg/day for both males and females under the conditions of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The electronic structure of Fe2P(0001) has been investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) utilizing synchrotron radiation. In the valence band (VB) spectra, an Fe 3d–P 3p hybrid band (main band) was observed at 0–3eV independent of photon energy, and satellites were observed at 4.5 and 7eV at hν <55eV. The satellites showed a resonant behavior around the Fe 3p threshold, and are associated with the photoemission process leading to two-hole bound final states. The slight Ar+ ion sputtering (1kV, 5min) induced little change in VB spectra, while core-level PES study showed that the P atoms in the surface region were selectively removed. This suggests that the stabilization of the metal sites due to the bonding with P atoms is ineffective on Fe2P(0001), unlike the situation reported earlier for Ni2P. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To obtain high-performance THz-wave-emitting devices made of single crystals of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ (Bi2212), a high-temperature superconductor, an understanding of the device characteristics based on crystal characteristics can be a key issue because, in principle, the electrical properties of the intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs) constructed in Bi2212 crystals highly depend on crystal conditions, such as carrier concentration, crystal homogeneities, and crystal defects. To evaluate the tendencies of the device characteristics associated with crystal characteristics, we prepared Bi2212 crystals with different Bi/Sr ratios (x = 0.05 , 0.15, and 0.25) and δ values (annealed under N 2 or O 2 gas flow conditions). The unit cell parameter c decreased as the Bi/Sr ratio or δ increased. For the same annealing conditions under N 2 gas flow, the superconducting transition temperature as well as the size of the hysteresis loop of the current–voltage characteristics and emission characteristics were significantly suppressed for the sample with x = 0.25 compared with the corresponding values for the samples with x = 0.05 and 0.15. The experimental results clearly indicate that parameters, such as the Bi/Sr ratio and annealing conditions, are crucial factors in determining the electrical characteristics of a device. This information can be a useful guide for the preparation of crystals for IJJ THz-wave devices that can be fine-tuned according to the desired device characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to clarify the usefulness of colour-changing gum in evaluating masticatory performance after mandibulectomy. Thirty-nine patients who underwent mandibulectomy between 1982 and 2010 at Kobe University Hospital were recruited in this study. There were 21 male and 18 female subjects with a mean age of 64·7 years (range: 12-89 years) at the time of surgery. The participants included six patients who underwent marginal mandibulectomy, 21 patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy and 12 patients who underwent hemimandibulectomy. The masticatory function was evaluated using colour-changing chewing gum, gummy jelly and a modified Sato's questionnaire. In all cases, the data were obtained more than 3 months after completing the patient's final prosthesis. The colour-changing gum scores correlated with both the gummy jelly scores ( r = 0·634, P < 0·001) and the total scores of the modified Sato's questionnaire ( r = 0·537, P < 0·001). In conclusion, colour-changing gum is a useful item for evaluating masticatory performance after mandibulectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the in-plane resistivity anisotropy for underdoped Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 single crystals with improved quality. We demonstrate that the anisotropy in resistivity in the magnetostructural ordered phase arises from the anisotropy in the residual component which increases in proportion to the Co concentration x. This gives evidence that the anisotropy originates from the impurity scattering by Co atoms substituted for the Fe sites, rather than the so far proposed mechanisms such as the anisotropy of Fermi velocities of reconstructed Fermi surface pockets. As doping proceeds to the paramagnetic-tetragonal phase, a Co impurity transforms to a weak and isotropic scattering center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the masticatory dysfunction after maxillectomy using a colour-changing chewing gum. Thirty-nine patients who underwent maxillectomy between January 2002 and May 2010 in the Department of Kobe University Hospital were recruited for this study. There were 20 male and 19 female subjects, with a median age of 73·3 years (range of 44-90) at the time of surgery. The intra-oral conditions after maxillectomy were classified by HS classification, and the masticatory function was evaluated by a colour-changing chewing gum and the results of a modified Sato's questionnaire. The scores of the colour-changing gum were closely correlated with the scores of the modified Sato's questionnaire ( r = 0·661, P < 0·01). A logistic