Search

Physics-based simulations are important for elucidating the fundamental mechanisms behind the time-varying complex ionospheric conditions, such as field-aligned currents (FACs) and plasma convection patterns, against unprecedented solar wind variations incidents in the Earth’s magnetosphere. However, to perform a huge parameter survey for understanding the nonlinear solar wind density dependence of the FAC and convection patterns, for example, a large-scale cluster computer is not fast enough to run state-of-the-art global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. Here we report the impressive performance of a machine-learning based surrogate model for the ionospheric outputs of a global MHD simulation, using the reservoir computing technique called echo state network (ESN). The trained ESN-based emulator is exceptionally fast to perform the parameter survey, suggesting a missing solar wind density dependence of the ionospheric polar cap potential. We discuss future directions including the promising application for the space weather forecast.

A preschool child with refractory peritoneal dialysis-related exit-site infection (ESI)/peritonitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) received multidrug antibacterial therapy for 6 months and then successfully underwent living-donor kidney transplantation. The patient was a 2.7-year-old boy and the primary disease was bilateral hypo/dysplastic kidneys. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) was initiated at the age of 4 months. Purulent drainage from the PD catheter exit site was observed, and pus and PD effluent cultures were negative. Since living kidney transplantation was scheduled for 2 months later, the PD catheter was replaced. Due to dialysate leakage from the exit site, the new PD catheter was removed and hemodialysis was initiated. M. abscessus subsequently grew from the PD effluent and abscesses that formed at the exit site continued to present bacteria even after catheter removal; therefore, additional debridement was performed. He received combination treatment with antibiotics, amikacin, clarithromycin, imipenem/cilastatin sodium, and tigecycline, for 6 months. After a 4-month observation period without antibiotics, the patient underwent living-donor kidney transplantation. The post-transplantation course was uneventful without the recurrence of infection for 2 years. Although PD-related ESI/peritonitis caused by M. abscessus was intractable, PD catheter removal, multiple debridement, and 6-month antibiotic combination therapy led to improvements. Follow-up observations for 4 months after the cessation of antibacterial treatment confirmed no recurrence of M. abscessus infection, which allowed kidney transplantation. The establishment of an appropriate treatment strategy and observation period for M. abscessus infection ahead of kidney transplantation requires further case accumulation.

This study evaluated the effects of three types of hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) on image quality of pediatric body computed tomography images. The image quality components evaluated were noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based modulation transfer function (TTF), and system performance function (SPF). As the IR strength was increased while reducing the radiation dose, the NPS increased in a low-frequency range and the TTF decreased in low-contrast regions. In the low-contrast regions, the calculated SPF decreased over the entire frequency range. Alternatively, in the high-contrast regions, the SPF decreased in the low-frequency regions and increased in the high-frequency regions. The radiation dose reduction using the hybrid IR resulted in the deterioration of the image quality in the low-contrast regions and changes in the spatial frequency characteristics in the high-contrast regions.

We have previously reported that phosphine (PH 3 ) surface treatment of a p-type crystalline germanium (c-Ge) substrate improves the c-Ge heterojunction solar cell performance. In this study, the effects of the heterointerface properties of the c-Ge heterojunction solar cell were investigated. We found that the deposition temperature of the heterojunction layer and O 2 surface treatment before the PH 3 surface treatment influence the interface phase structure and band structure. Consequently, a conversion efficiency of 7.61% with a high open-circuit voltage of 0.270 V was obtained.

In many facilities, the displayed dose of dose-area product (DAP) is used for the dose management of interventional radiology. In this study, we investigated the measured dose at the patient entrance reference point (interventional reference point) and the displayed dose on each angiography systems. Also, we investigated the calibration method of each DAP. The errors of the measured dose and the displayed dose were less than 35%, but that dispersion was wide between the systems. The calibration methods varies according to a system. And even in the same manufacturer, the calibration methods were different. Therefore, to use the displayed dose of DAP for patient dose management, we need to compare that with the measured dose regularly. The differences of calibration methods induce the wide dispersion of the errors of the measured and the displayed dose. So the standardization of the calibration method in each manufacturer is expected.

