Anti-Phase Domains in Gold-Copper-Zinc Ordered Alloys Revealed by Electron Microscope

Using thin evaporated films of gold-copper-zinc ternary ordered alloys, the line-up of anti-phase domains has been observed as parallel lines on transmission electron micrographs of bright field, down to a domain size of about 8A. The lattice modulation accompanying anti-phase domains, i. e. the periodic error of lattice spacing or scattering factor with the same period as a domain size, has again been verified to play an important role in forming the satellites around the direct spot on a diffraction pattern, and hence, in forming the parallel lines on electron-microscopic images. Two-thirds of the intensity of the satellites have been estimated in the present alloy films to arise from the modulation, and the rest probably from double diffraction

An azoospermic factor gene, Ddx3y and its paralog, Ddx3x are dispensable in germ cells for male fertility

Takafumi MATSUMURA, Tsutomu ENDO, Ayako ISOTANI, Masaki OGAWA, Masahito IKAWA, An azoospermic factor gene, Ddx3y and its paralog, Ddx3x are dispensable in germ cells for male fertility, Journal of Reproduction and Development, 2019, Volume 65, Issue 2, Pages 121-128, Released April 12, 2019, [Advance publication] Released January 07, 2019, Online ISSN 1348-4400, Print ISSN 0916-8818, https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2018-145, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrd/65/2/65_2018-145/_article/-char/e

Effective Resistance of the HTS Floating Coil of the Mini-RT Project

A magnetically levitated superconducting coil device, Mini-RT, has been constructed using high temperature superconductors for the purpose of examining a new magnetic confinement scheme of high-beta plasmas. The floating coil is wound with Bi-2223/Ag tapes, and it is operated in the temperature range of 20-40 K. The excitation tests of the coil were carried out and persistent current was sustained for magnetic levitation. The decay time constant of the persistent current was measured and the effective resistance of the coil cables was evaluated. The obtained resistance shows a considerable increase than that predicted by the n-value model. This might be caused by some electromagnetic effects such as the loss generation with long-lived shielding currents. This consideration was examined by measuring the magnetization of an HTS sample coil

Study of hadron interactions in a lead-emulsion target

Topological and kinematical characteristics of hadron interactions have been studied using a lead-emulsion target exposed to 2, 4 and 10 GeV/c hadron beams. A total length of 60 m $\pi^-$ tracks was followed using a high speed automated emulsion scanning system. A total of 318 hadron interaction vertices and their secondary charged particle tracks were reconstructed. Measurement results of interaction lengths, charged particle multiplicity, emission angles and momenta of secondary charged particles are compared with a Monte Carlo simulation and appear to be consistent. Nuclear fragments emitted from interaction vertices were also detected by a newly developed emulsion scanning system with wide-angle acceptance. Their emission angle distributions are in good agreement with the simulated distributions. Probabilities of an event being associated with at least one fragment track are found to be greater than 50% for beam momentum $P > 4$ GeV/c and are well reproduced by the simulation. These experimental results validate estimation of the background due to hadron interactions in the sample of $\tau$ decay candidates in the OPERA $\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_{\tau}$ oscillation experiment.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure

Association between the quality of life and asymptomatic episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the J-RHYTHM II study

AbstractBackgroundParoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) patients have a reduced quality-of-life (QoL) despite the fact that the majority of AF episodes are asymptomatic. Asymptomatic AF is likely to be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality rates similar to those with symptomatic AF, whereas its effect on the QoL has not yet been clarified.PurposeWe studied the specific contribution of asymptomatic AF episodes to reducing the QoL.MethodsWe assessed the QoL in 233 patients with paroxysmal AF and hypertension (age 64.9±9.7 years, 71% male) enrolled in the Japanese Rhythm Management Trial II for Atrial Fibrillation (J-RHYTHM II study) using an AF-specific QoL questionnaire (AFQLQ). The AFQLQ comprised 3 components: AFQLQ1, the frequency and duration of symptoms; AFQLQ2, severity of symptoms; and AFQLQ3, limitations in daily activities and mental anxiety. Higher scores indicated a better QoL. Each patient transmitted electrocardiograms for 30s daily at a predetermined time as well as whenever arrhythmia-related symptoms were experienced. We examined the relationship between the 3 AFQLQ components and frequency of symptomatic and asymptomatic AF episodes (days/month) during 12 months of follow-up.ResultsThe symptomatic and asymptomatic AF frequencies were 0.9±3.1 days/month and 1.5±3.5 days/month, respectively. AFQLQ1 negatively correlated with the symptomatic AF frequency (Spearman's correlation coefficient: r=−0.332, p<0.001). AFQLQ2 and AFQLQ3 correlated with both the symptomatic AF frequency (r=−0.27, p<0.001 and r=−0.265, p<0.001, respectively) and asymptomatic AF frequency (r=−0.197, p<0.01 and r=−0.229, p<0.005, respectively).ConclusionThe asymptomatic AF episode frequency correlates with a reduced QoL in patients with paroxysmal AF, suggesting that there would be psychological benefits to its reduction