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The Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology reviewed and discussed literature evidence regarding antibody-mediated liver allograft rejection at the 11th (Paris, France, June 5-10, 2011), 12th (Comandatuba, Brazil, August 19-23, 2013), and 13th (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, October 5-10, 2015) meetings of the Banff Conference on Allograft Pathology. Discussion continued online. The primary goal was to introduce guidelines and consensus criteria for the diagnosis of liver allograft antibody-mediated rejection and provide a comprehensive update of all Banff Schema recommendations. Included are new recommendations for complement component 4d tissue staining and interpretation, staging liver allograft fibrosis, and findings related to immunosuppression minimization. In an effort to create a single reference document, previous unchanged criteria are also included.

SUMMARY Little is known about the local production and function of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), an acute-phase protein, in the female reproductive tract. This study aimed to investigate the regulation and immune function of AGP in cultured bovine oviduct epithelial cells. Analysis by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that bovine oviduct tissue expresses AGP protein in epithelial cells and the smooth muscle layer. Stimulation of bovine oviduct epithelial cells in culture with either progesterone (1 ng/ml) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 ng/ml) induced both mRNA expression and secretion of AGP. Estradiol (1 ng/ml), progesterone (1 ng/ml), and luteinizing hormone (10 ng/ml), which are observed during the peri-ovulatory period in oviduct tissues (steroids) or in circulation (luteinizing hormone), suppressed LPS-induced expression and secretion of AGP, which in turn induced the expression of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and interleukin-1β (IL-1B), but suppressed TLR-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFA) expression. AGP also inhibited LPS-induced TLR-2 and TNFA expression, but had no effect on LPS-induced TLR-4 and IL-1B expression. These findings suggest that oviductal epithelial cells can participate in antimicrobial processes through the secretion of AGP, which is partly regulated by ovarian steroids. Moreover, oviductal AGP may regulate the response of epithelial cells, thereby reducing the expression of the acute pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFA, which could contribute to the local homeostasis during the acute response to endotoxin release in the oviduct's anti-infection process. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 861–870, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In the patient-specific vascular CFD, determination of the inlet and outlet boundary conditions (BCs) is an important issue for a valid diagnosis. The 3D cine phase-contrast MRI (4D Flow) velocimetry is promising for this issue; yet, its measured velocities contain relatively large error and are not admissible as the BCs without any correction. This paper proposes a novel correction method for determining the BCs accurately using the 4D Flow velocimetry. First, we reveal that the error of the velocity measured by the 4D Flow at each measurement voxel is large but is distributed symmetrically. Secondly, our method pays attention to the incompressibility of the blood and the fact that the volume flow rate (VFR) in each vessel is constant on any cross sections. We reveal that the average of the cross-sectional VFRs integrated from many measurement voxel in each vessel is accurate despite the large error. Finally, we propose the novel correction method, which applies a smoothing to the measured velocities on each inlet or outlet boundary with a low-pass filter and then corrects them with the VFR. The results of the several phantom studies are presented to validate the accuracy of our method. A demonstrative analysis for an actual aneurysm is also presented to show the feasibility and effectiveness of our method.

Summary: This study was undertaken to examine the effects of immunization with Sporothrix schenckii and oral potassium iodide (KJ) administration on the chemiluminescence (CL) response of mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in experimental murine sporotrichosis. When N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenyl-alanine (FMLP) particles were used as foreign bodies to be phagocytosed, the time to the peak CL response of the PMNs in an immunized group was shortened in comparison with a non-immunized control group, and the CL intensity was found to be prolonged. Whereas administration of KJ resulted in a reduction of the CL intensity in non-immunized mice, in immunized mice it caused a rise in CL intensity. When the foreign bodies used as targets for phagocytosis were Sp. schenckii, changes similar to the above occurred, but CL production was reduced. Zusammenfassung: An polymorphkerni-gen Leukozyten (PMN) von Mausen mit experimenteller Sporotrichose wurde die Wirkung der Immunisierung mit Sporothrix schenckii im Vergleich zur Kaliumjodidbe-handlung mittels Chemilumineszenz unter-sucht. Mit N-Formyl-L-methionyl-L-leu-cyl-L-phenylalanin-Partikeln als Phagozy-tosematerial war die Peak-Chemi-lumineszenz-Antwort in der immunisierten Gruppe verkurzt im Vergleich zur nicht-immunisierten Kontrollgruppe, und die Chemilumineszenz-Intensitat hielt langer vor. Die Kaliumjodid-Behandlung dagegen fuhrte zu einer Reduktion der Chemilumineszenz-Intensitat an nicht-immunisierten Mausen, bei immunisierten Mausen verursachte sie einen Anstieg. Mit Sporothrix schenckii als Phagozytosematerial traten ahnliche Anderungen auf, jedoch war die Chemilumineszenz-Intensitat herabge-setzt.

