Improvements of single sheet testers for measurement of 2-D magnetic properties up to high flux density

Due to structural limitation, the currently proposed apparatus based on a single sheet tester (SST) cannot measure magnetic properties along arbitrary directions (so-called 2-D magnetic properties) of silicon steel at high flux densities. In this paper, significant improvements are carried out on magnetizing windings and auxiliary yokes of a double excitation type of SST. Furthermore, crosswise overlapped H-coils are introduced so that even an ordinary single-excitation type of SST can be applicable to the measurements of 2-D properties. It is demonstrated that 2-D magnetization property up to 1.9 T can be measured by using the newly developed SST's</p

Relationship Between Impaired Microvascular Function in the Non-Infarct-Related Area and Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients With Myocardial Infarction

Background. Myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in the non-infarct-related area (NIRA) has been reported to be impaired after the onset of myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to determine whether microvascular dysfunction in the NIRA is related to left-ventricular remodeling after MI. Methods. We prospectively studied 17 patients who suffered their first single-vessel MI, and who underwent successful revascularization. The MFR in the NIRA was assessed quantitatively using ^13N-ammonia positron emission tomography within 2 weeks after the onset. Peak creatinine kinase and the defect score on ^<99m>Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging were used as an index of the severity of MI. The left-ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) was calculated using left ventriculography at 1 month and 6 months after the onset. Results. Patients with severely impaired MFR (< 2.09) had higher peak creatinine kinase values (6,000 ± 5,485 IU/L vs. 2,250 ± 1,950 IU/L, p = 0.0081), defect scores (16.3 ± 5.9 vs. 7.9 ± 6.5, p = 0.0404), and LVEDVI at 1 month (125.6 ± 34.4 mL/m^2 vs. 82.8 ± 17.7 mL/m^2, p = 0.0036) than those with mildly impaired MFR (≥ 2.09). Moreover, the differences of LVEDVI between the 2 groups persisted over 6 months (133.3 ± 43.6 mL/m^2 vs. 89.5 ± 17.3 mL/m^2, p = 0.0078). The MFR in the NIRA correlated inversely with the LVEDVI at 1 month and 6 months (r = -0.590, p = 0.0127 and r = -0.729, p = 0.0031, respectively). Conclusions. These data indicate that microvascular impairment in the NIRA might have contributed to left-ventricular remodeling after MI

Pyrene is highly emissive when attached to the RNA duplex but not to the DNA duplex: the structural basis of this difference

Through binding and fluorescence studies of oligonucleotides covalently attached to a pyrene group via one carbon linker at the sugar residue, we previously found that pyrene-modified RNA oligonucleotides do not emit well in the single-stranded form, yet the attached pyrene emits with a significantly high quantum yield upon binding to a complementary RNA strand. In sharp contrast, similarly modified pyrene–DNA probes exhibit very weak fluorescence both in the double-stranded and single-stranded forms. The pyrene-modified RNA oligonucleotides therefore provide a useful tool for monitoring RNA hybridization. The purpose of this paper is to present the structural basis for the different fluorescence properties of pyrene-modified RNA/RNA and pyrene-modified DNA/DNA duplexes. The results of absorption, fluorescence anisotropy and circular dichroism studies all consistently indicated that the pyrene attached to the RNA duplex is located outside of the duplex, whereas the pyrene incorporated into the DNA duplex intercalates into the double helix. (1)H NMR measurements unambiguously confirmed that the pyrene attached to the DNA duplex indeed intercalates between the base pairs of the duplex. Molecular dynamics simulations support these differences in the local structural elements around the pyrene between the pyrene–RNA/RNA and the pyrene–DNA/DNA duplexes

Children with unilateral aural atresia

The effects of FM system fitted into the normal hearing ear (NHE) or a cartilage conduction hearing aid (CCHA) fitted into the affected ear (AE) on the speech recognition ability in noise were examined in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia (UCAA). In children with bilateral normal hearing (BNH), speech recognition score (SRS) was significantly decreased in the noisy environment of -5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), compared with those in quiet. In children with UCAA, SRS was significantly decreased in noisy environments of 0 and -5 dB SNR, compared with those in quiet. In noisy environments of 0 and -5 dB SNR, SRS in children with UCAA was significantly decreased, compared those in children with BNH. In the noisy environment of -5 dB SNR, SRS in UCAA children aided by FM system fitted into NHE was significantly better than those in unaided children in the same group. In the noisy environment of 0 dB SNR, SRS in UCAA children aided by CCHA into AE tended to be higher than those in unaided children in the same group. FM system and CCHA can be recommended as an audiological management for the improvement of speech recognition in children with UCHL in classrooms

ガク カンセツショウ カンジャ ニオケル MR ガゾウ ショケン ト リンショウ ショケン ノ ヒカク ケントウ

Two hundred eighteen (28.4%) of 768 patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), who visited the Clinic for Temporomandibular Disorders, Tokushima University Medical and Dental Hospital during the period of January 2006 through December 2007, were examined using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The present study assessed clinico-statistically the correlation between MR images and the clinical findings of 157 patients with complete registered data in our TMD reporting system. The following findings were obtained: 1. MR imaging showed anterior disk displacement in 125 joints (67.9%), rotational disk displacement in 45 joints (24.5%), and sideways disk displacement in 13 joints (7.1%). 2. Joint effusion (JE) was found in 42.7% of 157 patients; 48.0% in females and 23.5% in males. In addition, anterior or rotational disk displacement was observed in 97% of patients with JE. Furthermore, condyle bone change was significantly higher in joints with than without JE. 3. The appearance of JE was significantly higher on the symptomatic side than the asymptomatic side, but tenderness of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area or the value of the visual analog scale (VAS) regarding pain and problems in daily life was not related to the presence of JE

Attitude of young psychiatrists toward coercive measures in psychiatry: a case vignette study in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Every psychiatrist must pay careful attention to avoid violating human rights when initiating coercive treatments such as seclusion and restraint. However, these interventions are indispensable in clinical psychiatry, and they are often used as strategies to treat agitated patients. In this study, we investigated young psychiatrists' attitudes toward psychiatric coercive measures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 183 young psychiatrists participated as subjects in our study. A questionnaire with a case vignette describing a patient with acute psychosis was sent to the study subjects via the Internet or by mail. This questionnaire included scoring the necessity for hospitalization, and the likelihood of prescribing seclusion and/or restraint, on a 9-point Likert scale (with 9 indicating strong agreement).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was general agreement among the study subjects that the case should be admitted to a hospital (8.91 ± 0.3) and secluded (8.43 ± 1.0). The estimated length of hospitalization was 13.53 ± 6.4 weeks. Regarding the likelihood of prescribing restraint, results showed great diversity (5.14 ± 2.5 on 9-point scale); psychiatrists working at general hospitals scored significantly higher (6.25 ± 2.5) than those working at university hospitals (5.02 ± 2.3) or psychiatric hospitals (4.15 ± 2.6). A two-group comparison of the length of inpatient care revealed a significant difference between those psychiatrists who scored 1-3 (n = 55, 14.22 ± 7.4 wks) and those who scored 7-9 (n = 62, 12.22 ± 4.0) regarding the need to use restraint.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results may reflect the current dilemma in Japanese psychiatry wherein psychiatrists must initiate coercive measures to shorten hospitalization stays. This study prompted its subject psychiatrists to consider coercive psychiatric treatments.</p

Children with unilateral hearing loss

Objectives : We examined speech recognition ability of elementary school-aged Japanese children with unilateral hearing loss under noisy environments and then examined the effects of the FM system fitted into their normal hearing ear on their speech recognition ability. Methods : Twelve children with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss and ten age-matched children with bilateral normal hearing received speech recognition test in quiet and noisy environments. Other nine children with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss received speech recognition test with or without the FM receiver fitted to the normal hearing ear in quiet and noisy environments. Results : Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in Japanese elementary school classrooms was estimated to be -6.9 dB at a preferential seat. In noisy environment of -5 dB SNR similar to working classrooms, the correct rates of speech recognition test in children with unilateral hearing loss were significantly lower, compared with those in children with bilateral normal hearing. In the noisy environment, the correct rates in children aided by the FM system with unilateral hearing loss were significantly better, compared with unaided ones. Conclusion : The results suggested that the FM system is recommended as an audiological management for improvement of speech recognition of children with unilateral hearing loss in noisy classrooms

スパイラル CT オ モチイタ ガクカンセツ ノ サンジゲン ヒョウカホウ

Three-dimensional (3-D) image reconstructed from Computed Tomography (CT) data is an ef>cient method to evaluate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) morphologically. Even the 3-D image reconstructed from spiral CT data has some distortion, typically along to the table feed direction, very few studies were reported about accuracy of reconstructed 3-D image size. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the distortion on 3-D image reconstructed with spiral CT (Somatom Plas4, Siemens Co, Germany) quantitatively. We used three imaging targets, eight ceramic balls placed at corners of cubic frame, a calibration cube that has the CT value nearly equal to cortex bone of human dried mandibular head. We evaluated relation between a threshold level of CT image processing and reconstructed 3-D image size with a custom-made computer program. CT data of ceramic balls clari>ed changes of the reconstructed image, -0.215mm for table feed direction and less than ±0.006mm for the other directions. The calibration cube was used for the arrangement of optimal scanning condition (reconstruction mode, collimation, reconstitution interval) and evaluation of reconstructed image size. The distortion of the image was +0.207mm for table feed direction and less than +0.029mm for the other directions. Changes of dried skull TMJ image reconstructed with the optimal scanning condition were -1.463mm for lateral direction of the condylar head, -0.956mm for back and forth direction and -0.580mm for table feed direction. Results of this research suggested that the level of the 3-D image distortion was mostly affected with the scanning condition. And the size of 3-D image was susceptible to the threshold level of CT image processing. Consequently, we think that the standardization of scanning condition should be concerned for the quantitative evaluation of 3-D TMJ image using CT data

Sequential star formation in a cometary globule (BRC37) of IC1396

We have carried out near-IR/optical observations to examine star formation toward a bright-rimmed cometary globule (BRC37) facing the exciting star(s) of an HII region (IC1396) containing an IRAS source, which is considered to be an intermediate-mass protostar. With slit-less spectroscopy we detected ten H_alpha emission stars around the globule, six of which are near the tip of the globule and are aligned along the direction to the exciting stars. There is evidence that this alignment was originally towards an O9.5 star, but has evolved to align towards a younger O6 star when that formed. Near-IR and optical photometry suggests that four of these six stars are low-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) with masses of ~0.4 M_sun. Their estimated ages of ~1 Myr indicate that they were formed at the tip in advance of the formation of the IRAS source. Therefore, it is likely that sequential star formation has been taking place along the direction from the exciting stars towards the IRAS source, due to the UV impact of the exciting star(s). Interestingly, one faint, H_alpha emission star, which is the closest to the exciting star(s), seems to be a young brown dwarf that was formed by the UV impact in advance of the formation of other YSOs at the tip.Comment: main text (30 pages) + online material, 14 figures, published in A