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High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the highly charged muonic atoms/ions isolated in vacuum is an ideal probe to explore quantum electrodynamics under extremely strong electric fields, which is one of the major topic in fundamental atomic physics. A feasibility test measurement with a low-density neon gas target was performed by observing X-rays emitted by muonic neon via the $$5 \rightarrow 4$$ transition, $$\sim$$ 6.3 keV, using a multi-pixel array of superconducting transition-edge-sensor (TES) microcalorimeters at the J-PARC muon facility. We successfully demonstrated the feasibility of muonic atom X-ray spectroscopy with a gas target at a pressure as low as 0.1 atom using TES array under an intense pulsed muon beam.

Soft x-ray diffraction gratings coated with a supermirror-type multilayer were designed to enhance diffraction efficiency in the energy range of 2–4 keV by means of numerical calculations. The optimized groove depth and incidence angle are 2.05 nm and 88.65°, respectively, for the grating having a groove density of 3200 grooves/mm. Regarding the multilayer structure, the optimum number of B4C/W layers pair was 11 and the thickness of B4C was increased from bottom to top, while that of W was kept constant. The replacement of the top layer of W by either Co, Cr, or Ni was an effective means of obtaining uniform diffraction efficiency. In the region of 2–4 keV, the calculated diffraction efficiency of the designed gratings was up to ∼5.3%, on average, and almost eight times larger than that of ∼0.7% of an Au coated grating.

A fast ionization chamber with a high counting rate was commissioned at the 8 MV tandem accelerator complex of Kyushu University in Japan. Heavy ion beams consisting of 12C and 16O with Ebeam = 36 MeV were used to investigate the detector performance. By using various beam intensities ranging from 103 to 106 particles per second (pps), the maximum counting rate of the ion counter was measured to be about 8 × 105 pps. The detector performance under different gases was also investigated using two common gases in the ionization chamber: isobutane and P-10 gases. The results show that the negative effects due to pileups, which are often observed at high counting rates, can be greatly reduced when P-10 gas is used.