This paper solves the asymptotic stabilization problem for a magnetically levitated flexible beam using a nested-loop passivity-based controller design. Passivity analyses reveal that the system can be decomposed into two passive subsystems: a mechanical subsystem that consists of a flexible beam with both ends free and that defines a passive map from external forces to the velocity of the points on the flexible beam at which the external forces act; and an electrical subsystem that consists of a pair of electromagnets and that defines a strictly output-passive map from voltages applied across the electromagnets to magnetic fluxes. The standard method for designing passivity-based controllers leads to a nonlinear feed-forward controller for the electrical subsystem, which enables the electrical subsystem to generate given desired magnetic forces, and an output feedback compensator for the mechanical subsystem, which computes the desired forces required to regulate the position and vibration of the beam. The asymptotic stability of each controller may be proven using Lyapunov's stability theory and LaSalle's invariant set theorem. Numerical simulations confirm the asymptotic stability of the equilibrium configuration of the closed-loop system formed by the magnetically levitated flexible beam together with the proposed controllers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Polarized reflectivity spectra of CaMoO4 and CaWO4 single crystals have been measured up to 30 eV by using synchrotron radiation as a light source. The optical constants for a - and c -axes are derived from the reflectivity spectra by a Kramers–Kronig analysis. A clear correspondence is found in the main structures of the optical spectra between molybdate and tungstate. It is revealed that the lowest bands peaking at 5.0 eV in CaMoO4 and at 6.0 eV in CaWO4 consisit of some fine structures with distinct dichroism. They are attributed to the joint density-of-states; in other words, no structures indicative of exciton transition are found at the fundamental absorption edge. From the comparison of the spectral profiles in CaMoO4 and CaWO4, the structures below 10 eV are ascribed to the transitions from the O 2p valence band to the conduction band mainly made of Mo 4d (W 5d) states, while those above 10 eV are assigned to the transitions to the Ca conduction band. The polarization dependence of the structures below 10 eV is explained well in terms of the intramolecular transition in an oxyanion complex in the scheelite crystal. The energy band structure of CaWO4 is discussed taking into account of the previous results such as the thermostimulated luminescence and the two-photon excitation. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Objective To investigate whether there is any correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and platelet counts during pregnancy. Methods One hundred and twenty pregnant women without any complications were evaluated. Platelet counts were determined during pregnancy and postpartum. H. pylori infection was assessed by the detection of serum antibodies at the 3rd day postpartum. Statistically significant differences of platelet count between H. pylori -positive and -negative patients were determined. Results H. pylori infection was found in 29 of 120 (24.2%). Platelet counts in the 3rd trimester were 22.7±4.7×10 3 /μl in H. pylori -positive group and 22.8±5.6×10 3 /μl in negative group ( p =0.98). Platelet count in the 3rd trimester in positive and negative patients were 93±17% and 94±20%, respectively, of that of the 1st trimester ( p =0.92). The incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum in both groups was not significant ( p =0.28). Conclusion A correlation between H. pylori infection and thrombocytopenia during pregnancy was not found in this study.