regression analysis with the outcome variable of the gum test <4 demonstrated that significant predictors for the masticatory dysfunction were the number of anchor teeth ≤2 and a soft palate defect. A colour-changing gum was found to be useful for evaluating the post-operative masticatory function, and it was important to conserve the anchor teeth and the soft palate to avoid masticatory dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the anisotropy in the in-plane optical spectra of detwinned Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2. The optical conductivity spectrum of BaFe2As2 shows appreciable anisotropy in the magnetostructural ordered phase, whereas the dc (ω=0) resistivity is nearly isotropic at low temperatures. Upon Co doping, the resistivity becomes highly anisotropic, while the finite-energy intrinsic anisotropy is suppressed. It is found that anisotropy in resistivity arises from anisotropic impurity scattering due to the presence of doped Co atoms, and it is extrinsic in origin. The intensity of a specific optical phonon mode is also found to show striking anisotropy in the ordered phase. The anisotropy induced by the Co impurity and that observed in the optical phonon mode are hallmarks of the highly polarizable electronic state in the ordered phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the transport properties of BaFe2As2 single crystals before and after annealing with BaAs powder. The annealing remarkably improves transport properties, in particular, the magnitude of residual resistivity, which decreases by a factor of more than 10. From the resistivity measurement on detwinned crystals, we found that the anisotropy of the in-plane resistivity is remarkably diminished after annealing, indicative of dominant contributions to the charge transport from the carriers with isotropic and high mobility below magnetostructural transition temperature Ts and the absence of nematic state above Ts. We found that the Hall resistivity shows strong nonlinearity against magnetic field, and the magnetoresistance becomes very large at low temperatures. These results give evidence for the manifestation of multiple carriers with distinct characters in the ordered phase below Ts. By analyzing the magnetic-field dependences, we found that at least three carriers equally contribute to the charge transport in the ordered phase, which is in good agreement with the results of recent quantum oscillation measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mission of the JT-60SA project is to contribute to the early realization of fusion energy by supporting the exploitation of ITER and research towards DEMO by addressing key physics issues associated with these machines. The JT-60SA will be capable of confining break-even equivalent class high-temperature deuterium plasmas at a plasma current I p of 5.5MA and a major radius of ∼3m lasting for a duration longer than the timescales characteristic of plasma processes, pursue full non-inductive steady-state operation with high plasma beta close to and exceeding no-wall ideal stability limits, and establish ITER-relevant high density plasma regimes well above the H-mode power threshold. Re-baselining of the project was completed in late 2008 which has been worked on since late 2007, where all the scientific missions are preserved with the newly designed machine to meet the cost objectives. The JT-60SA project made a large step forward towards its construction, which now foresees the first plasma in 2016. Construction of JT-60SA begins at Naka in Japan with launching the procurement of PF magnet, vacuum vessel and in-vessel components by Japan. In this year, the procurement of TF magnet, cryostat and power supply will be launched by Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of human nutrition, the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through diet control is feasible and desirable. We investigated the relationship between serum antioxidants and AMD in the community-dwelling older Japanese eating a typical Japanese diet. In this study, 722 subjects aged 65 years or older (297 males and 425 females) who had gradable fundus photographs were included. The subjects were divided into three groups of early or late AMD or non-maculopathy. Serum antioxidants (alpha-, gamma-tocopherols, retinol, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-, beta-carotenes, lycopene, and lutein and zeaxanthin) were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. To clarify the combined effect as the group of the antioxidants, we defined the carotene family (alpha-, beta-carotenes and lycopene) and carotenoid family (beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-, beta-carotenes, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin). Tertiles of each serum antioxidant were obtained and the prevalence of early or late AMD was compared with univariate or multivariate analysis. The overall prevalence of early AMD was 4.4% (95% confidence interval: 3.1-6.2) and late AMD was 1.1% (0.5-2.2). Only alpha-tocopherol and beta-cryptoxanthin were related to late AMD as single antioxidants. On the other hand, the