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In the 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, we have clearly measured a continuous degradation of a stripper foil during more than 6 months operation with a beam power of 300 kW. A hybrid-type boron doped carbon stripper foil of 200 μg/cm was used for 181 MeV H stripping injection. In order to know an absolute change of the foil thickness as well as information on the pinhole formation, we precisely measured an absolute change of the partially-stripped H and the un-stripped H waste beams. Two absolutely independent monitor systems were used and the results were found to be very consistent with each other. The foil thickness at the injected beam spot was measured to be gradually thickening and it was more than 10 % thicker at the end compared to the initial thickness, where the measurement accuracy was obtained to be better than 2 %. The missing un-stripped H were also measured to be gradually increasing due to foil deformation and curling but there was however no clear indication of foil thinning or pinhole formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In J-PARC, the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) applied hybrid type thick boron-doped carbon (HBC) foils as charge stripper in the multi-turn injection. Although HBC foils have successfully operated to provide a high-power beam for experimental users since the operation of the accelerator started, the deformation and radio-activation of the foils occurred as serious problems. We investigated the cause of the problems, as result we found that impurities in the foil led to these phenomena. In this report, we describe why impurities were mixed in the foil, and which kinds of impurities were found by various methods of analysis. The effect of impurities is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stripping cross-sections of 181 MeV H − (negative hydrogen) ions by the carbon stripper foil are measured with good accuracy. The present experiment was carried out at the 3-GeV RCS (Rapid Cycling Synchrotron) of J-PARC (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex). The stripping cross-sections for different charge states, also known as electron loss cross-sections of H − ion, are denoted as σ −11 , σ −10 and σ 01 , for both electrons stripping ( H − → H + ), one-electron stripping ( H − → H 0 ) and the 2nd-electron stripping ( H 0 → H + ) proceeding σ −10 , respectively. We have established very unique and precise techniques for such measurements so as also to determine a foil stripping efficiency very accurately. The cross-sections σ −11 , σ −10 and σ 01 are obtained to be ( 0.002 ± 0.001 ) × 10 − 18 cm 2 , ( 1.580 ± 0.034 ) × 10 − 18 cm 2 and ( 0.648 ± 0.014 ) × 10 − 18 cm 2 , respectively. The presently given cross-sections are newly available experimental results for an incident H − energy below 200 MeV and they are also shown to be consistent with recently proposed energy ( 1 / β 2 ) scaled cross-sections calculated from the previously measured data at 200 and 800 MeV. The present results have a great importance not only at J-PARC for the upgraded H − beam energy of 400 MeV but also for many new and upgrading similar accelerators, where H − beam energies in most cases are considered to be lower than 200 MeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid-type boron doped carbon stripper foil of 200 μg/cm is used for the present H injection beam energy of 181 MeV in the 3-GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). A stripper foil has a certain lifetime and usually lifetime goes shorter for high power operation. Foil degradation such as foil thinning and pinhole formation caused by the radiation might be a signal of the foil breaking. As a result, one can avoid sudden foil breaking by an efficient monitoring of the foil degradation. We have succeeded measuring even a little change of the stripper foil thickness during user operation of the RCS. It is the main motivation of the present study. A single foil was irradiated with a total of 2.7 × 10 particles (injected H itself) during 4 months continuous operation of the RCS but we did not observe any indication of the foil degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes containing CaCl2 were prepared in Tris solution. The optimal initial pH and temperature were determined based on the kinetics of bulk crystallization of CaCO3 and to depress the leakage of Ca2+ from liposomes. The CaCO3 particles were formed by mixing the liposome suspension and CO2-saturated water, as analyzed with the scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The liposomal reaction system can be utilized for the formation of fine CaCO3 particles through sequestration of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumbar foraminal stenosis is a troublesome disease. Decompression of the whole length of the nerve root from the spinal canal to extraforaminal zone is often a surgical requirement due to the difficulty in identifying the nerve compression site before surgery, making preservation of the posterior elements difficult. The authors report a minimally invasive microendoscopic technique for lumbar foraminal stenosis to decompress the entire length of the nerve root from the spinal canal to the extraforaminal zone while preserving the posterior elements. Surgical Procedure: A tubular retractor is inserted towards the base of the transverse process of the upper vertebra with the retractor tilted inward at a 45-degree angle or greater. Approximately one-third of the pedicle is resected caudally from the base of the transverse process to the spinal canal. After identification of the nerve root, compression factors around the nerve are excised from the spinal canal to the extraforaminal zone without damaging posterior elements such as the facet joints and pars interarticularis. Results: We treated 6 patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis using this procedure. There were no complications during the operation, and satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. Conclusions: This microendoscopic technique proved to be useful for the treatment of lumbar foraminal stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that regions of microhomology in