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Aims: To investigate the influence of heat-killed Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 on changes in respiratory immune function and intestinal microbiota in a diet-induced obese mouse model. Methods and Results: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. After 8 weeks, the high-fat-diet-induced obese mice (DIO mice) were randomly divided into two 0067roups, the DIO and DIO0356 groups. DIO0356 group mice were orally fed with heat-killed TMC0356 every day for 8 weeks, while DIO group mice were exposed to 0·85% NaCl over the same time period as controls. After intervention, the pulmonary mRNA expression of cytokines and other immune molecules in DIO0356 mice compared to those in DIO group mice was significantly increased (P

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of heat treatment and culture media on the immunoregulatory effects of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356). Methods and Results: TMC0356 cultured in deMan–Rogosa–Sharpe and same food grade (FG) media were inactivated with the heat treatment at 70 and 90°C. Viable and heat-killed TMC0356 were tested for their ability to induce interleukin (IL)-12 production in the murine macrophage cell line J774.1. These TMC0356 were examined for their resistance to N-acetylmuramidase. Their morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The heat-killed TMC0356 significantly induced IL-12 production in J774.1 cells and exhibited enhanced resistance to N-acetylmuramidase compared with viable TMC0356. Morphological changes were observed in TMC0356 when cultured in FG medium. Cell morphology and induction of IL-12 production in J774.1 cells were also associated. Conclusions: These results suggest that heat treatment and culture medium composition modified the immunoregulatory effects of TMC0356 to induce IL-12 production in macrophages. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results demonstrate that probiotic immunoregulatory effects may be modified by the processing technology of cell preparation.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to test whether Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) can modify the immune response in the elderly. Heat-killed TMC0356 or placebo was orally administered to 28 healthy subjects aged 50-70 years old for 4 weeks at a dosage of 1.0×109 cfu/day. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from the subjects before and after the study completion, together with general health and blood examination records. Isolated PBMCs were examined for the number of T cells, CD8+CD28+ cells, native T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells and the ratios of CD4/CD8 T cells and native/memory T cells. NK cell activation and concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte transformation of the isolated PBMCs were also examined. The number of CD8+ T cells significantly increased in the subjects after TMC0356 oral administration (P+CD28+ T cells and the amount of lymphocyte transformation both significantly decreased in PBMCs from the placebo group (P+ T cells and reduce CD28 expression loss in CD8+ T cells of the elderly. The effect of TMC0356 on immune responses in the elderly may enhance their natural defence mechanisms against pathogenic infections.

The measured magnetization losses of several kinds of multifilamentary YBCO coated conductors were compared with the theoretical values which were calculated using a two-dimensional FEM model for electromagnetic field analysis of coated conductors. Through the comparison between measured and numerically calculated coupling loss components, the transverse resistances between filaments were determined. The magnetization losses measured at various frequencies were discussed on, using these determined transverse resistances. The overall magnetization losses were calculated based on the determined transverse resistances and compared with the measured values to assess the validity of the numerical model.

One of the problems to be solved to fabricate neodymium substituted bismuth titanate (Bi,Nd)4Ti3O12 (BNT) films by liquid-delivery MOCVD method is that neodymium is hardly deposited into obtained films. In order to increase the deposition amount of neodymium in films, we used Nd(TMOD)3 coordinated with adducts such as 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthrorine (phen) as a neodymium precursor. When the precursor solution including Nd(TMOD)3bpy or Nd(TMOD)3phen was used, the deposition amount of neodymium in films was increased, as compared with the deposition by the precursor solution including Nd(TMOD)3 which was not coincided with target component of BNT film of Bi : Nd : Ti = 3.25 : 0.75 : 3. By optimizing the precursor combination and the mixing ratio, preferentially c-axis oriented BNT films with the target component could be fabricated at the substrate temperature as low as 500°C.

