The responses of Verreaux''s sifakas to anti-predator alarm calls given by sympatric ring-tailed lemurs

Erectile dysfunction has an incidence of 2-9% and it is seen often in general practice. But the more recent treatment methods such as intracavernous drug injections and vacuum constriction devices are not known by general practitioners and normally used drug treatment has no efficacy. The management of impotence of the general practitioner should concentrate upon internistic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesteremia and different drugs causing impotence. The symptomatic treatment of erectile dysfunction has to be done by a specialist, who is able to offer all therapeutic options.     

Development of a deep-hole, laser-guide boring tool: the boring of workpieces with a thin wall and an inclined prebored hole

A laser-guided BTA tool has been developed to prevent axial hole deviations. Four kinds of experiments were conducted to examine the performance of this tool in detail and to determine its practical application using a duralumin (A2017-T4) workpiece with a prebored 108-mm diameter hole. The first experiment was performed to examine the conditions of the hole deviation in the case of normal deep-hole boring. The second was to examine whether the tool corrects for the stated hole deviation. The third was to examine whether the tool can go straight through to the target without shifting toward a thin wall (t = 0.7 mm) on one side of the workpiece. The fourth was to examine whether the tool can be guided toward the target without affecting a prebored hole, which was inclined to radial direction at 100 μm for a hole length of 100 mm. The experiments were performed with a rotating tool-stationary workpiece system. Rotational speed was 270 rpm and feed ws 0.125 mm/rev. Tool diameter was 110 mm. The results show that the tool can be guided to go straight through toward the target despite the disturbances.     

Future Direction on Research and Development of Seismic-Response-Controlled Structures

Abstract: Seismic-response-controlled structures are being accepted as a fresh concept that can respond to the needs of a society in the new century. The author already had announced the basic principle of this concept at the midpoint of this century (1950s). This concept has advanced significantly thanks to technologic innovations in the recent years, and in the beginning of 1985, full-scale research was launched for its practical application. Recently, its theoretical research and application developed rapidly both in Japan and overseas. Therefore, in this paper, the current state of the R&D and practical application of seismic-response-control systems in Japan and the United States are described. Based on this information, the author proposes the future direction of R&D on seismic-response-control technology.     

Spinal meningeal melanocytoma presenting with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. Case report and review of the literature

1. We recently demonstrated that intrathecal administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGF2alpha induced allodynia through a pathway that includes the glutamate receptor and nitric oxide (NO)-generating systems from pharmacological studies. In order to clarify the involvement of NO in prostaglandin-induced allodynia, we measured NO released from rat spinal cord slices by a chemiluminescence method. 2. PGE2 stimulated NO release from both dorsal and ventral regions all along the spinal cord. PGE2 stimulated the release within 10 min and increased it in a time-dependent manner. 3. The PGE2-induced NO release was observed at 100 nM-10 microM. PGF2alpha stimulated the release at concentrations higher than 1 microM, but PGD2 (up to 10 microM) did not enhance it. 4. 17-Phenyl-omega-trinor PGE2 (EP1 > EP3) and sulprostone (EP1 < EP3) were as potent as PGE2, but PGE1 was less potent, in stimulating NO release. While M&B 28767 (EP3) did not enhance the release, butaprost (EP2) stimulated it at 1 microM. The PGE2-evoked release was blocked by ONO-NT-012, a bifunctional EP1 antagonist/EP3 agonist. 5. The PGE2-evoked release was Ca2+-dependent and blocked by MK-801 (NMDA receptor antagonist) and L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor). The release was also inhibited by PGD2 and dibutyryl-cyclic AMP. 6. The present study demonstrated that PGE2 stimulates NO release in the rat spinal cord by activation of NMDA receptors through the EP1 receptor, and supports our previous findings that the NO-generating system is involved in the PGE2-induced allodynia.     

A 100-channel optical FDM transmission/distribution at 622 Mb/sover 50 km

A 100-channel optical frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) transmission/distribution experiment at 622 Mb/s is demonstrated for a fiber length of 50 km. The feasibility of a polarization-insensitive waveguide frequency selection switch for 10-GHz intervals and a frequency-shift-keying (FSK) direct-detection scheme employing a Mach-Zehnder filter is verified. The demodulation circuit employs a Mach-Zehnder filter and a balanced receiver, which utilizes optical power more efficiently than the Fabry-Perot filter. No receiver sensitivity degradation is observed due to interchannel crosstalk of the 128-channel tunable waveguide frequency selection switch (FS-SW) or fiber four-wave mixing for transmissions over a 50-km-long nondispersion-shifted (NDS) fiber and a 26-km-long dispersion-shifted (DS) fiber     

Postprostatectomy dysuria: restored voiding function by perineal hot water spray in an old male with a contractile bladder]

This study reports the first case of a subtrochanteric stress fracture of the femur after total knee arthroplasty. A 61-year-old obese woman was treated by right total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthrosis. Four months after the surgery and 1 month after full weight bearing, she complained of tenderness in the right groin and proximal thigh. There was no history of trauma. Radiographs of the right hip and of the right proximal femur were interpreted as unremarkable, and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs were administered. Three months later, she had a sudden onset of increased pain with instability and giving way of the right leg. Radiographs revealed a subtrochanteric transverse fracture of the right femur. Histologic workup of the bone and tissue specimen taken at open reduction, as well as the laboratory data were consistent with the radiologic and clinical diagnosis of a stress fracture. It is most likely that a decrease in the tension band effect of the iliotibial tract in combination with coxa vara and changes in static and dynamic forces of the femur and an increased level of activity after a period of relative inactivity secondary to the knee arthroplasty are responsible for this very uncommon fracture type.     

Statistical analysis of lightning performance of distribution lines based on observation in fields

Because of the lower insulation level than for transmission lines, in this study on lightning protection design of distribution lines, not only direct lightning strokes but also induced voltages caused by nearby strokes must be taken into account. Thus, it is necessary to grasp the frequency of occurrence of lightning phenomena around distribution lines. For this aim, lightning phenomena on TEPCO's distribution lines in use were continuously observed for 6 years (1996 to 2001). Through this observation, new interesting statistical data that can be a useful basis for rationalization of lightning protection design of distribution lines were obtained. Two hundred and four lightning strokes were observed through the six‐year period. Probability of occurrence of a direct stroke was 22% (45 direct strokes were obtained). The fact that in 47% of direct strokes the electric outage did not occur is very interesting. Moreover, the value of surge discharge current of the arrester in the case of nearby stroke is the basis for conventional theory of grounding system. Therefore, statistical analysis of ZnO discharging current in the case of nearby strokes was carried out. As a result, in the case of nearby strokes, 5% value of cumulative frequency of discharging current is 0.5 kA. This value is half the conventional data. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(2): 8–16, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20180     

Multichannel frequency conversion experiment using fibre four-wave mixing

Multichannel frequency conversion is demonstrated using four-wave mixing. A polarisation independent configuration is employed, by which polarisation control for each signal is not necessary. By setting the pump light frequency at the zero-dispersion wavelength of the fibre, three FSK modulated signals with a frequency spacing of 70 GHz are simultaneously converted with an equal efficiency of -27.5 dB. Bit error rate measurements confirm the feasibility of this conversion scheme.<>     

Induction of Ets-1 in endothelial cells during reendothelialization after denuding injury

The requirement of Y-chromosome activity for the differentiation of somatic cells and germ cells was studied in the fetal gonads of X/XSxra mouse embryos where the activity of the Sxra fragment of the Y chromosome is influenced by the inactivation and reactivation of the X chromosome. In the interstitial somatic cells, random inactivation of the X and the XSxra chromosomes took place which was revealed by the mosaic expression of an X-linked lacZ transgene. The Sertoli cells, however, displayed a preferentially active XSxra chromosome and the presence of Sxra-active Sertoli cells was associated with the morphogenesis of testicular tubules in the sex-reversed gonads. The activity of the Y-chromosome fragment is therefore necessary for the differentiation of the Sertoli cells which may direct the development of the testis. The expression pattern of the X-linked transgene in X/XSxra germ cells suggests that both the X and the XSxra chromosomes are active. This finding suggests that the presence of Sxra has no impact on the reactivation of the X chromosome in the germ cells and that the X chromosome can be reactivated even though the germ cells are found in the testicular environment. Our results are consistent with the concept that the activity of genes on the XSxra fragment is essential for the differentiation of Sertoli cells and the morphogenesis of the testis, but not for premeiotic differentiation of germ cells in sex-reversed mice.     

Exocytotic stimulation promotes association of the ADP-ribosylation factor with PC12 cell membranes

Recombinant Der f2 (rDer f2) has recently been developed as a promising allergen for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of house-dust mite allergy, and studies in immunology. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether oral administration of rDer f2 could suppress an immediate allergic reaction in mice sensitized with mite allergen. We developed a murine allergic model that showed bronchoconstriction after inhalation of rDer f2, and studied the effect of oral administration of rDer f2 on the reaction. Seven week old male A/J mice were intranasally immunized with rDer f2 12 times. Sensitized mice showed anti-rDer f2 immunoglobulin (Ig)E production and immediate airway constriction after inhalation of 10 mg.mL(-1) of rDer f2, as determined by the Konzett-R?ssler method. Immunized animals were divided into three groups, and fed phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), 0.1 mg.day(-1), or 1 mg.day(-1) of rDer f2 for 4 weeks, respectively. Seven days after the last feeding, the mice were examined for their immediate response. Animals fed with 1 mg.day(-1) rDer f2 showed significantly reduced bronchoconstriction after inhalation of both 2 mg.mL(-1) and 10 mg.mL(-1) of rDer f2 compared with PBS-fed mice. Similar results were obtained when we examined mice 10 weeks after the last feeding. Reactions in the 0.1 mg.day(-1) rDer f2-fed group also tended to decrease in comparison with PBS-fed animals. Plasma anti-rDer f2 IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b levels were not changed by feeding with rDer f2. We conclude that recombinant Der f2 exhibits both sensitizing and hyposensitizing activities in mice. rDer f2 may be useful in immunotherapy and diagnosis of house-dust mite allergy.