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For stable semiconductor detector operation under harsh environments, an ideal single-crystal diamond without a charge trapping centre is required. For this study, a self-standing single-crystal CVD diamond was fabricated using a lift-off method. The reduction of charge trapping factors such as structural defects, point defects, and nitrogen impurities, was attempted using 0.2% of low-methane concentration growth and using a full metal seal chamber. A high-quality self-standing diamond with strong free-exciton recombination emission was obtained. Charge collection efficiencies were 100.1% for holes and 99.8% for electrons, provided that and . Energy resolutions were 0.38% for both holes and electrons. We produced a high-performance diamond radiation detector using the productive lift-off method.

グラジエントエコー法を用いたcine MRIにより肺縦隔悪性腫瘍の心大血管浸潤の判定を試みた. 対象は原発性肺癌20例, 胸腺癌1例, 浸潤性胸腺腫1例の計22例である. 心大血管浸潤の判定では, 手術にて確認された浸潤例7例中6例では, 腫瘍と接する血管壁に可動性はなく, 腫瘍と血管との間の低信号帯も不明瞭であった. 非浸潤例10例中9例では腫瘍と血管との間に明瞭な可動性と低信号帯が認められた. これよりcine MRIでみる壁の可動性と低信号帯は, 肺縦隔悪性腫瘍の血管浸潤の判定に極めて有用な指標と考えられた. 肺門部肺癌の肺動脈浸潤の判定でも血管内腔が高信号として認められ, 狭窄や閉塞の評価が容易であった. cine MRIは原則として通常のスピンエコー法MRIに引き続いて施行し, 全体の検査時間は約40-50分程度で, 十分日常臨床で活用可能と考えられた.

A self-standing single-crystal chemical vapor deposited diamond was obtained using lift-off method. It was fabricated into a radiation detector and response function measurements for 14 MeV neutrons were taken at the fusion neutronics source. 1.5% of high energy resolution was obtained by using the C-12(n, alpha)Be-9 reaction at an angle of 100 degrees with the deuteron beam line. The intrinsic energy resolution, excluding energy spreading caused by neutron scattering, slowing in the target and circuit noises was 0.79%, which was also the best resolution of the diamond detector ever reported.

We demonstrate an absolute magnetometer based on quantum beats in the ground state of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. We show that, by eliminating the dependence of spin evolution on the zero-field splitting $D$, the magnetometer is immune to temperature fluctuation and strain inhomogeneity. We apply this technique to measure low-frequency magnetic field noise by using a single nitrogen-vacancy center located within 500 nm of the surface of an isotopically pure (99.99% $^{12}\mathrm{C}$) diamond. The photon-shot-noise limited sensitivity achieves $38\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nT}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ for 4.45 s acquisition time, a factor of $\sqrt{2}$ better than the implementation which uses only two spin levels. For long acquisition times ($g10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{s}$), we realize up to a factor of 15 improvement in magnetic sensitivity, which demonstrates the robustness of our technique against thermal drifts. Applying our technique to nitrogen-vacancy center ensembles, we eliminate dephasing from longitudinal strain inhomogeneity, resulting in a factor of 2.3 improvement in sensitivity.

Recently, one popular discriminative training method for classifier design, Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training, has been significantly revised. This revision upgraded Large Geometric Margin Minimum Classification Error (LGM-MCE) training by embedding a kernel-based feature space projection mechanism. This latest MCE training is called Kernel Minimum Classification Error (KMCE) training and provides an efficient training procedure that can be performed in a comparatively low dimensional parameter space for a linear discriminant function defined in a kernel-projected high-dimensional feature space. Only KMCE's formalization was reported, but no experimental evaluations were conducted. In this paper, we evaluate KMCE training through systematic experiments and reveal that it achieves high classification rates when a reasonable amount (much less than needed by Support Vector Machines) of classifier parameters, such as weight vectors and prototypes, are available.

Discriminative training aims at constructing a classifier that is of small scale but has high classification power. One type, Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training, has been used widely in pattern recognition, especially in the speech recognition field. In parallel with this, Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) has attracted many researchers' interest, based on its potential for alleviating the scalability problem of Support Vector Machine (SVM). It has been reported that RVM achieves high classification accuracy with a limited amount of classifier parameters, i.e., relevance vectors. Comparison studies between MCE training and SVM have been done, but not so much between MCE training and RVM. Motivated by this, we conduct theoretical and experimental comparisons of MCE training and RVM. Results show that MCE training is better suited to the development of small-scale but highly discriminative classifiers than its counterpart.

We have studied optical and spin properties of near-surface nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers incorporated during chemical vapor phase growth of isotopically purified (12)C single-crystal diamond layers. The spectral diffusion-limited line width of zero-phonon luminescence from the NV centers is 1.2 ± 0.5 GHz, a considerable improvement over that of NV centers formed by ion implantation and annealing. Enhanced spin dephasing times (T(2)* ≈ 90 μs, T(2) ≈ 1.7 ms) due to the reduction of (13)C nuclear spins persist even for NV centers placed within 100 nm of the surface.

We propose a new method for automatically determining the smoothness of smooth classification error count loss for the recent Large Geometric Margin Minimum Classification Error (LGM-MCE) training. The method uses the Parzen-estimation-based formalization of MCE training, and it realizes the determination through the maximum likelihood estimation of error count risk in the one-dimensional geometric-margin-based misclassification measure. In the LGM-MCE framework, increase in the loss smoothness directly leads to an effect of producing virtual samples, which are expected to increase the training robustness to unseen samples. Focusing on this point, we also theoretically clarify the mechanism of this virtual sample generation. Through experiments, the utility of the proposed smoothness determination method is demonstrated, and the mechanism of producing virtual samples and its effect in robustness increase are also clearly illustrated.

The loss function smoothness embedded in the Minimum Classification Error (MCE) formalization increases the virtual training samples that lead to the optimal, minimum classification error status over unseen testing samples as well as given training samples. However, no rational method for finding the smoothness that corresponds to the optimal status has been developed yet. To alleviate this problem, we propose in this paper a new MCE training method that incorporates loss smoothness control based on the Parzen estimation of the classification error probability. Experiments clearly demonstrate the high utility of our proposed method.

A Parzen-estimation-based smoothness determination method for smooth classification error count loss was successfully applied to the early Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training that used a functional-margin-based misclassification measure. In this study, we apply this loss smoothness determination method to the recent MCE framework that uses a geometric-margin-based misclassification measure, and experimentally demonstrate its high utility. Furthermore, we theoretically clarify how the loss smoothness set in the one-dimensional geometric-margin-based misclassification measure space produces virtual samples, which are expected to increase the training robustness to unseen samples, in a sample space that usually has high-dimension.

The loss function smoothness embedded in the Minimum Classification Error formalization increases the number of virtual training samples, enables high robustness to unseen samples, and well approximates the ultimate, minimum classification error probability status. However, a rational method for controlling smoothness has not yet been developed. To alleviate this long-standing problem, we propose a new method that automatically sets the loss function smoothness through Parzen kernel (window) width estimation with a cross-validation maximum likelihood method. Experiments clearly show our proposed method's high utility.

Following direct KLH antigen challenge to the endolymphatic sac (e. sac) in guinea pigs, degeneration of the cochlea was examined histologically by light microscopy. Degeneration was seen in 21 out of 140 animals presensitized systemically from day 1 to 5 weeks post secondary KLH challenge to the e. sac. Degeneration of the organ of Corti, stria vascularis and spiral ganglion cells was seen from day 1 in 19, 17 and 7 animals, respectively. There was no increase in these degenerative processes during the time course. In the period from day 1 to day 4, severe bleeding in the perilymphatic space occurred simultaneously with cochlear deterioration. Three animals showed perilymphatic fibrosis which was noted after the first week post KLH secondary challenge. In contrast, animals primarily challenged with KLH (locally administered to the e. sac) showed no cochlear degeneration. These results suggest that a locally mounted immune response in the e. sac can cause direct immune injury to cochlear tissues.

To clarify the clinical usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interleukin-6 (IL-6) measurement in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), we studied CSF IL-6 levels in patients with NPSLE and analyzed the association between CSF IL-6 levels and other clinical findings of NPSLE.We retrospectively analyzed records of 37 patients (33 females and four males) with NPSLE admitted to our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008.All patients showed neuropsychiatric symptoms. Fourteen patients showed abnormalities in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 12 patients had abnormal findings in electroencephalography (EEG). Increased CSF cell counts and elevated levels of CSF IL-6 were found in 11 and 30 patients, respectively. Elevated levels of CSF IL-6 were not statistically correlated with specific abnormalities in the blood analysis, in increased CSF cell counts, and in abnormalities in the brain MRI and EEG. In addition, a group of NPSLE patients positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) showed lower CSF IL-6 than the patients negative for aPL.These results indicated that CSF IL-6 might be useful in diagnosis of NPSLE. However, general assessments of patients based on various factors (clinical manifestations, imaging findings and CSF examinations) are also required.

A new method for the cross-coupling reaction of Grignard reagents with alkyl chlorides, bromides, and tosylates has been developed by the use of a nickel catalyst in the presence of a diene as an additive. This reaction proceeds efficiently at 0−25 °C in THF using primary and secondary alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents. Nickel complexes bearing no phosphine ligands, such as NiCl2, Ni(acac)2, and Ni(COD)2, afford the coupling products in good yields, whereas NiCl2(PPh3)2 and NiCl2(dppp) were less effective. 1,3-Butadiene shows the highest activity as an additive for the present coupling reaction. A plausible reaction pathway was proposed.

Minimum Classification Error (MCE) training, which can be used to achieve minimum error classification of various types of patterns, has attracted a great deal of attention. However, to increase classification robustness, a conventional MCE framework has no practical optimization procedures like geometric margin maximization in Support Vector Machine (SVM). To realize high robustness in a wide range of classification tasks, we derive the geometric margin for a general class of discriminant functions and develop a new MCE training method that increases the geometric margin value. We also experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of our new method using prototype-based classifiers.

A 72-year-old man presented with a mediastinal mass on chest radiograph. Computed tomography and MR imaging showed that the mass consisted of both fatty and small nodular soft tissue components, highly suggestive of an extramedullary hematopoiesis or a myelolipoma. A CT-guided needle biopsy was next performed and confirmed the diagnosis. We discuss the CT and MR imaging appearances es of this tumor and usefulness of a CT-guided needle biopsy to avoid surgery in asymptomatic patients.

Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in coronary heart disease. Polymorphisms in key enzymes that regulate oxidative stress may play a role in atherogenicity and were investigated in this study.One hundred and forty-three patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease were studied. The effect of the C242T polymorphism of the p22phox gene, an essential component of the NADH/NADPH oxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase T1, M1 and P1 polymorphisms on plasma MDA-LDL, soluble CD40 ligand, E-selectin and soluble ICAM1 levels was determined. Genotyping of the p22 phox C242T polymorphism was performed by RFLP analysis, and GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 genotypes were determined using a multiplex PCR assay. The MDA-LDL, sCD40L, E-selectin and sICAM1 levels were determined using ELISA.Patients with the TT or TC genotype of the p22 phox C242T polymorphism had significantly higher plasma MDA-LDL levels compared to those of the CC genotype. Plasma E-selectin and soluble ICAM1 levels were significantly higher in the TT or TC genotype compared to that of the CC genotype. In GSTT1+ patients, plasma MDA-LDL levels were significantly higher than those of GSTT1- patients.Genetic polymorphism of the p22 phox gene had a significant effect on plasma lipid peroxidation and endothelial function through oxidative stress. The results of this study confirm the effect of NADH/NADPH oxidase on atherogenecity.

Diamond superlattices were fabricated by producing multilayer structures of isotopically pure carbon-12 (12C) and carbon-13 (13C), which confine electrons by a difference in band-gap energy. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements were employed to characterize the isotopic composition of the diamond superlattices. Layers between 2 nm and 350 nm in thickness can be designed and fabricated using a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition technique.

The dynamics of single electron and nuclear spins in a diamond lattice with different 13C nuclear spin concentration is investigated. It is shown that coherent control of up to three individual nuclei in a dense nuclear spin cluster is feasible. The free induction decays of nuclear spin Bell states and single nuclear coherences among 13C nuclear spins are compared and analyzed. Reduction of a free induction decay time T2* and a coherence time T2 upon increase of nuclear spin concentration has been found. For diamond material with depleted concentration of nuclear spin, T2* as long as 30 microseconds and T2 of up to 1.8 ms for the electron spin has been observed. The 13C concentration dependence of T2* is explained by Fermi contact and dipolar interactions with nuclei in the lattice. It has been found that T2 decreases approximately as 1/n, where n is 13C concentration, as expected for an electron spin interacting with a nuclear spin bath., 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 movie (avi), 1 supplementary material (pdf)

The carbomagnesiation of dienes and enynes with sec- and tert-alkyl Grignard reagents has been achieved by using copper salts as catalysts.

Although not common, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is one of the most serious complications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to characterize the association between SLE and TTP by examining clinical features and treatment outcomes. We evaluated eight patients diagnosed over two years in our hospital. The mean disease duration of SLE until TTP onset was 13.2 years. One patient had a simultaneous diagnosis of SLE and TTP. CNS lupus and lupus nephritis were involved in 6 patients, respectively. The mean value of the SLE disease activity index was 40.5. Five out of 7 patients who have been examined the von Willebrand factor cleaving protease showed moderately decreased activity. Seven out of the 8 patients were treated with plasmapheresis, and 7 received immunosuppressive therapy including cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Seven patients recovered, but one died from an exacerbation of the disease. These data indicated that plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive therapy improved prognosis of TTP associated with SLE.

Robust entanglement at room temperature is a necessary requirement for practical applications in quantum technology. We demonstrate the creation of bipartite- and tripartite-entangled quantum states in a small quantum register consisting of individual 13 C nuclei in a diamond lattice. Individual nuclear spins are controlled via their hyperfine coupling to a single electron at a nitrogen-vacancy defect center. Quantum correlations are of high quality and persist on a millisecond time scale even at room temperature, which is adequate for sophisticated quantum operations.

A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in January, 2006 because of a huge cutaneous ulcer in his lower limb. He was diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa due to the cutaneous ulcer, mononeuritis multiplex, muscular pain, elevated serum CRP level and from histological findings of a skin biopsy. He was initially treated with 60 mg/day of prednisolone, followed by 1000 mg/day of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) therapy. In June, skin grafting to the cutaneous ulcer was carried out, although the graft did not survive. He revealed therapy-resistance to high dose corticosteroid and IVCY therapy, and so was treated with intravenous high dose immunoglobulin therapy. Serum CRP level then decreased and in October skin grafting was once again undertaken, this time the graft successfully survived. In December, serum CRP level increased again and cutaneous ulcer relapsed, thus he was treated with leukocyte apheresis therapy, although it was ineffective. In February 2007, he subsequently received rituximab (375 mg/m(2)/week x 3). Then, serum CRP level decreased rapidly, and cutaneous ulcer also improved. Recently the efficacy of rituximab against rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis/dermatomyositis and ANCA-associated vasculitis has been recognized. This case suggests that rituximab is also effective against corticosteroid-resistant polyarteritis nodosa.

The effects of polymorphisms in the genes encoding microsome triglycerides transfer protein (MTP) and beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3-AR) on lipid and glucose metabolism were investigated.Clinical phenotypes related to lipid and glucose metabolism were evaluated during dietary loading (17 g of fat, 750 Cal) and glucose loading (75 g glucose). MTP and beta3-AR genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism.Subjects with the Arg64 beta3-AR gene (Arg+) polymorphism showed significantly higher fasting (FTG) and postprandial (PTG) triglyceride levels, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma immuno-reactive insulin (FIRI) and HOMA-R in comparison with Trp64 homozygotes. Subjects with the T allele (T +) of MTP -164T/G polymorphism (with T allele) showed significantly lower levels of FPG, FIRI, HOMA-R and PTG than did subjects without the T allele (T-). To evaluate the interaction of the polymorphisms, we divided our subjects into four groups. T-/Arg-, T-/Arg+, T+/Arg- and T+/Arg+. In these four groups, only T-/Arg+ showed significantly higher PTG levels. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher at 60 and 120 min after oral glucose loading in in the T-/Arg+ subjects.In this study, we identified an example of genotypic interactions that influence the clinical phenotype in multi-factorial diseases.

