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To improve current interruption capability of vacuum interrupters with axial magnetic field (AMF) contacts, it is necessary to make an initial columnar arc diffused on a larger area of the contacts as rapidly as possible after the opening of the contacts, and also to suppress local temperature rise at the arc initiation points on the contacts. We observed behavior of the initial columnar arc between AMF contacts set in a vacuum chamber using a high-speed video camera, and experimentally investigated the relation between the arc initiation point and the behavior of the initial columnar arc, employing various contacts with different contact separation points. We also found that the direction of motion of the initial columnar arc and its velocity were dependent on the arc initiation point on the contacts. It was shown that the motion of the initial columnar arc was dominated by the Lorentz force due to the arc current and the radial magnetic field (RMF) parallel to the contact surface.

We propose an adaptive electrical dispersion compensation using newly developed high-speed eye monitoring LSI, and demonstrated experimentally the effective enlargement of PMD tolerance in 43 Gbit/s RZ-DPSK signal.

We propose a high-speed and simple estimation algorithm of waveform distortions using a 43-Gb/s SiGe-based eye-monitoring LSI, and experimentally demonstrate precise estimations of PMD and chromatic dispersion.

To clear the structural specificity of calmodulin (CaM) on the specific 125I-omega-CTX binding to crude membranes from whole chick brain, the following experiments were investigated in this study: (i) the attenuating effect of semisynthetic tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives on the inhibitory effect of Ca2+/CaM, (ii) the effects of chimeras of yeast and chicken Ca2+/CaM, and (iii) the effects of Ca2+-binding proteins (such as troponin c, S 100 a and b, and annexin I, III-V). The inhibitory effect of Ca2+/CaM was attenuated by isoquinoline derivatives (PX 28, 34, 216, 224, and CPU57) and a CaM antagonist W-7. PX 34, a typical synthesized isoquinoline derivative, showed the attenuating effect in a dose-dependent manner. The ED50 value for the attenuating effect of PX 34 was about 20 microM, which is similar to that of W-7 reported previously. Some chimeric CaMs such as YC 51-53 (which are close to the properties of vertebrate CaM) showed a significant inhibitory effect on the specific 125I-omega-CTX binding, but YC 129 and 130 (which retain the properties of yeast CaM), troponin c, S100 a, b, and annexin I, III-V had no effect on the specific 125I-omega-CTX binding. These results suggest that the characteristic structure containing the EF-hand structure of CaM itself is needed to cause the inhibitory effect on the specific 125I-omega-CTX binding.

Omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CTX), as a selective blocker for an N-type Ca2+ channel, has been conveniently used in many molecular biochemical and pharmacological experiments. There has been little elucidation of 125I-omega-CTX binding sites (mainly the 135-kDa band) in the crude membranes from chick brain, although the characteristics of specific 125I-omega-CTX binding and labeling sites in chick brain membranes have been investigated in our previous research. In this work, our goal is to further identify 125I-omega-CTX labeling sites in chick brain membranes by using anti-B1Nt antibodies (against the N-terminal segment B1Nt of N- or P-type Ca2+ channel alpha1-subunits). The 25I-omega-CTX-labeled sites in chick brain membranes could be solubilized and immunoprecipitated by using an anti B1Nt antibody. The molecular weight of the immunoprecipitated protein was determined as 135 kDa, which is inconsistent with that of the specific 125I-omega-CTX binding protein reported previously. Moreover, the 125-omega-CTX-labeled protein could be purified by the method of preparative SDS-PAGE and recognized by anti-B1Nt antibodies in Western blotting analysis. These results indicated that anti-B1Nt antibodies could truly recognize 125I-omega-CTX-labeled sites as the main band of 135 kDa from chick brain membranes, and the omega-CTX-labeled site (mainly the 135-kDa band) should be N-type Ca2+ channel alpha1-subunits.

The surface electronic properties of metal oxides, which affect the performances of layered electronic devices, are controlled by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas generated using a fabric-type electrode and gas flow induced through this plasma layer. We specify a method to control the work function of indium tin oxide (ITO) films by this plasma, in which such reactive species as oxidant radicals are generated. These oxidants are spatially transported in the gas flow to the ITO surface and increase the ITO’s work function, as verified in our experimental results. To examine the effects of the increased work function in a specific electronic device, we treat the surface of an ITO electrode in an organic light-emitting diode and observe the enhancement of the light-emitting efficiency.

To clarify the mechanism by which the toxic abstract from Toxopneustes pileolus inhibits time-dependent (Time-dep.) Ca(2+) uptake in crude synaptosome fraction, the effective component from pedicellarial venom of the sea urchin was purified. The crude extracts were purified by a series of steps including ion exchange (DEAE-sephadex-A25 gel), gel filtration (with Superdex-2000 and Superdex-peptide columns) and reversed-phase chromatography (Sephasil-C18 column). The effective component that inhibited Time-dep. 45Ca(2+) uptake was purified and named UT841. Its IC(50) was determined to be lower than 35ng/ml. UT841 is an acidic protein with an apparent molecular weight of about 18,000. The N-terminal sequence (40 amino acids) was almost identical to that of Contractin A (a protein purified from the same kind of venom which induces smooth muscle contraction). Even though it is unclear whether or not UT841 is Contractin A, Ca(2+) mobilization in nerve cells was shown to be influenced by UT841. This investigation also revealed that a donor of nitric oxide, arachidonic acid and an inhibitor of phospholipase C selectively inhibit Time-dep. (45)Ca(2+) uptake. These results suggest that UT841 purified from sea urchin venom may affect Time-dep. (45)Ca(2+) uptake through the metabolism of some lipids and nitric oxide.

not Available.

An autopsy case of Behcet's disease is reported. The patient, a 59-year-old Japanese woman, died of intestinal bleeding after a 34-year clinical course of Behcet's disease. She also suffered from recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, erythema nodosum-like cutaneous lesions and genital ulcerated lesions. Autopsy revealed marked atherosclerosis of the aorta and multiple deep ulcerations in the terminal ileum with no significant vascular lesions. Lewy bodies and globular hyaline inclusions in the neurons of the central nervous system were noted, although there were no clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease throughout the clinical course. These findings appear to suggest that the patient was probably in the preclinical or early stage of Parkinson's disease. However, the presence of Lewy bodies in the 6th decade without any accompanying symptoms is very rare. This case seems to draw attention to the presence of these neuronal inclusions in Behcet's disease.

社会基盤施設に対する公的な予算投資は減額を余儀なくされている. ライフサイクルコストの観点から, 予防保全の最適性が強く説われつつも, 特に地方公共団体の経済的な困窮の中で, 直接かつ短期的に効果の見えない維持管理に対しては, 効果的な予算投資が行なわれないのが現状である. 本研究は, そのような状況を背景として, 北海道の一行政単位が管轄する橋梁群を研究対象とし, それらの維持管理に対する今後の予算投資シナリオをいくつか設定し, その下での橋梁健全度の推移を予想する. さらに, 健全度に関する制約条件の下で, 計画年度内における総投資額の最小化を試みる. それらの結果より, 橋梁の健全度に要求されるレベルと最適な予算投資シナリオの関係について考察を加えることを目的とする.

臨床的, 病理組織学的ならびに免疫組織学的に水疱性類天疱瘡と診断された6例より各時期の水疱, および発疹のみられない部位に作製した吸引水疱を生検し, 走査電顕により観察した。疱膜裏面では, 敷石状に配列する基底細胞が, また水疱底では基底膜様膜状構造が観察された。疱膜裏面の変化を経時的に観察すると, 基底細胞は変性して水疱腔内に脱落し, ついには有棘細胞が露出するのがみとめられた。しかし有棘細胞には何の変化もみられなかつた。また吸引水疱では, 表皮および真皮に著変をみとめなかつた。

The stromal surface of the myoepithelial cells of normal and contracting status in the rat Harderian gland has been studied by SEM after removal of the connective tissue elements by HC1 and collagenase. The flattened myoepithelial cell has an elongated central perikaryon from which radiate out 6 to 9 broad primary processes bifurcating two or three times to produce a total complement of 15 to 28 terminal ones per cell, each 1 to 2.5.μ wide. The terminal processes are contiguous with those of adjacent myoepithelial cells to grasp the alveolus in the fashion of a network. They mostly meet end to side or end to end and occasionally overlap each other. After injection of acetylcholine, the myoepithelial cells had prominent irregular folds squeezing the alveoli probably due to contraction of them.

The luminal, fractured, and basal surfaces of the duct and acini in the rat Harderian gland were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The acinar endpiece is alveolar in shape and bifurcated, and the duct is also bifurcated. Therefore, the rat Harderian gland may be morphologically classified as a compound alveolar gland. Myoepithelial cells consisting of elongated cell bodies and long, bifurcating processes grasp the acinus in the form of a dilicate network. In the fractured surface, the glandular cells of the acinus are columnar in shape. A round nucleus is situated in the basal portion of the cytoplasm and a large number of secretory vacuoles are observed throughout the cytoplasm. The luminal surface of the glandular cell presents a bulged appernce, polygonal in shape, with short, randomly distributed microvilli. Domed protrusions and round pits are observed on the glandular surface. The excretory duct appears as a main trunk with numerous short branches. In the fractured surface, the excretory duct consisted of stratified coumnar or cuboidal cells. The luminal surface of the duct epithelial cell appears flat, polygonal in shape, and is provided with short microvilli rondomly distributed over the body of the cell.

尋常性天疱瘡における水疱の疱膜裏面および水疱底表面を走査電顕を用いて観察した。水疱底面は一般に平滑で, 円柱状ないし紡錘状の基底細胞が間隙をもつて乱杭状に水疱腔内へ突出する, いわゆる“墓石状の配列”を呈していた。疱膜裏面においては, 水疱腔に面する有棘細胞は少数の微絨毛を有し, 棘突起は減少して全体として球形化し, 水疱腔内へ脱落する過程が観察された。

The stromal surface of the mammary gland myoepithelial cells of rats under normal and experimental conditions, which were treated with HCl-collagenase method introduced by Evan et al. (1976), have been studied by scanning electron microscopy. Treatment of the mammary gland with HCl and collagenase removed almost completely the extracellular materials such as collagens and the basal lamina and revealed the myoepithelial cells enclosing the glandular alveolus. Myoepithelial cells consisting of an elongated cell body and long, bifurcating processes grasped the glandular alveolus in the form of a delicate network. With the application of oxytocin, the myoepithelial cells were involved in the morphological changes suggestive of contraction. They had a row of prominent folds arranged perpendicularly to the long axis of the cell body and its processes.

Connective tissue components around alveoli were removed with a HCl-collagenase digestion method. Myoepithelial cells (MECs) of the mammary glands in lactating rats under mormal and experimental conditions were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MECs with elongated cell bodies and long, bifurcating processes formed a delicate network around the alveolus. The basal surface of MEC was generally flat. In rats injected with oxytocin, the mammary glands were markedly different in morphology. Most of the alveoli were rugged in basal aspect and were smaller in volume. MECs had prominent folds indicating squeezing of the alveolus occurred probably due to the contraction of MECs. Therefore, it was concluded that MECs in the mammary gland play an important contractile role in milk ejection.

The three-dimensional configuration of submandibular gland acini and their myoepithelial cells were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after HCl-collagenase treatment. The submandibular gland consists of compound acini which arborize to form bifurcated or trifurcated spherical subunits. Numerous acini demonstrate polymorphism. These acini are considerably smaller than those of the rat submandibular gland. Myoepithelial cells (MEC) are subsequently classified into two morphological groups: those which resemble a fibrous astrocyte with multiple, interwoven processes and those with slender cell bodies with processes that extend along a single axis without forming a network. The shape and distribution of MEC's in conjunction with acinar polymorphism, appear to be related to the mechanism of salivation.

Scanning electron microscopy of Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis was carried out on a single mite. The ultrastructural morphology of Sarcoptes is illustrated.