Full list of authors: Rommel, F. L.; Braga-Ribas, F.; Desmars, J.; Camargo, J. I. B.; Ortiz, J. L.; Sicardy, B.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Assafin, M.; Santos-Sanz, P.; Duffard, R.; Fernández-Valenzuela, E.; Lecacheux, J.; Morgado, B. E.; Benedetti-Rossi, G.; Gomes-Júnior, A. R.; Pereira, C. L.; Herald, D.; Hanna, W.; Bradshaw, J.; Morales, N. Brimacombe, J.; Burtovoi, A.; Carruthers, T.; de Barros, J. R.; Fiori, M.; Gilmore, A.; Hooper, D.; Hornoch, K.; Jacques, C.; Janik, T.; Kerr, S.; Kilmartin, P.; Winkel, Jan Maarten; Naletto, G.; Nardiello, D.; Nascimbeni, V.; Newman, J.; Ossola, A.; Pál, A.; Pimentel, E.; Pravec, P.; Sposetti, S.; Stechina, A.; Szakáts, R.; Ueno, Y.; Zampieri, L.; Broughton, J.; Dunham, J. B.; Dunham, D. W.; Gault, D.; Hayamizu, T.; Hosoi, K.; Jehin, E.; Jones, R.; Kitazaki, K.; Komžík, R.; Marciniak, A.; Maury, A.; Mikuž, H.; Nosworthy, P.; Fábrega Polleri, J.; Rahvar, S.; Sfair, R.; Siqueira, P. B.; Snodgrass, C.; Sogorb, P.; Tomioka, H.; Tregloan-Reed, J.; Winter, O. C., Context. Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and Centaurs are remnants of our planetary system formation, and their physical properties have invaluable information for evolutionary theories. Stellar occultation is a ground-based method for studying these distant small bodies and has presented exciting results. These observations can provide precise profiles of the involved body, allowing an accurate determination of its size and shape. Aims. The goal is to show that even single-chord detections of TNOs allow us to measure their milliarcsecond astrometric positions in the reference frame of the Gaia second data release (DR2). Accurate ephemerides can then be generated, allowing predictions of stellar occultations with much higher reliability. Methods. We analyzed data from various stellar occultation detections to obtain astrometric positions of the involved bodies. The events published before the Gaia era were updated so that the Gaia DR2 stellar catalog is the reference, thus providing accurate positions. Events with detection from one or two different sites (single or double chord) were analyzed to determine the event duration. Previously determined sizes were used to calculate the position of the object center and its corresponding error with respectto the detected chord and the International Celestial Reference System propagated Gaia DR2 star position. Results. We derive 37 precise astrometric positions for 19 TNOs and four Centaurs. Twenty-one of these events are presented here for the first time. Although about 68% of our results are based on single-chord detection, most have intrinsic precision at the submilliarcsecond level. Lower limits on the diameter of bodies such as Sedna, 2002 KX14, and Echeclus, and also shape constraints on 2002 VE95, 2003 FF128, and 2005 TV189 are presented as valuable byproducts. Conclusions. Using the Gaia DR2 catalog, we show that even a single detection of a stellar occultation allows improving the object ephemeris significantly, which in turn enables predicting a future stellar occultation with high accuracy. Observational campaigns can be efficiently organized with this help, and may provide a full physical characterization of the involved object, or even the study of topographic features such as satellites or rings. © 2020 ESO., This study was financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 and the National Institute of Science and Technology of the e-Universe project (INCT do e-Universo, CNPq grant 465376/2014-2). The following authors acknowledge the respective CNPq grants: F.B.-R. 309578/2017-5; R.V.-M. 304544/2017-5, 401903/2016-8; J.I.B.C. 308150/2016-3; M.A. 427700/2018-3, 310683/2017-3, 473002/2013-2; O.C.W. 305210/2018-1. The following authors acknowledge the respective grants: B.E.M. thanks the CAPES/Cofecub-394/2016-05 grant; G.B-R. acknowledges CAPES-FAPERJ/PAPDRJ grant E26/203.173/2016; M.A. acknowledges FAPERJ grant E-26/111.488/2013; A.R.G.Jr acknowledges FAPESP grant 2018/11239-8; O.C.W. and R.S. acknowledge FAPESP grant 2016/24561-0. D.N. acknowledges support from the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). K.H. and P.P. were supported by the project R.V.O.: 67985815. A.P. and R.S. received support from the K-125015 grant of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH, Hungary). Partial funding of the computational infrastructure and database servers are received from the grant KEP-7/2018 of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Some of the results were based on observations taken at the 1.6m telescope on Pico dos Dias Observatory of the National Laboratory of Astrophysics (LNA/Brazil). Some data are based on observations collected at the Copernicus and Schmidt telescopes (Asiago, Italy) of the INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova. This work was carried out within the "Lucky Star" umbrella that agglomerates the efforts of the Paris, Granada and Rio teams, which is funded by the European Research Council under the European Community's H2020 (ERC Grant Agreement No. 669416). This work has made use of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Gaia (https://www.cosmos.esa.int/gaia), processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC, https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/dpac/consortium).Funding for the DPAC has been provided by national institutions, in particular the institutions participating in the Gaia Multilateral Agreement. TRAPPIST is a project funded by the Belgian FNRS under grant FRFC 2.5.594.09.F and the ARC grant for Concerted Research Actions, financed by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. E.J. is a FNRS Senior Research Associate. We would like to acknowledge financial support by the Spanish grant AYA-RTI2018-098657-JI00 "LEO-SBNAF" (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, U.E.) and the financial support from the State Agency for Research of the Spanish MCIU through the "Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa" award for the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (SEV-2017-0709). Also, AYA2017-89637-R and FEDER funds are acknowledged. We are thankful to the following observers who participated and provided data for respective events as listed in Table B.1: Orlando A. Naranjo from Universidad de Los Andes, Merida/VEN; Faustino Organero from La Hita Observatory - Toledo/ESP.

As a new method to determine the resonance frequency, Rabi-oscillation spectroscopy has been developed. In contrast to the conventional spectroscopy which draws the resonance curve, Rabi-oscillation spectroscopy fits the time evolution of the Rabi oscillation. By selecting the optimized frequency, it is shown that the precision is twice as good as the conventional spectroscopy with a frequency sweep. Furthermore, the data under different conditions can be treated in a unified manner, allowing more efficient measurements for systems consisting of a limited number of short-lived particles produced by accelerators such as muons. We have developed a fitting function that takes into account the spatial distribution of muonium and the spatial distribution of the microwave intensity to apply the new method to ground-state muonium hyperfine structure measurements at zero field. This was applied to the actual measurement data and the resonance frequencies were determined under various conditions. The result of our analysis gives $\nu_{\rm HFS}=4\ 463\ 301.61 \pm 0.71\ {\rm kHz}$, which is the world's highest precision under zero field conditions., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

A hydrogen-like atom consisting of a positive muon and an electron is known as muonium. It is a near-ideal two-body system for a precision test of bound-state theory and fundamental symmetries. The MuSEUM collaboration performed a new precision measurement of the muonium ground-state hyperfine structure at J-PARC using a high-intensity pulsed muon beam and a high-rate capable positron counter. The resonance of hyperfine transition was successfully observed at a near-zero magnetic field, and the muonium hyperfine structure interval of ${\nu}_{\text{HFS}}$ = 4.463302(4) GHz was obtained with a relative precision of 0.9 ppm. The result was consistent with the previous ones obtained at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the current theoretical calculation. We present a demonstration of the microwave spectroscopy of muonium for future experiments to achieve the highest precision., Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures

Introduction/Background Lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer should be considered depending on individual patients owing to its postoperative risks such as lymphedema. Although assessment of lymph node metastasis provides crucial information for appropriate adjuvant management, therapeutic importance of lymphadenectomy for low-intermediate risk patients is a matter of debate. Given that sentinel lymph node biopsy is a beneficial but complex method, noninvasive, simple and high-precision diagnosis method for lymph node metastatic state is highly demanded. In a previous study, we identified SEMA3D and a novel isoform of TACC2 as promising biomarkers to evaluate lymphatic metastasis based on gene expression patterns in the primary lesion. Here, we attempted to optimize sampling method considering tumor heterogeneity and to accelerate gene quantitative analysis for our biomarkers. Methodology Endometrial cancer tissues from new several patients were collected in addition to the previous 115 patients. We collected 5–13 pieces of primary tumor from each new patient. We verified gene expressions of each tissue piece by quantitative-PCR to optimize sampling method. Then we assessed whether RT-SmartAmp method, which can detect nucleic acids in one step consisting of a reverse transcription and an isothermal amplification of DNA, could quantify our biomarker RNA rapidly. We measured the speed of amplification and target specificity based on biomarker RNA as the template in one step containing reverse transcription step. Results We calculated the average expression levels by bootstrap method It suggested that even when the sampling number is two, each average expression level indicates correct diagnosis with 99%CI. Then we also succeeded to develop a promising candidate of primer set to detect the target mRNA by using SmartAmp. This candidate can detect RNA quantitatively within 30 minutes without non-specific amplification of negative control by using Eprimer as detection fluorescence. Conclusion Our findings pave the way for support clinical decisions that minimize irrelevant lymphadenectomy. Disclosure I have no COI with regard to our presentation. This work was supported by AMED under Grant Number 18cm0106433h0001 and 19cm0106452h0001, a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the MEXT (15K10732, 17K11296, 18K09299), a research grant from MEXT through the RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program, a research grant from MEXT to RIKEN Omics Science Center and a research grant from MEXT to RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (Division of Genomic Technologies).

Background and Aims: T2 gallbladder cancer requires lymph node dissection for curative resection, whereas simple cholecystectomy is adequate to treat T1 gallbladder cancer. Hence, this study aimed to develop an accurate scoring system to preoperatively predict pT2 in gallbladder cancer. Material and Methods: We retrospectively assessed data from 57 patients with suspected gallbladder cancer who underwent curative resection between September 2003 and May 2017. Six with apparent invasion of adjacent organs on preoperative images were excluded. We evaluated preoperative computed tomography, magnetic resonance and endoscopic ultrasonographic images, blood biochemistry, and the maximum standard uptake value in fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography images. We analyzed whether correlations between preoperative findings and the depth of tumor invasion could predict pT2. Results: The pathological diagnosis was gallbladder cancer in 30 (58.8%) patients, of whom 21 (69.9%) had pT2 or worse. Multivariate analyses selected carcinoembryonic antigen and tumor diameter as independent predictors of pT2 or worse (odds ratios = 1.741 and 1.098, respectively; 95% confidence intervals = 1.004–3.020 and 1.008–1.197, respectively). A regression formula was created using carcinoembryonic antigen and tumor diameter to calculate pT2 predictive scores. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of the pT2 predictive score was 0.873. Conclusion: We created a scoring system to predict pT2 in gallbladder cancer using carcinoembryonic antigen and tumor diameter. The present findings suggested that carcinoembryonic antigen is important for the preoperative evaluation of gallbladder cancer.