carotene and carotenoid families as a combination of antioxidants were protectively associated with late AMD. No relationship was found between serum antioxidants and early AMD. Our findings support the hypothesis that a combination of serum antioxidants obtained from the traditional Japanese diet is protective for late AMD, but not for early AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Low-temperature magneto-transport properties of Al x Ga1− x As y Sb1− y /InAs deep quantum wells (QWs) with different well widths (L w=15–500nm) and their dimensionality were studied. The Hall data were analyzed by means of the two-carrier model: coexistence of electrons and holes for L w=15–150nm and existence of two types of electrons with different mobility for L w=300 and 500nm. The profile of perpendicular magnetoresistance (MR), ρxx (B ⊥) for the two-dimensional electrons (2DEs) in narrow QWs (L w=15 and 50nm) can be divided into the following four regimes: (1) the negative MR due to the weak localization (WL) in extremely low B-fields, (2) the crossing of ρxx for different temperatures at B c=1/μ e in moderate B-fields due to the orbital effect on the electron–electron interaction, (3) the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations and (4) the quantum Hall effect in high-B fields. As for the in-plane MR except in the very low-field region characterized by the WL, Δρxx (B ∥)/ρ 0 always starts from a negative one essentially independent of T, which was explained by the classical boundary scattering at the wall of the barrier in quasi-ballistic regime. The quantum Hall resistance of the electron–hole system has also been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Both negative and positive persistent photoconductivity (NPPC and PPPC) effects on the low-temperature transport properties were studied in the Al x Ga1− x As y Sb1− y /InAs quantum wells with a well width of L w=15 and 50nm. The irradiation of light with λ<1.0μm causes the NPPC, while the light with λ=1.6μm causes the PPPC. The Hall coefficient R H(B) in the dark or after illumination considerably increases with increasing B, indicating the coexistence of majority electrons and minority holes and allowing to analyze it by means of the two-carrier model. The PPPC effect leads to an increase in both density (n and p) and mobility of electrons and holes, while the NPPC inversely leads to their decrease, which was confirmed by the PPC effects on the SdH oscillations and the Hall resistance in the regime of quantum Hall effect in high magnetic fields. We have found the experimental relation, pμn3, so that the minority holes increases (decreases) much more rapidly than the majority electrons increases (decreases) in the PPPC (NPPC). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The systematic biology of the subgenus Daphnia s. s. remains confused. Prior attempts at resolution used chiefly postabdominal claw morphology, chromosome numbers and rRNA gene sequences as characters for higher-level relations. Still, several taxa, such as Daphnia curvirostris Eylmann, 1878, have unclear affiliations. We addressed the position of D. curvirostris in this genus by estimating phylogenetic trees from a rapidly evolving protein coding gene (ND2), conducting broad geographical comparisons and carrying out detailed morphological comparisons. The Japanese ‘ curvirostris’ was found to be a new divergent lineage in the subgenus Daphnia, and to possess distinctive morphological characteristics from D. curvirostris. We described this new species as Daphnia tanakai sp. nov., and redescribed D. curvirostris. The polymorphic postabdominal claw morphology and the distinctive chromosome number of D. tanakai sp. nov. provided evidence for rapid evolution of these traits. Our new morphological, chromosomal and genetic assessment of Daphnia weakened the argument for division of the subgenus Daphnia ( Daphnia) O. F. Müller, 1785 sensu Johnson, 1952, into two further subgenera. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 146, 385–405. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitotic metaphase plates of a new species of the genus Macrostomum were studied using conventional Giemsa staining, Orcein staining and semi-thin sections stained after Richardson. Because of the ease in culturing it, this species has the potential to become the new model organism for developmental and evolutionary studies among the lower metazoa. The chromosome number was found to be 2 n = 8. Reaching a relative length of 45.9% of the haploid genome size, the chromosomes of one pair were significantly larger than all other chromosomes. Of the smaller pairs, chromosomes of one pair were slightly larger (relative length of 21.3%) than the chromosomes of the remaining two pairs (each with a relative length of 16.4%). All chromosomes were metacentric (2 m + 2 m + 2 m + 2 m). For the first time, a diploid chromosome set of four pairs was described for the genus, as compared with previous studies showing predominantly 2 n = 6 for 20 different Macrostomum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Tokamak-60 Upgrade (JT-60U), a high-βp ELMy H-mode (high-poloidal-beta high-confinement-mode with edge localized mode) plasma was sustained with βN∼2.7 for 7.4 s. Real-time neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) stabilization system was established and effective NTM suppression by early electron cyclotron (EC) wave injection was demonstrated. High fusion triple product of ni(0) tETi(0)=3.1×1020 keV.s.m³ was achieved using the negative-ion based neutral beam current drive with βN∼2.5 and the bootstrap current fraction fBS∼50%. In a hot electron regime, a high electron cyclotron current drive efficiency of 4.2×1018 A/W/m² was achieved at Te∼21 keV. Innovative current start-up scenario produced a current hole plasma with a very high fBS∼90%. No accumulation of helium and carbon impurities was observed for internal transport barrier (ITB) plasmas. While argon impurity was accumulated, EC injection effectively exhausted it across ITB. In a regime of ELM disappearance, a clear correlation between the ELM frequency and the toroidal velocity at pedestal was observed. In the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Fusion Torus-2 Modified (JFT-2M), high beta plasmas were produced with full ferritic inside wall up to βN=3.3, where high recycling steady H-mode discharges were developed up to βNH89P∼6 at ne/nGW∼0.7-1.0 with ITB. JT-60U started long pulse experiment in late 2003 and JFT-2M will conduct wall stabilization experiment in early 2004. The modification of JT-60 to a fully superconducting coil tokamak is regarded as the national centralized tokamak facility program to accomplish the high beta steady-state research in a collisionless regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In vitro culture systems have been used to study the physiological and pathological characteristics of human mast cells. However, there are some differences in proliferation and maturation of mast cells between fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing and serum-deprived cultures. Accordingly, we attempted to identify circulating factor(s) affecting the development of human mast cells. Methods: We measured the serum levels of retinol and several cytokines. To elucidate the antiproliferative effects of the serum, a retinoic acid receptor (RARα ) antagonist and neutralizing antibodies against cytokines were used. Results: Similar to FBS, human serum dose-dependently suppressed the growth of tryptase[sup +] cells from CD34[sup +] cord blood cells or 20-week cultured mast cells under stimulation with stem cell factor (SCF). The serum-mediated inhibition might be based on a decline in proliferation rate. Among inhibitors for mast cell growth, retinol and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β 1 were present at high levels in human serum. In contrast with anti-TGF-β 1 antibody, an RARα antagonist counteracted the serum-induced suppression of human mast cell proliferation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that retinol and its derivatives act as a circulating regulator for human mast cell growth. The RARα antagonist may be a useful tool to obtain higher numbers of mast cells in FBS-containing cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously proposed a method of cutting bones using high-intensity focused ultrasound. The goal of the method is to cut bones in a body without incising the skin, but the condition under which bones are cut properly is so sensitive that 1 mm of displacement makes cutting bones fail, resulting in necrosis around the focal point. In this paper, we have developed a focused ultrasound propagation simulator in full 3-D simulation. The Finite Difference Time Domain method has been implemented to simulate ultrasound wave propagation through multiclass tissues. We have employed Perfectly Matched Layer as an absorbing boundary condition to minimize reflections from the boundary of a simulation domain. A comparison of simulation and experimental results has shown that the simulation results are correlative with actual phenomenon and that the presenting method can be used to predict the conditions under which bones can be cut. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The analyses of the plasma position and shape control in the superconducting tokamak JT-60SC in JAERI are presented. The vacuum vessel and stabilizing plates located closely to the plasma are modeled in 3 dimension, and we can take into account the large ports in the vacuum vessel. The linear numerical model used in the design for the plasma feedback control system is based on Grad–Shafranov equation, which allows the plasma surface deformation. For a slower control of the plasma shape, the superconducting equilibrium field (EF) coils outside toroidal field coils are used, while for a fast control of the plasma position, in-vessel normal conducting coils (IV coil) are used. It is shown that the available loop voltages of the EF and IV coils are very limited, but there are sufficient accuracy and acceptable response time of plasma position and shape control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have measured the cross sections and analyzing powers Ay and Ayy for the elastic and