Analysis of atmospheric electric field variation signals using digital natural observation method

As the atmospheric electric field always fluctuates, its observed waveforms are very complicated. It is important to detect the characteristic variation from the observed signals and determine its cause. The natural observation method is adequate for analyzing such nonperiodic signals as the atmospheric electric field signals. In this method the aspectum is proposed as the quantity to estimate the instantaneous power. In this study signal processing by the aspectum was applied to signals of atmospheric electric field variation. It was clarified that a strong correlation exists between the instantaneous fluctuations of atmospheric electric field and the wind speed in the convenient meteorological environment. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(1): 27–34, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20302     

Electrostatic Field Variation in the Atmosphere Induced by Earth Potential Difference Variation During Seismic Wave Propagation

To clarify the relationship between earthquakes and electrical phenomena, signals of three parameters were observed continuously at Sennan in Akita Prefecture, Japan: ground acceleration (GAC), earth potential difference (EPD), and electrostatic field in the atmosphere (EFA). A large metal plate was used as an electrostatic antenna to observe EFA variation. For this paper, we used the digital natural observation (D-NOB) method as a signal processing technique and found clear EPD and EFA waveforms during seismic wave propagation. Our observation and examination results show that GAC causes EPD variation. Subsequently, the EPD variation induces EFA variation     

Partner's Stress Status Influences Social Buffering Effects in Rats.

The relationship between a social partner's stress status and the social buffering effect was examined in adult male Wistar rats. Fear-conditioned rats were exposed to the same context along with either a shocked or nonshocked conspecific partner. Changes in body temperature and behavioral responses were monitored in order to compare the effects of social buffering, and the Fos protein in the paraventricular nucleus was immunostained. The presence of the partner rat attenuated stress-induced hyperthermia, as well as behavioral responses and Fos expression in response to the fearful context, and nonshocked partners were more effective than shocked partners. These findings suggest that the social buffering effect depends on the stress status of the accompanying conspecific animal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparation of CdSSe-ZnS superlattice,SrS, and CdSSe-SrS superlattice by hot-wall epitaxy,and applications to electroluminescent devices

CdSSe (manganese-doped, E_g = 1.9–2.5 eV, lattice constant a = 6.05–5.8A)-ZnS (Eg = 3.56 eV, a = 5.41A) superlattices, SrS (cerium-doped, E = 4.4 eV, a = 6.02A) layers, and CdSSe-SrS (cerium-doped) superlattice layers nave been prepared by hot-wall epitaxy, and the properties and the electroluminescent device characteristics of the active layers are reported. For the superlattices with ZnS, the maximum luminance was 800 cd/m² at an applied sinusoidal voltage (V_o-p = 200 V) with frequency 1kHz, and the wavelength of the spectral peak was 610 nm due to the large strain caused by the lattice mismatch (8–15%) between the CdSSe and ZnS layers. The maximum luminance and Comisson Internationale de Enluminure (CIE) chromaticity of CdS(Mn)-ZnS superlattices and CdSe(Mn)-ZnS superlattice devices were 557cd/m² and (x,y) = (0.58,0.41) and 982 cd/m² and (0.61, 0.38), respectively. For superlattices with SrS, the maximum luminance of the device with the SrS (cerium-doped) active layer was nearly 700 cd/m² at a voltage of 340V. Blue electroluminescent emission was observed in the photon wavelength region less than 450 nm, due to carriers dropping into the quantum wells of the device with the CdSSe-SrS superlattice active layer.     

Skeletal muscle deoxygenation during exercise assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy and its relation to expired gas analysis parameters

The present study was performed to determine the relation between oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) changes in working muscles and ventilatory parameters. Six active normal subjects, 21 sedentary normal subjects and 16 patients with heart failure performed an incremental exercise with expired gas analysis. Deoxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle was monitored for oxy-Hb changes using near-infrared spectroscopy. Near the anaerobic threshold (AT), oxy-Hb started to decrease, forming the first inflection point (P1). Near the respiratory compensation point (RCP), the second inflection point (P2) was observed. Oxygen uptake at the AT, RCP, P1 and P2 decreased in magnitude first in the active normal subjects, then in sedentary normal subjects and finally in the heart failure patients. High correlation was demonstrated between AT and P1 (r=0.8, p<0.0005) and between RCP and P2 (r=0.9, p<0.0005). In 12 sedentary normal subjects who underwent repeat exercise, reproducibility was confirmed for both P1 and P2. Constant work rate exercises were performed in 5 sedentary normal subjects, and in all of them the oxy-Hb remained unchanged below the AT work rate, whereas oxy-Hb decreased above the AT work rate. Exercise capacity, with respect to both working muscle deoxygenation and ventilation, could be evaluated in detail by the concomitant use of near-infrared spectroscopy and expired gas analysis.     

