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Aim There is not adequate evidence to establish whether external fixation (EF) of pelvic fractures leads to a reduced mortality. We used the Japan Trauma Data Bank database to identify isolated unstable pelvic ring fractures to exclude the possibility of blood loss from other injuries, and analyzed the effectiveness of EF on mortality in this group of patients. Patients and Methods This was a registry-based comparison of 1163 patients who had been treated for an isolated unstable pelvic ring fracture with (386 patients) or without (777 patients) EF. An isolated pelvic ring fracture was defined by an Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) for other injuries of < 3. An unstable pelvic ring fracture was defined as having an AIS ≥ 4. The primary outcome of this study was mortality. A subgroup analysis was carried out for patients who required blood transfusion within 24 hours of arrival in the Emergency Department and those who had massive blood loss (AIS code: 852610.5). Propensity-score matching was used to identify a cohort like the EF and non-EF groups. Results With the use of propensity-score matching using the completed data, 346 patients were matched. When the propensity-score matching was adjusted, EF was associated with a significantly lower risk of death (p = 0.047). In the subgroup analysis of patients who needed blood transfusion within 24 hours and those who had massive blood loss, EF was associated with a significantly lower risk of death in patients who needed blood transfusion within 24 hours (p = 0.014) and in those with massive blood loss (p = 0.016). Conclusion The use of EF to treat unstable pelvic ring fractures was associated with a significantly lower risk of death, especially in patients with severe fractures. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:233–41.

Background AJM300 (INN; carotegrast methyl), an orally active small molecule antagonist of the α4 subunit of α4β1/α4β7 integrins, demonstrated the efficacy and safety in patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis (UC) in a phase 2 study. The phase 3 study (NCT 03531892) of AJM300 as induction therapy was conducted in patients with moderately active UC. Methods Eligible patients were moderately active Japanese UC, defined as total Mayo Clinic scores (MCS) of 6–10, endoscopic subscores (ES) ≥2, and rectal bleeding subscores (RBS) ≥1, who had inadequate response or intolerance to oral 5-ASA. Followed by a 2-week single-blind placebo (PBO) run-in phase, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive AJM300 960 mg or PBO 3 times daily for 8 weeks. Responders or remitters were allowed to receive AJM300 960 mg again at the subsequent relapse (open-label). The primary endpoint was clinical response at week 8, defined as reduction of the MCS of ≥3-pts and ≥30%, reduction in RBS of ≥1-pt or RBS of ≤1, and ES ≤1. Results The randomized 203 patients had moderately active endoscopic evidence at baseline with median UC duration of 6.1 years and MCS of 7.8. For the primary endpoint, 45.1% (46/102) and 20.8% (21/101) of patients in the AJM300 and PBO groups, respectively, achieved clinical response at week 8 (OR=3.30 [95% CI, 1.73–6.29]; p=0.0003). Symptomatic remission, endoscopic improvement and endoscopic remission were also statistically significant for AJM300 vs PBO (Table). In case of episodic AJM300 treatment, AJM300 exhibited similar response to initial treatment. Overall, the incidence of AEs and serious AEs were similar between AJM300 and PBO. There were no deaths or cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Conclusion AJM300 induced clinical response as well as endoscopic remission with good tolerability. AJM300 may become a novel therapeutic option for patients who had inadequate response or intolerance to oral 5-ASA.

Background Risk factors for hemorrhage in patients with pelvic ring fracture have been widely reported. Because there are many risk factors, it is thought that prediction accuracy of hemorrhage in cases of pelvic ring fracture could be improved by using a scoring system. Hypothesis We investigated the risk factors for massive hemorrhage (MH) and created a novel predictive score of MH in pelvic ring fractures. Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with pelvic ring fractures (Abbreviated Injury Score ≥ 3 and age ≥ 16 years) from January 2007 to June 2015. We excluded the cases that might have hemorrhage from other sites sufficient to require a blood transfusion. Massive hemorrhage was defined as hemorrhage requiring transfusion of ≥ 6 red cell concentrate units within 24 h of admission. Results The MH group included 27 patients and the non-MH group included 71 patients. Lactate level, AO/OTA classification and extravasation of computed tomography (CT) contrast fluid had a significantly higher risk as a result of multivariable analysis. The combined score using these risk factors according to their odds-adjusted ratios was created to predict for MH: lactate level > 2.5–5.0 (mmol/L) = 1 point, > 5.0 (mmol/L) = 2 points, partially stable (OA/OTA classification B1/B2/B3) = 1 point, unstable (C1/C2/C3) = 2 points, pelvic extravasation of contrast on CT = 4 points. The AUC of the calculated score was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89–0.98). Conclusion The combined score using these risk factors according to their odds-adjusted ratios was created to predict MH and was an effective prediction score. Level of evidence IV, retrospective study.