We have proposed a numerical method for calculating low-frequency electromagnetic scattering from axially symmetric conducting bodies with and without apertures. The surface of the perfectly conducting scatterer is modeled by a set of inductively coupled coil elements, and the current in each coil element is computed by solving an inductance matrix equation. A disadvantage of a conventional method for a scatterer with apertures is discussed. Scattering from various axially symmetric conducting bodies with or without apertures is calculated and the resulting fields are in good agreement with those obtained by finite-element method.

One of the methods to reduce magnetization loss of YBCO coated conductors in a perpendicular magnetic field is subdividing the YBCO layer into filaments and twisting them as a whole. A 10 mm wide multifilamentary YBCO coated conductor with 200 /spl mu/m wide filaments was prepared by striation using the laser ablation technique. The number of filaments was 40. The sample length was varied from 100 mm to 25 mm, and their magnetization loss was measured at various frequencies. The measured magnetization losses were scaled using sample length, frequency, and field amplitude. This clarifies the magnetization loss characteristics of multifilamentary YBCO coated conductors and obtains empirical expressions for the magnetization loss. The measured loss was compared with the loss calculated numerically using a two dimensional FEM model. The experimentally confirmed effect of striation to reduce the magnetization loss was compared with theoretical predictions.

A new solution for large-scale scheduling in the steelmaking industry, called Finishing Line Scheduling (FLS), is described. FLS in a major steel mill is a task to create production campaigns (specific production runs) for steel coils on four continuous processes for a one-month horizon. Two process flows are involved in FLS, and the balancing of the two process flows requires resolving conflicts of due dates. There ate also various constraints along the timeline for each process with respect to sequences of campaigns and coils. The two types of constraints--along process flows and timelines--make the FLS problem very complex. We have developed a high-performance solution for this problem as follows: Input coils are clustered by two clustering algorithms to reduce the complexity and size of the problem. Campaigns are created for each process from downstream to upstream processes, while propagating upward the process timings of the clusters. Timing inconsistencies along the process flows are then repaired by scheduling downward. Finally, coils are sequenced within each campaign. The FLS system enabled a steel mill to expand its scheduling horizon from a few days to one month, and to improve decision frequency from monthly to daily.

The magnetization property is one of the key issues when considering the accelerator-magnet applications of Bi-2212 wires. In this work, first, the critical current densities of several types of Bi-2212 round wires were measured by the transport current method at various temperatures. Then, the magnetization of the wires was measured at various temperatures and applied field amplitudes using the SQUID magnetometer. Hysteresis loops were plotted, and the time decay of the magnetization was studied. It was observed that magnetization had various values, but the hysteresis curves and time decays of all samples had the same tendency. The equivalent filament diameter can be determined from the measured magnetization and the measured critical current density. The equivalent filament diameters are several times larger as compared with the actual filament size.

We have designed a high-speed SFQ bit-serial carry-save adder based on the binary decision diagram (BDD). A simple bit-serial carry-save adder based on the BDD we first designed has a carry-feedback loop. Its input data frequency is limited by the propagation delay in the feedback loop. In our second adder design, we have replaced one BDD gate with a nondestructive binary switch, by which we can eliminate the carry-feedback loop. We have designed the high-speed BDD SFQ bit-serial adder using the NEC 2.5 kA cm−2 Nb standard process and the CONNECT cell library. The circuit simulation indicates that the maximum operating frequency is 38 GHz and the dc bias margin at 10 GHz is ±23%. We have confirmed its correct operation in the on-chip high-speed test. The maximum operating frequency was found to be 23.8 GHz.

