Effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides on sleep quality: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,crossover study

Food Science and Biotechnology - The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was to examine the effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine...     

Robustness of Spin Polarization in Graphene‐Based Spin Valves

The decrease of spin polarization in spintronics devices under the application of a bias voltage is one of a number of currently important problems that should be solved. Here, an unprecedented robustness of the spin polarization in multilayer‐graphene spin valves at room temperature is revealed. Surprisingly, the spin polarization of injected spins is constant up to a bias voltage of +2.7 V and ?0.6 V in positive‐ and negative‐bias voltage applications at room temperature, respectively, which is superior to all spintronics devices. This finding is induced by suppression of spin scattering due to an ideal‐interface formation. Furthermore, an important accordance between theory and experiment in molecular spintronics is found by observing the fact that the signal intensity in a local scheme is double that in a nonlocal scheme, as theory predicts, which provides construction of a steadfast physical basis in this field.     

Efficient growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by continuous-wave laser vaporization of graphite containing B4C

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 7–70 nm thick and up to 30 μm long, were efficiently grown by room-temperature continuous-wave laser vaporization of a graphite target containing B₄C in an ambient Ar gas. Adjusting the boron content in the target and Ar gas pressure resulted in a maximum fraction of ∼60% of MWCNTs in the deposits. The straightness of the MWCNTs and graphene layers with an interlayer spacing of ∼0.35 nm indicated that the degree of graphitization was fairly high in the grown MWCNTs. However, the features of D, G, and 2D bands in the Raman spectrum of a deposit suggested boron doping in the MWCNTs. An apparent Young’s modulus of a grown MWCNT was measured to be 0.68 TPa and comparable to those of heat-treated vapor grown carbon nanofibers. MWCNTs are thought to grow on molten boron carbide particles acting as seeds at high temperatures of up to ∼2400 °C.     

Radiation therapy for cancer in elderly patients over 80 years of age

A case of osteoma of the ethmoidal sinuses associated with nasal polyposis was treated by endoscopic nasal surgery. The pathophysiology of both diseases is reviewed. The therapeutic strategy is described and the bibliography is reviewed.     

Carrier and photon analyses of photonic microlasers by two-dimensional rate equations

In photonic crystal (PC) microlasers with point defect cavities, effective carriers are reduced by the leakage to outside of the defect, surface recombination, spatial carrier hole burning, and Auger recombination. To estimate these effects, we calculated carrier and photon behavior by solving two-dimensional rate equations in space and time domains. The result clearly shows these effects and their dependence on cavity structure, pump area, and so on. Compared with that for the microdisk laser, higher threshold values are estimated for PC microlasers. However, a comparably low threshold density and a high efficiency are expected for the quasi-periodic PC microlaser, because the hole burning by the whispering gallery mode of this cavity suppresses the carrier leakage.     

Expression of receptors for basic fibroblast growth factor on human periodontal ligament cells

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2; bFGF) is a major mitogen for connective tissue cells, and participates in the healing process. It has already been reported that FGF-2 could be applicable to enhance periodontal regeneration. In the present study, we examined FGF receptor (FGFR) expression on human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. The binding of [125I]-labeled FGF-2 to human PDL cells was studied by radioreceptor assay. The binding of [125I]-FGF-2 to PDL cells reached a plateau after 2.5 h incubation at 4 degrees C and was inhibited by the addition of unlabeled FGF-2 and acidic FGF (FGF-1; aFGF), but not insulin-like growth factor-I, platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta 1. Scatchard analysis revealed the presence of approximately 1.0 x 10(5) FGF-2 binding sites per cell with an apparent Kd of 1.2 x 10(-10) M. Interestingly, the binding of [125I]-FGF-2 on PDL cells reached its maximum at d 6 of the culture and then gradually decreased. Scatchard analysis also demonstrated that the number of FGFRs on a PDL cell was altered during the course of the culture, while the affinity between FGF-2 and its receptor was not. The responsiveness of PDL cells to FGF-2, which was monitored by the inhibitory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity, was reduced in proportion to the decrease in the number of FGFRs on the PDL cells. The present study suggests that PDL cells alter the responsiveness to FGF-2 during the course of the culture by changing the density of its receptor, and that the density of FGFR expression might be a marker of the cytodifferentiation of PDL cells into mineralized tissue forming cells.     

Phylogenetic position of the Phacotaceae within the Chlamydophyceaeas revealed by analysis of 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences

A group of 32 healthy adult volunteers completed three blocks of a reaction time task that varied in the degree of controlled processing load. A rest period preceded each of the task blocks. The task blocks were presented in the order of either increasing or decreasing cognitive load. For each of the six periods, mean values and spectral measures of heart rate and respiration variability were calculated. The spectral measures were obtained for three different frequency bands. Differences between the cardiac measures of the task and preceding rest periods were compared with respect to differences in task load and the order of task presentation. All comparisons were carried out while adjusting for respiratory variability in the corresponding frequency band. The frequency band in which task load-related changes in heart rate variability became manifest appeared to be dependent on the individual's breathing pattern.     

Profiles of ion beams and plasma parameters on a multi-frequencies microwaves large bore electron cyclotron resonance ion source with permanent magnets

In order to contribute to various applications of plasma and beams based on an electron cyclotron resonance, a new concept on magnetic field with all magnets on plasma production and confinement has been proposed with enhanced efficiency for broad and dense ion beam. The magnetic field configuration consists of a pair of comb-shaped magnet surrounding plasma chamber cylindrically. Resonance zones corresponding for 2.45 GHz and 11-13 GHz frequencies are positioned at spatially different positions. We launch simultaneously multiplex frequencies microwaves operated individually, try to control profiles of the plasma parameters and the extracted ion beams, and to measure them in detail.     

Improvement of efficiency and temperature control of induction heating vapor source on electron cyclotron resonance ion source

An electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) is used to generate multicharged ions for many kinds of the fields. We have developed an evaporator by using induction heating method that can generate pure vapor from solid state materials in ECRIS. We develop the new matching and protecting circuit by which we can precisely control the temperature of the induction heating evaporator. We can control the temperature within ±15?°C around 1400?°C under the operation pressure about 10(-4) Pa. We are able to use this evaporator for experiment of synthesizing process to need pure vapor under enough low pressure, e.g., experiment of generation of endohedral Fe-fullerene at the ECRIS.     

A critical phenomenon of phase transition in hydroxyapatite investigated by thermally stimulated depolarization currents

We observed a critical phenomenon of ferroelectric transition in hydroxyapatite (HAp) through measuring the thermally stimulated depolarization current of polycrystalline monoclinic HAp. Two peaks attributable to hydroxide (OH^?) ion dipole reorientations were observed. The one was very sharp, the other displayed a broad peak ranging from 350 to 550 K. While the broad peak can be attributed to the diffusive reorientation motions of OH^? ion dipoles, the sharp peak, related to the ferroelectric phase transition, implies the presence of ferroelectricity in HAp. The sharp peak was found near 380 K, the phase‐transition temperature from the monoclinic to hexagonal is ascribed to a critical phenomenon caused by the ferroelectric behavior of OH^? ion dipole reorientations.