Enkephalinergic innervation of GABAergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat

The preembedding double immunoreaction method was used to study interrelations of enkephalinergic and GABAergic neuronal elements in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the Wistar albino rat. The enkephalin-like neuronal elements were immunoreacted by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and silver-gold intensified, which showed strongly and was specific. The GABA-like immunoreactive neurons were immunoreacted by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method only. GABA-like neural somata were postsynaptic to both the enkephalin-like immunoreactive and the non-immunoreactive axon terminals. The enkephalin-like immunoreactive axon terminals were also found to synapse GABA-like immunoreactive dendrites. The GABA-like immunoreactive neuronal elements were also found to receive synapses from other non-immunoreactive as well as GABA-like immunoreactive axon terminals. Almost all of the synapses appeared to be asymmetrical. Possible functional activity of interactions among the enkephalinergic, GABAergic, and serotonergic neuronal elements in the dorsal raphe nucleus are discussed.     

Thermal stability of reinforced Nb3Sn composite superconductor under cryocooled conditions

Several types of reinforced Nb₃Sn wires have been developed to prevent reduction of superconducting properties by applying a strong electromagnetic force. To fabricate a cryocooled magnet using those reinforced wires, we experimentally measured the minimum quench energy (MQE) under cryocooled conditions of some reinforced Nb₃Sn wires. As a result, it became clear that thermal stability expressed as MQE was controlled by the temperature margin between the temperature of the operating condition and the transition temperature from superconductivity to normal. Using the FEM analysis, it was realized that the cause of the decline in thermal stability for the reinforced wires was the low thermal conductivity of the reinforced materials.     

Analysis of proliferative activity using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen antibody in gastric cancer tissue specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy

BACKGROUND: Proliferative activities of tumors are thought to be prognostic features of malignant tumors, but their value as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling remains unclear in gastric cancer. METHODS: PCNA labeling rates (LR) were quantified in 121 paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from primary tumors by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analyses have demonstrated that PCNA presents an intense staining in the nuclei of tumor cells and mucous neck cells of gastric glands. The PCNA LR ranged from 12% to 79% (mean +/- standard deviation), and a significant correlation was found between bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices and PCNA LR: PCNA LR were closely associated with tumor size, serosal invasion, and nodal involvement. The patients with tumors with high PCNA LR (greater than 40%) were dead significantly earlier than were those with tumors with low PCNA LR: When the PCNA LR and all the clinicopathologic parameters were entered into a Cox regression model, PCNA LR emerged as an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that PCNA LR may be a potentially useful prognostic factor for gastric cancer.     

Development of 170 GHz/500 kW gyrotron

A development of 170GHz/500kW level gyrotron was carried out as R&D work of ITER. The oscillation mode is TE_31,8. In a short pulse experiment, the maximum power of 750kW was achieved at 85kV/40A. The efficiency was 22%. In the depressed collector operation, 500kW/36%/50ms was obtained. The maximum efficiency of 40% was obtained at P_RF=470kW whereas the power decrease by the electron trapping was observed. Pulse extension was done up to 10s at P_RF=170kW with the depressed collector operation. The power was limited by the temperature increase of the output window.     

Cerebral angioplasty in a patient with vascular dementia

A mechanical computerized three-dimensional scanner with a resolution of 1 micron was used to assess loss of enamel caused by orthodontic bonding and debonding. A total of 2646 measurements was performed on six human premolars. The results showed an average loss of enamel of 7.4 microns. The range was between 1 and 52 microns, which may account for discrepancies with earlier studies that measured only a few points per tooth surface.     

Feedback regulation of hand grasp opening and contact force duringstimulation of paralyzed muscle

A fixed-parameter, discrete-time, first-order, feedback control system is described for regulating grasp during electrical stimulation of paralyzed muscles of the hand. The stiffness of the grasp (relationship between grasp force and grasp opening) is kept constant by linearly combining force and position feedback signals. Thus, a single continuous command signal can control the size of the grasp opening prior to object acquisition and both grasp force and opening after contact. The controller achieves this change in controlled variables by scaling and summing the force and position feedback signals, rather than by a discrete switch in control strategy. Experimental tests of the control system in quadriplegic subjects show that control can be obtained over conditions ranging from unloaded position regulation to isometric force regulation, as well as in the transition between these conditions. The robustness of the control system was evaluated during force regulation with isometric loads. Step response rise time and overshoot were much more dependent on system gain than on the location of the controller zero. Responses with rise time less than two seconds and overshoot less than 30% were obtained over a gain range up to ten, indicating good robustness to muscle gain reductions such as might be caused by fatigue.