Multiple Diffusion-Freezing Mechanisms in Molecular-Hydrogen Films.

Molecular hydrogen is a fascinating candidate for novel bosonic and fermionic superfluids. We have studied diffusion dynamics of thin films of H_{2}, HD, and D_{2} adsorbed on a glass substrate by measurements of elasticity. The elasticity shows multiple anomalies well below the bulk triple point temperature. They are attributed to three different diffusion mechanisms of admolecules and their "freezing" into a localized state: classical thermal diffusion of vacancies, quantum tunneling of vacancies, and diffusion of molecules in the uppermost surface. The surface diffusion is active down to 1 K, below which the molecules become localized. This suggests that the surface layer of hydrogen films is on the verge of quantum phase transition to a superfluid state.

Codebook-based electrooculography data analysis towards cognitive activity recognition.

With the advancement in mobile/wearable technology, people started to use a variety of sensing devices to track their daily activities as well as health and fitness conditions in order to improve the quality of life. This work addresses an idea of eye movement analysis, which due to the strong correlation with cognitive tasks can be successfully utilized in activity recognition. Eye movements are recorded using an electrooculographic (EOG) system built into the frames of glasses, which can be worn more unobtrusively and comfortably than other devices. Since the obtained information is low-level sensor data expressed as a sequence representing values in constant intervals (100 Hz), the cognitive activity recognition problem is formulated as sequence classification. However, it is unclear what kind of features are useful for accurate cognitive activity recognition. Thus, a machine learning algorithm like a codebook approach is applied, which instead of focusing on feature engineering is using a distribution of characteristic subsequences (codewords) to describe sequences of recorded EOG data, where the codewords are obtained by clustering a large number of subsequences. Further, statistical analysis of the codeword distribution results in discovering features which are characteristic to a certain activity class. Experimental results demonstrate good accuracy of the codebook-based cognitive activity recognition reflecting the effective usage of the codewords.

Anomalous suppression of superfluidity in 4He confined in a nanoporous glass.

We explore the superfluidity of 4He confined in a porous glass, which has nanopores of 2.5 nm in diameter, at pressures up to 5 MPa. With increasing pressure, the superfluidity is drastically suppressed, and the superfluid transition temperature approaches 0 K at some critical pressure, Pc approximately 3.4 MPa. The feature suggests that the extreme confinement of 4He into the nanopores induces a quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a nonsuperfluid at 0 K and at Pc.

Spirituality in nursing from a Japanese perspective.

The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of spirituality and its expression among persons in a Japanese farming community. It was found that spirituality was described as "living in harmony with nature and surrounding people." Common expressions of this spirituality were through faith and ways of worship, prayer, search for inner peace, hope and thanksgiving, including spiritual well-being. The latter was defined as showing thanks to nature, ancestors, and people; caring for surrounding people; and peacefully embracing the concept of death. To provide congruent spiritual care, it was suggested that nurses need to expand their own knowledge and understanding of spirituality; integrate spirituality in their nursing care; and improve communication with their clients and their families.

Time course of influence by ovariectomy and calcium diet on bone properties in mice.

This study was investigated the influence by ovariectomy (OVX) and calcium diet on bone properties in eighty-one female ICR strain mice with age of 5 weeks. The animals were randomly assigned to sham operation (SHAM), OVX, SHAM+low Ca intake (L.Ca) and OVX+L.Ca group. They were euthanized with lethal dose of pentobarbital sodium at day 50, 100 and 140 post-operatively. For determining the bone properties, both femur and tibial bones were excised from the hind limb, and removed off surrounding tissues. Thereafter, bone length, bone dry weight, and also mechanical strength and ash content of the bones were determined. The bone length on both femur and tibia was significantly longer in OVX group than in the other groups after 50 day of experiment, this situation was continued to the end of the experiment. Bone dry weight, mechanical strength, and ash content were significantly decreased by OVX and L.Ca over the time of the experiment, and those of OVX+L.Ca group were the lowest in all groups. OVX and L.Ca have a great potential for weakening the mechanical strength and have an additive effect when combined. OVX and L.Ca block the gain of bone mass.

