In the summer of 1999, the authors conducted a highly dense, onshore-offshore integrated seismic experiment in the eastern part of Shikoku Island and the Nankai trough off Shikoku Island in ...southwestern Japan. On shore, 93 land seismic stations were deployed on a 165-km-long line in the north-south direction. The intervals of the stations were about 1-2 km. Three explosives were fired as controlled seismic sources. Offshore, an air-gun array was fired at intervals of 200 m. Seismic signals from both land explosives and the air-gun array were recorded by the land seismic stations. High signal-to-noise ratio data was obtained along the entire length of the land profile. Very prominent late arrivals, probably reflected waves from the lower crust or the upper mantle, can be recognized on the records. The experiment is outlined, and a detailed analysis showing a structural model from the upper crust to the upper mantle beneath the eastern Shikoku Island will be published in a separate paper.
We conducted radio detection observations at 8.4 GHz for 22 radio-loud broad absorption line (BAL) quasars, selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Third Data Release, by a ...very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) technique. The VLBI instrument we used was developed by the Optically ConnecTed Array for VLBI Exploration project (OCTAVE), which is operated as a subarray of the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN). We aimed at selecting BAL quasars with nonthermal jets suitable for measuring their orientation angles and ages by subsequent detailed VLBI imaging studies to evaluate two controversial issues of whether BAL quasars are viewed nearly edge-on, and of whether BAL quasars are in a short-lived evolutionary phase of quasar population. We detected 20 out of 22 sources using the OCTAVE baselines, implying brightness temperatures greater than 10^5 K, which presumably come from nonthermal jets. Hence, BAL outflows and nonthermal jets can be generated simultaneously in these central engines. We also found four inverted-spectrum sources, which are interpreted as Doppler-beamed, pole-on-viewed relativistic jet sources or young radio sources: single edge-on geometry cannot describe all BAL quasars. We discuss the implications of the OCTAVE observations for investigations for the orientation and evolutionary stage of BAL quasars.
Cytosolic free calcium concentration (Ca2+ i ) and intracellular pH (pHi ) were simultaneously measured with a fluorescence technique using fura-2 and BCECF. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) increased Ca2+ i ...and decreased pHi of single quiescent myocytes isolated from rat ventricles. The HOCl-induced changes in Ca2+ i and pHi (⊿Ca2+ i and ⊿pHi ) were 129±18 nM and 0.18±0.02 (mean±SD), respectively, with 200 μM HOCl. A positive linear correlation was obtained between ⊿ Ca2+ i and ⊿pHi under various extracellular Ca2+ , pH, and Na+ conditions. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ depressed only one-fourth of ⊿Ca2+ i , and Ca2+ antagonists (verapamil and nifedipine) did not reduce A Ca2+ i , indicating that ⊿ Ca2+ i originates mainly from intracellular Ca2+ stores. A disulfide-reducing reagent, 1, 4-dithiothreitol (DTT), recovered the increased Ca2+ i and decreased pHi to the control levels. The simultaneous changes in Ca2+ i and pHi induced by HOCl and the simultaneous restoration of the normal Ca2+ i and pHi levels by DTT suggest a closely coupled control of Ca2+ i and pHi in cardiac myocytes.
We report a rare case of primary meningeal malignant melanoma in a 23-year-old female. The patient was admitted to our hospital for sudden onset of consciousness disturbance. Prominent nevi were ...observed on her trunk. From the spinal fluid, a small number of tumor cells, highly suggestive of malignant lymphoma were evident. However, final cytological diagnosis could not be completed. The cells showed no definitive melanin pigment whatsoever. Shortty there after, biopsy specimens taken during decompression surgery revealed a small number of atypical cells in the specimen containing definitive melanin pigment with vivid nucleoli. These findings lead us to a final diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Special staining i.e. Grimelius, Fontana-Masson and immunostains such as NSE, and S-100 protein supported the diagnosis. Ultrastructural study demonstrated abundant mature melanosomes. Finally, autopsy findings revealed neither metastasis nor lesions indicating another primary focus.
Most of steel beams of buildings have openings in their webs to be penetrated by duct pipes. The scales and positions of openings are decided, according to the equipmental requirement and the ...structural design is done respectively. When beams with so many and large openings as possible and the design method are prepared, it is very useful for equipmental planning, structural design and fabrication of steel members. On this point of view, beams with many and large rectangular openings in their webs are fabricated and the full-scale test is carried out to investigate their stiffness and strength and a simple method to calculate their allowable strength and deformation is proposed.
A 69-year-old man admitted because of a chief complaint of disturbed consciousness. Slightly decreased liver function, elevated ammonia blood levels, retention of ICG in serum at 15 minutes, and ...slight atrophy of the liver on CT scans were suggestive of the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy. Left renal venography demonstrated splenorenal-gastrorenal shunt. The histologic examination of the liver showed hemosiderosis. However, there was no liver cirrhosis or fibrosis that caused an appreciable portal hypertension. A shunt occlusion test using a baloon catheter was performed and ammonia levels and portal pressure values were measured before and after occlusion. The ammonia tolerance test following occlusion of the shunt showed no increase in ammonia level and a slight elevation of portal pressure. These results revealed that the portal blood entered the systemic circulation through the shunt. Portal-systemic encephalopathy without associated liver cirrhosis and fibrosis that cause prominent portal hypertension, as in this case, is rare. In this case, there was a past history of abdominal surgery and adhesion formed postoperatively appeared to be involved in the development of the shunt.
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