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Presents a study that performed rapid thermal annealing (RTA) for i-MeV arsenic-ion-implanted layers in silicon. Application of high-energy implantation in silicon; Preparation of the arsenic samples; Analysis of the Rutherford backscattering spectra for implanted silicon samples before and after RTA.

We observed antiferromagnetic magnons in manganese oxide (MnO) using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The antiferromagnetic resonance (AFMR) frequency shows the behavior of a first-order phase transition near the Néel temperature (116 K). The temperature dependence of the AFMR frequency is explained well by a molecular field approximation including biquadratic exchange. It was found that the relaxation rate of the AFMR signal shows an abrupt increase near the Néel temperature, where the antiferromagnetic long-range order disappears. The change $\Delta n$ in refractive index was obtained from the peak shift in the THz electric field. The temperature dependence of $\Delta n$ can be explained by the lattice and magnetostrictive contributions to this refractive index change. The measurement of refractive index by THz-TDS is very useful for optically opaque materials such as MnO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 29, 80-87 (2012) Abstract Aim Orthostatic hypotension is a hallmark of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and is associated with increased mortality. The serum level of adiponectin is elevated in patients with heart failure or renal failure. In the present study, we measured serum levels of total and high molecular weight adiponectin in patients with Type 2 diabetes and orthostatic hypotension. We also investigated the relationship between the presence of orthostatic hypotension and various clinical variables in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods We studied 105 patients with Type 2 diabetes. Orthostatic hypotension was defined as a decrease of 20 mmHg or more in systolic blood pressure and/or 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure when blood pressure was measured for 3 min while standing. The brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity was also measured as an index of arterial stiffness. Results Orthostatic hypotension was found in 30 patients with diabetes (28.6%). The haematocrit and estimated glomerular filtration rate were significantly lower in patients with orthostatic hypotension than in those without it. Brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity and serum total and high molecular weight adiponectin were significantly higher in patients with orthostatic hypotension than in those without. Furthermore, the high molecular weight/total adiponectin ratio was higher in patients with orthostatic hypotension than in those without and hypertension was more common in patients with orthostatic hypotension. Plasma prothrombin F1 + 2, a coagulation maker, was higher in patients with orthostatic hypotension than in those without, while there were no differences of fibrinolytic markers between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that HDL cholesterol, haematocrit, F1 + 2, brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity and a decline of systolic blood pressure on standing were independent determinants of high molecular weight adiponectin. Conclusions Patients with Type 2 diabetes and orthostatic hypotension had an elevated serum level of high molecular weight adiponectin, which was associated with the simultaneous presence of renal dysfunction, anaemia, arterial stiffness and hypercoagulability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether plasma concentrations of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in patients with type 2 diabetes were associated with components of metabolic syndrome (MS), including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and LDL cholesterol.Research Design and Methods: We studied 136 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis of MS was diagnosed by current criteria. Hypercholesterolemia (HC) was defined as serum LDL cholesterol >140 mg/dl (3.6 mmol/l) or treatment with a statin. For comparisons, diabetic patients were divided into four groups: those with no MS and no HC (n = 38), with MS but not HC (n = 39), with no MS but with HC (n = 26), and with both MS and HC (n = 33).Results: Considering all patients with type 2 diabetes, plasma PAI-1 was strongly associated with MS components such as BMI, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and hs-CRP. Plasma TAFI only correlated positively and independently with LDL cholesterol. Plasma concentrations of plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin complex (PAP), a measure of fibrinolytic activity in blood, showed a significant negative correlation with plasma PAI-1 but not TAFI. Diabetic patients with both MS and HC had the highest serum hs-CRP concentrations and the lowest plasma PAP concentrations.Conclusions: LDL cholesterol is a main determinant of plasma TAFI in patients with type 2 diabetes. Coexistence of MS and HC synergistically accelerates inflammation and impairment of fibrinolysis via elevated concentrations of both TAFI and PAI-1, which inhibit fibrinolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is capable of initiating differentiation of uncommitted mesenchymal cells into a chondro/osteogenic pathway. This study reports the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX), a nonspecific inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), that causes elevation of the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level on the BMP-4-induced chondro/osteogenic differentiation of a mesenchymal cell line, C3H10T1/2; a bone marrow stromal cell line, ST2; and an osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. It was found that PTX enhanced BMP-4-induced chondro/osteogenic differentiation in C3H10T1/2 and ST2 cells. Similar effects were observed when adding dibutyryl-cAMP and forskolin. These results indicate that cAMP may potentiate the action of BMP-4 on osteoprogenitor cells, highlighting the possibility that PDE inhibitors could be used as therapeutic agents to enhance bone formation through this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the clinical and histopathological features of keratosis in association with syringocystadenoma papilliferum in Japan. Distribution of keratohyalin granules; Characteristics of trichilemmal keratinization; Diagnosis of neoplasm on naevus sebaceous.

