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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique is widely used as a powerful tool to study the physical and chemical properties of materials. However, this technique is limited to the materials in condensed phases. To extend this technique to the gas-phase molecular ions, we are developing a gas-phase NMR apparatus. In this note, we describe the basic principle of the NMR detection for molecular ions in the gas phase based on a Stern-Gerlach type experiment in a Penning trap and outline the apparatus under development. We also present the experimental procedures and the results on the formation and the manipulation of cold ions under a strong magnetic field, which are the key techniques to detect the NMR by the present method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetracene field-effect transistor (FET) with Au source and drain electrodes showed p-channel type behaviour, where the injected holes were the main carriers. Application of an ac electric field to the source electrode, while drain and gate electrodes were grounded, induced electroluminescence (EL) around the source electrode that was caused by alternating electron and hole injection. This result indicated that electron injection into tetracene was possible from a metal with a high work function such as Au. The application of an ac voltage superposed on a dc voltage showed that electron injection was assisted by the space-charge field that originated from holes accumulated around the source electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 2-year, 3-month-old Japanese female infant who experienced episodes of back contortion in apparent pain when she became warm, but the pain goes away when her body was cooled. Topics covered include the findings of clinical examinations which included skin biopsy and blood tests which led to the diagnosis of acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA), and the positive response of the patient to steroid plus therapy without serious adverse events.

A letter to the editor is presented which describes the courses of treatment for patients with acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) using steroid pulse therapy or high-dose oral steroids.

Describes a case of dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring (DH) with palmoplantar keratosis in a Japanese man. Symptoms; Diagnosis; Clinical pathology; Patient's adherence to a gluten-free diet for two weeks; Treatment.

Examines the microstructure of porous silicon (Si). Distribution of Si microcrystals throughout the porous Si; Application of photoluminescence from porous Si in Si-based optoelectronics; Observation of particlelike Si structure by scanning electron microscopy.

The linear Stark effect measured in the ν2/ν4 dyad of SnH4 by Doppler-free infrared–infrared double resonance spectroscopy has been analyzed. Fifteen double resonance signals in the vibrationally excited state and 12 previously reported signals in the ground state have been fitted simultaneously to an effective Stark Hamiltonian. The centrifugal distortion moment μ0 and the two vibration-induced moments μ44 and μ24 are determined to be μ0=1.499(11)×10-5 D, μ44=-1.317(42)×10-2 D, and μ24=3.94(23)×10-2 D. © 1995 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Amino-acid transporters are necessary for the tumour cell growth and survival, and have a crucial role in the development and invasiveness of cancer cells. But, it remains unclear about the prognostic significance of L-type amino-acid transporter 1 (LAT1), system ASC amino-acid transporter-2 (ASCT2), and xCT expression in patients with tongue cancer. We conducted the clinicopathological study to investigate the protein expression of these amino-acid transporters in tongue cancer.Methods:Eighty-five patients with surgically resected tongue cancer were evaluated. Tumour sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for LAT1, ASCT2, xCT, 4F2hc/CD98hc (4F2hc), Ki-67, and microvessel density (MVD) determined by CD34, and p53.Results:L-type amino-acid transporter 1 and 4F2hc were highly expressed in 61% (52 out of 85) and 45% (38 out of 47), respectively. ASC amino-acid transporter-2 and xCT were positively expressed in 59% (50 out of 85) and 21% (18 out of 85), respectively. The expression of both LAT1 and ASCT2 was significantly associated with disease staging, lymph-node metastasis, lymphatic permeation, 4F2hc expression and cell proliferation (Ki-67). xCT expression indicated a significant association with advanced stage and tumour factor. By univariate analysis, disease staging, lymphatic permeation, vascular invasion, LAT1, ASCT2, 4F2hc, and Ki-67 had a significant relationship with overall survival. Multivariate analysis confirmed that LAT1 was an independent prognostic factor for predicting poor prognosis.Conclusions:L-type amino-acid transporter 1 and ASCT2 can serve as a significant prognostic factor for predicting worse outcome after surgical treatment and may have an important role in the development and aggressiveness of tongue cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: (18)F-FAMT as an amino-acid tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for detecting human neoplasms. (18)F-FAMT