The energy, charge and angle dependence of the detection efficiency of the microchannel plate (MCP) for caesium (Cs) atoms and ions was studied for measuring the spin asymmetry of the ionization probability in the atom-surface scattering process. Based on the model of a spin-dependent scattering of a spin-polarized and energy-tunable Cs atomic beam at a magnetic surface, we have developed a new experimental method for characterizing surface magnetism. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Note has been published for this article in Hydrological Processes 18(4) 2004, 825. Both water and heat balances were studied in a conifer plantation watershed in south-west Japan, within the warm-temperate East Asia monsoon area. Forest cover in the watershed consists mainly of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) plantations. Precipitation and runoff have been observed since 1991, so evapotranspiration can be compared with the water balance. Two meteorological observation towers were built to monitor evapotranspiration in the watershed. The annual average precipitation, amount of runoff and losses were 2166, 1243 and 923 mm, respectively. The evapotranspiration (latent heat flux) agreed well with the water balance losses. The average annual evapotranspiration at the tower built in the centre of the watershed was 902 mm; evapotranspiration at the other tower, further upslope, was 875 mm. The observed evapotranspiration was 39% to 40% of the average precipitation (2166 mm). The mean net radiation was c. 2·6 GJ m−2 year−1, and is considered a representative value of the net radiation (Rn) in coniferous plantations in this region. This region is classified in the humid zone based on the ratio of net radiation (Rn) to the energy required to evaporate the rainfall (λR). The mean annual evaporation of canopy-intercepted water was 356 mm or about 15% of the average precipitation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this study, the effects of pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on the apical seat and periapical region of instrumented root canals were investigated. One hundred and ninety-two teeth, including incisors and molars (239 root canals), in 18 healthy adult beagle dogs were used. After extirpation of the pulp under anaesthesia, each root canal was shaped up to at least a size 40 K-file, and then laser irradiated using the following parameters: 1 W, 15 pps for 2, 3, and 4 s; 2 W, 15 pps for 2 s. The effectiveness of debris removal and carbonization on the root canal walls immediately laser irradiation were examined and inflammation of the periapical region at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after laser irradiation was examined using light microscopy. Effective debris removal was observed in most cases in the laser-treated groups and was dependent on irradiated energy. Carbonization was observed in the irradiated root canals except at the parameter of 1 W for 2 s. Periapical inflammation was observed at 1 W for 2 s to the same extent as in the control group (P > 0.01). These results suggest that the pulsed Nd:YAG laser is useful for debris removal with no adverse effects immediately after extirpation of the pulp if appropriate parameters are selected.

Propolis is a resinous material collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for its biological properties, having antibacterial, antifungal and healing properties. The antifungal activity of propolis was studied in sensitivity tests on 80 strains of Candida yeasts: 20 strains of Candida albicans, 20 strains of Candida tropicalis, 20 strains of Candida krusei and 15 strains of Candida guilliermondii. The yeasts showed a clear antifungal activity with the following order of sensitivity: C. albicans > C. tropicalis > C. krusei > C. guilliermondii. Patients with full dentures who used a hydroalcoholic propolis extract showed a decrease in the number of Candida.

Our previous studies have suggested that synthetic octacalcium phosphate (OCP) could be resorbed and replaced by newly formed bone if implanted in rat skull defects. We hypothesized that the implanted OCP is more resorbable than other commonly used bone graft substitutes of calcium phosphate compounds, such as hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). To test the hypothesis, the present study was designed to compare histomorphometrically resorption of the implanted OCP, HA, and beta-TCP, which were kept in the experimental cranial defect of rats for a long term. A full thickness of standardized trephine defect was made in the rat parietal bone, and the same volume of granules of OCP, HA, and beta-TCP were implanted into the defect. Five specimens of each group were fixed 6 months after implantation. The percentage of remaining implants (r-Imp%) and newly formed bone (n-Bone%) in the defect was analyzed histomorphometrically. The statistical analysis showed that the r-Imp% of OCP was significantly lower than that of HA and beta-TCP. In contrast, the n-Bone% of OCP was significantly higher than that of HA and beta-TCP. The present study has shown that the implanted OCP in the rat cranial defect is more resorbable than the implanted beta-TCP and HA, whereas the implanted OCP enhances bone formation more than the implanted beta-TCP and HA.

In our previous study, we reported that synthetic octacalcium phosphate (OCP) enhances bone repair if implanted in rat skull defects. We hypothesized that OCP can be used as an effective carrier for transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) to promote bone repair. We designed the present study to investigate histomorphometrically whether combination with recombinant human TGF-beta1 could promote bone repair caused by OCP per se (Control/OCP). A full-thickness standardized trephine defect was made in the rat parietal bone and OCP combined with recombinant human TGF-beta1 (TGF-beta1/OCP) or Control/OCP was implanted into the defect. Four rats from each group were fixed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation. Histomorphometrical analysis of the percentage of newly formed bone (n-Bone %) and remaining implants (r-Imp %) in the defect was performed. The statistical analysis showed the n-Bone % of TGF-beta1/OCP was significantly higher than that of the Control/OCP in week 4, whereas the r-Imp % of TGF-beta1/OCP was significantly lower than that of the Control/OCP. The present study demonstrated that OCP can be used as an effective carrier for TGF-beta1 and their combination enhances bone repair as well as resorption of the carrier OCP in the early stage of bone formation.

To ascertain the safety of repeat apheresis donation, hematological and biochemical tests were performed on 511 donors with a donation rate of over 6 times per year for a period of 12-19 months.Repeat donors who had apheresis more than 6 times in the previous year were chosen. Data for the repeat donors at the start of the experiments were compared with those at the end of the study. Blood samples were taken prior to donation. Serum protein, albumin, immunoglobulin G, A, and M, serum ferritin levels were determined by biochemical tests.When compared to prospective donors of 400 ml, WBC, lymphocytes, and serum ferritin levels were lower in a roughly frequency-dependent manner in female and male donor groups at the beginning of the study. All the data for the male group remained almost constant with increasing frequency of apheresis donation. However, in the female group, ferritin levels significantly decreased with over 21 donations.The present data showed that the serum ferritin level of the female donors decreased the most with increasing frequency of apheresis donation. The cumulative RBC left in the collecting chamber and for the laboratory test is discussed in relation to a possible cause of iron deficiency in frequent apheresis donors.

Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tryptase, total IgE and differential blood cell counts were studied in atopic children with: 1) moderate to severe asthma using inhaled steroids and symptom-free for the last 3 weeks (n = 13), 2) mild asthma with sporadic symptoms, using only inhaled beta 2-agonists < 3 times/week (n = 15), 3) acute asthmatic attacks admitted to hospital (n = 12), 4) mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (n = 14). Fifteen children without any history of atopy served as controls. ECP, MPO, tryptase and IgE were measured in serum by radioimmunoassays (RIA). The symptom-free children with inhaled steroids had similar median ECP and MPO values as the controls, 8.0 and 360 micrograms/l, vs. 9.0 and 310 micrograms/l, while both ECP and MPO were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the symptom-free children without anti-inflammatory treatment, 32 and 887 micrograms/l and in those with acute asthma, 28 and 860 micrograms/l. The children with atopic dermatitis had increased ECP but normal MPO levels, 16.0 and 455 micrograms/l. Tryptase in serum was not measurable in any patient. All groups except the control group had significantly elevated total IgE levels. The results indicate that in atopic children serum ECP is a good marker of ongoing asthma or atopic dermatitis. The normal levels of ECP and MPO in the children with asthma using inhaled steroids seem to reflect successful anti-inflammatory treatment. The increased levels of ECP and MPO in the children with mild asthma and no anti-inflammatory treatment may indirectly reflect airway inflammation.

The ex vivo release of leukotrienes B4 (LTB4) and C4 (LTC4) from the leukocytes of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) was evaluated after stimulation with Ca-ionophore and opsonized zymosan and compared with that of control children of similar ages. The blood eosinophil counts and total serum IgE levels in AD children were significantly higher than those in control children. The production of LTC4, but not LTB4, was significantly higher in AD children than in control children. There was a significant correlation between the relative blood eosinophil count and LTC4 generation after stimulation with both Ca-ionophore and opsonized zymosan in all subjects. Calculations of the amount of LTC4 produced per eosinophilic cell showed that there was no significant difference between cells from AD children and control children in terms of their ability to produce LTC4. These findings suggest that the enhanced LTC4 generation is due to increased numbers of eosinophils rather than to enhanced releasability of these cells.

To evaluate the safety of cryopreserved and thawed peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) autografts in children with active cancer, a toxicity assessment was made of 54 PBSC transfusions to 52 children (aged 1-16 years; median, 9 years). Patients were conditioned with high-dose chemotherapy without total body irradiation. The volume of PBSCs transfused varied from 46 to 500 mL (219.6 +/- 118.4 mL, mean +/- SD), with a mean of 0.91 g per kg of dimethyl sulfoxide. Insignificant and transient toxicities included hemoglobinuria in 40 patients (74%), headache in 38 (70%), nausea in 37 (69%), and vomiting in 25 patients (46%). Significant shock developed in 8 patients (15%), but they recovered quickly, whether they had supportive therapy or not. Vomiting and hyperbilirubinemia were the only toxicities that showed a correlation with the amount of PBSCs transfused. The data suggest that transient toxicity associated with PBSC autografts is rather common in children, and close observation of patients for possible serious morbidity is required.

