Brain potentials associated with eye fixations during visual tasks under different lighting systems

The incidence of non-familial multiple primary cancer in colorectal cancer patients has increased in recent years in Japan. To clarify the characteristic genetic aberrations in such multiple cancers, we examined structural chromosomal aberrations by fluorescence in situ hybridization, using chromosome 17-specific and p53 cosmid DNA probes. We established short-term cultures of 78 surgical specimens and were able to obtain observable metaphase spreads in 23 single colorectal cancer specimens and in 6 colorectal cancer specimens from patients with double primary cancers. The frequency of chromosome 17 and/or p53 locus translocation was significantly greater in tumors with double cancer than in single colorectal cancers (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). These aberrations in double cancers frequently appeared even at an early Dukes' stage (A and B) of colorectal carcinoma. Our results suggest that translocation of chromosome 17 and the p53 locus may be specific genetic events probably associated with carcinogenesis of multiple primary cancers in colorectal cancer.     

Joint immobilization inhibits spontaneous hyaline cartilage regeneration induced by a novel double-network gel implantation

We have recently discovered that spontaneous hyaline cartilage regeneration can be induced in an osteochondral defect in the rabbit, when we implant a novel double-network (DN) gel plug at the bottom of the defect. To clarify whether joint immobilization inhibits the spontaneous hyaline cartilage regeneration, we conducted this study with 20 rabbits. At 4 or 12 weeks after surgery, the defect in the mobile knees was filled with a sufficient volume of the hyaline cartilage tissue rich in proteoglycan and type-2 collagen, while no cartilage tissues were observed in the defect in the immobilized knees. Type-2 collagen, Aggrecan, and SOX9 mRNAs were expressed only in the mobile knees at each period. This study demonstrated that joint immobilization significantly inhibits the spontaneous hyaline cartilage regeneration induced by the DN gel implantation. This fact suggested that the mechanical environment is one of the significant factors to induce this phenomenon.     

Characteristics of PZT films with SRO/Pt stack electrodes for high density mbit feram devices

Abstract

Reliable PZT capacitors have been developed by using stable PZT sputtering technique and Pt/thinSRO(SrRuO₃) stack electrodes. Introduction of SRO electrodes with no leakage current degradation is a key to realize reliable and scalable PZT capacitors. Roles of top electrode (TE) SRO and bottom electrode (BE) SRO were investigated respectively from reliability and process damage points of view. The SRO works as hydrogen resistant electrodes, fatigue free interfaces and nucleation sites for perovskite formation. Relationship between SRO crystallinity and PZT electrical properties was elucidated. Templates made of thin SRO were found to function as barrier layers against diffusion of Pb and Ru from BE resulting in new possible cell structures.     

Site-specific cleavage of MS2 RNA by a thermostable DNA-linked RNase H

A series of DNA-linked RNases H, in which the 15-mer DNA iscross-linked to the Thermus thermophilus RNase HI (TRNH) variantsat positions 135, 136, 137 and 138, were constructed and analyzedfor their abilities to cleave the complementary 15-mer RNA.Of these, that with the DNA adduct at position 135 most efficientlycleaved the RNA substrate, indicating that position 135 is themost appropriate cross-linking site among those examined. Toexamine whether DNA-linked RNase H also site-specifically cleavesa highly structured natural RNA, DNA-linked TRNHs with a seriesof DNA adducts varying in size at position 135 were constructedand analyzed for their abilities to cleave MS2 RNA. These DNAadducts were designed such that DNA-linked enzymes cleave MS2RNA at a loop around residue 2790. Of the four DNA-linked TRNHswith the 8-, 12-, 16- and 20-mer DNA adducts, only that withthe 16-mer DNA adduct efficiently and site-specifically cleavedMS2 RNA. Primer extension revealed that this DNA-linked TRNHcleaved MS2 RNA within the target sequence.     

A neural network approach to a Bayesian statistical decisionproblem

Generalized mean-squared error (GMSE) objective functions are proposed that can be used in neural networks to yield a Bayes optimal solution to a statistical decision problem characterized by a generic loss function.     

Hardening property of cement mortar adding heavy metal compound and solubility of heavy metal from hardened mortar

The object of this report is to grasp the fundamental factors involved in the cement solidification treatment of industrial wastes containing heavy metal compounds such as oxides, hydroxides and sulfides of Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb. Cement mortars adding heavy metal compounds were made, ordinary temperature curing or autoclave curing were taken as the conditions of solidification treatment, and the hardening property and leaching behavior with respect to water or artificial sea water were investigated.     

1.544-Mbits/s Transmission of TV Signals by Interframe Coding System

As a powerful tool for economizing on the digital transmission of videotelephone signals, interframe coding techniques have drawn increasing attention, and various interframe coding schemes have been proposed recently. However, many problems remain to be studied in establishing technical feasibility for these techniques and schemes. This concise paper reports on field trial in which a 1.544-Mbits/s digital transmission of videotelephone signals was conducted over Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation's (NTT's) PCM100M digital repeatered line between Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan. The experimental interframe codec is based on the well-understood conditional picture element replenishment algorithm. The object of the field trial was to demonstrate, not the validity of the algorithm itself, but the technical feasibility of the interframe coding system as an entity. Experimental results are satisfactory enough to assure us of the system's practicality in the near future.     

High‐efficiency CMOS push‐pull power amplifier with multilayer center‐tapped transformer

This paper describes the design of a push‐pull power amplifier (PA) with a center‐tapped transformer for transmitter applications on the 5.2‐GHz band using 0.18μm CMOS technology. The type of the proposed PA is based on a double‐ended push–pull (DEPP) configuration. DEPP has a simple construction with only transistors and transformers. The PA has reverse‐phased cascode‐connected transistors. The proposed transformer has a multilayer structure and was designed using electromagnetic field simulation. To achieve high power added efficiency (PAE), we assumed the optimized output impedance technique with a tunable impedance antenna. The PA has 13.2 dB linearity gain, 14.9 dBm 1‐dB compression point (P1dB), and 27.4% maximum PAE. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of Silica and Titanium Oxide Particles on a Human Neural Stem Cell Line: Morphology,Mitochondrial Activity,and Gene Expression of Differentiation Markers

Several in vivo studies suggest that nanoparticles (smaller than 100 nm) have the ability to reach the brain tissue. Moreover, some nanoparticles can penetrate into the brains of murine fetuses through the placenta by intravenous administration to pregnant mice. However, it is not clear whether the penetrated nanoparticles affect neurogenesis or brain function. To evaluate its effects on neural stem cells, we assayed a human neural stem cell (hNSCs) line exposed in vitro to three types of silica particles (30 nm, 70 nm, and <44 μm) and two types of titanium oxide particles (80 nm and < 44 μm). Our results show that hNSCs aggregated and exhibited abnormal morphology when exposed to the particles at concentrations ≥ 0.1 mg/mL for 7 days. Moreover, all the particles affected the gene expression of Nestin (stem cell marker) and neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NF-H, neuron marker) at 0.1 mg/mL. In contrast, only 30-nm silica particles at 1.0 mg/mL significantly reduced mitochondrial activity. Notably, 30-nm silica particles exhibited acute membrane permeability at concentrations ≥62.5 μg/mL in 24 h. Although these concentrations are higher than the expected concentrations of nanoparticles in the brain from in vivo experiments in a short period, these thresholds may indicate the potential toxicity of accumulated particles for long-term usage or continuous exposure.