Presents information on a study which examined the transverse magnetoresistance of a dysprosium nickel single crystal. Methodology; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

We report the first case of 68-year-old Japanese woman with metastatic HER2-positive extramammary Paget's disease that showed the validity of trastuzumab monotherapy. We administered trastuzumab at a loading dose of 8mg/kg i.v., followed by a 6mg/kg maintenance dose every three weeks according to a protocol for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancers and a near-complete response was achieved after the tenth infusion. The patient experienced a moderate headache and flushing during the first infusion, but had no advanced effects during subsequent infusions with ibuprofen and d-chlorpheniramine maleate. Given the dramatic response, the patient has had 17 infusions of trastuzumab with no disease progression. Thus, trastuzumab has few side effects and is well tolerated for elderly patients. It may become a new choice of the adjubant therapy of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonstrates a InGaAsP/InP horizontal cavity surface-emitting laser. Components and structure of the laser device; Fabrication of mirror facets using reactive ion-beam etching process; Values for the threshold current and output power achieved at room temperature; Orientation of the laser opposite light emitting directions.

We have studied the ultrafast magnon dynamics in an antiferromagnetic 3d-transition-metal monoxide, nickel oxide (NiO), using optical pump-probe spectroscopy and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). THz damped magnon oscillations were observed in the Faraday rotation signal and in the transmitted THz electric field via optical pump-probe spectroscopy and THz-TDS, respectively. The magnon signals were observed in both the optical pump-probe spectroscopy and THz-TDS experiments, which shows that both Raman- and infrared-active modes are included in the NiO magnon modes. The magnon relaxation rate observed using THz-TDS was found to be almost constant up to the Néel temperature T (= 523 K) and to increase abruptly near that temperature. This shows that temperature-independent spin-spin relaxation dominates up to T . In our experiment, softening of the magnon frequency near T was clearly observed. This result shows that the optical pump-probe spectroscopy and THz-TDS have high frequency resolution and a high signal to noise ratio in the THz region. We discuss the observed temperature dependence of the magnon frequencies using three different molecular field theories. The experimental results suggest that the biquadratic contribution of the exchange interaction plays an important role in the temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetization and the magnon frequency in cubic antiferromagnetic oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafast lattice and spin dynamics in an antiferromagnet NiO were studied via reflection and transmission experiments using polarization spectroscopy along with the pump-probe technique. The damped oscillations observed in the reflection experiment are not of spin origin but can be attributed to an interference effect caused by the probe pulse reflected by a propagating wave packet of acoustic phonons. Terahertz oscillations of coherent magnons were observed in the transmission experiment. Three antiferromagnetic modes were observed at low temperatures. As the temperature increases, the two higher modes degenerate above ˜250 Κ and then soften toward the Néel temperature (523 K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A particle-size sorting system of lunar regolith using an electrostatic traveling wave is developed for In-Situ Resource Utilization on the Moon to extract indispensable resources from the regolith and realize long-term exploration. The regolith is sorted by utilizing a balance between the electrostatic and gravitational forces, which are determined depending on particle size, in vacuum conditions where the particles are not subjected to air drag. In this study, the effect of particle charge on the particle motion is confirmed by conducting model experiments and numerical calculations based on the distinct element method. In addition, it was experimentally demonstrated that particles less than approximately 20 μm in diameter were efficiently separated from the bulk of a lunar regolith simulant FJS-1 in a vacuum condition (∼1.5 × 10 −2 Pa), and the performance of the size sorting system on the Moon was predicted by the numerical calculations. The system utilizes only the electrostatic force, and it does not require any gas, liquid, or mechanical moving parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) views the lunar lander SELENE-2 as the successor to the SELENE mission. In this presentation, the mission objectives of SELENE-2 are shown together with the present design status of the spacecraft. JAXA launched the Kaguya (SELENE) lunar orbiter in September 2007, and the spacecraft observed the Moon and a couple of small satellites using 15 instruments. As the next step in lunar exploration, the lunar lander SELENE-2 is being considered. SELENE-2 will land on the lunar surface and perform in-situ scientific observations, environmental investigations, and research for future lunar utilization including human activity. At the same time, it will demonstrate key technologies for lunar and planetary exploration such as precise and safe landing, surface mobility, and overnight survival. The lander will