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Objetivo: Analisar, na perspectiva do Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento, a assistência ao pré-natal em Cuiabá-MT a partir dos dados do SISPRENATAL, em 2010. Método: Estudo de abordagem quantitativa, descritivo, documental e transversal. Amostra composta por dados relativos a 474 gestantes. Dados coletados através dos relatórios gerenciais do Escritório Regional de Saúde da Baixada Cuiabana. Análise estatística descritiva simples com a utilização do software Epi Info 3.5. Resultados: Captação precoce de 75,5%, das gestantes; porém, não houve total adesão destas às consultas; consulta puerperal ocorreu em 17,1% das gestantes. Redução na realização dos exames básicos da 1ª para 2ª rotina; 64,6% das gestantes receberam a dose imunizante e 84,8% foram classificadas quanto ao risco gestacional. Conclusão: Assistência pré-natal desenvolvida tem pontos fortes; ainda apresenta pontos que precisam ser revistos com vistas à prestação de uma assistência pré-natal de qualidade. Descritores: Saúde da Mulher, Cuidado Pré-Natal, Sistemas de Informação.

A new mesoscopic response in a crystal during post-annealing (PA) after ion implantation has been discovered. PA is an indispensable procedure for activating the implanted dopant center by retrieving the lost crystallinity of the host crystal, which usually elapses over periods longer than a few milliseconds. By using an empirical molecular-dynamics simulation, we examined what actually happened during extended PA for up to one nanosecond in case of sub-keV N2 beam implantation into bulk diamond at room temperature with annealing at 1000 K. While observing the changes in the long-range-order (LRO) parameter, a notable phase transition from the crystalline to the amorphous state (CA transition) occurred synergistically at approximately a few picoseconds (ps). After the CA transition, PA was initiated. A few tens of ps later, a sequence of restoration spikes was observed in LRO parameter with a regular time interval of 70–80 ps. Each sharp peak showed the spontaneous restoration of “amorphous -> crystal -> amorphous” transitions. This process may trigger a “critical state” that occurs during the slow and steady recovery of the lost crystallinity in the early stages of PA. It was found that annealing not only enhances the vibration amplitude of the individual atoms in the bulk but also causes phonon-assisted restoration in a mesoscopic space.

This paper is concerned with longitudinal and transverse variations of the sear stress on the wetted perimeter of a sloped rectangular open channel in a hydraulic jump. It is found that the locus of the maximum bed shear stress upstream and downstream of the hydraulic jump indicates a clear meandering tendency. That is, the meandering locus of the maximum bed shear stress appears whether the flow is supercritical or subcritical. In the jump region, the locus almost follows the central axis of the channel, and the amplitude and wave-length are very small. However, downstream of the jump region the locus of the maximum bed shear stress starts meandering, and the amplitude and wave-length vary in an irregular manner.

The present study is concerned with an experimental investigation to assess the performance of eight prisms having different cross-sections but a common height as a vortex generator in transonic flows. It is found that the local pressure rate\(\dot p\) (pressure per unit time) caused by each prism depends on the cross-section strongly. The pressure rate\(\dot p\) due to one prism that has reversed triangular cross-section with forward facing step is the greatest among the present eight prisms, while the pressure rate\(\dot p\) due to another prism that has ordinary triangular cross-section with backward facing step is the smallest: as a vortex generator, the former prism shows the highest performance among the present eight prisms, while the latter prism the lowest.

As in humans, rabbit coronary artery endothelium basally expresses vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Treatment with parenteral cyclosporine (CsA) to prevent graft rejection in rabbits receiving heterotopic heart transplantation reduced VCAM-1 expression in coronary arteries not only in transplanted, but also in native rabbit hearts. To explore the mechanism of this effect, we co-incubated cultured human saphenous vein endothelial cells for 24 hr with CsA or its vehicle (containing polyoxyethylated castor oil, or Cremophor, and ethanol), at concentrations compatible with those achievable in plasma during administration of parenteral preparations of CsA. Cells were then stimulated with TNFα or IL-4 to induce VCAM-1 expression, assessed by a cell-surface enzyme immunoassay. Both CsA and vehicle inhibited IL-4-stimulated VCAM-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner (from [OD mU, mean ± SEM] 230±5 to 165±3 for CsA 50 ng/ml, and to 181±6 for the corresponding vehicle concentration ; P

