A model of plasma current through a hole of Rogowski probe including sheath effects.

In TST-2 Ohmic discharges, local current is measured using a Rogowski probe by changing the angle between the local magnetic field and the direction of the hole of the Rogowski probe. The angular dependence shows a peak when the direction of the hole is almost parallel to the local magnetic field. The obtained width of the peak was broader than that of the theoretical curve expected from the probe geometry. In order to explain this disagreement, we consider the effect of sheath in the vicinity of the Rogowski probe. A sheath model was constructed and electron orbits were numerically calculated. From the calculation, it was found that the electron orbit is affected by E × B drift due to the sheath electric field. Such orbit causes the broadening of the peak in the angular dependence and the dependence agrees with the experimental results. The dependence of the broadening on various plasma parameters was studied numerically and explained qualitatively by a simplified analytical model.

Local current density measurement using a Rogowski probe in Tokyo Spherical Tokamak-2.

A Rogowski probe consisting of a small multi-layer Rogowski coil, five magnetic pick-up coils, and a Langmuir probe was developed to measure the local current density and its direction. It can be moved along the major radius and can be turned around its axis. This probe was used to measure the current density profile near the last closed flux surface of Ohmic plasmas in Tokyo Spherical Tokamak-2. The current density profile was measured successfully with a signal to noise ratio of greater than 20.

Demonstration of improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio of Thomson scattering signal obtained by using a multi-pass optical cavity on the Tokyo Spherical Tokamak-2.

The multi-pass Thomson scattering (TS) scheme enables obtaining many photons by accumulating multiple TS signals. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) depends on the accumulation number. In this study, we performed multi-pass TS measurements for ohmically heated plasmas, and the relationship between SNR and the accumulation number was investigated. As a result, improvement of SNR in this experiment indicated similar tendency to that calculated for the background noise dominant situation.

Note: Multi-pass Thomson scattering measurement on the TST-2 spherical tokamak.

In multi-pass Thomson scattering (TS) scheme, a laser pulse makes multiple round trips through the plasma, and the effective laser energy is enhanced, and we can increase the signal-to-noise ratio as a result. We have developed a coaxial optical cavity in which a laser pulse is confined, and we performed TS measurements using the coaxial cavity in tokamak plasmas for the first time. In the optical cavity, the laser energy attenuation was approximately 30% in each round trip, and we achieved a photon number gain of about 3 compared with that obtained in the first round trip. In addition, the temperature measurement accuracy was improved by accumulating the first three round trip waveforms.

Tomatine Content in Host and Transgenic Tomatoes by Absorptiometric Measurement.

Tomatine is a steroidal glycoalkaloid in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) and other Lycopersicon and Solanum Species. Tomatine is used as an indicator to evaluate the safety of transgenic tomatoes by FDA in U.S.A. We have developed a facile and rapid method for absorptiometric measurement of the tomatine content. This method was used to measure the tomatine content of fruits of a transgenic tomato cultivar (Lycopersicon esculentum) which contained an antisense polygalacturonase gene (anti-PG). We found that the tomatine content in the fruits of transgenic and non-transgenic tomatoes was very similar. The data were also compared with those of other tomato cultivars, "KAGOME 77" (L. esculentum) and "KAGOME 88" (L. esculentum).

Changes in psychophysiological functions during night shift in nurses. Influence of changing from a full-day to a half-day work shift before night duty.

The effects of changing from a full-day to a half-day shift work before a night duty shift on physiological and psychological functions during the night shift were investigated in 12 healthy unmarried nurses working on the same ward of a university hospital. Three shift patterns, i.e., a day shift following a day shift, a night shift following a day shift, and a night shift following a half-day shift, were studied in terms of physical activity level, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity levels, cortisol, prolactin, NK cell activity, and changes in mood states. The change to the half-day shift increased the duration of sleep before night duty by about 86 min and brought wake-up times forward by about 1 h, resulting in increases in rest and time before work. In addition, the change was revealed to reduce the influence of reversed-phase circadian rhythms on autonomic nervous activity during the night shift. The score for sleepiness was significantly lower at 0500 hours following a half-day shift. There were some marginal but not significant differences in the scores reflecting the degree of vigor, tiredness and irritation during the night shift. Although the prolactin concentration was significantly decreased at the start of the night shift after the half-day shift, there was no difference in cortisol concentration or NK cell activity between the usual night shift after a day shift and the night shift after the half-day shift. The half-day shift was not observed to cause any marked change in the fixed biorhythms of these nurses. The cortisol and NK cell activity levels were low during the night shift, suggesting that the night shift itself is a high stress level, which is prejudicial to biodefense.

