Conical-intersection dynamics and ground-state chemistry probed by extreme-ultraviolet time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) is a useful approach to elucidate the coupled electronic-nuclear quantum dynamics underlying chemical processes, but has remained limited by the use of low photon energies. Here, we demonstrate the general advantages of XUV-TRPES through an application to NO2, one of the simplest species displaying the complexity of a non-adiabatic photochemical process. The high photon energy enables ionization from the entire geometrical configuration space, giving access to the true dynamics of the system. Specifically, the technique reveals dynamics through a conical intersection, large-amplitude motion and photodissociation in the electronic ground state. XUV-TRPES simultaneously projects the excited-state wave packet onto many final states, offering a multi-dimensional view of the coupled electronic and nuclear dynamics. Our interpretations are supported by ab initio wavepacket calculations on new global potential-energy surfaces. The presented results contribute to establish XUV-TRPES as a powerful technique providing a complete picture of ultrafast chemical dynamics from photoexcitation to the final products.

CT evaluations of focal liver reactions following stereotactic body radiotherapy for small hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis: relationship between imaging appearance and baseline liver function.

This study aimed to assess the imaging appearances of focal liver reactions following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to examine relationships between imaging appearance and baseline liver function. We retrospectively studied 50 lesions in 47 patients treated with SBRT (30-40 Gy in 5 fractions) for HCC, who were followed up for more than 6 months. After SBRT, all patients underwent regular follow-ups with blood tests and dynamic CT scans. At a median follow-up of 18.1 months (range 6.2-43.7 months), all lesions but one were controlled. 3 density patterns describing focal normal liver reactions around HCC tumours were identified in pre-contrast, arterial and portal-venous phase scans: iso/iso/iso in 4 patients (Type A), low/iso/iso in 8 patients (Type B) and low/iso (or high)/high in 38 patients (Type C). Imaging changes in the normal liver surrounding the treated HCC began at a median of 3 months after SBRT, peaked at a median of 6 months and disappeared 9 months later. Liver function, as assessed by the Child-Pugh classification, was the only factor that differed significantly between reactions to treatment showing "non-enhanced" (Type A and B) and "enhanced" (Type C) appearances in CT. Hence, liver tissue with preserved function is more likely to be well enhanced in the delayed phase of a dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scan. The CT appearances of normal liver seen in reaction to the treatment of an HCC by SBRT were therefore related to background liver function and should not be misread as recurrence of HCC.

Dynamical hydrogen atom tunneling in dichlorotropolone: a combined quantum, semiclassical, and classical study.

Based on the Cartesian Reaction Surface framework we construct a four-dimensional potential for the tropolone derivative 3,7-dichlorotropolone, a molecule with an intramolecular O-H...O hydrogen bond. The reduced configuration space involves the in-plane hydrogen atom coordinates, a symmetric O-O vibrational mode, and an antisymmetric mode related to deformations of the seven-membered ring. The system is characterized in terms of quantum mechanical computations of the low-lying eigenstates as well as a classical and semiclassical analysis of spectra obtained via Fourier transforming autocorrelation functions. For the semiclassical analysis we utilize the amplitude-free correlation function method [K. Hotta and K. Takatsuka, J. Phys. A 36, 4785 (2003)]. Our results demonstrate substantial anharmonic couplings leading to highly correlated wave functions even at moderate energies. Furthermore, the importance of dynamical tunneling in tropolone is suggested since many low-lying states--including the ground state--lie above the classical saddle point but nevertheless appear as split pairs.

Math6, a bHLH gene expressed in the developing nervous system, regulates neuronal versus glial differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Whereas multiple basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes are expressed in the developing nervous system, they account for the differentiation of only subsets of neurones, suggesting that there may be as-yet unidentified bHLH genes. RESULTS: We have isolated a novel bHLH gene, designated Math6, a distant mammalian homologue of the Drosophila proneural gene atonal. Structural analysis of the Math6 gene demonstrated that the coding region is divided into three exons, whereas that of other atonal homologues is present in a single exon, indicating that the genomic structure of Math6 is unique among the atonal homologues. Math6 is initially expressed by neural precursor cells in the ventricular zone, but later by subsets of differentiating and mature neurones such as hippocampal neurones and cerebellar Purkinje cells. Mis-expression of Math6 with retrovirus in the developing retina induced neurogenesis, while inhibiting gliogenesis, without affecting cell proliferation and death. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that cells which would normally differentiate into glia adopted the neuronal fate by mis-expression of Math6, indicating that Math6 promotes neuronal vs. glial fate determination in the nervous system.

Semiclassical quantization of strongly chaotic vibrations in an M7-like cluster.

We report semiclassical energy spectra of vibrational state of a cluster composed of seven identical atoms like Ar7 in terms of our previously developed semiclassical wave function, which we call the action-decomposed function. The classical dynamics of this vibrational state is strongly chaotic and undergoes a large amplitude motion due to structural isomerization, which demands a long run of trajectory calculation. Permutation of identical particles should also be taken into account as a quantum effect, since a single molecular shape can be shared by many permutational isomers. Furthermore, chaos causes a spurious divergence in the amplitude factor of a correlation function in the initial value representation, which arises from the amplitude factor (prefactor) of a semiclassical wave function, while the final-state representation is suffered from the well-known divergence arising at caustics. Both approaches therefore face tremendous difficulty in a long-time calculation of the correlation functions. We challenge to extract some limited number of spectral lines from such chaotic dynamics. We further apply a correlation function that is free of such a troublesome amplitude factor. Numerical results from all these schemes are reported.

Abnormal iron accumulation in the brain of neonatal hypotransferrinemic mice.

Transferrin is a plasma protein involved in iron delivery to tissues. To study iron transport into the brain under a transferrin deficiency, iron concentration and 59Fe uptake in the brain were measured in neonatal hypotransferrinemic (HP) mice at 7 days of age. Brain iron concentration of the HP mice, in which iron concentration was relatively high in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, was approximately three times higher than that of non-mutant mice, whereas serum iron concentration of HP mice was significantly lower than that of non-mutant mice. When 59FeCl3 was subcutaneously injected into HP and non-mutant mice, 59Fe was distributed highly in the choroid plexus in the ventricles of HP mice 24 h after injection. The 59Fe distribution in the brain was different between HP and non-mutant mice. On the other hand, the clearance of 59Fe from the blood was very high in HP mice and the hepatic 59Fe concentration of HP mice was more than ten times of that of non-mutant mice. The present findings demonstrate that iron distribution in the brain is changed by transferrin deficiency and that iron abnormally accumulates in the brain of HP mice. It is likely that the management of iron is different in the brain of HP mice.

[Dynamics of serum HCV RNA levels during IFN therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C for prediction of outcome of IFN therapy and beneficial dosing].

For beneficial Interferon therapy to patients with chronic hepatitis C, we assess the change of serum HCV RNA levels during the early phase of IFN therapy, comparing the schedule of IFN beta 3 MU x 2 times per day and daily administration of IFN alpha 2b 10 MU once per day. During first 2 weeks, decrease in serum HCV RNA levels was significantly faster in IFN beta 2 times per day than alpha 2b. We concluded that the administration of IFN beta 2 times per day for 2 weeks followed by IFN alpha 10 MU will be suitable for IFN induction therapy.

Amplitude-free correlation function based on an algebra for coordinate transformation in semiclassical integrals.

We present an algebra that facilitates a systematic coordinate transformation in semiclassical integrals such as those between the initial and final value representations. Applying this algebra to Maslov-type semiclassical wave packet theory [A. Inoue-Ushiyama and K. Takatsuka, Phys. Rev. A 59, 3256 (1999)], a semiclassical correlation function is extracted, which is free of the amplitude factor that suffers an exponential divergence in a chaotic system.

A convenient method for discriminating between natural and depleted uranium by gamma-ray spectrometry.

A convenient method for discriminating between natural and depleted uranium reagent was developed by measuring and analyzing the gamma-ray spectra of some reagents with no standard source. The counting rates (R) of photoelectric peaks of gamma-rays from nuclides with the same radioactivity divided by their emission probability (B) are expressed as a function of gamma-ray energy. The radioactivities of 234Th and 234mPa and 21.72 times that of 235U are equal to the radioactivity of 235U in natural uranium. Therefore, the plot of 21.72-fold R/B for 235U should be on a curve fitted to the points for 234Th and 234mPa in natural uranium. Depleted uranium with a 235U isotopic composition of less than 0.68% could be discriminated from natural uranium in the case of a reagent containing 4.0 g of uranium.

Chaos induced by quantum effect due to breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer adiabaticity.