The interaction of low-energy highly charged Xeq+ ions (q = 1–44) with a diamond crystal has been investigated, using the time-evolution binary collision simulation code DYACOCT. The nuclear interaction between a charged particle and a neutral atom is calculated by the binary collision approximation, and the Coulomb interaction between charged particles is calculated by the molecular dynamics technique. It is found that the screening shift is very important in the decay dynamics of electrons captured into highly exited states in an early stage of the collision process. Some of the captured electrons are stripped off due to the peeling-off process before the intra-Auger decay becomes dominant when 10 keV Xeq+(q ≥ 36) ions approach a diamond surface. The slow highly charged Xeq+ ions are almost neutralized before entering diamond. The sputtering yield due to a 10 keV Xeq+(q ≥ 18) ion is about ten times larger than that due to a singly charged Xe+ ion and the charge fraction of sputtered particles is about 15%.

In order to study entrance channel and angular momentum effects on the pre-ecission time, light charged particle multiplicities were measured in coincidence with binary decay fragments in the reactions 58 Ni(580 MeV) + 56 Fe and 86 Kr(890 MeV) + 27 Al , which lead to similar composite systems with almost the same excitation energy. It is observed that the lifetime of the composite system decreases as the entrace channel spin increases.

Background Factors of chronic pain due to hemiplegia or prolonged immobility are varied, there is osteoporosis (a rarefaction due to bone atrophy) as the cause. Osteoporotic patients with no evidence of fractures sometimes experience vague lower back pain. However, there have been few reports regarding the correlation between osteoporosis and pain-related behavior. Our previous studies have indicated that hindlimb-unloading induced bone loss and mechanical hyperalgesia in hindlimb of mice. We investigated the effects of teriparatide (PTH) on bone mass and pain-related behaviors in osteoporosis model mice with hindlimb unloading. Objectives The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of PTH on bone mass and pain-related behaviors in hindlimb-unloaded mice model of disuse osteoporosis. Methods Male ddY mice (8 weeks old) were tail-suspended for 2 weeks and assigned to 3 groups; hindlimb-loaded mice treated with vehicle (control), hindlimb-unloaded mice treated with vehicle (HU), hindlimb-unloaded mice treated with PTH (HU-PTH) (n=8/group). Starting immediately after tail-suspension, vehicle or 40μg/kg PTH was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 2 weeks. The bilateral distal femoral metaphyses and proximal tibial metaphyses were analyzed three-dimensionally by micro-computed tomography (μCT) 2 weeks after tail-suspension. Mechanical sensitivity was also tested using von Frey filaments 2 week after the tail suspension. The withdrawal threshold, the 50% withdrawal threshold and the frequency of the withdrawal response to the application of von Frey filaments to the plantar surface of the hind paws was examined. Measurement of pain-related behavior with von Frey filaments was interpreted as indicative of mechanical allodynia. Results μCT analysis of the distal femoral metaphysis and the proximal tibial metaphysis showed that significantly decreased bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in HU compared with HL was significantly increased by PTH treatment. (Fig.1) Similarly, decreased trabecular number (Tb.N) in HU compared with HL was increased, and increased trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in HU compared with HL was decreased by PTH treatment, but not significant. The paw withdrawal threshold and the 50% paw withdrawal threshold were significantly lower in the HU than in the control, whereas it was significantly higher in the HU-PTH than in the HU group. (Fig.2) The paw withdrawal frequency stimulated by von Frey filaments with strength of 0.4–2.0 g was significantly higher in the HU than in the control. Whereas it was significantly lower in the HU-PTH than in the HU. Conclusions In this study, treatment of PTH prevented bone loss and mechanical hyperalgesia in disuse osteoporotic animal models by hindlimb-unloading. The results suggest that low bone volume itself is one of the causes of osteoporotic pain. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The 17,18 O(p, n) 17,18 F reactions were studied at E p = 35 MeV. Neutron spectra were measured at laboratory angles between 0° and 140°. Results were compared with distorted-wave calculations using the shell-model wave functions. For the 17 O(p, n) reaction, cross-section magnitudes as well as the angular-distribution shapes were well described by the calculation. On the other hand, normalization factors of 0.60 were required for the spin-flip excitations observed in the 18 O(p, n) reaction leading to the ground (1 + ), 1.700 MeV (1 + ) and 2.100 MeV (2 − ) states. Possible origins of such differences were discussed.

