New distributed offline processing scheme at Belle

The offline processing of the data collected by the Belle detector has been recently upgraded to cope with the excellent performance of the KEKB accelerator. The 127/fb of data (120 TB on tape) collected between autumn 2003 and summer 2004 has been processed in 2 months, thanks to the high speed and stability of the new, distributed processing scheme. We present here this new processing scheme and its performance.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figures, uses CHEP2004.cl

Activity measurement of solid Cu-In alloys by EMF method with solid electrolyte

The thermodynamic activity of indium in the solid Cu-In alloys was obtained from the EMF measurement of cell: In,In2O3, ZrO2(+11mol%CaO), Cu-In,In2O3 for 16 alloys in the temperature range 773 to 900K. Activity changes with composition at 823K are very large in the and - phase regions. Activity and free energies of formation are derived and compared with the published data

A New Endoscopic Technique for Examination of Esophageal Stenosis: The Funnel-shaped Transparent Cap Technique

We have devised a funnel-shaped transparent cap for the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of stenosis in the digestive tract. This funnel-shaped cap is made of highly transparent methacrylic resin. A 73-year-old woman with reflux esophagitis (categorized as grade D by the Los Angeles Classification) visited our hospital with the chief complaint of dysphagia. She was examined using an endoscope equipped with a transparent vinyl chloride hood at its tip. Many pieces of food were found to be trapped in the esophagus. These were removed using tripod forceps or aspirated into the hood. The internal diameter of the stenotic segment was as small as 1 or 2 mm, and it was difficult to advance the endoscope past the stenosis. The endoscope was withdrawn, and the attached hood was removed and replaced with a transparent cap. This provided clear visualization of the mucosal surface of the stenotic segment, which could not be examined using any conventional device, permitting the stenosis to be relieved

Color Changes in Electronic Endoscopic Images Caused by Image Compression

In recent years, recording of color still images into magneto–optical video disks has been increasingly used as a method for recording electronic endoscopic images. In this case, image compression is often used to reduce the volume and cost of recording media and also to minimize the time required for image recording and playback. With this in mind, we recorded 8 images into a magneto-optical video disk in 4 image compression modes (no compression, weak compression, moderate compression, and strong compression) using the Joint Photographic Image Coding Experts Group (JPEG) system, which is a widely used and representative method for compressing color still images, in order to determine the relationship between the degree of image compression and the color information in electronic endoscopic images. The acquired images were transferred to an image processor using an offline system. A total of 10 regions of interest (ROls) were selected, and red (R), green (G), and blue (B) images were obtained using different compression modes. From histograms generated for these images, mean densities of R, G, and B in each ROI were measured and analyzed. The results revealed that color changes were greater for B, which had the lowest density, than for R or G as the degree of compression was increased

Liquefaction Fragilities for Buried Lifelines

For buried structures, such as conduits and underground pipes, liquefaction induced forces will depend on the volume of soil surrounding the structure that will liquefy. Here, a methodology to calculate the probability of the onset of liquefaction at a given depth in a soil deposit is extended to assess the probability that a specified volume of soil will liquefy when liquefaction occurs at a given depth in the deposit. To account for the variability of soil properties with depth, the soil deposit is divided into horizontal layers and the volume of liquefied soil in each layer is calculated as the product of the layer thickness by the lateral extent of liquefaction. Within each layer, the horizontal variability of the soil properties is described by a homogeneous and axisymmetric random field. It is assumed that the ground motions in the horizontal direction are perfectly correlated. The results are presented in terms of the probability of liquefaction spreading over a given area (a circle of radius R) as a function of the intensity of the ground motion

Pressure-induced changes in the magnetic and valence state of EuFe2As2

We present the results of electrical resistivity, ac specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) of the ternary iron arsenide EuFe2As2 single crystal under pressure. Applying pressure leads to a continuous suppression of the antiferromagnetism associated with Fe moments and the antiferromagnetic transition temperature becomes zero in the vicinity of a critical pressure Pc ~2.5-2.7 GPa. Pressure-induced re-entrant superconductivity, which is highly sensitive to the homogeneity of the pressure, only appears in the narrow pressure region in the vicinity of Pc due to the competition between superconductivity and the antiferromagnetic ordering of Eu2+ moments. The antiferromagnetic state of Eu2+ moments changes to the ferromagnetic state above 6 GPa. We also found that the ferromagnetic order is suppressed with further increasing pressure, which is connected with a valence change of Eu ions.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

A Case of Generalized Acanthosis Nigricans with Positive Lupus Erythematosus-Related Autoantibodies and Antimicrosomal Antibody: Autoimmune Acanthosis Nigricans?

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a hyperpigmented keratotic skin lesion known to be associated with malignant disease and endocrinopathy. We report a very rare case of generalized AN with Sjögren's syndrome- and systemic lupus erythematosus-like features but without type B insulin resistance. Neither internal malignancy nor other endocrinological disorders, including glucose intolerance, were detected during a 10-year clinical course with benign diffuse papillomatosis extending from the mucosa of the larynx to the esophagogastric junction. The case was complicated with chronic thyroiditis and interstitial pneumonia, which were not treated with any medication. AN skin lesions and mucosal papillomatosis regressed with oral cyclosporine A, accompanied by the lowering of autoantibody titers. This is the first report of generalized AN involving an area from the mucosa of the larynx to the esophagogastric junction accompanied by autoimmune manifestations which responded to systemic immunosuppressive therapy