Assessment of job stress dimensions based on the job demands- control model of employees of telecommunication and electric power companies in Japan: reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire.

To investigate the reliability and validity of 4 selected scales from the Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ. Karasek, 1985)-decision latitude, psychological demand, supervisor support, and coworker support-a survey was conducted on a total of 626 employees of telephone and electric companies in Japan. The survey questionnaire was composed of 22 items. Data from 472 male and 108 female respondents were analyzed. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the four JCQ scales ranged from .61 to .89 for men and from .65 to .87 for women. Scree plots based on factor analyses of scale items indicated that one major factor explained 30% to 75% of each scale variance in men and women. Factor structures of the 22 items for men and women were consistent with those theoretically expected Distributions of the decision latitude scores among occupations for men and women were similar to those in the U.S. national samples; the scores significantly and positively correlated with occupational class. It is suggested that the JCQ scales are reliable and valid instruments for assessing job stressors in a Japanese working population.

Systematic synthesis of N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin-containing, Le(x), Le(a), sialyl-Le(x) and sialyl-Le(a) epitopes recognized by selectins.

A systematic synthesis of the N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin-containing oligosaccharides related to the Lewis x, Lewis a, sialyl-Lewis x and sialyl-Lewis a antigens has been achieved. The couplings of the suitably protected 1-deoxynojirimycin derivative 10 with methyl-1-thioglycosides (glycosyl donors) of L-fucose (11), D-galactose (15) and alpha-sialyl-(2-->3)-D-galactose (27) were carried out by using dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) or N-iodosuccinimide/trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (NIS/TfOH) as the glycosyl promoter. The resulting di- and tri-saccharides were each converted, by further cross glycosylations with 11, 15 or 27, to the desired tri- and tetra-saccharides 3-6 that inhibit the recognition between sialyl-Lewis x and selectins, a family of leukocyte cell adhesion molecules.

[Clinical evaluation of plasma atrial natriuretic polypeptide in patients with respiratory failure in pulmonary tuberculosis].

We previously reported the clinical role of plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) and cyclic GMP in patients with respiratory diseases, bronchial asthma (BA), chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE) and pulmonary insufficiency induced by pulmonary tuberculosis (TBC). In this study, moreover, we divided patients with respiratory failure induced by tuberculosis sequelae into two groups, patients with oxygen therapy group [O2 (+) group] or ordinary practical treatment group [O2 (-) group], and we evaluated the difference of the roles of ANP in two groups and the correlation of ANP and c-GMP with clinical findings, blood gas analysis, electrocardiogram, chest roentogen photography and spirogram in two groups. In conclusion, the respiratory failure in patients with tuberculosis sequelae is compensated by increased cardiac output, and that causes the rising of right atrial pressure. These results show, addition to the basic effects of ANP, the concentration of plasma ANP is released with relating the degree of respiratory failure.

The relationship between the ambulatory variability and the laboratory reactivity of blood pressure and heart rate.

We examined the relationship between the ambulatory variability and the laboratory reactivity of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) in 21 male college students. The mean increase during the waking period from that during sleep was defined as variability 1, and the standard deviation of the ambulatory measurements during waking was defined as variability 2. The reactivity to laboratory tests was measured by the pretask-to-task increase in variables. The high SBP variability 1 group showed a significantly higher reactivity of SBP and noradrenaline in the bicycle exercise test (70w). This suggests the possibility that SBP variability 1, can be predicted by increased reactivity to a mild limb exercise test. The high HR variability 1 group, and the high SBP variability 2 group showed significantly lower reactivity of stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) in the cold face test. Thus, parasympathetic responses such as trigeminal-brainstem-vagal pathway function or baroreflex sensitivity seemed to be reduced in these groups. The high DBP variability 2 group showed significantly lower DBP reactivity in the cold face test, and low noradrenaline reactivity in the mental arithmetic test, which indicated a reduced alpha-adrenergic response in this group. No other significant differences in reactivity to the laboratory mental stress tests were found between the variability 1 and variability 2 groups.

Effect of xanthine derivatives on chemotactic polypeptide-induced superoxide and enzyme release from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

1. We investigated the effects of new xanthine derivatives, 1-methyl-3-propyl xanthine (MPX) and 1,3-dipropyl xanthine (DPX), and several other xanthine derivatives on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced superoxide and lysozyme release from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN). 2. MPX and DPX at low concentrations (10(-8) - 10(-9) mol/L) inhibited superoxide release from PMN by a maximum of 31.2 +/- 10.6% and 49.8 +/- 10.4% (mean +/- s.d.), respectively, and 10(-3) mol/L concentrations completely inhibited the release reactions (4.8 +/- 1.2 and 7.6 +/- 2.5% of control level). At 10(-5) mol/L, however, the inhibition did not occur (99.9 +/- 7.3 and 110.2 +/- 15.8% of control level). When PMN was pre-incubated with adenosine deaminase (ADA, 0.1 U/mL), superoxide release from PMN was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by MPX and DPX and the interruption of the inhibition at 10(-5) mol/L was not observed. 3. Lysozyme release from PMN was inhibited by MPX at low concentrations (10(-7) - 10(-6) mol/L) and high concentrations (10(-3) mol/L). However 10(-4) mol/L of MPX facilitated the release (23.7 +/- 27.0%). When pretreated with ADA (0.1 U/mL), MPX suppressed lysozyme release in a dose-dependent manner and the facilitation of the release at 10(-4) mol/L was not observed. 4. When comparing effects of some other xanthine derivatives on superoxide release, the interruption of the inhibition of superoxide release at 10(-5) mol/L was commonly observed among xanthine derivatives with adenosine A2 antagonism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Assessment of sympathetic nerve activity controlling blood pressure in the elderly using head-up tilt.

In order to assess age-related changes in sympathetic nerve activity controlling blood pressure, we recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure, and heart rate during head-up tilt in 10 healthy elderly (69-75 years) and 16 healthy young (19-23 years) subjects. The elderly had significantly lower responsiveness of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to postural change than did the young subjects. In the elderly, marked rise in blood pressure without increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity was observed in nearly upright position during head-up tilt, whereas this phenomenon was not observed in the young. We conclude that neural control function of blood pressure during head-up tilt in the elderly differs from that in the young, which may be due to age-related change in baroreflex function.

[In vitro susceptibilities of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare to new macrolides, new quinolones, and antituberculous drugs on Dubos agar medium].

Mycobacterium avium and M. intracellulare were isolated from the sputum of patients infected with atypical mycobacteria using 1% Ogawa medium and identified by the DNA probe test. Then the MICs of various kinds of drugs against these mycobacterial species were determined on Dubos agar medium, and the drug susceptibilities were also determined on 1% Ogawa medium in parallel. The drugs tested were new macrolides, such as clarithromycin (CAM) and roxithromycin (RXM), new quinolones, such as ofloxacin (OFLX) and ciprofloxacin (CPFX), and antituberculous drugs, such as isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (PFP), streptomycin (SM), and ethambutol (EB). The MICs of the drugs tested, especially those of CAM, OFLX, and RFP, when determined on Dubos agar medium, were generally lower against M. intracellulare than against M. avium. The susceptibilities of the mycobacterial isolates tested to RFP and SM determined on Dubos agar medium were markedly different from those determined on 1% Ogawa medium. Such discrepancies may be accounted for by absorption of these drugs to the egg medium and instability of RFP in the egg medium. Overall, our results indicate that the new macrolides and new quinolones are effective against atypical mycobacteria.

Blood coagulability and fibrinolytic activity before and after physical training during the recovery phase of acute myocardial infarction.

The effects of physical training on hemostatic parameters were evaluated in 56 postmyocardial infarction (MI) patients before and after one month of systematic physical training and in 30 control post-MI patients, who did not undergo such training. There were no significant changes in prothrombin time (PT) and alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) at the beginning and end of the study in either group. Levels of fibrinogen, Factor VIII: C (VIII:C) and von Wildebrand antigen (vWf:Ag), and activities of ATIII and plasminogen (Plg) were significantly decreased in the group with physical training (p less than 0.05), while values were unchanged in the control group. Hematocrit, platelet counts, and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2PI) activities also decreased in the physical training group (p less than 0.05). In contrast, these variables increased in the control group (p less than 0.05). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) tended to be prolonged in the group with physical training, while it was shortened in the control group. In a subset of 20 patients with physical training, resting levels of plasmin-alpha 2PI complex (PIC), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), protein-C (P-C:Ag), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), VII:C, and P-C activities had significantly decreased after one month of physical training (p less than 0.05), although tissue plasminogen activator activities remained unchanged. Physical training appeared to suppress coagulability as indicated by the decrease in fibrinogen, VIII:C, vWf:Ag, VII:C, and TAT, and prolongation of aPTT. The decrease in plasminogen, t-PA:Ag, alpha 2PI, PAI-1, and PIC after physical training may result from the decreased coagulability. In conclusion, physical training appears to induce a suppression of the coagulation system in patients in the recovery phase of MI.

Adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibits in vitro angiogenesis induced by endothelial cell growth factor.

The formation of new blood capillaries (angiogenesis) occurs in response to angiogenic factors released by either normal or tumoral cells. In the present study, we cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on collagen gels and aimed to clarify the effects of cyclic nucleotides on angiogenesis induced by endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF). HUVEC invaded the underlying collagen matrix and formed tube-like structures when ECGF was added. ECGF (9.4 to 75 micrograms/ml) induced angiogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner; the effect reached a plateau at 75 micrograms/ml. Cyclic AMP (10(-3) M), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10(-3) M), 8-bromo cyclic AMP (10(-5) M) and Sp-cAMPS (10(-3) M), a stimulator of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, each significantly inhibited ECGF-induced angiogenesis by 64.2, 86.1, 46.5, 74.7%, respectively. Forskolin and cholera toxin, which are activators of adenylate cyclase, did not inhibit ECGF-induced angiogenesis. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP (10(-4), 10(-3) M) also did not affect the formation of capillary-like tubes induced by ECGF. In conclusion, cyclic AMP, but not cyclic GMP, inhibits angiogenesis in vitro. This antiangiogenic activity may be applicable to the treatment of such conditions as solid tumors, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis in which the suppression of angiogenesis is important.

The effects of season and exercise on the levels of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipoprotein cholesterol in young rats.

Plasma concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (20:4(n - 6), 20:5(n - 3), 22:6(n - 3)) and high- or low-density lipoprotein cholesterols (HDL-C, LDL-C) in young rats were measured to elucidate a possible relationship between the levels of [20:5(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1, [22:6(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1 and [LDL-C] [HDL-C]-1. Seasonal change in [LDL-C] [HDL-C]-1 in the sedentary and exercised rats was found to correlate with the respective values of [20:5(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1 and/or [22:6(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1. Moderate exercise in summer decreased plasma arachidonic acid (20:4(n - 6)). With the decrement of the 20:4(n - 6) acid, the ratios of [20:5(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1 and [22:6(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1 increased to a greater degree. The [LDL-C] [HDL-C]-1 values in this case were inversely associated with the levels of [22:6(n - 3)] [20:4(n - 6)]-1. We therefore suggest that moderate physical training in summer protects arteries from thrombogenesis and lipid accumulation.

Direct activation of phospholipase A2 by GTP-binding protein in human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

In human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), 10% of PLA2 activity was found in the particulate fraction. In the particulate fraction, the activity of phospholipase A2 was enhanced 270% by 100 microM guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, a hydrolysis-resistant analog of GTP. In the soluble fraction, such enhancement was not observed. Guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (2 mM), which irreversibly inactivates GTP-binding protein, blocked the enhancement in the particulate fraction. Membrane-binding phospholipase A2 activity of PMN would thus appear to be regulated directly by GTP-binding protein.

Enhanced muscle sympathetic nerve activity during sleep apnea in the elderly.

To examine how muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) becomes modified during sleep apnea in the elderly, we analyzed polysomnographic recording simultaneously with microneurographically recorded MSNA. Subjects were three healthy elderly males aged 72, 75, and 76. MSNA was suppressed with deeper non-REM sleep stages in these elderly subjects. In all three subjects, sleep apnea for 10 s or longer was observed during sleep of 00:00-06:00. During sleep apnea, MSNA was enhanced concomitantly with a blood pressure fall and a reduction in saturation rate of oxyhemoglobin. With the termination of sleep apnea, MSNA was maximally enhanced with a transient elevation of blood pressure. We conclude that sleep apnea induces an enhancement of MSNA, which may be responsible for hypertensive episodes during sleep.

Elevation of factor VII activity and mass in coronary artery disease of varying severity.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether the extent of Factor VII elevation correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease and whether zymogen or activated Factor VII was responsible for this elevation. A group of 69 patients with coronary artery disease with old myocardial infarction was compared with 28 control subjects. The patient groups showed elevated levels of Factor VII procoagulant activity (FVII:C) and more markedly elevated Factor VII antigen (FVII:Ag) levels than the control group; therefore they had a decreased FVII:C to FVII:Ag ratio. The increased Factor VII level in the patient groups was caused by elevated Factor VII zymogen levels, and not by activated Factor VII. Since FVII:C levels strongly correlated with the titer of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes in all patients, the hypercoagulable state accompanying severe coronary atherosclerosis seems to underlie the increase of FVII and TAT in the stable phase of myocardial infarction.