The impact parameter, p, dependence on the electronic stopping power, dEdx, is discussed, especially concerning the different strength of valence electrons from that of the core ones. The argument is supplemented more clearly by an issue of how the directional effect of ion motion influences the dEdx in compound crystalline solid. We introduced a rule describing the p-dependent dEdx of compound crystals, in a different way from Bragg's rule which averages the respective dEdx of composite atoms according to their stoichiometry. Evaluating the range profiles of ions in binary III–V semiconductors making use of a Monte Carlo simulation, we draw two conclusions: (1) The strength of the p-dependence of dEdx due to valence electrons, being quite different from that of core electrons, determines the range profiles of implants distinctly. (2) The present rule can be an alternative to Bragg's rule, and available for ions moving with energy smaller than 1 MeV/amu in crystals.

We measured the pre-scission multiplicity of charged particle for the system of 84 Kr + 27 Al at 10.6 MeV/u. The charge multiplicity of pre-scission is about 80 % of the total charge multiplicity, which is about ten times as large as that calculated by a statistical model code (GEMINI). To reproduce the pre-scission multiplicity it is essential to introduce a fission delay time of the order of 10−20 sec. It makes, however, the significant suppression of the binary fragment cross sections. To reproduce both cross section of binary fragments and pre-scission particle multiplicity simultaneously with the code, the pre-scission particles should not be emitted at the pre-saddle point, but between the saddle and scission points. The another explanation is that the composite system is formed between the saddle and scission points.

福井県丹生山地中南部に分布する河岸段丘について,野外調査および堆積物中に含まれるテフラの検討を行い,段丘形成期を考察した.従来,D1面と考えられていた段丘面の一部は,空中写真の判読によりD2面の上に重なる扇状地面であることが明らかになり,D4面とした.また,D4面構成層(D4層)中に挾まれる小曽原火山灰層と織田火山灰層は岩石記載学的特徴から,それぞれDKP,ATに同定されることが明らかになった.さらに,新たにD3面構成層(D3層)中とD2面を覆う表土中からも,小曽原火山灰層が見いだされた.その結果,D2面は5万年前以前に,D3面は2.5～5万年前頃,D4面は2.1～2.5万年前以降に形成されたと推定される.

Although some investigators have attempted to express the left ventricular pressure-time curve by mathematical functions such as exponential and sinusoidal functions, none of them reasonably fits the left ventricular pressure-time curve. In the present study, we hypothesized that a ventricular isovolumic pressure-time curve could be expressed as the difference between two S-shaped curves for pressure rising and falling, and proposed a new "hybrid logistic" function to express the left ventricular isovolumic pressure-time curve. We investigated how well this hybrid logistic function fits left ventricular isovolumic pressure curves experimentally observed under physiological preload and contractility in the excised cross-circulated left ventricles of 10 dogs. The new function precisely fitted the isovolumic pressure curves regardless of preload and contractility with correlation coefficients above 0.9996, much better than the previously proposed functions. The observed values characterizing the magnitude and time course of the isovolumic pressure curve such as peak +/- dP/dt also closely correlated with the corresponding theoretical values calculated by the present best-fit function. We conclude that our new hybrid logistic function reasonably characterizes the canine left ventricular isovolumic pressure-time curve within physiological ranges of preload and contractility. The present results indicate that this hybrid logistic function is useful to evaluate left ventricular contraction and relaxation comprehensively.

Expression of retinoic acid receptor–target genes during retinoic acid therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia

The obturator hernia sac may follow the anterior or posterior branch of the obturator nerve, and thus, it can be classified anatomically. The relationship between the symptoms and the anatomical classification of obturator hernia has not yet been clearly described in the literature. Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) examinations of 35 consecutive cases of new-onset obturator hernia admitted from March 2005 to April 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Obturator hernia was classified anatomically using MDCT. Patient characteristics and clinical presentations were compared among the anatomical classifications. Fifteen cases were classified as type I (anterior branch type) and 20 cases as type II (posterior branch type). There were no significant differences regarding time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis, presence of small bowel obstruction, and need for bowel resection. The Howship–Romberg sign was seen in 6 cases (30 %) of type II and 10 cases (67 %) of type I (p = 0.044). The Howship–Romberg sign was present significantly more often with the anterior than the posterior branch type of obturator hernia.

When a computer system executes successive jobs and processes with random time intervals, it would be impossible or impractical to make some inspections to check faults that occur intermittently in a strict periodic fashion. From such a viewpoint, by considering both factors such that periodic and random inspections, this paper proposes two new inspection policies in which the computer system is checked at a planned time T or at a random time Y, whichever occurs first and last. These policies are called inspection first and inspection last, respectively. Expected cost rates of each model until failure detection are obtained, and optimal inspection policies which minimize them are derived analytically. The comparison results of such two policies indicate that either inspection first or last is better than the other according to the ratio of checking cost to downtime cost from failure to its detection.

Recently, a replication buffering relay method has been used for a server system. The replication buffering relay method replicates data synchronously and enables a fast system migration when a disaster has occurred in the main site. We have already discussed the reliability model in the server system with the replication buffering relay method. But when a disaster has occurred in the main site, there is a problem that the response time of accessing the data in buffering relay unit is longer than that of accessing the data in the backup site. In this paper, we discuss the optimal policy to reduce the overhead of accessing the updated data in buffering relay unit. That is, we derive the probability of accessing updated data in buffering relay unit. Further, we calculate the cost effectiveness and discuss an optimal replication interval to minimize it. Finally, numerical examples are given.

Yokukansan (YKS) is a traditional Japanese medicine consisting of seven medicinal herbs that is used for the treatment of neurosis, insomnia, and the behavioral/psychological symptoms of dementia. This study examined the effects of YKS on morphine tolerance and physical dependence in mice. Daily oral administration of YKS (0.5 or 1.0 g/kg) for 3 weeks significantly attenuated morphine tolerance and naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal signs (jumps and body weight loss) without affecting the analgesic effect of morphine. The inhibitory effect of YKS on withdrawal jumps in morphine-dependent mice was blocked by a single pretreatment with an α(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, but not by an α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin. A similar inhibitory effect on withdrawal jumps was observed by repeated administration of yohimbine. The membrane expression of α(2A)-adrenoceptors in the pons/medulla was decreased in morphine withdrawn animals; this reduction was prevented by repeated administration of YKS or yohimbine. Competitive radioligand and [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) binding assays revealed that YKS and its constituent herbs, Glycyrrhiza (GR) and Uncaria hook (UH), had specific binding affinity for and antagonist activity against the α(2A)-adrenoceptor. Certain chemical constituents, including GR -derived glycyrrhizin and its metabolite, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, and UH-derived geissoschizine methyl ether (GME), shared such activities. Repeated administration of GR, UH, glycyrrhizin or GME significantly inhibited morphine withdrawal signs. These results suggest that YKS and its active constituents inhibit morphine tolerance and physical dependence, and that the latter is due at least in part to the prevention of the decreased membrane expression of the α(2A)-adrenoceptor in the brainstem by its prolonged blockade.