the human genome could facilitate genomic rearrangements, copy number transitions, and rapid genomic change during tumor progression. To investigate this idea, this study examines the role of repetitive sequence elements, and corresponding syntenic mouse genomic features, in targeting cancer-associated genomic instability of specific regions of the human genome. Automated database-mining algorithms designed to search for frequent copy number transitions and genomic breakpoints were applied to 2 publicly-available online databases and revealed that 6p21–p12 is one of the regions of the human genome most frequently involved in tumor-specific alterations. In these analyses, 6p21–p12 exhibited the highest frequency of genomic amplification in osteosarcomas. Analysis of repetitive elements in regions of homology between human chromosome 6p and the syntenic regions of the mouse genome revealed a strong association between the location of segmental duplications greater than 5 kilobase-pairs and the position of discontinuities at the end of the syntenic region. The presence of clusters of segmental duplications flanking these syntenic regions also correlated with a high frequency of amplification and genomic alteration. Collectively, the experimental findings, in silico analyses, and comparative genomic studies presented here suggest that segmental duplications may facilitate cancer-associated copy number transitions and rearrangements at chromosome 6p21–p12. This process may involve homology-dependent DNA recombination and/or repair, which may also contribute towards the overall plasticity of the human genome. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) is characterized by an unstable karyotype which typically has a heterogeneous pattern of complex chromosomal abnormalities. High-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in combination with interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses provides a complete description of genomic imbalances together with an evaluation of the contribution of cell-to-cell variation to copy number changes. There have been no analyses to date documenting genomic signatures consistent with chromosomal instability mechanisms in OS tumors using array CGH. In this study, we utilized high-resolution array CGH to identify and characterize recurrent signatures of genomic imbalances using ten OS tumors. Comparison between the genomic profiles identified tumor groups with low, intermediate and high levels of genomic imbalance. Bands 6p22→p21, 8q24 and 17p12→ p11.2 were consistently involved in high copy gain or amplification events. Since these three locations have been consistently associated with OS oncogenesis, FISH probes from each cytoband were used to derive an index of cellular heterogeneity for copy number within each region. OS with the highest degree of genomic imbalance also exhibited the most extreme cell-to-cell copy number variation. Significantly, the three OS with the most imbalance and genomic copy number heterogeneity also had the poorest response to preoperative chemotherapy. This genome wide analysis is the first utilizing oligonucleotide array CGH in combination with FISH analysis to derive genomic signatures of chromosomal instability in OS tumors by studying genomic imbalance and intercellular heterogeneity. This comprehensive genomic screening approach provides important insights concerning the mechanisms responsible for generating complex genomes. The resulting phenotypic diversity can generate tumors with a propensity for an aggressive disease course. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to OS tumor development could result in the identification of prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3 GeV RCS (Rapid Cycling Synchrotron) at J-PARC (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex) comprises with several magnets of different kinds. These include seven septum magnets for the beam injection and extraction at RCS ring. Design requirements for these magnets often conflicts with efforts to minimize leakage magnetic field. Silicon steel sheets set outside of the septum magnets shield leakage magnetic fields so as to keep'proper beam orbits in the ring in most cases. At the beam junction areas for beam injection and extraction, sufficient spacing is not available for installing thick magnetic shields. Vacuum chambers are made by the magnetic stainless steel to reduce the leakage field without a large shield. Results obtained from 3-D field calculations by TOSCA indicate the magnetic leakage field is suppressed down to a few Gauss or less in the present design. All septum magnets and branch structure vacuum chamber made of titanium and magnetic stainless steel are manufactured and assembled successfully. The field measurements of the septum magnets proved that both the strength and also gradient of the magnetic leakage field are diminished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The J-PARC RCS (Rapid Cycling Synchrotron) is designed to inject the H beam from the LINAC, to change their charge from H to H+, to accelerate the H+ beam from 400 MeV to 3 GeV, with 8.3 x 1013 protons per pulse at 25 Hz repetition rate, and to extract the H+ beam after the acceleration to the MLF (Material and Life Science Experimental Facility) and the MR (Main Ring). Thus the RCS has the beam circulating ring and three beam transport lines. The RCS ring consists of several magnets, and the DC magnets are installed for beam injection and extraction. The four steering magnets and two septum magnets are installed at injection line in order to adjust the beam injection point. One quadratic magnet, two steering magnet and two septum magnets are installed at dump line for the part of the beam with their charge not changed from H to H+ at the charge stripping foil. Two deflecting magnets to kick out the beam without exciting the pulse kicker magnets and three septum magnets are installed at the extraction line. Up to now, the DC magnets are developed and manufactured, the field measurements are carried out, and magnets installation into the RCS tunnel are finished. The field distributions of DC magnets are measured by using the new field mapping system with three one-dimensional hall-probes on a 3-axis movable stage. In the case of the quadrupole magnet, the field measurements are not only field mapping but also analyze its magnetic higher order components by the harmonic rotating coil. As a result, the measured field quality meets the design performance requirements of the DC magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the clinical impact of PTEN genomic deletions using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis of 107 prostate cancers, with follow-up information covering a period of up to 10 years. Tissue microarray analysis using interphase FISH indicated that hemizygous PTEN losses were present in 42/107 (39%) of prostatic adenocarcinomas, with a homozygous PTEN deletion observed in 5/107 (5%) tumours. FISH analysis using closely linked probes centromeric and telomeric to the PTEN indicated that subband microdeletions accounted for approximately 70% genomic losses. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of PTEN genomic losses (hemizygous and homozygous deletion vs not deleted) identified subgroups with different prognosis based on their time to biochemical relapse after surgery, and demonstrated significant association between PTEN deletion and an earlier onset of disease recurrence (as determined by prostate-specific antigen levels). Homozygous PTEN deletion was associated with a much earlier onset of biochemical recurrence (P=0.002). Furthermore, PTEN loss at the time of prostatectomy correlated with clinical parameters of more advanced disease, such as extraprostatic extension and seminal vesicle invasion. Collectively, our data indicates that haploinsufficiency or PTEN genomic loss is an indicator of more advanced disease at surgery, and is predictive of a shorter time to biochemical recurrence of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Changes in crop water use due to elevated CO2 concentration ([CO2]) must be evaluated for predicting agricultural productivity and water resource availability. We quantified the effects of elevated [CO2] on the energy balance and canopy evapotranspiration (ET) in rice paddies. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) was grown under both ambient [CO2] (A-CO2) and elevated [CO2] (E-CO2) imposed by free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) in northern Japan. Observations were made of micrometeorology and plant characteristics, including stomatal conductance and leaf area index (LAI). We estimated energy balances using a double-source model with heat transfers from the vegetation canopy and the water surface to avoid errors due to uncertainty in the measured radiative infrared (IR) temperatures. E-CO2 reduced stomatal conductance by 13% in upper leaves and by 40% in lower leaves at the panicle initiation stage, but the reduction rates subsequently decreased. Stomata closed more in the E-CO2 plot as vapour pressure deficit increased. Daily mean temperature of the vegetation canopy increased by 0.2–1°C in response to stomatal closure under E-CO2, whereas water surface temperature decreased by 1°C before rice heading because of increased shading from the larger leaves in E-CO2. The radiative IR temperature decreased by up to 1°C in E-CO2 before June, and increased by up to 0.6°C thereafter. Latent heat flux decreased in E-CO2, which was balanced by increased sensible heat flux and upward long-wave radiation. The decrease was greatest under dry and windy conditions. Total water use by plants throughout the growing season was 268.7mm in A-CO2 and 246.8mm in E-CO2, giving a saving of 22mm of water in E-CO2. Reduced transpiration (by 8.2%), combined with increased total biomass (by 9.1%), increased water use efficiency in E-CO2 by 19%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Preclinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic anti-tumour activity of combination therapy with the oral cytostatics, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and cyclophosphamide (CPA), in human breast cancer xenograft models. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this oral combination chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In all, 101 patients with metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in the study, and the data for 94 eligible patients of these were evaluated. The patients received twice daily oral combinations of 5'-DFUR (1200 mg/body/day) and CPA (100 mg/body/day) for 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest period. After a median of 19 treatment cycles (range 1-66 cycles), 16 patients (17.0%) had a complete response, and 40 patients (42.6%) had partial responses. The response rate was 59.6% (95% CI, 49.0-69.6%). The median time to progression and overall survival times were 11.7 and 40.3 months, respectively. The toxicity was mild and tolerable, and the related grade 3/4 clinical adverse effects consisted of haematological toxicity in 21 patients (22%) and nonhaematological toxicity in five patients (5%). These results suggest that the oral combination chemotherapy of 5'-DFUR and CPA has low toxicity and is a novel, very convenient and effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: Six caffeoylquinic acid derivatives of sweetpotato leaves, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. were identified and quantified using 1389 genotypes collected worldwide. These were divided into 3 categories based on the leaf polyphenol content: high, medium, and low polyphenol accumulator. RP-HPLC analysis was used to quantify caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid (3-o-caffeoylquinic acid), 3,4-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-tri-o-caffeoylquinic acid. The caffeic acid and derivatives were positively correlated with the total polyphenol contents, and the correlation coefficients varied widely among the different categories. The caffeoylquinic acid derivatives showed higher DPPH-radical scavenging activity (%), and higher antimutagenicity by showing effectively inhibiting the reverse mutation induced by Trp-P-1 on Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the growth rate of gallium-phosphorus (GaP) and aluminum-gallium-phosphorus epitaxial layers. Use of chemical beam epitaxy (CBE); Importance of CBE in semiconductors; Information on the photo-irradiation effect of GaP.

