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Purpose: Immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, B cells or tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to the anti-tumor response or pro-tumorigenic effect in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The interrelation of TAMs, T and B tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in TNBC has not been fully elucidated. Methods: We evaluated the association of tumor-associated macrophages, T and B TILs in TNBC. Results: TNBCs with a high CD68+, CD163+ TAMs and low CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ TILs had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low CD68+, CD163+ TAMs and high CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ TILs. TNBCs with high CD68+ TAMs/low CD8+ TILs showed a significantly shorter RFS and OS and a significantly poorer prognosis than those with high CD68+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs, low CD68+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs, and low CD68+/low CD8+. TNBCs with high CD163+ TAMs/low CD8+, low CD20 + TILs showed a significantly shorter RFS and OS and a significantly poorer prognosis than those with high CD163+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs and high CD163+ TAMs /high CD20+ TILs. Conclusions: Our study suggests that TAMs further create an optimal tumor microenvironment (TME) for growth and invasion of cancer cells when evasion of immunoreactions due to T and B TILs occurs. In TNBCs, all these events combine to affect prognosis. The process of TME is highly complex in TNBCs and for an improved understanding, larger validation studies are necessary to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-layer Zn/Al/Zn clad solders have been developed for high-temperature die attachment. The clad structure is used to improve the wettability and bondability of Zn-Al eutectic solder by preventing Al oxidation. The effects of the bonding conditions on the bondability with Zn/Al/Zn clad solder were investigated. Bonding was achieved in the temperature range from 385°C to 420°C under N atmosphere with oxygen concentration below 100 ppm. However, the bonding strength of the joint formed under N + 4% H atmosphere was almost 0 MPa, and stripe defects and air gaps remained in the bond layer. To improve the bondability under N + 4% H and expand the application range, a five-layer Cu/Zn/Al/Zn/Cu clad solder was developed in an attempt to prevent the Zn layers from being oxidized by the outer Cu layers. Cross-sectional observation of the Cu/Zn/Al/Zn/Cu clad solder revealed that the surface was covered by a Cu layer, and that CuZn layers grew between the Cu and Zn layers. This clad solder exhibited high shear strength of over 80 MPa when formed under N + 4% H atmosphere, and no stripe defects or air gaps were observed in the bond layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the method of the measurements of electron density in the low-dense, low-ionized laser-produced plasma using the nonlinear optical process of high-order harmonic generation of ultrashort pulses at the conditions of the quasi-phase-matching of driving and harmonic waves. Electron density was defined using the relations of quasi-phase-matching. We show the results of our measurements of electron density in the range of 10-10 cm using the multi-jet silver plasma produced for the harmonic generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-layer Zn/Al/Zn clad solders have been developed for high-temperature die attachment. The clad structure is used to improve the wettability and bondability of Zn-Al eutectic solder by preventing oxidation of the Al. The materials were produced by clad-rolling Zn and Al strips. TEM observations revealed that the Zn/Al clad interface was metallurgically bonded and that the Al oxide was almost entirely removed. The melting behavior of Zn/Al/Zn clad solder was examined. Eutectic melting began at the Zn/Al clad interface at 382°C, and all of the material melted within approximately 10 s. Unlike conventional Zn-Al solders, Zn/Al/Zn clad solders were successfully bonded without flux. The shear strength of a Zn/Al/Zn clad solder joint was three times that of a Pb-based solder joint. The bondability of Zn/Al/Zn clad solder was superior because the Al oxide films, which prevent bonding between chip and substrate, were fragmented by clad-rolling, and the outer Zn layers prevented Al oxidation during the bonding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the high-order harmonic generation of femtosecond pulses in the laser ablation plume containing the graphene nanoparticles. The harmonics up to the 33rd order were observed. The presence of graphene nanoparticles in the laser plasma was confirmed during the analysis of ablation debris. The comparative studies of harmonic generation from the ablation of graphene, carbon nanotubes, and diamond nanoparticles showed the advanced properties of the latter medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quasi-phase-matching of the high-order harmonics generating in the multiple plasma jets produced on the surfaces of perforated Ag, V, and Mn targets is demonstrated. The 20× and 30× enhancement factors of quasi-phase-matched harmonics of 804 nm radiation in the range of the 35th harmonic in the cases of silver and vanadium plasmas were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third- and higher-order nonlinear optical processes in fullerenes were studies to define the influence of low-order nonlinearities on the high-order harmonic generation in these media. We measured the nonlinear absorption coefficients of the C:toluene solution using the 532 and 1064 nm, 50 ps pulses. The high-order harmonic generation was studied during propagation of the 790 nm, 150 fs pulses through the plasmas produced on surfaces containing fullerene powder. These studies have shown that the low-order nonlinearities