Lower estimate of the exponential sums of the sequence (αn +βlogn) and its application to the discrepancy

Wｅ obtain a lower bound for the discrepancy of the sequence (αn + βlogn), where α is an irrational number and β is a non-zero real number. In order to show the result, we estimate the exponential sums by the saddle-point method

Modulation by static magnetism of neuronal activity

In neurons, the signal propagation involves both the conduction mediated by local electric currents through voltage-sensitive cation channels in axons and the transmission mediated by the exocytotic release of neurotransmitters from nerve endings into synaptic clefts. A great number of desperate efforts have been dedicated to biochemical, pharmacological and molecular biological studies on the elucidation of mechanisms underlying the neurotransmission at synapses, while relatively little attention has been paid to the comprehensive evaluation of the conduction except for local anesthetics. According to a physical theorem, exposure to magnetism should lead to the generation of a certain mechanical force in neurons with concomitant electric currents in a particular situation. In particular, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is beneficial for the treatment of selected patients suffering from depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia as a possible alternative to the electroconvulsive therapy for refractory depression. In this review, therefore, we will summarize our recent advances made on the neurochemical and molecular biological elucidation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons toward better understanding by the readers of different disciplines of mechanisms associated with the modulation by magnetism of the neuronal activity in the brain.Biomedical Reviews 2004; 15: 21-35

Nilotinib exerts antiparkinsonian actions

Abnormal motor behaviors in Parkinson’s disease (PD) result from striatal dysfunction due to an imbalance between dopamine and glutamate transmissions that are integrated by dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein of 32 kDa (DARPP-32). c-Abelson tyrosine kinase (c-Abl) phosphorylates cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) at Tyr15 to increase the activity of Cdk5, which reduces the efficacy of dopaminergic signaling by phosphorylating DARPP-32 at Thr75 in the striatum. Here, we report that in the mouse striatum, a novel c-Abl inhibitor, nilotinib (AMN107), inhibits phosphorylation of both Cdk5 at Tyr15 and DARPP-32 at Thr75, which is negatively regulated by dopamine receptor activation through a D2 receptor-mediated mechanism. Like a D2-agonist, nilotinib synergizes with a D1-agonist for inducing striatal c-Fos expression. Moreover, systemic administration of nilotinib normalizes striatal motor behaviors in a mouse model of PD induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. These findings suggest that nilotinib could possibly serve as a new and alternative agent for treating PD motor symptoms

Improving sinterability of ceramics using hybrid microwave heating

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科 金沢大学信頼性システム工学（工学部）Microwave processing, as a new method for sintering ceramics, has key advantages such as increased heating rate, uniform heating and reduced cost compared to conventional methods. It is generally accepted that microwave sintering can improve the macroscopic mechanical performances of ceramics, however, the performances of microwave-sintered ceramics on the microscopic scale are rarely investigated. In the present study, the ceramics are sintered by hybrid microwave sintering (HMS), which combines the characteristics of microwave heating and conventional heating. To evaluate the homogeneous performance of the sintered ceramics, the behaviors of thermal residual stress distribution in the microwave-sintered and conventionally sintered ceramics were investigated by X-ray diffraction technique. The thermal residual stress investigation shows microwaves can sinter ceramics in entire volume while offering improved mechanical properties. Subsequently, the distribution behaviors of pore ratio and hardness in the ceramics were investigated, respectively. The experiment results confirm that the sinterability of ceramics is homogenously improved by hybrid microwave sintering. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.in pres

Scratch test of TiCN thin films with different preferred orientation

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of crystallite preferred orientation on the mechanical strength of TiCN thin films in highly compressive residual stress. TiCN thin films were deposited by PVD on JIS-SKH55 (AISI M35) steel. The applied substrate bias voltages were set for -50, -80, -100,-120 and -150V. Subsequently, residual stress and crystalline preferred orientation of these specimens were investigated by X-ray diffraction methodology. The crystalline preferred orientation in thin films was evaluated by the ODF calculated from pole figures. On the other hand, dynamic hardness test (DH) and scratch test were executed to evaluate the mechanical strength of thin films. In our study, it was observed that negative bias voltages had an effect on the preferred orientation. The orientation density at -120 V was the highest of all specimens. In addition, the value of scratch section area at -120V was the largest of all specimens. As a conclusion, the relation between the scratch area and the negative bias voltages corresponded to the relation between the preferred orientation and the bias voltages

Electric spectroscopy of vortex states and dynamics in magnetic disks

Spin-polarized radio frequency (RF) currents and RF-Oersted fields resonantly excite a magnetic vortex core confined in a micron-scale soft magnetic disk. In this study, we measured the rectifying voltage spectra caused by the anisotropic magnetoresistance oscillation due to the gyration of the vortex with different polarity and chirality. The measured spectra are presented such that we can determine the vortex properties and strength of the spin torques and Oersted field accurately and directly through analytical calculation.Comment: 39 pages,1 table, 10 figure

c-Abl Inhibition Exerts Antiparkinsonian Effects

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is caused by a progressive degeneration of nigral dopaminergic cells leading to striatal dopamine deficiency. From the perspective of antiparkinsonian drug mechanisms, pharmacologic treatment of PD can be divided into symptomatic and disease-modifying (neuroprotective) therapies. An increase in the level and activity of the Abelson non-receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Abl) has been identified in both human and mouse brains under PD conditions. In the last decade, it has been observed that the inhibition of c-Abl activity holds promise for protection against the degeneration of nigral dopaminergic cells in PD and thereby exerts antiparkinsonian effects. Accordingly, c-Abl inhibitors have been applied clinically as a disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for PD treatment. Moreover, in a series of studies, including that presented here, experimental evidence suggests that in a mouse model of parkinsonism induced by N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, c-Abl inhibition exerts an immediate effect improving motor impairments by normalizing altered activity in striatal postsynaptic signaling pathways mediated by Cdk5 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5) and DARPP-32 (dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 kDa). Based on this, we suggest that c-Abl inhibitors represent an ideal antiparkinsonian agent that has both disease-modifying and symptomatic effects. Future research is required to carefully evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and clinical challenges associated with applying c-Abl inhibitors to the treatment of PD

Microstructure-based computational simulation and experimental measurement of stresses in spheroidized steels

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科Carbon steel is the most popular engineering material, usually consisted of ferrite and cementite phases. Internal stress state of the steel under thermal or mechanical loading is strongly affected by the amount and morphology in the cementite phase. With this aim, a computational model which applies the finite element method at the microscale was used in present study. Effects of volume fraction and particle size of the spheriodal cementite on the internal stress states in carbon steels under the mechanical and thermal loadings are investigated. To verify the reliability of the computational simulations, the residual stresses in the constituent phases are measured by means of X-ray stress diffraction technique. The computational simulations fit well with the experimental data, and the microstructure-based model is validated