The Lake Suigetsu 2006 Varved Sediment Core Project (SG06 Project) aims to contribute to the international terrestrial radiocarbon calibration model, extending it to >50,000 cal years BP using the new SG06 sediment record, which shows annual laminations (varves) for most of this period. For varve counting, a novel approach using high resolution X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) and X-radiography was applied, described here in detail for the first time, and applied to the Late Glacial sediments of core SG06. This new technique was carried out alongside conventional varve counting by thin-section microscopy ( Schlolaut et al., 2012 ). This dual approach allows comparison of results from the two independent counting methods on metre to sub-mm scales, enabling the identification and characterisation of differences between the techniques, and quantification of their weaknesses. Combining the results produces a more robust chronology than either counting method could produce alone. The reliability of this dual approach is demonstrated by comparison of the combined chronology with the radiocarbon dataset of SG06, calibrated with the tree-ring derived Late Glacial section of IntCal09.

To perform a safety assessment for the geological disposal of radioactive waste, it is important to understand the response characteristics of the disposal system. In this study, approximate analytical solutions for steady-state nuclide releases from the engineered barrier system (EBS) of a repository were derived for an orthogonal one-dimensional diffusion model. In these approximate analytical solutions, inventory depletion, decay during migration and the influence of groundwater flow in the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) were considered. These solutions were simplified by the Taylor theorem in order to clearly represent the response characteristics of the EBS. The validity of these solutions was shown by comparison with numerical solutions. The response characteristics of the EBS are useful for identifying target values for important parameters that would have the effect of improving the robustness of system safety. The robustness of the geological disposal system and the reliability of the safety assessment can thus potentially be improved using the approximate analytical solutions.

The high potential of the varved sediments of Lake Suigetsu, central Japan, to provide a purely terrestrial radiocarbon calibration model and a chronology of palaeoclimatic changes has been widely recognised for the last two decades. However, this potential has not been fully realised since the only available long sediment core from the lake (‘SG93’) was extracted from a single bore hole and was therefore interrupted by gaps of unknown duration between successive core sections. In the summer of 2006, a new sediment core (‘SG06’) was recovered from the lake. Four separate boreholes were drilled and the parallel sets of cores recovered were found to overlap completely, without gaps between segments. This new record provides the ability to test existing atmospheric radiocarbon calibration models, as well as to assess the scale of inter-regional leads and lags in palaeoclimatic changes over the last Glacial–Interglacial cycle. Multi-disciplinary analyses from SG06 are still ongoing, but a reliable description of the sedimentary sequence needs to be provided to the wider science community before major outputs from the project are released, thereby allowing fully-informed critical evaluation of all subsequent releases of data based on the SG06 record. In this paper, we report key litho-stratigraphic information concerning the SG06 sediment core, highlighting changes in the clarity of annual laminations (varves) with depth, and possible implications for the mechanism of the climate change. We also discuss the potential of the SG06 record to meet the fundamental goals of the INQUA-INTIMATE project.

Uniform-sized spherical iron ferrite nanoparticles grew on seed crystals in an aqueous solution containing sucrose. Using the seed crystals which were highly dispersed in acidic or alkaline seed-crystal suspension without relation to pH of the suspension, we widely controlled the particle diameter in the range 20–200 nm by changing the additive amount of the seed crystals. By transmission electron microscopy observation and X-ray diffraction analysis, it indicated that the particles were highly crystalline but not amorphous. Selected area diffraction patterns of the particles by using transmission electron microscope revealed that the particles were composed of one to several crystals. Thus we provided the evidence that the particles grew on clusters composed of one to several seed crystals to which those of several dozen seed crystals were disintegrated.

Senescence-accelerated mice (SAM), a murine model of age-related deterioration in learning ability, were studied as to the acetylcholine (ACh) contents in the brain tissues and the effect of nicotine administration. We found that the ACh content of SAM-P/8 (accelerated senescence-prone) mice was lower than that of SAM-R/1 (accelerated senescence-resistant) mice in the midbrain thalamus and the hypothalamus. In addition, an IP administration of nicotine was found to improve learning ability of SAM-P/8 as shown by performance of a passive avoidance task. Nicotine may potentiate cognitive function in SAM-P/8.

To evaluate the efficacy and complications of transportal ethanol injection (TPEI) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization to achieve complete tumor necrosis and prevent intrahepatic metastases in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).In 13 patients with HCC, chemoembolization was performed with injection of a mixture of iodized oil and doxorubicin hydrochloride followed by administration of gelatin sponge; 1-4 weeks later, TPEI was performed with percutaneous transhepatic portography. Ethanol (15-65 mL) was injected in the portal veins around the tumor until occlusion.TPEI was successfully performed in all patients. Two patients subsequently underwent surgery; their tumors were resected completely. Two died of hepatic failure. Seven of the nine other patients showed no recurrence or intrahepatic metastasis during follow-up (7-42 months). Histologic examination, performed in nine patients, showed complete necrosis of tumor and scattered or severe necrosis of surrounding tissues.This treatment has a strong anticancerous effect and is expected to be used in treatment of properly selected patients with HCC.

To assess the accuracy of three-dimensional, Fourier transform, time-of-flight magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in the identification of intracranial aneurysms.MR angiograms of 126 patients (59 male and 67 female patients, aged 12-77 years) with various intracranial vascular lesions were evaluated. Seventy-eight aneurysms, including 60 less than 5 mm in diameter, in 61 patients were depicted at conventional angiography. Eight projection images, as well as one axial collapsed MR angiogram obtained with a maximum-intensity projection algorithm, were used for evaluation.Sensitivity for the five observers ranged from 58% to 68% (mean, 63%). Higher sensitivity was achieved for anterior communicating and middle cerebral artery aneurysms, while that for internal carotid artery aneurysms was poor. Sensitivities for small and medium aneurysms ranged from 50% to 60% (mean, 56%) and from 77% to 94% (mean, 86%), respectively.MR angiography can depict intracranial aneurysms 5 mm or larger with good accuracy but is less useful for the identification of smaller aneurysms.

Decay neutrons from the [sup 40]Ca([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n])[sup 39]Ca reaction were studied in the giant resonance region. The cross sections and angular distributions, separated for [ital n][sub 0] and [ital n][sub 1] decays, were obtained for excitation energies between 19 and 27 MeV, at the effective momentum transfer of 0.35 fm[sup [minus]1]. Legendre polynomial coefficients obtained from fitting the data are compared with those from the ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital p]) reaction. In the energy range 19--21 MeV, the interference coefficients [ital b][sub 1] and [ital b][sub 3] for the ground state transition are in agreement, but the noninterference coefficient [ital b][sub 2] is different. The different behavior of the angular distribution for protons and neutrons may suggest the interference of the decay from a [ital T]=0 quadrupole resonance and the [ital T]=1 giant dipole resonance. A similar tendency was also seen in comparing with the ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital p][sub 1]) reaction. The Legendre polynomial coefficients for the [ital n][sub 0] decay in the ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n]) reaction, transformed to the photon point, agree well with those of the ([gamma],[ital n][sub 0]) reaction. The reduced total cross section is consistent between the ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n]) and ([gamma],[ital n])more » reactions, but the cross section for ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital n][sub 0]) is larger than that of ([gamma],[ital n][sub 0]) near the peak of the resonance. The values of the longitudinal-transverse interference term are close to zero in the present region, which is rather small compared with the value near the resonance of the ([ital e],[ital e][prime][ital p]) reaction.« less

The gene located upstream of the nlp gene at min 69 on the chromosome of Escherichia coli was cloned from the plasmid pLC7-42 constructed by Clarke and Carbon. The extract of the strain harboring the plasmid containing this gene showed increased activity of the prenyltransferase. The product of the enzyme reaction was analyzed by two thin-layer chromatography and shown to be the phosphate ester of all- E -octaprenol. These results suggested that the gene was the structural gene for the octaprenyl diphosphate synthase which supplied the precursor of the side chain of the isoprenoid quinones.

We report 26 cases of hyperextension injury of the MP joint of the thumb. These were classified into the following three categories; dorsal dislocation of the MP joint or volar plate avulsion; locking of the MP joint and fracture of the sesamoid bone. We report the pathomechanics and clinical features of these injuries.

The energy dependence of the pp elastic analyzing power has been measured using an internal target during polarized beam acceleration. The data were obtained in incident-energy steps varying from 4 to 17 MeV over an energy range from 0.5 to 2.0 GeV. The statistical uncertainty of the analyzing power is typically less than 0.01. A narrow structure is observed around 2.17 GeV in the two-proton invariant mass distribution. A possible explanation for the structure with narrow resonances is discussed.

It has been suggested that arachidonate metabolites, leukotrienes, and thromboxane may play important roles in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Biologic activities of these mediators are much more potent than those of histamine and acetylcholine on a molar basis in inducing bronchoconstriction, increase in microvascular permeability, formation of mucosal edema, and mucus secretion, which are characteristic features of bronchial asthma. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated the presence of these mediators in plasma, BALF, and urine in asthmatic patients after allergen challenge. Therefore, the regulation of the activities of these mediators may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of bronchial asthma. A large number of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, peptide leukotriene antagonists, thromboxane synthase inhibitors, and thromboxane antagonists have been actively developed by the pharmaceutical industry, and there are increasing findings to demonstrate a clinical efficacy by these compounds. Among them, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor, OKY-046, first became available as an antiasthmatic agent in Japan. This is a significant step in the management of bronchial asthma. Preclinical and clinical results have suggested that these inhibitors and antagonists may be capable of inhibiting airway obstruction with airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which are important characteristics of bronchial asthma. Further results from clinical studies with newly developed leukotriene and thromboxane antagonists are eagerly awaited.

We report a sensitive and rapid method for detection of hiochi bacteria by PCR. This method involves the electrophoresis of amplified DNA. Nucleotide sequences of the spacer region between 16S and 23S rRNA genes of 11 Lactobacillus strains were identified by analysis of PCR products. Five primers were designed by analysis of similarities among these sequences. A single cell of Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei could be detected when purified genomic DNA was used as the template. When various cell concentrations of L. casei subsp. casei were added to 50 ml of pasteurized sake and the cells were recovered, the detection limit was about one cell. No discrete band was observed in electrophoresis after PCR when human, Escherichia coli, mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, yeast, or mold DNA was used as the template.

A new phase noise reduction technique has been developed for PLL frequency synthesizers. The key circuit elements have been fabricated in one LSI, and applied to a C-band MMIC frequency synthesizer. The resultant phase noise reduction of 10 dB is significant. >

A clinicopathological study of senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT) accompanied by the white matter lesions of Binswanger's type was carried out. Fifty-seven patients, who were diagnosed as suffering from SDAT based on clinical and pathological criteria, were classified into two groups based on the white matter lesions of Binswanger's type. Namely, group 1 consisted of the SDAT patients without any subcortical or white matter lesions (30 cases); group 2 consisted of those with white matter lesions of Binswanger's type (11 cases). The other 9 cases included those with vascular lesions and 4 with some of the same pathological changes found in Parkinson's disease. Clinically, group 2 patients showed subcortical symptoms such as urinary incontinence, Parkinsonian gait, being accompanied by hypertension and arrhythmias. Periventricular lucency (CT) were common in group 2. Macroscopically, both groups showed moderately to severe atrophy, and the width of the corpus callosum of group 2 was narrower than that of group 1. There was no difference in cerebral arteriosclerosis between the groups. In microscopic findings, patients in group 2 showed diffuse distribution of cortical changes such as senile plaques as well as Alzheimer's senile plaques as well as Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles while those in group 1 showed various types of diffuse or local distribution. Arteriolosclerosis of the white matter were found in both groups. There was no difference in aortic atherosclerosis and/or heart disease. The complication of white matter lesions of Binswanger's type was not a rare finding in SDAT.