Focuses on development of a compact and simple arrangement for measuring the energy of a hydrogen negative ion beam using detached electrons. Energy measurement of detached electrons by gas detachment; Measurement of the central value of the energy and the energy distribution of the injected beam.

Examines the atomic-scale formation of ultrasmooth surfaces on sapphire substrates for thin film fabrication. Stability of ultrasmooth surfaces in air; Use of atomic force microscopy; Control of ultrasmooth surface by a change in annealing conditions.

Examines the terminating atomic plane of perovskite SrTiO[sub 3] (001) using coaxial impact-collision ion scattering spectroscopy. Termination of the perovskite surfaces on different substrates; Structural conversion of the atomic layer during homoepitaxial growth; Symmetry in the surface atom alignments observed in the spectra.

Examines the epitaxial growth of strontium titanate films (SrTiO[sub 3]) under intensity oscillation monitoring in reflection high energy electron diffraction. Application of atomic force microscopy; Impact of the homoepitaxial films on surface flattening; Verification of the crystal quality in the SrTiO[sub 3] films.

We have studied surface structural analysis of the insulating material of BaF 2 (1 1 1) using time-of-flight low energy atom scattering spectroscopy. The primary beam was 3 keV-20Ne0, and backscattered 20Ne particles from Ba atoms were detected by Micro-Channel Plate (MCP). Simulation calculations were carried out to reproduce experimental data. We found that the topmost F-Ba-F surface layer was located outward shift of 0.2 Å with respect to bulk lattice structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An 8000-year lacustrine sediment record from Lake Motosu (Fuji Five Lakes) records several eruptions, including potentially unreported events, of the active Mt. Fuji volcano, which receives approximately 47 million annual visitors. A high-fidelity age model is constructed from tephra ages and high-density radiocarbon dating of terrestrial macrofossil and bulk organic matter. Variability in lake reservoir age is constrained by modern lake water radiocarbon measurement and reverse calibration of tephra calendar ages. We present more accurate ages for known eruptions, detect a wider distribution of ejecta for several eruptions, including the most recent summit eruption, and potentially identify previously undetected flank eruptions. There are closely spaced scoria-fall layers that may be difficult to differentiate as separate events in land-based surveys. These results demonstrate the utility of lacustrine sediments as powerful tools for understanding characteristics of volcanic eruptions. Highlights • A high-density of age control points obtains a high-fidelity chronology. • Ages of Mt. Fuji eruptions are revised and wider distribution of ejecta reported. • Two potentially unreported eruptions occurred in rapid succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which compared the structure of compressed and uncompressed alkali borate glass through the measurements of density and fluorescence spectra of the glass samples compressed at different conditions. Composition of the glass used for the densification treatment; Results of the density measurements; Calculation of the percentage of densification of the glass.

Study Design: A report on 2 cases of subarachnoid pleural fistula (SAPF) treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).Objective: To highlight the efficacy of NPPV in patients with SAPF.Summary Of Background Data: SAPF is a rare but distressing type of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. It is known to be a complication of anterior thoracic spine surgery. The pressure gradient between the subarachnoid space and the pleural cavity maintains the cerebrospinal fluid leakage and precludes the spontaneous closure of the dura. Surgical interventions such as primary repair, patch grafts, muscle flaps, and omental flaps have been advocated. Only limited reports were found with reference to NPPV applied to SAPF.Methods: Two patients, a 45-year-old woman and a 39-year-old woman, underwent anterior thoracic spine surgery to treat thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. After surgery, they developed SAPF due to perforation of the dura during surgery. Placement of thoracostomy tubes and subarachnoid drains had no effect and an NPPV device was applied.Results: During application of the NPPV device, 14 days in the first patient and 5 days in the second patient, the raised intrapleural pressure obstructed the fluid leakage and successfully treated the fistula. No recurrence of SAPF was observed after removal of the NPPV device and the patients avoided surgical interventions.Conclusion: SAPF is often resistant to conservative therapies and has been treated in an invasive manner. NPPV should be considered as an alternative before such interventions because it is effective, noninvasive, and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-resolution measurement method based on X-ray microscopy was developed to analyze double-strangeness hypernuclear events with a complex topology in a nuclear emulsion. In a feasibility study performed on α -decay events in emulsions, the resolution of the X-ray microscopy in the focal plane was found to be 0.2 μ m , which shows an improvement by ∼ 2.4 times to that of the optical microscopy used for conventional analysis. The extent to which the emulsion underwent modification as a result of X-ray irradiation was also evaluated. The modification mainly occurred in the form of a change in its thickness; however, this affection was adequately small to perform X-ray imaging if the duration of the irradiation was sufficiently short. Stereo imaging with X-ray microscopy improved the resolution by ∼ 2.5 times to 0.28 μ m along the optical axis compared with the depth of field of the optical microscope, 0.7 μ m . We applied the developed method to the study of a double-strangeness hypernuclear event. The uncertainty on the position of the vertex point and the binding energy of the Ξ - and 14 N system was improved from 3 μ m to 0.04 μ m and ± 3 MeV to ± 0.86 MeV, respectively. The binding energy was deduced to be - 1.23 ± 0.86 MeV , and this result indicates that a Ξ - atomic state is produced in the observed event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ analysis of the terminating atomic plane of c-axis oriented La[sub 0.7]Sr[sub 0.3]MnO[sub 3] thin films grown epitaxially on SrTiO[sub 3](100) substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy has been carried out employing coaxial impact-collision ion scattering spectroscopy (CAICISS). The CAICISS time-of-flight spectroscopic studies reveal that the (001) surface of c-axis oriented La[sub 0.7]Sr[sub 0.3]MnO[sub 3] thin films is predominantly terminated with MnO[sub 2] plane. The azimuth rotational CAICISS measurements show a fourfold symmetry in the surface atom alignments establishing the square lattice structure of the terminating plane. © 1998 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of nuclear emulsion detectors that can detect and identify charged particles or radiation as tracks have typically utilized optical microscope systems because the targets have lengths from several µm to more than 1000 m. For recent new nuclear emulsion detectors that can detect tracks of submicron length or less, the current readout systems are insufficient due to their poor resolution. In this study, we developed a new system and method using an optical microscope system for rough candidate selection and the hard X-ray microscope system at SPring-8 for high-precision analysis with a resolution of better than 70 nm resolution. Furthermore, we demonstrated the analysis of submicron-length tracks with a matching efficiency of more than 99% and position accuracy of better than 5µm. This system is now running semi-automatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study presents the in-vivo evaluation of Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy implants obtained by the hydride route via powder metallurgy. The cylindrical implants were processed at different sintering and holding times. The implants'' were characterized for density, microstructure (SEM), crystalline phases (XRD), and bulk (EDS) and surface composition (XPS). The implants were then sterilized and surgically placed in the central region of the rabbit''s tibiae. Two double fluorescent markers were applied at 2 and 3 weeks, and 6 and 7 weeks after implantation. After an 8-week healing period, the implants were retrieved, non-decalcified section processed, and evaluated by electron, UV light (fluorescent labeling), and light microscopy (toluidine blue). BSE-SEM showed close contact between bone and implants. Fluorescent labeling assessment showed high bone activity levels at regions close to the implant surface. Toluidine blue staining revealed regions comprising osteoblasts at regions of newly forming/formed bone close to the implant surface. The results obtained in this study support biocompatible and osseoconductive properties of Ti–13Nb–13Zr processed through the hydride powder route. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Among several materials used as dental implants, metals present relatively high tensile strengths. Although metals are biotolerable, they do not adhere to bone tissues. On the other hand, bioactive ceramics are known to chemically bind to bone tissues, but they are not enough mechanically resistant to tension stresses. To overcome this drawback, biotolerable metals can be coated with bioactive ceramics. Various methods can be employed for coating ceramic layers on metal substrates, among them ion sputtering, plasma spray, sol–gel, electrodeposition and a biomimetic process [E.C.S. Rigo, L.C. Oliveira, L.A. Santos, A.O. Boschi, R.G. Carrodeguas. Implantes metálicos recobertos com hidroxiapatita. Revista de Engenharia Biomédica, vol. 15 (1999), números 1–2, 21–29. Rio de Janeiro].The aim of this work was to study the effect of the substitution of G glass, employed in the conventional biomimetic method during the nucleation stage, by a solution of sodium silicate (SS) on the chemical and morphological characteristics, and the adhesion of biomimetic coatings deposited on Ti implants. The obtained coatings were analyzed by diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy (DRIFT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Titanium implants were immersed in synthetic body fluid (SBF) and SS. All implants were left inside an incubator at 37 °C for 7 days, followed by immersion in 1.5 SBF and taken back to the incubator for additional 6 days at 37 °C. The 1.5 SBF were refreshed every 2 days. At the end of the treatment, the implants were washed in distilled and deionized water and dried at room temperature. To check the osseointegration, titanium implants coated with biomimetic method were inserted in rabbit''s tibia, remaining there for 8 weeks. During the healing period, polyfluorochrome sequential labeling was inoculated in the rabbits to determine the period of bone remodeling. Results from DRIFT and SEM showed that, for all processing variants employed, a HA coating was always obtained on the Ti implants. Besides, G glass employed during the nucleation stage can be effectively substituted by a sodium silicate solution according to these results. The presence of implants stimulated the bone growth in the medullar region and the use of polyfluorochrome sequential labeling allowed the identification of the period of bone deposition and bone reorganization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

M. Nishie, F. Mori,M. Yoshimoto,H. Takahashi and K. Wakabayashi (2004)Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2004.00564.xA quantitative investigation of neuronal cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions in the pontine and inferior olivary nuclei in multiple system atrophyMultiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of neuronal and oligodendroglialα-synuclein aggregates. To investigate the relationship between the occurrence of neuronal cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions (NCIs and NNIs, respectively) and the progression of neuronal degeneration, we performed a quantitative analysis of the pontine and inferior olivary nuclei based on 14 cases of MSA.α-Synuclein immunohistochemistry revealed that NCIs and NNIs were present in both brain nuclei in all the cases. The average incidence of NCIs in the pontine and inferior olivary nuclei was 9.1% and 25.8%, respectively, and that of NNIs was 9.2% and 9.0%, respectively. The number of NNIs was strongly correlated with that of neurones in the pontine and inferior olivary nuclei. Although the number of NCIs was not correlated with the neuronal population in both nuclei, the NCI count in patients with moderate MSA was higher than in patients with mild MSA. The NNI count was much higher than the NCI count in the pontine nucleus in four patients, and was the same in the olivary nucleus in three of the four patients. Moreover, the neuronal population in the NNI-predominant cases was significantly higher than in the NCI-predominant cases. These findings suggest that NCI formation is accelerated by the progression of the disease process, and that in MSA, NNI formation is an earlier phenomenon than NCI formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersion and thermal behaviors of oil-soluble Mo-dithiocarbamate (Mo-DTC) and Mo-dithiophosphate (Mo-DTP) as the MoS2 catalyst precursors were studied in petroleum vacuum residue (VR) using FT-Far IR, XRD and TEM. FT-Far IR was proved to detect the Mo complexes and their derived MoS2 in VR without the interference of the complicated organic matrix. Their transformation into MoS2 was identified by detecting the changes in the ligand bonds and crystal structure. These complexes were found to be distributed in asphaltene (or maltene) by fractionation with hexane due to their solubility in the heavy oil, ruling out any chemical interaction of the complex with asphaltene. Mo-DTC was found to be decomposed at 350 °C to form definite MoS2 in VR. Mo-DTP started its decomposition around 200 °C, and however, no definite formation of MoS2 was confirmed by heating up to 500 °C. Dispersion of the complexes in VR and asphalthene was always good as indicated by TEM. Both complexes in VR at 380 °C under hydrogenation (HYD) conditions provided more or less MoS2. H2S and reactive sulfur species were assumed to accelerate the transformation of the Mo complex to MoS2 during HYD reaction. Some difficulty of Mo-DTP to be transformed quantitatively into definite MoS2 in VR may explain its poor activity for up-grading VR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High-efficiency visible light emission in N-and-B-doped 6H-SiC epilayers was observed in photoluminescence measurements at room temperature. The orange-yellow light emission due to the recombination of donor-acceptor pairs (DAPs) has a broad spectrum with a peak wavelength of 576 nm and a full width at half maximum of 110 nm at 250 K. The high B concentration of more than 1018 cm-3 improves the emission efficiency of the DAP recombination at a high temperature. Compared with the photoluminescence spectrum of GaN at 10 K, a high quantum efficiency of 95% was estimated for the highly B-doped sample. From time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, a DAP recombination time of 5.0 ms was obtained, which is in good agreement with the calculated value by the rate equation with the assumption of a 95% internal quantum efficiency. This is quite promising as a light-emitting medium by optical pumping, as well as monolithic light sources combined with nitride-based light-emitting diodes grown on the DA-doped SiC epilayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a novel method for detecting hypernuclear events recorded in nuclear emulsion sheets using machine learning techniques. The artificial neural network-based object detection model was trained on surrogate images created through Monte Carlo simulations and image-style transformations using generative adversarial networks. The performance of the proposed model was evaluated using α -decay events obtained from the J-PARC E07 emulsion data. The model achieved approximately twice the detection efficiency of conventional image processing and reduced the time spent on manual visual inspection by approximately 1/17. The established method was successfully applied to the detection of hypernuclear events. This approach is a state-of-the-art tool for discovering rare events recorded in nuclear emulsion sheets without any real data for training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We deposited Ge layers on (001) Si substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and used them to fabricate suspended membranes with high uniaxial tensile strain. We demonstrate a CMOS-compatible fabrication strategy to increase strain concentration and to eliminate the Ge buffer layer near the Ge/Si hetero-interface deposited at low temperature. This is achieved by a two-steps patterning and selective etching process. First, a bridge and neck shape is patterned in the Ge membrane, then the neck is thinned from both top and bottom sides. Uniaxial tensile strain values higher than 3% were measured by Raman scattering in a Ge membrane of 76 nm thickness. For the challenging thickness measurement on micrometer-size membranes suspended far away from the substrate a characterization method based on pump-and-probe reflectivity measurements was applied, using an asynchronous optical sampling technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, single-phase ε-gallium oxide (Ga2O3) thin films were heteroepitaxially grown on c-plane sapphire substrates. When the Ga2O3 films were directly grown on c-plane sapphire substrates, they tended to grow with a mixture of α-, β-, and ε-Ga2O3. However, with the insertion of a cubic NiO buffer layer, single-phase ε-Ga2O3 thin films were successfully grown at temperatures from 400 °C to 800 °C. Furthermore, ε-Ga2O3 thin films grown at 750 °C exhibited a smooth surface. Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the (111) plane-oriented NiO buffer layer prevented the growth of both polymorphs other than ε-Ga2O3 and the intermediate layers. The direct bandgap was estimated to be 4.9 eV in thin films in which ε-Ga2O3 was predominant and 5.3 eV in thin films dominated by α-Ga2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitaxial ε-gallium oxide (Ga2O3) thin films incorporated with In were successfully grown by mist chemical vapour deposition (CVD) on c-plane sapphire substrates for bandgap tuning. In was successfully incorporated into epitaxial ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 films at an In composition of x = 0.2 without inducing phase separation. Phase separation originated from the (400) bixbyite structure of (InxGa1−x)2O3 when x ＞ 0.2. The solubility limit of In incorporated into ε-Ga2O3 on sapphire substrates via mist CVD was therefore x = 0.2. Transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 consisted of polycrystalline phases observed in the interface of the sapphire substrate and ε-phases located above the polycrystalline phase. The pole figure of ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 thin films revealed that the epitaxial relationship between the ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 thin film and the α-Al2O3 substrate is (001) ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 [130]☋☋(0001) α-Al2O3 [11−20]. The optical bandgap of the ε-(InxGa1−x)2O3 thin films was tuned from 4.5 to 5.0 eV without inducing phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directional dark matter search experiments enable us to reveal the presence of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles. A promising detector for a directional measurement is a fine-grained nuclear emulsion consisting of fine crystals of silver bromide with 20 nm or 40 nm size. A critical task for the success of the experiment is to remove background tracks of electrons coming from stopping beta rays of 14 C decays in the nuclear emulsion. An electron rejection power of at least 10 −10 is needed in order to start a 10 kg experiment. We present a novel cryogenic approach to reject the electron background that makes use of the phonon effect in nuclear emulsion. For the proof of principle, we have been investigating the sensitivity of fine-grained nuclear emulsions as a function of temperature by exposing to gamma rays and ion beams with an ion implant system in the range of 77–300 K. Results of gamma ray exposure indicate that the electron rejection power is estimated to be better than 3 × 10 − 9 at 77 K. Results of ion exposure imply that fine-grained nuclear emulsion is sensitive to ions which are light and heavy and ion tracks' angle can be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Epitaxial growth of LaB6 (100) thin films was examined on MgO (100) and sapphire (α-Al2O3) (0001) substrates with insertion of a 2–3nm-thick epitaxial SrB6 buffer layer by pulsed laser deposition in ultra-high vacuum. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and the Raman scattering spectroscopy measurements proved that the heteroepitaxial structure of the LaB6 (100)/SrB6 (100)/MgO (100) substrate has a single-domain, while and that of the LaB6 (100)/SrB6 (100)/sapphire (0001) substrate have three domains. LaB6 thin films grown without the buffer layer were not epitaxial; instead, they developed as polycrystalline films with a random in-plane configuration. The buffer layer greatly affected the initial growth of the LaB6 thin films. Epitaxial LaB6 thin films exhibited metallic behavior with almost constant resistivities in the temperature range 12–300K. At room temperature, the resistivities of single-domain LaB6 (100) epitaxial thin films on MgO substrates were about 5 times smaller than those of the three-domain LaB6 (100) epitaxial thin films on the sapphire substrates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A diamond-based mold could be fabricated for glass imprinting by applying a replica method using CVD diamond film growth on a precisely patterned Si master substrate with arrays of square-arranged microlens (10×10μm2 in size). After the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, the diamond mold was obtained through dissolution of the Si substrate. The surface roughness (RMS) of the diamond mold could be drastically decreased from 52.9nm to 0.5nm by using the post reactive ion etching (RIE) process with fluorocarbon gases as well as by lowering the film deposition temperature. We evaluated the morphology of the diamond mold pattern from our cross-sectional observations by focused ion beam (FIB) etching, and we examined the crystal structure of the mold via Raman scattering spectroscopy. Fabrication of glass microlens array devices was demonstrated by imprinting the fabricated diamond-based mold on a soda-lime silicate glass and a quartz glass. We also characterized the mold releasability and its shape transcription properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using soda-lime glass with a nano-stripe pattern as a test specimen, we demonstrated self-organized near-field etching with a continuum-wave laser ( λ=532 nm) light source. Atomic force microscopy confirmed that near-field etching decreases the flank roughness of the corrugations as well as the roughness of the flat surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We fabricated epitaxial SrB6 (100) thin films on ultrasmooth sapphire (α-Al2O3 single crystal) (0001) substrates by laser molecular beam epitaxy. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction measurements indicated the heteroepitaxial structure of SrB6 (100)/sapphire (0001) with three domains of epitaxial relationship. The prepared films exhibited atomically stepwise surface morphology, similar to that of the ultrasmooth substrate used, with 0.2-nm-high atomic steps and ∼70-nm-wide terraces. The SrB6 epitaxial thin films showed semiconducting behavior, with a resistivity of 4.8Ωcm at room temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nuclear emulsion is a perfect choice for a detector for directional DM search because of its high density and excellent position accuracy. The minimal detectable track length of a recoil nucleus in emulsion is required to be at least 100 nm, making the resolution of conventional optical microscopes insufficient to resolve them. Here we report about the R&D on a super-resolution optical microscope to be used in future directional DM search experiments with nuclear emulsion as a detector media. The microscope will be fully automatic, will use novel image acquisition and analysis techniques, will achieve the spatial resolution of the order of few tens of nm and will be capable of reconstructing recoil tracks with the length of at least 100 nm with high angular resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports on medium term tests of anode-supported five-cell short stacks, as well as on some separate anode development. Two stacks were operated under steady-state conditions: one with unprotected metal interconnects, H2 fuel and 0.35Acm−2 (40% fuel utilisation) polarisation current showed an average cell voltage degradation of 56mV per 1000h for 2750h; one with coated metal interconnects, synthetic reformate fuel and 0.5Acm−2 (60% fuel utilisation) polarisation current showed an averaged cell voltage degradation slope of 6.6mV per 1000h for 800h before a power cut prematurely interrupted the test. A third stack was subjected to 13 complete thermal cycles over 1000h, average cell voltage degradation was evaluated to −2mV per cycle for operation at 0.3Acm−2, open circuit voltage (OCV) remained stable, whereas area specific resistance (ASR) increase amounted on average to 0.008Ωcm2 per cycle. To improve anode reoxidation tolerance, MgO addition was considered. (Mg, Ni)O solid solutions were synthesized from MgO and NiO powders at 1500°C for 2h in air. Samples were reduced at 1000°C in 4vol% H2 in N2, and their expansion behaviour was observed. XRD and SEM/EDX analysis suggested that the expansion was caused by the segregation of Ni particles between (Mg, Ni)O grains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The beam painting injection system of the 3-GeV RCS in J-PARC, which realizes the uniform beam distributions in the ring, consists of four horizontal paint bump magnets and two vertical paint magnets. The power supply of the paint bump magnet is required to excite the current with high accuracy that varies from 17.6 kA to zero during 0.5 ms. The IGBT chopper units, a switching frequency of which is 50 kHz each, are multiply-connected to achieve the effective carrier frequency of 600 kHz. Accordingly, the output accuracy of the exciting current has been achieved to be less than 1.0%. The measurements of the magnetic field with the actual current waveform were performed and the good performance was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Installation of the kicker magnets in the extraction section of the RCS in i-PARC facility was completed. They extract a proton beam accelerated up to 3GeV. Since high voltage of 30 kV, which corresponds to 60 kV for charging the pulse forming line, is applied to the magnet every 40 msec, they are installed in vacuum chambers to prevent the electrical breakdown. However, magnetic field mapping is difficult in vacuum. Therefore, we performed the mapping in the air with applying one third of the operational voltage after checking linear dependence of magnetic field to exciting current. A short search coil on the 3-axis stages was used in the magnetic field mapping. The results showed that the good uniformity was achieved in the whole aperture. The magnetic field distribution of the same type of kicker magnet was in good agreement with each other. The excitation test with the operational charging voltage of 60 kV was also performed in vacuum. At the first stage, we were bothered by the electric breakdown. It was noticed that the reduction of outgassing rate by baking was very effective to suppress the discharge. And the continuous excitation was found to have a conditioning effect for the stable operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]