Chaos in the multimode nonadiabatic system constructed by Heller [J. Chem. Phys. 92, 1718 (1990)], which consists of two diabatic two-dimensional harmonic potentials with the Condon coupling, is studied. A thorough investigation is carried out by scanning the magnitudes of the Condon coupling and the Duschinsky angle. To elucidate mechanisms that can cause chaos in this quantum system, the statistical properties of the energy levels and eigenfunctions of the system are investigated. We find an evidence in terms of the nearest-neighbor spacing distribution of energy levels and other measures that a certain class of chaos is purely induced by the nonadiabatic interaction due to breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Since the nonadiabatic transition can induce repeated bifurcation and merging of a wave packet around the region of quasicrossing between two potential surfaces, and since this interaction does not have a counterpart in the lower adiabatic system, the present chaos deserves being called "nonadiabatic chaos." Another type of chaos in a nonadiabatic system was previously identified [D. M. Leitner et al., J. Chem. Phys. 104, 434 (1996)] that reflects the inherent chaos of a corresponding adiabatic potential. We present a comparative study to establish the similarity and difference between these kinds of chaos.

Sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma originating from a duplicated renal pelvis.

A case of sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis is reported. It was distinguished from carcinosarcoma by immunohistochemical study. The tumor was difficult to distinguish from a renal parenchymal tumor in imaging studies because it originated from a duplicated renal pelvis.

Probing wavepacket dynamics with femtosecond energy- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

Several recent studies have demonstrated how well-suited femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectra are for mapping wavepacket dynamics in molecular systems. Theoretical studies of femtosecond photoelectron spectra which incorporate a robust description of the underlying photoionization dynamics should enhance the utility of such spectra as a probe of wavepackets and of the evolution of electronic structure. This should be particularly true in regions of avoided crossings where the photoionization amplitudes and electronic structure may evolve rapidly with geometry. In this paper we present the results of studies of energy- and angle-resolved femtosecond photoelectron spectra for wavepackets in the diatomic systems, Na2 and NaI. Both cases involve motion through regions of avoided crossings. In Na2, however, wavepacket motion occurs on a single adiabatic potential with an inner and outer well and a barrier between them, while in NaI wavepackets move on the nonadiabatically coupled covalent (NaI) and ionic (Na+I-) potentials. Results of these studies will be used to illustrate the insight into wavepacket dynamics that time-resolved photoelectron spectra provide. For example, in the case of NaI these angle-resolved photoelectron spectra seem to offer some promise for probing real-time dynamics of intramolecular electron transfer occurring in the crossing region of the ionic and covalent states.

Ectopic ureterocele with a horseshoe kidney in an adult.

A rare adult case of a left ectopic ureterocele associated with a duplex horseshoe kidney is reported. To the best of our knowledge, only one pediatric case of horseshoe kidney with an ectopic ureterocele has been reported. The present case was successfully treated by ureteropyelostomy, upper ureterectomy and unroofing of the ureterocele. The patient is currently followed with excretory urograms and renograms.

[A clinical study of radial prostatectomy].

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of radical prostatectomy for patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. METHODS: From 1990 to 1994, a total of 50 patients with prostate cancer underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. RESULTS: Eleven patients were in state A2, 34 in stage B and 5 in stage C according to clinical stage. Extended disease was observed pathologically in 45%, and 59% of patients in clinical stages A2 and B, respectively. Preoperative serum PSA levels were closely correlated with pathological extension of the disease. The disease-free rates for organ-confined disease, extended disease without lymph node metastasis and stage D1 disease were 75% (3 years), 82% (2 years) and 80% (3 years), respectively. Four patients had rectal injuries, and three of these underwent temporary colostomy diversion. Two patients had bladder neck contracture and received internal urethrotomy. Urinary incontinence improved in 60% of patients during the first 6 post-operative and in 90% of patients within 12 post-operative months. Urinary incontinence tended to improve earlier in patients with nerve-sparing than those without it. The erectile capacity in nerve sparing patients recovered good. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that radical prostatectomy is a safe and temporarily satisfactory treatment for the patient with organ-confined prostate cancer.

Bone-bonding behavior of titanium alloy evaluated mechanically with detaching failure load.

Although titanium (Ti) and Ti alloy are generally classified as bioinert materials in terms of their bonding to bone tissue, it is still unclear whether they bond chemically to bone. In this study, we examined the bone-bonding ability of Ti alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) using smooth-surfaced plates under non-load-bearing conditions. The bone-bonding behavior was evaluated mechanically by means of the detaching test reflecting tensile force. After implantation of the plates into the tibiae of rabbits for 4, 8, 16, and 25 weeks, detaching tests were performed. The failure load of the Ti alloy plates was close to 0 kg at 4 and 8 weeks, but gradually increased with time, reaching 0.334 kg at 16 weeks and 2.852 kg at 25 weeks on average. Histologic examination by Giemsa surface staining and SEM showed no differences between specimens at 8, 16, and 25 weeks, when Ti alloy plate made direct content with bone without any fibrous tissue. By SEM-EPMA, no clear calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P)-rich layer at the interface between the Ti alloy and bone tissue was evident, although a thin bone tissue was observed on the detached Ti alloy plate. The present results indicate that from both mechanical and histologic viewpoints, Ti alloy bonds directly to bone under static conditions after some time, probably more than 8 weeks. The possibility of chemical bone-bonding of Ti alloy was suggested.

[Clinical efficacy of lomefloxacin (100 mg or 300 mg) single-dose therapy in female acute uncomplicated cystitis].

Female acute uncomplicated cystitis responds relatively well to antimicrobial chemotherapy. In particular, new quinolones are suited for use as antimicrobial agents in single-dose therapy of female acute uncomplicated cystitis since they have a long serum half-life and express potent antimicrobial activity against the causative microbes of this infection. Lomefloxacin (LFLX) is one such new quinolone which shows a long serum half-life, expresses potent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and maintains an effective urinary drug concentration for approximately three days after a single administration. The authors carried out a comparative investigation of the clinical efficacy of single doses of 100 mg and 300 mg of LFLX in the treatment of female acute uncomplicated cystitis. The clinical efficacy rates with these doses, evaluated on the 3rd day after administration, were 98.2% (56/57 cases) for the 100mg-LFLX dose and 100% (62/62 cases) for the 300-mg LFLX dose. When the evaluation was performed on the 7th day after administration, the clinical efficacy rates were 91.3% (42/46 cases) for the 100-mg LFLX dose and 95.8% (46/48 cases) for the 300-mg LFLX dose. In addition, the microbial eradication rates were 73.7% (42/57 cases) for the 100-mg LFLX group and 75.8% (47/62 cases) for the 300-mg LFLX group on the 3rd day after administration, and 71.7% (33/46 cases) for the 100-mg LFLX group and 83.3% (40/48 cases) for the 300-mg LFLX group on the 7th day after administration. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two LFLX dosage groups for these parameters at either of the evaluation times, the rates for the 300-mg LFLX dose were slightly superior. The investigators judged the efficacy of the LFLX treatment as having been insufficient in 12 patients, and urological examinations performed on six of those cases determined that there were mild underlying diseases in four cases, such as stenosis of the urethral meatus. On the basis of the findings described above, it is clear that a single 100-mg dose of LFLX provided sufficient clinical efficacy in the treatment of female acute uncomplicated cystitis, but the efficacy of the 300-mg dose of LFLX was even better. In addition, it was surmised that performance of detailed urological examinations provides an opportunity to detect mild underlying diseases that may be the cause of the intractability in female acute uncomplicated cystitis cases showing an insufficient response to treatment with antimicrobial agents such as LFLX.

[Long-term monitoring of female acute uncomplicated cystitis cases after lomefloxacin single-dose therapy].

Female acute uncomplicated cystitis responds relatively well to antimicrobial chemotherapy, but this is also a disease which shows a high frequency of recurrence. However, there have been no published reports regarding long-term monitoring of the course of this disease after therapy has been administered. Accordingly, using primarily a questionnaire, the authors carried out long-term monitoring (for a mean of 242 days) of the natural course of cases of female acute uncomplicated cystitis after single-dose therapy with lomefloxacin (LFLX), a new quinolone antimicrobial agent. The subjects of this study were female patients diagnosed as having acute uncomplicated cystitis with pain upon urination, pyuria (> or = 10 WBCs/hpf) and bacteriuria (> or = 10(4) cfu/ml). LFLX was orally administered as a single dose of 100 mg or 300 mg, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated on the 3rd and 7th days thereafter. In principle, the evaluation of cure was performed on the 7th day after LFLX administration, and monitoring was conducted to detect early recurrence during the next 7 days (i.e., through the 14th day after treatment). Then the subjects were monitored for late recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 242 days by means of a questionnaire. Confirmation of recurrence was carried out to the greatest extent possible. It was possible to carry out long-term monitoring of the natural course of 101 cases of female acute uncomplicated cystitis in which the clinical efficacy on the 3rd day after LFLX treatment had been evaluated as good or excellent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)