A simplified chart to determine the initial loading dose of teicoplanin (TEIC chart) for achieving the target trough concentration was developed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of this chart in critically ill patients.The initial loading dose and maintenance dose to achieve a target trough concentration ≥10 μg/mL on day 4 was determined using the teicoplanin TDM software and presented in a TEIC chart. The dosage of teicoplanin, including the loading dose for the first 2 days and the maintenance dose thereafter, was selected from the chart (chart method, N = 41) or calculated using TDM software (software method, N = 39).The performance rate of initial loading of teicoplanin increased from 83.0% to 100% after the TEIC chart was introduced (P = 0.016). The TEIC chart significantly reduced the time required for determining the initial loading dose compared with the use of software (1.9±0.6 min vs. 29.7±13.8 min, P0.001). No significant differences were observed in the rates of achieving a target level ≥10 μg/mL (P = 0.766).The TEIC chart enables a simple, rapid, and reliable determination of teicoplanin dosage.

A vertical cylindrical calorimeter for measuring the thermal performance of multilayer insulation (MLI) has been developed. Two concentric oxygen-free high-conductivity copper drums are wrapped with sample MLI blankets, and are cooled using a two-stage Gifford-McMahon cryocooler. As the drums are vertically supported, the layer density of the MLI sample is unaffected by gravity. The inner drum is cooled by the 2nd stage of the cooler and is maintained at a temperature of about 6 K. The outer drum is maintained at a temperature of about 65 K by connecting it to the first stage of the cooler. The heat transfer through the blanket is determined by measuring the temperature difference across the stainless steel thermal resistance tube in a heat-flow meter placed between the drum and the cold finger of the cryocooler. The structure of the calorimeter, the calibration procedure, and results for heat flow through the MLI sample are reported.

This study tested the applicability of airborne scanning laser altimetry (LiDAR) for characterizing surface connectivity of floodplain water bodies by comparing it with in situ measurements of water levels, and examined whether LiDAR derived data accurately predicted the occurrence of globally imperilled unionid mussels. We intensively examined 10 isolated and 3 connected floodplain water bodies (IWBs and CWBs, respectively) located within a 15-km lowland segment of the Kiso River in Japan. Using a digital elevation model (DEM) of floodplain ground surface, which is derived from LiDAR, and water surface DEM, which is obtained from records of water level fluctuations, the frequency of surface connectivity between IWBs and the main channel (inundation frequency) was calculated. Inundation frequency of IWBs was also measured in situ using water level and temperature probes. Also, the occurrence of mussels in CWBs and IWBs were examined. LiDAR derived data well predicted in situ derived one with a high level of accuracy (r 2 > 0.77), validating the LiDAR-based approach. Some errors existed in the predictive model, indicating that the applicability of LiDAR data is limited by its spatial resolution and snapshot nature. The occurrence of mussels was positively explained by an increasing level of inundation frequency, and the high accuracies of empirical models were validated using data for other 67 water bodies within the study segment. This study overall demonstrated a high potential of LiDAR data for efficiently monitoring hydrological and biological conditions of floodplain water bodies in the Kiso River and beyond. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In the presence of a high TMOS concentration, mono-dispersed mesoporous pure silica spheres with different pore sizes were successfully synthesized using C16TMACl, C14TMACl, and C12TMACl as templates in a methanol–water system, whereas they could not be obtained using C10TMACl. The standard deviation of the particle size prepared with high TMOS concentrations was approximately 10%. Mono-dispersed mesoporous Al-containing spheres could also be synthesized using NaAlO2 as an aluminum source from starting synthesis mixtures with a TMOS/Al ratio of more than 10, but not with a TMOS/Al ratio of less than 8. It was found that the particle size and standard deviation of mono-dispersed mesoporous aluminum-containing spheres depended on the TMOS/Al ratio.

Charging damage in the fabrication of a micro- and nanoelectronic device is one of the electrical damages during plasma etching and caused basically by a huge difference of the flux velocity distribution between positive ions and electrons toward the wafer to be processed. Beam-like positive ions are accumulated on the bottom of a miniaturized structure during etching. With the evolution of the technology node, charging damage will increase due to several factors, increase of plasma exposure time, decrease of annealing temperature, and narrow process window, etc., caused by the increase of the number of metal layers and the introduction of new materials such as low-k and high-k instead of SiO2. The progress of a top-down nanotechnology depends on the development of in situ diagnostics regarding plasma damage to lower-level elements and on the development of charging-free plasma process. In this paper, in situ charging measurements by using a test chip and negative charge injection to the wafer by optical computerized tomography are first demonstrated. Second, we discuss the characteristics of the charging potential on the bottom of SiO2holes during etching in a two-frequency capacitively coupled plasma (2f-CCP), and refer to the procedure to reduce the positive potential by utilizing the negative charge acceleration to the hole bottom under the artificial formation of a double-layer close to the wafer. In addition, the charging’s effect on the aspect ratio of the hole and the antenna ratio are discussed.

The majority of thymocytes die in the thymus, whereas small populations of T cells that are able to specifically recognize an antigen are considered to survive. Although the thymic selection is thought to have a profound effect on T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, little is known how TCR repertoire is formed during the thymocyte developmental process. We examined TCRalpha- and beta-chain variable regions (TCRAV and TCRBV) repertoire in thymic T-cell subpopulations from mice bearing different major histocompatibility (MHC) haplotypes. In Balb/c mice, but not C57BL/6, remarkable alterations of the TCR repertoire were observed in mature T-cell subpopulations as previously reported. In contrast, there were no significant differences of TCRBV repertoire between DN3 (CD25(+)CD44(-)) and DN4 (CD25(-)CD44(-)), and between DN4 and DP. These results suggest that (1) TCR repertoire of mature T cells was formed mainly under the influence of endogenous superantigens, while MHC haplotypes played the least role; (2) the 'beta-selection' process during immature stages had little impact on TCRBV repertoire formation; and (3) TCR repertoire in immature T-cell subpopulations was extremely similar between different strains of mice. We thus consider that pre-selection TCR repertoire in immature T cells could be determined by some genetic factors conserved among different strains.

We have successfully synthesized self-organized zinc oxide nanowires on a Cu metalized silicon substrate by a modified reactive evaporation method by using a newly designed substrate holder. Characterizations were carried out by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence measurements. Typical diameter and length of the nanowires obtained were several tens to two hundreds nanometers and up to 10 μm, respectively. It was found that the nanowires grew selectively on Cu underlayers or at pits of substrate. This suggests a possibility of selective-area growth of the nanowires.

It was found that potassium forms on rhenium electrodes during plasma electrolysis in K2CO3/H2O and K2CO3/D2O solutions, and the new potassium has unnatural isotopic ratios. The isotope 41K increases from the natural abundance, 6.7%, to as much as 32–37%. The percentage of 41K in the potassium contamination in a rhenium electrode before electrolysis was close to the natural isotopic abundance (6.7%). This result suggests that the 41K was enriched by some unknown process connected with a vigorous discharge of plasma electrolysis.

The effects of fast neutron irradiation on the burst properties of oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steel claddings which were previously manufactured by warm working as the first trial cladding tube manufacturing in Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, were investigated. The samples were irradiated in the experimental fast reactor JOYO using the core material irradiation rig (CMIR) at temperatures between 723 and 878 K to fast neutron fluences ranging from 2.1 to 4.2×1026 n/m2 (E>0.1 MeV). The burst tests were conducted on a total of four irradiation conditions. The result of burst tests showed that the burst strength of the irradiated claddings was higher than that of unirradiated at the test temperatures up to 873 K and that the diametrical strain just before rupture of irradiated specimens was almost similar to unirradiated one. It was suggested that there was no irradiation embrittlement under the irradiation conditions examined.