inelastic scattering of deuterons from the 0+(g.s.), 2+(4.44 MeV), 3−(9.64 MeV), 1+(12.71 MeV), and 2−(18.3 MeV) states in 12C at an incident energy of 270 MeV. The data are compared with microscopic distorted-wave impulse approximation calculations where the projectile-nucleon effective interaction is taken from the three-nucleon t-matrix given by rigorous Faddeev calculations presently available at intermediate energies. The agreement between theory and data compares well with that for the (p,p′) reactions at comparable incident energies/nucleon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the design of a superconducting magnet coil system for used in the remodeling of JT-60 tokamak device. Composition of the coil system; Magnetic energy storage; Alternating current losses; React-and-wind technique.

Reports on the beneficial clinical course of a patient with cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS)-defective homocystinuria complicated with megaloblastic anemia due to hypovitaminosis of folate and vitamin B12. Pathogenesis of megaloblastic anemia; Administration of folate and vitamin B12.

Summary: Purpose: To determine whether the manic episode of patients with epilepsy has different characteristics from manic episode of patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: Interictal manic episodes in patients with epilepsy (epilepsy group) were compared with mood disorders in patients with bipolar I disorder (bipolar group), as defined by the DSM-IV. There were 13 patients (five women and eight men) in each group. Results: Five epilepsy patients had relatives with epilepsy and/or convulsions, and four bipolar patients had relatives with mood disorders. In the epilepsy group, two had substance-related or organic factors associated with the episodes besides epilepsy, and two exhibited a postictal manic state that had the same symptoms as those of their interictal manic episodes. Ten patients of the epilepsy group had dependent–childish behavior. The epilepsy group had fewer severe mood episodes than the bipolar group. Ten epilepsy patients had fluctuating mood disturbances, and eight had rapid cycling of mood episodes. The epileptogenic zone was in the frontal and/or temporal lobes of eight patients and in multiple lobes of two others; it could not be localized in the three remaining patients. Conclusions: The clinical features of the interictal manic episodes in the epilepsy group were different from those in the bipolar group. The manic episodes of the epilepsy group appeared heterogeneous in their causal factors. An epileptogenic zone in the frontal and temporal lobes seems to play an important role in the mood episodes of the majority of patients with epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synaptic vesicular monoamine transporter (SVMT), alternatively vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), pumps cytosolic monoamines including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine into synaptic vesicles. Altered functions of SVMT have been implicated in the pathogensis of several neuropsychiatric diseases. We determined exon/intron boundaries of the human SVMT gene and performed mutational analysis for the exonic and neighboring intronic regions of the gene. Detected polymorphisms were subject to association analysis with schizophrenia in a familybased design. The human SVMT gene consists, of 16 exons and 15 introns, which is consistent with the murine SVMT gene. When mutational analysis was performed by the single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, we found two and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exons and neighboring introns, respectively. Neither exonic SNP results in an amino acid change. In family-based association analyses in a sample of 50 Japanese schizophrenics and their parents, no significant association was found for the intronic polymorphisms. Our data suggest that there is no common polymorphism in the SVMT gene affecting the primary structure of the human SVMT protein. Furthermore, we obtained no evidence for the major effect of the novel polymorphisms on susceptibility to schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Meconium ileus represents the earliest clinical manifestation of cystic fibrosis. The differences found in the composition and amount of protein, mucoprotein, mucopolysaccharides, and reducing sugars in meconium from newborns with cystic fibrosis might be of significance relative to the pathogenesis and early diagnosis of this disease. We studied the enzymatic activity of disaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, maltase, and palatinase) in meconium of infants with cystic fibrosis and controls. We found an increase in the specific activity of these enzymes in the meconium from infants with cystic fibrosis as compared to the specific activity in meconium from normal infants. The increase in the activities, expressed as micromols per gram of protein per minute was: lactase, 100 times higher; sucrase, 18 times; maltase, 4.8 times; and palatinase, 8.9 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromosome translocation creates