Infrared spectroscopy techniques for studying the electronic structures of materials under high-pressure

In this article, we describe our high-pressure infrared (IR) spectroscopy techniques for studying the electronic structures of materials at high pressures. High pressure of up to 20 GPa is applied to a sample using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). To accurately perform IR spectroscopy in the limited sample space of a DAC, synchrotron radiation is used as a bright IR source. Our techniques allow reflectance studies of a single crystal sample and determination of the optical functions of the sample such as dielectric function and optical conductivity. To illustrate the capability and usefulness of our techniques, some actual results of high-pressure IR studies on rare-earth compounds are described

Application of Single Prolonged Stress Induces Post-traumatic Stress Disorder-like Characteristics in Mice

We tried to clarify the applicability of a single prolonged stress (SPS) protocol as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) model in mice. To investigate PTSD pathophysiology, we conducted hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) negative feedback testing at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the SPS by administrating a dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test. The SPS induced over-suppression of the HPA system by DEX treatment at 8 and 12 weeks. To investigate PTSD-like behavioral characteristics, we subjected mice to testing in a light/dark box (to assess anxiety), a Y-maze (working memory), a cliff avoidance (visual cognition), and an open field (locomotor activity) at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the SPS. In the light/dark box test, the SPS-applied mice spent significantly less time in the light box at 8 or 12 weeks. In the cliff avoidance test, the SPS-applied mice spent significantly less time in the open area at 1 week. However, in both the Y-maze test and the open field test, SPS-applied mice tended toward slight decreases in a time-dependent manner until 12 weeks. Therefore, SPS-applied mice may thus be useful for assessing characteristics relevant to PTSD that coincide with changes in the HPA axis

Hospital and clinic cooperation for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Objective: To survey the current status and problems of cooperation between clinics and hospitals in Okayama Prefecture, Japan for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 　Methods: We distributed a questionnaire to 300 of the 983 Okayama Prefecture clinics that had either an internal medicine or orthopedic surgery department, from December 2013 to February 2014. The questionnaire covered practice pattern for RA treatment in clinics, current status of the hospital and clinic cooperation, and acceptance of the biologic therapy. 　Results: One hundred clinics responded to the questionnaire. Seventy percent of the clinics reported making referrals to rheumatologists before the initiation of RA treatment, and half of the other 30% of the clinics administered methotrexate as the first-line treatment for RA by their own decision. Sixty-six clinics cooperated with flagship hospitals, conducting medical and laboratory examinations, providing prescriptions, and treating common diseases of patients. These clinics expected the cooperating rheumatologists to follow-up patients every 3 to 6 months and to make the diagnosis, make decisions regarding RA treatment changes, and perform surgery. Seventy-one percent of the clinics responded that cooperation with a hospital is possible even for patients who are administered biologics. As reasons for no cooperation with the flagship hospitals, clinics noted the lack of information about rheumatologists in the area and recent trends in the management of RA. 　Conclusion: The current study reported, for the first time, the actual conditions of management of RA in clinics, as well as future problems of hospital and clinic cooperation in Okayama Prefecture

Physica B 259---261 (1999) 853---854

are ternary metal phosphides with the skutterudite structure. CeRu is a semiconductor, but PrRu was found to show a metal---insulator transition at around 60 K ( ) from the electrical resistivity. The temperature dependence of the optical reflection spectra of both samples were measured in the energy region of 5 meV---4 eV. Obtained optical conductivity spectrum (#(#)) of CeRu showed a clear gap energy of about 1000 cm##. On the other hand, for PrRu the spectrum above showed a metallic character. From the abrupt decrease in the intensity #-spectrum below , the gap energy was estimated to be about 100 cm## which is consistent with the value obtained from the electric resistivity measurement. Hybridization between the f and d states close to the Fermi level and the valence fluctuation of Pr ion are both discussed as the possible mechanisms for the gap formation. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved