Solid solutions of alkaline earth hexaborides were synthesized and densified by spark plasma sintering at 100MPa. The high-temperature thermoelectric properties (Seebeck coefficients, electrical and thermal diffusivities, heat capacities) were measured between room temperature and 1073K. CaB6, SrB6, BaB6 and the ternary hexaborides CaxSr1−xB6, CaxBa1−xB6, SrxBa1−xB6 (x=0.25, 0.5, 0.75) are n-type conducting compounds over the whole compositional and thermal ranges. The values of the figure of merit ZT for CaB6 (ca. 0.3 at 1073K) were found to be significantly increased compared to earlier investigations which is attributed to the densification process.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of carbon ion beam (CI) for radioresistant human brain tumor (BT) cells expressing cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. Two human BTs, an ependymoblastoma (EB) with wild-type (wt) p53 and a glioblastoma (GB) with mutant-type (mt) p53, were transplanted into nude mice and were irradiated with CI beams (290 MeV/u, 6 cm spread-out Bragg peak) or 150 kV X-rays. Tumors were excised 6, 24, or 48 hours (h) after 2, 4, 8, or 16 Gy irradiation. Total RNA was extracted from a part of each tumor and cDNA microarray analysis, hierarchical clustering, gene ontology analysis, and pathway analysis were performed. The other part was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. TUNEL assay was performed to evaluate apoptosis, and CD133, CD44, and Nestin expressions were evaluated immunohistochemically. Apoptosis increased significantly 6 h after CI beam or X-ray irradiation in EB, but only a few apoptotic cells were found 48 h after. This tumor showed significant changes in gene expression profiles following 2 Gy irradiation or more. There were few differences between the profiles induced by CI beams and those by X-rays. Pathway analysis demonstrated that apoptosis, cell cycle, and p53 signaling pathways are involved. Most of the EB cells were intensely Nestin-positive and weakly CD44-positive, and some of the tumor cells were weakly CD133-positive. Following irradiation, CD133-positive cells increased slightly, but no significant change was found in CD44 and Nestin expressions. In contrast, only a few apoptotic cells were found and few changes were shown in gene expression profiles following 2 Gy irradiation in GB; however, the tumor showed significant profile changes following 8 Gy or 16 Gy CI irradiation. Up- or down-regulation of p53, caspases, and Fas were not found, but p53R2, TRAIL-R, NF-kB, IkBa, and IAP were suggested to be involved. Profile changes induced by X-rays and carbon ion beams were different in part. Most of the GB cells were intensely CD44-positive and many cells were CD133-positive. The tumor cells were Nestin-positive, but weaker than EB. Following irradiation, CD133-positive cells increased slightly, but no significant change was found in CD44 and Nestin expressions. p53 signaling and apoptosis-related pathways were suggested to play important roles in radiation therapy for EB with wt p53. In contrast, anti-apoptotic or surviving pathways were suggested to be activated following irradiation in GB with mt p53. Both tumors showed a slight increase of CD133-positive cells following irradiation, although the expression patterns of CSC markers were different. These results suggested that CD133-positive cells are resistant to both X-rays and CI beams in these BTs.

Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) can be positive in patients infected with Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii), which carries some of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antigens adopted for IGRAs. Our aim is to evaluate positive rate and factors associated with positive IGRAs in patients with M. kansasii pulmonary infection.We retrospectively investigated 105 M. kansasii cases in which IGRAs were performed before or ≦14 days after treatment initiation. Clinical characteristics including a history of tuberculosis, radiographic features and laboratory data were collected from medical records.Positive rate of each IGRA was 25.9% (15/58) in QuantiFERON TB-Gold (QFT-G), 31.8% (7/22) in QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube (QFT-GIT), and 33.3% (7/21) in T-SPOT. TB (T-SPOT). After excluding cases having a history of tuberculosis, positive rate of each IGRA decreased to 19% (8/42) in QFT-G, 20% (3/15) in QFT-GIT, and 18.8% (3/16) in T-SPOT. The multivariate analysis revealed that only previous tuberculosis was significantly associated with positive IGRAs (odds ratio, 4.758; 95% confidence interval, 1.73–13.05; p = 0.002).Positive rates of IGRAs were low in patients with M. kansasii, especially in those without previous tuberculosis. M. kansasii pulmonary infection alone might induce less interferon-gamma production with the antigens.

Thin films of boron carbide (B12+xC3-x) with carbon content of 0<x<1 have been successfully prepared by an pulsed ion-beam evaporation (IBE) method to optimize the thermoelectric properties. First, B12+xC3-x bulks with nominal carbon contents of 3-x = 2.0 to 3.0 were synthesized by a spark plasma sintering. Secondly, the B12+xC3-x, thin films were prepared on glass substrates by the IBE without substrate heating or sample annealing. From X-ray diffraction results, the films consisted of a B12+xC3-x, phase and lattice parameters of the phase were comparable to that of the target. It was concluded that B12+xC3-x, thin films with different carbon contents were successfully prepared at room temperature. Finally, thermoelectric properties of the thin films were measured. The B13.0C2.0 thin film exhibits the highest power factor at room temperature among B12+xC3-x, samples reported.

This paper describes an amine free sol–gel method for silica coating of Au nanoparticles and shows an X-ray image of a colloid solution of the silica coated Au (Au–SiO2) particles. The Au nanoparticles that had a size of 16·9±1·2 nm were prepared through a conventional citrate reduction method. The silica coating was performed with a sol–gel reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) catalysed with NaOH in the presence of Au nanoparticles. The silica shell thickness was varied from 37 to 68 nm for TEOS concentrations of 1×10−3–20×10−3M at 4·3×10−5M of Au, 10·7M of H2O and 1·0×10−3M of NaOH. The optical properties of the Au–SiO2 particle colloid solution were related to the refractive index around the Au particles and the intensity of scattering from silica shells. The as prepared colloid solution could be concentrated up to an Au concentration of 4·3×10−2M with salting out. The concentrated colloid solution showed a high contrast X-ray image.

A polarized 3He neutron spin filter has been applied to polarization analysis on the small-angle neutron scattering spectrometer SANS-J-II at JRR-3. Measurements were taken on silver behenate, which has several coherent peaks in the small-angle region with a background of spin incoherent hydrogen scattering. Here we demonstrate that the coherent and spin incoherent scattering were successfully separated by the polarization analysis using the 3He spin filter on the instrument.

A tutorial review will be given on the principle and applications of a recently proposed unconventional holography technique, coherence holography, and a related technique for dispersion-free 3-D coherence imaging based on a spatial frequency comb.

In this talk we review and introduce some of the examples of successful applications of the Fourier transform method (FTM) of fringe pattern analysis to the measurements of extreme physical phenomena, such as those involving ultra fast optical pulses, extremely small atomic displacements, and unconventional electron wave or EUV light, and show how the advantages of FTM are exploited in these cutting edge application areas.

Members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family have been clinically applied to the treatment of ischemic diseases because of their strong angiogenic actions. Although tissue ischemia is predominantly caused by atherosclerosis, the roles of endothelial FGF receptors (FGF-Rs) in atherosclerosis remain obscure. We generated endothelial cell (EC)-targeted constitutively active FGF-R2-overexpressing mice, using the Tie2 promoter (Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg), and crossed them with apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice (ApoE-KO) to generate Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg/ApoE-deficient mice (Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg/ApoE-KO). After being fed a Western diet for 8 wk, the Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg/ApoE-KO demonstrated 2.0-fold greater atherosclerotic lesion area on the luminal surfaces of the aortas than the ApoE-KO (P < 0.01). The level of p21(Cip1) protein, a cell cycle inhibitor, in the FGF-R2-overexpressing EC was 2.5-fold greater than that in the wild-type (WT) EC at the baseline (P < 0.01). FGF-R2 overexpression in the EC resulted in increased expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, acceleration of apoptosis, and decreased proliferative activity, all of which were normalized by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of p21(Cip1) (75% reduction in protein level, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the expression of PDGF-B and Egr-1, a PDGF/p21(Cip1)-inducible transcription factor, in the aortic endothelium of Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg/ApoE-KO was significantly greater than that in ApoE-KO. The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in the aortic media of Tie2-FGF-R2-Tg/ApoE-KO was 2.0-fold higher than that in ApoE-KO (P < 0.01). Thus our study reveals that endothelial FGF-R2 signaling aggravates atherosclerosis by promoting p21(Cip1)-mediated EC dysfunction and cautions against the use of FGF for therapeutic angiogenesis in the setting of atherosclerosis.

As an improvement of the intensity correlation used widely in conventional electronic speckle photography, we propose a new technique for displacement measurement based on correlating Stokes-like parameters derivatives for transformed speckle patterns. The method is based on a Riesz transform of the intensity speckle pattern, which converts the original real-valued signal into a complex signal. In closest analogy to the polarisation of a vector wave, the Stokes-like vector constructed from the spatial derivative of the generated complex signal has been applied for correlation. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the validity and advantage of the proposed pseudo-Stokes vector correlation technique over conventional intensity correlation technique.

BACKGROUND Predictors of in-hospital outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) requiring mechanical support devices such as intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) and/or percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Using the AMI-Kyoto Multi-Center Risk Study database, clinical background, angiographic findings, results of primary PCI, and in-hospital prognosis were retrospectively compared between primary PCI-treated AMI patients requiring mechanical assist devices (with-IABP/PCPS patients, n=275) and those without (without-IABP/PCPS patients, n=1,510). The with-IABP/PCPS patients were more likely to have a larger number of diseased vessels, lower Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade in the infarct-related artery (IRA) before/after primary PCI, and a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than the without-IABP/PCPS patients. On multivariate analysis, the number of diseased vessels > or =2 or diseased left main trunk (LMT) at initial coronary angiography (CAG) was the independent positive predictor of the in-hospital mortality in the with-IABP/PCPS patients, not in the without-IABP/PCPS patients, whereas acquisition of TIMI 3 flow in the IRA immediately after primary PCI was the negative predictor in the without-IABP/PCPS patients, not in the with-IABP/PCPS patients. CONCLUSIONS The number of diseased vessels > or =2 or diseased LMT at initial CAG is an independent risk factor of in-hospital death in primary PCI-treated AMI patients requiring mechanical support devices.

We review some of the statistical properties of polarization-related speckle phenomena, with an introduction of a less known concept of polarization speckles and their spatial degree of polarization. As a useful means to characterize two-point vector field correlations, we review the generalized Stokes parameters proposed by Korotkova and Wolf, and introduce its time-domain representation to describe the space-time evolution of the correlation between random electric vector fields at two different space-time points. This time-domain generalized Stokes vector, with components similar to those of the beam coherence polarization matrix proposed by Gori, is shown to obey the wave equation in exact analogy to a coherence function of scalar fields. Because of this wave nature, the time-domain generalized Stokes vector is referred to as generalized Stokes vector wave in this paper.

Summary form only given. Since the environmental awareness is increasing, the development of a high efficacy mercury-free fluorescent lamp is strongly required. Although the xenon is one of the most promising candidates for substitution of mercury, its discharge tends to constrict and the efficacy drops drastically at high input power. The authors have developed a technique to enhance the total flux and the efficacy of the cold cathode xenon fluorescent lamp by using an auxiliary external electrode (AEE); it has an effect to expand the positive column and suppress its constriction. Since that effect is attributed to the electrical coupling between the positive column and the AEE, it is easily expected that the effect of the AEE depends on the lamp diameter. In this paper, the effect of the AEE on the power consumption and the efficacy depending on the lamp diameter is studied. The lamps with three different diameters were prepared: 14, 27 and 32 mm in outside diameter. The lamps have two inside electrodes for cold cathode discharge with 50 mm separation. The AEE made of aluminum tape with 3 mm wide is wound on the outside of the lamp near the HV (high voltage) side electrode (cathode), i.e. 5 mm from the cathode and 45 mm from the anode. The AEE is grounded through a resistance between 5 kOmega and 10 MOmega. The xenon filling pressure was set at 2.7 kPa. The inside wall of the lamp bulb was coated by three band phosphor emitting white luminescence. The lamp was operated by pulsed discharge with frequency of 30 kHz and pulse width of 3 mus. As a result, in the all three diameter cases, the maximum input power without positive column constriction increased by using the AEE. Moreover, maximum total flux was enhanced as well. Thus, the efficacy was improved in the all three cases. The highest efficacy was achieved in the small diameter case (~33 lm/W, 014 mm), whereas the highest efficacy improvement by the AEE was achieved in the middle diameter case (-10%, 027 mm). - hus, it is shown that the optimum condition for the lamp diameter exists to obtain the highest AEE effect. The discharge propagation observation with an ICCD camera and the electrical field calculation are under progress and their results and discussion will be presented.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is expressed in a variety of cells and is involved in their proliferation/migration/survival. To elucidate FGFR-mediated specific action of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) on myocardial ischemia, we generated endothelium-targeted transgenic mice overexpressing constitutively active FGFR2 using Tie2 promoter (FGFR2-Tg). Infarct size, vessel formation and blood perfusion were significantly improved 28 days after myocardial infarction (MI) in FGFR2-Tg, compared with wild-type mice. Aortic ECs isolated from FGFR-Tg showed a marked increase in migratory capacity and tube formation. These in vitro angiogenic activities were blocked by PI3-kinase inhibitor. Whereas, parameters obtained from echocardiography were already improved at three days after MI. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis at the ischemic border zone was decreased in FGFR2-Tg (32.1%, p < 0.05) and cardiac mRNA expression of FGF2 (basic FGF) was also up-regulated (142%, p < 0.05) at 3 days after MI. 1% oxygen-mediated apoptosis was significantly inhibited in FGFR2-Tg-ECs and this inhibition was abolished by PI3-kinase inhibitor. FGFR2-Tg-ECs exposed to 1% oxygen exhibited enhanced phosphorylation of 416-Tyr-Src, 473-Ser-Akt, and HIF1alpha accumulation. The production of FGF2 was enhanced 2.1-fold in FGFR-Tg-ECs under 1% oxygen via the Src/Akt/HIF1alpha pathway, which induced the peri-vessel migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and anti-apoptotic effects on VSMCs and cardiomyocytes. FGF receptor signaling in ECs promoted migration, survival and autocrine production of FGF2, leading to reduced infarct size, which is associated with anti-apoptotic action in the early stage and with enhanced angiogenesis in the late stage after MI.

Background. Predictors of suboptimal coronary flow in the infarct-related artery (IRA) after stent-based primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been fully investigated.Methods and results: Using the AMI-Kyoto Multi-Center Risk Study database, we retrospectively compared clinical manifestations and in-hospital prognosis between AMI patients undergoing stent-based primary PCI with final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade <= 2 in the IRA (nonoptimal group, n=69) and those with final TIMI grade 3 (optimal group, n=1200). The nonoptimal group had higher prevalence of Killip class >= 3 at admission, higher frequency of mechanical support devices during procedures, larger value of maximal creatine phosphokinase, and a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (27.5% for nonoptimal vs. 9.0% for optimal, P<0.001), compared with the optimal group. On multivariate analysis, Kap class >= 3 at admission was the independent predictor of the final nonoptimal flow (odds ratio 2.33, 95% confidence intervals 1.27-4.26 P=0.006), but TIMI 3 flow before primary PCI and elapsed time (symptom onset-to-admission time) <24 h were not.Conclusions: Killip class >= 3 at admission is an independent predictor of the final nonoptimal flow in AMI patients undergoing primary PCI with stent implantation. (C) 2009 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the author line, the names Satoaki Matoba and Jishan Che were mistakenly listed as Yoshiaki Matoba and Che Jishan. These names appear correctly in the above version. Endothelium-targeted overexpression of constitutively active FGF receptor induces cardioprotection in mice myocardial infarctionJournal of Molecular and Cellular CardiologyVol. 46Issue 5PreviewFibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is expressed in a variety of cells and is involved in their proliferation/migration/survival. To elucidate FGFR-mediated specific action of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) on myocardial ischemia, we generated endothelium-targeted transgenic mice overexpressing constitutively active FGFR2 using Tie2 promoter (FGFR2-Tg). Infarct size, vessel formation and blood perfusion were significantly improved 28 days after myocardial infarction (MI) in FGFR2-Tg, compared with wild-type mice. Full-Text PDF