a fusion between the EWSR1 gene and an ETS family gene. The fusion between these two genes is a characteristic feature of Ewing sarcoma. We previously identified a fourth translocation, t(17;22)(q12;q12), in genomic DNA isolated from cells of patients affected with Ewing sarcoma. The discovery of this translocation suggested that there might be a novel EWSR1–ETV4 fusion gene. In the present study, we determined the genomic breakpoint and characterized the chimeric transcript of the EWSR1–ETV4 fusion gene in two t(17;22) Ewing sarcomas. Reverse transcriptase-PCR assay showed an in-frame fusion between the 5′-terminal region of EWSR1 and the 3′ end of ETV4 (alias E1AF, PEA3); the chimeric transcript could thus serve as a template for expression of a protein composed of the N-terminal portion of EWSR1 fused to the DNA-binding domain of ETV4. Long PCR and sequence analysis of genomic DNA revealed that either exon 8 or intron 7 of EWSR1 is fused to the same intron of ETV4 in both tumors. Several palindromic oligomer sequences were found close to the breakpoints in both genes. The 159-bp Alu-like sequence was repeated in the breakpoint region of the ETV4 gene. These observations suggest a mechanism of EWSR1–ETV4 gene fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the in-plane optical spectrum of a Co-doped Ba(Fe0.94Co0.06)2As2 single crystal showing superconductivity below . In the normal state, the low-energy optical conductivity spectrum can be decomposed into a sharp Drude term and a broad “incoherent” term. Below T c, an s-wave-like superconducting gap appears in both components. We also investigated a magnetic or spin-density-wave gap in the detwinned parent compound. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report that the incorporation of hydroxide ions (OH)- significantly enhances the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) in the LnFeAsO-based superconductors (Ln1111: Ln=La, Ce, and Pr). For La1111, Tc of the (OH)- incorporated sample synthesized using high-pressure technique becomes 35 K, which is higher by 7 K than the typical optimally doped La1111 superconductors. Similar enhancement in Tc is also observed for Ce1111 and Pr1111. 1H-NMR measurement have confirmed the existence of hydrogen atoms in the samples. Accompanying the (OH)- incorporation, the lattice parameters are largely contracted, down to the values which have never been attained by any other dopings/substitutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Weak-field magnetoresistance (MR) in the variable-range hopping (VRH) in the presence of spin–orbit interaction (SOI) for 2DEGs at the hetero-interface of InSb quantum wells was examined in view of the quantum interference (QI) effect. Samples with the sheet resistance, ρ>ρ c=h/e 2, exhibit VRH, while those with ρ<ρ c exhibit weak localization (WL) at low temperatures, where h/e 2 is the quantum resistance. In the WL regime, a positive magnetoresistance (MR) peak due to the weak anti-localization (WAL) with SOI is clearly observed in low magnetic field. In contrast, the low-field hopping MR remains entirely negative surviving the SOI, indicating that the hopping MR due to the QI is completely negative regardless of the SOI. This result supports the predictions based on the directed-path approach for forward-scattering paths ignoring the back-scattering return loops for the QI in the VRH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors report on an experimental demonstration of coupling of quantum dots with a point-defect nanocavity in woodpile three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystal (PhC) with the highest quality (Q) factor among those for 3D PhC cavities. The Q factor of more than 8600 was achieved by stacking 25 layers using a micromanipulation technique. The size of the square-shaped defect cavity was optimized to tune the cavity mode to the midgap frequency of the complete photonic bandgap to achieve high Q. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report an achievement of high quality AlN ultraviolet photonic crystal nanocavities. Convex AlN air-bridge structures with embedded GaN quantum dots have been formed by utilizing photoelectrochemical etching of 6H-SiC substrates. Room-temperature microscopic photoluminescence measurements reveal the high quality of the nanocavities. For the lowest-order cavity mode of a 150-nm-period nanocavity with seven missing holes, the highest Q factor (>2400) ever reported in nitride-based photonic crystals has been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to improve the critical current density (J c) in magnetic fields, we have fabricated YBa2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) coated conductors with artificial pinning centers by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method on a Hastelloy™ tape buffered by a self epitaxial PLD-CeO2 layer and an ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD)-Gd2Zr2O7 (GZO) layer. Artificial pinning centers were introduced by the PLD deposition using YBCO target including YSZ particles. The J c value was improved and abnormal microstructure was found to be effective for pinning. We call this new nano-epitaxial BaZrO3/YBCO structure “the bamboo structure” from its anisotropic growth and morphology. Furthermore, for the 1.16μm in thickness, I c showed high value of 40.7A at 77K and 3T parallel to the c-axis. Namely, “the bamboo structure” also contribute to strong pinning in magnetic fields parallel to the c-axis in the film as thick as 1.16μm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We fabricated terahertz (THz) wave emitters from high-temperature superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ (Bi2212) single crystals annealed under oxygen gas ( O 2) flow and nitrogen gas ( N 2) flow conditions. To better understand the annealing effects of the crystal for the device, we evaluated both device properties and a c -axis lattice constant using x-ray diffraction. Compared to the N 2 -annealed sample, the O 2 -annealed sample shows higher critical current in the current–voltage characteristics and no clear emission. In addition, multiple hysteresis loops were observed above 75 K. Based on the x-ray diffraction measurements, it is suggested that the presence of multiple hysteresis loops observed in the I–V characteristics of the O 2 -annealed sample is caused by the existence of layers that have varying levels of oxygen content along the c -axis direction of the crystal. The formation of these layers is attributed to the deposition process of metallic thin films during the device fabrication procedure. This result indicates that the Bi2212 crystal surface of the O 2 -annealed sample is more sensitive than that of the N 2 -annealed one. The information is useful for preparing the Bi2212 crystals for THz-wave emitting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon chemistry exhibits a rich variety in bonding patterns, with homo- or heteronuclear multiple bonds involving sp-hybridized carbon atoms as found in molecules such as acetylenes, nitriles, allenes and carbon dioxide. Carbon's heavier homologues in group 14 of the periodic table-including silicon, germanium and tin-were long thought incapable of forming multiple bonds because of the less effective pp-pp orbital overlap involved in the multiple bonds. However, bulky substituents can protect unsaturated bonds and stabilize compounds with formally sp-hybridized heavy group-14 atoms: stable germanium, tin and lead analogues of acetylene derivatives and a marginally stable tristannaallene have now been reported. However, no stable silicon compounds with formal sp-silicon atoms have been isolated. Evidence for the existence of a persistent disilaacetylene and trapping of transient 2-silaallenes and other X = Si = X' type compounds (X, X' = O, CR2, NR, and so on) are also known, but stable silicon compounds with formally sp-hybridized silicon atoms have not yet been isolated. Here we report the synthesis of a thermally stable, crystalline trisilaallene derivative containing a formally sp-hybridized silicon atom. We find that, in contrast to linear carbon allenes, the trisilaallene is significantly bent. The central silicon in the molecule is dynamically disordered, which we ascribe to ready rotation of the central silicon atom around the molecular axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polymorphism of a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR), that was recently found in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene, was shown to be associated with its transcriptional activity. This study examined whether this functional polymorphism of the MAOA gene is associated with the risk of developing mood disorders in a Japanese sample of 161 patients with bipolar disorder, 98 with unipolar depression, and 258 controls. There was no significant genotypic or allelic association, suggesting that the functional VNTR polymorphism in the MAOA gene is unlikely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder or unipolar depression. Furthermore, we found no association between the polymorphism and a history of suicide attempt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A twenty-channel grating polychromator diagnostic system bas been built to measure the temporal evolution of local electron temperatures in JT-60. A cross Czerny-Turner diffraction grating spectrometer is utilized for the measurement of second-harmonic electron cyclotron emission with extraordinary modes in the range 85-300 GHz, in which a grating plate grooved on both faces with different grating periods is applied effectively to yield a wide coverage for the toroidal fields. The grating angle is automatically set up by control of a stepping motor according to the relation of the grating equation. The diffracted light is detected by 20 indium-antimonide hot-electron bolometers cooled at 4.3 K in a modified Solvay cycle cryogenic refrigerator. A typical resolving power of the instrument was measured to be λ/Δλ ∼ 130, providing a spatial resolution of 2.3 cm at the plasma center. The transmission line over ∼ 38 m long is composed of oversized S-band waveguides. The total transmissivity of this system is estimated to be ∼ 0.01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]