The laser plasma properties of the RIKEN laser ion source on the direct plasma injection system (DPIS) were measured for analysis of the DPIS beam dynamics. From the installed electrostatic analyzer and the measured calibration value from Ceratron to Faraday Cup, the current values and pulse time structure for each carbon charge state in the laser plasma were obtained.

The ion implantation has been proven as a reliable technology that creates a high-functioning device by introducing dopants as energetic projectiles into a semiconductor crystal. An advanced simulator (computation program-code written from an atomistic viewpoint) has theoretically led the research and development of semiconductor technology. Such a simulator is established by a scaling rule that is indispensable to describe generally how an introduced energy is transferred to a target. If a proper scaling rule is missing, a priori simulation is difficult.

The charge-state distributions of U with energies of 14 and 15 MeV=nucleon were measured using nitrogen (N2) gas and carbon foil (C-foil) charge strippers. The most probable charge states of U with energies of 14 and 15 MeV=nucleon in N2 gas attain equilibrium at 60.8 and 62.4, whereas those in C-foils attain equilibrium at 75.8 and 76.7, respectively. Novel empirical formulas for the accurate prediction of the equilibrium charge states of U with energies 10–20 MeV=nucleon in gases and C-foil were derived by fitting the data in the energy range of 1–20 MeV=nucleon. The charge states predicted by using the formulas for gases and C-foil are in good agreement with the data in the energy range of 10–20 MeV=nucleon within an average of 0.23 and 0.21, respectively.

The charge-state distributions of ^{238}U with energies of 14 and 15 MeV/nucleon were measured using nitrogen (N_{2}) gas and carbon foil (C-foil) charge strippers. The most probable charge states of ^{238}U with energies of 14 and 15 MeV/nucleon in N_{2} gas attain equilibrium at 60.8 and 62.4, whereas those in C-foils attain equilibrium at 75.8 and 76.7, respectively. Novel empirical formulas for the accurate prediction of the equilibrium charge states of ^{238}U with energies 10–20 MeV/nucleon in gases and C-foil were derived by fitting the data in the energy range of 1–20 MeV/nucleon. The charge states predicted by using the formulas for gases and C-foil are in good agreement with the data in the energy range of 10–20 MeV/nucleon within an average of 0.23 and 0.21, respectively.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can be important in the treatment of canine mast cell tumor (cMCT). Meanwhile, some TKIs have been identified as substrates for ABCB1. The inhibitory effect of four TKIs (axitinib, imatinib, masitinib, and vatalanib) for proliferation and phosphorylation of c-Kit receptor as well as the expression and function of ABCB1 were investigated in three cMCT cell lines (HRMC, VIMC1, and CMMC1). The IC(50) values of the TKIs in HRMC, the only cell line with wild-type KIT, were clearly higher than those in CMMC1 and VIMC1. In HRMC and CMMC1, both the growth and phosphorylation of c-Kit receptor were suppressed proportionally by the TKIs. VIMC1 required higher concentrations for the inhibition of c-Kit receptor phosphorylation than those in cell growth. The treatment with cyclosporine increased the effects of the TKIs on VIMC1 since ABCB1 was expressed in VIMC1. The results indicated that cMCT cell lines harboring wild-type KIT had lower sensitivity to TKIs. The growth of VIMC1 was seemingly reduced by TKIs through the inhibition of other tyrosine kinases than c-Kit receptor. There was little influence of ABCB1 on TKI effects to the proliferation of VIMC1. These results will be helpful to understand the different sensitivity to TKIs in cMCT patients.

Thin walled parts of high strength steel, under compressive loads are likely to buckle locally, and then depending on geometry and material properties the section may continue to carry additional load. For the post buckling conditions the deformations are large but finite. Therefore we need to consider geometrical non linearity in the calculations. In this paper we are extending the linear finite strip element formulation to include geometrical non linearity. Method to derive secant and tangent stiffness matrix for non linear finite strip element is developed and then the element formulation is verified for inplane and center load on a plate using Newton Raphson solver. The new non linear finite strip element can be useful in estimating maximum load capacity (including post buckling) of thin walled structures from 2D data.