The Ds(2317) and Ds(2463) Mesons as Scalar and Axial-Vector Chiralons in the Covariant Level-Classification Scheme

The new narrow mesons observed recently in the final states Ds+ pi0 and Ds*+ pi0 are pointed out to be naturally assigned as the ground-state scalar and axial-vector chiralons in the c sbar system, which would newly appear in the covariant hadron-classification scheme proposed a few years ago.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, uses ptptex.st

Sensor Reduction for Backing-Up Control of a Vehicle With Triple Trailers

This paper presents a cost-effective design based on sensor reduction for backing-up control of a vehicle with triple trailers. To realize a cost-effective design, we newly derive two linear-matrix-inequality (LMI) conditions for a discrete Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system. One is an optimal dynamic output feedback design that guarantees desired control performance. The other is an avoidance of jackknife phenomenon for the use of the optimal dynamic output feedback controller. Our results demonstrate that the proposed LMI-based design effectively achieves the backing-up control of the vehicle with triple trailers while avoiding the jackknife phenomenon. More importantly, we demonstrate that the designed optimal control can achieve the backing-up control without, at least, two potentiometers that were employed to measure the relative angles (of a vehicle with triple trailers) in our previous experiments. Since the relative angles directly relate to the jackknife phenomenon, the successful control results without two potentiometers are very interesting and important from the cost-effective design point of view

Pathophysiological Investigation of the Gastric Surface Mucous Gel Layer of Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection by Using Immunoassays for Trefoil Factor Family 2 and Gastric Gland Mucous Cell-Type Mucin in Gastric Juice

Background The trefoil factor family (TFF) 2 protein is produced by gastric gland mucous cells (GMCs), and the secreted TFF2 shares a mucosal barrier function with GMC-type mucin. Recently, we presented an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for measurement of GMC-type mucin in the gastric juice. Aims We aimed to develop an ELISA for TFF2 and to assess pathophysiological changes in the gastric surface mucous gel layer (SMGL) of patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods The distribution of TFF2 and GMC-type mucin in the SMGL was immunohistochemically determined. The ELISA for TFF2 was based on a polyclonal goat antibody. Recombinant TFF2 was employed to prepare the calibrators. TFF2 and GMC-type mucin in the gastric juice in healthy individuals (n = 33) and patients with gastritis (n = 37), gastric ulcer (n = 16), and duodenal ulcer (n = 10) were assayed using ELISA. Results TFF2 and GMC-type mucin were immunohistochemically co-localized in the gastric SMGL and GMCs. The TFF2 levels in the patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy individuals. Further, the TFF2 levels in the H. pylori-positive patients were significantly higher than those in the H. pylori-negative patients, and decreased after the eradication of the infection. GMC-type mucin levels showed a tendency similar to that of TFF2 levels. Conclusions The upregulation of TFF2 and GMC-type mucin secretion may reflect the response of the gastric mucosa to H. pylori-induced injuries. TFF2 and GMC-type mucin secreted into the SMGL may protect the gastric mucosa against H. pylori.ArticleDIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES. 56(12):3498-3506 (2011)journal articl

Design study of ultrahigh-speed microwave simulator engine

A design study of microwave simulator engine is presented in this paper. Taking note the simplicity and duality of data flow in finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme, conceptual and hardware designs of the engine are shown for two-dimensional wave phenomena. To store field values in individual SRAMs, efficient use of digital hardware resources is achieved and the engine is constructed by very small size hardware. Based on the design study, a prototype hardware is made and basic operation is confirmed

Discovery of X rays from Class 0 protostar candidates in OMC-3

We have observed the Orion Molecular Clouds 2 and 3 (OMC-2 and OMC-3) with the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO). The northern part of OMC-3 is found to be particularly rich in new X-ray features; four hard X-ray sources are located in and along the filament of cloud cores. Two sources coincide positionally with the sub$mm$-$mm$ dust condensations of MMS 2 and 3 or an outflow radio source VLA 1, which are in a very early phase of star formation. The X-ray spectra of these sources show an absorption column of (1-3) x 10^23 H cm-2. Assuming a moderate temperature plasma, the X-ray luminosity in the 0.5-10 keV band is estimated to be ~10^30 erg s^-1 at a distance of 450 pc. From the large absorption, positional coincidence and moderate luminosity, we infer that the hard X-rays are coming from very young stellar objects embedded in the molecular cloud cores. We found another hard X-ray source near the edge of the dust filament. The extremely high absorption of 3 x 10^23 H cm^-2 indicates that the source must be surrounded by dense gas, suggesting that it is either a YSO in an early accretion phase or a Type II AGN (e.g. a Seyfert 2), although no counterpart is found at any other wavelength. In contrast to the hard X-ray sources, soft X-ray sources are found spread around the dust filaments, most of which are identified with IR sources in the T Tauri phase.Comment: 9 pages, To be appeared in ApJ v554 n2 Jun 20, 2001 issue, related press release is available at http://science.psu.edu/alert/Tsuboi11-2000.htm, Figure 1 and figure 2 with the best resolution is available at ftp.astro.psu.edu/pub/tsuboi/OMC/010205

DroidTrack: Tracking Information Diffusion and Preventing Information Leakage on Android

Abstract. An app in Android can collaborate with other apps and control personal information by using the Intent or user's allowing of permission. However, users cannot detect when they communicate. Therefore, users might not be aware information leakage if app is malware. This paper proposes DroidTrack, a method for tracking the diffusion of personal information and preventing its leakage on an Android device. DroidTrack alerts the user of the possibility of information leakage when an app uses APIs to communicate with outside. These alerts are triggered only if the app has already called APIs to collect personal information. Users are given the option to refuse the execution of the API if it is not appropriate. Further, by illustrating how their personal data is diffused, users can have the necessary information to help them decide whether the API use is appropriate

Maoto, a Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine, Inhibits Uncoating of Influenza Virus

We previously reported in randomized controlled trials that maoto, a traditional herbal medicine, showed clinical and virological efficacy for seasonal influenza. In this study, a culturing system for influenza was used to test the effect of maoto. A549 cells in the culture were infected with influenza virus A (PR8) and followed after treatment with maoto; the virus titers in the culture supernatant, intracellular viral proteins, and viral RNA were determined. When infected cells were cultured with maoto for 24 hr, the virus titer and protein were significantly reduced compared with medium only. Other subtypes, A/H3N2, H1N1pdm, and B, were also inhibited by maoto. Proliferation of viral RNA in a 6 hr culture was inhibited by maoto in the early phase, especially in the first 30 min. Focusing on the entry step of the influenza virus, we found that endosomal pH, regulated by vacuolar-type H+ ATPase (V-ATPase) located in the membrane, was increased when treated with maoto. We also found that uncoating of influenza viruses was also inhibited by maoto, resulting in the increase of the number of virus particles in endosomes. These results strongly suggest that the inhibition of endosomal acidification by maoto results in blocking influenza virus entry to cytoplasm, probably through the inhibition of V-ATPase. The present study provides evidence that supports the clinical use of maoto for the treatment of influenza

Leiomyosarcoma of the vulva: a case report

Sarcomas represent only 1% to 3% of vulvar malignancies. Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of the vulva; it can be mistaken for a benign tumor, which can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect or delayed treatment. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with leiomyosarcoma of the vulva. The patient presented to her primary gynecologist with a vulvar mass that she had first noticed 20 years prior. The tumor was suspected to be aggressive angiomyxoma, and biopsy of the mass and treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy were recommended. The patient declined treatment and opted instead for observation; however, the tumor grew rapidly in the following year and the patient was referred to our hospital. She underwent tumor resection, and pathology revealed leiomyosarcoma. The patient declined adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy but has had no recurrence for 32 months