Bound states and extended states around a single vortex in the d-wave superconductors

Making use of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation for the d-wave superconductors, we investigate the quasi-particle spectrum around a single vortex. Taking $p_F\xi=10$, we found that there are bound states which are localized around the vortex core, and extended states which are rather uniform, for $|E|<\Delta$ where $E$ is the quasi-particle energy and $\Delta$ is the asymptotic value of the order parameter for away from the vortex.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Management of Localized Prostate Cancer by Focal Transurethral Resection of Prostate Cancer: An Application of Radical TUR-PCa to Focal Therapy

Background. We analyzed radical TUR-PCa against localized prostate cancer. Patients and Methods. Seventy-nine out of 209 patients with prostate cancer in one lobe were studied. Patients' age ranged from 58 to 91 years and preoperative PSA, 0.70 to 17.30 ng/mL. In other 16 additional patients we performed focal TUR-PCa. Patients' age ranged from 51 to 87 years and preoperative PSA, 1.51 to 25.74 ng/mL. Results. PSA failure in radical TUR-PCa was 5.1% during the mean follow-up period of 58.9 months. The actuarial biochemical non-recurrence rate was 98.2% for pT2a and 90.5% for pT2b. Bladder neck contracture occurred in 28 patients (35.4%). In 209 patients, pathological study revealed prostate cancer of the peripheral zone near the neurovascular bundle bilaterally in 25%, unilaterally in 39% and no cancer bilaterally in 35%, suggesting the possibility of focal TUR-PCa. Postoperative PSA of 16 patients treated by focal TUR-PCa was stable between 0.007 and 0.406 ng/mL at 24.2 months' follow-up. No patients suffered from urinary incontinence. Bladder neck contracture developed in only 1 patient and all 5 patients underwent nerve-preserving TUR-PCa did not show erectile dysfunction. Conclusion. Focal TUR-PCa was considered to be a promising option among focal therapies against localized prostate cancer

Does motivation improve when benefits to friends are expected? : Investigation with a hypothetical situation

The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not achievement behaviors were promoted if that behavior was also expected to be beneficial to friends. We used a viguette involving a part-time job situation. Participants were 106 university students. Participants who were instructed that any overtime they worked would help their friends' jobs worked longer than those who did not receive this instruction. In addition, we found work rate was related to specific personal traits. Work rate was positively correlated with sensitivity to rejection, and negatively correlated with individual-oriented motivation. These results suggest that expecting some benefit to friends increased achievement behaviors, although the amount of increase differed depending on personal traits

通信衛星を経由する太陽光発電装置を備えた教育テレビ番組受信システムの開発－開発途上国における僻地教育を支援する－

太陽光発電システムを電源とする、通信衛星を用いた教育用テレビ放送受信システムの設計開発と放送実験について論じた。ビデオテープ上に録画した放送番組を日本から発信し、タイ国のミャンマー国境近くに位置する山岳少数民族集落で受信し、そこに居住する成人ほかに視聴してもらった。番組は「薬草」と「衛生」に関するものである。実験は2001年３月３日、４日の両日、現地時刻18:00～20:00 で実施した。放送番組は実験サイトにおいて、極めて高品質で受信できた。放送中の視聴者たちの表情を観察した。放送後、受信サイトの成人と子供に対しテレビ視聴の経験と番組の視聴について簡単なヒアリングを実施した。本研究で用いた受信システムは開発途上国における僻地教育の支援、国際間の教育支援に有効な手段の一つとなりうるであろうと結論した。A television (TV) broadcast receiving system through communication satellites for educational objectives has been developed. The system has solar modules to generate electric power and the electricity obtained will then be supplied to the receiving system of the TV programs. The TV programs were recorded on videotapes in Japan in March 2000 before the receiving experiment. The programs were sent from Japan through the satellite PanAmSat Pas 4 and they were received at the experimental site located in a remote place,Ban Nong Pha Jam Mai in Mae Hong Son Province, a hill-tribe village on the Thai side of the border area between Thailand and Myanmar. The experiments were carried out during two days on March 3 and 4, 2001 at 18:00 till 20:00 (Thai local time). The Thai TV programs were also received at the same site via the satellite Thaicom. The quality of the TV programs we have received at the experimental site has been very good in terms of picture,voice, and text characters. We have observed the expressions of the persons, both adults and children, who had watched the TV programs at the site during the experiment. After the receiving experiments we performed a hearing survey of the impression those who watched the TV programs formed of them. From the results of observation and hearings we have concluded that most of the persons who watched the TV programs formed good impressions of them. This TV receiving system is one of new approaches to getting the TV programs at the place where there is no commercial electricity supply, and this system will be expected as one of the procedures to solve the difficulties of the educational problems at remote regions in developing countries. The present system is not expensive, easy to install, and easy to maintain

Rad51 Expression Is a Useful Predictive Factor for the Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is beneficial in the setting of a complete pathological response. Rad51 expression affects both chemo- and radiosensitivity in many cancers; however, its role in ESCC is unclear. METHODS: Rad51 expression was investigated by immunohistochemical staining with resected specimens in 89 ESCC patients who underwent surgery without preoperative therapy. The association with Rad51 and clinicopathological factors was assessed. The expression of Rad51 was also investigated in pretreatment biopsy specimens in 39 ESCC patients who underwent surgery after NACRT and compared with the pathological response to NACRT. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was more frequently observed in Rad51-positive cases than negative cases (58.5 vs. 30.6 %, P = 0.0168) in patients treated with surgery alone. Disease-specific survival was decreased in Rad51-positive cases compared to Rad51-negative cases (5 year survival: 79.6 vs. 59.3 %, P = 0.0324). In NACRT patients, completed pathological responses were more frequently observed in Rad51-negative cases than in Rad51-positive cases (68.8 vs. 46.5 %, P = 0.0171). CONCLUSIONS: Rad51 expression in ESCC was associated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival. Additionally, Rad51 expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens was a predictive factor for the response to NACRT. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1245/s10434-013-3220-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination after Induction Chemotherapy

Gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination may be diagnosed as unresectable. More recently, as a result of progress in chemotherapy, some patients with peritoneal dissemination have exhibited extended survival. We report on our experience with three patients in whom induction chemotherapy allowed for totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG). All three patients were diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination using staging laparoscopy. As induction chemotherapy, S-1 combined with cisplatin was administered to two patients and trastuzumab plus capecitabine combined with cisplatin to one patient. TLTG was performed in all patients and there were no postoperative complications. Adjuvant chemotherapy was initiated within 3 weeks after surgery in all three patients. Laparoscopic gastrectomy undertaken after induction chemotherapy was found to be effective and safe; this treatment has the potential to achieve good treatment outcomes in patients with stage IV gastric cancer

Assessment of Bone Scintigraphy Showing Markedly Increased Accumulation in Mandibular and Maxillary Lesions of Cementifying Fibroma

This report concerns with three cases of cementifying fibroma showing markedly increased accumulation of 99mTc-MDP in mandibular and maxillary lesions. The bone scintigraphic and histopathological findings are presented and discussed