CO 2 is almost vertically adsorbed and desorbed at 0.0106–0.0073 relative pressure at 273 K, respectively, on the pre-evacuated Cu-complex crystals which have no open micropores from the crystallographic structures. These vertical adsorption and desorption steps are named gate effects. Here, guest water molecules are evolved during the pre-evacuation at 373 K and the crystal structure with X-ray diffraction examination does not change due to pre-evacuation. The X-ray diffraction patterns also show no change before and after the steps. The adsorption/desorption gate effects and the remarkable hysteresis are explained in terms of the molecular valve model stemming from the reorientation of the bending vibration of the hydrogen bonding. This model can explain the observed hysteresis in the gate effect; the spring constant difference of the molecular valve for desorption and adsorption is estimated to be a similar order to that of the hydrogen bond in bulk ice.

The solar cell which is employed for photovoltaic water electrolysis was fabricated by sputter-depositing a-Si:H on Si wafer. The electrolysis was conducted by connecting the series-connected solar cell externally to the hydrogen and the oxygen evolution electrodes. The conversion efficiency of 3.0% from the solar to hydrogen chemical energy was obtained and can be expected to be improved further by optimizing the system.

Sputtering method was used to prepare the Co–Mo alloy electrode for the hydrogen evolution reaction in water electrolysis. We studied the influence of the sputtering parameters (Ar pressure during deposition, RF power, and substrate temperature) on the hydrogen evolution overvoltage. It was found that the overvoltage was significantly influenced by the Ar pressure which affected critically the Co–Mo surface geometrical structure. We referred to the Thornton model for the microstructure of sputter-deposited films to explain the observed structural change.

Background: Recently, a dopamine hypothesis of depression was put forward, and several studies have demonstrated that direct and indirect dopamine agonists have antidepressant effects. Methods: Using Clinical Global Impressions, we evaluated the efficacy of 4-week treatment of pergolide as an antidepressant adjuvant involving 20 unipolar depressed patients who were refractory to standard treatment with antidepressants. Results: One patients (5%) were very much improved, seven (35%) much improved, four (20%) minimally improved, six (30%) no change or worse, and two (10%) not assessed. There was no significant difference in any clinical factors between the pergolide responder and non-responder group. Limitations: This study was a non-blind open trial, and pergolide was added to tricyclic and heterocyclic antidepressants. Conclusion: Pergolide may be useful as an antidepressant adjuvant, suggesting a potential role for dopamine-2 stimulation in the antidepressant response.

The Tm-2 gene and its alleles conferring tomato mosaic virus resistance in tomato originate from Lycopersicon peruvianum, a wild relative of tomato. DNA fragments of several RAPD markers tightly linked with the Tm-2 locus in tomato were successfully cloned and sequenced. Subsequently, the 24-mer oligonucleotide primer pairs of the SCAR markers corresponding to the RAPD markers were designed based on the 5’-endmost sequences. A fragment of the same size as that of a SCAR marker was amplified in the ToMV-susceptible tomato line with no Tm-2, but the digests of the PCR fragments by AccI exhibited polymorphism in fragment length between the two lines. We chose three SCAR markers and three RAPD markers tightly linked with the Tm-2 locus, and examined whether the same-sized fragments corresponding to these markers were also present in three other lines carrying Tm-2a or one of the other Tm-2 alleles. The fragments corresponding to the three SCAR markers were present in all of the three lines, but the other markers (three RAPDs ) were absent in one or two lines, suggesting that the three SCAR markers are closer to Tm-2 than the other markers. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of these fragments revealed that they are all homologous to the corresponding SCAR markers.

The GABA-benzodiazepine neurotransmission has been reported to be implicated in various forms of plasticity such as kindling and learning. In a previous study, we have shown that clonazepam (CZP), a GABA-benzodiazepine agonist, prevents the acquisition of behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (MA). The present study was conducted to extend this finding by examining the effect of flumazenil (Flu), a GABA-benzodiazepine antagonist on the prevention by CZP. Rats (male Wistar-King rats) treated with MA (1 mg/kg, SC) for 10 days showed significantly enhanced motor activity compared to those treated with saline when tested with MA (1 mg/kg) after a 7-8-day withdrawal, indicating the acquisition of behavioral sensitization. Representing the previous finding, pretreatment with CZP (0.5 mg/kg) prior to MA administration prevented the acquisition of the phenomenon. Pretreatment with Flu (10 mg/kg) prior to MA administration has no influence on the acquisition of sensitization. However, pretreatment with Flu prior to CZP administration reversed the inhibitory effect of CZP. CZP showed no effect on the expression of sensitization in the sensitized rats when given prior to the MA readministration. These results strengthen the suggestion that stimulation of GABA-benzodiazepine receptors plays a role in the acquisition but not in the expression of behavioral sensitization to MA.

Photocatalytic oxygen evolution on α-Fe2O3 films was studied using the Fe3+ ion as a sacrificial oxidizing agent. The reaction conditions affecting the oxygen evolution rate, i.e. anion, Fe3+ concentration, pH, Fe3+/Fe2+ equilibrium concentration and dependence of irradiation wavelength, were investigated. The reaction rate increased with increase of both the Fe3+ ion concentration and the solution pH. Oxygen evolution ceased at an Fe3+ :Fe2+ ion concentration ratio of 3:7–4: 6. The reaction rate decreased rapidly for longer-wavelength irradiation (above around 400 nm), which is considerably shorter than the α-Fe2O3 bandgap of ca. 600 nm (2.1 eV).

We examined near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying either of the tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) resistance genes Tm-1 and Tm-2 for sequences homologous to the isolated disease-resistance genes. DNA fragments were amplified from the genomic DNA of the NILs by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers designed on the basis of sequences of certain domains conserved among some disease-resistance genes. Of ten PCR products cloned, five were identified as having homology to either of the two classes of disease-resistance genes. The first class encoded proteins containing leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and a nucleotide-binding site (NBS), such as the RPS2 gene in Arabidopsis and the N gene in tobacco. The second class encoded proteins containing a C-terminal membrane anchor but no NBS, such as the Cf 2 and Cf 9 genes in tomato. In Southern hybridization of the genomic DNAs of the NILs carrying either Tm-1 or Tm-2 and their parental NIL carrying neither of these resistance genes, multiple bands could be detected with most of the clones used as probes. This suggests that the genomes of the NILs contain multiple copies of sequences homologous to some of the known disease-resistance genes. No evidence was obtained to show that the Tm-1 and/or Tm-2 loci encode either class of protein, since no polymorphic band patterns between the NILs were detected by Southern hybridization.

Amorphous and microcrystalline GaN thin films have been made by reactive sputtering. Transparent films of optical gap, E o 5 ∼ 3.95 eV, are obtained and these show semiconductor characteristics. The conductivity changes dramatically from ∼ 10 −11 S/cm to ∼ 10 −3 S/cm on microcrystallization. Photoconductivity is observed in a-GaN. The results of electron spin resonance and sub-gap absorption suggest a low mid-gap defect density of states. It is demonstrated that an amorphous semiconducting material with a large optical gap can be obtained.

The idea of stochastic resonance (SR) is extended to two-parameter dynamical systems based on the Oregonator model of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. The first case presents the photosensitivity of the reaction, and light flux and a flow rate are the two control parameters. The second case presents the effect of temperature on the oscillatory behaviors, and temperature and a flow rate are the control parameters. Stochastic resonance is demonstrated in the first case in which a signal and noise are applied to the different inputs, respectively. The scenario and novel aspects of SR in two-parameter systems are discussed, and the possibility of the analogous SR in biological systems is also pointed out.

We fabricated a photovoltaic water electrolysis device in which whole electrolyzing parts were formed on one chip. This was made by attaching the Co–Mo and the Fe–Ni–O electrodes for hydrogen and oxygen evolution, respectively, on the a-Si solar cell. Water electrolysis could be conducted simply by dipping and irradiating the device in electrolyte. The device was durable for more than 18 h electrolysis by irradiation in the KOH electrolyte at pH 13 at a conversion efficiency from solar to hydrogen energy of 2.5%.

We fabricated the triaxial force sensor applicable to non-invasive human lingual motion measurement. The sensor contains two cantilevers for shear force sensing and one beam for pressure sensing. These cantilevers and the beam were buried in the silicone rubber. Their hinges are consisting of piezo-resistive layers in order to detect the force applied on the silicone rubber surface. Water swallowing experiment was carried out and we measured the pressure and shear forces acting on palate (roof of the mouth). From the experiment, we quantified the ease of consumption of the viscosity-increased water compared to the normal water.

