Determination of a localized surface plasmon resonance mode of Cu7S4 nanodisks by plasmon coupling.

Plasmon properties such as peak position, extinction cross-section and local electric field intensity are strongly dependent on excited, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modes. In non-spherical copper chalcogenide nanoparticles, assignment of the LSPR peaks to the corresponding oscillation modes has been controversial and requires experimental verification. We determined the in-plane LSPR mode of roxbyite Cu7S4 nanodisks from the plasmon coupling effect of nanodisks in solution. Compared with individual Cu7S4 nanodisks, self-assembled Cu7S4 nanodisk arrays in chloroform exhibited a blue-shifted LSPR peak with weaker optical density. This strongly suggests that the singular LSPR peak in the near-infrared region mainly originates from the in-plane oscillation mode. In addition, we demonstrate that the same LSPR peak can be readily tuned by controlling the number of disks in the array.

Structural evolution in the neutron-rich nuclei ¹°6Zr and ¹°8Zr.

The low-lying states in ¹°6Zr and ¹°8Zr have been investigated by means of ß-γ and isomer spectroscopy at the radioactive isotope beam factory (RIBF), respectively. A new isomer with a half-life of 620 ± 150 ns has been identified in ¹°8Zr. For the sequence of even-even Zr isotopes, the excitation energies of the first 2⁺ states reach a minimum at N = 64 and gradually increase as the neutron number increases up to N = 68, suggesting a deformed subshell closure at N = 64. The deformed ground state of ¹°8Zr indicates that a spherical subshell gap predicted at N = 70 is not large enough to change the ground state of ¹°8Zr to the spherical shape. The possibility of a tetrahedral shape isomer in ¹°8Zr is also discussed.

ß-decay half-lives of very neutron-rich Kr to Tc isotopes on the boundary of the r-process path: an indication of fast r-matter flow.

The ß-decay half-lives of 38 neutron-rich isotopes from (36)Kr to (43)Tc have been measured; the half-lives of (100)Kr, (103-105)Sr, (106-108)Y, (108-110)Zr, (111,112)Nb, (112-115)Mo, and (116,117)Tc are reported here. The results when compared with previous standard models indicate an overestimation in the predicted half-lives by a factor of 2 or more in the A≈110 region. A revised model based on the second generation gross theory of ß decay better predicts the measured half-lives and suggests a more rapid flow of the rapid neutron-capture process (r-matter flow) through this region than previously predicted.

Decay pattern of pygmy states observed in neutron-rich 26Ne.

Coulomb excitation of the exotic neutron-rich nucleus (26)Ne on a (208)Pb target was measured at 58 MeV/u in order to search for low-lying E1 strength above the neutron emission threshold. This radioactive beam experiment was carried out at the RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. Using the invariant mass method in the 25Ne+n channel, we observe a sizable amount of E1 strength between 6 and 10 MeV excitation energy. By performing a multipole decomposition of the differential cross section, a reduced dipole transition probability of B(E1)=0.49+/-0.16e(2) fm(2) is deduced, corresponding to 4.9+/-1.6% of the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule. For the first time, the decay pattern of low-lying strength in a neutron-rich nucleus is measured. The extracted decay pattern is not consistent with several mean-field theory descriptions of the pygmy states.

Internal inelastic scattering satellite probed by molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions from CO2.

The molecular-frame photoelectron angular distribution (MFPAD) of the satellite accompanying the C 1s photoline of the CO2 molecule has been measured at the C 1s(2sigmag)-->4sigmau* shape resonance, using electron-ion multicoincidence momentum spectroscopy. The observed MFPAD indicates that the conjugate satellite is excited by internal inelastic scattering. In this scenario, a photoelectron is ejected from the C 1s(2sigmag) orbital along the molecular axis and collides with an O lone-pair electron in the highest occupied molecular orbital 1pig. Then one of the colliding electrons is trapped to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital 2piu*, while the other is emitted as a satellite photoelectron of sigmag symmetry, losing the information of the original photoelectron emission direction and parity.

Breakdown of the two-step model in K-shell photoemission and subsequent decay probed by the molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions of CO2.