Fifty primary lung adenocarcinomas were examined immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies to determine changes in the expression of N-acetyl-lactosamine (blood group type-2 chain), LeX, LeY and sialyl LeX-i. These antigens were expressed in 60%, 70%, 90% and 94% of carcinomas, respectively; in 8%, 12%, 56% and 86% of normal broncho-bronchiolar epithelium; and in 32%, 0%, 100% and 0% of normal alveolar epithelium. The greater the complexity of the antigenic structure, the greater the incidence of positive staining in the adenocarcinomas. Although the more complex antigens such as sialyl LeX-i and LeY have also been demonstrated in the sera of lung cancer patients, they were not always cancer-selective in our immunohistochemical study. In contrast, the less complex antigens such as N-acetyl-lactosamine (type-2 chain) and LeX seem to be cancer-selective, as they showed low positivity in normal lung tissue.

The development of a synthetic medium for platelet storage is an important goal in transfusion medicine. Its use would make large volumes of plasma available for fractionation and might improve the quality of platelets after storage. Several investigators have described successful storage in media containing acetate. The previous work of the authors showed that platelet concentrates (PCs) can be stored successfully for 5 days at 22 degrees C by using an additive solution (Seto sol) to replace 80 to 95 percent of the plasma usually employed as a suspending medium. Seto sol contains 23 mM (23 mmol/L) sodium acetate and 25 mM (25 mmol/L) sodium phosphate. The roles of acetate and phosphate in achieving successful platelet storage were studied in the work reported here. The concentration of acetate decreased linearly for 7 days at 0.61 +/− 0.11 mumol per day per 10(9) platelets in parallel with the disappearance of 1–14C or 2–14C acetate. There was no disappearance of tritiated acetate from PCs or of 1–14C acetate from platelet-free mixtures of plasma and Seto sol, which suggests that the disappearance of 14C acetate from PCs reflected oxidation to CO2, which could leave PCs through the walls of the plastic container. Since O2 consumption was 1.47 mumol per day per 10(9) platelets, and the oxidation of a molecule of acetate requires 2 molecules of oxygen, acetate oxidation accounted for approximately 85 percent of oxygen consumption by platelets. The pH of PCs stored in Seto sol was nearly constant for 7 days, whereas, without acetate, it fell to 6.4 +/− 0.1 on Day 5.It is known that the oxidation of one molecule of acetate produces one molecule of CO, and one molecule of bicarbonate. Indeed, in PCs in Set0 sol, there was an elevation of bicarbonate concentration of 1.4 mEq per L by Day 3, which suggests bicarbonate production. Thus, acetate acts as both a substrate for oxidative meta- bolism and a source of buffer. However, in 5 of 11 PCs stored in Set0 sol without phosphate, the pH dropped to 6.2 within 3 days. PCs that showed a drop in pH were those in which the content of plasma carryover during PC preparation was less than 12.5 percent of the suspending medium. It appears that a buffer system in addition to that provided by acetate is necessary to the maintenance of platelet integrity during storage when plasma carryover is low.

1. Effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on ion transport were examined by observing the transmural (VT) and basolateral membrane voltage (VB) in the in vitro perfused rabbit connecting tubule (CNT) and the cortical collecting duct (CCD). 2. Addition of 1 microM PGE2 to the bath induced a biphasic response of transmural voltage (VT), with initial negative VT deflection followed by positive deflection in the CNT, but monophasic negative deflection in the CCD. Because PGE2 had no affect on the basolateral membrane voltage (VB), PGE2 mainly causes changes in the apical membrane voltage. 3. Elimination of Na+ from the lumen abolished the PGE2-induced VT response in the CNT. In the presence of 10 microM luminal amiloride, PGE2 caused only an initial negative deflection without causing later positive deflection. The positive VT deflection induced by PGE2 in the CCD was also blocked by luminal amiloride. 4. Addition of ouabain (0.1 mM) to the bath completely abolished the PGE2-induced VT changes in the CNT, indicating that an intact Na(+)-K+ pump is a prerequisite for the VT response to PGE2. 5. Addition of 2 mM Ba2+ to the lumen did not affect biphasic VT response to PGE2, indicating that Ba(2+)-sensitive K+ conductance is not involved. 6. Basolateral addition of 0.1 mM 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP inhibited only the negative VT deflection induced by PGE2. 7. The positive VT deflection was blocked by basolateral addition of 50 microM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), an inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ release. But elimination of luminal Ca2+ did not affect the biphasic response to PGE2. 8. These findings suggest that the initial negative VT deflection is caused by an increase in Na+ influx across the luminal membrane through an amiloride-insensitive Na+ conductive pathway, whereas the later positive deflection is caused by the inhibition of Na+ influx through the amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductive pathway. The cAMP messenger system may be responsible for the initial negative deflection, whereas an increased intercellular Ca2+ release from the store is necessary for the later positive deflection caused by PGE2. The response in the CCD is comparable to the later response in the CNT.

