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It is known that the asymptotic density of states of a 2d CFT in an irreducible representation ρ of a finite symmetry group G is proportional to (dim ρ)2. We show how this statement can be generalized when the symmetry can be non-invertible and is described by a fusion category C . Along the way, we explain what plays the role of a representation of a group in the case of a fusion category symmetry; the answer to this question is already available in the broader mathematical physics literature but not yet widely known in hep-th. This understanding immediately implies a selection rule on the correlation functions, and also allows us to derive the asymptotic density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that the asymptotic density of states of a 2d CFT in an irreducible representation ρ of a finite symmetry group G is proportional to (dim ρ)2. We show how this statement can be generalized when the symmetry can be non-invertible and is described by a fusion category C . Along the way, we explain what plays the role of a representation of a group in the case of a fusion category symmetry; the answer to this question is already available in the broader mathematical physics literature but not yet widely known in hep-th. This understanding immediately implies a selection rule on the correlation functions, and also allows us to derive the asymptotic density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CM-type projective varieties X of complex dimension n are characterized by their CM-type rational Hodge structures on the cohomology groups. One may impose such a condition in a weakest form when the canonical bundle of X is trivial; the rational Hodge structure on the level- n subspace of H n (X ; Q) is required to be of CM-type. This brief note addresses the question whether this weak condition implies that the Hodge structure on the entire H ⁎ (X ; Q) is of CM-type. We study in particular abelian varieties when the dimension of the level- n subspace is two or four, and K3 × T 2. It turns out that the answer is affirmative. Moreover, such an abelian variety is always isogenous to a product of CM-type elliptic curves or abelian surfaces. This extends a result of Shioda and Mitani in 1974. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density and dielectric spectra have been measured in the liquid phase of dimethyl ether (DME)–ethanol by an oscillating U-tube densimeter and a complex dielectric spectrometer under 1.00 MPa. The density was measured at 303.15 and 313.15 K and converted to the excess molar volume. The excess molar volumes were no smaller than − 0.880 and − 0.909 cm3·mol–1 at 303.15 and 313.15 K, respectively. The mole fraction dependence can be correlated with the Redlich–Kister equation, whose minimum was found to be around 0.58 for the mole fraction of DME. The dielectric constant and the dielectric relaxation time were evaluated from the complex dielectric spectra in the frequency range from 0.5 to 18 GHz at (293.2–313.2) K and 1.00 MPa. The dielectric constants and the relaxation time were decreased with the mole fraction of DME, and the latter tended to be around 25 ps in the mole fraction range higher than 0.6. The logarithmic dielectric constants can be correlated with a similar function to the Hildebrand equation with the volume fraction. The effective Kirkwood g-factor was evaluated at 293.2–313.2 K and 1.00 MPa. The g-factors were given by two linear functions crossed around 0.6 for the mole fraction of DME. Considering an atomic composition (C2H6O), the molecular sizes are not so different for DME and ethanol. Then, the solution structure was thought to be microscopically changed around 0.6 for the mole fraction of DME. The mole fraction will be utilized to switch the solubility to extract amphipathic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The performance of the ultra-high-temperature furnace using graphite heater was examined to attain high temperatures above 2500 °C by using a system having the electric power supply with 30 kW maximum and in various atmospherics, vacuum, Ar, He, N 2 and their mixtures. The atmospheric gas was shown to govern the performance of the furnace. On the bases of the present results, N 2 gas is concluded to be the most preferable atmospheric gas for the steady heating up to 3000 °C. Graphical abstract Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of graphite materials at high temperatures up to 3000 °C was discussed on the bases of the published results on the measurements of resistivity of graphite rods and resistance of graphite heaters in high temperature furnace in inert atmospheres, Ar, N 2 and He, and in vacuum. After passing through its minimum at around 1000 °C, resistance of graphite materials for most experimental conditions increases monotonically with increasing temperature up to 3000 °C. Due to extrinsic factors at certain experimental conditions in Ar atmosphere, however, a marked reduction in resistivity of the graphite rod above 2200 °C and also in resistance of the graphite heater above 2500 °C have been reported, no such resistance reduction having observed on the graphite heaters made from the same graphite material in N 2 and He atmospheres, and under vacuum. The resistance reduction in Ar atmosphere at around 2000–2500 °C was supposed to be due to the formation of a short circuit by ionized Ar, which could be accelerated by the coexisted vaporized gases from the carbon materials loaded in the furnace to be heat-treated. The resistance reduction could be avoided by mixing more than 32% He in Ar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 60-year-old man who developed a perforation of the sigmoid colon with ischemic change due to polyarteritis nodosa is described. Histological examination of the resected colon led to the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa. Although the gastrointestinal tract is frequently involved with polyarteritis nodosa, it is extremely rare for polyarteritis nodosa to be accompanied by a perforation of the colon, particularly at the initial presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin A is well recognized as a factor of major importance in epithelial and connective tissue repair mechanisms. Recently it was shown that vitamin A deficiency caused overgrowth and translocation of intestinal bacteria in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the healing of colonic anastomoses and formation of postsurgical adhesions in vitamin A-deficient germ-free and conventional rats. Fourteen germ-free and 10 conventional rats were allocated to four groups: germ-free rats not given vitamin A, germ-free rats given vitamin A, conventional rats not given vitamin A, and conventional rats given vitamin A. All rats underwent surgery for colonic anastomosis. Seven days afterward, they were euthanized, and the bursting pressure of colonic anastomosis and formation of peritoneal adhesions were evaluated. The bursting pressures in groups not given vitamin A were lower than in groups given vitamin A. The adhesion scores in germ-free groups were lower than in conventional groups. These findings demonstrated that vitamin A had an important role in healing of colonic anastomoses whether in the presence or absence of intestinal flora, and that intestinal bacteria had a greater effect than vitamin A on formation of postsurgical adhesions. This may suggest that the mechanism of healing of colonic anastomoses differs from that of postsurgical adhesion formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postsurgical adhesions occur commonly after surgical procedures and are the source of substantial postoperative morbidity. No preventive or prophylactic regimen against adhesions has proven successful in all circumstances. The reasons for this are not clear. The basic mechanisms causing adhesion formation have not been elucidated fully, and furthermore, lack of accurate methods of measuring adhesions may be a contributing factor. Postoperative adhesions may occur in all kinds of surgery but are especially prominent in the abdomen, where the bowel flora may be a compromising factor. This study was undertaken to study the influence of the gastrointestinal microflora on adhesion formation. Germfree and ex-germfree DA rats were subjected to a cecal crush model, and adhesions were evaluated after 7 days using 3 different scoring scales. Germfree rats formed significantly fewer adhesions than their ex-germfree (conventionalized) counterparts. The differences were so great that all three scoring scales achieved significance ( p < .005). This study corroborates that the endogenous bowel flora per se is involved in adhesion formation without causing frank infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the electromagnetic environment of the space plasmas observed by a spacecraft in space it is often difficult to distinguish the disturbance due to the satellite itself and natural phenomena. In such cases, it is effective to use a numerical experiment in which the phenomena arising around a spacecraft are reconstructed on a computer. Since the plasma filling the space is extremely dilute, the particles are in a conclusionless condition. To treat such a collisionless plasma, the electrons and ions comprising the plasma are treated as individual particles. In such cases, it is a good approach to use the electro- magnetic particle code in which the electric field and the magnetic field are solved progressively in time according to Maxwell's equations. To reconstruct on the computer, the environment around the spacecraft flying in space as closely as possible, the authors axe developing the electromagnetic particle code in which the spacecraft is included as an internal boundary. This paper reports the numerical experimental results on the electromagnetic environment around the satellite which is formed when the spacecraft is exposed to & high-speed plains flow in a space plasmas. A plasma flow is given from one end of the free boundary, and a spacecraft is placed in such a flow. By changing the parameters of the plasma, the physical quantities controlling the generation of the disturbance axe found. In regard to the mechanism of the disturbance generation and the two-dimensional configuration of the disturbance, several characteristics different from those predicted are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to study the utilization factor of an electricity transmission network by determining the optimal installation of renewable energy technologies and heat pumps that store heat. The proposed model considers the electricity demand, heat load, and meteorological data with respect to each area of the transmission network and selects the type and capacity of renewable electricity sources in each area as well as the capacity of the required compensation electricity supply. The heat input and output of heat equipment and the amount of power supply of the transmission line were decided as each energy balance equilibrating. Therefore, an analysis method that uses genetic algorithm was introduced to achieve optimal operation planning. The proposed methodology is applied to the existing electric system in the island of Hokkaido, Japan, as a case study. Optimization of the arrangement and capacity of renewable electricity generation and transmission network increased the share of renewable energy from 11% to 33.8%. Furthermore, the transmission line utilization factor of the present transmission network improved from 14.5% to 41% when the installation location and capacity of renewable energy were optimized using the proposed methodology. • System modeling of existing electricity transmission network. • Design of placement and capacity of electricity generation equipment was developed. • Installation location, type, and capacity of each renewable energy was optimized. • Example of the electric power system of Hokkaido in Japan was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new direct heating apparatus was developed for measuring the relative electrical resistivity of graphite materials in the range from room temperature to 3000 °C. The temperature dependence of the relative resistivity of isotropic high-density graphite, extruded graphite and graphite sheets showed an initial decrease to a minimum at around 600 °C followed by a linear increase up to 3000 °C. The relative error of the resistivity ratio was determined to be 1.0% on average, and 3.1% at a maximum by using a standard graphite (RM8424) certificated by NIST. For a glass-like carbon, the relative resistivity decreased with increasing temperature up to 1500 °C. [TANSO 2015 (No. 268), 166–70.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in individual renewable-energy supplies are largely reduced by distributing the renewable energy over a wide-area transmission network. Therefore, a new analysis algorithm for determining the amount of renewable energy in a wide-area transmission network was developed in this study. Accounting for the power interchange in the transmission network and the energy storage in electric heat pumps and heat storage tanks, the objective function plans the arrangement of the electric power sources that maximizes the economic efficiency of the system. The developed algorithm was applied to Hokkaido, Japan. The areas and capacities of the introduced renewable energies, and the amount of electric power interchanged through the transmission line, were determined. The installed capacity and economic efficiency of the backup power supply and energy storage equipment (heat storage) were also investigated. In this area, the introductory rate of renewable energy was 39.5% of the total electricity production. Moreover, the cost of a distributed power-supply network was 9.99 × 10 10 USD. The proposed system is equivalent to 1.88 years of Hokkaido's energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulfilling heating requirements in cold regions using fossil fuels can create problems in terms of excessive greenhouse gas emissions, making the replacement of conventional heating systems with electric heat pumps powered by renewable energy sources a desirable goal. To help address this issue, this paper examines the introduction of independent microgrids consisting of natural gas combined cycle and large-scale photovoltaic (L-PV) generating sources accompanied by electric heat pump capacity. These results help to clarify the optimal output rate of L-PV to the overall output of such a microgrid. Furthermore, this paper examine a dynamic-characteristics model of a CO 2 split cycle heat pump in terms of the error of the supply-and-demand balance. This paper show that introduction of the proposed microgrid can significantly reduce the environmental and economic impact. This study clarified the environmental capability and economical efficiency of the microgrid for cold regions under management of electric power quality. When an electric power unit price and CO 2 emissions of the proposal microgrid are referred to the domestic price based on official announcements of the Japanese government, the amount of CO 2 reduction and electric power unit price of the proposal system can expect 48% and 30% reduction in Sapporo, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between the density measured by butanol immersion (real density D R ) and the XRD parameters were examined during the graphitization of three kinds of coke; pitch cokes with mosaic and needle-like textures and a petroleum coke. The heat treatment was performed at 2100–3000°C for 5–960min. The dependences of XRD parameters, c 0, L c and L a , on D R were clearly different on the three cokes, particularly the dependence of c 0 on D R being approximated linear. The results suggest that these relationships depend strongly on the origin of the cokes, either coal-tar pitch or petroleum and whether they have a mosaic or needle-like texture. In order to consider these relationships, crystal density D C calculated from c 0 and a 0 was compared with observed D R , suggesting that the volume of “closed voids” in the particle, which was calculated as (D c − D R )/D c , and its change during graphitization was characteristic for each coke. [TANSO 2012 (No. 254) 165–8.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated coal gasification fuel cell (IGFC) combined cycle has significant advantages in power generation efficiency and reduced environmental impacts. Use of IGFCs for coal has increased throughout the world, and its power generation efficiency is higher than that of a conventional combined cycle. This study presents a method of applying a system comprising renewable energy, pumped-storage power generation, and IGFC as an independent microgrid. The IGFC is examined for its use as base load supply with a constant output. Potential technologies for interconnection with renewable energy have only recently begun to be investigated. This study proposes an operational method for stabilizing electric power supply and demand by adjusting the daily output of the IGFC and adjusting the input and output of the pumped-storage power station for each sampling period. Furthermore, when the proposed microgrid was introduced into the power load pattern on a representative day in Hokkaido, Japan, the relation between the load factor of the IGFC and the power generation efficiency of each power source was clarified. Moreover, the economic efficiency of the proposed IGFC and integrated gasification combined cycle was investigated, and the operational advantages of the IGFC were clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a highly efficient technology for the production of gas from coal with significantly reduced CO 2 emissions. Interconnecting the independent microgrid of an IGCC and a renewable energy network promotes a higher utilization of the renewable energy source but depends on the IGCC's load-following characteristics. In this study, an IGCC numerical model is applied to evaluate the electricity response characteristics. In addition, the interconnection-independent microgrid frequency is investigated through numerical analysis. The dynamic characteristics of the IGCC system's required components such as an air separator and the coal gasification furnace are determined. Moreover, the relation between the electricity quality of the microgrid and the inertia constant of turbine power generators is clarified. When a proportional-integral-derivative controller is installed in the proposed IGCC system and the load-following operation is performed, the energy flow through the microgrid is stabilized even under large-scale photovoltaic power fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a dynamic analysis model for integrated gasification fuel cell (IGFC) power generation was developed and the dynamic characteristics of electric power output by the system were investigated. Using the proposed analytical model, the study addressed the frequency deviation of electric power output, the inertia system of gas and steam turbines, the air–fuel ratio of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), and load patterns. Moreover, using the model, an example of an electric power load pattern in Japan was examined. Because the supply and demand difference in electric power can be monitored as frequency deviation in a power network, the frequency of each power generator was analyzed. Consequently, the output of IGFC gas and steam turbines could not be controlled in the target range. Therefore, it was necessary to stabilize the quantity of exhaust heat by improving the heat transfer speed of the SOFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using numerical analysis, stabilization of the cyclic fluctuation (changes of several minutes or less) of PV (photovoltaics) was attempted by introducing governor-free control of a SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell), controlling air flow rate, and using a flywheel inertia system. The energy balance of the system element, mass balance, time lag, etc. were modeled, and the response characteristics of the proposed system were analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink 2013a. Consequently, the range of fluctuation in the electrical frequency within 0.2 Hz was controlled by introducing a flywheel inertia constant of 0.01 s. Interconnection electricity using PV with cyclic fluctuations can be supplied as high-definition electricity. That electricity is controlled using a flywheel and a proportional-integral-differential controller with suitable parameters by adjusting the governor-free control and rate of air flow in the SOFC. The SOFC and an inertia system provide a supply of backup power from renewable energy and serve to promote the increased use of clean energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • [5] and [7]thiaheterohelicene on Ag(111) form highly ordered molecular domains. • Unambiguous identification of the absolute handedness of enantiomeric species. • Crystallization of thiaheterohelicene is affected by stereospecific interactions. • Chemical identification of thiaheterohelicene adsorbed on Ag surface using SERS. • We developed a new method for SERS investigation so called trench SERS. The crystallization of a racemic mixture of [5] and [7]thiaheterohelicene molecules into two-dimensional highly ordered molecular domains on a Ag(111) surface was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at 80 K. We observed that the crystallization of both thiaheterohelicene molecules on a Ag(111) surface was strongly affected by stereospecific interactions resulting from different numbers of aromatic rings incorporated into the helical skeletons of molecules. [5]Thiaheterohelicene molecules crystallized predominant into a few racemate polymorphic molecular domains, allowing us to obtain high-resolution STM images with the unambiguous identification of the absolute handedness of enantiomeric species. In contrast, the stereochemical chiral interactions among [7]thiaheterohelicene molecules led to the formation of one type of racemate molecular domain consisting of self-assembled zigzagged twin rows. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation strongly suggests weak interaction between thiaheterohelicene molecules and Ag(111) surface and lack of formation the S-Ag chemical bond. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with theoretical calculation based on a density functional theory was applied to the chemical verification of molecules adsorbed on a plasmonic silver surface for future tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbonophosphate compound of Li2.72Na0.31MnPO4CO3 was synthesized via ion exchange. The initial discharge capacity of Li2.72Na0.31MnPO4CO3 in 15 molal (or 15 m) LiTFSI was 110 mA h g−1 at 2 mA cm−2 (∼0.5C). Due to the decomposition of Li2.72Na0.31MnPO4CO3, the capacity retention degraded to 64% after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The thymidine analog 3′-deoxy-3′-[F]fluorothymidine (F-FLT) has been developed as a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer to assess the proliferation activity of tumors in vivo. The present study investigated the relationship between the kinetic parameters of F-FLT in vivo and thymidine kinase-1 (TK-1) expression and cell proliferation rate in vitro, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown in human brain gliomas. Methods: A total of 21 patients with newly diagnosed gliomas were examined by F-FLT PET kinetic analysis. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor-to-normal (T/N) ratio of F-FLT in the tumor and F-FLT kinetic parameters in the corresponding contralateral region were determined. The expression levels of TK-1 protein and mRNA were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively, using surgical specimens. The cell proliferation rate of the tumor was determined in terms of the Ki-67 labeling index. BBB breakdown was evaluated on MR images with contrast enhancement. Results: F-FLT SUVmax and T/N ratio were significantly correlated with the influx rate constant ( K; P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), but not with the phosphorylation rate constant ( k). IHC and real-time PCR studies demonstrated a significant correlation between K and TK-1 mRNA expression ( P = 0.001), but not between k and TK-1 protein and mRNA expression. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between K and the Ki-67 index ( P = 0.003), but not between k and the Ki-67 index. TK-1 mRNA expression was significantly correlated with the Ki-67 index ( P = 0.009). F-FLT SUVmax and T/N ratio were significantly correlated with BBB breakdown evaluated by contrast enhancement in MR images ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.011, respectively). Conclusion: These results indicate that F-FLT uptake in the tumor is significantly related to transport through the disrupted BBB, but not through phosphorylation activity. Although the tissue TK-1 expression reflects tumor proliferation activity, the phosphorylation rate constant k determined by F-FLT PET kinetic analysis does not accurately reflect TK-1 expression in the tissue and should not be used as a surrogate biomarker of cell proliferation activity in human brain gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of positron imaging agents such as FDG, MET, and FLT is expected to lead the way for novel applications toward efficient malignancy grading and treatment of gliomas. In this study, the usefulness of FDG, MET and FLT-PET images was retrospectively reviewed by comparing their histopathological findings. FDG, MET, and FLT-PET were performed in 27 patients with WHO grade IV, 15 patients with WHO grade III, and 12 patients with WHO grade II during 5.5 years. The resulting PET images were compared by measuring SUVs and T/N ratios (tumor to normal tissue ratios). Although there were no significant differences in FDG-PET, there were significant differences in the T/N ratios in the MET-PET between WHO grades II and IV and in the FLT-PET between the WHO grades III and IV. In glioblastoma patients, the SUVs of the areas depicted by MRI in the MET-PET were different from those SUVs in the FLT-PET. Importantly, the areas with high SUVs in both MET-PET and FLT-PET were also high in Ki-67 index and were histologically highly malignant. PET imaging is a noninvasive modality that is useful in determining a tumor area for removal as well as improving preoperative diagnosis for gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of positron imaging agents such as FDG, MET, and FLT is expected to lead the way for novel applications toward efficient malignancy grading and treatment of gliomas. In this study, the usefulness of FDG, MET and FLT-PET images was retrospectively reviewed by comparing their histopathological findings. FDG, MET, and FLT-PET were performed in 27 patients with WHO grade IV, 15 patients with WHO grade III, and 12 patients with WHO grade II during 5.5 years. The resulting PET images were compared by measuring SUVs and T/N ratios (tumor to normal tissue ratios). Although there were no significant differences in FDG-PET, there were significant differences in the T/N ratios in the MET-PET between WHO grades II and IV and in the FLT-PET between the WHO grades III and IV. In glioblastoma patients, the SUVs of the areas depicted by MRI in the MET-PET were different from those SUVs in the FLT-PET. Importantly, the areas with high SUVs in both MET-PET and FLT-PET were also high in Ki-67 index and were histologically highly malignant. PET imaging is a noninvasive modality that is useful in determining a tumor area for removal as well as improving preoperative diagnosis for gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ATP-binding cassette protein ABCG2 is a member of a broad family of ABC transporters with potential clinical importance as a mediator of multidrug resistance. We carried out a homology and knowledge-based, and mutationally improved molecular modeling study to establish a much needed structural framework for the protein, which could serve as guidance for further genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses. Based on homology with known structures of both full-length and nucleotide-binding domains (NBD) of ABC transporters and structural knowledge of integral membrane proteins, an initial model of ABCG2 was established. Subsequent refinement to conform to the lipophilic index distributions in the transmembrane domain (TMD) and to the results of site-directed mutagenesis experiments led to an improved model. The complete ABCG2 model consists of two identical subunits facing each other in a closed conformation. The dimeric interface in the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) involves a characteristic nucleotide sandwich and the interface in the TMD consists of the TM helices 1–3 of one subunit and the helices 5 and 6 of the other. The interface between the NBD and the TMD is bridged by the conserved structural motif between TM2 and TM3, the intracellular domain 1 (ICD1), and the terminal β-strand (S6) of the central β-sheet in the NBD. The apparent flexibility of the ICD1 may play a role in transmitting conformational changes from the NBD to the TMD or from the TMD to the NBD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Space development has been rapidly increasing, and a strong demand should arise regarding the understanding of the spacecraft-plasma interactions, which is one of the very important issues associated with the human activities in space. To evaluate the spacecraft-plasma interactions including plasma kinetics, transient process, and electromagnetic field variation, the authors have started to develop a numerical plasma chamber called Geospace Environment Simulator (GES) by making the most use of the conventional full particle-in-cell plasma simulations. For the development of a proto model of GES, the authors have used the Earth Simulator, which is one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. GES can be regarded as a numerical chamber in which space experiments can be virtually performed and temporal and spatial evolutions of spacecraft-plasma interactions can be analyzed. In this paper, the authors have briefly introduced GES in terms of its concept, modeling, and research targets. As one of the research topics of GES, the authors have investigated the impedance variation of electric field antenna onboard scientific satellites in the photoelectron environment in space. From the preliminary simulation results, the large change of reactance of the antenna impedance below the characteristic frequency corresponding to the local plasma frequency determined by the photoelectron density could be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Only 2 mutations in the arrestin gene have been previously reported to be associated with Oguchi''s disease, a homozygous Asn309(1-bp del) mutation in Japanese families and a homozygous Arg193stop mutation in an Indian family. The aim of this article is to report 2 novel mutations in the arrestin gene in 2 Japanese patients with Oguchi''s disease and to describe the clinical features with the mutations.Design: Molecular genetic study and observational case report.Participants: Two unrelated Japanese patients with Oguchi''s disease associated with novel arrestin mutations.Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of the peripheral blood, and exons 2 through 16 of the arrestin gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp and fundus examinations, fundus photography, and electroretinography (ERG).Main outcome measures: Direct sequencing of the arrestin gene, evaluation of visual acuity, refraction, and ERG.Results: Three arrestin gene mutations were identified in 2 patients. A compound heterozygous mutation, Arg175stop and Asn309(1-bp del), was identified in 1 patient with Oguchi''s disease. The former mutation has not been reported, whereas the latter is known to be a frequent mutation in Oguchi''s disease in Japanese families. In a second patient, another novel mutation was detected in the gene, a homozygous Arg292stop mutation. Both patients demonstrated characteristic features of Oguchi''s disease, including night blindness, golden-yellow discoloration of the retina, absent rod ERG response, and “negative” type bright-flash ERG after 30 minutes of dark adaptation.Conclusions: The existence of 2 novel mutations of the arrestin gene in 2 unrelated Japanese patients strongly supports the previous data that arrestin gene mutations are associated with Oguchi''s disease. All of the mutations in the arrestin gene that have been identified in Oguchi''s disease are null mutations, indicating that only critical gene defects in the arrestin gene are associated with Oguchi''s disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate in patients with bladder cancer appears to influence the prognosis and affects the decision about therapeutic modality. Therefore, it is important to characterize transitional cell carcinoma associated with bladder cancer. Methods: From April 1980 to December 1998, 81 male patients underwent total cystoprostatectomies for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The 81 cystoprostatectomy specimens were examined to clarify the characteristics of prostatic involvement by transitional cell carcinoma. The extent, origin, mode of spread and risk factor of prostatic involvement as well as the prognosis were investigated. In 13 of 15 patients with prostatic involvement the prostate was examined by sequential step sections. Results: Prostatic involvement was observed in 15 of 81 patients (18.5%). Prostatic urethral involvement, invasion to prostatic duct/acinus, prostatic stromal invasion and extraprostatic extension and/or seminal vesicle involvement were recognized in 12 (80%), 14 (93.3%), six (40%), and five (33.3%) of the 15 patients, respectively. Twelve of the 15 patients (80%) with prostatic involvement had papillary or non-papillary tumors (i.e. carcinoma in situ) both in the prostatic urethra and prostatic duct. In 10 of these 12 patients (88.3%), there was contiguity between prostatic urethral and ductal tumors. Seven of the 23 patients (30.4%) with carcinoma in situ of the bladder showed prostatic involvement, which increased to 50% in the presence of carcinoma in situ of the trigone or bladder neck. Conclusions: Eighty per cent of the patients with prostatic involvement showed papillary or nonpapillary tumors both in the prostatic urethra and prostatic duct. There was a high level of contiguity between both tumors. Patients with carcinoma in situ of the trigone or bladder neck revealed significantly higher incidence of prostatic involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelioid glioblastoma is a rare subtype of glioblastoma, but the coexistence of a sarcomatous component is even rarer. An 80‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital with somnolence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic lesion with a solid component in the left temporal–parietal lobe. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor revealed three components; namely, typical glioblastoma, sarcomatous and epithelioid components at a ratio of about 5:3:2. All components were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin and mutated BRAF (V600E) and showed focal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and cytokeratin AE1/AE3, but they were negative for isocitrate dehydrogenase 1. Genetic analysis revealed that both the sarcomatous and epithelioid components harbored BRAF T1799A (V600E) mutation and homozygous deletion of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B. We diagnosed this tumor as epithelial glioblastoma with a sarcomatous component. Our results indicate that even when the epithelial component is not dominant, immunohistochemical and genetic investigation of BRAF mutations is useful for the diagnosis of glioblastoma subtypes. In particular, although the prognosis of epithelial glioblastoma is poor, potentially effective targeted therapies for BRAF V600E‐mutated tumors are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbonophosphate Na3FePO4CO3 was synthesized by the mechanical ball milling method for the first time. The composition of the obtained sample with a higher amount of Fe2+ was Na2.66Fe2+0.66Fe3+0.34PO4CO3 as confirmed by Mössbauer analysis, owing to the good airtight properties of this method. The obtained samples in an organic electrolyte delivered an initial discharge capacity of 124 mAh/g at room temperature, and a larger discharge capacity of 159 mAh/g (1.66 Na+/mole) at 60 °C. With 17 m NaClO4 aqueous electrolyte, a discharge capacity of 161 mAh/g (1.69 Na+/mole) was delivered because of the high ionic conductivity of the concentrated aqueous electrolyte. During the charge-discharge process, the formation of Fe4+ after charging up to 4.5 V and the return of Fe2+ after discharging down to 1.5 V were detected by ex-situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptomatic cyst formation after brain tumor resection is a rare complication of the early postoperative phase. We describe a complicated case of postoperative symptomatic cyst formation after gross total removal of a convexity meningioma. A 59-year-old woman presented with recent onset motor aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left convexity tumor. We performed gross total resection of the tumor, which was pathologically diagnosed as an atypical meningioma. Tumor resection and decompression of the normal cerebral hemisphere improved aphasia. However, 3 days after surgery, her motor aphasia worsened. Computed tomography scan confirmed that the frontal lobe was being compressed by an enlargement of the postoperative tumor cavity. Conservative therapy did not shrink the cavity, and her motor aphasia persisted. Therefore, 21 days after surgery, a drainage tube was inserted into the enlarged cavity using a neuroendoscope, which promoted shrinkage of the cavity and improved her motor aphasia. We suspected that the enlargement of the postoperative cavity was because of the presence of a valve-like structure. Even though formation of symptomatic cystic lesions after brain tumor resection is rare, neurosurgeons should be aware of such early postoperative complications and their management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antipyrine and 4-aminantipyrine are pyrazolone derivatives, and they are used as raw materials for medical drugs, catalysts and chromophores. In this study, to design the extraction and purification process, the solid-liquid equilibria (SLE) of three binaries, water - antipyrine, ethanol - 4-aminoantipyrine and water - 4-aminoantipyrine, and the two ternaries, ethanol - water - antipyrine and water - ethanol - 4-aminoantipyrine, were investigated by directly measuring the solution temperature at 256.95–338.48 K. Then, an equimolar solvent mixture of ethanol and water was used for the SLE measurements of the two ternaries. Simple eutectic systems were verified for water - antipyrine and water - 4-aminoantipyrine. The eutectic point was not observed for ethanol – 4-aminoantipyrine, ethanol - water - antipyrine and ethanol - water - 4-aminoantipyrine in the experimental temperature range. The ternary SLE were also compared with the three binaries measured in this study, and the other two constituent binaries, ethanol – antipyrine and ethanol –water. The cosolvencies were identified in the two ternary SLE, because antipyrine and 4-aminoantipyrine had larger solubilities in ethanol –water than those in pure water or ethanol at given temperature. NRTL equation provided good reproducibilities for the SLE of the five binaries, ethanol – antipyrine, water – antipyrine, ethanol - 4-aminoantipyrine, water-4-aminoantipyrine and ethanol -water. Especially for ethanol – water, sigmoid functions with the temperature were proposed for the two parameters, g 12 - g 22 and g 21 - g 11 , in the NRTL equation. However, the cosolvencies in the ternaries were not evaluated just by the parameters. The ternary data were well correlated with the binary parameters for ethanol - water, which were determined from the ternary SLE. Conversely, the parameters could not provide reproducibility for the SLE of ethanol- water. The results suggested that the interactions between ethanol and water in the ternary systems were different from those in the ethanol –water binary system. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, using the gas-liquid interfaces near fine bubbles as new crystallization fields where nucleation proceeds dominantly, a crystallization technique to enhance the production of α-form Indomethacin (IMC) at a constant temperature was developed. IMC is reported to show a complicated polymorphism that consists of five true polymorphs and a wide range of solvate forms, which are collectively named the β-form. IMC was crystallized using the antisolvent method assisted by nitrogen (N 2 ) fine bubbles. In the regions around the minute gas-liquid interfaces, local supersaturation increases because of the accumulation of IMC, which is caused by the negative electric charge on the fine-bubble surface. Hence, the rate of crystal nucleation increases, and the crystallization of metastable polymorph is enhanced. At a solution temperature of 298 K, a saturated IMC-EtOH solution and water as an antisolvent were mixed by two different addition orders, as follows: the IMC-EtOH/H 2 O system: water was quickly added into a saturated IMC-EtOH solution; the H 2 O/IMC-EtOH system: a saturated IMC-EtOH solution was rapidly added into water. While water was mixed with the saturated IMC-EtOH solution, N 2 fine bubbles with an average diameter of 25 µm were continuously supplied to the mixed solution using a self-supporting bubble generator and IMC was crystallized within a crystallization time of 5 min. In both systems, the supersaturation ratio in the bulk solution (ln C 0 / C S ) was varied in the range of 1.5–5.7 by controlling the addition volume of water or saturated IMC-EtOH solution. For comparison, antisolvent crystallization free of fine bubbles was performed. The results show that in both systems, N 2 fine-bubble injection enhanced the production of metastable α-form at ln( C 0 / C S ) below 3.5, and decreased the required ln( C 0 / C S ) for the high-yield crystallization of α-form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The nucleolar 58-kDa microspherule protein (MSP58) has important transcriptional regulation functions and plays a crucial role in the tumorigenesis and progression of cancers. 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) has emerged as a promising positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for evaluating tumor malignancy and cell proliferation. Methods: In the present study, the expression of MSP58 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and the corresponding PET image was examined using FLT-PET in 55 patients with various grades of gliomas. Results: The immunoreactivity score (IRS) of MSP58 increased with tumor grade with grade IV gliomas exhibiting the highest expression and showed a highly significant positive correlation with the Ki-67 index (r = 0.65, P < 0.001). The IRS of MSP58 in the tumor showed a highly significant positive correlation with corresponding FLT uptake value (r = 0.61, P < 0.001). The correlation between MSP58 expression and glioma malignancy was also confirmed by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and western blot analysis. FLT uptake value also exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with the Ki-67 index (r = 0.59, P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that MSP58 expression has a significant prognostic ability for the overall survival time similar to that found in the uptake value of FLT-PET. Conclusion: These results indicate that MSP58 plays an important role in cell proliferation and will be one of the potential candidates of molecular therapy targeting proliferation. FLT-PET might be used as an early measure of treatment response in the proliferation-targeted therapy. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, to optimize the kind and capacity of renewable energy installed in each area, an optimization program was developed using a simple genetic algorithm (GA). In the proposed algorithm, the kind and capacity of renewable energy was expressed using a chromosome model. The most efficient and economical system could be identified by applying the model in a random computer search. A case study was developed to test the proposed algorithm. In the case study, a solar power station was installed near 14 cities in Hokkaido, Japan, and a wind power station was installed seven areas. Using the algorithm, the system planning requirements for the interconnection of these renewable energy facilities over a large area were optimized. On the basis of these results, the kind and capacity of renewable energy considered to be the most economically advantageous to the region were identified and evaluated. Using the proposed optimization algorithm for planning and design, an efficient, economical, and interconnected system of electrical power could be realized from renewable energy over a large area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We found three novel polymorphisms in the beta ig-h3 gene in patients with gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy: (1) a substitution from CTC to CTT at codon 472 that did not alter an amino acid; (2) a substitution from GCG (Ala) to GTG (Val) at codon 480; and (3) a substitution from C to T in intron 10, three nucleotides upstream from the acceptor site of exon 11. The allelic frequencies of the C:T polymorphism at codon 472 and in intron 10 in the Japanese population were estimated to be 0.778:0.222 and 0.954: 0.046, respectively. Although the codon 480 substitution was not observed in 54 unrelated healthy Japanese people, the substation did not co-segregate with the disease phenotype, suggesting that this was a rare, non-deleterious alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neat 1-phenyl- and l-(p-tolyl)-2-propyn-l-ones (1 and 1', respectively) were heated in water without any additive at 150 °C for 2 h to give 1,3,5-tribenzoyl- and 1,3,5-tri-(p-toluoyl)benzenes (2 and 2', respectively) in 74 and 52% yields, respectively. The crossed reactions of 1 with the enolate of p-toluoylacetaldehyde (3') and 1' with the enolate of benzoylacetaldehyde 3) were carried out to give unsymmetrically substituted 1-toluoyl-3,5-dibenzoyIbenzene (Ph2Tol) and l,3-ditoluoyl-5-benzoylbenzene (PhTol2), respectively, corroborating the previously proposed reaction mechanism in which 3 and 3' that are formed by rate-determining nucleophilic attack of HO- on 1 and 1' or its conjugate acids formed by subsequent protonation would serve as a common intermediate for the formation of 2, 2' and the acetophenone derivatives as byproducts. When 4-methoxy-3-buten-2-one (4) was heated in hot pure water without any additive at 150 °C for 30 min, 1,3,5-triacetylbenzene (5) was obtained in an isolated yield of 77% just by removing water by filtering the crystalline product from the cooled reaction mixture. The reaction did not take place in the absence of water. Slow decompositions of 5 in water set in at the temperature of 300 °C for 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by tissue hypoxia associated with resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. To clarify the biological link between hypoxia and tumour-induced neovascularization and tumour aggressiveness, we analysed detailed volumetric and spatial information of viable hypoxic tissue assessed by F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET relative to neovascularization in Gd-enhanced MRI and tumour aggressiveness by L-methyl-C-methionine (MET) PET in newly diagnosed GBMs. Methods: Ten patients with newly diagnosed GBMs were investigated with FMISO PET, MET PET and Gd-enhanced MRI before surgery. Tumour volumes were calculated by performing a three-dimensional threshold-based volume of interest (VOI) analysis for metabolically active volume on MET PET (MET uptake indices of ≥1.3 and ≥1.5) and Gd-enhanced volume on MRI. FMISO PET was scaled to the blood FMISO activity to create tumour to blood (T/B) images. The hypoxic volume (HV) was defined as the region with T/B greater than 1.2. PET and MR images of each patient were coregistered to analyse the spatial location of viable hypoxic tissue relative to neovascularization and active tumour extension. Results: Metabolically active tumour volumes defined using MET uptake indices of ≥1.3 and ≥1.5 and the volumes of Gd enhancement showed a strong correlation ( r = 0.86, p < 0.01 for an index of ≥1.3 and r = 0.77, p < 0.05 for an index of ≥1.5). The HVs were also excellently correlated with the volumes of Gd enhancement ( r = 0.94, p < 0.01). The metabolically active tumour volumes as defined by a MET uptake index of ≥1.3 and the HVs exhibited a strong correlation ( r = 0.87, p < 0.01). On superimposed images, the metabolically active area on MET PET defined by a MET uptake index of ≥1.3 was usually larger than the area of the Gd enhancement and about 20-30% of the MET area extended outside the area of the enhancement. On the other hand, the surface area of viable hypoxic tissue with a T/B cutoff of ≥1.2 on FMISO PET did not substantially differ from the area of the Gd enhancement. Conclusion: The volumetric analysis demonstrates that the viable hypoxic tissue assessed by FMISO PET is related to the neovascularization in Gd-enhanced MRI and the tumour aggressiveness by MET PET in newly diagnosed GBMs. The spatial analysis shows that the metabolically active tumour may be substantially underestimated by Gd-enhanced MRI. Complementary use of MET and FMISO to Gd-enhanced MRI may improve the understanding of tumour biology and lead to the most efficient delineation of tumour volume and treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant intracranial tumour that develops in both adults and children. Microarray gene analyses have confirmed that the human YKL-40 gene is one of the most over-expressed genes in these tumours but not in normal brain tissue. Clinical studies have shown that serum YKL-40 levels are positively correlated with tumour burden in addition to being an independent prognostic factor of a short relapse-free interval as well as short overall survival in patients with various cancers. Our previous study revealed that YKL-40 was closely correlated with the pathological grades of human primary astrocytomas and played a crucial role in glioma cell proliferation. Hence, YKL-40 could be an attractive target in the design of anticancer therapies. Methods: Cell viability and invasion assays were performed to detect the cell proliferation and invasive ability of U87 cells induced by resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene; Res) or YKL-40 small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). In addition, the luciferase assay, real-time RT-PCR, western blotting, and ELISA were used to measure YKL-40 promoter activity, mRNA, and protein expression, respectively. The expressions of phosphor-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 were determined by western blotting. Results: Res inhibited U87 cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and repressed YKL-40 in U87 cells by decreasing the activity of its promoter and reducing mRNA transcription and protein expression in vitro. YKL-40 siRNA treatment also impaired the invasiveness of U87 cells. When U87 cells were cultured with 20 μM PD98059 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor) alone, with 20 μM PD98059 and 100 μM Res, or with 100 μM Res alone for 48 h, YKL-40 protein expression decreased most significantly in the Res-treated group. PD98059 partially reversed the decrease of YKL-40 protein expression induced by Res. Furthermore, phosphor-ERK1/2 expression was reduced by Res treatment in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: We demonstrated for the first time that Res represses YKL-40 expression in vitro; in addition, the ERK1/2 pathway is involved in this repression. This finding could extend the prospective use of Res in glioma research and enlarge the armamentarium for treating gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A combined colorectal and hepatic resection is considered too risky by many surgeons owing to the high risk of postoperative septic complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hepatic resection on the healing of left-sided colonic anastomoses in rats on postoperative day 7. Material and Methods: Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were block-randomized into three groups. In each group, 1 cm of the left side of the colon was resected and anastomosed. Additionally, 40 or 70% of the liver was resected in group 2 and 3, respectively. Rats were killed on postoperative day 7. The abdominal cavity was inspected for the presence of complications. The bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content of the anastomoses were measured. Results: The total number of complications was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2. Anastomotic bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content did not differ significantly among the groups. Conclusions: Increasing the extent of simultaneous hepatic resection did not significantly affect the healing of left-sided colonic anastomoses in rats on postoperative day 7, although there was a tendency towards lower bursting pressure paralleling the extent of liver resection. Excessive hepatic resection with colectomy may increase postoperative complications. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABCG2 is an ATP-binding cassette half-transporter conferring resistance to chemotherapeutic agents such as mitoxantrone, irinotecan, and flavopiridol. With its one transmembrane and one ATP-binding domain, ABCG2 is thought to homodimerize for function. One conserved region potentially involved in dimerization is a three-amino acid sequence in transmembrane segment 5 (residues 552–554). Mutations in the corresponding residues in the Drosophila white protein (an orthologue of ABCG2) are thought to disrupt heterodimerization. We substituted glycine 553 with leucine (G553L) followed by stable transfection in HEK 293 cells. The mutant was not detectable on the cell surface, and markedly reduced protein expression levels were observed by immunoblotting. A deficiency in N-linked glycosylation was suggested by a reduction in molecular mass compared to that of the 72 kDa wild-type ABCG2. Similar results were observed with the G553E mutant. Confocal microscopy demonstrated mostly ER localization of the G553L mutant in HEK 293 cells, even when coexpressed with the wild-type protein. Despite its altered localization, the G553L and G553E mutants were cross-linked using amine-reactive cross-linkers with multiple arm lengths, suggesting that the monomers are in the proximity of each other but are unable to complete normal trafficking. Interestingly, when expressed in Sf9 insect cells, G553L moves to the cell membrane but is unable to hydrolyze ATP or transport the Hoechst dye. Still, when coexpressed, the mutant interferes with the Hoechst transport activity of the wild-type protein. These data show that glycine 553 is important for protein trafficking and are consistent with, but do not yet prove, its involvement in ABCG2 homodimerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study which investigated the changes in the mutagenic and estrogenic activities of 17β-estradiol after nitrite treatment. The nitrite-treated estradiol showed mutagenic activities toward Salmonella typhimirum strains TA 100 and TA 98. Nitrite-treated 17β-estradiol and 2-nitro-17β-estradiol induced higher frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes in mice. The results suggest that a daily oral intake of 17β-estradiol and nitrite may induce the formation of mutagenic compounds in the human body.

The neuroprotective effect of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), was examined. The survival of purified RGCs after exposure to glutamate with or without donepezil (10-7 M to 10-5 M) was measured after 3 days in culture. In vivo, the neuroprotective effect of donepezil was examined by quantifying the number of viable RGCs 7 days after axotomy in adult rats. In vitro, donepezil dose-dependently reduced RGC death caused by glutamate toxicity. Oral administration of donepezil (10 mg kg-1 day-1) significantly reduced RGC death after axotomy. In conclusion, donepezil exerts a protective effect on RGCs both in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In standard oncological sigmoid colectomy, the inferior mesenteric artery is ligated either at its origin or at the level of the left colic artery. However, in patients with early-stage carcinoma, the distribution of metastatic nodes may be limited. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence and distribution of lymph node metastasis in T1 sigmoid colon carcinoma and to determine the adequate range of lymph node dissection. Material and methods The study included 121 consecutive patients treated for T1 sigmoid colon carcinoma. Clinicopathologic factors associated with nodal metastasis and the distribution of metastatic nodes were analyzed. Results Conclusions Of 121 patients, 12 (10%) had nodal involvement. The depth of invasion and the presence of lymphatic and vascular invasion were significantly associated with nodal metastasis. Of these 12 patients, 11 (92%) had lymph node metastasis confined to pericolic nodes. Nodes along the sigmoidal artery were involved in one patient. There was no involved node along the superior rectal artery or at the root of the inferior mesenteric artery. Lymph node dissection for T1 sigmoid colon carcinoma should be limited to the root of the sigmoidal artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery should be preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor about the case of a 70-year-old female patient with IgG4-related central nervous system (CNS) lesions is presented.

This paper proposes a novel control system design for a two-wheeled service robot that follows a person as an assistant without knowing the person's destination. For this kind of service robot, the key skill is to realize human-friendly movement. However, appropriate motion always changed depending on the situation. For instance, when the robot is close and person turns toward it, it is important to suppress the robot's acceleration. Likewise, if the person turns away from the robot, the robot should maintain its position within an appropriate area. Therefore, to deal with various required movements, our control system is able to change its properties automatically and suitably depending on the situation by using weights of the cost function in nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) as a function of the relative distance between the person and the robot. Unlike previous methods, our design includes only one controller. Consequently, we are able to take into account system stability. Moreover, owing to proposing in NMPC framework, it is easy to extend our method by adopting other recognition or goal-setting methods. We conducted simulations using actual human walking data taken by the robot's laser range sensors. The experiments demonstrate that the robot can follow a person who performs U-turn, confirming that our method can produce human-friendly robot movement in a practical scene. • Control system design for a two-wheeled service robot is proposed. • Proposed method realized the human-friendly movements. • Verified the performance in both the simulation and the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fine bubbles enable the production of numerous fine crystals of needle-shaped MSU. • Local supersaturation of MSU is generated in the regions near fine bubble surfaces. • Increasing the injection time of fine bubbles leads to downsizing of MSU crystals. • Nucleation and crystal growth of MSU are controllable by varying fine bubble density. To control the nucleation and growth of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals, we studied the reactive crystallization of MSU from simulated synovial fluid using the gas–liquid interfaces around N 2 fine bubbles as novel crystallization fields. In the regions near the gas–liquid interfaces, local supersaturation is generated because of the accumulation of Na+ resulting from the negative electric charge on the fine bubble surface. Hence, the micronization of MSU crystals is expected to occur via growth suppression through the enhancement of nucleation. N 2 fine bubbles were continuously supplied to the simulated synovial fluid with 140 mmol/L-Na+ and 3.6 mmol/L-uric acid using a pressurized dissolution-type fine bubble generator. The injection time of the N 2 fine bubbles was varied within 60 min to control the volume density of the fine bubbles. The simulated synovial fluid containing N 2 fine bubbles was sampled and sealed on a microscope slide, and the reactive crystallization of MSU was performed by standing operation. When the volume density of fine bubbles was increased, the crystal growth was suppressed because of the increasing effective nuclei number and the decreasing consumption of supersaturation for crystal growth caused by the acceleration of nucleation, which led to the generation of numerous fine crystals of needle-shaped MSU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel carbonophosphate, Na3MnPO4CO3, was synthesized as a cathode material using a mechanical ball milling method with starting materials of MnCO3 and Na3PO4 without washing or drying. Duo to the formation of nano-size particles and good dispersion of the obtained Na3MnPO4CO3, the initial discharge capacity in an organic electrolyte of 1 M NaPF6/ethylene carbonate (EC): dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (1:1 v/v) was 135 mAh∙g−1 and 116 mAh∙g−1 at 1/30 C and 1/10 C, respectively. We also investigated the cathode properties of Na3MnPO4CO3 in an aqueous electrolyte of 17 m NaClO4. This is the first investigation of the electrochemical performance of Na3MnPO4CO3 with aqueous electrolyte. Na3MnPO4CO3 achieved a discharge capacity as large as 134 mAh g−1 even at a high current density of 2 mA cm−2 (0.5 C), because of the high ionic conductivity of the aqueous electrolyte of 17 m NaClO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]