carry laser altimeters, image sensors, and landing radars for precise and safe landing. Landing legs and a precisely controlled propulsion system will also be developed. A rover is being designed to be able to travel over a wide area and observe featured terrain using scientific instruments. Since some of the instruments require long-term observation on the lunar surface, technology for night survival over more than 2 weeks needs to be considered. The SELENE-2 technologies are expected to be one of the stepping stones towards future Japanese human activities on the moon and to expand the possibilities for deep space science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To investigate short-term effects of pioglitazone and voglibose on serum concentrations of both total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin measured with a novel sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,and on plasma fibrinolysis indicators, in Type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycaemic control on sulphonylureas. Methods Thirty-four diabetic patients were randomized to receive pioglitazone or voglibose treatment for 12 weeks, after which serum HMW adiponectin was measured. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) 1 and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), a recently identified inhibitor of fibrinolysis, were measured as fibrinolysis inhibitors. Results At baseline, serum HMW adiponectin correlated negatively with plasma TAFI in all patients with Type 2 diabetes (r = -0.367, P = 0.0423). Both groups showed similar improvements in glycaemic control. Serum total and HMW adiponectin increased in patients treated with pioglitazone, but did not change in patients treated with voglibose. The HMW : total adiponectin ratio increased significantly after treatment with pioglitazone (P = 0.0004). The change in HbA(1c) correlated negatively with changes in serum HMW adiponectin in patients treated with pioglitazone (r = -0.694, P = 0.0034). Plasma PAI-1 and TAFI did not change with pioglitazone treatment. Conclusion Increased serum HMW adiponectin may contribute to the improvement in glycaemic control after pioglitazone treatment. Plasma PAI-1 and TAFI were unchanged by either drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To investigate short-term effects of pioglitazone and voglibose on serum concentrations of both total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin measured with a novel sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,and on plasma fibrinolysis indicators, in Type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycaemic control on sulphonylureas. Methods Thirty-four diabetic patients were randomized to receive pioglitazone or voglibose treatment for 12 weeks, after which serum HMW adiponectin was measured. Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) 1 and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), a recently identified inhibitor of fibrinolysis, were measured as fibrinolysis inhibitors. Results At baseline, serum HMW adiponectin correlated negatively with plasma TAFI in all patients with Type 2 diabetes ( r = –0.367, P = 0.0423). Both groups showed similar improvements in glycaemic control. Serum total and HMW adiponectin increased in patients treated with pioglitazone, but did not change in patients treated with voglibose. The HMW : total adiponectin ratio increased significantly after treatment with pioglitazone ( P = 0.0004). The change in HbA1c correlated negatively with changes in serum HMW adiponectin in patients treated with pioglitazone ( r = –0.694, P = 0.0034). Plasma PAI-1 and TAFI did not change with pioglitazone treatment. Conclusion Increased serum HMW adiponectin may contribute to the improvement in glycaemic control after pioglitazone treatment. Plasma PAI-1 and TAFI were unchanged by either drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both leukoaraiosis and asymptomatic microbleeds are associated with small-artery diseases. Although an association between hyperhomocysteinemia and leukoaraiosis has been reported, no studies have evaluated the association between total homocysteine (tHcy) level and presence of microbleeds in stroke patients. We evaluated the association between tHcy level and leukoaraiosis or microbleeds in stroke patients. In 102 patients with stroke (69.5 ± 10.3 years old, 54 men and 48 women), microbleeds on T2*-weighted MR images were counted, leukoaraiosis on T2-weighted images was graded and fasting plasma tHcy concentrations were measured. Plasma tHcy level was significantly higher in patients with advanced leukoaraiosis than in those without advanced leukoaraiosis (13.9 ± 4.6 μmol/l vs. 10.2 ± 3.4 μmol/l, P < 0.0001). Plasma tHcy level was not significantly different in patients with microbleeds and those without microbleeds (11.3 ± 4.1 μmol/l vs. 11.4 ± 4.3 μmol/l, P = 0.9441). Elevated tHcy level is significantly and independently associated with advanced leukoaraiosis [odds ratio (OR), 1.330; 95% CI, 1.130–1.565] but not with the presence of microbleeds. Elevated tHcy level appears to be associated with ischemic small-artery disease rather than with bleeding-prone small-artery disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, as determined by ultrasonography, is useful for reflecting the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis. We investigated the relationship between IMT and the serum concentrations of small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in diabetic patients. Methods: The study was conducted with 27 Type 2 diabetic patients (14 males and 13 females; mean age=62.6+/-8.3 years) and 12 age-matched healthy controls. The LDL subfraction was measured using a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) concentrations were measured by an enzyme immunoassay. The IMT was expressed as the maximum IMT (Max-IMT) and average IMT (Ave-IMT) of the carotid artery, measured by ultrasonography. Results: Both the IMT and the small LDL concentrations were significantly increased in the diabetic patients compared with the healthy participants. The IMTs were significantly correlated with small LDL concentration and small LDL/total LDL more than LDL concentrations by multivariate analysis. The IMTs were not significantly correlated with the serum VEGF or PDGF concentrations. The patients with a larger IMT had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension or ischemic heart disease than did the patients with a normal IMT. Conclusions: The increased small LDL concentrations and small LDL/total LDL, in addition to total LDL concentrations, in Type 2 diabetic patients are closely associated with increased IMT of the carotid artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen sponge disks (6 mm diameter, 1 mm thickness) were impregnated with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) (5 μg/disk) and implanted onto the back muscles of mice. Ten or 20 mg/kg per day of Rolipram, a selective inhibitory agent to phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE-4), or vehicle, was injected subcutaneously into the host mice for 3 weeks. After treatment, rhBMP-2-induced ectopic ossicles were harvested and examined by radiographic and histologic methods to determine the size, bone quality, and mineral content of the ossicles. The ossicles from a group treated with 20 mg/kg per day Rolipram were significantly larger in size and higher in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) than the control samples. No significant differences were noted in mice treated with 10 mg/kg per day of Rolipram. Histologically, ossicles from the high-dose (20 mg/kg per day) Rolipram-treated group showed densely packed, thicker trabeculae when compared with those from the control group. These experimental results indicate that the PDE-4 inhibitor, Rolipram, may enhance the bone-inducing capacity of BMP-2 in mesenchymal cells. This in turn may result in increased responsiveness to BMP-2 and point to a potential use of PDE-4 inhibitors for the promotion of rhBMP-dependent bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 88-year-old woman who developed a nodule in a lesion of seborrheic keratosis on the frontal scalp was observed. Histopathologically, the nodule was characterized by lobular acanthosis consisting of glycogen rich clear cells and squamoid cells with squamous eddies and melanin blockade melanocytes. Each lobule was covered with an orthokeratotic horny layer which formed wedge-shaped masses in its central area without formation of an intervening granular layer. The clinical course and histopathological findings suggest that the tumor cells in seborrheic keratosis may tend to a new development of trichilemmal differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which described the results of tests and discussions coducted to develop a system for monitoring partial discharges (PD) generated in gas insulated substations (GISs). Characteristics of partial discharge pulse propagation in GIS components; Information on the propagation of partial discharge pulses in actual GIS.

Introduction/Background While previous studies have reported that unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and pusher syndrome are related but independent symptoms, their relationship has not been investigated using a quantitative scale and causative lesions using brain imaging. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between evaluation scores and the extent of the damaged area revealed by brain imaging. Material and method We evaluated twenty patients with first-ever stroke and pusher syndrome (14 right and 6 left hemispheric patients). First, we analyzed the relationship between the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) and Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP). We also introduced a new way of quantifying the affected brain lesions at two levels of horizontal brain imaging slice. At each level, a brain hemisphere was divided into 3 areas, and the total number of damaged areas from these two levels was used as an indication of the extent of the damaged lesion, ranging 0 to 6 ( Fig. 1 ). By using this score, the relationship between the CBS and SCP scores was further examined. Results All patients with pusher syndrome had USN based on CBS. In each subject, the CBS score was positively correlated with the SCP score (Spearman = 0.805, P < 0.001) ( Fig. 2 ). Brain imagining showed that six patients had damage in both slice 1 and slice 2, while the fourteen patients had damage only in slice 2. The imaging score at slice 1 was correlated with the CBS score in the first group. Conclusion The severity of USN was positively correlated with that of pusher syndrome with clinical scales. The location and extent of the damaged area in relation to SCP and CBS needs to be examined with a larger sample size in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses on the efficacy of recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) in treating patients with fatal intracranial hemorrhage after a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT).