Search

A semiconductive oxide, La2CuO4 (LCO), was investigated as a potential material to compose photocathode for sunlight-driven hydrogen evolution by splitting water. LCO, despite involving partially filled Cu 3d orbitals, behaves as a semiconductor and absorbs visible light on the bandgap formed by significant Coulomb repulsion between the electronic orbitals. An epitaxial LCO film was grown on a SrRuO3/SrTiO3 (SRO/STO) single-crystal substrate by pulsed laser deposition to obtain a photocathodic specimen for water photo-splitting. An LCO photocathode dressed with a Pt cocatalyst for hydrogen evolution (Pt/LCO/SRO/STO) exhibited a cathodic photocurrent with a density of 0.4 mA cm−2 at 0 VRHE under simulated AM1.5 G sunlight. This photocathode responded to incident light up to 800 nm, which is one of the longest wavelengths so far reported for an oxide photoelectrode. Together with a counter-electrode for oxygen evolution, the Pt/LCO/SRO/STO photocathode generated hydrogen with the expected H2 : O2 = 2 : 1 stoichiometric ratio with a Faradaic efficiency of approximately 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variable shape function enables attitude and orbit control by actively changing the shape of a spacecraft on orbit. In order to demonstrate this function on orbit, we developed the "HIBARI" satellite equipped with drivable solar array paddles and demonstrated the world's first in-orbit variable shape attitude control in FY2021. The present study first compares the behavior of the paddle drive on the ground and on orbit to evaluate its performance. In addition, attitude change angle data from paddle drive on orbit is used for comparison with analytical values and evaluation control performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses an indoor positioning technique aimed at human-centric services such as pedestrian navigation or service robots. The method is called "CEPHEID" and uses a light flickering pattern as an environmental fingerprint. The authors found that each lighting fixture has unique and distinguishable flickering characteristics. In this paper, CEPHEID is introduced as a "classifier" and its validity is shown based on experimental results. Additionally, an approach for improving the positional precision is proposed. The classifier and regressor are combined to create a zone-classified regressor model for CEPHEID. The basic performance of this concept is also tested using an experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entireleaf morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. var. integriuscula A. Gray) is a difficult-to-control weed that causes severe yield loss in soybean (Glycine max L.). It invades fields from the field margins and contributes to maintenance of the populations in the fields. This study aimed to determine the optimal period to control the populations in field margins effectively. We identified the naturally emerging plants in field margins and adjacent fields. We recorded the number of invading vines and the timing of flowering and fruiting of several cohorts (each cohort comprised a group of individuals that emerged within a certain time frame). The main seed-producing cohort on the field margins was a cohort that emerged from early August to mid-September and flowered and fruited after mid-September. The weed formed seed banks in the field margins, maintained by repeated depletion and accumulation during the emergence and seed production stages. The weed control rate by weed management practices was higher in field margins (100%) than in the fields (76%). In conclusion, the entireleaf morning glory populations were maintained by specific cohorts in field margins and weed management practices from early August to mid-September can effectively reduce its population size in the field margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous esophageal perforation in Boerhaave's syndrome results in significant morbidity and mortality. The gold standard treatment for this disease is thoracotomy and laparotomy because it can be a life-saving procedure that can be performed in emergencies; however, minimally invasive surgery has recently been reported. This report describes three cases of Boerhaave's syndrome that were treated using laparoscopic transhiatal suture and omental patch. One patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital after 12 days. The other 2 patients had postoperative complications, such as minor leakage and remnant abscess (Clavien-Dindo Grade II), but were discharged from the hospital after 17 days and 30 days, respectively. In the case of Boerhaave's syndrome with localized mediastinal collections, a good clinical course can be obtained by laparoscopic transhiatal esophageal repair to avoid surgical invasion due to thoracotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with X-linked dominant inheritance caused mainly by mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. The effects of various Mecp2 mutations have been extensively assessed in mouse models, but none adequately mimic the symptoms and pathological changes of RTT. In this study, we assessed the effects of Mecp2 gene deletion on female rats (Mecp2+/−) and found severe impairments in social behavior [at 8 weeks (w), 12 w, and 23 w of age], motor function [at 16 w and 26 w], and spatial cognition [at 29 w] as well as lower plasma insulin-like growth factor (but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and markedly reduced acetylcholine (30%–50%) in multiple brain regions compared to female Mecp2+/+ rats [at 29 w]. Alternatively, changes in brain monoamine levels were relatively small, in contrast to reports on mouse Mecp2 mutants. Female Mecp2-deficient rats express phenotypes resembling RTT and so may provide a robust model for future research on RTT pathobiology and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Medication discontinuation for patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) influences treatment efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of psychoeducational intervention (PI) on donepezil retention rates and identify the factors associated with donepezil continuation in patients with AD. Patients and Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients with AD were randomly allocated to the PI (n = 58) or standard care (SC; n = 59) groups. All patients were prescribed donepezil for 48 weeks. Primary endpoints were the 48-week donepezil retention rate and the reasons for donepezil discontinuation in the PI and SC groups. The secondary endpoint was the predictive factors, among the baseline clinical variables, for donepezil continuation in all patients. Results: The donepezil retention rate was 62.1% (36/58) in the PI group and 66.1% (39/59) in the SC group. The most common reason for discontinuation in both groups was adverse events (PI, 12.1%; SC, 10.2%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the results of the pentagon copying test in the Mini-Mental State Examination administered at baseline was a significant predictor of donepezil continuation for all patients in both the groups (odds ratio: 0.359; 95% confidence interval: 0.154– 0.839). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the PI and SC groups concerning donepezil retention rate in patients with AD. Our results demonstrate that the pentagon copying test can significantly predict donepezil continuation in patients with AD, indicating that impaired visuospatial and executive functions may reflect medication discontinuation. Trial Registration: UMIN-CTR:UMIN000012617. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization has set a goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by the year 2030. However, no regions in Japan have succeeded in eradicating HCV. Micro-elimination is an approach to attain hepatitis C eradication in which national eradication goals are applied to specific populations so that viral treatment and control efforts can move forward quickly and efficiently. In order to eradicate HCV from Japan, this study aims to achieve HCV micro-elimination in the town of Nagawa. Methods and design: The Nagawa Project is an ongoing, prospective, multiple-institution, observational study running from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. All residents of Nagawa town, excluding those under 20 years of age, not consenting to the study, or unable to undergo health check-ups due to nursing care needs, will be included. If found to be HCV antibody-positive, the participant will be recommended to see a doctor in consideration of MAC-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer values. Then, the participant will undergo serum HCV RNA measurement with the real-time polymerase chain reaction by an attending physician. If the participant is HCV RNA-positive, he or she will be referred to a hepatologist for further evaluation. In the case of a definitive diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C, direct acting antiviral treatment will be initiated. Through this process, HCV will be systematically micro-eliminated from the region. Discussion: The Nagawa Project will reveal the prevalence of chronic HCV in addition to the HCV eradication rate in Nagawa town towards achieving HCV micro-elimination. Trial registration: This study is performed by Shinshu University School of Medicine and was registered as UMIN 000044114 on May 6, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreasing the transfer of radioactive cesium (RCs) from soil to crops has been important since the deposition of RCs in agricultural soil owing to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 2011. We investigated the genotypic variation in RCs accumulation in 234 and 198 hexaploid wheat (Triticum spp.) varieties in an affected field in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The effects of soil exchangeable potassium (ExK) content to RCs accumulation in wheat varieties were also evaluated. A test field showed fourfold differences in soil ExK contents based on location, and the wheat varieties grown in areas with lower soil ExK contents tended to have higher grain RCs concentrations. RCs concentrations of shoots, when corrected by the soil ExK content, were positively significantly correlated between years, and RCs concentrations of shoots were significantly correlated with the grain RCs concentration corrected by the soil ExK content. These results indicated that there were genotypic variations in RCs accumulation. The grain to shoot ratio of RCs also showed significant genotypic variation. Wheat varieties with low RCs accumulations were identified. They could contribute to the research and breeding of low RCs accumulating wheat and to agricultural production in the area affected by RCs deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression are frequently observed in neuropathic pain patients, and negatively impact their quality of life. Mirogabalin is a novel ligand for the α2δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels and has unique binding characteristics to α2δ subunits and potent and long-lasting analgesic effects in neuropathic pain models. Objectives: To provide further information on the pharmacological profile of mirogabalin and its utility for chronic pain therapy, we investigated its anxiolytic effects in an experimental animal model for neuropathic pain. Methods: In chronic constriction injury (CCI) model rats, mechanical hypersensitivity was determined by the von Frey test. Anxiety- and depression-related behaviours were evaluated using the elevated plus maze test and forced swimming test, respectively. Results: CCI model rats showed sustained tactile allodynia followed by anxiety-related behaviours, not depression-related behaviours. The tactile allodynia (significant decreases in paw withdrawal threshold) developed within 2 weeks after model preparation, whereas the anxiety-related behaviours (significant decreases in the number of entries and time spent in open arms and significant increases in time spent in closed arms) were observed at 5 weeks but not 4 weeks after model preparation. Single oral administration of mirogabalin (3 or 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently alleviated the above-mentioned anxiety-related behaviours and tactile allodynia. Conclusions: CCI model rats showed anxiety-related behaviours in a time-dependent manner in the elevated plus maze test. Mirogabalin alleviated both the anxiety-related behaviours and tactile allodynia in CCI model rats. Mirogabalin may provide effective anxiety relief as well as pain relief in patients with neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arc temperature measurement by optical emission spectroscopy in a gas circuit breaker (GCB) has been of great interest to improve the interruption performance. In this article, emission spectra were observed by using the actual self-blast GCB apparatus. Under the large current condition of 50-kA root-mean-square (rms), a strong continuous spectrum was observed. On the contrary, S+ line emission spectra, which have been widely used for arc temperature evaluation, were not observed under the large current condition. Thus, the gas temperature was evaluated by assuming that the continuous spectrum was a black-body radiation spectrum. The gas temperature at the stagnation point decreased gradually, while that at the nozzle throat decreased suddenly by about 1 ms before current zero. Absorption spectra of the C2 radical generated by the ablation of a nozzle material were also observed in the continuous spectrum. Then, the C2 density was roughly evaluated by the intensity of C2 absorption spectra. It was confirmed that the gas temperature decreased with a decrease of C2 density, which indicates that SF6 gas blow to the arc plasma reduces the gas temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal-cyclic atomic layer etching of Co blanket film and a fine pattern by plasma oxidation and organometallization were investigated. To obtain a smoothly etched surface and self-limiting etching, a two-step temperature-etching process was used. Co was first oxidized using O2 plasma at a low temperature of 25 °C. Then, the Co oxide formed in the first step was organometallized with acetylacetone (acacH) and sublimed at a high temperature of 210 °C, which is appropriate for organometallization and sublimation. The etched amount per cycle was 0.6 nm. This value is the same as the saturated oxidation amount. The root-mean-square roughness after 20-cycle etching was 0.53 nm, and an atomically smooth etched surface was obtained. From the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the oxidation state of Co oxide with a 530-eV O1s peak was dominant for organometallization with acacH. As the temperature increased, the O1s XPS peak of the Co oxide shifted lower to 529 eV and formed a columnar-shaped oxide. However, with acacH, oxide was organometallized when the O1s peak was at 530 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is used to treat various malignancies and can be applied to brain tumors using a transcranial magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound (TcMRgFUS) device. This study investigated the efficacy of 220-kHz TcMRgFUS combined with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on malignant glioma in vitro and in vivo. F98 cells were irradiated with focused ultrasound (FUS) (4000 J, 20 W, 240 