Three-dimensional measurement of rolling in tetraplegic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences between traumatic tetraplegic patients who can roll and those who cannot. DESIGN: Motion analysis using 3-dimensional measurement. SETTING: Rehabilitation centers in southwestern Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen male participants, all of whom had traumatic C6 complete injury. METHODS: We used an electromagnetic device to examine the degree of spinal movement in axial rotation during rolling (shifting from supine to side lying). This system (3-Space Win) measures the position and orientation of sensors in space. Two sensors were mounted on a subject over the spinous process of T1 and L5. RESULTS: The spinal rotation of patients who could not roll was significantly lower than that of patients who could roll. (The average rotation of non-rollers was 31.5+/-17.5 degrees, while the average rotation of rollers was 66.3+/-17.3degrees). In this study, there were no statistically significant differences in the members of the two groups in terms of age, height, weight or time after injury. CONCLUSION: Rolling requires greater and adequate flexibility in the back of tetraplegic patients.

Multiple duodeno-jejunal diverticula causing massive intestinal bleeding.

A case of massive intestinal blood loss from multiple duodeno-jejunal diverticula is described. A 39-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of recurrent bloody stool and worsening anemia. Upper and lower endoscopy, selective abdominal angiography, and radionuclide scanning were performed to seek the cause of the intestinal bleeding, but none of these studies revealed the source of bleeding. Small-bowel barium follow-through examination showed numerous diverticula in the distal duodenum and proximal jejunum. Excision of the duodenal diverticulum and resection of the involved portion of the jejunum cured the patient. On histopathological examination, an ulcerative lesion with an exposed vessel suggestive of the source of bleeding was seen in the resected duodenal diverticulum. Although duodeno-jejunal diverticula are rare, the importance of a careful search for this malformation in a patient with intestinal blood loss is stressed.

[Psychological characteristics of unsuccessful pilot trainees].

Some pilot trainees can not pass flight examinations and are obliged to give up their flight training because of their insufficient technical skills. We investigated their results of group Rorschach test (a multiple-choice test with ink blots which are similar to those for face-to-face Rorschach test). Subjects were 20 male pilot trainees (F (fail) group: mean age 22.6 +/- 1.5 years) who were obliged to give up their flight trainings between 1985 and 1996 because of their insufficient technical skills. The control group was made up of 125 male pilot trainees (P (pass) group: mean age 22.4 +/- 1.7 years) who were the successful classmates of the unsuccessful trainees. We investigated the differences of the results of group Rorschach test given for employment screening between the two groups. All results of the scores in group Rorschach test were within normal limits both in P group and F group. There, however, were following significant differences between the two groups: (1) F group showed more Key- responses than P group (F group: 4.9 +/- 2.1 P group: 3.4 +/- 2.0, p<0.01). (2) F group showed more k responses than P group (F group: 0.2 +/- 0.4 P group: 0.02 +/- 0.1, p<0.01). (3) P group showed more FC' responses than F group (F group: 1.4 +/- 1.0 P group: 2.2 +/- 1.2, p<0.01). (4) F group showed more cF responses than P group (F group: 1.6 +/- 1.2 P group: 1.0 +/- 0.9, p<0.05). (5) P group showed higher form level than F group (F group: 120.6 +/- 15.8 P group: 128.2 +/- 12.6, p<0.05). The pilot trainees in F group were suggested to have vulnerability to be nervous and anxious in an inexperienced situation, to decline their ability to cope objectively and effectively with a new situation, and to increase desire for dependence upon others.

Binding of Photosurfactant (4-butyl-azobenzene-4'-oxyethyltrimethylammonium bromide) to Polyelectrolyte.

The binding of a photosurfactant, 4-butyl-azobenzene-4'-oxyethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (BZTABr), to a linear polymer, sodium poly(2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonate) (PAMPS), has been studied by using a surfactant selective electrode. The photosurfactant undergoes a trans-cis transition on UV/vis irradiation. The binding behavior changes by varying the composition of the trans and cis forms in the solution. The ideal mixing-ideal cooperative binding model we had proposed previously for the binding of binary surfactants was applied to successfully predict the binding isotherms and the critical aggregation concentrations of the present systems. The binding of a trans-cis mixture of BZTABr to a polymer is analogous to the ideal mixed micelle formation. A sort of synergetic effect was found in the binding process. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates DNA synthesis in rat preneoplastic hepatocytes but not in liver carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is not well clarified whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulates the growth of preneoplastic hepatocytes and liver carcinoma cells in vivo. The effect of HGF on in vivo DNA synthesis in these cells and also its effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of the HGF receptor protein (c-Met) in liver carcinoma were examined. METHODS: Lesions were induced in rats using 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB). The rats were given intravenous recombinant human HGF or vehicle, and DNA synthesis was assessed by the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling index. Tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met by HGF was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: The labeling indices were significantly higher in the HGF group than in the vehicle control group in altered foci and hyperplastic nodules (preneoplastic hepatic lesions). No significant differences in the labeling indices were observed between the two groups with carcinoma. Tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met in carcinoma cells was unaffected by HGF administration. CONCLUSIONS: HGF promotes the growth of preneoplastic hepatocytes but does not affect the growth of liver carcinoma cells in 3'-Me-DAB-treated rats.

Mutational analysis of Csc1/Vps4p: involvement of endosome in regulation of autophagy in yeast.

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, autophagy, a bulk protein degradation in the vacuole, is induced in response to nutrient starvation. In a screen for mutations that result in induction of autophagy even in the presence of nutrients, we have isolated four mutants representing two csc complementation groups. These mutants induce autophagy of which activity is represented by activation of truncated alkaline phosphatase that is designed to be expressed in the cytosol. CSC1 was cloned by complementation of loss of viability phenotype of csc1-1 mutant and shown to be identical to END13/VPS4/GRD13. Though csc1-1 mutation is recessive, cells of delta csc1 do not induce autophagy in rich media, suggesting that csc1-1 allele is not a complete loss-of-function. Csc1p is a member of novel ATPase family named AAA protein including Sec18p/NSF, Cdc48p/p97, and Pas8p. Mutation site in csc1-1 is found in the SRH region that is highly conserved among AAA proteins. Cells of csc1-1 show sorting defect of CPY and the appearance of the class E compartment. These mutant phenotypes suggest the role of the protein that is involved in the traffic among the Golgi, endosome, and the vacuole in autophagy.

Vacuolar function in the phosphate homeostasis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We studied physiological roles of the yeast vacuole in the phosphate metabolism using 31P-in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Under phosphate starvation wild-type yeast cells continued to grow for two to three generations, implying that wild-type cells contain large phosphate pool to sustain the growth. During the first four hours under the phosphate starved condition, the cytosolic phosphate level was maintained almost constant, while the vacuolar pool of phosphate decreased significantly. 31P-NMR spectroscopy on the intact cells and perchloric acid (PCA) extracts showed that drastic decrease of polyphosphate took place during this phase. In contrast, delta slp1 cells, which were defective in the vacuolar compartment, thus lacked polyphosphate, ceased their growth immediately when they faced to phosphate starvation. Taken together, we conclude that vacuolar polyphosphate provides an active pool for phosphate and is mobilized to cytosol during phosphate starvation and sustained cell growth for a couple rounds of cell cycle.

[An operative case of empyema necessitatis].

A case of empyema necessitatis presenting a mass in the retroperitoneal space is reported. Computer tomography preoperatively revealed the transdiaphragmatic abscess with calcified capsule. The operation was performed by means of resection of the abscess together with overlying ribs. Dead space after resection of the lesion was filled up with intercostal muscles. Empyema necessitatis is rare after introduction of antituberculous drugs. However, recognition of this disease is necessary for an appropriate surgical management. Total resection of the abscess followed by filling of the dead space with the intercostal muscles should be considered as a useful alternative method.

Effect of inhalation anesthetics on swimming activity of artemia salina.

The swimming movement of artemia salina in the artificial sea water was measured by using the video camera system in the absence and presence of anesthetics, i.e. enflurane, halothane, and isoflurane. The movement of artemia looked random at a glance but the obtained distribution curve for the swimming speed was skewed toward the high speed side somewhat resembling a Maxwellian distribution curve seen in the statistics of ideal gases. When anesthetic were added, the distribution curve became sharpened and shifted to the low speed side, which is similar to a behavior of ideal gases when they are cooled down. The mean swimming-speed was decreased eventually leading to an irreversible death with increasing the anesthetic dose. The activity was analyzed by using the hydrodynamic equation. The ED(50), which is a dose that causes a 50% reduction in the activity, of all anesthetics used in this study was quite similar to the MAC values for human. It was also suggested that an interaction between anesthetics and artemia was highly cooperative since the larger Hill coefficients were obtained for all three anesthetics used.