is accumulated in tumour cells solely via L-type amino-acid transporter 1 (LAT1). This study was conducted to investigate the biological significance of (18)F-FAMT uptake in patients with oesophageal cancer.Methods: From April 2008 to December 2011, 42 patients with oesophageal cancer underwent both (18)F-FAMT PET/CT and (18)F-FDG PET/CT before surgical treatment. The immunohistochemical analysis of LAT1, CD98, Ki-67, CD34, p53, p-Akt and p-mTOR was performed on the primary lesions. In vitro experiments were performed to examine the mechanism of (18)F-FAMT uptake.Results: High uptake of (18)F-FAMT was significantly associated with advanced stage, lymph node metastasis and the expression of LAT1, CD98, Ki-67 and CD34. LAT1 expression yielded a statistically significant correlation with CD98 expression, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and glucose metabolism. In vitro experiments revealed that (18)F-FAMT was specifically transported by LAT1.Conclusions: The uptake of (18)F-FAMT within tumour cells is determined by the LAT1 expression and correlated with cell proliferation and angiogenesis in oesophageal cancer. The present experiments also confirmed the presence of LAT1 as an underlying mechanism of (18)F-FAMT accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:18F-FAMT as an amino-acid tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for detecting human neoplasms. 18F-FAMT is accumulated in tumour cells solely via L-type amino-acid transporter 1 (LAT1). This study was conducted to investigate the biological significance of 18F-FAMT uptake in patients with oesophageal cancer.Methods:From April 2008 to December 2011, 42 patients with oesophageal cancer underwent both 18F-FAMT PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT before surgical treatment. The immunohistochemical analysis of LAT1, CD98, Ki-67, CD34, p53, p-Akt and p-mTOR was performed on the primary lesions. In vitro experiments were performed to examine the mechanism of 18F-FAMT uptake.Results:High uptake of 18F-FAMT was significantly associated with advanced stage, lymph node metastasis and the expression of LAT1, CD98, Ki-67 and CD34. LAT1 expression yielded a statistically significant correlation with CD98 expression, cell proliferation, angiogenesis and glucose metabolism. In vitro experiments revealed that 18F-FAMT was specifically transported by LAT1.Conclusions:The uptake of 18F-FAMT within tumour cells is determined by the LAT1 expression and correlated with cell proliferation and angiogenesis in oesophageal cancer. The present experiments also confirmed the presence of LAT1 as an underlying mechanism of 18F-FAMT accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stroke incidence and cognitive decline are related to progression of arteriosclerosis in intracranial DWLs. However, the relationships between DWLs and factors associated with their progression, including CKD, have not been fully elucidated using longitudinal MRI. Of 291 individuals (184 males, 107 females; age 66.9±6.1 years) who had voluntarily participated in a hospital-based health check-up and underwent repeated brain MRI scans in 2003 and 2008, 273 were evaluated in this study. The DWL group included those having DWL without progression, and the DWL progression (DWLP) group included those having an increase in grade number according to the Fazekas classification. Unimpaired age-matched subjects with no brain MRI abnormalities constituted Group C. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and verbal fluency tasks were used for objective cognitive evaluations according to the MR evaluation schedule in 2008. Associations between DWLs and vascular risk factors were examined. DWLP occurred in 9.2% of subjects. Compared to Group C subjects, DWL and DWLP group subjects had high odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension (HT) (2.23 and 2.92, respectively) and CKD (1.40 and 2.41, respectively). After adjustment for potential confounders, the ORs of CKD for DWLs remained significant (1.13 and 1.43, p <0.05). DWLs and DWLP were associated with low cognitive scale scores and increased CKD. In conclusion, CKD was associated with DWLs and DWLP as an independent risk factor and a lower level of cognitive function 5 years after CKD was identified. Successful CKD therapy may be expected to prevent DWLP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

By applying only circularly polarized light (CPL) irradiation to evaporated achiral diacetylene (DA) monomer film during its photopolymerization process, we prepared poly(diacetylene) (PDA) films that show circular dichroism (CD). The left- or right-handed chirality was induced in the polymerized PDA films by the left- and right-CPL irradiation. We studied physical properties of the prepared PDA films, including their electrical and optical properties. The induced chirality in PDA films was not destroyed after annealing at 353 K for 10 min, whilst their blue-phase was changed into a red one. The intensity of the CD signal was dependent on the substrate temperature employed for the monomer deposition. Electroluminescence was found to be enhanced with the polymerized PDA films installed as an active layer of organic field-effect transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silicon ions have been implanted in undoped n-type GaN layers epitaxially grown on an AlN/(0001)–Al2O3 substrate. Electrical profiles for n-type GaN layers, formed by dual-energy implantation with 50 and 100keV Si+ ions to a total fluence of 6×1015/cm2, have been examined by differential Hall-effect measurements. It is shown that a high electrical activation of Si atoms implanted is achieved after RTA at 1300°C for 30s. Measured electrical profiles exhibit very high carrier concentrations of 1.0–2.8×1020/cm3 and carrier mobilities of 100–105cm2/Vs in a region from 5 to 120nm beneath the surface. As a result, ∼200nm-thick, highly doped n-type layers with a very low sheet-resistance of 23Ω/□ are formed by the dual-energy implantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fine and hyperfine structure in a free radical containing a methyl group is examined by paying special attention to the effects of the methyl group internal rotation on the fine and hyperfine interactions. The effects are taken into account by expanding pertinent constants describing couplings among angular momenta of electron and nuclear spins, internal rotation and overall rotation in terms of the internal rotation angle. The three-fold symmetry of the methyl internal rotation potential is lifted to some extent by fine and hyperfine interactions. The formulation thus developed is applied to the analysis of Fourier transform microwave spectra of the acetyl radical, and the potential barrier to internal rotation [139.958 (18) cm-1] and fine and hyperfine interaction constants are determined precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles protruding from the SWNT layers on self-aligned Sn apexes were brought to a distance of 30 nm by a scanning tunneling microscope inside a transmission electron microscope. A straight bundle on the tip could be observed in situ in contact electrostatically with a looped bundle on the sample by applying tip bias voltages above 2.0 V. The bundles were welded at the nanometer size contact area by local Joule heating. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that single-wall carbon nanotubes were grown in the tunneling gap of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Observation of the growth processes in situ by operating the STM in a transmission electron microscope; Covering of the STM tip and sample with graphite layers.

Abstract: Background: Cutaneous exposure to food antigen through impaired skin barrier has been shown to induce epicutaneous sensitization, thereby causing IgE‐mediated food allergies. Objective: We examined whether skin barrier impairment following epicutaneous sensitization exacerbates food allergies. Methods: BALB/c mice were epicutaneously sensitized by repeated application of ovalbumin (OVA) to MC903‐pretreated ear skin for 48 hours weekly and then intragastrically challenged with OVA. After the first oral challenge, the skin barrier was disrupted with topical application of MC903 or by tape‐stripping. Mice were monitored for changes in body temperature and the occurrence of diarrhea after undergoing the second oral challenge. Serum levels of mouse mast cell protease‐1 (mmcp1) and OVA‐specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a antibodies and OVA‐specific IgA levels in intestinal lavage fluid were measured by ELISA. Tissue accumulation of eosinophils was determined histologically. Results: Epicutaneously sensitized mice developed anaphylaxis after intragastric challenge, as evidenced by diarrhea, decreased body temperature, and increased serum mmcp1 levels. Skin barrier disruption by MC903 treatment or tape‐stripping exacerbated allergic reactions induced by oral challenge. MC903 treatment increased serum baseline and postchallenge mmcp1 levels. Topical pretreatment with dexamethasone alleviated allergic reactions that were exacerbated by MC903 treatment. Conclusion: Even after eliminating exposure to the antigen, inflammation from skin barrier disruption can exacerbate the severity of food allergy symptoms. Serum baseline mmcp1 levels might be an effective marker for predicting the severity of antigen‐induced allergic symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power cycle reliability of Cu nanoparticle joints between Al 2 O 3 heater chips and different heat sinks (Cu-40 wt.%Mo, Al-45 wt.%SiC and pure Cu) was studied to explore the effect of varying the mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the heater chip and the heat sink from 4.9 to 10.3 ppm/K. These joints were prepared under a hydrogen atmosphere by thermal treatment at 250, 300 and 350 °C using a pressure of 1 MPa, and all remained intact after 3000 cycles of 65/200 °C and 65/250 °C when the CTE mismatch was less than 7.3 ppm/K, despite vertical cracks forming in the sintered Cu. When the CTE mismatch was 10.3 ppm/K, the Cu nanoparticle joint created at 300 °C endured the power cycle tests, but the joint created at 250 °C broke by lateral cracks in the sintered Cu after 1000 cycles of 65/200 °C. The Cu nanoparticle joint created at 350 °C also broke by vertical cracks in the heater chip after 1000 cycles of 65/250 °C, suggesting that although sintered Cu can be strengthened to tolerate the stress by increasing the joint temperature, this eventually causes the weak and brittle chip to fracture through accumulated stress. The calculation results of stresses on the heater chip showed that the stress can be higher than the strength of Al 2 O 3 when the CTE mismatch is 10.3 ppm/K and the Young's modulus of the sintered Cu is higher than 20 GPa, suggesting that the heater chip can be broken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study verified that recently developed real-time virtual sonography (RVS) to coordinate a sonography image and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) with magnetic navigation was useful. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of RVS to sonographically identify enhancing lesions by breast MRI. Between December 2008 and May 2009, RVS was performed in 51 consecutive patients with 63 enhancing lesions. MRI was performed with the patients in the supine position using a 1.5-T imager with a body surface coil to achieve the same position as with sonography. To assess the accuracy of the RVS, the following three issues were analyzed: (i) The sonographic detection rate of enhancing lesions, (ii) the comparison of the tumor size measured by sonography and the MRI-MPR and (iii) the positioning errors as the distance from the actual sonographic position to the expected MRI position in 3-D. Among the 63 enhancing lesions, 42 (67%) lesions were identified by conventional B-mode, whereas the remaining 21 (33%) initial conventional B-mode occult lesions were identified by RVS alone. The sonographic size of the lesions detected by RVS alone was significantly smaller than that of lesions detected by conventional B-mode (p < 0.001). The mean tumor size provided by RVS was 12.3 mm for real-time sonography and 14.1 mm for MRI-MPR (r = 0.848, p < 0.001). The mean positioning errors for the transverse and sagittal planes and the depth from the skin were 7.7, 6.9 and 2.8 mm, respectively. The overall mean 3D positioning error was 12.0 mm. Our results suggest that RVS has good targeting accuracy to directly compare a sonographic image with MRI results without operator dependence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This is the first of five connected papers detailing progress on the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) Relativity Mission. GP-B, launched 20 April 2004, is a landmark physics experiment in space to test two fundamental predictions of Einstein’s general relativity theory, the geodetic and frame-dragging effects, by means of cryogenic gyroscopes in Earth orbit. Data collection began 28 August 2004 and science operations were completed 29 September 2005. The data analysis has proven deeper than expected as a result of two mutually reinforcing complications in gyroscope performance: (1) a changing polhode path affecting the calibration of the gyroscope scale factor C g against the aberration of starlight and (2) two larger than expected manifestations of a Newtonian gyro torque due to patch potentials on the rotor and housing. In earlier papers, we reported two methods, ‘geometric’ and ‘algebraic’, for identifying and removing the first Newtonian effect (‘misalignment torque’), and also a preliminary method of treating the second (‘roll-polhode resonance torque’). Central to the progress in both torque modeling and C g determination has been an extended effort on “Trapped Flux Mapping” commenced in November 2006. A turning point came in August 2008 when it became possible to include a detailed history of the resonance torques into the computation. The East-West (frame-dragging) effect is now plainly visible in the processed data. The current statistical uncertainty from an analysis of 155 days of data is 5.4 marc-s/yr (∼14% of the predicted effect), though it must be emphasized that this is a preliminary result requiring rigorous investigation of systematics by methods discussed in the accompanying paper by Muhlfelder et al. A covariance analysis incorporating models of the patch effect torques indicates that a 3–5% determination of frame-dragging is possible with more complete, computationally intensive data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Products from the fermentation process of soybeans by Bacillus subtilis ( natto) have been shown to possess anti-tumour and immunomodulatory activities. However, the formulations previously examined were not chemically pure, and this is a major limitation for elucidation of the molecular mechanisms for their activities. Objective In order to determine which components in soybean mucilage exert immunostimulatory activities, we examined the activities of their purified forms in vitro and in vivo in mice. Methods B. subtilis ( natto) and fractions including levan and poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) from fermented soybean mucilage were prepared. Levels of cytokine production by mouse macrophage cells after treatment with the fractions were measured by means of ELISA. In vivo effect of levan delivered intragastrically on ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T-helper type 2 (Th2) response with IgE production was examined in BALB/c mice that had been immunized intraperitoneally with OVA. Results Levan but neither γ-PGA nor killed B. subtilis ( natto) was found to exert strong activity to induce production of IL-12 p40 and TNF-α by macrophage cell lines in vitro. Results of experiments using Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-deficient mice and TLR4-transfected human cell line indicated that TLR4 is involved in pattern recognition of levan. Oral administration of levan in vivo significantly reduced the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and Th2 response to OVA in mice immunized with OVA. Conclusion Levan is an immunostimulatory moiety in products from the fermentation process of B. subtilis ( natto) and may be useful for prevention of allergic disorders with IgE production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis and treatment of urinary infection are often delayed, causing renal damage, largely because of the unavailability of quick, accurate, diagnostic examinations. Three hundred and twenty-five urine samples from 130 patients were examined for significant bacteriuria using the standard culture method. The urine samples were also examined using the Gram-stain method and quantitative unspun-urine microscopy. When particles could not be distinguished definitely as bacilli by quantitative microscopy, the unspun urine was examined on a slide glass using oil-immersion microscopy at x 1000 magnification. Significant bacteriuria in 37 urine samples was detected by bacterial culture. Using quantitative microscopy, rods were found in 30, cocci in a chain in 3, and indefinite particles in 44 samples. In the 44 indefinite samples, oil-immersion microscopy was able to distinguish rods in one, cocci in a chain in one, cocci in a cluster in two, and negative in 40, which were confirmed by culture as rods, streptococci, staphylococci, and negative, respectively. The quantitative microscopy method was similarly reliable (94.6% sensitivity, 99.3% specificity) for diagnosis of significant bacteriuria when compared with the Gram-stain method (89.2% sensitivity, 98.6% specificity). Quantitative unspun-urine microscopy, confirmed by oil-immersion, is a quick, reliable method for diagnosis of significant bacteriuria, and is considered to be useful for early diagnosis of urinary infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background IL-18 has been shown to exert anti-allergic or allergy-promoting activities, but the existence of genetic polymorphisms in the coding regions of IL-18 gene has not been demonstrated. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphism is present in the coding regions of the IL-18 gene and, if so, to further analyse the association between polymorphism and asthma in a case-control study. Methods We screened the coding regions of the IL-18 gene for polymorphisms by using PCRsingle-stranded conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing of PCR products, followed by analysis of the association between polymorphism and asthma. Results We identilied one polymorphism (105A/C) in the coding regions. The frequency of the 105A allele was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in controls (p < 0.01; odds ratio (OR) = 1.83 (1.37-2.26)). Significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between the 105A/C and -137G/C polymorphisms in the 5' flanking region of the IL-18 gene (D = 0.58, P<0.0001). However, in asthmatic patients the 105A allele was not associated with either total serum IgE or IL-18 levels. Conclusion The 105A/C polymorphism of the IL-18 gene may be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i]←X˜ [sup 3]Σ[sup -] electronic transition of a carbon-chain molecule CCS has been observed for the first time by laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy. The species was generated with a pulsed discharge of 0.5% C[sub 2]H[sub 2] and 0.5% CS[sub 2] diluted in Ar via a pulsed supersonic jet. A number of bands in the 690-675 nm and 600-615 nm regions (14 500-14 800, 16 200-16 600 cm-1) were observed and assigned to those of CCS using ground state combination differences. Three of the bands in each region were found to belong to the three A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i] spin-orbit components of the A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i]←X˜ [sup 3]Σ[sup -] transition (T[sub v]=14 662.777(4) and 16 423 cm-1), and an effective set of rotational constants for the upper states were obtained. The higher energy band was heavily perturbed, preventing the determination of effective constants for this band. These bands have been tentatively assigned as two successive bands in the A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i](n,0,0) progression with a resultant effective value of 1760 cm-1 for the A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i] ν[sub 1] vibrational fundamental. Dispersed fluorescence spectra from the A˜ [sup 3]Π[sub i]←X˜ [sup 3]Σ[sup -] band of CCS have also been observed, yielding definitive experimental information on the vibrational structure of the X˜ [sup 3]Σ[sup -] ground state for the first time. The three harmonic frequencies were determined to be 1708.2(40) cm-1, 862.5(19) cm-1, and 269.3(13) cm-1 for ω[sub 1] (CC stretch), ω[sub 2] (CS stretch), and ω[sub 3] (CCS bend), respectively. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]