The peptides inhibiting prolylendopeptidase were screened and isolated from bovine brain by monitoring the inhibition of prolylendopeptidase produced by Flavobacterium meningosepticum. The amino acid sequence of the peptide having the highest inhibitory activity was determined as Met-Pro-Pro-Pro-Leu-Pro-Ala-Arg-Val-Asp-Phe-Ser-Leu-Ala-Gly-Ala-Leu-Asn. This peptide showed the IC50 and Ki values of 38.4 and 8.6 microM, respectively, for prolylendopeptidase isolated from bovine brain.

The present study examined the effects of both competitive (D-CPP-ene) and noncompetitive (MK-801) NMDA antagonists on behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (MA). Behavioral effects of repeated administration of NMDA antagonists were also examined. Rats treated with MA according to an escalating dose schedule (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10.0 mg/kg, SC, twice a day on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, respectively) indicated behavioral supersensitivity. Pretreatment with either MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg, IP) or D-CPP-ene (20 mg/kg, IP) prior to MA administration prevented the development of the supersensitivity. Rats treated with MK-801 showed a decrease in the motor activity when subsequently challenged with MK-801 compared with saline-treated rats. Likewise, rats administered with D-CPP-ene showed decreased motor activity when challenged with D-CPP-ene. There was no cross-sensitization nor tolerance between MA and MK-801 or D-CPP-ene. These results suggest that both competitive and noncompetitive NMDA antagonists block sensitization to MA and that repeated administration with NMDA antagonists results in behavioral tolerance.

Haemophilia A is a life long bleeding disorder caused by an inherited deficiency of factor VIII (FVIII). About 30% of haemophilia A patients develop neutralizing antibodies as a consequence of treatment with FVIII concentrates. Immune tolerance protocols for the eradication of inhibitors require daily delivery of intravenous FVIII. We evaluated the immune responses to serial intravenous administration of FVIII in preimmunized haemophilia A mice. We introduced an implantable venous-access device (iVAD) system into haemophilia A mice to facilitate sequential infusion of FVIII. After preimmunization with FVIII, the haemophilia A mice were subjected to serial intravenous administration of FVIII through the iVAD system. In all mice with serial infusion of FVIII, high titers of anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies developed at 10 exposure days (EDs). However, the anti-FVIII IgG titers were decreased after 150 EDs of sequential low-dose infusion of FVIII [0.05 U g(-1) body weight (BW) five times per week]. Proliferative response to ex vivo FVIII stimulation was significantly suppressed in splenic CD4(+) T cells from mice with serial low-dose FVIII infusion compared with those from mice with high-dose FVIII infusion (0.5 U g(-1) BW five times per week) or preimmunized mice. Moreover, splenic CD4(+) T cells from mice with serial low-dose infusion of FVIII failed to produce interleukin-2 and interferon-γ. These data suggest that serial infusion of FVIII could induce T-cell anergy in haemophilia A mice with inhibitor antibodies.

Metallic point contacts have been extensively studied from the viewpoint of their interesting, and often nonlinear, electrical properties. Their thermal characteristics, however, have largely been ignored, even though they show great potential as microscale temperature sensors. It has been previously demonstrated that when a temperature drop exists across a point contact consisting of two identical metals, a thermoelectric voltage can be generated, provided the mean contact radius is comparable in size to the electron mean free path. In the present experimental study, a point contact is formed by pressing a sharply etched Ag whisker against either an Ag or a Cu flat plate. In addition to confirming the previous results, the feasibility of using such a point contact is demonstrated by calibrating the voltage output against the nondimensionalized plate temperature. Furthermore, the thermoelectric voltage at an Ag–Cu point contact is also presented, showing that a point contact made from dissimiliar metals is even more promising than one made from identical materials. Finally, the point-contact thermal resistance is shown to depend nonlinearly on the electrical resistance, or contact area, and on the temperature drop.