In the present work we report the effect of magnetic field on the emission intensity of the neutral and singly ionized transition line of the Tin plasma in vacuum produced by the CO2 laser. We have investigated time of flight measurement and the expansion velocity of the excited neutral and ions of the tin plasma in the absence and in the presence of the magnetic field of 0.64T in vacuum at a distance of 1 mm and 3 mm from the sample surface. The estimated values of the expansion velocities of Sn+ at the distance of 1 mm and 3 mm from the surface is 0.23 × 106 cm/s and 0.32 × 106 cm/s respectively in the field-free case, whereas in the case of the magnetic field of 0.64 T these values were found to be 0.19 × 106 cm/s and 0.27 × 106 cm/s respectively. It is observed in our estimated experimental result of the TOF the expansion velocity in the presence of field is considerably lower as compare to field free region. We have also estimated the electron number density and electron temperature of the tin plasma using Stark broadened profiles of Sn+ transition line and Boltzmann plot method respectively. In the temporal variations, the electron temperature and the electron number density with and without magnetic field of 0.64T is estimated as (1.48–0.63) eV and (1.04–0.58) eV and (2.06 × 1016–6.7 × 1015) cm−3 and (1.5 × 1016–4.42 × 1015) cm−3 respectively at the delay of (200–1100) ns.

CsI(Tl) scintillation detectors based on a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) were tested for low-energy proton detection. Pulse shape analysis of the SiPM signals with a transimpedance amplifier was conducted to investigate the saturation effect due to the recovery time of a pixel and to evaluate particle identification capability. To recover energy linearity, a saturation correction method based on a non-paralyzable dead time model was proposed. The setup using the SiPM with a 25 μ m pixel pitch well separated protons and deuterons at energies from 3 to 12 MeV. Additionally, a readout circuit without an amplifier was tested to investigate another type of saturation due to the voltage drop effect.

We performed an experiment to measure proton resonant elastic scattering of a mixed 26m,gAl beam with a thick target in inverse kinematics by using CNS RI beam sep-arator, located at RIKEN Nishina Center. It aimed to search for strong proton resonances and determine level properties of low spin-parity states in 27Si. Diagnosis of the 26mAl purity of the beam by annihilation radiation are discussed.

Astrophysical observables that are directly linked to nuclear physics inputs provide critical and stringent constraints on nucleosynthetic models. As 26Al was the first specific radioactivity observed in the Galaxy, its origin has fascinated the nuclear astrophysics community for nearly forty years. Despite extensive research, the precise origins of 26Al remain elusive. At present, the sum of all putative stellar contributions generally overestimates the 26Al mass in the interstellar medium. Among the many reactions that influence the yield of 26Al, radiative proton capture on its isomer 26mAl is one of the least constrained reactions by experimental data. To this end, we developed a 26Al isomeric beam and performed proton elastic scattering to search for low-spin states in 27Si. The experimental method and the preliminary results of this on-going study will be presented.

Optical gain measurement is extended to chips designed for external cavity lasers, where facet reflectivity is intentionally kept null, which prevents from any application of the Hakki-Paoli method. The new method is first shown to be consistent with the standard methods, by applying it to a chip with Fabry-Perot resonances and comparing the results of the new and the Hakki-Paoli method. The validated new method is then applied to the non-reflecting cavity of a tunable laser diode based on external cavity.

We have been developing a laser produced plasma extremely ultra violet (LPP-EUV) light source for a high volume manufacturing (HVM) semiconductor lithography. It has several unique technologies such as the high power short pulse carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the short wavelength solid-state pre-pulse laser and the debris mitigation technology with the magnetic field. This paper presents the key technologies for a high power LPP-EUV light source. We also show the latest performance data which is 188W EUV power at intermediate focus (IF) point with 3.7% conversion efficiency (CE) at 100 kHz.

The advent of radioactive ground-state beams some three decades ago ultimately sparked a revolution in our understanding of nuclear physics. However, studies with radioactive isomer beams are sparse and have often required sophisticated apparatuses coupled with the technologies of ground-state beams due to typical mass differences on the order of hundreds of keV and vastly different lifetimes for isomers. We present an application of a isomeric beam of 26m Al to one of the most famous observables in nuclear astrophysics: galactic 26 Al. The characteristic decay of 26 Al in the Galaxy was the first such specific radioactivity to be observed originating from outside the Earth some four decades ago. We present a newly-developed, novel technique to probe the structure of low-spin states in 27 Si. Using the Center for Nuclear Study low-energy radioisotope beam separator (CRIB), we report on the measurement of 26m Al proton resonant elastic scattering conducted with a thick target in inverse kinematics. The preliminary results of this on-going study are presented.

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the BCR-ABL fusion oncoprotein activates multiple pathways involved in cell survival, growth promotion and disease progression. In this report, we show that the signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is involved in BCR-ABL activity. We demonstrate that STAP-2 bound to BCR-ABL, and BCR and ABL proteins, depending on the STAP-2 Src homology 2-like domain. BCR-ABL phosphorylates STAP-2 Tyr250 and the phosphorylated STAP-2 in turn upregulated BCR-ABL phosphorylation, leading to enhanced activation of downstream signaling molecules including ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase), STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5), BCL-xL (B-cell lymphoma-extra large) and BCL-2(B-cell lymphoma 2). In addition, STAP-2 interacts with BCR-ABL to alter chemokine receptor expression leading to downregulation of CXCR4 and upregulation of CCR7. The interaction between STAP-2 and BCR-ABL plays a crucial role in conferring a growth advantage and resistance to imatinib, a BCR-ABL inhibitor, as well as tumor progression. Notably, mice injected with BCR-ABL/STAP-2-expressing Ba/F3 cells developed lymph node enlargement and hepatosplenomegaly. Moreover, suppression of STAP-2 in K562 CML cells resulted in no tumor formation in mice. Our results demonstrate a critical contribution of STAP-2 in BCR-ABL activity, and suggest that STAP-2 might be an important candidate for drug development for patients with CML. Furthermore, the expression of STAP-2 provides useful information for estimating the characteristics of individual CML clones.

Surface damage of carbon fiber composite (CFC) and tungsten (W) due to repetitive ELM-like pulsed plasma irradiation has been investigated by using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun. CX2002U CFC and stress-relieved W samples were exposed to repetitive pulsed deuterium plasmas with duration of ∼0.5 ms, incident ion energy of ∼30 eV, and surface absorbed energy density of ∼0.3–0.7 MJ/m 2 . Bright spots on a CFC surface during pulsed plasma exposures were clearly observed with a high-speed camera, indicating a local surface heating. No melting of a W surface was observed under a single plasma pulse exposure at energy density of ∼0.7 MJ/m 2 , although cracks were formed. Cracking of the W surface grew with repetitive pulsed plasma exposures. Subsequently, the surface melted due to localized heat absorption.

P-Chloro (bistrimethylsilyl) methylene phosphine gives ene reactions with simple alkenes and with α-ethylenic hydrazones. Aza Diels Alder reactions are not observed with latter compounds but are possible when the azadiene bears electro-donor substituants.

Viscoelastic behaviour of a metallic glass Zr 55 Al 10 Ni 5 Cu 30 has been studied by measuring the dynamic shear modulus G under forced vibration at low frequencies below 1 Hz. In measurements with increasing temperature, the shear modulus falls markedly at temperatures around the glass transition but at different rates under different vibration frequencies. The dynamic viscosity η has been evaluated using the relation η = G /(i ω ), where ω is the angular frequency. The curves of | η | vs temperature of different frequencies converge to a single curve in the glass transition region, and the converged curve is in fair agreement with the data reported in the literature. The dynamic glass transition point, defined as the vibration frequency and temperature at which the curves of the storage modulus G 1 and the loss modulus G 2 cross each other, obeys the Arrhenius law. The pre-exponential factor and the activation energy of the transition frequency are unusually large, suggesting that collective movements of atoms control the transition.

The in vitro combination effect of two azole antimycotics, miconazole and fluconazole, against Candida albicans was studied. When minimum (MIC) and sub-minimum (sub-MIC) inhibitory concentration and fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) determinations were made, a synergistic interaction of the two agents at the concentration well below their individual MICs (at sub-MIC levels) was evidenced. The FIC index values ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 and the synergy was characterized by the potentiation of fluconazole activity with miconazole. The synergistic effect was also confirmed by a turbidometric method. On the other hand, such a synergistic effect against Candida krusei was not confirmed.

We have investigated the growth conditions of nanoscaled MnAs dots fabricated on sulfur-terminated GaAs (001) surfaces with regard to the surface coverage and substrate temperature (Ts) during the growth. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images reveal that the size of nanoscaled MnAs dots is controllable with respect to the values of Ts in the range of 200–300 °C. For high Ts values, the sizes of the dots become large and are limited to a diameter and height of 15 and 8 nm, respectively. Further, STM observations indicate the formation of two types of MnAs dots when more than three monolayers are grown. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We have investigated the c(4×4) surface reconstructions of GaAs(0 0 1) using scanning tunneling microscopy. We found that, by the As 4 flux in molecular beam epitaxy, the Ga–As dimer (c(4×4)α) and the As–As dimer (c(4×4)β) structures at the top of the surfaces are distinguished depending on the growth temperature and annealing time. Annealing for more than 2 h at 350 °C is required to obtain a stable c(4×4)β surface reconstruction dominantly under the As 4 flux conditions. Furthermore, the Ga atoms in the c(4×4)α Ga–As heterodimers are segregated onto the surface and migrate to the step edges with the step barrier formation by the transition from α to β phases with decreasing annealing temperature.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study was designed to examine the acute and long-term outcomes after surgical treatment of patients with pulmonary aspergillomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1992 to 2006, 24 patients (21 men, mean age 58.4 years) with pulmonary aspergillomas underwent pulmonary resection. Operative indications were massive or repetitive hemoptysis in 6 patients, medically unmanageable localized infection in 14 patients, and undetermined mass in 4 patients. Eighteen patients (75.0 %) had background pulmonary diseases and four patients (16.7 %) were mildly immunocompromised. Eight patients had simple aspergillomas, while sixteen patients had complex aspergillomas. Two patients with pleural empyema had their pleural spaces sterilized before pulmonary resections. Fungus balls and pulmonary cavities along with the surrounding lung were removed in all patients. RESULTS: Surgical procedures consisted of 13 lobectomies, 5 pneumonectomies including one completion penumonectomy, 2 segmentectomies and 4 wedge resections. Postoperative complication occurred in 10 patients (41.6 %) and one patient died from aortic bleeding due to postoperative empyema. Other major complications were prolonged air leaks, bleeding, and chylothorax. In the follow-up period, all but one patient were free from aspergillosis. Hemoptysis was not seen in any patient. Overall survival rates at 2, 5, and 10 years were 86.6 %, 79.4 % and 79.4 %, respectively. Disease-free survival rates from aspergillosis were 86.6 %, 72.6 % and 72.6 % at 2, 5, and 10 years, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary resection for aspergilloma showed favorable acute and long-term outcomes when surgical treatment was applied in selected patients.

A CO2 laser-driven Xe liquid jet plasma has been studied with respect to its usability as a EUV lithography light source. A short-pulse TEA-CO2 master oscillator power amplifier system (MOPA) and a pre-pulse Nd:YAG laser were used for the plasma generation. The dependence of EUV plasma parameters, e.g., conversion efficiency, plasma image, in-band and out-of-band spectra, on the delay time between the pre-pulse and the main pulse laser was investigated. A maximum conversion efficiency of 0.6% was obtained at a delay time of about 200 ns. In addition, characteristics of fast ions were measured by the time-of-flight method. The peak energy of the fast ion energy distribution decreased significantly at delay times longer than 200 ns. This result is very promising with respect to a collector mirror lifetime extension by magnetic field mitigation.

We devised a simple method for incorporating drugs into solid calcium carbonate nanoparticles (nano-CaCO3). The size of nano-CaCO3 was controlled by mixing speed. Washing the nanoparticles released little incorporated drug but much drug that was adsorbed on the surface. In an in vitro releasing test, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor incorporated in nano-CaCO3 was chemically stable and released very slowly. Subcutaneous injection of nano-CaCO3 incorporating betamethasone phosphate (BP) resulted in a smaller initial increase in plasma concentration and a subsequent sustained release in compared with betamethasone phosphate solution. Nano-CaCO3 may be useful to deliver hydrophilic drugs and bioactive proteins.

