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Nodal, a secreted signaling protein in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, has established roles in vertebrate development. However, components of the Nodal signaling pathway are also expressed at the maternal-fetal interface and have been implicated in many processes of mammalian reproduction. Emerging evidence indicates that Nodal and its extracellular inhibitor Lefty are expressed in the uterus and complex interactions between the two proteins mediate menstruation, decidualization and embryo implantation. Furthermore, several studies have shown that Nodal from both fetal and maternal sources may regulate trophoblast cell fate and facilitate placentation as both embryonic and uterine-specific Nodal knockout mouse strains exhibit disrupted placenta morphology. Here we review the established and prospective roles of Nodal signaling in facilitating successful pregnancy, including recent evidence supporting a potential link to parturition and preterm birth.

In high temperature superconducting (HTS) transformer with double pancake windings, the perpendicular component of leakage magnetic flux density (B/sub r/) applied to HTS tapes of double pancake windings is larger than that of solenoid windings, which acts as a cause to decrease the critical current in HTS tape and increase AC loss. In this paper, in order to reduce the B/sub r/ applied to HTS windings, the use of ferrite flux diverters is presented. Flux diverters are located in between the primary windings and the secondary windings, and must be made of low-loss materials to minimize the heat. And electromagnetic analysis of a single-phase 1 MVA 22.9 kV/6.6 kV HTS transformer with flux diverters in HTS windings was accomplished. The variation of B/sub r/ applied to the secondary windings and magnetic flux density in flux diverters were analyzed by changing their relative permeability of flux diverters respectively. Suitable relative permeability of flux diverters to reduce B/sub r/ applied to HTS windings was selected, considering flux diverter losses by increment of B in flux diverters.

1. 1. The purposes of this study are to find out the arrangement effects on the vapor pressure gradient across the cotton–nylon double layer and to elucidate changes in the vapor pressure gradient when an additional third layer covers the double layer. 2. 2. Model tests for single, double and triple layer system and wear test for triple layer clothing were conducted. 3. 3. It was found that up to the second layer, dryness of innermost microclimate could be maintained when cotton faced the skin (C/N). 4. 4. However, when more permeable and hydrophobic third layer (UWF) covers the double layer, the microclimate of C/N is no longer drier than N/C. 5. 5. When nylon is exposed to the skin, a larger drop in vapor pressure across the first two layers occurred for both model and wear test. 6. 6. The innermost microclimate was not necessarily kept dry when the outermost layer dissipated more moisture due to the inefficient distribution of moisture.

In NE Asia including Korea, Asian-dust (yellow sand) fall out phenomena during spring are of great importance. Satellite and ground based stations are required that can provide high accuracy with high spatial and temporal resolution data. In Korea, optical measurement methods were first tried at the beginning of 1980. Lidar methods were first used during the early 1990s. At present, some groups are measuring ozone and aerosol using the lidar, ozonesonde and spectrometer. For ozone and aerosol remote sensing, the Ground-Based Atmosphere-Observation Network (GBANK) is the collaboration research program between Korea-NASA in 1997. GBANK is organized with 8 groups with sites of 3 lidar, 3 spectrometer, 4 sun photometer and 1 ozone sonde. GBANK's main goals are product of high quality standard database of aerosol and ozone over Korean peninsular.

Background Recently the number of disaster and mass casualty incident (MCI) is increasing in Korea, but there have been few administrative reports or technical reports for disaster and MCI. An ad hoc basis data collection method is usually incomplete and outdated. This study was conducted to investigate the new surveillance system composed of EMS based real time survey and medical records based in-depth survey.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of the 119 fire department call center database and ambulance running sheets in one metropolitan city. The data on all transported patients with non-medical reasons (fire, rescue and others) between May 2006 and December 2008 was reviewed. We selected all data from the accidents which had more than 2 casualties to exam the feasibility and conducted in-depth surveillance based on medical records.ResultsThe total number of accidents was 2,027 with 2,625 patients. The number of accidents which had more than 2 patients was 307 (total 898 patients) and more than 6 patients was 19 (total 176 patients). Among the “MCI” events, 15 cases were traffic accidents (125 patients, 71.0%), 4 cases were fire (51 patients, 29%). Total 142 medical records (80.7%) were reviewed. Admission rate was 32.4% (46 patients) and overall mortality was 3.5% (5 patients).ConclusionThis nationwide public EMS system could contribute to the establishment of the systematic disaster database.

Based on the Newton-Raphson method, this paper presents recursive algorithms that are rapidly convergent and more stable for modeling the equivalent continuous-time (discrete-time) model from the available discrete-time (continuous-time) model for a fixed sampling period. The newly developed recursive algorithms relax the constraints imposed upon the existing model conversion algorithms, and, thus, enhance the applications of microprocessors and associated microelectronics to digital control systems. A practical example is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedures.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the health of Tokyo inhabitants was affected by lead in the ambient air, on the bases of place of residence, age and sex. The study came about as a direct result of public concern over a press report that people living near busy traffic intersections were being poisoned by lead in the air. In 1970 and 1971, the laboratories of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Health and the Occupational Health Service Center performed laboratory tests on inhabitants who were concerned about air pollution and presented themselves to their local health departments. The results were then passed on to the Keio University School of Medicine for evaluation.The average lead levels in blood and urine were slightly higher in those person living in houses which faced a main street (13.3 μg/100ml blood) than in those who living on side streets (12.8 μg/100ml). However, there was no association found to exist according to the distance of the house from the main street. Blood lead levels were higher in males (15.0 μg/100ml) than in females (11.2 μg/100 ml). Lead levels in urine were also higher in males than in females: 13.1 μg/100 ml as opposed to 11.7 μg/100ml. There was no particular association between age and lead levels in blood or urine.The average lead levels in blood and urine differed by district but showed no systematic pattern or relationship to the population density. This seems to be due to technical differences between the two laboratories responsible for the testing as well as to the difficulty in determining such small amounts of lead in blood and urine.In conclusion, according to the available techniques, there was no evidence of an increased level of lead in blood or urine as a result of lead in the ambient air of Tokyo. The results obtained in this study agree with a previous report by the present authors' and with a report by Tepper and Levin2 from the U.S.A.

We present experiments with a rolling multichannel microphone array where measurements can be taken continuously while moving. Leaky air-coupled surface waves are measured with ordinary non-directional audio microphones. Results show that microphones can be successfully used to produce a realistic phase velocity spectrum even while moving along the surface. The paper presents some theoretical background along with initial experimental results using the moving microphone array.