A summary of photo- and electrochemical surface modifications applied on single-crystalline chemical vapour deposition diamond films is given. The covalently bonded formation of amine and phenyl linker molecular layers is characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry and field-effect transistor characterization experiments. Amine and phenyl layers are very different with respect to formation, growth, thickness and molecular arrangement. We deduce a sub-monolayer of amine linker molecules on diamond with approximately 10% coverage of 1.5×10 15 cm −2 carbon bonds. Amine is bonded only on initially H-terminated surface areas. In the case of electrochemical deposition of phenyl layers, multilayer properties are detected with three-dimensional nitrophenyl growth properties. This leads to the formation of typically 25 Å thick layers. The electrochemical bonding to boron-doped diamond works on H-terminated and oxidized surfaces. After reacting such films with heterobifunctional cross-linker molecules, thiol-modified ss-DNA markers are bonded to the organic system. Application of fluorescence and AFM on hybridized DNA films shows dense arrangements with densities up to 10 13 cm −2 . The DNA is tilted by an angle of approximately 35° with respect to the diamond surface. Shortening the bonding time of thiol-modified ss-DNA to 10 min causes a decrease in DNA density to approximately 10 12 cm −2 . Application of AFM scratching experiments shows threshold removal forces of approximately 75 and 45 nN for the DNA bonded to the phenyl and the amine linker molecules, respectively. First, DNA sensor applications using Fe(CN 6 ) 3−/4− mediator redox molecules and DNA field-effect transistor devices are introduced and discussed.

We have observed strong emission lines at 5.27 and 5.12 eV at room temperature in cathodoluminescence spectra from homoepitaxial diamond films grown by step-flow mode prepared with microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. The temperature dependence of integrated intensity of the emission lines indicates that they are attributed to free-exciton recombination radiation associated with a transverse optical phonon and its replica. These results have demonstrated the superior crystalline quality of the homoepitaxial diamond films grown by the step-flow mode.

Although subchondral changes are reported to be associated with transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH), the etiology of this disorder is unknown.In this paper, we describe a 45-year-old man with TOH who underwent both MRI and CT examinations. Plain radiographs obtained 2 months after the onset of hip pain showed a focal loss of radiodensity in the left femoral head. MRI revealed a bone marrow edema pattern in the left femoral head and neck with an associated subchondral serpiginous low signal intensity line on the T1-weighted images. A CT scan showed a subchondral fracture in the corresponding area. The hip pain and imaging abnormalities resolved spontaneously following conservative treatment. This case study demonstrated that a subchondral fracture of the femoral head was associated with TOH using MRI and CT examinations, and suggests that the presence of a subchondral fracture may be important for the pathophysiology of TOH.

HIV-1 infection is known to lead to a massive depletion of CD4 + T cells, and the Fas/FasL and TRAIL/TRAIL-receptor systems have been reported to be one of the mechanisms of CD4 + T cell apoptosis in HIV-1 infection. RCAS1 (a receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) is also an apoptosis-associated protein that induces apoptosis in receptor positive-cells including T cells, and NK cells. To investigate the role of RCAS1 in HIV-1 infection, we stimulated CD4 + T cells, monocytes, and several cell lines by HIV-Tat protein and thus showed that Tat significantly increased the mRNA transcription levels and the secretion of soluble RCAS1 in CD4 + T cells and monocytes. We also showed that the apoptosis induced by HIV-Tat was blocked by inhibiting the expression of RCAS1, using small interfering RNA (siRNA), which was specific for RCAS1. These results indicate that RCAS1 is one of the mechanisms of CD4 + T cell depletion induced by HIV infection.

Insulator−metal transitions are translations characterized by a sudden change in electron transport properties from localized to itinerant behavior of electrons. In most cases, it is detected in strongly disordered semiconductors as a function of temperature with statistically distributed donors and/or acceptors. Here, we show that reversible insulator−metal transitions take place in H-terminated intrinsic (undoped) single crystalline diamond, if immersed into redox−electrolyte solutions at room temperature. The change is generated by valence-band electrons of diamond, which tunnel into the redox−electrolyte, where they occupy empty electronic sites. We applied cyclic voltammetry experiments to characterize the insulator−metal transition in combination with different redox couples. The experiments show that transfer doping accounts for the experimentally detected phenomena, and that intrinsic diamond is a promising candidate for chemical sensing in a variety of applications.

We found hydrogen‐related luminescence in the subsurface region of chemical vapor deposited homoepitaxial diamond films by means of cathodoluminescence. A specific broad peak at around 540 nm is observed in the hydrogenated films, but not in the conventional oxidized films. The gap states related to the peak observed at around 540 nm are found to exist spatially in the surface region. The fact is consistent with the hydrogen distribution previously determined by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. The result indicates the existence of hydrogen‐related luminescent states in the subsurface region of as‐deposited homoepitaxial diamond films.

The aim of the study was to survey misfiled cases in a picture archiving and communication system environment at two hospitals and to demonstrate the potential usefulness of an automated patient recognition method for posteroanterior chest radiographs based on a template-matching technique designed to prevent filing errors.We surveyed misfiled cases obtained from different modalities in one hospital for 25 months, and misfiled cases of chest radiographs in another hospital for 17 months. For investigating the usefulness of an automated patient recognition and identification method for chest radiographs, a prospective study has been completed in clinical settings at the latter hospital.The total numbers of misfiled cases for different modalities in one hospital and for chest radiographs in another hospital were 327 and 22, respectively. The misfiled cases in the two hospitals were mainly the result of human errors (eg, incorrect manual entries of patient information, incorrect usage of identification cards in which an identification card for the previous patient was used for the next patient's image acquisition). The prospective study indicated the usefulness of the computerized method for discovering misfiled cases with a high performance (ie, an 86.4% correct warning rate for different patients and 1.5% incorrect warning rate for the same patients).We confirmed the occurrence of misfiled cases in the two hospitals. The automated patient recognition and identification method for chest radiographs would be useful in preventing wrong images from being stored in the picture archiving and communication system environment.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play an important role in vascular events during progression of atherosclerosis, associated with lipid metabolism, inflammatory response and others. To clarify relationships between the expression of PPARs subtypes and regression, we studied mRNA expression of PPARs subtypes with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, especially in centrally depressed atherosclerotic plaques (depressed plaque) in the aortas of elderly patients, and proposed morphological feature of atherosclerotic regression. Samples were separated from the depressed plaque, atheromatous plaque, and diffuse intimal thickening (DIT) in the aortas of elderly patients at autopsy and they were analyzed for RT-PCR. The depressed plaques obtained were divided into two parts: depressed area and surrounding elevated area. Total RNA was prepared, using the TRIzol Reagent, and was reverse transcribed using random hexamer primers and Thermoscript kit for RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical analysis was processed for mouse anti-PPAR gamma antibody, detected by the ABC method. 1) Decreased foam cells were found in the depressed area than in the surrounding elevated area of the depressed plaque. These foam cells were immunohistochemically positive for HAM56 and strong reactivities for PPAR gamma were found in the nuclei of macrophage-derived foam cells. PPAR gamma was also detected in the nuclei of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. 2) Expressions of PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma were found in the depressed plaques with RT-PCR. These expressions were found both in the depressed area and the surrounding elevated area without significant differences. 3) PPAR gamma mRNA expression both in the depressed area and the surrounding elevated area, was greater than in DIT, and was less than in the atheromatous plaque. 4) Expression of PPAR gamma mRNA was intense and increased in the surrounding elevated area than in the depressed area. 5) A significant increase of PPAR gamma expression was found in the atheromatous plaque than in the DIT. 6) There was no significant difference of PPAR alpha mRNA expression between the depressed area and the surrounding elevated area. The depressed plaque has been considered to be a morphological characteristic of regression in recent studies. Expression of mRNA for PPARs was detected in the depressed plaque as well as the atheromatous plaque, furthermore, there were different expressions and intensity of PPARs between the depressed area and the surrounding elevated area of the depressed plaque. These findings suggest that the expression of PPARs may be involved not only in the progression of atherosclerosis but also in regression.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a new commercially available computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system with an automated method of detecting nodules due to lung cancers on chest radiograph.For patients with cancer, 45 cases with solitary lung nodules up to 25 mm in diameter (nodule size range, 8-25 mm in diameter; mean, 18 mm; median, 20 mm) were used. For healthy patients, 45 cases were selected on the basis of confirmation on chest CT. All chest radiographs were obtained with a computed radiography system. The CAD output images were produced with a newly developed CAD system, which consisted of an image server including CAD software called EpiSight/XR. Eight radiologists (four board-certified radiologists and four radiology residents) participated in observer performance studies and interpreted both the original radiographs and CAD output images using a sequential testing method. The observers' performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic analysis.The average area under the curve value increased significantly from 0.924 without to 0.986 with CAD output images. Individually, the use of CAD output images was more beneficial to radiology residents than to board-certified radiologists.This CAD system for digital chest radiographs can assist radiologists and has the potential to improve the detection of lung nodules due to lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of temporal subtraction for the detection of lung cancer arising in pneumoconiosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary emphysema.Fifteen cases of lung cancer arising in diffuse lung diseases, including three cases of pneumoconiosis, six of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and six of pulmonary emphysema, were evaluated. Pathologic proof was obtained by surgery or transbronchial lung biopsy. The average interval between previous and current radiographs was 356 days (range, 31-947 days). All chest radiographs were obtained with a computed radiography system, and temporal subtraction images were produced by subtracting of a previous image from a current one with a nonlinear image-warping technique. The effect of the temporal subtraction image was evaluated by observer performance study with receiver operating characteristic analysis.The average observer performance with temporal subtraction was significantly improved (Az = 0.935) compared with that without temporal subtraction (Az = 0.857, P.0001).The temporal subtraction technique is useful for the detection of lung cancer arising in pneumoconiosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary emphysema.

Paraoxonase1 (PON1) is HDL-associated ester hydrolase which has been shown to prevent LDL and HDL oxidation in vitro. PON1-coding region has two common polymorphisms (M/L55 and A/B192) that influence PON activity. We examined whether these polymorphisms relates with the incidence of cerebral infarction (CI) which is one of the major atherosclerotic disease in Japan.The study population was comprised of 112 unrelated Japanese CI patients and 106 healthy Japanese individuals. The PON1 genotypes were determined by PCR and digestion by specific restriction enzymes.PON1-192 polymorphism revealed no significant difference of genotype and allelic distribution in CI patients and controls. Frequency of L/M alleles in PON1-55 polymorphism (0.88, 0.12, respectively) was different from previously reported frequencies in Caucasians. Comparison of allelic distribution of the PON1-55 polymorphism showed a significant increase of the M allele in CI subjects compared with control subjects. All three subjects with the MM genotype were in the CI group. Of subjects with an AA genotype, the frequencies of the MM and LM genotypes were significantly higher and that of the LL genotype was significantly lower in the CI group compared with the control group. Frequency of the M allele in the CI group was significantly higher in subjects who had the AA genotype.These findings suggest that the enzyme might be involved in the development of atherosclerosis of cerebral arteries. Moreover, this finding might indicates that the genetic markers in Japanese linked to distinct genetic event from Caucasians.

We analyzed the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. The predominant manifestations were multiple nodules (n=6) and a single nodule (n=7). Regarding the pattern of multiple nodules, two cases of cavities or necrosis, four cases of surrounding centrilobular micronodules and five cases of "acinar" nodules were seen. No "tree-in-bud" appearance was detected. Five of seven cases of a single nodule were classified as polygonal, and two of them were round. Two cases accompanied micronodules and one case cavitation. Although no "tree-in-bud" appearance was observed, pulmonary cryptococcosis mimics tuberculosis.

We propose a novel approach to separating an overlapped signal using speech production models. The speech production models are used as top-down constraints for solving a one-channel signal separation, which is a one-to-many mapping problem. The goal of our approach is to not only realize high-accuracy separation systems but to also construct a computational model of human auditory mechanisms based on perception-production interaction. The utility of the proposed method is demonstrated in a task of separating a mixture of two-speaker vowel utterances using primitive linear speech production models.

A new method for the cross-coupling reaction of Grignard reagents with alkyl chlorides, bromides, and tosylates has been developed by the use of a nickel catalyst in the presence of a diene as an additive. This reaction proceeds efficiently at 0-25 degrees C in THF using primary and secondary alkyl and aryl Grignard reagents. Nickel complexes bearing no phosphine ligands, such as NiCl2, Ni(acac)2, and Ni(COD)2, afford the coupling products in good yields, whereas NiCl2(PPh3)2 and NiCl2(dppp) were less effective. 1,3-Butadiene shows the highest activity as an additive for the present coupling reaction. A plausible reaction pathway was proposed.