s, 100% duty cycle, target medium temperature <40°C) after treatment with 200 µg/mL 5-ALA, and cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated with the water-soluble tetrazolium-1 assay, triple fluorescent staining and Western blot analysis 20 h later. The anti-tumor effects of 5-ALA combined with FUS (500 J, 18 W, 30 s, 100% duty cycle, 10 repeats, target tissue temperature ≤42°C) were assessed on the basis of changes in tumor volume determined by MRI and histopathological analysis before and after treatment. The FUS/5-ALA combination reduced cell viability by inducing apoptosis and suppressed tumor proliferation and invasion as well as angiogenesis in vivo, while causing minimal damage to normal brain tissue. SDT with 220-kHz TcMRgFUS and 5-ALA can be safely used for the treatment of malignant glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was conducted to test our hypothesis that intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation increases in pigs fed on a low lysine diet during the dark period than those fed on the same diet during the light period. Using barrows aged 6 weeks, we monitored whether serum glucose and insulin levels were affected by light conditions. Two diets with different levels of lysine, 0.78% (LL diet) and 1.37% (control diet) were prepared. Eight pigs were fed on the diet during the light period, while the remaining pigs were fed during the dark period. The pigs were fed either the LL diet or the control diet. Although IMF contents of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle were higher in the pigs fed on a LL diet (p < .05), the light conditions had no effect. Low dietary lysine caused reduction in serum glucose levels (p < .05) and serum insulin levels (p = .0613). However, they were also unaffected by the lighting conditions. To gain further insights, we determined the messenger RNA levels of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate 1, acetyl CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in LD and Rhomboideus muscles and in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety is commonly reported as a comorbid condition among people with schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to elucidate the associations between demographic/clinical features and social anxiety. A total of 207 outpatients with schizophrenia underwent assessments for social anxiety, psychiatric symptoms, social cognition, cognitive function, social functioning, and quality of life (QOL). To confirm the prediction model for social anxiety, we conducted multiple linear regressions using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score as an outcome variable and demographic/clinical variables as predictors. Of the 207 patients, 30 (14.5%) met the criteria for social anxiety disorder and 109 (52.7%) had a mean LSAS score higher than 30, suggesting that their social anxiety symptoms had reached a clinical level. Social anxiety was significantly correlated with psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and QOL, whereas significant correlations with social cognition and cognitive function were not observed. A multiple regression analysis identified social functioning, gender, age of onset, and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) as predictors that were most closely associated with the LSAS score. We confirmed that social anxiety symptoms were highly prevalent among outpatients with schizophrenia and were closely associated with social functioning and DUP, rather than social cognitive impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size effect and lattice strain effect for charge ordered structure and magnetic properties were investigated on the nano particles of geometrically spin and charge frustrated system YbFe2O4. The lattice strain of the nano particle was controlled with the ratio of Yb and Fe (2.00 ≤ Fe/Yb ≤ 2.04) in liquid synthesizing method. It was found that the lattice strain is not affected by the magnetic transition temperature, however the anomalous behavior at a lower magnetic transition (TLT) with an increment of the Fe / Yb ratio was detected. The development of charge ordering was two-dimensional and magnetic ordering goes down for all samples in spite of the variation of the local lattice strain. This is the first report of the coupling of charge and spin ordering to the size effect in this material. These results suggest that the discussion on the electric polarization induced from the charge ordering in this material need to care the long-range interaction like surface effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taste is a crucial factor of meat quality, and amino acids are important taste-active components in meat. Here, the effects of dietary lysine (Lys) content on taste-active components in meat, especially free glutamate (Glu), were investigated. Twenty-eight-day-old broilers ( Gallus gallus) were fed diets with graded Lys content of 90% or 100% of the recommended Lys requirement, (according to the National Research Council, ) for 10 days. Free amino acid content in meat and sensory scores of meat soup were estimated. Free Glu content, the main taste-active component of meat, was significantly increased by a reduction of dietary Lys. Compared with the Lys 100% group (control), free Glu concentrations of meat were increased by 35.7% in the Lys 90% group ( P < 0.05). In addition, free glycine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine and threonine concentrations of meat were significantly increased in the Lys 90% group ( P < 0.05). Sensory evaluation of meat soup made from the Lys 100% and 90% groups indicated different meat tastes. Sensory scores of taste intensity, umami and kokumi tastes were significantly higher in the Lys 90% group. These results suggest that a reduction of dietary lysine increased free glutamate content in meat and improved its taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low cadmium (Cd) transfer from the soil to edible parts of crop plants is important to minimize toxicity to humans and animals. We previously showed that Cd accumulation in grains differs substantially among varieties of common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we investigated the factors responsible for these differences by comparing the absorption and partitioning of Cd among wheat varieties with distinct grain Cd concentrations. Three varieties with low grain Cd concentrations (low-Cd/G varieties) and one standard variety were cultivated in a field (under natural conditions) and in pots with Cd application at four growth stages (emergence, jointing, flowering, and grain-filling). The Cd concentration and content in the whole plant and grains were determined at the seedling, flowering, grain-filling, and maturity stages in the field experiment. Cd concentration, content, and partitioning in different plant segments were determined at the maturity stage in the pot experiment. In the field experiment, there were significant differences in Cd partitioning to grains between low-Cd/G varieties and the standard variety. Cd application at different growth stages in the pot experiment indicated the remobilization of Cd from shoots to grains and direct transport of Cd from roots to grains. In the pot experiment, lower Cd absorption was detected in low-Cd/G varieties than in the standard variety and the low-Cd/G varieties exhibited differences in Cd sequestration among plant parts, including the root, leaf, lower stem, first internode, rachis, and/or glume. These results suggest that several factors related to Cd absorption and translocation, such as root traits and xylem and phloem transport, affect the accumulation of Cd in grains in common wheat. Understanding and elucidating the contribution of each of these factors might facilitate the development of common wheat varieties with minimal grain Cd accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anatomical landmarks such as choroid plexus and foramen of Monro are very important to undergo intraventricular surgery safely and effectually. These landmarks would be unclear in cases with a huge cyst or repeat surgery. We report the usability and precautions to apply a bronchoscope with an ultrasonic convex probe to intraventricular surgery. Methods: Two patients diagnosed with obstructive hydrocephalus, one with a large cyst and the other with recurrent craniopharyngioma in the third ventricle, were applied to the EBUS system. Results: In both patients, the EBUS system was applied safely, and lesions beyond the wall of ventricles or the cyst were visible. Color Doppler ultrasonography detected choroid plexus and internal cerebral veins. Furthermore, we performed real-time ultrasound-guided cyst puncture safely on the case with a large cyst. The most important precaution is that the curved portion of the EBUS system is too long to be bent within cerebral ventricles. Conclusions: The new EBUS system with an ultrasonic convex probe is a novel and effectual device to perform intraventricular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric synthesis of dragmacidin D ( 1) was completed in 10 steps. Its sole stereocenter was set by using direct asymmetric alkylation enabled by a C2-symmetric tetramine and lithium N-(trimethylsilyl)- tert-butylamide as the enolization reagent. A central Larock indole synthesis was employed in a convergent assembly of the heterocyclic subunits. The stereochemical evidence from this work strongly supports the predicted S configuration at the 6′′′ position, which is consistent with other members of the dragmacidin family of natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric synthesis of dragmacidin D ( 1) was completed in 10 steps. Its sole stereocenter was set by using direct asymmetric alkylation enabled by a C2-symmetric tetramine and lithium N-(trimethylsilyl)- tert-butylamide as the enolization reagent. A central Larock indole synthesis was employed in a convergent assembly of the heterocyclic subunits. The stereochemical evidence from this work strongly supports the predicted S configuration at the 6′′′ position, which is consistent with other members of the dragmacidin family of natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of taste is important for improving meat quality and glutamate ( Glu) is one of the important taste-active components in meat. Here, the effects of dietary lysine ( Lys) content on taste-active components in meat, especially free Glu, were investigated. Fourteen-day-old broiler chicks ( Gallus gallus) were fed on diets containing 100% or 150% of the recommended Lys content for 10 days. Concentrations of free amino acids in plasma, muscle and liver were measured. The levels of messenger RNAs ( mRNAs) for enzymes related to Glu metabolism were determined in muscle and liver. The concentration of muscle metabolites was also determined. The free Glu content in muscle of chicks fed the Lys150% diet was increased by 44.0% compared with that in chicks fed the Lys100% diet ( P < 0.01). The mRNA level of lysine α-ketoglutarate reductase, which is involved in Lys degradation and Glu production, was significantly increased ( P < 0.05) in the Lys150% group. Metabolome analysis showed that the Lys degradation products, muscular saccharopine, pipecolic acid and α-aminoadipic acid, were increased in the Lys150% group. Our results suggest that free Glu content in muscle is regulated by Lys degradation. These results suggest that a short-term feeding of high- Lys diet could improve the taste of meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims It remains debatable whether early intervention for psychosis is capable of meeting the needs of at-risk subjects. The aims of this study were to describe the actual impact of interventions on subjective difficulties and to explore the factors that may be associated with a poor outcome. Methods Participants were help-seeking outpatients at a university hospital who met the Criteria of Prodromal Syndromes. Changes in the symptoms, subjective experience and current insight were assessed using the Scales of Prodromal Symptoms, the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics, and the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder, respectively. Global functioning, social functioning and subjective quality of life were evaluated using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, the Social Functioning Scale, and the WHO- Quality of Life 26, respectively. These measures were assessed both at baseline and after 1 year. Results Forty-six patients agreed to participate. Of the 27 patients who completed the reassessment at the follow-up point, 13 patients (48%) showed little improvement in their positive/negative symptoms, subjective well-being or awareness of their symptoms. Additionally, less severe negative symptoms, more severe general symptoms and lower subjective well-being at baseline significantly predicted a deterioration of positive/negative symptoms after 1 year. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the current strategy for reducing psychosis risk based on positive symptoms should be reappraised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of a low crude protein ( CP) diet and a low CP diet supplemented with synthetic essential amino acids ( EAA) on the meat quality of broiler chickens. Twenty-one-day-old chickens were assigned to one of three diets: control, low CP ( LCP), or low CP supplemented with EAA ( ELCP). The chickens received these diets for 10 days. The shear force value ( SFV) and free glutamate content of the Pectoralis major muscle were measured as indicators of the meat toughness and taste. The collagen and crude fat content of the muscle and the cross-sectional area of myofibers were measured to evaluate the effects of the LCP and ELCP diets on meat toughness. The SFV of the ELCP group was 47% lower than that of the control group ( P < 0.01). However, the LCP diet did not affect the SFV. The collagen and crude fat content were not affected by the dietary treatment. The cross-sectional area was lower in the LCP and ELCP groups ( P < 0.05) than the control group. The free glutamate content of muscle was not affected by the dietary treatment. Thus, a low CP diet supplemented with EAA is an effective means of producing tender meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a novel wireless biosignal acquisition system employing ZigBee wireless technology, which consists mainly of two components, an intelligent electrode and a data acquisition host. The former is the main topic of this paper. It is placed on a subject's body to amplify biosignals such as EMG or ECG and streams its data at up to 2 ksps. One of the most remarkable features of the intelligent electrode is that it can change its own parameters, both digital and analog, online. The author describes its design first, then introduces a small, light, and low-cost implementation of the intelligent electrode called 'VAMPIRE-BAT.' He then presents some experimental results to confirm its usability and to estimate its practical performances. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 96(5): 1-10, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.11489 5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary small intestinal lymphoma (PSIL) is often treated with surgical resection, and therefore response to non-surgical treatment is rarely known. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features of 19 patients with PSIL, who had been diagnosed by double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) and had not received surgical treatment. The immunohistological phenotypes of 18 patients were B-cell lymphomas. Five patients had tumors within the jejunum, nine within the ileum and five in multiple sites including the duodenum. Most cases were in the low or low-intermediate risk group of the International Prognostic Index score. Seventeen patients received chemotherapy, with an overall response rate of 82.4%. The estimated overall survival at 5 years was 72.2%. Response to initial chemotherapy and levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (Alb) were identified as favorable prognostic indicators. We conclude that PSIL can be effectively diagnosed by DBE and shows a good prognosis with chemotherapy alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examines the effect of low level of threonine and lysine amino acids on the accumulation of fat in porcine muscle. It mentions several methods including enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, statistical analysis and food content analysis which are used as the research methodologies. The result reveals that the accumulation of fat in porcine muscle is not affected by the dietary threonine levels.

Abstract: This Letter provides a short overview of the current status and some recent developments in the study of photophysical properties of conjugated polymers on the level of individual chains by single-molecule spectroscopy. The emphasis is put on the relationship between conformation which is determined directly for individual chains and the resulting photophysics. Some of the phenomena covered include the processes of exciton localization and subsequent exciton dissociation, fluorescence blinking and its possible origins, and direct imaging of exciton localization domains. Most of the work has been done on poly(phenylene vinylene) and polythiophene families of conjugated polymers at room temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy occasionally occurs in patients with cavernous sinus invasion with or without pituitary apoplexy. We describe two cases of pituitary apoplexy without cavernous sinus invasion presenting with isolated oculomotor palsy. In both cases, computed tomography (CT) showed erosion of the right posterior clinoid process. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depicted pituitary adenoma with apoplexy protruding latero-posteriorly to the right cavernous sinus. The medio-posterior wall of the cavernous sinus was markedly displaced latero-posteriorly by the tumor, and there was no evidence of cavernous sinus invasion. Oculomotor palsy may be caused first by unilateral erosion of the posterior clinoid process, resulting in latero-posterior protrusion of the adenoma. Hemorrhage may result in sudden kinking of the oculomotor nerve at the entrance of the oculomotor trigone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Backgrounds: It still remains unclear whether individuals who experience attenuated psychotic symptoms are likely to seek help, whereas depressive symptoms are more likely to be associated with help-seeking behavior than these symptoms themselves. The aims of our study were to compare the profile of these symptoms between clinical and community samples and to investigate to what extent help-seeking behavior depends on the severity of psychosis-like symptoms and/or depressive symptoms. Methods: The clinical sample consisted of help-seeking outpatients aged 16–30years who had approached a community mental health clinic (N=750, mean age: 23.3±4.2years, 62.4% females). The community sample was comprised of students from two universities and two high schools (N=781, mean age: 18.1±1.7years, 59.2% females). Psychosis-like experiences were assessed using the PRIME Screen-Revised (PS-R), a self-reported screening instrument for assessing the risk of psychosis. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), a 20-item self-reported questionnaire. Results: Among the clinical and community samples, 27% and 10% had positive PS-R results respectively. No significant difference in the PS-R total score or the frequency of PS-R-positive items was observed between the clinical and community samples. A logistic regression analysis revealed that none of the psychosis-like experiences were significantly associated with help-seeking behavior, after controlling for the effect of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our findings showed that attenuated psychotic symptoms do not contribute significantly to help-seeking behavior, suggesting that the relationships among PLEs, depressive symptoms, and help-seeking behavior should be reconsidered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sonodynamic therapy is expected to be a novel therapeutic strategy for malignant gliomas. The titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle, a photosensitizer, can be activated by ultrasound. In this study, by using water-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles, an in vitro comparison was made between the photodynamic and sonodynamic damages on U251 human glioblastoma cell lines. Water-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles were constructed by the adsorption of chemically modified polyethylene glycole (PEG) on the TiO2 surface (TiO2/PEG). To evaluate cytotoxicity, U251 monolayer cells were incubated in culture medium including 100μg/ml of TiO2/PEG for 3h and subsequently irradiated by ultraviolet light (5.0mW/cm2) or 1.0MHz ultrasound (1.0W/cm2). Cell survival was estimated by MTT assay 24h after irradiation. In the presence of TiO2/PEG, the photodynamic cytotoxic effect was not observed after 20min of an ultraviolet light exposure, while the sonodynamic cytotoxicity effect was almost proportional to the time of sonication. In addition, photodynamic cytotoxicity of TiO2/PEG was almost completely inhibited by radical scavenger, while suppression of the sonodynamic cytotoxic effect was not significant. Results of various fluorescent stains showed that ultrasound-treated cells lost their viability immediately after irradiation, and cell membranes were especially damaged in comparison with ultraviolet-treated cells. These findings showed a potential application of TiO2/PEG to sonodynamic therapy as a new treatment of malignant gliomas and suggested that the mechanism of TiO2/PEG mediated sonodynamic cytotoxicity differs from that of photodynamic cytotoxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new autonomous implant sensor positioning measurement technique is discussed. The goal of this study is to develop ubiquitous medical systems with autonomous nano-medical sensors and robots. The key to achieving the goal is to establish autonomous positioning measurement for these implant objects without imposing a burden on patients. For this purpose, this study proposes autonomous positioning measurement with human voxel data. The technique combines two algorithms: autonomous distributed measurement of sensors with Sammon's map, which is a nonlinear mapping algorithm, and a voxel human model clustered with the propagation characteristics of human tissue. A simulation experiment shows that the proposed technique makes possible precise positioning measurement in a heterogeneous propagation environment in the human body. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 94(6): 1-9, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10336 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major taste active component, glutamate (Glu), improves the taste of meat. In this study, we investigated the effect of a short-term high-protein (HCP) diet on the intramuscular free Glu content to improve the taste of meat. Furthermore, we elucidated how the muscle free Glu content was controlled by the HCP diet. Chicks (14 days old) were fed the control diet or HCP diet for 10 days. Plasma and muscle free amino acid concentrations, and activity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of muscle enzymes related to Glu metabolism were determined. Muscle free Glu content was increased ( P < 0.01) by 51%. Activity and mRNA expression of glutaminase (GA), which is one of the major Glu-related enzymes, were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05) in the HCP group because of feedback inhibition. The mRNA expression of lysine α-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR), which is the enzyme involved in lysine (Lys) degradation and Glu production, was significantly increased ( P < 0.001) in the HCP group. These results suggest that short-term dietary HCP feeding is an effective treatment for improving the taste of meat. Furthermore, our results suggest that the free Glu content in muscle is regulated by GA and LKR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is one of the most common and aggravating complications in transsphenoidal surgery. Although primary closure of the fistula would be the most desirable solution for an intraoperatively encountered CSF leak, it is difficult to achieve in such a deep and narrow operative field. In this article, the authors report endonasal endoscopic applications of no-penetrating titanium clips to repair a CSF fistula following tumor removal. The AnastoClip Vessel Closure System (VCS; LeMaitre Vascular, Boston, MA) was used for closure of a CSF fistula in endonasal transsphenoidal surgery. In all four patients, CSF leakage was successfully obliterated primarily with two to five clips. There was no postoperative CSF rhinorrhea or complications related to the use of the VCS. Metal artifact by the clips on postoperative images was tolerable. Primary closure of the fistula using the VCS was an effective strategy to prevent postoperative CSF leakage in transsphenoidal surgery. Future application can be expanded to reconstruction of the skull base dura via endonasal skull base approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) has been reported to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI). However, whether postinfarct acute effect of G-CSF is mediated through the same signaling pathways as those of ischemic postconditioning is still unclear. We examined the postinfarct acute effect of G-CSF on myocardial infarct size and its precise molecular mechanism. Japanese white rabbits underwent 30 min of ischemia and 48 h of reperfusion. Rabbits were intravenously injected 10 μg/kg of G-CSF (G-CSF group), saline (control group) immediately after reperfusion. The wortmannin+G-CSF, PD98059+G-CSF, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) + G-CSF, and 5-HD+G-CSF groups were respectively injected with wortmannin(0.6mg/kg), PD98059(0.3mg/kg), L-NAME(10mg/kg) and 5-HD(5mg/kg), 5 min before G-CSF administration. Myocardial infarct size was calculated as a percentage of the risk area of the left ventricle. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the signals such as Akt, ERK, eNOS, p70S6K and GSK3β in the ischemic myocardium after 48 hours of reperfusion. The infarct size was significantly smaller in the G-CSF group (26.7±2.7%) than in the control group (42.3±4.6%). The infarct size-reducing effect of G-CSF was completely blocked by wortmannin(44.7±4.8%), PD98059(38.3±3.9%), L-NAME (42.1±4.2%) and 5-HD (42.5±1.7%). Wortmannin, PD98059, L-NAME or 5HD alone did not affect the infarct size. Western blotting showed higher myocardial expression of phospho-Akt, phospho-ERK, phosho-eNOS, phosho-p70S6K and phosho-GSK3β at 10 min and 48 hours after reperfusion in the G-CSF group than in the control group. In conclusion, postreperfusion G-CSF administration reduces myocardial infarct size via activation of PI3K-Akt and ERK prosurvival signaling pathways and their down stream targets eNOS, p70S6K, GSK3β and mitochondrial KATP channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine the emergence of attenuated psychotic experiences, self-disturbance or affective symptoms among younger subjects in the general population and to investigate the intergroup differences on each symptom between adolescents and post-adolescents. Methods: A total of 781 participants, 496 university students (mean age: 19.3 ± 1.1 years) and 285 high school students (mean age: 16.0 ± 0.3 years), were administered self-reported questionnaires. Psychotic prodromal symptoms were evaluated using the PRIME Screen-Revised (PS-R), a 12-item self-reported questionnaire. To measure the cognitive, emotional and physical symptoms associated with depression, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), a 20-item self-reported questionnaire, was administered. Results: There were no intergroup differences on the factor score of the PS-R, except the self-demarcation factor (post-adolescents > adolescents), whereas there were significant differences in the factor score of the ZSDS, except for the anxiety factor. Among the post-adolescents, the factors of the PS-R showed a moderate correlation to the cognitive factor on the ZSDS; among the adolescents, the PS-R factors showed a greater correlation to the anxiety factor on the ZSDS than other factors. There were no differences in the distribution of each item of the PS-R between the two groups. Conclusions: The disturbance of self results in difficulty to precisely objectify, especially among adolescents, which would induce more primitive reactions such as agitation, irritability or anxiety; probably, the self disturbance would become an explicit symptom from an implicit experience with advancing age of the subject. Although these data are only preliminary, they could explain the pathway of progression prior to the onset of psychosis, from disturbance within the self to exaggerated self-absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Here we describe the interaction of phosphorylated ∼40kDa protein with phosphorylated Akt which is a serine/threonine kinase resulting from increased blood glucose in rat cardiac muscle. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that this protein was glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Furthermore, increase in Akt and GAPDH phosporylation and induction of their association were both observed after insulin stimulation in the H9c2 cell line derived from embryonic rat ventricle. Moreover, the activation of GAPDH was upregulated when the GAPDH phosphorylation was increased. Our data suggest that GAPDH phosphorylation and association with Akt by insulin treatment have some bearing on the enhancement of GAPDH activity. Structured summary: MINT-7891324, MINT-7891304, MINT-7891314: GAPDH (uniprotkb:P04797) physically interacts (MI:0915) with Akt (uniprotkb:P47196) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0006) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is thought to be a photocatalytic agent excited by UV light. Our aim was to investigate the photocatalytic antitumor effect of water-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles on C6 rat glioma cells and to evaluate the treatment responses by the spheroid models. Water-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles were constructed by the adsorption of chemical modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the TiO2 surface (TiO2/PEG). Each monolayer and spheroid of C6 cells was coincubated with various concentrations of TiO2/PEG and subsequently irradiated with UV light. Damage of the cells