We report results of measurements and of Hartree-Fock level calculations of molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPADs) for C 1s photoemission from CO2. The agreement between the measured and calculated MFPADs is on average reasonable. The measured MFPADs display a weak but definite asymmetry with respect to the O+ and CO+ fragment ions at certain energies, providing evidence for an overlap of gerade and ungerade final ionic states giving rise to a partial breakdown of the two-step model of core-level photoionization and its subsequent Auger decay.

Prediction of gait outcome with the knee-ankle-foot orthosis with medial hip joint in patients with spinal cord injuries: a study using recursive partitioning analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of the degree of gait independence achieved by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) using knee-ankle-foot orthosis with a medial single hip joint (MSH-KAFO). OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of the neurological level, degree of paresis, age, and inhibitory physical/other factors on the gait with a MSH-KAFO in patients with SCIs. SETTING: Three university hospitals and two rehabilitation hospitals in Japan. METHODS: The 45 patients (36 men, nine women) examined included 10 with injuries in the cervical cord between C6 and C8 (group C), 20 with injuries in the upper-middle thoracic cord between T4 and T10 (group UT), and 15 with injuries in the lower thoracic-lumbar cord between T12 and L1 (group TL). Mean age was 34.0 years (range 16-68 years). Of these patients, 13 used the Walkabout, four used the gear joint, and 28 used the Primewalk as the medial hip joint. Recursive partitioning, which predicted the final status of gait from the level, degree of paresis, age, and inhibitory factors, was performed, and a decision tree for gait was constructed. Inhibitory factors were spasticity, involuntary spasms or muscle contractions, pain, contracture, weakness of the upper extremities, and decreased motivation to perform gait exercise. The degree of gait independence was rated on the following five-point scale: outdoor independent gait (5 points), indoor independent gait (4 points), indoor supervised gait (3 points), indoor assisted gait (2 points), and gait within parallel bars (1 point). New branches were added to the decision tree for gait based on the clinical experience, thereby constructing a new decision tree. RESULTS: The coincident ratio between the value predicted on the basis of the decision tree of gait and the value actually observed was 53.3%. The coincident ratio between the value predicted on the basis of the modified decision tree of gait and the actually observed value was 68.9%. CONCLUSION: The results provide valuable information to medical teams that may assist prescription of gait orthoses.

Direct observation of ferromagnetic spin polarization in gold nanoparticles.

We report the first direct observation of ferromagnetic spin polarization of Au nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 1.9 nm using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Owing to the element selectivity of XMCD, only the gold magnetization is explored. Magnetization of gold atoms as estimated by XMCD shows a good agreement with results obtained by conventional magnetometry. This evidences intrinsic spin polarization in nanosized gold.

Determination of the subthreshold state contribution in 13C(alpha,n)16O, the main neutron-source reaction for the s process.

The reaction rate of the stellar reaction 13C(alpha,n)16O, which is currently considered to be the main neutron source for the slow (s) process at low energies, has been rederived using the direct alpha-transfer reaction 13C(6Li,d)17O leading to the subthreshold state at 6.356 MeV in 17O. The contribution of the subthreshold state is found to be much smaller than the currently accepted predictions for the main neutron source of the s process, indicating less of a role of this reaction as the neutron source for the s-process scenario in low-mass stars at the asymptotic giant branch.

Identification of missense mutation (G365R) of the butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) gene in a Japanese patient with familial cholinesterasemia.

A point mutation which caused a silent phenotype of human serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was identified in the genomic DNA of a 57-year-old Japanese woman who visited our hospital because of pneumonia. The propositus exhibited an unusually low level of BChE activity, whereas her son and daughter had an intermediate level. Immunologically, there was an absence of BChE protein in the propositus's serum. DNA sequence analysis of the propositus demonstrated a point mutation at codon 365 (GGA-CGA), resulting in a Gly-Arg substitution. A family study showed her son and daughter to have the same mutation.

Medium-chain fatty acids stimulate interleukin-8 production in Caco-2 cells with different mechanisms from long-chain fatty acids.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: It has been suggested that dietary fat exacerbates intestinal inflammation. We investigated the effect of fatty acids on interleukin (IL)-8 production in a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2). METHODS: The cells were cultured as monolayers on microporous membranes in culture inserts. Oleic acid (OA), capric acid (CA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were applied to the apical compartment of Caco-2 cell monolayers. The concentration of IL-8 in the basolateral medium was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of IL-8 mRNA was measured by using competitive reverse transcription--polymerase chain reaction. Protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) and H-7 (a protein kinase inhibitor) were used to study the mechanisms by which IL-8 production is stimulated. RESULTS: Both OA and CA enhanced IL-8 production (approximately fivefold), whereas DHA and EPA did not. Both OA and CA also enhanced IL-1-induced IL-8 production. The onset of OA-induced IL-8 production was delayed compared with that of CA-induced IL-8 production. Both OA and CA enhanced IL-8 mRNA expression (approximately fivefold) after 6 and 3 h, respectively. The protein kinase inhibitor (H-7) reduced both OA- and CA-induced IL-8 production by 88.0 and 85.9%, respectively. The protein kinase C inhibitors (GF109203X and calphostin C) reduced OA-induced IL-8 production by 29.3 and 54.5%, respectively, but showed no effect on CA-induced IL-8 production. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that not only OA but also CA stimulates IL-8 production in intestinal epithelial cells, and the mechanisms of action differ between OA and CA.

Identification of a new point mutation in the human xanthine dehydrogenase gene responsible for a case of classical type I xanthinuria.

A 60-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed as having hypouricemia at an annual health check-up. The routine laboratory data was not remarkable except that the patient's hypouricemia and plasma levels of xanthine and hypoxanthine were much higher than those of normal subjects. Furthermore, the patient's daily urinary excretion of xanthine and hypoxanthine was markedly increased compared with reference values. The xanthine dehyrogenase activity of the duodenal mucosa was below the limits of detection. Nevertheless, allopurinol was metabolized to oxypurinol in vivo. Based on these findings, a subtype of classical xanthinuria (type I) was diagnosed. The xanthine dehyrogenase protein was detected by Western blotting analysis. Sequencing of the cDNA of the xanthine dehyrogenase obtained from the duodenal mucosa revealed that a point mutation of C to T had occurred in nucleotide 445. This changed codon 149 from CGC (Arg) to TGC (Cys), a finding that has not been previously reported in patients with classical xanthinuria type I.

Convenient synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by distannoxane-catalyzed polycondensation.

A convenient synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by the distannoxane-catalyzed polycondensation of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and aliphatic diols in solvents under azeotropic conditions was developed. To determine the optimum conditions for polycondensation of succinic acid with 1,4-butandiol, the effect of various types of catalyst and their concentration was investigated. By choosing the appropriate solvent, the polymerization was made to proceed in a two-phase system of solvent and molten polymer, and in the presence of 0.001 mol % of 1-chloro-3-hydroxy-1,1,3,3-tetrabutyldistannoxane (CHTD), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with a weight-average molecular weight of 277,000 was obtained. This method was then successfully applied to the synthesis of various aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(ethylene succinate), poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene succinate), and poly(ethylene sebacate).

Comparison of tests for fecal lactoferrin and fecal occult blood for colorectal diseases: a prospective pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective pilot study was conducted to compare the usefulness of measuring fecal lactoferrin (Lf) to that of fecal occult blood (FOB) test for detection of colorectal diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 351 patients who underwent colonoscopy. A fecal sample was obtained on the day before colonoscopy. Fecal Lf was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The FOB test was performed by combined assay (latex agglutination) of hemoglobin and transferrin. RESULTS: The specificities of the fecal Lf and FOB tests were the same (88.7%). For patients with colorectal cancer (13), colorectal polyp (69), ulcerative colitis (18), Crohn's disease (13), non-specific colitis (8), internal hemorrhoids (60), colon diverticulum (27), and miscellaneous diseases of the colon (10), the rates of positivity for fecal Lf were 7/13, 14/69, 12/18, 7/13, 4/8, 22/60, 8/27, and 6/10, respectively. The corresponding rates for FOB were 8/13, 12/69, 11/18, 4/13, 4/8, 9/60, 2/27, and 1/10. For patients with internal hemorrhoids, the rate of positivity for fecal Lf was significantly higher than that for FOB. In other disease groups, there was no significant difference in the rate of positivity between fecal Lf and FOB. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that measurement of fecal Lf is as useful as FOB in detecting colorectal diseases.

[A case of common variable immunodeficiency that responded to long-term erythromycin chemotherapy].

A 32-year-old woman with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) accompanied by sinopulmonary infection was evaluated for purulent sputum, cough, and nasal obstruction that did not respond to regular intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG) infusion. Chest X-ray films revealed bronchiectasis affecting both lung bases, and a bacteriological examination of sputum was positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Long-term chemotherapy with erythromycin (EM) was started, and the patient's respiratory symptoms gradually subsided. Sinopulmonary infection is the dominant clinical complication in patients with CVID. This case suggested that long-term EM chemotherapy is useful for the treatment of IVIG-refractory sinopulmonary infection associated with CVID.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: prevalence and recognition of putative antigens.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), and the putative antigens recognized by perinuclear staining pattern ANCA (p-ANCA)-positive sera. METHODS: Sera from UC (n = 52) and CD (n = 43) patients, and from healthy controls (n = 74) were studied. The indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method was used for the detection of ANCA and its binding pattern. p-ANCA-positive sera were studied further for putative antigens. ELISAs using lactoferrin (Lf), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cathepsin G (Cat G) as antigens were performed. RESULTS: ANCA was positive in 40 of the 52 (76.9%) UC (p-ANCA in 33) and in 32 of the 43 (74.4%) CD (p-ANCA in 31) patients. UC and CD patients showed significantly higher titers of p-ANCA than controls; however, no significant difference was observed between UC and CD. In UC, 23, 17, and nine of the 33 patients with p-ANCA-positive sera showed reactivity with Lf, MPO, and Cat-G, respectively. In CD, 21, 20, and 11 of the 31 patients with p-ANCA-positive sera showed reactivity with Lf, MPO, and Cat-G, respectively. Fourteen of the UC and six of the CD patients showed reactivity with two different antigens, and seven of the UC and 11 of the CD patients showed reactivity with all three antigens. The presence of anti-Lf and anti-MPO antibodies was further confirmed by Western blotting. CONCLUSIONS: ANCA is useful in distinguishing patients with IBD from normal subjects but is not sufficient for the differential diagnosis of CD and UC. p-ANCA reactivity might be derived from the recognition of heterogeneous neutrophil-associated antigens.

Congenital malformations due to antiepileptic drugs.

To identify the major risk factors for the increased incidence of congenital malformations in offspring of mothers being treated for epilepsy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during pregnancy and, to determine the relative teratogenic risk of AEDs, we prospectively analyzed 983 offspring born in Japan, Italy, and Canada. The incidence of congenital malformations in offspring without drug exposure was 3.1%, versus an incidence with drug exposure of 9.0%. The highest incidence in offspring exposed to a single AED occurred with primidone (PRM; 14.3%), which was followed by valproate (VPA; 11.1%), phenytoin (PHT; 9.1%), carbamazepine (CBZ; 5.7%), and phenobarbital (PB; 5.1%). The VPA dose and level positively correlated with the incidence of malformations. This study first determined a cut-off value of VPA dose and level at 1000 mg/day and 70 microg/ml, respectively, to avoid the occurrence of malformations. The incidence of malformations increases as the number of drugs increases, and as the total daily dose increases. Specific combinations of AEDs such as VPA + CBZ and PHT + PRM + PB produced a higher incidence of congenital malformations. The incidence of malformations was not associated with any background factors studied except for the presence of malformations in siblings. These results indicate that the increased incidence of congenital malformations was caused primarily by AEDs, suggesting that malformations can be prevented by improvements in drug regimen, and by avoiding polypharmacy and high levels of VPA (more than 70 microg/ml) in the treatment of epileptic women of childbearimg age.

Thin cement mantle and osteolysis with a precoated stem.

The radiographic and clinical results of 55 hips (52 patients) implanted with the Harris precoat hip prosthesis using second generation cementing technique were investigated in this study. All metal backed sockets were fixed with cement. The preoperative diagnoses were osteoarthritis secondary to dysplastic hips in 42 patients, primary osteoarthritis in six, rapidly destructive coxarthrosis in five, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head in two. The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 67 years. The average duration of followup was 8 years. The rates of aseptic loosening and osteolysis in the femoral side were 5.5% (three hips) and 12.7% (seven hips), respectively. Three sockets were loosened, and no osteolysis was detected in the acetabular side. The mantle of cement in the femur was graded using the criteria described by Mulroy et al. Twenty-seven of 55 (49%) hips had regions with a thin cement mantle less than 1 mm in thickness or a defect in the cement mantle. Osteolysis was detected in seven of the 27 (26%) hips. Locations of osteolysis were coincidental with those of thin cement mantle or defect with the exception of one hip. This study clearly shows that a thin cement mantle less than 1 mm in thickness and a defect in the cement mantle lead to osteolysis.

Bile acids inhibit tumour necrosis factor alpha-induced interleukin-8 production in human colon epithelial cells.

To clarify the regulatory mechanism of the production of various inflammatory mediators by intestinal epithelial cells, the effect of bile acids (tauroursodeoxycholate, TUDC; taurochenodeoxycholate, TCDC; and taurocholate, TC) on the cytokine-induced production of interleukin (IL)-8 in a human colon epithelial cell line (HT-29) was examined. HT-29 cells were incubated for 24 h in a culture medium containing tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha; 1 ng/mL) and/or interleukin (IL)-1beta (1 ng/mL) in the presence or absence of bile acids. The IL-8 concentration in the medium was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding assay of TNF alpha was performed using [125I]-TNF alpha (100 pmol/L). Interleukin-8 production during incubation with TNF alpha was markedly reduced in the presence of 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTUDC, 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTCDC and 0.5 and 1 mmol/LTC, by 56, 85, 86, 91, 37 and 70%, respectively. The IL-8 production during incubation with IL-1beta was not significantly reduced in the presence of these bile acids. The specific binding of TNF alpha to cells was inhibited 33, 47, and 14% by 1 mmol/LTUDC, TCDC and TC, respectively. These findings suggest that bile acids inhibit TNF alpha-induced IL-8 production by the colonic cells. The suppression may be partly due to inhibition of TNF alpha binding to the cells by bile acids.

Double-staining of horizontal and amacrine cells by intracellular injection with lucifer yellow and biocytin in carp retina.

Horizontal and amacrine cells in the isolated carp retina were impaled with micropipette electrode, identified by their characteristic light responses, and injected iontophoretically with markers for morphological study. Both Lucifer Yellow CH and biocytin were injected simultaneously. Lucifer Yellow was seen by its own fluorescence while biocytin was visualized by binding with Texas Red-linked or horseradish peroxidase-conjugated avidin. For cone-connected horizontal cells, biocytin-coupled cells were found to be approximately five-times more numerous than Lucifer Yellow-coupled cells. Coupling for both tracers was consistently hampered by intravitreally applied dopamine. In untreated retinas, the injected Lucifer Yellow was restricted within one rod-connected horizontal cell, while biocytin revealed several coupled neighbors. Amacrine cells, labeled by the tracers, were morphologically grouped into eight types, based on our earlier classification. Among them, amacrine cells, belonging to three types (Fnd, Pmb or Pma), were confirmed to be Lucifer Yellow-coupled, and the number of biocytin-coupled cells was more numerous (about 2.5 times) than that of Lucifer Yellow-coupled cells. Most amacrine cells (i.e. Pwd, Fnb and Fna) showed biocytin-coupling with no Lucifer Yellow-coupling. A few classified (i.e. Pwb and Fwa) and unclassified cells did not show any coupling. Since the tracer coupling takes place via gap junctions, the majority of amacrine cells, belonging to certain homologous types, appear to be functionally coupled with each other in the inner plexiform layer. However, dopamine did not influence the range of tracer coupling between amacrine cells in the carp retina under the present experimental conditions.