Properties of the Amorphous Fe(100-x)B(x) Alloy Prepared by rf-Sputtering Technique

The amorphous Fe(100-x)B(x) alloys with 18 ≤ x ≤ 42 were prepared by applying a rf-sputtering technique. The chemical composition of the sputtered films was well controlled by varying the area ratio of B plate to Fe plate, which were used as a composite target. The crystallization temperature of the amorphous films linearly rises with increasing of B content up to x = 36, but falls in a composition range of 36 ≤ x ≤ 42. The amorphous Fe(100-x)B(x) films exhibited ferromagnetism in the whole compositions studied in the present work. The internal magnetic field of the amorphous films decreases with increasing of B content, since the charge transfer increases with B atom in the system Fe(100-x)B(x)

Detection of Pathologic Heart Murmurs Using a Piezoelectric Sensor

This study aimed to evaluate the capability of a piezoelectric sensor to detect a heart murmur in patients with congenital heart defects. Heart sounds and murmurs were recorded using a piezoelectric sensor and an electronic stethoscope in healthy neonates (n = 9) and in neonates with systolic murmurs caused by congenital heart defects (n = 9) who were born at a hospital. Signal data were digitally filtered by high-pass filtering, and the envelope of the processed signals was calculated. The amplitudes of systolic murmurs were evaluated using the signal-to-noise ratio and compared between healthy neonates and those with congenital heart defects. In addition, the correlation between the amplitudes of systolic murmurs recorded by the piezoelectric sensor and electronic stethoscope was determined. The amplitudes of systolic murmurs detected by the piezoelectric sensor were significantly higher in neonates with congenital heart defects than in healthy neonates (p < 0.01). Systolic murmurs recorded by the piezoelectric sensor had a strong correlation with those recorded by the electronic stethoscope (rho = 0.899 and p < 0.01, respectively). The piezoelectric sensor can detect heart murmurs objectively. Mechanical improvement and automatic analysis algorithms are expected to improve recording in the future

Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry of Nova V2362 Cyg : Rebrightening Event and Dust Formation

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry of a classical nova, V2362 Cyg (= Nova Cygni 2006). V2362 Cyg experienced a peculiar rebrightening with a long duration from 100 to 240 d after the maximum of the nova. Our multicolor observation indicates an emergence of a pseudophotosphere with an effective temperature of 9000 K at the rebrightening maximum. After the rebrightening maximum, the object showed a slow fading homogeneously in all of the used bands for one week. This implies that the fading just after the rebrightening maximum ( less or equal 1 week ) was caused by a slowly shrinking pseudophotosphere. Then, the NIR flux drastically increased, while the optical flux steeply declined. The optical and NIR flux was consistent with blackbody radiation with a temperature of 1500 K during this NIR rising phase. These facts are likely to be explained by dust formation in the nova ejecta. Assuming an optically thin case, we estimate the dust mass of 10^(-8) -- 10^(-10) M_solar, which is less than those in typical dust-forming novae. These results support the senario that a second, long-lasting outflow, which caused the rebrightening, interacted with a fraction of the initial outflow and formed dust grains.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2010, PASJ, 62, 1103--1108, in pres

Pharmacokinetic modeling of hepatocyte growth factor in experimental animals and humans

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is under development for treatment of renal failure. This study was designed to clarify changes in HGF pharmacokinetics in renal failure and to establish a pharmacokinetic model applicable to single and repeated doses. The plasma concentration profile in mice with glycerol-induced acute renal failure was similar to that in normal mice, indicating a minimal contribution of kidney to systemic clearance of HGF. Nevertheless, accumulation of fluorescein-4-isocyanate-labeled HGF in renal tubules in both cases suggests the occurrence of efficient endocytosis of HGF in kidney. A pharmacokinetic model including plasma and liver compartments was constructed, incorporating both high- and low-affinity receptors for association and subsequent endocytosis of HGF because HGF is eliminated via specific receptor c-Met and heparin-like substance. The model well explained the plasma concentration profiles at all doses examined after bolus injection in animals and humans, and those during infusion in rodents. It includes externalization of receptors, which is negatively regulated by HGF, and can explain the gradual increase in trough concentration during repeated dosing in monkeys. Overall pharmacokinetic profiles of HGF are governed by at least two receptors and are well described by this pharmacokinetic model, which should assist in safe management of clinical trials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The 2006 November outburst of EG Aquarii: the SU UMa nature revealed

We report time-resolved CCD photometry of the cataclysmic variable EG Aquarii during the 2006 November outburst During the outburst, superhumps were unambiguously detected with a mean period of 0.078828(6) days, firstly classifying the object as an SU UMa-type dwarf nova. It also turned out that the outburst contained a precursor. At the end of the precursor, immature profiles of humps were observed. By a phase analysis of these humps, we interpreted the features as superhumps. This is the second example that the superhumps were shown during a precursor. Near the maximum stage of the outburst, we discovered an abrupt shift of the superhump period by ${\sim}$ 0.002 days. After the supermaximum, the superhump period decreased at the rate of $\dot{P}/P$=$-8.2{\times}10^{-5}$, which is typical for SU UMa-type dwarf novae. Although the outburst light curve was characteristic of SU UMa-type dwarf novae, long-term monitoring of the variable shows no outbursts over the past decade. We note on the basic properties of long period and inactive SU UMa-type dwarf novae.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for PAS

Detection of the Onset of Ischemia and Carcinogenesis by Hypoxia-Inducible Transcription Factor-Based In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging

An animal model for the early detection of common fatal diseases such as ischemic diseases and cancer is desirable for the development of new drugs and treatment strategies. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates oxygen homeostasis and plays key roles in a number of diseases, including cancer. Here, we established transgenic (Tg) mice that carry HRE/ODD-luciferase (HOL) gene, which generates bioluminescence in an HIF-1-dependent manner and was successfully used in this study to monitor HIF-1 activity in ischemic tissues. To monitor carcinogenesis in vivo, we mated HOL mice with rasH2 Tg mice, which are highly sensitive to carcinogens and are used for short-term carcinogenicity assessments. After rasH2-HOL Tg mice were treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, bioluminescence was detected noninvasively as early as 9 weeks in tissues that contained papillomas and malignant lesions. These results suggest that the Tg mouse lines we established hold significant potential for monitoring the early onset of both ischemia and carcinogenesis and that these lines will be useful for screening chemicals for carcinogenic potential

Phytophthora capsici LEONIAN 菌の発育並びに胞子形成に及ぼす窒素源の影響

1. 本実験は主として茄子科及び瓜科植物の疫病を起因するPhytophthora capsici LEONIAN菌の発育に及ぼす各種窒素化合物の影響についておこなつた。2. 合成培養液中にthiamine 0.1 p.p.m.を加えた固体及び液体の両培地で, 前者は主として胞子形成を後者は主として菌糸の発育を調査した。3. 菌糸の発育は, 有機窒素源のl-asparagineが最も秀れ, glycocollはそれに次ぐ。この2つに比べてかなり劣るが。無機窒素源のKNO_3がやゝ良好であり, 更にNaNO_3,Ca(NO_3)_2等の硝酸態窒素化合物がそれに次ぐ。4. 游走子嚢の形成については無機窒素源よりも有機窒素源のl-asparagine, glycocoll, l-aspartic acid l-arginine, peptoneが秀れていた。5. 卵胞子はoat-meal寒天培地上で培養64日で多数形成したが, 供試したすべての窒素源において形成が認められなかつた。6. oat-meal煎汁培地は培養後pHがアルカリ側に傾くが, 供試した窒素化合物を添加した培地では, 多少の差はあるが, 全て酸性側に傾いた。7. peptone, urea, NH_4Cl及び(NH_4)_2SO_4を窒素源とした培地上の気中菌糸に多数のtuberous-bodyを形成した。1. The present paper describes the results of the experimental studies on the nitrogen sources for Phytophthora capsici LEONIAN, which principally causes the blight and rot of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae plants. 2. Using synthetic culture solutions containing thiamine hydrochloride, observations were made on sporulation on agar media and mycelial growth in liquid media. 3. Nitrates were found to be good nitrogen sources for the fungus but ammonia salts were not. The fungus is probably not able to utilize ammonium salt enought owing to the fall of pH in the medium. 4. The varions amino-acid and amids differed in value from each other as nitrogen sources for this fungus. L-asparagine and glycocoll were much more favorable nitrogen sources than nitrates, peptone and dl-alanine. 5. The values as nitrogen sources of l-aspartic acid, urea, NH_4NO_3,l-glutamic acid was inferior to that of nitrates. L-leucine was unfavorable as the source of nitrogen for this fungus. 6. Adequate nitrogen sources for zoosporangial formation of this fungus on agar media were l-asparagine, glycocoll, l-aspartic acid, l-arginine, KNO_3 and peptone. Oospore was observed numerously on oat-meal agar but not on any media containing other sources of nitrogen. 7. Tuberous-bodies of the mycelium were formed numerously on the cultures containing the nitrogen compounds of peptone, urea, NH_4Cl and (NH_4)_2SO_4 respectively