Aim The purpose of this study, using single-event-related near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), was to examine the psychophysiological and social function assessment of 30 schizophrenic patients during a modified rock-paper-scissors task. Methods We set up a screen in front of the subjects, on which pictures of hand-gestures for rock, paper, and scissors were randomly presented. Subjects were asked to give verbal answers under the conditions of win, lose, and draw, respectively. Using the 44-channel NIRS system, we evaluated the maximum amplitude of oxygenated hemoglobin, latency, and the area based on the arithmetic mean of resulting values after the task between 30 outpatients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy subjects, and analyzed the frontal pole area, dorsolateral prefrontal region, and parietal association area as regions of interest (ROI). Results In schizophrenic patients, oxygenated hemoglobin changes (Δoxy-Hb) when losing the task showed a significantly lower level of Δoxy-Hb in ROI than controls. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Δoxy-Hb in ROI, and a significant negative correlation was observed between the Negative Syndrome scale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Δoxy-Hb in ROI. Conclusion From these results, we conclude that Δoxy-Hb levels when performing the modified rock-paper-scissors task assessed using NIRS may be a useful psychophysiological marker to evaluate the cognitive and social functions of schizophrenic patients.

X-ray diffraction measurement at the SPring-8 synchrotron was employed to investigate the structures of two types of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C4mim][NTF2]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C4mim][BF4]), confined between silica surfaces by varying the surface separation distances of ca. 500 nm (bulk liquid), ca. 10 nm, and ca. 2 nm (hard wall thickness). The obtained diffraction profiles and intensities were discussed by considering the structures and properties of the nano-confined ILs between the silica surfaces investigated by resonance shear measurement (RSM) and molecular dynamics simulation (MD) in our previous reports. [C4mim][NTf2] showed two diffraction peaks at q = 8.8 nm-1 (spacing d = 0.71 nm) and at q = 14.0 nm-1 (spacing d = 0.45 nm) at the greatest distance (D = ca. 500 nm), which were assigned to the interval between the same ions (anion-anion or cation-cation) within the polar network of [C4mim][NTf2] and the interval between the neighboring anion-cation, respectively. The positions of these two peaks remained the same at D = ca. 10 nm and at the hard wall (D = ca. 2 nm) and their intensity factor increased, indicating that both the cation and anion existed in the same layer. This result was consistent with the checkerboard structure of [C4mim][NTf2] on the silica surface computer simulated in our previous studies. On the other hand, [C4mim][BF4] showed a peak at q = 15.4 nm-1 (spacing d = 0.41 nm) corresponding to the anion-cation interval at the greatest distance (D = ca. 500 nm). This peak became broader and weaker at D = ca. 12 nm and at D = ca. 2 nm.

An antiparallel double-strand of a BODIPY–zinc–porphyrin dyad was assembled via geometrical complementarity of an unusual B–F⋯Zn coordination bonding interaction.

The ligand exchange reaction is a typical reaction of ferrocenes. This reaction proceeds via the abstraction of a cyclopentadienyl ring by a Lewis acid followed by coordination of an aromatic compound to the resulting species. This reaction with conventional heating requires a long reaction time. Furthermore, the reactions with heterocycles are lower than those with the corresponding hydrocarbons, and do not produce any products in some cases. In this paper, the ligand exchange reaction of ferrocene and a heterocyclic aromatic compound during microwave irradiation and its effect are discussed. As a result, for some heterocycles, the decrease in the reaction time was confirmed. Furthermore, under the microwave irradiation conditions, the tendency in which the difference in their reactivities became low was confirmed.

Aim Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have been reported to show cognitive impairment in attention, cognition control, and motivation. The prefrontal cortex plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. Neurophysiological abnormalities have been examined in MDD patients by several neuroimaging studies. However, the underlying neural mechanism is still unclear. We evaluated brain function during pleasant and unpleasant image-recall tasks using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in MDD patients. Methods The subjects were 25 MDD patients and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were classified according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. We measured the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration change (δoxyHb) in the forehead and temporal lobe during image-recall task with pleasant (e.g., puppy) and unpleasant (e.g., snake) images using NIRS. To check whether all subjects understood the task, they were asked to draw pictures of both image tasks after NIRS measurement. Results The δoxyHb in the healthy group was significantly higher than that in the MDD group in the bilateral frontal region during the unpleasant condition. A significant negative correlation between the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score and δoxyHb was observed in the left frontal region during the unpleasant condition. Conclusion We suggest that image-recall tasks related to emotion measured by NIRS might be a visually useful psychophysiological marker to understand the decrease in the frontal lobe function in MDD patients. In particular, we suggest that the decrease in δoxyHb in the left frontal lobe is related to the severity of depression.

The purpose of this study, using single-event-related near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), was to examine the psychophysiological and social function assessment of 30 schizophrenic patients during a modified rock-paper-scissors task.We set up a screen in front of the subjects, on which pictures of hand-gestures for rock, paper, and scissors were randomly presented. Subjects were asked to give verbal answers under the conditions of win, lose, and draw, respectively. Using the 44-channel NIRS system, we evaluated the maximum amplitude of oxygenated hemoglobin, latency, and the area based on the arithmetic mean of resulting values after the task between 30 outpatients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy subjects, and analyzed the frontal pole area, dorsolateral prefrontal region, and parietal association area as regions of interest (ROI).In schizophrenic patients, oxygenated hemoglobin changes (Δoxy-Hb) when losing the task showed a significantly lower level of Δoxy-Hb in ROI than controls. In addition, a significant positive correlation was observed between the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Δoxy-Hb in ROI, and a significant negative correlation was observed between the Negative Syndrome scale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Δoxy-Hb in ROI.From these results, we conclude that Δoxy-Hb levels when performing the modified rock-paper-scissors task assessed using NIRS may be a useful psychophysiological marker to evaluate the cognitive and social functions of schizophrenic patients.

We report the effect of confinement on the electric field induced orientation of a nematic liquid crystal, 4-cyano-4'-hexylbiphenyl (6CB), between mica surfaces. The resonance shear measurement was employed for monitoring changes in the viscosity of 6CB at various surface separation distances (D) with and without an applied electric field. The viscosity depended on the surface separations, and the behaviour for Dca. 20 nm was quite different from that at Dca. 20 nm. For Dca. 20 nm, the viscosity values obtained in the presence of the electric field (ac 1 kHz, 1.87 kV mm(-1), homeotropic orientation) were ca. 2 times higher than the values obtained without the electric field (0 kV mm(-1), planar orientation) due to the difference in the molecular orientation, and were nearly constant. At Dca. 20 nm, the viscosity of 6CB both with and without the electric field sharply increased and they merged into an identical value at D = 12.5 ± 1.3 nm (Dc), then exhibited a plateau up to D = 6 nm. With the decreasing distance below 6 nm, the viscosity of confined 6CB both with and without the electric field further increased up to more than 100 N s m(-1) at the hard wall thickness of D = ca. 4.0 nm. These results indicated that 6CB molecules both with and without the electric field had the same orientation at DDc. The most likely orientation of 6CB was parallel to the surfaces because 6CB was originally in a planar orientation on the mica surface. These results demonstrated for the first time that the effect of confinement exceeded the electric field, thus 6CB molecules could not change their orientation under the electric field at the surface separation below Dc.

Stereoregular poly( N -isopropylacrylamide)s with controlled content of isotactic dyads have recently been synthesized, and interesting interference phenomena between LCST phase separation and high-temperature reversible gelation have been observed in their aqueous solutions. We develop a model solution in which dehydrated stereo-regular isotactic segments on polymers are driven into intermolecular cross-links leading to gelation. We theoretically calculate the phase diagrams for the varied content isotactic dyads and compare with the experimental data.

Dielectric relaxation caused by the segmental motion of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was observed in solutions at 25 °C with various solvents, that is, chloroform, water, and mono- and dihydroxyl alcohols with dielectric constants ranging between 5 and 78. The relaxation strength of the segmental motion of PVP varies with the solvent. The magnitudes of the effective dipole moment of the repeat unit of PVP in solutions with various solvents calculated using the Onsager equation depends simply on the dielectric constant of the solvent at higher frequency.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and recently much interest has focused on the cardiorenal syndrome. However, the relationship between CRF and cardiac function is not fully understood. We investigated the effect of CRF on cardiac function in a rat model. Male Wistar rats (7 weeks old) were randomly divided into the following two groups: (1) control group (n = 5) and (2) CRF group (n = 18). Rats in the CRF group received an adenine suspension orally for 10 days. Measurements of blood pressure and echocardiography were performed at baseline and after 17 weeks (24 weeks old). To investigate the possible effect of hypertension on cardiac function, we analyzed rats in the CRF group with and without hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ or

Hydrogenated amorphous Si (a-Si:H) has been applied to crystalline germanium (c-Ge) heterojunction solar cells and the influence of the surface treatments applied before a-Si:H deposition process has been studied. We found that PH3 exposure treatment after surface oxide removal by annealing is effective to improve c-Ge heterojunction solar cell performance. The conversion efficiency of the c-Ge heterojunction solar cell applied PH3 exposure treatment was up to 5.29% and the solar cell had better temperature coefficient than the c-Ge homojunction solar cell. These results suggest that the c-Ge substrate surface after oxide removal by annealing is covered with negatively charged dangling bonds, and the phosphorus adsorbed onto the c-Ge surface provides electron as a donor and corrects the band bending induced by negatively charged dangling bonds.

Incubation of animal cells in the presence of amphiphilic glycosides having a lactoside residue (hydrophilic moiety) and various kinds of perfluoroalkyl chain (hydrophobic moiety) resulted to glycosylation of the saccharide chain by cellular enzymes and afforded glycolipid-like compounds. The amounts of amphiphilic glycoside and glycolipid-like compounds found in the cell and culture medium fractions, respectively, varied depending on the fluorine content of the perfluoroalkyl chain. To investigate further, the hydrophobicity of the perfluoroalkyl chain was estimated from the critical micelle concentration values and was found to be 1.5 times larger in hydrophobicity than the hydrocarbon chain [CF 2 = 1.5CH 2 ]. Liposomes resembling cells in size were also prepared and the amphiphilic glycosides were introduced. Results showed a positive correlation between hydrophobicity and localization of amphiphilic glycoside into liposomes. The amount of amphiphilic glycosides localized in liposomes increased with increasing hydrophobicity that is attributed mainly to the fluorine content of the aglycon. In spite of the low affinity of fluorous chain for hydrocarbon chain, the amphiphilic fluorous compounds showed high affinity for cell membrane that is composed of amphiphilic phospholipids.

A series of fluorous-tagged saccharide primers with different contents of fluorous atoms was synthesized and introduced into mouse melanoma B16 cells. The primers did not affect cell morphology and...

A significant accelerating effect by microwaves for the ligand exchange reaction of ferrocenes was observed. This effect is due to the absorption of microwave energy by the adduct between the ferrocene and the Lewis acid.

Microcrystalline silicon (μc-Si) films deposited at high growth rates up to 8.1 nm/s prepared by very-high-frequency-plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (VHF-PECVD) at 18–24 Torr have been investigated. The relation between the deposition rates and input power revealed the depletion of silane. Under high-pressure deposition (HPD) conditions, the structural properties were improved. Furthermore, applying μc-Si to n–i–p solar cells, short-circuit current density (JSC) was increased in accordance with the improvement of microstructure of i-layer. As a result, a conversion efficiency of 6.30% has been achieved employing the i-layer deposited at 8.1 nm/s under the HPD conditions.

本研究の目的は， 介護施設スタッフにおいて上司が部下に対してどのようなソーシャル・サポートを有効と認識しているか， また部下が上司からどのようなソーシャル・サポートを求めているか， その差異を検討することを目的とする｡対象は介護施設に勤務する介護スタッフ70名(女性36名， 男性34名)， 平均年齢48.6歳±13.4である｡測定指標は勤労者ソーシャル・サポート尺度であり， 上司と部下のそれぞれのソーシャル・サポートに関する認識を示す得点の差を検討した｡その結果， 情報・道具的サポートは部下の方が上司より優位に高く， 娯楽的サポートは上司の方が部下より優位に高かった｡情緒的サポートに関しては両者とも高くかつ優位差は見られなかった｡したがって， 部下への情緒的サポートと情報・道具的サポートが重要であることが示唆された｡

The mathematical models to represent the relationship between the thermal stress and the deterioration rate for electrical insulation are well established based on the Arrhenius law and appropriate underlying probability distributions for constant thermal stress. There are two kinds of methods to deal with the thermal lifetime: one is the two-valued discrete model representing 0 for alive and 1 for dead, and the other is to use continuous value for the mechanical strength deterioration of the material. In this paper, we deal with the latter case. In the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 60216-1, deterioration due to the thermal stress is represented by the mechanical strength, and the time showing 50% mechanical strength to the initial strength is defined as the failure time. For underlying probability distribution models, the normal distribution, the generalized Pareto distribution, and the generalized logistic distribution models are proposed. Based on these mathematical models proposed, we investigate the optimum life test plans for the 50% mechanical strength index. Using a real experimental case, we obtain the adequate parameter values for the simulation accelerated life test. The optimum parameters we seek are the most appropriate number of specimens at each stress level. Comparing the optimum test results and the conventional test results by equally allocated to each stress, the ratios of the prediction error for the optimum tests to that of conventional tests are around 85%. This consequence is very similar to that in the case of two-valued discrete model.

Acquired drug resistance is a major factor in the failure of doxorubicin-based cancer chemotherapy. We determined the ability of cinchonine to reverse doxorubicin drug resistance in a doxorubicin-resistant leukaemia cell line (mouse P388/DOX). A non-cytotoxic concentration of cinchonine (10 μM) increased the sensitivity to doxorubicin of multidrug-resistant P388/DOX cells and significantly enhanced the doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in resistant cells, but had no effect in parent cells. Time-course studies demonstrated that DNA fragmentation was present 24 h after incubation with doxorubicin and cinchonine, indicating that DNA degradation was a preceding event. In cultured cells, cinchonine increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin in the resistant cells in a dose-dependent manner. Using flow cytometry to measure the inhibition of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) dependent efflux of rhodamine 123, cinchonine was found to be considerably more effective than quinine. The results with cinchonine suggest that there may be quinine derivatives with a similar capacity to inhibit drug transport by P-gp. Additionally, the G2/M phase cell population in resistant cells is increased by doxorubicin/cinchonine treatment. Exposure of resistant cells to 1 μM doxorubicin and 10 μM cinchonine resulted in the expression of Fas (APO-1/CD95) in cells after 6 h. These studies demonstrate that the cell killing effects of doxorubicin and cinchonine in resistant cells are mediated, at least in part, by the induction of apoptosis.

The three-phase coexistence curve of the ethane hydrate+saturated water+saturated liquid ethane was investigated in the temperature range from 290 to 324 K and pressure range from 20 to 479 MPa. The equilibrium curve increases monotonically on a T-p diagram at these experimental conditions. The Raman spectra of the C–C symmetric stretching vibration mode of the C2H6 molecule split into two peaks, while a single peak is detected in the liquid ethane and aqueous phase. The split of the Raman peak reveals that the C2H6 molecules are entrapped in both the S- and M-cages of hydrate lattice, although the ethane hydrate has been believed as a typical gas hydrate which consists of filled M-cage and empty S-cage. The C–C vibration peak of ethane in the S-cage is very weak in a low pressure region and gradually increases in the high pressure region, that is, the degree of occupancy is considerably high at high pressures. The C–C vibration energy in the M-cage is almost independent of pressure while those in the aqueous solution and in the S-cage increase with pressure. The O–O vibration energy of the ethane hydrate lattice shows very weak pressure dependence while those of methane and CO2 hydrates are increased clearly with pressure.