Objectives. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy has been reported to be effective for reducing the incidence of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute febrile vasculitis of unknown aetiology. Regarding the mechanism of IVIG in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), it has been reported that IVIG increases the expression of the inhibitory Fc receptor, FcyRIIB (CD32B), on splenic macrophages in a murine ITP model. Regarding the mechanism of IVIG during acute KD, we investigated whether or not IVIG increases the expression of FcyRIIB in peripheral blood CD14 + monocytes/ macrophages. Methods. The expression of FcyRIIB in peripheral blood CD14 + monocytes/macrophages was determined before and after IVIG therapy in 13 patients with acute KD by flow cytometry. Results. The percentage of CD14 + CD32B + monocytes/macrophages among peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the absolute number of CD14 + CD32B + monocytes/macrophages and the percentage of CD14 + CD32B + monocytes/macrophages among CD14 + monocytes/macrophages in patients with acute KD before IVIG therapy were significantly increased compared with those after IVIG therapy and in controls. CD14 + CD32B + monocytes/macrophages decreased to within the normal range soon after IVIG therapy. Conclusions. IVIG therapy in patients with KD did not increase the expression of FcyRIIB in peripheral blood CD14 + monocytes/macrophages during the acute stage.

A high efficiency TIG welding method was developed, which employs two electrodes within a single torch. This system is shown to produce consistent penetration in the groove wall and high deposition rate, making it well suited for application to the construction of large capacity LNG storage tanks and thick walled pressure vessels. Authors have applied this new TIG welding method in the construction of an inner tank for PCLNG storage tank. The material of tank wall is 9% Ni steel. Proper welding condition for vertical and horizontal welding position (peripheral welding position) were selected, and sound joint properties were confirmed. For the practical application, stable welding procedures were developed. In result, it achieved greatly improving joint quality and reducing construction time.

High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is well established as a standard therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD) that reduces the risk of developing coronary artery aneurysms. Activation of monocytes/macrophages and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity are responsible for severe vascular injury in acute KD. We examined whether or not IVIG inhibits TNF-alpha-induced activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB, a factor that is essential for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, in human monocytic U-937 cells. The inhibitory effect of IVIG on NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF-alpha was evaluated by Western blotting and flow cytometry. In addition, we examined the effect of IVIG on the expression of FcgammaIII (CD16) and FcgammaRIIb (CD32b) in U-937 cells and peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages by flow cytometry. Western blotting demonstrated that IVIG inhibits NF-kappaB activation in U-937 cells, and flow cytometry that IVIG inhibits NF-kappaB activation in U-937 cells in a dose-related manner. Western blotting of cytoplasmic extracts of U-937 cells revealed that IVIG inhibited degradation of the IkappaBalpha protein. Moreover, flow cytometry demonstrated that IVIG decreased the expression of FcgammaRIII in U-937 cells and peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages. However, Western blotting revealed that IVIG did not affect the quantity of FcgammaRIII protein, and PCR that IVIG did not affect the quantity of FcgammaRIII mRNA in the cells. These findings suggest that IVIG inhibits TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation in monocytes/macrophages, and blocks FcgammaRIII on the membranes of monocytes/macrophages.

The piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters were fabricated by using uniaxially stretched poly (vinylidene difluoride/trifluoroethylene) copolymer (P(VDF/TrFE)) film, and the relationship between piezoelectric power generation and molecular orientation was investigated. The molecular orientation in the stretched P(VDF/TrFE) films was evaluated with polarized Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) spectra measurement. In stretched films, the main-chains of P(VDF/TrFE) were aligned along the stretching direction. The piezoelectric properties and the electric power generation of stretched P(VDF/TrFE) films were strongly depended on their molecular orientation, measuring by cantilever-type energy harvesters. The piezoelectric coefficient(e) and output power observed in the energy harvester with the film stretched in the longitudinal direction of cantilever were 16.9 mC/m2 and 222 nW, respectively. These values were approximately 2.1 and 3.5 times these of the unstretched elements.