of fullerenes have no impact on the generation of harmonics in such mediums in the vacuum ultraviolet range at optimal intensity of laser radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the interference of two high-order harmonic generation processes in mixtures of different materials. These studies were carried out using mixtures of silver and gold nanoparticle suspensions, as well as mixtures of boron and carbon. These samples were ablated using picosecond pulses and probed by femtosecond pulses. While the harmonic cutoffs remained approximately the same for the mixtures and the separate ingredients, the conversion efficiency in the case of plasma plumes containing the mixtures of the above materials noticeably decreased around all spectral ranges of harmonic generation. These studies show that destructive interference in these media dominates over constructive interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of lower (third) and higher harmonics of femtosecond laser radiation in plasmas produced by laser ablation of different targets with a small atomic number Z (B, Be, Li) has been investigated. The high (10) efficiency of third-harmonic generation was observed in plasma produced on the boron surface. Efficient third-harmonic generation was also observed in beryllium plasma using femtosecond pulses of Ti:sapphire laser radiation (λ = 790 nm) and its second harmonic (395 nm). We could tune the higher harmonics generation spectrum by tuning the crystal converter when using 395-nm radiation to be converted. It is shown that, in plasmas formed on targets with small Z, the conversion efficiency and limiting generated harmonic order depend on the delay between the ablation pulse and the pulse to be converted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated the ability to discriminate between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), and between AD and non-dementia using the program "easy Z score imaging system" (eZIS) developed by Matsuda et al., for the diagnosis of very early AD. Methods: Of 201 patients, we investigated 12 patients with AD, 10 with VaD, and 9 with non-dementia, who underwent brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography by technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) between February 2005 and September 2006. The sensitivity and specificity of the indicators of specific volume of interest (VOI) analysis, namely, severity, extent, and ratio were evaluated for the distinction of AD from VaD and non-dementia. Results: There was a significant difference in all the criteria for severity, extent, and ratio between AD and non-dementia cases and in the ratio between AD and VaD. Between AD and non-dementia, the sensitivity and specificity of severity were 100% and 45%, respectively, using the cutoff value of 1.19. When using the cutoff value of 14.2 for extent, the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. Using the cutoff value of 2.22 for ratio, the sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 100% were demonstrated. When comparing AD with VaD, using the cutoff value of 2.22 for ratio, the sensitivity and specificity were 42% and 100%, respectively. Using the cutoff value of 1.5 for ratio, the sensitivity and specificity between AD and VaD were 92% and 80%, respectively, thereby showing the best results. Conclusions: The specific VOI analysis program of AD using specific voxel-based Z score maps is not influenced by interobserver differences among radiologists and is useful to discriminate AD from VaD and non-dementia. However, the setting of the cutoff value at each institution and comparison with original and eZIS images are suggested to distinguish better AD from VaD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is widely performed for both neoplastic and non-neoplastic disease. Before BMT, patients are prepared with high-dose chemotherapy, frequently associated with total-body radiation, to destroy residual malignant cells and to reduce immunologic resistance. BMT is associated with several central nervous system (CNS) complications secondary to underlying disease, prolonged myelosuppression, and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. These complications include infections, vascular disease, drug-induced neurotoxicity, metabolic disturbance, and post-BMT carcinogenesis. The immune status of children after BMT can be divided into three phases: the pre-engraftment period (days 0-30 after BMT), the post-engraftment period (days 30-100), and the late phase (after day 100). The timing of CNS complications that occur after BMT, as for complications in other organs, can be described with reference to these three phases of immune status. It is essential that radiologists become familiar with the relationships between the immune status of the recipient and the times of onset of these disorders, and with the neuroimaging patterns associated with the various complications. CNS complications can be life-threatening for immunosuppressed children, so accurate diagnosis is important for prompt and appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform arrays of periodic nanoparticles with 80-nm period are formed on 6H-SiC crystal irradiated by circularly polarized 400-nm femtosecond laser pulses. In order to understand the formation mechanism, the morphology evolvement as a function of laser pulse energy and number is studied. Periodic nanoripples are also formed on the sample surface irradiated by linearly polarized 400-, 510- and 800-nm femtosecond laser pulses. All these results support well the mechanism that second-harmonic generation plays an important role in the formation of periodic nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigation of high harmonics of radiation of a Ti:sapphire laser propagating through a laser plasma generated on the surface of different targets are presented. For most of the targets, the intensity distribution of the high harmonics generated is found to form a plateaulike pattern similar to that observed in the case of gas jets. The generation of high harmonics (up to the 65th harmonic, λ = 12.24 nm) is caused by the interaction of femtosecond laser radiation with ions. The conversion efficiency in the plateau region varies from 10−7 to 8 × 10−5 depending on the target. The main restriction on the conversion efficiency and the peak intensity of the harmonics generated is caused by the self-defocusing of the femtosecond radiation due to free charge carriers formed as a result of tunnel ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-order harmonic generation from boron plasma was studied using the longitudinal pump scheme. The harmonics up to the 57th order (λ=13.96 nm) were observed. The characteristics of plateau in the range of 15th to 57th harmonics were analyzed depending on fundamental radiation intensity and the saturation of harmonic cutoff was observed. The harmonic cutoff energy was restricted by the self-defocusing of femtosecond radiation. A comparison of longitudinal and orthogonal pump schemes of boron plasma excitation was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear refractive index γ of CS2 is studied using laser pulses of various durations (from 110 fs to 75 ns). It is found that γ increases with increasing pulse duration within the picosecond region (from (3 ± 0.6) × 10−15 cm2 W−1 at 110 fs to (3.5 ± 0.7) × 10−14 cm2 W−1 at 75 ns) due to orientational nonlinearities. Variations in the sign of γ caused by the thermal effect at different pulse durations and repetition rates are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the fast electronic component, the component associated with molecular processes, causing positive nonlinear refraction, and the acoustic component, responsible for negative nonlinear refraction, manifest themselves simultaneously. The results of a study of the nonlinear absorption of carbon disulfide are presented. The two-and three-photon absorption coefficients of CS2 are determined to be (5 ± 1.5) × 10−11 cm W−1 and (2.8 ± 0.8) × 10−23 cm3 W−2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and central nervous system (CNS) relapse has historically been very poor. Although chemo-radiotherapy has improved outcomes, some patients still have a poor prognosis after CNS relapse. Therefore, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo- SCT) has recently become an option for treatment of CNS leukemia; however, information, particularly on the long-term outcome of transplant recipients, is limited. We performed allo-SCT in eight pediatric patients with ALL (n =7) or T-cell type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 1), who had isolated CNS relapse. All patients survived for a median of 70.5 (range, 13-153) months after SCT. Sequelae developed late in some patients: mental retardation (IQ = 47) in one patient, severe alopecia in two patients, limited chronic graft-versus-host-disease in three patients, and amenorrhea and/or hypothyroidism in three patients. Except for a pre-school child with post transplant CNS relapse, six out of seven patients show normal school/social performance. Our results clearly indicate a high cure rate of isolated CNS relapse by allo- SCT in pediatric lymphoid malignancies; however, there needs to be further studies to determine which are the appropriate candidates for transplantation and what is the best transplant regimen to achieve high cure rate and maintain good quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical, structural, and nonlinear optical characteristics of GaAs nanoparticles obtained by laser ablation in different liquids were investigated. Thermally induced self-defocusing in GaAs solutions was observed using both a high pulse repetition rate and nanosecond pulses. In studying the nonlinear optical characteristics of GaAs solutions using picosecond and femtosecond pulses, two-photon absorption was observed. The nonlinear absorption coefficient of an aqueous GaAs solution measured by the Z-scan technique and the nonlinear susceptibility of GaAs nanoparticles were, respectively, 0.7×10–9 cm W–1 and 2×10–9 esu at a wavelength of 795 nm. © 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser plasmas generated by femtosecond radiation on the surface of boron and molybdenum targets are investigated by the shadowgraph method. The modes of single-pulse and multipulse interaction of laser radiation with a target are compared. The occurrence of plasma bullets is discussed, which were observed on both single-pulse and multipulse interaction with the same area of a target. The wavefront velocities of expanding boron and molybdenum plasmas were measured to be 5×104 and 6×103 m s–1, respectively. The electron density measured by interferometry using a time delay of 800 ps in a boron plasma excited by 795-nm radiation with an intensity of 1016 W cm–2 amounted to 8×1019cm–3. The correlation between some specific features of the plasma and the generation of the 3/2 harmonic, observed on multipulse interaction of femtosecond radiation with a boron target, is discussed. © 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the generation of high harmonics (up to the 65th order, λ=12.24 nm) of a Ti:sapphire laser radiation after the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses through the low-excited plasma produced by a picosecond prepulse radiation on the surface of different targets. High-order harmonics generated from the surface plasma of most targets showed a plateau pattern. It is assumed that the harmonic generation in these conditions occurs due to the interaction of the femtosecond pulses with the ions. The conversion efficiencies at the plateau region were varied between 1×10-7 to 8×10-6, depending on the target. The main contribution to the limitation of harmonic generation efficiency and cutoff energy was attributed to the self-defocusing of main pulse. A considerable restriction of the 27th harmonic generation was observed at different focusing conditions in the case of chromium plasma. Our observation of the resonance-induced enhancement of a single harmonic (λ=61.2 nm) at a plateau region with the efficiency of 8×10-5 in the case of In plasma can offer some expectation that analogous processes can be realized in other plasma samples in the shorter wavelength range where the highest harmonics were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the discovery and characterization of lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) null mutants in barley. Six lines did not exhibit any significant LOX activity in the silenced seed extract. Immunological analysis showed that these lines lacked the authentic LOX-1 protein. Genetic analysis of the F2 population revealed that this trait was governed by a single recessive gene located at the LoxA locus on chromosome 4H. The six LOX-1 null mutants shared similar features and the same unique polymorphism in a structural gene region, implying that these mutants might be derived from the same ancestral origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promoter region of the early-growth response-1(Egr-1) gene has been shown to be activated by external radiation, thus making a selective tumoricidal effect possible. A previous experiment showed that the Egr-1 promoter can be activated by internal radiation using radioisotopes as well as external radiation. Internal radiation using I-131 lipiodol (I-131-Lip) has been established as one of the most useful therapeutic strategies against hepatoma. We herein linked the Egr-1 promoter to the herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene, and investigated its efficacy in hepatoma gene therapy in combination with I-131-Lip. A luciferase assay showed the Egr-1-promoter activity to be markedly increased in hepatoma tissue specimens in an I-131-dose-dependent manner, whereas a less than two-fold increase in this activity was observed in other organs. In addition, the radioactivity derived from I-131 was selectively accumulated in the tumor tissue specimens. To examine the efficacy of EgrTK/ganciclovir (GCV) gene therapy in vivo, subcutaneous hepatoma xenografts in nude mice were transfected using a hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome vector. Complete tumor regression was observed in all the EgrTK-transfected tumors following combination treatment with I-131-Lip and GCV 42 days after treatment without any side effects (n=8). In contrast, the tumors continued to grow in all control mice (n=10). Furthermore, the serum α-fetoprotein levels decreased in the combination therapy group, while they increased in the controls. In conclusion, these data indicate that Egr-1 promoter-based gene therapy combined with internal radiation has a selective effect on hepatoma tumors while also showing an improved in vivo efficacy. This combination therapy might, therefore, be an effective human hepatoma gene therapy, even in advanced multiple cases.Gene Therapy (2005) 12, 1633–1639. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3302531; published online 4 August 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical, structural, and nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles prepared using the method of laser ablation in various liquids at wavelengths of 397, 532, and 795 nm with laser pulses of different duration are studied. An analysis of the dimensional and spectral characteristics of the silver nanoparticles revealed a time dynamics of the nanoparticle size distribution in solutions. It is shown that thermal self-defocusing is observed for the case of nanosecond or shorter pulses generated with a high repetition rate. For picosecond and femtosecond pulses with a low repetition rate, the effects of self-focusing (γ = 3×10–13cm2W–1) and saturated absorption (β = –1.5×10–9 cm W–1) were observed in the solutions under study. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the silver nanoparticles was found to be 5×10–8 esu at a wavelength of 397 nm. © 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the cause of myelofibrosis and proliferation of megakaryocytes in myelodysplastic syndrome with myelofibrosis (MDS-MF (+)). Plasma-transforming growth factor-β1 (PTGF-β1) concentrations closely correlated with myelofibrosis grade in MDS-MF (+) and were higher than those in idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF), essential thrombocythemia (ET), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), MDS-without MF (MDS-MF (−)) or healthy volunteers (HV). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MDS-MF (+) patients expressed more TGF-β1 mRNA than those from IMF, MDS-MF (−) or HV. When we immunostained bone marrow specimens of MDS-MF (+) for TGF-β, the intensity of blasts was apparently higher than that of megakaryocytes, while in MDS-MF (−), megakaryocytes were immunostained with a similar intensity as that in MDS-MF (+), but blasts were negative for staining. In IMF, megakaryocytes, monocytes and small mononuclear cells representing CD34+ cells were all similarly stained with a much lower intensity than that of blasts in MDS-MF (+). The number of bone marrow megakaryocytes were increased the most in MDS-MF (+), followed by ET, ITP, MDS-MF (−) and NHL and correlated with plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) levels or with plasma TGF-β1 levels, respectively, in each disease. Thus, in MDS-MF (+), both myelofibrosis and the increased megakaryocytes were ascribed to overproduction of TGF-β1 from blasts.Leukemia (2005) 19, 1558–1566. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2403875; published online 21 July 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the optical, structural, and nonlinear optical properties of GaAs nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in various liquids at the wavelengths of 795 nm and 1,054 nm. The slow-thermal-effect-induced self-defocusing processes were dominating both in the cases of high pulse repetition rate and nanosecond pulses. The two-photon absorption was observed in these colloidal solutions in the case of low pulse repetition rate of picosecond and femtosecond radiation. The nonlinear susceptibility of GaAs nanoparticles ablated in water was measured to be 2× 10-9 esu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The saturated nonlinear absorption and Kerr nonlinearities of an aqueous pseudoisocyanine solution are investigated at the wavelengths of 532 and 529 nm with the use of pulsed laser radiation of different duration (8 ns and 475 fs). The measured values of the nonlinear refractive indices amount to –6×10–12(t=8ns) and –8×10–14cm2W–1(t=475fs). The change in self-action effects in pseudoisocyanine from self-defocusing to self-focusing revealed in the case of increasing intensity of femtosecond laser pulses is attributed to the effect of a fifth-order nonlinear optical process. The nonlinear refractive index responsible for this process amounts to 4×10–24cm4W–2. The imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility, responsible for the induced transparency of the pseudoisocyanine solution, is Im χ(3) = –2×10–12 esu. Temporal changes in the shape of nanosecond laser pulses due to the nonlinear refraction induced by a thermal process are analyzed. © 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear refractive indices γ and nonlinear absorption coefficients of ZrO2 films doped with CdS or ZnS nanoparticles, as well as with various metals, are measured. The effects of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles and annealing on the nonlinear optical properties of films are studied. The structural parameters of films, determined by electron microscopy and x-ray dispersion spectroscopy, are compared to the optical and nonlinear optical characteristics of these media. The high magnitude of γ of the films ((3 ± 0.6) × 10–11cm2W–1) is attributed to the surface enhancement effect in semiconductor nanoparticles. On the basis of Z-scan data obtained at different intensities of radiation, it is shown that the variations in γ of the ZrO2:CdS(Cr) and ZrO2:ZnS(Mn) films are related to the generation of free carriers. © 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear refractive index (γ) of CS[sub 2] was measured using the Z-scan technique and laser radiation of various (femto-, pico-, and nano-second) pulse durations. We observed the growth of γ with the increase of the pulse duration (from (3±0.6)×10[sup -15] cm[sup 2] W[sup -1] at 110 fs to (4±2)×10[sup -14] cm[sup 2] W[sup -1] at 75 ns) due to the additional influence of the molecular reorientational Kerr effect in the case of longer (picosecond and nanosecond) pulses. Acoustic wave induced negative nonlinear refraction was observed using wavefront analysis. We analyzed the simultaneous influence of both electronic and molecular processes leading to the positive nonlinear refraction and acoustic processes leading to the negative nonlinear refraction in carbon disulfide. Variations of the refractive index due to the thermal effect at high pulse repetition rates were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backscattered 2 ω and 3 ω/2 harmonics were investigated during the interaction of femtosecond radiation (λ=795 nm, t=150 fs, 10-Hz pulse repetition rate) with various targets. The harmonics were generated without changing the position of the targets from shot to shot. Various characteristics of the harmonics were analyzed and their dependences on pump radiation parameters are discussed. Efficient 2 ω and 3 ω/2 harmonics were achieved for low-Z targets, whereas only second-harmonic generation was observed for high-Z materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the threshold conditions for coherent soft x-ray generation using a compact hybrid (neodymium-doped glass-sapphire titanate) laser with an output energy of several hundred millijoules. Collisional excitation of molybdenum ions in a longitudinal-pumping scheme was used for x-ray (λ = 18.9 nm) generation. The generated radiation exhibited a low divergence and a strong dependence on the delay between picosecond and femtosecond pumping radiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of the generation of harmonics from a laser plasma resulting from the inter- action of radiation of femtosecond duration (λ = 1.06 µm, t = 475 fs, and I ∼ 2 × 10[sup 17] W cm[sup -2]) with aluminum targets are presented. The observed frequency shift of harmonics to the short-wavelength region (1.6 and 5.1 nm for the second and fifth harmonics, respectively) is determined by a collisionless absorption resulting from an anomalous skin effect. The efficiencies of conversion into the second and fifth harmonics in an s-polarized pumping field were lower than the conversion efficiencies in a p-polarized pumping field by a factor of eight and a factor of two, respectively (for intensities I < 10[sup 17] W cm[sup -2]). With a further increase in the pumping inten- sity, these values decreased to 0.8 and 0.5, respectively. The mechanisms of such behavior of the conversion process are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An animal experiment was done using six mongrel dogs that weighed 28 ± 3 kg to show that an accelerometer could detect skeletal muscle fatigue in dynamic cardiomyoplasty. Through left-side thoracotomy, the heart was exposed and an electrode to sense the heartbeat was positioned on the left ventricle. A left latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) was inserted into the left chest cavity and rolled around the heart. An accelerometer was put on the rolled LDMF to sense the ventricular acceleration by contraction of the LDMF and the heart. The LDMF was stimulated under these settings: pulse width, 210 μs; stimulation output, 6 V; burst frequency, 30 Hz; burst duration, 200 ms; synchronous ratio, 1 : 4; and synchronous delay, 66 ms. Output voltage from the accelerometer was recorded 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min after the beginning of stimulation. Percentages of the amplitude in all dogs after 3, 5, 10, and 15 min were 81 ± 10%, 63 ± 12%, 48 ± 11%, and 45 ± 14% of the values after 1 min, respectively. Significant differences were found between the values after 1 min and those after 3 min, between the values after 3 min and those after 5 min, and between the values after 5 min and those after 10 min. This study suggests that muscle fatigue is detectable with an accelerometer in actual dynamic cardiomyoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary lymphoid tumors of the lacrimal sac are quite rare, and all reported cases are of B-cell tumors with good prognosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma of the lacrimal sac. A 55-year-old woman presented with a lacrimal sac tumor, and histological diagnosis of NK cell lymphoma was made. Although disease was initially localized to the right lacrimal sac, it invaded into the adjacent ethmoidal sinus before chemotherapy was initiated (clinical stage IIE). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded small RNA (EBER) was detected in lymphoma cells by in situ hybridization. Systemic chemotherapy combined with intrathecal chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy was performed, and the patient achieved complete remission. However, shortly after completion of chemoradiotherapy, the lymphoma relapsed with rapid systemic dissemination. The disease was refractory to chemotherapy, and the patient eventually succumbed due to sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have evaluated the interfacial reactions of SiC fibre reinforced Al electrical power cable using low oxygen SiC fibre (Si : 62.4, C : 37.1, 0 : 0.5 mass%), and determined the relationship between the tensile strength and the amount of reaction products at the interface. The following are occurring at the SiC/Al interface: i) diffusion of Al atoms into the SiC fibre, ii) formation of needle–shape Al4C3 compounds, and iii) formation of Al9Si compounds. Formation of Al4C3 and Al9Si compounds at the interface causes the strength of SiC/Al composite electric power cable to deteriorate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Marfan syndrome (MFS; MIM #154700) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by cardiovascular, skeletal, and ocular abnormalities. The fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1; MIM no. 134797) on chromosome 15 was revealed to be the cause of Marfan syndrome. To date over 137 types of FBN1 mutations have been reported. In this study, two novel mutations and a recurrent de-novo mutation were identified in patients with MFS by means of single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The two novel mutations are a 4-bp deletion at nucleotide 28202823 and a G-to-T transversion at nucleotide 1421 (C474F), located on exon 23 and exon 11, respectively. A previously reported mutation at the splicing donor site of intron 2 (IVS2 G + lA), which is predicted to cause exon skipping, was identified in a sporadic patient with classical MFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three D-type cyclins, cyclin D1, D2 and D3, belong to the G1 cyclin, which regulates the G1/S transition of the cell cycle, and feature highly homologous amino acid sequences. The cyclin D1 gene was found to be transcriptionally activated in B-lymphoid malignancies with t(11;14), but available information is limited regarding expression of cyclin D2 and D3 in hematopoietic malignancies. We examined the expressions of three D-type cyclins to investigate how these homologous genes are differentially used. Northern blot hybridization with densitometric analyses was performed to examine 64 cell lines and 159 patients with various hematopoietic malignancies. Among lymphoid malignancies, cyclin D1 overexpression was exclusively detected in B cell malignancies accompanied by a genetic event consisting of 11q13 chromosomal translocation, consisting of 13 of 19 (68%) patients with mantle cell lymphoma, two of 11 (18%) with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and one of six (17%) with multiple myeloma. The cyclin D2 expression was significantly higher in T cell malignancies than in B cell malignancies (P = 0.003 for cell lines and P < 0.0001 for patient samples, respectively). In the T cell malignancies, cyclin D2 overexpression was predominantly recognized in those with mature phenotype. Furthermore, cyclin D2 expression was upregulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of normal T-lymphocytes, suggesting that this simply represents the proliferation status of mature T cells. Although cyclin D3 was ubiquitously expressed, its expression was reduced in lymphoid malignancies with cyclin D1 or D2 overexpression. In myeloid leukemias, although three D-type type cyclins were differentially expressed, no preference for particular D-type cyclins was found. This selective usage of D-type cyclins in lymphoid malignancies suggests an existence of a regulatory mechanism among three D-type cyclins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical power demands are increasing every year, meaning that lightweight electric cable is needed which has high transmission capacity, high thermal resistance and low sag. Tokyo Electric Power Co., Chubu Electric Power Co. and Hitachi Cable Ltd. have been breaking new ground in the field of electric cable through the development of a SiC fiber reinforced aluminum conductor. In this work, the SiC/Al interface reaction during the manufacturing process and the electricity transmission temperature were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and field emission-Auger electron spectroscopy (FE-AES) for long-term reliability assessment. No reaction products were detected at the SiC/Al interface of elemental wire consisting of 7 SiC/Al preformed wires, indicating that the wire manufacturing process was reliable. An Al4C3 product was detected locally at the SiC/Al interface of the wire which had been thermally treated in molten Al under unfavorable conditions. The activation energy, Q, of Al4C3 growth at the SiC/Al interface was about 190 kJ/mol. In the temperature range of electricity transmission, Al atoms diffused into SiC fiber during heat treatment, and the amount of the diffused Al increased with increasing treatment temperature and holding time. The activation energy of Al diffusion through the SiC/Al interface to SiC fiber was about 78 kJ/mol. Strength deterioration was not induced by Al diffusion into SiC fiber, but strength strongly depended on the formation of Al2SiO5 compound at the SiC/Al interface above 400°C transmission temperatures. Kinetics calculations indicated that the rate of strength deterioration of the composite cable, held at 300°C for 36 years, was about 5%, so that practical use of SiC/Al composite cable should not be far in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As electrical power demands increase every year, the need becomes stronger for light weight electric cables which have high transmission capacity, high thermal resistance and low sag. We have developed a SiC fiber reinforced aluminum electrical cable to meet this need. Mechanical properties of the SiC/Al composite conductor are very susceptible to iron impurity which becomes mixed in the Al matrix during manufacture of the composite conductor. In this work, we studied the effects of Fe impurity in Al on fracture behavior of the composite conductor. A preformed wire was prepared by dipping a bundle of 1500 pieces of SiC fiber (Si: 63.7, C: 35.8, O: 12.3 mass %) into molten Al in which 0.36 mass % Fe and 0.5 mass % Ti were mixed. The Ti was added to improve the wetting property. Test samples were prepared by bundling seven preformed wires together. A tensile test was carried out for the composite conductor, and pull-out behavior of SiC fiber at the fracture surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron probe micro analysis (EPMA). Pull-out of SiC fiber was observed at the fracture surface of the composite conductor using Fe-free Al. However, pull-out of SiC fiber was not observed at the fracture surface of the composite conductor using Fe-containing Al since Al was combined inseparably with the SiC and Fe. The fracture origin of the Fe-containing sample was a precipitated Fe-compound at the SiC/Al interface. Tensile strength of the Fe-containing sample was a half of that of the Fe-free sample. We propose the following the precipitation mechanism for the Fe compound. In manufacturing of the preformed wire, molten Al solidifies from the surface to the SiC/Al interface because of the low thermal conductivity of the SiC fiber. In the cooling process, Fe-free Ti-compound precipitates in the molten Al by a peritectic reaction. This leads to a higher concentration of Fe in the molten Al near the interface, and finally, FeAl3 compound precipitates at the SiC/Al interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical investigations are performed on false gain due to axial plasma expansion, which is expected to be important in initial proof-of-principle studies of recombination-pumped soft-X-ray lasers with extended capabilities. Modelling calculations of experiments with slab boron nitride targets reveal large false gain coefficients approaching 20 cm[sup -1] in the case of plasmas with short active medium lengths. The false gain in the case of fiber targets is found to be of equal magnitude to that for slabs in the case of plasmas with less than 0.1 cm active medium lengths. Calculations for slab targets predict that adopting a tolerance of ±1 cm[sup -1] for gain will severely restrict the time and the active medium length of the plasma that can be used for error-free observations, while those for fiber targets are found to be considerably relaxed. The effects of false gain in the 54.2 Å Na Balmer α laser is also investigated, again revealing the importance of this phenomena under optimum gain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental studies on recombination pumped soft x-ray lasers with helium-like ions are presented. The four-beam multi-TW neodymium-doped phosphate glass laser system at the Institute for Solid State Physics of the University of Tokyo was used in this work. From simultaneous time- and space-resolved spectra of the resonance lines of helium-like aluminium ions, population inversions between the n=3 and 2 levels were observed. Details on the first observation of amplification in a recombination-pumped helium-like soft x-ray laser, exhibiting a time-resolved small-signal gain of 3.3±0.5 cm for the 3 D-2 P transition of helium-like nitrogen, are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an efficient plant regeneration system from protoplasts for poplar ( Populus alba L.). Protoplasts were isolated from 4-day-old suspension cultures derived from seed-induced calli with a yield of 6.96× 106 cells/g fresh weight cells and then cultured at a concentration of 2.5×105 cells/ml in NH4NO3-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 µ M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.05 µ M thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.5 M glucose as a osmoticum. The plating efficiency of the cultured protoplasts was calculated at 26.5% at day 7 and 31.7% at day 14. Cell colonies were observed after culturing for 4 weeks. Regenerated colonies were propagated through subculture in liquid MS medium supplemented with 5 µ M 2,4-D. Buds were induced from regenerated calli on MS medium containing 10 µ M kinetin or 1 µ M TDZ. Regenerated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium, and the plantlets were transplanted in soil. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis did not detect any DNA polymorphism among the regenerated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardioprotective effects of magnesium and calcium in hyperkalemic cardioplegic solutions were investigated in isolated rat hearts. Isolated rat hearts were arrested for 30 min at 37°C in cardioplegic solutions containing magnesium and calcium in varying concentrations. In St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution, the magnesium and calcium concentrations were varied as follows: Mg 0; Ca 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 mmol/l (mM)./ Mg 4; Ca 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2 mM./ Mg 8; Ca 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 mM./ Mg 12; Ca 0.1, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 mM./ Mg 16; Ca 0.1, 0.6, 1.2, 1.5 mM. For each magnesium concentration, the percentage recovery of aortic flow generated dose-response curves depending on calcium concentration. The maximum percentage recovery of aortic flow was 76.0%±2.7% (mean ±SEM) in the Mg0−Ca0.1 mM group, 77.1%±2.0% in the Mg4−Ca0.3 mM group, 78.5%±2.3% in the Mg8−Ca0.6 mM group, 79.8%±2.4% in the Mg12−Ca0.9 mM group and 80.0%±3.4% in the Mg16−Ca1.2 mM (ST solution) group. Significant difference in the recovery of aortic flow has not been observed among these groups, and furthermore, significant differences in the recovery of other parameters of cardiac function and Ck leakage have not been observed among these groups. These results suggest that the cardioprotective effects depend on the relative combination of magnesium and calcium concentrations, and that it is important to maintain an appropriate balance of magnesium and calcium in hyperkalemic cardioplegic solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the generation of transgenic barley plants via PEG-mediated direct DNA uptake to protoplasts. Protoplasts isolated from embryogenic cell suspensions of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv 'Igri') were PEG-treated in a solution containing a plasmid which contained the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPT II) gene under the control of the rice actin promoter and the nos terminator. Colonies developing from the treated protoplasts were incubated in liquid medium containing the selective antibiotic G418. Surviving calli were subsequently transferred to solid media containing G418, on which embryogenic calli developed. These calli gave rise to albino and green shoots on antibiotic-free regeneration medium. NPT II ELISA revealed that approximately half of the morphogenic calli expressed the foreign gene. In total, 12 plantlets derived from NPT-positive calli survived transfer to soil. Southern hybridization analysis confirmed the stable transformation of these plants. However, the foreign gene seemed to be inactivated in plants from one transgenic line. Most of the transgenic plants set seed, and the foreign gene was transmitted and expressed in their progenies, which was ascertained by Southern hybridization and NPT II ELISA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present a safe, conservative method of endless-loop bougienage (ELB) through the oral cavity and esophagus to a gastrostomy without general anesthesia in three children with corrosive esophageal burns treated since 1966. Esophagogastroscopy was performed to evaluate for esophagitis at an early phase after ingestion of the caustic substance. When esophageal stricture formation was recognized after subsequent conservative treatment, a feeding gastrostomy was made. A continuous string loop with plummets of progressively larger size was positioned to pass through the patient's oral cavity and esophagus to the gastrostomy. Strictures were found in the upper esophagus in two patients and in the middle and lower esophagus in one. The gastrostomy was performed 15␣months, 20 days, and 2 months after the injury, respectively, and the periods of ELB were 3, 5, and 2½␣years, respectively. The patients were able to start eating at 26, 42, and 29 months after injury, respectively. They are now 30, 18, and 17 years old, and slight dysphagia remains in patients 1 and 2. No patient developed esophageal carcinoma at the site of the corrosive stricture. Our method of ELB through the patient's oral cavity and esophagus to the gastrostomy appears to be safe, reliable, and useful. We believe that most caustic esophageal strictures in children can be treated by this conservative measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant antitumor activity of oridonin ( 1) and lasiokaurin ( 2), the kaurene-type diterpenoids of Isodon species, was shown by their i.p. injection to the test mice inoculated by Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Enmein ( 8), compounds 9 and 3 were also active under larger dose. Subsequently, the relationship between their chemical structure and antitumor activity was investigated, and the activity of oridonin ( 1) and lasiokaurin ( 2) was rationalized in terms of their structural feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectin was purified from the bark of Sophora japonica trunk by a simple method, affinity chromatography on acid-treated agarose; the yield was about 27% of the total sap proteins. Its molecular weight was 135,000±5,000 shown by using gel filtration, similar to that of the seed lectin of this species. When analyzed by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) under acidic and basic conditions, the lectin showed multiple bands. These patterns were different from those obtained with the seed lectin of the same tree. The trunk lectin had a broader specificity for the blood types than the seed lectin. These observations demonstrate that the trunk and the seed lectins from the same tree are different molecular species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]