Thermal Properties of Heavy Fermion Compound YbP

Low-temperature specific heat and its field-dependence up to 16 T was measured in a stoichiometric single crystal of YbP. A sharp peak was observed at {\it T}$_{\rm N}$ = 0.53 K in zero magnetic field. Application of external field seems to induce a new magnetic phase above 11 T. The field dependence of the transition temperature in the high-field phase is different from that of the low field phase. The linear coefficient of the electronic specific heat is estimated as 120 mJ/mole K$^{2}$ from low temperature specfic heat, suggesting heavy Fermion state in YbP.Comment: to be published in J.Phys.Soc.Jpn on May, 200

Theoretical demonstration of highly efficient cw THz generation by using composite photonic-structure elements

We theoretically propose one-dimensional composite photonic structures for high-resolution THz spectroanalysis. We compare the performance of two GaAs/AlAs composite photonic-structure devices, one with usual 1/4-wavelength layers of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), and the other with the designed DBRs. The device with designed DBRs shows the optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiency up to 10^-5 and wide frequency tunability ranging from sub-THz to 3 THz. We found that the composite photonic structure allows us to control photonic modes with a high degree of freedom by flexible structure designs. This device achieve a cw THz source with a highly narrow bandwidth operating at room temperature

Photo-production of neutral kaons on 12C in the threshold region

Kaon photo-production process on $^{12}$C has been studied by measuring neutral kaons in a photon energy range of 0.8$-$1.1 GeV. Neutral kaons were identified by the invariant mass constructed from two charged pions emitted in the $K^{0}_{S}\to\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ decay channel. The differential cross sections as well as the integrated ones in the threshold photon energy region were obtained. The obtained momentum spectra were compared with a Spectator model calculation using elementary amplitudes of kaon photo-production given by recent isobar models. Present result provides, for the first time, the information on $n(\gamma,K^{0})\Lambda$ reaction which is expected to play an important role to construct models for strangeness production by the electromagnetic interaction. Experimental results show that cross section of $^{12}{\rm C}(\gamma,K^0)$ is of the same order to that of $^{12}{\rm C}(\gamma,K^+)$ and suggest that slightly backward $K^0$ angular distribution is favored in the $\gamma n\to K^0\Lambda$ process.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Solitary pulmonary metastasis from prostate sarcomatoid cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary metastasis from prostate cancer is considered to be a late event, and patients can be treated with chemotherapy or hormonal manipulation. However, there has been only a few reports on surgical resection for pulmonary metastasis from prostate cancer.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We present a surgical case of solitary pulmonary metastasis from prostate cancer. A 73-year-old man underwent pelvic evisceration for prostate cancer. Histopathological examination revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a sarcomatoid carcinoma component. During postoperative follow-up, chest computed tomography showed a nodular shadow in the lung, and thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lung was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a histological appearance similar to that of the prostate sarcomatoid carcinoma. This is the first reported case of solitary pulmonary metastasis from prostate sarcomatoid cancer.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Isolated pulmonary metastasis from prostate sarcomatoid cancer is extremely rare, but surgery could be the treatment of choice.</p

Complications of Evans' syndrome in an infant with hereditary spherocytosis: a case report

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane clinically characterized by anemia, jaundice and splenomegaly. Evans' syndrome is a clinical syndrome characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) accompanied by immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). It results from a malfunction of the immune system that produces multiple autoantibodies targeting at least red blood cells and platelets. HS and Evans' syndrome have different mechanisms of pathophysiology one another. We reported the quite rare case of an infant who had these diseases concurrently. Possible explanations of the unexpected complication are discussed

Study of double pion photoproduction on the deuteron

AbstractThe π+π− photoproductions on the proton and deuteron have been studied in a photon energy range of 0.8–1.1 GeV at the Laboratory of Nuclear Science, Tohoku University. Charged pions and protons were detected using Neutral Kaon Spectrometer. We obtained the cross sections for the p(γ,pπ+π−) and d(γ,pπ+π−)n. The quasi-free process with a neutron spectator was extracted by the neutron momentum cut of pn>0.3 GeV/c. The cross section for the Δ++Δ− production was deduced in the non-quasi-free process of the γd→pnπ+π−. It was 13.4±0.4 μb at Eγ=0.82 GeV

PlGF Repairs Myocardial Ischemia through Mechanisms of Angiogenesis, Cardioprotection and Recruitment of Myo-Angiogenic Competent Marrow Progenitors

Despite preclinical success in regenerating and revascularizing the infarcted heart using angiogenic growth factors or bone marrow (BM) cells, recent clinical trials have revealed less benefit from these therapies than expected.We explored the therapeutic potential of myocardial gene therapy of placental growth factor (PlGF), a VEGF-related angiogenic growth factor, with progenitor-mobilizing activity.Myocardial PlGF gene therapy improves cardiac performance after myocardial infarction, by inducing cardiac repair and reparative myoangiogenesis, via upregulation of paracrine anti-apoptotic and angiogenic factors. In addition, PlGF therapy stimulated Sca-1(+)/Lin(-) (SL) BM progenitor proliferation, enhanced their mobilization into peripheral blood, and promoted their recruitment into the peri-infarct borders. Moreover, PlGF enhanced endothelial progenitor colony formation of BM-derived SL cells, and induced a phenotypic switch of BM-SL cells, recruited in the infarct, to the endothelial, smooth muscle and cardiomyocyte lineage.Such pleiotropic effects of PlGF on cardiac repair and regeneration offer novel opportunities in the treatment of ischemic heart disease