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The magnetic field of moving vortices in anisotropic superconductors is considered in the framework of time-dependent London approach. It is found that at distances large relative to the core size, the field may change sign that alludes to a non-trivial intervortex interaction which depends on the crystal anisotropy and on the speed and direction of motion. These effects are caused to the electric fields and corresponding normal currents which appear due to the moving vortex magnetic structure. We find that the motion related part of the magnetic field attenuates at large distances as $1/r^3$ unlike the exponential decay of the static vortex field. The electric field induced by the vortex motion decreases as $1/r^2$., Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures

Background: Abatacept (ABT) is clinically used as the only T-cell modifier available for rheumatoid arthritis treatment and has shown similar efficacy as tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and a safer profile, especially a lower infection ratio in registry data. Latourte et al. recently published the results of perioperative complications of orthopaedic and other types of surgery in patients using ABT. However, they did not compare the complication rates with those in patients who received csDMARDs. It remains unknown whether ABT is associated with more postoperative complications than conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate whether ABT is associated with more adverse events after orthopaedic surgery compared with csDMARDs and, if so, to identify significant risk factors for those events. Methods: A retrospective multicenter nested case–control study was performed in 18 institutions. Patients receiving ABT were matched individually with patients receiving csDMARDs and/or steroid. Serious adverse events were defined as surgical site infection, delayed wound healing, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, flare-up, serious infection in other organs. The incidence rates of serious adverse events in both groups were compared with Mantel-Haenzel test. Risk factors for serious adverse events in the ABT group were analyzed by logistic regression model. Results: A total of 3358 cases were collected. After inclusion and exclusion, 2651 patients were selected for matching, and 194 patients in 97 pairs were chosen for subsequent comparative analyses between the ABT and control groups. No between-group differences were detected in the incidence rates of each adverse event or in the combined incidence rate of adverse events. The odds ratio of the history of serious infection for serious adverse events was 12.6 (95%CI 1.12–141, P=0.04) in patients who received ABT and underwent orthopaedic surgery. Conclusions: Compared with csDMARDs and/or steroid without ABT, adding ABT to the treatment does not appear to increase the incidence rates of postoperative adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. A history of serious infection is a significant risk factor for both infection and other serious adverse events, and such patients should be treated with particular caution. Reference [1]Latourte A, et al. Safety of surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated by abatacept: data from the French Orencia in Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry. Rheumatology (Oxford)2017Apr 1;56(4):629–637. Disclosure of Interest: H. Ito Grant/research support from: BMS, ONO Pharmaceutical, S. Tsuji: None declared, M. Nakayama: None declared, Y. Mochida: None declared, K. Nishida: None declared, H. Ishikawa: None declared, T. Kojima: None declared, T. Matsumoto: None declared, A. Kubota: None declared, T. Mochizuki: None declared, K. Sakuraba: None declared, I. Matsushita: None declared, A. Nakajima: None declared, R. Hara: None declared, A. Haraguchi: None declared, T. Matsubara: None declared, K. Kanbe: None declared, N. Nakagawa: None declared, M. Haraguchi: None declared, S. Momohara: None declared

The ruthenium-triphos and diphosphine-catalysed amination of alcohols with ammonia is reported. Various types of triphos derivatives with electron-donating functional group were synthesized and used as ligands in the Ru-catalysed alcohol amination with NH3. The triphos derivatives are effective for the formation of primary amines. On the other hand, if hemilabile diphosphines as tridentate ligands are used, mixtures of secondary-along with primary amines are obtained. It was found that even simple diphosphines can be used as ligands for the selective formation of the secondary amines. The diphosphine system allows a new entry to the Ru-catalysed formation of secondary amines.

Background Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) expansion occasionally occurs after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), and is thought to be a good prognostic sign that is associated with a lower relapse rate. However, there have been no reports of late graft failure (LGF) due to graft rejection in association with oligoclonal LGL expansion. We herein report a case of LGF associated with the transient expansion of recipient-derived T-LGL after allo-SCT. Case Report A 65-year-old man underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from his human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical son for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, which had evolved from a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Neutrophil engraftment occurred on day 20. A chimerism analysis on day 29 showed both granulocytes and mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood to be completely of donor origin. However, his neutrophil count gradually decreased and a chimerism analysis on day 61 showed that 84% of the patient's T cells were of recipient origin while the granulocytes were 100% donor-derived. His LGLs rapidly increased to 4.01 × 10 9 /L on day 113 and decreased thereafter. The percentage of donor cells in his granulocytes gradually decreased, and the patient's leukocytes were completely replaced by recipient cells on day 177. Conclusions The clinical course suggests that the expansion of recipient-derived T-LGLs after allo-SCT can be a sign of graft rejection. Early intervention may be needed if the LGL expansion is recipient-derived.

Background Methotrexate inhibits the proliferation of RA fibroblast-like synovial cells (RA-FLS) by folate anti-metabolism. We previously reported that disruptions of circadian clock genes were involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis (1,2). Objectives To explore pharmacological effects of MTX on circadian clock genes of RA-FLS. Methods Under treatments of MTX on RA-FLS, cell viabilities were determined by WST-8 assay, expressions of circadian clock genes (Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Per2), circadian transcriptional factor PAR bZip (Dbp, Tef and Hlf), and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 interacting killer (BIK) were examined by real time PCR, and expressions of PER2 and CYTOCHROME C were examined by western blotting. The expressions of PER2, BIK, CYTOCHROME C and morphological changes of the nucleus were observed by fluorescent immunostaining. RA-FLS were transfected with Per2 and BIK siRNAs and successively treated with MTX to determine cell viabilities by WST-8 assay. Results MTX (1,10 nM) treatment significantly decreased the cell viabilities. MTX (10nM) have increased mRNA expression of Per2, Dbp, Tef, Hlf, and BIK, and protein expressions of PER2 and CYTOCHROME C, as well. In fluorescent observations, PER2, BIK, and CYTOCHROME C were increased in apoptotic cells. Cytotoxicity of MTX was attenuated by knockdowns of Per2 or BIK in RA-FLS. Conclusions The transcriptional factor PAR bZip binds to the D-box elements of Per2 and BIK promoters (3,4). Here, we propose a novel action of MTX that up-regulates the expressions of Per2 and BIK via PAR bZip to induce apoptosis in RA-FLS. References Hashiramoto A, J Immunol. 2010 Feb 1;184(3):1560–5. Hand LE, FASEB J. 2016 Nov;30(11):3759–3770. Yoshida K, Scand J Rheumatol. 2013;42(4):276–80. Ritchie A, Cell Death Differ. 2009 Jun;16(6):838–46. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The mechanism of the high temperature hole-doped superconductivity was investigated by Raman scattering. The Raman selection rule is unique, so that anisotropic magnetic excitations in a fluctuating spin-charge stripe can be detected as if it is static. We use different Raman selection rules for two kinds of magnetic Raman scattering processes, two-magnon scattering and high-energy electronic scattering. In order to confirm the stripe effect, the Raman spectra of striped La2−x Sr x CuO4 (LSCO) and nonstriped Nd2−x Ce x CuO4 (NCCO) were compared. The main results in LSCO are (1) magnetic excitations are presented by individual energy dispersions for the k∥ stripe and the k⊥ stripe, (2) the charge transfer is allowed only in the direction perpendicular to the stripe. The direction is the same as the Burgers vector of an edge dislocation. Hence, we assume that a charge moves together with the edge dislocation of the charge stripe. The superconducting coherence length is close to the intercharge stripe distance at x

The purpose of this study is to develop a non-contact deburring method and optimize its operation parameters. A deburring method using enhanced ultrasonic cavitation without abrasives is proposed and its work conditions were optimized. In additional, aging changes on the microhardness and surface roughness of specimens were studied experimentally in the process. The aging microhardness went through two stages. In the first stage, the work hardening characteristic of aluminum induced the increase in microhardness of specimen. After the microhardness reached an extreme, it went down. The surface roughness increased with treatment time. These time-dependent changes indicated that parts should be treated discontinuously during the ultrasonic deburring process to avoid being eroded by cavitation bubbles. Deburring experiments indicated that the burrs can be effectively removed by these enhanced cavitation bubbles.

To understand the direct relation among photodarkening (PD), photoinduced volume change (PVC), and photoinduced defect creation (PDC), we perform in-situ simultaneous measurements of all three phenomena, i.e. optical absorption coefficient (for PD), surface height (for PVC), and photocurrent which monitors PDC, in amorphous As2Se3 films. The time evolution of PDC during light excitation is empirically described by a stretched exponential function: 1 - exp[-(t /τ)β], where τ is the effective response time and β (< 1.0) the dispersion parameter, while we have found that the PVC and PD were essentially given by a simple exponential function (β = 1). The value of τ for the PDC is very much smaller than those for the PVC and PD. As the time evolutions for all three phenomena are independent of each others, there may be no direct relationship among them. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Current status of TAMA and CLIO detectors in Japan is reported in this article. These two interferometric gravitational-wave detectors are being developed for the large cryogenic gravitational wave telescope (LCGT) which is a future plan for detecting gravitational wave signals at least once per year. TAMA300 is being upgraded to improve the sensitivity in low frequency region after the last observation experiment in 2004. To reduce the seismic noises, we are installing new seismic isolation system, which is called TAMA Seismic Attenuation System, for the four test masses. We confirmed stable mass locks of a cavity and improvements of length and angular fluctuations by using two SASs. We are currently optimizing the performance of the third and fourth SASs. We continue TAMA300 operation and R&D studies for LCGT. Next data taking in the summer of 2007 is planned. CLIO is a 100-m baseline length prototype detector for LCGT to investigate interferometer performance in cryogenic condition. The key features of CLIO are that it locates Kamioka underground site for low seismic noise level, and adopts cryogenic Sapphire mirrors for low thermal noise level. The first operation of the cryogenic interferometer was successfully demonstrated in February of 2006. Current sensitivity at room temperature is close to the target sensitivity within a factor of 4. Several observation experiments at room temperature have been done. Once the displacement noise reaches at thermal noise level of room temperature, its improvement by cooling test mass mirrors should be demonstrated., 6 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of GWDAW-11

Summary. Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)plays an important role in tissue repair and regeneration. HGFactivator (HGFA), a factor XIIa-like serine protease, activatesHGFprecursortoHGF.TheprecursorofHGFA,proHGFA,is activated by thrombin generated at sites of tissue injury. It isknown that protein C inhibitor (PCI), an inhibitor of activatedprotein C (APC), also inhibits thrombin–thrombomodulin(TM) complex. Objectives: In the present study we evaluatedthe effect of PCI on thrombin-catalyzed proHGFA activationin the presence of TM, and on HGFA activity. Results: PCIdid not inhibit thrombin-TM-mediated proHGFA activation,butitdirectlyinhibitedactivatedHGFAbyforminganenzymeinhibitorcomplex.Thesecond-orderrateconstants( M )1 min )1 )of the reaction between HGFA and PCI in the presence orabsence of heparin (10 U mL )1 )were4.3· 10 6 and 4.0 · 10 6 ,respectively. The inhibition of HGFA by PCI resulted in asignificant decrease of HGFA-catalyzed activation of HGFprecursor. Exogenous HGFA added to normal human plasmaformed a complex with plasma PCI, and this complexformation was competitively inhibited by APC in the presenceof heparin, but very weakly in the absence of heparin. We alsodemonstrated using recombinant R362A-PCI that Arg362residue of PCI is important for HGFA inhibition by PCI asjudged from the three-dimensional structures constructedusingdockingmodelsofPCIandHGFAorAPC. Conclusion:These observations indicate that PCI is a potent inhibitor ofactivated HGFA, suggesting a novel function for PCI in theregulation of tissue repair and regeneration.Keywords: hepatocyte growth factor activator, hepatocytegrowth factor, homology modeling, liver regeneration, proteinC inhibitor.IntroductionBloodclottingisanessentialprocessforproperhemostasisandwound healing. Thrombin is a clotting factor that plays acentral role in the promotion of blood coagulation and tissueregeneration in the wound-healing process [1]. Hepatocytegrowth factor (HGF) plays a critical role in tissue regenerationby stimulating the proliferation and motility of various celltypes, including epithelial and endothelial cells [2]. HGF issynthesized and secreted as an inactive single-chain precursorfrom liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and megakaryocytes(platelets) [3]. Limited proteolytic activation of this precursor isrequiredforthebiologicalactivityofHGF[4].Themostpotentactivator of HGF precursor is the factor XIIa-like serineprotease, HGF activator (HGFA) [5]. HGFA is synthesized inhepatocytes, and its inactive proHGFA circulates in blood as a98-kDa single-chain precursor protein [6]. Thrombin activatesproHGFA by limited proteolysis generating an activated 98-kDa HGFA molecule that contains a disulfide-linked 65-kDaheavy chain and a 31-kDa light chain [7]. The HGFA heavychain is then further cleaved in the systemic circulation bykallikrein releasing the 34-kDa mature form of HGFA [7]. Cellmembrane-bound Kunitz-type HGFA inhibitors (HAI) havebeen recently isolated [8,9], and it has been found that one ofthem, HAI-1, acts as inhibitor and receptor of HGFA on cellsurface [10]. The role of HAI as a physiological inhibitor ofHGFAhasnotbeenasyetreported.Todate,theexistenceofapotent physiological inhibitor of thrombin-catalyzed pro-HGFA activation or activated HGFA has not been as yetidentified.Protein C inhibitor (PCI) (SERPINA5), a member of theplasma serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family, was isolatedfrom human plasma as an inhibitor of activated protein C(APC), the main protease of the anticoagulant protein Cpathway [11]. PCI forms an acyl-bonded complex with APC,and this complex formation is enhanced in the presence of

Aromatic material extracted from the Murchison meteorite shows an absorption atλ2200 A similar to the well-known interstellar absorption feature at this wavelength. This suggests a link between interstellar grain clumps containing organics and the presolar component of carbonaceous chondrites.

Infrared reflectance measurements of a series of InN thin films have been performed and attempt to derive carrier concentration and other physical constants for InN thin film characterization. Fitting calculations are performed by use of the dielectric function equation based on phonon-plasmon coupling model. Longitudinal and transverse optical phonon frequencies, plasma frequency and their damping parameters can be derived from fitting. From those results, electrical and phonon properties of InN and characterization of films are discussed. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

This paper deals with the breakdown voltage characteristics of saturated liquid helium in the presence of a needle-shaped or spherical metallic particle to obtain insulation design data for pool-cooled, low-temperature superconducting coils and to find the predominant factor affecting the breakdown voltage of liquid helium at a given state. The results show the following. (1) The generation of bubbles at the instant of collision of a particle with an electrode is caused mainly by the kinetic energy released from the moving particle to the liquid helium, while the electrostatic energy accompanying the microdischarge between the particle and the electrode has a lesser effect on it. (2) The lowest breakdown voltage at different particle conditions appears in the case of a free needle particle. The low breakdown voltage is caused by the bubble triggered by the particle collision, the high electric field at the tip of the needle particle, and the rich initial electrons supplied by the microdischarge

The CLIO project including a 100 m baseline cryogenic gravitational wave laser interferometer and a 100 m baseline geophysical strain meter was conducted in the Kamioka mine in Japan to investigate the technical feasibility of the large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope (LCGT), which is planned to be constructed in the same Kamioka mine with 30 times longer baseline than CLIO, and to demonstrate the collaborative operation between these instruments about long-term continuous operation and gravitational wave signal veto analysis. About the cryogenic gravitational wave interferometer, the whole vacuum system and four cryostats, which house and cool sapphire mirrors, were constructed, and the required vacuum level of 10 −6 mbar and the temperature of 8 K at the inner radiation shield in the cryostat were achieved. About the geophysical strain meter, the obtained geophysical strain in the Kamioka mine was successfully simulated with a finite element model with a good agreement with less than 5% error. The strain meter also verified a permanent ground step change of micrometre order due to some earthquakes. We present the recent progress about the CLIO project.

Cryogenic Laser Interferometer Observatory (CLIO) is a laser interferometric gravitational wave detector using cryogenic cooled mirrors. In order to cool the mirrors, cryogenic environment is necessary. We made four vacuum chambers with cryogenic cooled shields inside. The mirror is suspended by a mirror suspension system with a heat path for transferring heat from the mirror to the shield. Test cooling of the chambers and the mirror suspension system has been done. After one week cooling, the chambers was cooled from 8K to 10K and the mirror were cooled at 21K successfully.

We measured the harmonic noise produced at the radio frequency mixer used to extract gravitational wave signal from a laser interferometer, and set an upper limit of the current sensitivity of TAMA300 applying this measurement to the mixer.

We have constructed a high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy system combined with a laser molecular beam epitaxy (laser-MBE) chamber and have characterized composition-controlled La1−xSrxMnO3 (LSMO) thin films. The importance of atomically flat surfaces by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy for revealing the intrinsic electronic structures has been demonstrated by comparing O1s, O2s and valence band spectra from the laser-MBE-grown LaMnO3 and LSMO films with those from the scraped samples. Even for the laser-MBE-grown LSMO films, core levels and band structure exhibit strong dependence on surface morphology. For atomically flat LSMO films, we have also elucidated the hole-doping features into Mn3d eg band by substituting La with Sr by resonant photoelectron spectra.

We have constructed a high-resolution synchrotron-radiation angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) spectrometer combined with a combinatorial laser molecular-beam epitaxy (laser MBE) thin film growth system in order to investigate the electronic structure of transition metal oxide thin films. An ARPES spectrometer GAMMADATA SCIENTA SES-100 was selected for the high-throughput and high-energy and angular-resolution ARPES measurements. A total energy resolution of 6.3 meV and a momentum (an angular) resolution of 0.02 A−1 (0.2°) were obtained at a photon energy of 40 eV. The system is installed at the high-resolution vacuum-ultraviolet beamline BL-1C or the soft-x-ray undulator beamline BL-2C at the Photon Factory as an end-station. Another distinctive feature of this system is the direct connection from the spectrometer to a laser MBE chamber. Thin film samples can be transferred quickly into the photoemission chamber without breaking ultrahigh vacuum. Laser MBE is one of the best methods to grow thin films ...

57Fe Mossbauer measurements have been conducted for the ordered perovskite A2FeMoO6 (A: Ca, Sr, Ba) in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 500 K. Temperature dependences of the parameters were consistently determined below and above T c. The values of isomer shift and hyperfine field indicate that the Fe ions are in Fe2.5+ state. There exist the disordered sites in A=Ca and Sr specimens, of which Fe seems to be in Fe3+ state.

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) exert potent biological actions through their specific receptors. They induce pathophysiological responses such as potent bronchoconstriction, mucus secretion, mucosal oedema and eosinophil infiltration. The regulation of these responses may provide a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases. We have developed a cysLT receptor antagonist, pranlukast as one of cysLT modifiers. Preclinical pharmacology studies demonstrate that pranlukast is a potent, selective and orally active antagonist of cysLT1 receptor. Pranlukast competed with [3H]cysLTs for binding to cysLT receptors on guinea-pig lung and nasal mucosa membranes and inhibited LTD4-induced calcium mobilization through human cysLT1 receptors expressed on CHO cells. Oral administration of pranlukast inhibited cysLTs-induced symptomatology in guinea-pigs. In sensitized guinea-pig models of asthma, pranlukast inhibited antigen-induced early and late phase bronchoconstrictions, airway hyperresponsiveness, microvascular leakage and eosinophil infiltration into airways. Furthermore, in sensitized Brown Norway rats, pranlukast suppressed airway smooth muscle proliferation and collagen deposition characteristic of airway wall remodelling. In guinea-pig models of allergic rhinitis, pranlukast potently blocked a biphasic nasal obstruction resistant to antihistamines, sneezing and nasal secretion induced by nasal hyperresponsiveness, suggesting the prominent efficacy of pranlukast in allergic rhinitis. From these pharmacological properties of pranlukast, it is suggested that cysLT1 receptor antagonists are useful and beneficial as a new class of antiallergic and anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment and management of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Wave-propagation equations, including effectively the second derivative in time under the condition of a small difference between the group and phase velocities and the first derivative in position /spl xi/ in the group velocity coordinate, are derived based on the slowly evolving wave approximation. These can describe ultrabroadband optical pulse propagation with not only self-phase modulation (SPM), but also induced-phase modulation (IPM) in the monocycle regime in a fiber. It is shown that linear dispersion effects can be rigorously included in the numerical calculations. Calculations including SPM in a single-mode fused-silica fiber with the Raman effect are performed and compared with experimental results. Also, calculations including IPM in the fused-silica fiber are compared with experimental results. The effects of each term in the calculations on spectra are analyzed and it is shown that inclusion of the Raman effect and the dispersion of the effective core area is important for obtaining better agreement with experiments. It is shown that inclusion of more than third-order dispersion terms is necessary for calculations of monocycle pulse propagation.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Er:YAG laser scaling and the morphological and histological changes of the laser-scaled root surface in comparison with the effectiveness and root surface changes produced by conventional ultrasonic scaling. Fifty-three periodontally involved human extracted teeth with a band of subgingival calculus were used. The teeth were divided randomly into 2 groups for laser scaling and ultrasonic scaling. Laser irradiation was performed at an energy output of 40 mJ/pulse and 10 pulses/s under water spray, with the probe tip contacted obliquely to the root surface. Ultrasonic scaling was performed at a clinically standard power setting. The time required for scaling, the scaled area and the temperature changes were determined using both methods of treatment. The features of the scaled surfaces were examined by histological and scanning electron microscope (s.e.m.) observations. The Er:YAG laser provided subgingival calculus removal on a level equivalent to that provided by the ultrasonic scaler, without major thermal elevation. Macroscopically, the laser-treated root surface was somewhat rougher than or similar to the ultrasonically scaled root. However, the efficiency of the laser scaling was lower than that of the ultrasonic scaling. In addition, histological examination revealed a thin deeply stained zone on the lased root surface, and s.e.m. analysis revealed a characteristic microroughness on the lased surface. The laser scaling provided a level of calculus removal that was similar to that provided by the ultrasonic scaling. However, the Er:YAG laser produced superficial, structural and thermal microchanges on the root cementum.

We describe a TF5 prism-pair-formed pulse shaper for programmable pulse chirp compensation. The advantages of this kind of pulse shaper are: (1) very broad bandwidth of transmission; (2) smaller losses; and (3) no requirement for a large-size spatial light modulator (SLM) if the input spectrum is very broad. In our experiment, an ultrabroad spectral (500-1000 nm) pulse is produced by launching 1-kHz, 30-fs, 400-/spl mu/J pulses at 780 nm into an argon filled glass capillary fiber at the gas pressure of 2.0 bar. The fiber has an inner diameter of 140 /spl mu/m and a length of 60 cm. The chirped pulse is first precompressed by a pair of BK7 prisms with a separation length of 65 cm and then directed into the prism-pair-formed pulse-shaping apparatus with a 128-pixel SLM, which provides quadratic and cubic phase compensation. When the quadratic and cubic phases are -330 fs/sup 2/ and +2000 fs/sup 3/, respectively, at the wavelength of 760 nm, an ultrashort optical pulse of 6 fs (FWHM) is generated. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the shortest optical pulse ever compressed using the SLM pulse-shaping technique.

To investigate both the optical and electrical properties of InN, we have measured the infrared reflectance spectra of InN thin films and performed the fitting analyses of the infrared spectra to obtain not only phonon frequencies and the damping factors but also the carrier concentration of InN. In this paper, we extend the aim of those analyses to the electron mobility and demonstrate that the temperature dependence of the electron mobility can be discussed using the infrared reflectance spectra analyses.

A high-temperature, oxygen compatible, and compact laser molecular beam epitaxy (laser MBE) system has been developed. The 1.06 μm infrared light from a continuous wave neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used to achieve a wide range and rapid control of substrate temperature in ultrahigh vacuum and at up to 1 atm oxygen pressure. The maximum usable temperature was limited to 1453 °C by the melting point of the nickel sample holder. To our knowledge, this is the highest temperature reported for pulsed laser deposition of oxide films. The efficient laser heating combined with temperature monitoring by a pyrometer and feedback control of the Nd:YAG laser power by a personal computer made it possible to regulate the substrate temperature accurately and to achieve high sample heating and cooling rates. The oxygen pressure and ablation laser triggering were also controlled by the computer. The accurate growth parameter control was combined with real-time in situ surface structure monitor...

Monolithic ceramics are not widely used as structural materials because of their brittleness. Ceramic matrix composites, in which whiskers 1-3 or fibres 4-7 of strong ceramics such as silicon carbide or silicon nitride are embedded in a ceramic matrix, offer improved toughness and strength because the energy of cracks may be dissipated at the whisker/matrik interface. Here we describe a strong ceramic composite with a different kind of microstructure, made by unidirectional solidification of an Al 2 O 3 / GdAlO 3 eutectic mixture. This composite has a microstructure in which continuous networks of single-crystal Al 2 O 3 and single-crystal GdAlO 3 interpenetrate without grain boundaries. Rather than brittle fracture, the material displays plastic deformation at 1,873K owing to dislocation motion, as in metals. The high strength and resistance to brittle failure of this material at such high temperatures augurs well for applications in mechanical engineering.

The non-linear vibrations of a structure coupled with water sloshing in a rectangular tank are theoretically and experimentally studied. The water tank is attached to a structure to suppress the horizontal vibrations of the structure caused by a sinusoidal excitation. In the theoretical analysis, considering the only source of non-linearity of the liquid inertia to be due to a large sloshing amplitude, the modal equations for sloshing are presented. Secondly, the solutions for the harmonic oscillations of the structure and the water surface are determined, including their stability analyses. Then, the resonance curves for this system are shown. As a result, the resonance curves are found to change from the soft spring type to the hard spring type as the water depth decreases. The resonance curves also show that a super-summed-and-differential harmonic oscillation can occur at the tuning frequency when the magnitude of excitation is comparatively large. This is a kind of non-linear forced oscillation due to the non-linearity of the fluid force. The appearance of this oscillation reduces the efficacy of vibration suppression by using the water tank. In conclusion, it was ascertained that these results agreed qualitatively well with the experimental results.

An imaging CCD camera and an impact dust detector carried by the Mars mission (PLANET-B of ISAS, Japan) are potential instruments to search for the Phobos/Deimos dust rings proposed by theoretical investigations. We have reexamined the structure of dust rings based on the numerical simulation for dynamical evolution of ejecta from satellites around Mars, taking into account the gravity forces by the Sun, Mars, and the parent satellite and the solar radiation pressure forces on the ejecta as well as the perturbations due to the oblateness of Mars. It is found that the particles ejected with the mass of nearly 10−7g from Phobos and 10−8g from Deimos have a relatively longer survival lifetime against the collisions with Mars and the parent satellite. Deimos ring has higher number density (10−7m−3) than Phobos ring (10−8m−3). During roughly 2 years of mission life of PLANET-B from October 1999, a few ten particles across the rings will be detected by the dust detector with an effective area of 0.01 m2 and a threshold mass of 10−10g. The imaging camera, on the other hand, will have a chance to look for the rings of the optical depth of roughly 10−7 to 10−9 from a favorable forward scattering angle of about 17°.

A development concept, an outline of mechanism and control system, and applications of a dynamic drum (DD) tracking system enabling noise-free variable speed playback for consumer VCRs are discussed. The DD system does not simply move the heads, but controls the entire drum to comprise a tracking method completely different from earlier systems. The lower drum is divided into tape sliding and lead sections, and the construction enable the relative inclination of the lead and head trace. During variable speed playback, so as to align the head trace with the recorded track, the overall drum inclination is precisely controlled.

In understanding the mechanism of schizophrenia pathogenesis, a significant finding is that drug abuse of phencyclidine or its analog ketamine causes symptoms similar to schizophrenia. Such drug effects are triggered even by administration at post-adolescent stages. Both drugs are N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, leading to a major hypothesis that glutamate hypofunction underlies schizophrenia pathogenesis. The precise region that depends on NMDAR function, however, is unclear. Here, we developed a mouse strain in which NMDARs in the intralaminar thalamic nuclei (ILN) were selectively disrupted. The mutant mice exhibited various schizophrenia-like phenotypes, including deficits in working memory, long-term spatial memory, and attention, as well as impulsivity, impaired prepulse inhibition, hyperlocomotion and hyperarousal. The electroencephalography analysis revealed that the mutant mice had a significantly reduced power in a wide range of frequencies including the alpha, beta and gamma bands, both during wake and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and a modest decrease of gamma power during non-REM sleep. Notably, restoring NMDARs in the adult ILN rescued some of the behavioral abnormalities. These findings suggest that NMDAR dysfunction in the ILN contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia-related disorders. Furthermore, the reversal of inherent schizophrenia-like phenotypes in the adult mutant mice supports that ILN is a potential target site for a therapeutic strategy.

The outcome of 72 direct intra-arterial urokinase infusions was studied prospectively. Thirty four were performed for native arterial occlusion and 38 for bypass graft occlusion; the immediate success rates were 67.5 and 84% respectively. The overall incidence of complications was 26%. Median follow-up was 36 (range 1–60) months. Seventeen patients (27%) died during follow-up; nine (14%) required a major amputation. Among patients with native arterial occlusion, 29% had no adjunctive procedure after thrombolysis; of these patients, 85% remained patent at a median of 21 (range 3–42) months. Among bypass occluded patients, only two (6%) had no lesion revealed after successful lysis; both bypasses remain patent at 54 and 58 months respectively. For patients treated with balloon angioplasty immediately after successful thrombolysis, 62% with native arterial occlusion remained patent at a median of 39 (range 2–60) months, whereas only 27% of bypass occlusion patients were patent at a median of 11 (range 2–40) months. Of patients requiring a surgical procedure after thrombolysis, 23 new bypasses (15 vein, eight prosthetic) were placed (nine in native arterial occlusion patients, 14 in bypass occlusion patients). In addition, there were 15 other surgical procedures, including six thrombectomies, four vein patch angioplasties, four vein jump grafts and one endarterectomy. The primary and secondary patencies for the 15 new vein bypasses placed were 81 and 88% respectively at a median follow-up of 36 months. Good immediate results were experienced with urokinase thrombolysis for peripheral arterial and graft occlusions. However, multiple adjunctive procedures were required to maintain patency. Balloon angioplasty yielded reasonable late patency for the native arterial group but poor patency for the bypass group. Replacement with a new bypass gave the best long-term patency in both groups. These data suggest that thrombolysis is a reasonable first-line treatment for limb ischemia due to native arterial occlusion. However, for bypass graft occlusion, the results, despite initial success, are not durable.

Polymorphic epithelial mucin (MUC1) was detected in myeloma cells and in sera of multiple myeloma patients. HLA-unrestricted CTL that recognize tumor-associated epitopes on MUC1 has been shown to be induced from breast and pancreas cancer patients. To investigate whether such CTL can also be induced from multiple myeloma patients, an allogeneic mixed leukocyte tumor cell culture was performed. PBMCs of a multiple myeloma patient were stimulated by different allogeneic breast carcinoma and myeloma cell lines. The cultured PBMCs were proliferated and a CTL line TN was established. TN exclusively expressed TCR-alpha/beta, CD3, and CD8. TN lysed breast carcinoma and myeloma cell lines but did not lyse K562, which is sensitive to NK cells. The cytotoxicity of TN was inhibited by anti-CD3 Abs but not by anti-HLA Abs. Thus, the TCR-alpha/beta was considered to be involved in the recognition of the target cells but HLA was not. Furthermore, TN lysed transformed mouse fibroblast cells transfected with MUC1 cDNA, suggesting that this CTL line recognizes MUC1 directly. Thus, it is concluded that precursors of HLA-unrestricted and anti-MUC1 reactive CTL could exist in the peripheral blood of multiple myeloma patients and that myeloma cells can express epitopes on MUC1, which can be recognized by the CTL.

Suitable buildings, building services and mechanical equipment are essential factors to consider when planning the industrial manufacture of food. The design and specifications of buildings, services and equipment, and the manner in which these are used and maintained, can have a large impact on food production factors such as the working environment and the quality of the food manufactured. Basic criteria for building construction and equipment design are established in acts and regulations. It should also be remembered that these regulations apply once a factory is in operation after it has been constructed and its equipment commissioned. This Chapter describes the major acts and regulations relevant to food factory construction, building services, food processing equipment and food factory operation in Japan. The legislation relates to hygiene management, industrial health and safety and environmental protection, among other issues.

The sub-millimeter (300 GHz) wave sintering of the alumina ceramics had been performed. The sub-millimeter wave sintering curve shows the sintering slower at the same temperature, for sub-millimeter wave processing as compared to millimeter wave processing.

We have developed a millimeter wave pulsed electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer by using a high power radiation source gyrotron. As the high power millimeter wave source, a CW operated sub-THz Gyrotron is constructed. Operating tests of Gyrotron has already carried out successfully.

This paper reports on an eddy current (EC) study aimed at detecting anomalous machining damages in Inconel 718 and Ti 6–4 samples, including (i) surface discontinuities such as re‐depositing of chips onto the machined surface, and (ii) microstructural damages manifested as a white surface layer and a subsurface layer of distorted grains, typically tens of microns thick. A series of pristine and machine‐damaged coupons were studied by EC scans using a differential probe operated at 2 MHz to detect discontinuous surface anomalies, and by swept high frequency EC (SHFEC) measurements from 0.5 MHz to 65.5 MHz using proprietary detection coils to detect surface microstructural damages. In general, the EC c‐scan data from machine‐damaged surfaces show spatial variations with larger standard deviations than those from the undamaged surfaces. In some cases, the c‐scan images exhibit characteristic bipolar indications in good spatial correlation with surface anomalies revealed by optical microscopy and laser profilometry. Results of the SHFEC measurements indicate a reduced near‐surface conductivity of the damaged surfaces compared to the undamaged surfaces.