Fullerene type multilayer insulation blanket is proposed for the insulation around a spherical cold surface, and has been applied to a 10 liter spherical tank of liquid nitrogen. As fullerene has 32 faces with 90 edges, 32 polygons of stacked insulation sheets must be connected each other to fabricate such a MLI blanket. The MLI blanket has 90 slots at connecting part between the polygons where thermal radiation heat transfer should be reduced. The size of the polygon made by the insulation films must be chosen so as to avoid excess compressive pressure between stacked insulation sheets. The design principle and the method to fabricate the blanket were studied, and the experimental results obtained by the fullerene type MLI blanket applied to the 10 liter spherical tank were measured.

The liver is a major site of generation of extrathymic T cells with unique properties (e.g., expressing intermediate TCR and containing self-reactive clones). We investigated herein whether the levels of extrathymic alpha beta T cells varied in various organs as a function of age. A systematic examination of the number of mononuclear cells in various organs of BALB/c mice revealed that the number of hepatic MNC increased with age whereas the number of thymocytes decreased. These changes were more striking in mice fed under conventional conditions than under specific pathogen-free condition. The age-dependent changes in the number of mononuclear cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were minimal. Although the total proportion of alpha beta T cells in each organ remained constant, the staining patterns of TCR-alpha beta as shown by immunofluorescence profiles varied. The most prominent change was that intermediate TCR-alpha beta cells, which constituted a small population in the liver of young mice, expanded in the liver of older mice. Intermediate TCR cells appeared even in the periphery of older mice. These findings were confirmed by the appearance of extrathymic T cells with other unique properties, e.g., double-negative CD4-8- phenotype and CD44 expression. In athymic nude mice, only intermediate TCR cells were present in the liver and periphery. An age-dependent increase of intermediate TCR cells was also seen in these mice. Taken together with the result of bromodeoxyuridine-injection experiment, which showed an intensive in vivo proliferation of cells in the hepatic sinusoids, extrathymic T cells may differentiate predominantly in the liver and appeared even to the periphery in older mice.

Electroless metal plating is widely used in a variety of applications in the electronic and semiconductor industries such as selectively depositing on patterned substrates [1,2], making ohmic contacts [3-81, filling contact holes and vias in microelectronic devices [9,101, and delineating semiconductor junctions [ll-131. Some of the advantages of electroless deposition over conventional vacuum deposition techniques are its ease of use and low cost. Hence much research has gone into improving and utilizing this plating process. In contrast to the large number of papers dealing with electroless metal deposition on metal surfaces, relatively few papers have been written dealing with electroless metal deposition onto semiconductor surfaces, especially during the initial stages of formation. The advent of scanning probe microscopy, such as scanning tunneling microscopy WI&I) 1141 and atomic force microscopy (AFM) [15], enables the investigation of such processes to be performed simply on the nanometer scale. For example, Osaka and co-workers [16-181 have used STM to study the electroless plating process of magnetic materials (e.g. NiP and CoNiReP) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Moffatt Kennedy et al. [19] observed the growth of electroless copper films on Pd-activated HOPG and printed circuit boards. Phaner et al. [20] have reported STM observation of 100-200 nm thick electroless gold deposits on Pd-activated n-GaAs. In the case of electroless metal deposition onto Si, HF solution is occasionally used in the plating bath in place of a reducing agent in order to induce deposition onto the surface. The HF removes any residual oxide on the surface and more importantly aids in metal deposition through direct displacement of the silicon [9,21]. In this note, we

Phencyclidine (PCP) acts as an indirect dopamine (DA) agonist by inhibiting the neuronal reuptake of DA, while it also works as a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. Aiming to investigate characteristics of these two properties of PCP in the same experimental system, the effects of PCP on spontaneous and NMDA-induced efflux of DA from superfused slices of the striatum of the rat were examined. Dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the samples of superfusate were extracted by alumina extraction and measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). Phencyclidine at concentrations greater than 1 microM, produced a concentration-dependent increase of the spontaneous efflux of DA. The efflux of DOPAC was also concentration-dependently increased by PCP. However, PCP inhibited the efflux of DA induced by NMDA, even at a small concentration (0.1 microM), which did not alter the spontaneous efflux of the transmitter. The mode of the inhibition by PCP was shown to be noncompetitive, with an estimated IC50 value of 280 nM. These results suggest that PCP, at small concentrations, reduces the synaptic levels of DA by blocking the facilitating effect of endogenous glutamate on the release of DA and, at slightly greater concentrations, the drug also works as an indirect DA agonist, to increase the levels of the transmitter in the synaptic clefts. The clinical significance of the dual effects of PCP is discussed in relation with the unique schizophrenomimetic property of PCP.

A compact supercritical-helium/liquid-helium heat exchanger composed of a plate-fin type was studied. The heat exchange limit performance was determined through the experiment. The pulse heating performance was observed to apply the pulse heating by an electric heater. A numerical heat exchanger simulating calculation was carried out, which successfully expresses the experiment results.

Some mechanisms to reduce methemoglobin (metHb) formation for the maintenance of normal oxygen transport have been proposed. To study the role of catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), metHb formation in the hemolysate of normal and Japanese acatalasemic human subjects were examined spectrophotometrically. Significantly increased level of metHb was induced by potassium ferrocyanide in the hemolysate of acatalasemic subject. The addition of catalase reduced the metHb formation, while 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), a specific inhibitor of catalase-H2O2 compound I, increased it. These results obtained from human subjects were well consistent with those from mice and suggested that catalase plays a role in protecting erythrocytes against metHb formation.

Increased methemoglobin (metHb) formation is harmful to the normal oxygen transport. There are some mechanisms to reduce metHb formation in the erythrocyte. In the present study, effect of catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) on metHb formation by potassium ferrocyanide was examined spectrophotometrically in the hemolysates of acatalasemic, homozygous hypocatalasemic and normal mice. MetHb formation in the hemolysate of acatalasemic mice was significantly higher than that of normal mice. The addition of catalase reduced the metHb level, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) had little effect on it. A negative intimate correlation was observed between the logarithm of catalase activity (PU/gHb) and the metHb level (%) in the hemolysate. 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), a specific catalase inhibitor, significantly increased the formation of metHb. These results indicate that hydrogen peroxide is generated in the process of metHb formation by potassium ferrocyanide and that catalase inhibits the metHb formation by destroying the H2O2 produced.

A distributed multiparty desktop conferencing system (MERMAID) and the architecture on which it is based are described. This architecture, called group collaboration support architecture, is a framework for assisting geographically separate group members to work together at the same time or at different times, efficiently and effectively, by means of computers and electronic communications equipment. The distributed desktop conferencing system provides distributed participants with an environment for holding conferences. This system is implemented by using ISDN (integrated services digital network), widely connected Ethernet, and UNIX-based engineering workstations with electronic writing pads, image scanners, video cameras, microphone-installed loudspeakers, etc. The system provides participants with a means of sharing information in such multimedia forms as video images, voice, text, graphics, still images, and hand-drawn figures. >

The design of a new over-spray paint eliminator is presented as an example of a successful research and development (R&D) project performed by a team of engineers including representatives from a user company of the product, a manufacturer of the product and an academic institution. The combined effort of plant-site observation, a limited full-scale data, scale modeling, and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling were first applied to solve technical problems related to an old wet scrubber and to enhance the physical understanding of the phenomena. With the insight gained during this process, a new wet scrubber was invented and reduced to production.

How to realize keyword search over XML databases (XML DB) or relational databases (RDB) is a todaypsilas hot topic. In this paper, we first point out that existing keyword-search methods over those databases cannot get sufficient results. Then, we propose a new keyword-search method over hybrid XML-relational databases, and demonstrate that its answers are better than those of existing techniques. We propose a new join-operator for XML data, and utilize the new operator to enable keyword search in hybrid XML-relational databases.

Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) have two inherent advantages. First, they allow the wireless‐electrodeless measurements. Second, they show higher efficiency for exciting and detecting bulk shear waves. These two characteristics are essential for achieving a high‐sensitive oscillator biosensor. This paper shows a Lorentz‐force‐EMAT biosensor with 50‐μm thick aluminum foil for detecting human immunoglobulin G (IgG) by Staphylococcus‐aureus protein A immobilized on both surfaces of the foil oscillator. The fundamental resonance frequency near 32 MHz was monitored during the binding reaction, which successfully detected the frequency change for the IgG solution with a concentration of 1 ng/mL.