Arsenic trioxide inhibits growth of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I infected T-cell lines more effectively than retinoic acids

Adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) is difficult to cure using conventional therapies. Recently the therapeutic possibility of retinoic acids (RA) has been reported. In this study, suppression of in vitro growth of human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infected T-cell lines and fresh ATL cells by arsenic trioxide (As2O3) were evaluated by comparison with a series of RA derivatives. Proliferation of four HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines was significantly reduced within 72 h by 1.0 micromol/l As2O3. Growth of two out of four HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines was also inhibited by 1.0 micromol/l RA, but to a lesser extent than by As2O3. The mechanism of this growth inhibition was due to the induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis was also induced in fresh ATL cells from patients by AS2O3, but far less by RA. As described in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia, 1.0 micromol/l of As2O3 can be safely achieved in the serum of patients; however, it is difficult to maintain this concentration of RA. In conclusion, As2O3 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of ATL and may be far more clinically beneficial than RA.     

Entamoeba dispar: cultivation with sterilized Crithidia fasciculata

Four isolates of Entamoeba dispar identified by their hexokinase and phosphoglucomutase isoenzyme profile and by their failure to react with Entamoeba histolytica-specific monoclonal antibody (4G6) could be grown in either Diamond's BI-S-33 medium, newly developed BCSI-S (Biosate cysteine starch iron-serum) medium, or casein-free YI-S medium in the presence of Crithidia fasciculata (ReF-1:PRR) sterilized by heating 56 degrees C for 30 min and subsequent incubation with 1% hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours at 4 degrees C. After the cultures were maintained for over 50 passages, the amebae were identified as E. dispar by isoenzyme analysis, polymerase chain reaction with E. histolytica- and E. dispar-specific primers, i.e. p11 plus p12 and p13 plus p14, respectively, and by negative reactivity with monoclonal antibody 4G6. The flagellates added to the culture were judged to be metabolically inactive based on the results of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and polarographic analysis. All of these findings suggest that E. dispar can grow in vitro with metabolically inactive C. fasciculata as a culture associate.     

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of an antithrombin agent "Argatroban" combined with exercise therapy on increase of the skeletal muscle blood flow

Argatroban has selective antithrombin activity and widely used for treatment of ASO. In this study we investigated vasodilating activity of Argatroban besides antithrombin activity in ASO patients. Three patients who have undergone F-P bypasses previously which were all occluded received 10 mg or 20 mg of Argatroban per day intravenously for 4 weeks. Skin temperature were measured before and after administration of Argatroban at the point of 1, 2, 4 weeks which increased 2.3-6.0 degrees C after administration of Argatroban. Subjective symptoms were also improved and these patients became to be able to walk 1.5-3.3 km. These patients were also given PGE, intravenously, however, temperature increase was less than 1.1 degrees C. These results showed that Argatroban has not only antithrombin activity but also significant vasodilating activity resulting in increase of skeletal muscle blood flow.     

Solid dispersion particles of tolbutamide prepared with fine silica particles by the spray-drying method

Solid dispersion particles of tolbutamide (TBM) were prepared by formulating nonporous (Aerosil 200 (hydrophilic), Aerosil R972 (hydrophobic)) or porous (Sylysia 350 (hydrophilic), Sylophobic 200 (hydrophobic)) silica as a carrier and applying the spray-drying (SD) or evaporation (Eva) method. In the solid dispersion particles prepared by the SD method, TBM existed in a meta-stable form (Form II) irrespective of the type of silica. On the other hand, when the Eva method was used, various crystalline forms of TBM were observed in the solid dispersion particles according to the type of silica. Polymorphs of Forms III and IV were prepared with Aerosil 200 and Aerosil R972, respectively, while crystalline Form II was obtained when either of the forms of porous silica, Sylysia 350 or Sylophobic 200, was formulated. The dissolution property of TBM in the solid dispersion particles prepared with hydrophilic silica was remarkably improved compared with those of the original TBM crystals (Form I) or spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II). In the case of hydrophobic silica, the release rate of TBM from the solid dispersion particles was much slower than that of original TBM. The meta-stable form of TBM in the solid dispersion particles was stable for at least 4 weeks when stored at 60 °C and 0% RH, while the spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II) was gradually converted to the stable form (Form I) under the same storage conditions. Under the humid storage conditions (60 °C, 75% RH), the spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II) immediately converted into the stable form (Form I) within 1 day, while TBM (Form II) in the solid dispersions in a matrix of silica was stable for at least 1 week.