Research of perovskite oxide catalysts (AB03) with a rare-earth ion as an A-site and a transition metal ion as a B-site has been concentrated on the complete oxidation of hydrocarbons, particularly related to exhaust control, and revealed that they are potential catalysts for deep combustion of hydrocarbons (1). The complete oxidation activities have been reported to be mainly controlled by the physicochemical property of the B-site metal cations such as the electronic configuration of d-electron (2), the binding energy of B-0 bond (3) and the stabilization energy of the crystal field (4), rather than the relatively small and less important effect of the rare-earth ion of the A-site (5) and also improved by the substitution of other metal cations for A- or B-site (6,7). Although it is difficult to find many investigations on the application of perovskite-type oxides to partial oxidation, in this chapter, the movement to the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds using various ...

Structure refinement of the room temperature X-ray powder diffraction data of ScMnO3 was carried out by Rietveld technique, based on the most probable space group P63cm. The manganese and scandium atoms are surrounded by five and seven oxygen atoms respectively. Three manganese atoms make three kinds of triangles (two regular and an isosceles). A weak ferromagnetic behaviour with small hysteresis was observed below 130 K on the magnetization curve and ScMnO3 becomes completely paramagnetic above it. The heat capacity of ScMnO3 was measured from 77 to 800 K by two types of calorimeters (a.c. calorimeter and differential scanning calorimeter). At 129 K a λ-type anomaly was seen in the heat capacity curve which corresponds to the magnetic transition. The enthalpy change and entropy change that accompanied the magnetic transition were 178 J mol−1 and 1.40 J mol−1 K−1 respectively. The baseline of the heat capacity from 150 to 250 K yields a Debye temperature of 615 K.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the oxidation of Cu by oxygen plasma generated from a Kaufman ion gun. It was found that Cu was much less oxidized in co-evaporation with Ba or Nd compared to Cu-only evaporation when the total flux density of supplied metals and the oxygen plasma conditions were similar. It was also found that elemental Ba or Nd deposited on a CuO film at room temperature deoxidized the CuO.

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to compare quality of plan, treatment time, monitor units (MUs) and dose delivery capability between dynamic and segmental IMRT for combination of Varian 21iX‐S and CMS XiO. Method and Materials: Head and neck (HN) and prostate IMRT were planned in both dynamic and segmental fashion using same dose objectives in the optimization process. Quality of plans was evaluated with isodose curves and dose‐volume‐histograms. Treatment time defined as time from the first beam‐on to the last beam‐off and MUs were compared. Dose rate of segmental and dynamic were 500 and 300 MU/min, respectively. Dosimetric verification was performed with 0.6 cc ionization chamber for point dose measurement and radiographic film for dose distribution. Results: In HN cases, dose conformity for PTV were slightly superior, however doses to parallel organs (e.g. parotid gland) were higher in dynamic delivery. MUs with dynamic delivery were lager by 20% for HN and prostate cases. Therefore, larger MUs lead more transmitted dose from MLC to parallel organs. Some reports mentioned that with dynamic delivery using other than XiO, treatment time could be shortened by half. But our results showed only 20% reduction for HN and comparable for prostate. The MLC sequence file of dynamic delivery was fairly large (320 control points/port), on the other hand, that of segmental was 1/6 of dynamic. Therefore, beam was kept off while treatment console read MLC sequence file (approximately 20 s/port for dynamic and 5 s/port for segmental, respectively). For HN cases, dose delivery capability was better in both point dose and dose distribution for segmental delivery. Due to higher MUs, dynamic delivery needs precise modeling especially for MLC transmission is required. Conclusion: Delivery performances are superior in segmental delivery, except for treatment time. To conclude, segmental delivery could be suitable for IMRT.

UNLABELLED This case reports on idiopathic gastric rupture in a 3-mo-old girl who had frequent episodes of vomiting and abdominal distension the day before admission to the clinic. Metabolic acidosis was detected and rotavirus antigen was identified in the stools. Abdominal X-rays and CT scans revealed free air and fluid in the abdominal cavity, leading to a diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation. During surgery, idiopathic gastric rupture was detected and treated. The postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSION Idiopathic gastric rupture is extremely rare in childhood beyond the neonatal period. Early diagnosis and surgery are mandatory if children with this condition are to be saved.

1 The submandibular gland in situ was perfused with blood through the glandular artery at constant pressure in anaesthetized dogs. Drugs were administered intra-arterially. 2 Histamine produced both salivation and an increase in blood flow, each response having an early and a late component. 3 Marked tachyphylaxis to histamine developed in both of the salivary responses but only in the late blood flow response to histamine. 4 The early and late salivary responses were abolished and the late blood flow response was diminished by infusion of tetrodotoxin in doses that abolished the salivary and blood flow responses to electrical stimulation of the chorda-lingual nerve. 5 The whole salivary response to histamine was abolished by infusion of (--)-hyoscyamine in doses that greatly antagonized the salivary and blood flow responses to acetylcholine, whereas the blood flow responses to histamine were scarcely modified. These doses of (--)-hyoscyamine abolished the salivary response to chorda-lingual nerve stimulation but left the blood flow response to it unaffected. 6 The salivary and blood flow responses to histamine were unaffected by infusion of hexamethonium in doses that almost abolished the salivary and blood flow responses to chorda-lingual nerve stimulation. 7 The whole salivary response to histamine was abolished and the late blood response to histamine was partially inhibited by the histamine H1-receptor antagonist, mepyramine, but not by the histamine H2-receptor antagonist, metiamide. 8 The early blood flow response to histamine was antagonized by both mepyramine and metiamide but mepyramine was far more effective than metiamide. 9 These results led to the following conclusions: (1) the whole salivary response and a part of the late blood flow response to histamine are due entirely to excitation of parasympathetic postganglionic neurones; (2) neuronal histamine receptors involved are exclusively of the H1-type; (3) histamine has no direct stimulant action on the glandular cells; (4) the early blood flow response and the remaining part of the late blood flow response to histamine result from the direct action on vascular smooth muscle in the glandular vascular bed; (5) vascular histamine receptors consist of H1- and H2-receptors.

Derivative-free Abel inversions named here as ‘Indirect’ method is proved to be far superior to conventional ‘Direct’ method involving derivative term, by numerical experiments. With powerful least-square fitting method named SALS developed at computer center of Tokyo University, and simple power-series expansions of emission coefficient e(r) is sufficient without any iterations nor deconvolutions. 10-test functions often used in literatures are treated and the result of numerical experiments show reconstructions reached to the ultimate of computer precisions.

A mechanistic model is presented for the growth kinetics of a yeast grown by submerged aerobic fermentation using a liquid hydrocarbon as sole carbon source. The model is based on the assumption that cell growth is governed by the extent of probable cell attachment at the hydrocarbon oil-droplet surfaces in a four-phase dispersion. An analytical expression has been developed for the model. It is shown that for the case of relatively small oil droplets, the model predicts the present and previous experimental data for growth of yeasts (Candida species) in n-alkane systems. The model is further examined for maximal growth in terms of substrate dilution rate and agitation power consumption for a continuous fermentation process.

SUMMARY An in vitro assay showed that toasted, dehulled, defatted soybean meal contains a gas-producing factor and a gas-inhibiting factor. The oligosaccharides—sucrose, raffinose and stachyose—are associated with the gas-producing factor when incubated in thioglycollate media with anaerobic bacteria of the intestinal tract of dogs. The phenolic acids in soybeans—syringic and ferulic acid—are effective gas inhibitors in vitro and in intestinal segments of dogs. The lipids, proteins and water-insoluble polysaccharides of soybean meal have no gas activity. During fermentation, gas production parallels the formation of monosaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis of raffinose and stachyose. The amount and composition of gas produced from cottonseed and peanut meal were comparable to soybean meal.