and spheroids was evaluated sequentially by staining with the fluorescent dyes. The cytotoxic effect was correlated with the concentration of TiO2/PEG and the energy dose of UV irradiation. More than 90% of cells were killed after 13.5 J cm−2 of UV irradiation in the presence of 500 μg mL−1 TiO2/PEG. The irradiated spheroids in the presence of TiO2/PEG showed growth suppression compared with control groups. In TiO2/PEG-treated spheroids, the number of Annexin V-FITC-stained cells gradually increased during the first 6 h, and subsequently propidium iodide-stained cells appeared. The results of this study suggest that newly developed photoexcited TiO2/PEG have antitumoral activity. Photodynamic therapy utilizing this material can be a clue to a novel therapeutic strategy for glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of particles that are reflected in a turbo molecular pump is investigated by measuring particle trajectories and the number of particles that fall on a wafer in a plasma etching apparatus. Some scattered particles collide with the wafer at high velocity, which damage fine patterns of the photoresist on the wafer. Particle contamination can be reduced by supplying carrier gas to form a down-flow when the etching plasma is not discharged. During plasma discharge, the number of particles that fall on the wafer decreases because particles are trapped near the plasma-sheath boundary. The down-flow gas reduces particle contamination by 90% through the etching sequence, including wafer transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site-directed mutagenesis guided by evolutionary trace analysis revealed that substitution of V179 and W183 within a cluster of evolutionarily important residues on the surface of the fourth transmembrane domain of the β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) significantly reduced the propensity of the receptor to self-assemble into homodimers as assessed by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer in living cells. These results suggest that mutation of V179 and W183 result in conformational changes that reduce homodimerization either directly by interfering with the dimerization interface or indirectly by causing local misfolding that result in reduced self-assembly. However, the mutations did not cause a general misfolding of the β1AR as they did not prevent heterodimerization with the β2AR. The homodimerization-compromised mutants were significantly retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and could not be properly matured and trafficked to the cell surface. Lipophilic β-adrenergic ligands acted as pharmacological chaperones by restoring both dimerization and plasma membrane trafficking of the ER-retained dimerization-compromised β1AR mutants. These results clearly indicate that homodimerization occurs early in the biosynthetic process in the ER and that pharmacological chaperones can promote both dimerization and cell surface targeting, most likely by stabilizing receptor conformations compatible with the two processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy and toxicity of combined paclitaxel (PTX) and gemcitabine (GEM) was evaluated as a protocol for first-line chemotherapy in 40 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Paclitaxel, 100 mg/m2, was administered intravenously (IV) as a 1-h infusion, followed by GEM, 1,000 mg/m2, IV over 30 min on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. The median age of patients was 66 years with a range of 33–75 years. Nearly all patients (39/40) had an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. Thirteen patients (32%) had initial stage IIIB disease and 27 patients (68%) had stage IV disease. Histological subtypes were adenocarcinoma (73%) and squamous cell carcinoma (25%). Twenty-two patients (55%) achieved a partial response and none achieved a complete response, giving an overall response rate of 55% (95% confidence interval: 38.2–71.8%). Disease stability was achieved in 14 patients (35%), and 4 patients (10%) had progressive disease. The median survival time was 11.9 months (95% CI: 10.3–14 months), with a 1-year survival rate of 47.5%. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities observed included neutropenia in 37.5%, anemia in 2.5%, and thrombocytopenia in 5.0% of these patients. Non-hematologic toxicities were mild, with the exception of grade 3 and 4 pneumonitis. There were no deaths due to toxicity. Weekly chemotherapy with PTX plus GEM is effective and is acceptable for the first line treatment of advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yasuda S, Kobayashi H, Iwasa M, Kawamura I, Sumi 5, Narentuoya B, Yamaki T, Ushikoshi H, Nishigaki K, Nagashima K, Takemura G, Fujiwara T, Fujiwara H, Minatoguchi S. Antidiabetic drug pioglitazone protects the heart via activation of PPAR--y receptors, P13kinase, Akt, and eNOS pathway in a rabbit model of myocardial infarction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 296: H1558-H1565, 2009. First published March 13, 2009; doi: 10.1 152/ajpheart.00712.2008.4-The insulin-sensitizing drug pioglitazone has been reported to be protective against myocardial infarction. However, its precise mechanism is unclear. Rabbits underwent 30 mm of coronary occlusion followed by 48 h of reperfusion. Rabbits were assigned randomly to nine groups (n = 10 in each): the control group (fed a normal diet), pioglitazone group (fed diets containing 1 mg kg[sup-1]∙ day[sup-1] pioglitazone), pioglitazone + 5hydroxydecanoic acid (HI)) group [fed the pioglitazone diet + 5 mg/kg iv 5-HD, a mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K[sup+] (KATp) channel blocker], pioglitazone + GW9662 group [fed the pioglitazone diet + 2 mg/kg iv GW9662, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-γ antagonist], GW9662 group (fed a normal diet + iv GW9662), pioglitazone + wortmannin group [fed the pioglitazone diet + 0.6 mg/kg iv wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol (PI)3-kinase inhibitor], wortmannin group (fed a normal diet + iv wortmannin), pioglitazone + nitro-L-arginirie methyl ester (L-NAME) group [fed the pioglitazone diet + 10 mg/kg iv LNAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor], and L-NAME group (fed a normal diet + iv L-NAME). All groups were fed the diets for 7 days. The risk area and nonrisk area of the left ventricle (LV) were separated by Evans blue dye, and the infarct area was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The infarct size was calculated as a percentage of the LV risk area. Western blotting was performed to assess levels of Akt and phospho-Akt and phospho-endothelial NOS (eNpS) in the myocardium following reperfusion. The infarct size was significantly smaller in the pioglitazone group (21 ± 2%) than in the control group (43 ± 3%). This effect was abolished by GW9662 (42 ± 3%), wortmannin (40 ± 3%), or L-NAME (42 ± 7%) but not by 5-HI) (24 ± 5%). Western blotting showed higher levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-eNOS in the pipglitazone group. Pioglitazone reduces the myocardial infarct size via activation of PPAR-γ, PI3-kinase, Akt, and eNOS pathways, but not via opening the mitochondrial KATP channel. Pioglitazone may be a novel strategy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus with coronary artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many different physical characteristics of goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus), such as celestial and telescopic eyes, fancy but uncontrollable shapes of tail fin, an unfittingly fat body, and loss of dorsal fins, provide us with a unique opportunity of studying artificial selection on phenotypic changes on the basis of molecular evolution. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the evolutionary origin and history of goldfish, taking into account the different characteristics of goldfish and human culture. Collecting 44 samples of a variety of goldfish from Japan and China as well as common and Crucian carps, we determined the nucleotide sequences for a substantial portion of mitochondrial genome including eight gene regions (D-loop, 12SrRNA, 16SrRNA, ND1, ND2, COI, ND5 and Cyt b) of approximately 11,180 bps. We, then, constructed phylogenetic trees for a total of 78 fishes, adding the 19 sequence data available in the international DNA database DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank to our 59 sequence data determined. From the phylogenetic trees obtained, we found that Japanese goldfish are not relative to Japanese Crucian carp (Carassius auratus langsdorfi) and that all the goldfish examined were originated from one of the two groups of the Chinese Crucian carp “Gibelio” (Carassius auratus gibelio). Moreover, we found that the process of artificial selection began from losing the dorsal fin followed by diversification of other characters such as eyes. This is supported by our further observations that the improvement of celestial and telescope eyes took place independently at different times, implying that goldfish was imposed by strong artificial selection only to meet diversified needs of human preferences in a unsystematic way. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: : Early intervention for psychosis requires an easy, useful assessment instrument to identify subjects with prodromal symptoms at an early stage. The aim of this study was to test the clinical validity of the PRIME Screen—Revised (PS-R), a 12-item self-reported instrument for prodromal symptoms of psychosis, by comparing the results for a non-clinical population with those for a clinical population. Method: : The PS-R was administered to 1024 subjects (496 students and 528 outpatients). Of the 528 patients, 115 were randomly recruited and tested using the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS) to determine the concordant validity of the PS-R. The predictive validity of the PS-R was measured by determining the transition rate to psychosis during a 6-month follow-up period. Results: : The specificity and sensitivity of the PS-R, using the SIPS as a gold standard, were 0.74 and 1.00. The concordant validity of the PS-R against the SIPS was 0.43. The predictive validity of the PS-R and the SIPS, defined as the transition rate to psychosis, were 0.11 and 0.25, respectively. None of the patients with negative PS-R results developed psychosis. Conclusions: : Our findings showed that the PS-R was highly valid and that its usage is feasible in both general practice and clinical settings. This self-reported instrument represents a useful screening tool for alerting clinicians to subjects with psychotic prodromal symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression changes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord in some pain models. Recently, rat BDNF transcripts containing novel 5′ untranslated exons were identified and characterized, and a new numbering system for rat BDNF exons was introduced. We examined the expression profiles of these novel BDNF transcripts in bilateral L4/5 DRGs in an L5-selective spinal nerve ligation (SSNL) model and bilateral L5 DRGs in a complete Freund''s adjuvant (CFA) model of rats. L5SSNL increased significantly (P <0.05) the expression of total BDNF mRNA and exon I, IIA, IIB, IIC, III, IV, VI, and IXA transcripts in ipsilateral L4 DRG. Although expression of total BDNF mRNA remained unchanged in ipsilateral L5 DRG in the L5SSNL model, expression of exon I transcript increased significantly (P <0.05) and that of exon IV transcript decreased significantly (P <0.05). The expression profiles of the variant exons in ipsilateral L4 DRG of the L5SSNL model were quite similar to those in ipsilateral DRG of the CFA model, and exon I transcript was the most common BDNF mRNA in these DRGs. Although L5SSNL increased significantly (P <0.05) the expression of total BDNF mRNA and exon IIC and IXA transcripts in the contralateral L4/5 DRGs, CFA treatment did not alter the expression of total BDNF mRNA or specific transcripts in the contralateral DRGs. These findings suggest that exon I plays an important role in the increase in BDNF expression in ipsilateral DRGs regardless of condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Control of particle transport was investigated by using a UHF-ECR etching apparatus with a laser particle monitor. The particles, which float at a plasma-sheath boundary, fall on a wafer when the plasma is turned off. These floating particles can be removed from the region above the wafer by changing the plasma distribution. We measured the distribution of the rotational temperature of nitrogen molecules across the wafer to investigate the effect of the thermophoretic force. We found that mechanisms of particle transport in directions parallel to the wafer surface can be explained by the balance between thermophoretic and gas viscous forces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurements of the performance decay for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and the observation of water droplets were simultaneously carried out for 4000h under degradation conditions of low humidity and high CO concentration. An optical cell was designed for observation of water droplets and measurement of the transition points. It was found that as the performance decayed with time, the transition point to a two-phase flow moved toward the cathode exit for conditions of both low humidity and high CO concentration. Performance data showed that under these conditions, there was no pinhole in the membrane or significant mass transport loss observed. It was supposed that the deactivation of electrodes occurred at the cathode inlet and the anode outlet under low humidity and high CO concentration, and that this caused the decay in performance and observed change of the transition point at the cathode. The change of the transition point was computed using a two-dimensional cell model. Performance decay, such as oxygen gain and the cell over-potential, was simulated by changing the value of the exchange current densities of the cathode and anode. Comparison with the experimental results shows good agreement for the total duration of cell operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper the authors propose a data hiding method for JPEG images that has a degree of freedom in selecting the hiding position and does not require a reference image or knowledge of the hiding position during extraction. In conventional methods, the position for the transform coefficients which hide the data must be specified beforehand, and that position must be known during extraction. The proposed method does not require specifying the hiding position beforehand and offers some freedom in selecting the hiding position. Therefore, a hiding position that is appropriate can be selected for each image and block to be subjected to JPEG encoding. Given this, the proposed method can reduce image degradation and improve compression efficiency compared to the conventional methods. Moreover, because knowledge of the hiding position is not required during extraction, information management is thus simpler during extraction. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed through simulations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 90(11): 21–30, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.20356 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]