We have proposed a cell-based design methodology for SFQ logic. circuits based on a binary decision diagram (BDD) and implemented a BDD SFQ standard cell library using a Hypres Nb process. In this design methodology, any logic function can be implemented by connecting binary switches. Since the circuits are dual rail logic and don't need a global clock, difficulty in the timing design is reduced considerably. In our cell-based design approach, the cell library is composed of only five kinds of basic cells, whose circuit parameters are optimized so as to remove the inter-cell interaction. In the layout level, the cells have the identical size so that circuits can be implemented by simply embedding the basic cells. In this study we have performed an on-chip high-speed test of the BDD SFQ logic circuits. The test system consists of two four-bit data-driven self-timed (DDST) shift registers with a ladder type clock generator. We have confirmed 12 GHz operations of the BDD SFQ logic circuit. We have also examined circuit size dependence of the DC bias margin of large BDD SFQ circuits.

An eight-bit SFQ processor has been designed and some key components have been tested to confirm feasibility of the large-scale SFQ digital circuit. The designed processor is composed of a one-bit ALU, two eight-bit registers with local clock generators, an instruction register, a five-bit program counter, a state controller, and a 32-byte register file. A bit-serial architecture and a distributed local clock architecture, where each register has its own local clock generator, have been employed in order to increase the local clock frequency. The target clock frequency is 16 GHz and 10 GHz for the NEC 2.5 kA/cm/sup 2/ and Hypres 1 kA/cm/sup 2/ Nb processes. On the circuit design level, we have used a data-driven self-timed architecture and a binary decision diagram, which reduce the timing design difficulty in high frequency operation. The processor, which contains 7,300 Josephson junctions, has been designed by using a cell-based design methodology with the assistance of a top-down CAD environment. We have successfully tested some important circuit blocks, including a one-bit ALU, eight-bit registers, and a demultiplexer for register files.

We have designed a 1-bit rapid single flux quantum microprocessor based on simple architecture. The target local clock frequency is 10 GHz. The microprocessor consists of a 1-bit ALU, two 8-bit resistors, a program counter and a state controller. In order to reduce the complexity of the system and increase the clock frequency, a width of the data bus is reduced to 1-bit and the distributed local clock architecture is employed. Though the instruction set comprises only six operations, it includes all the basic operation required in general purpose computing. The circuit design of the microprocessor has carried out by using a binary decision diagram and a cell-based design methodology with the aid of top-down CAD environment. One of the important components of the microprocessor, a 1-bit ALU, which contains 730 Josephson junctions, has been implemented using the 1 kA/cm 2 Nb process and its successful operation is confirmed at low speed.

The effects of ethanol on the simultaneous transport and metabolism of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (HBM) were investigated in the skin of Yucatan micropig in vitro. It was found that transesterification occurred in the permeation studies involving ethanol. This was confirmed by monitoring the flux of ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (HBE) into the receptor phase, as well as by monitoring the fluxes of HBM and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA). The apparent flux of total HBM was decreased. The solubility of HBM increased with ethanol concentration, thus, the activity of HBM in ethanol solution became low because we used 10 mM HBM solution for permeation studies. The enhancement factor (E) was calculated to correct the activity. E increased with increasing the flux of ethanol, thus, ethanol may function as an enhancer of HBM transport. The hydrolysis of HBM to HBA was inhibited, whereas transesterification of HBM to HBE was induced at all concentrations of ethanol used (10-40%). The formation of HBE occurred much more readily than that of HBA at all concentrations of ethanol used.

The purpose of this research is to develop a cooperative learning model based on local wisdom (PKBKL) of Bali (Tri Pramana's concept), for physical education, sport, and health learning in VII grade of Junior High School in Singaraja-Buleleng Bali. This research is the development research of the development design chosen refers to the development proposed by Dick and Carey. The development of model and learning devices was conducted through four stages, namely: (1) identification and needs analysis stage (2) the development of design and draft of PKBKL and RPP models, (3) testing stage (expert review, try out, and implementation). Small group try out was conducted on VII-3 grade of Undiksha Laboratory Junior High School in the academic year 2013/2014, large group try out was conducted on VIIb of Santo Paulus Junior High School Singaraja in the academic year 2014/2015, and the implementation of the model was conducted on three (3) schools namely SMPN 2 Singaraja, SMPN 3 Singaraja, and Undiksha laboratory Junior High School in the academic year 2014/2015. Data were collected using documentation, testing, non-testing, questionnaire, and observation. The data were analyzed descriptively. The findings of this research indicate that: (1) PKBKL model has met the criteria of the operation of a learning model namely: syntax, social system, principles of reaction, support system, as well as instructional and nurturing effects, (2) PKBKL model is a valid, practical, and effective model, (3) the practicality of the learning devices (RPP), is at the high category. Based on the research results, there are two things recommended: (1) in order that learning stages (syntax) of PKBKL model can be performed well, then teachers need to have an understanding of the cooperative learning model of Student Team Achievement Division (STAD) type and the concepts of scientifically approach well, (2) PKBKL model can be performed well on physical education, sport and health learning, if the teachers understand the concept of Tri Pramana, therefore if the physical education, sport and health teachers want to apply this PKBKL model, they must first learn and master the concept of Tri Pramana well.

We have proposed a cell-based design approach based on a binary decision diagram (BDD) for the design of rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) logic circuits. In this design approach, any logic function can be implemented by simply embedding the limited number of basic cells. We have constructed a BDD RSFQ cell library and prepared a top-down CAD environment. In this study, we investigated the tolerance of the BDD RSFQ basic cells to the circuit parameter variations. It was found that theoretical and measured dc bias margins of the basic cells agree well if we assume appropriate parameter variations due to the fabrication process. The dependence of the dc bias margin of the circuits on the circuit size was also examined, where we have implemented a 2-bit multiplexer, a 4-bit data-driven self-timed shift register and a 1-bit ALU. The low-speed test results reveal that dc bias margin of the circuits containing several hundreds of Josephson junctions is about ±15%, whereas theoretical dc bias margin is about ±33%. This paper was presented at the 8th International Superconductive Electronics Conference, Osaka, Japan, 19–22 June 2001.

We propose a cell-based top-down design methodology for rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) digital circuits. Our design methodology employs a binary decision diagram (BDD), which is currently used for the design of CMOS pass-transistor logic circuits. The main features of the BDD RSFQ circuits are the limited primitive number, dual rail nature, non-clocking architecture, and small gate count. We have made a standard BDD RSFQ cell library and prepared a top-down design CAD environment, by which we can perform logic synthesis, logic simulation, circuit simulation and layout view extraction. In order to clarify problems expected in large-scale RSFQ circuits design, we have designed a small RSFQ microprocessor based on simple architecture using our top-down design methodology. We have estimated its system performance and compared it with that of the CMOS microprocessor with the same architecture. It was found that the RSFQ system is superior in terms of the operating speed though it requires extremely large chip area.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae VIG9 gene encodes GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase, which synthesizes GDP-mannose from GTP and mannose-1-phosphate. Although the null mutant was lethal, the vig9 mutants so far obtained showed no growth defect but immature protein glycosylation and drug hypersensitivity. During our search for cell-wall mutants, we found a novel temperature-sensitive mutant, JS30, which required an osmotic stabilizer for viability. JS30 excreted cell surface proteins in the medium without any indication of cell lysis. Although conventional genetic analysis using mating was impossible, by detailed characterization of JS30 including an in vitro enzyme assay and nucleotide sequencing, we found the defect of JS30 was due to a mutation in the VIG9 gene. These results indicated a critical role of GDP-mannose in maintenance of cell-wall integrity.

Vinylidene chloride (VdC) was copolymerised with a series of acrylates and methacrylate monomers to investigate the effect of increasing side chain length on thermal stability and oxygen barrier behaviour. Suspension polymerisation was used, and the comonomer contents were 7.5 and 12.5 mol%. The homo-polymer was also synthesised and investigated. Rates of dehydrochlorination were measured at 180, 195 and 210°C and the activation energies calculated. The volatile degradation products were examined using chromatography and the degradation residue by IR spectroscopy. Percentage crystallinity was measured by X-ray diffraction and oxygen permeation was measured using the Mocon method. The results showed that the VdC–methacrylate copolymers had much higher rates of dehydrochlorination and lower activation energies than the VdC–acrylate copolymers. The behaviour of the homopolymer was intermediate. This relative instability of the methacrylate copolymers is though to be due to them having greater block character, and therefore a higher potential for unzipping reactions, and also to the possibility of a neighbouring group activation process. The crystallinities of the copolymers was less than that of the homopolymer but crystallinity was not shown to be a major factor in determining barrier properties. The VdC copolymers with the best balance between their thermal stability and barrier behaviour were those with methyl acrylate, which are presently used commercially. Increasing the acrylate comonomer side chain length confers no stability advantage.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the normal oral cavity was studied by the sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for the L1 region of human papillomavirus DNA and high fidelity amplification system. Cells were scraped from the oral mucosae of 7 (mean age; 42 years) and 30 (mean age; 32 years) volunteers with and without skin warts, respectively. Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 30/37 (81.1%) specimens and their copy numbers per cell were 10(-1) to 10(-4) (mean, 10(-3)). The human papillomavirus types determined by PCR-based sequencing analysis were HPV-18 (26/30; 86.7%), -61 (18/30; 60%), -59 (7/30; 23.3%), -16 (2/30; 6.7%), -6 (1/30; 3.3%) and an unknown type (HPV-X71) (1/30; 3.3%). Multiple human papillomavirus types were present in 17/30 (56.7%) specimens. HPV-6 was detected in 2 of 7 skin warts and differed from the human papillomavirus types of the corresponding oral specimens. These data suggest that human papillomavirus infection in the oral mucosa occurs much more frequently than previously considered.

Aerosol particles of99mTc-labeled carbon were prepared by sublimation and introduced in various liquid media. The adsorption of the aquasol and organosol particles were studied for various adsorbing substances and media, with the effect of surface treatment and voltage application. The particles often accumulated at the aqueous-organic interface, and also on the vessel surface in the presence of both aqueous and organic phases. The distribution of the particles was examined by a gamma-camera for different organic phases under various concentrations of electrolytes in the aqueous phase.

A method for estimating the shape of accumulated radioactive spent resins in a storage tank has been proposed using the sampled pattern matching. In a two-dimensional simulation model, several kinds of the resin shapes are assumed, and the radiation fields outside the tank are calculated. The resin shapes were estimated using the simulated radiation field data and compared to the assumed shapes, resulting in reasonable agreements between them.

A methane budget at the ground and water surface level was estimated in various ecosystems in Shiga Prefecture, central Japan, and its seasonality was measured. Measuring sites were set up in 9 of 11 land use types in Shiga Prefecture, and methane fluxes were measured by the chamber method for 1 yr. Methane emission rates from sources were generally high in summer: the mean emission rate was 19.4 mg CH, mw2 h-' from a paddy field and 9.6 mg CH, m-2 h-' from a Phragmites swamp in July-August. In 4 main types of forest, atmospheric methane was absorbed by forest soils, at mean rates ranging from 0.01 to 0.12 mg CH, m-2 h-' The methane budget of Shiga Prefecture in each season was evaluated on the basis of the following data: A large amount of methane was emitted in summer, about 370 Mg CH, d' in July-August In winter, however, the methane emission from the area as a whole was much lower than that in summer, owing to a decrease of methane emission from the sources. In particular, forest ecosystems absorbed about 3.4 Mg CH, dl in November-December, an amount exceeding that of the emission from the other land use types. Summing the annual methane emissions and absorption of every land use type and adding the estimates of methane emissions from domestic animals and landfills, the annual net release of methane to the atmosphere in Shiga Prefecture was estimated to be about 34.1 Gg CH,. Among all land use types, the contribution of paddy fields to the total emission was the highest, at 81.7%. The annual methane absorption by forests was estimated to be about 1.0 Gg CH,, representing 2.7 % of the total emission.

Unknown vector components of a system matrix equation are expressed as series expansions with respect to symbolic design parameters in the matrix. Calculation of unknown coefficients of the series expansions gives the vector components that are functions of the design parameters, resulting in a direct design optimization procedure. Preliminary results are shown. >

High-speed logic operation of an output interface circuit for a single-flux-quantum (SFQ) system was demonstrated at a data rate of 5 Gb/s. Using NEC's 2.5-kA/cm/sup 2/ Nb junction process, we designed, fabricated, and tested the interface circuit consisting of a 2-b SFQ demultiplexer and two Josephson latching drivers. We verified the proper operation of the demultiplexer. The interface can convert 5-Gb/s SFQ-pulse data into two-channel 2.5-Gb/s return-to-zero data with an amplitude of approximately 6 mV.

To investigate the influence of heat-killed Lactobacillus gasseri TMC0356 on changes in respiratory immune function and intestinal microbiota in a diet-induced obese mouse model. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. After 8 weeks, the high-fat-diet-induced obese mice (DIO mice) were randomly divided into two 0067roups, the DIO and DIO0356 groups. DIO0356 group mice were orally fed with heat-killed TMC0356 every day for 8 weeks, while DIO group mice were exposed to 0·85% NaCl over the same time period as controls. After intervention, the pulmonary mRNA expression of cytokines and other immune molecules in DIO0356 mice compared to those in DIO group mice was significantly increased (P 0·05, P 0·01). In faecal bacterial profiles, analysed using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) method, T-RFLP patterns in 75% of the DIO0356 group mice were apparently changed compared with those in control group mice. These results suggest that inactive lactobacilli may stimulate the respiratory immune responses of obese host animals to enhance their natural defences against respiratory infection, partially associating with their potent impact on intestinal microbiota. We have demonstrated that oral administration of inactive lactobacilli may protect host animals from the lung immune dysfunction caused by obesity.

1. The structures, including stereochemistry, of the two major metabolites of pravastatin sodium in an isolated rat hepatocyte system, i.e. the 4'a alpha-glutathione conjugate (CM-1) and the 3',5'-dihydrodiol (CM-2), were determined by one- and two-dimensional n.m.r. spectroscopy. 2. The structures of two synthetic pravastatin epoxides, possible precursors of the metabolites, were also established. 3. One of the synthetic epoxides, 4'a beta, 5' beta-epoxide was converted to the pravastatin metabolite, 4'a alpha-glutathione conjugate (CM-1) by a rat liver cytosol system and is proposed as the common metabolic intermediate between pravastatin sodium and the metabolites, CM-1 and CM-2.

An analytical design method of self‐shielded planar coils is proposed using the three‐dimensional Fourier expansion of the magnetic field generated by planer currents. A numerical example is given for a simple current hoop as a primary coil, and the magnetic fields outside the self‐shielded coil structure are calculated, showing good shield performance.

A decoupling structure using an additional LC resonant configuration for NMR transmit coils is analysed and the probe sensitivity of the receive coil with the decoupled transmit coil is calculated using simple circuit models. An adjustment-free technique for the decoupling circuit under different loading conditions is proposed using the calculated results and demonstrated by experiments. The proposed method can simplify the probe operation.

We have found that a T-Omega finite element method results in an inaccurate low frequency scattered field distribution when the system includes a perfect conductor with an aperture. A simple model shows that Faraday's law does not hold on the aperture

Inverse problems of Vandermonde type systems have been solved using the discrete wavelet transform. The inverse matrices of the transformed subsystems were calculated, thereby locating the largest well-conditioned submatrix. The reduced system was solved and the solution was inversely transformed. Results were compared between two different wavelet basis functions, indicating that Daubechies-4 wavelets lead to much more accurate solutions than Haar wavelets. Three simple techniques for eliminating another systematic noise are also proposed to further improve the accuracy of the final solution.

An approach for solving inverse boundary-value problems is described using symbolic computation. Finite element or boundary element calculation of a given system is performed using the symbolic parameters which express its shape or material properties. Thus the calculated results such as potential distributions are explicitly provided as a function of the shape or material variables. The inverse problem can be solved directly by comparing the calculated distribution functions with desired or measured quantities. Applications include design optimization and identification or unknown internal system parameters. Experimental results regarding impedance topography reconstruction are shown.

The dependence on electric power has been ever increasing and power outages have many social and economic influences. Therefore, preventive control on normal operating conditions becomes important and will be more desired in power system operations. In this paper, we pay attention to one of the most important indices for transient stability, critical clearing time (CCT), and propose a new transient stability preventive control method using optimal power flow (OPF). A preventive control to achieve a more stable power system operating point is carried out by generator output rescheduling and generator terminal voltage control, which are determined using the linear relationship between CCTs and the generator rotor angles, and also between CCTs and the active powers of transmission lines. The validity of the proposed method is shown by simulation studies. It is shown that the proposed method can make CCTs of severe contingencies longer than the target values.

A piezo head with 24 wires for Japanese Kanji printing or letter quality character printing is described. The printing speed of this piezoelectric head is 140 characters per second and the printing frequency is approximately 3.8 kHz. The head is 65 mm in length, 52 mm in diameter, and approximately 300 g in weight. The copying capacity is original plus two copies. The diameter of the printing wire is 0.2 mm. The head consists of 24 actuators with wires. >

A small ceramic chip resistor is proposed as a possible ideal point heater for transient stability measurements of superconductors. Preliminary results were obtained using a 1-mm*1.5-mm*0.5-mm ceramic resistor and NbTi wires whose copper-to-superconductor (Cu/SC) ratios were 1 and 2, having the same SC areas. The resistor was soldered on the NbTi wire to minimize the thermal resistance between the resistor and the wire. The minimum quench energy of the Cu/SC ratio 2 wire was approximately twice as large as that of the Cu/SC ratio 1 wire, under the same background magnetic field and with the same ratio of the operating current to its critical current.

We investigated the mechanism of multidrug resistance conferred by overexpression of bfr2+/pad1+/sks1+ or pap1+ genes of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Overexpression of bfr2+ did not confer multidrug resistance on a pap1-disrupted strain. In a mutant with bfr1+ (a putative membrane transporter which belongs to the ATP-binding cassette superfamily) disrupted, overexpression of either bfr2+ or pap1+ did not confer multidrug resistance. These findings suggest that bfr1+ acts as the most downstream effector of the multidrug resistance conferred by bfr2+ and pap1+ genes.

A multicenter study was undertaken in Japan to evaluate the correlation between the percentage of renal uptake of 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) estimated by the count-based gamma camera method and the blood clearance of 99mTc-MAG3. Twenty four centers were enrolled and 172 cases were finally analyzed in this study. The renal clearance of 99mTc-MAG3 (TER) was obtained by using a single blood sample taken at 44 min after injection. Comparison of TER and renal uptake provided a coefficient of correlation of 0.874; suggesting that sufficiently accurate quantification of renal function could be obtained from the renal uptake estimate by the gamma camera method. This study also showed that the comparison of renal function might be feasible among patients under the same protocols, although precise and careful consideration is required in each center.

The ale gene specifying the subtilisin YaB produced by alkalophilic Bacillus YaB, has an unusual start codon UUG. Changing this codon to AUG and GUG increased expression of the ale gene in B. subtilis DB104 and in an ale deficient mutant strain YaB-DEC4. The relative translational efficiency order of the three initiation codons is AUG > GUG > UUG in B. subtilis DB104 and in YaB-DEC4. These data suggest that the preferred initiation codon is AUG for ale gene expression in Bacillus.