Nuclear clustering-manifestations of non-uniformity in nuclei.

Well-developed [Formula: see text] clusters are known to exist in light [Formula: see text] nuclei, and their properties are reasonably well described with modern nuclear structure theories. However, 'modestly' developed clusters in medium to heavy nuclei remain little understood, both theoretically and experimentally. Extension of the focus to include modestly developed clusters leads us to a concept of 'generalized clusters' and 'cluster ubiquitousness'.

Detection of NO introduced in plasma-irradiated dry lettuce seeds using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quantum mass spectrometry (LC-ESI QMS).

Discharge plasma irradiates seeds with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, RONS introduced in seeds by plasma irradiation have not been successfully detected thus far. This study provides experimental evidence that nitrate ion NO is introduced in lettuce seeds as RONS upon irradiation with atmospheric-pressure air dielectric barrier discharge plasma.

α-Clustering in atomic nuclei from first principles with statistical learning and the Hoyle state character.

A long-standing crucial question with atomic nuclei is whether or not α clustering occurs there. An α particle (helium-4 nucleus) comprises two protons and two neutrons, and may be the building block of some nuclei. This is a very beautiful and fascinating idea, and is indeed plausible because the α particle is particularly stable with a large binding energy.

Nanostructured Ge and GeSn films by high-pressure He plasma sputtering for high-capacity Li ion battery anodes.

We fabricated nanostructured Ge and GeSn films using He radio-frequency magnetron plasma sputtering deposition. Monodisperse amorphous Ge and GeSn nanoparticles of 30-40 nm size were arranged without aggregation by off-axis sputtering deposition in the high He-gas-pressure range of 0.1 Torr.

Bamboo Charcoal/Poly(L-lactide) Fiber Webs Prepared Using Laser-Heated Melt Electrospinning.

Although several studies have reported that the addition of bamboo charcoal (BC) to polylactide (PLA) enhances the properties of PLA, to date, no study has been reported on the fabrication of ultrafine BC/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) webs via electrospinning. Therefore, ultrafine fiber webs of PLLA and BC/PLLA were prepared using PLLA and BC/PLLA raw fibers via a novel laser electrospinning method. Ultrafine PLLA and BC/PLLA fibers with average diameters of approximately 1 μm and coefficients of variation of 13-23 and 20-46% were obtained.

Influence of Protein Adsorption on Aggregation in Prefilled Syringes.

Protein aggregate formation in prefilled syringes (PFSs) can be influenced by protein adsorption and desorption at the solid-liquid interface. Although inhibition of protein adsorption on the PFS surface can lead to a decrease in the amount of aggregation, the mechanism underlying protein adsorption-mediated aggregation in PFSs is unclear. This study investigated protein aggregation caused by protein adsorption on silicone oil-free PFS surfaces [borosilicate glass (GLS) and cycloolefin polymer (COP)] and the factors affecting the protein adsorption on the PFS surfaces.

Growth of single crystalline films on lattice-mismatched substrates through 3D to 2D mode transition.

Regarding crystalline film growth on large lattice-mismatched substrates, there are two primary modes by which thin films grow on a crystal surface or interface. They are Volmer-Weber (VW: island formation) mode and Stranski-Krastanov (SK: layer-plus-island) mode. Since both growth modes end up in the formation of three-dimensional (3D) islands, fabrication of single crystalline films on lattice-mismatched substrates has been challenging.

Surface Characterization and Platelet Adhesion on Thin Hydrogel Films of Poly(vinyl ether).

Poly(vinyl ether), with short oxyethylene side chains which possess a simple and relatively polar structure, should be a unique candidate for a bioinert material thanks to its solubility in water. On the basis of living cationic copolymerization and subsequent ultraviolet light irradiation, thin films of poly(2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether) with different cross-linking densities were prepared on solid substrates. The films were thickened in water, and the extent was dependent on the cross-linking density.

Improvement of Charge Transportation in Si Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Vanadium Doped TiO2.

The multiple exciton generation characteristics of quantum dots have been expected to enhance the performance of photochemical solar cells. In previous work, we first introduced Si quantum dot for sensitized solar cells. The Si quantum dots were fabricated by multi-hollow discharge plasma chemical vapor deposition, and were characterized optically and morphologically.

Optoelectronic properties of valence-state-controlled amorphous niobium oxide.

In order to understand the optoelectronic properties of amorphous niobium oxide (a-NbO x ), we have investigated the valence states, local structures, electrical resistivity, and optical absorption of a-NbO x thin films with various oxygen contents. It was found that the valence states of Nb ion in a-NbO x films can be controlled from 5+  to 4+  by reducing oxygen pressure during film deposition at room temperature, together with changing the oxide-ion arrangement around Nb ion from Nb2O5-like to NbO2-like local structure. As a result, a four orders of magnitude reduction in the electrical resistivity of a-NbO x films was observed with decreasing oxygen content, due to the carrier generation caused by the appearance and increase of an oxygen-vacancy-related subgap state working as an electron donor.

Rod-shaped Nuclei at Extreme Spin and Isospin.

The anomalous rod shape in carbon isotopes has been investigated in the framework of the cranking covariant density functional theory, and two mechanisms to stabilize such a novel shape with respect to the bending motion, extreme spin, and isospin are simultaneously discussed for the first time in a self-consistent and microscopic way. By adding valence neutrons and rotating the system, we have found the mechanism stabilizing the rod shape; i.e.

Effects of stroke education using an animated cartoon and a manga on elementary school children.

Background: Stroke education for the youth is expected to reduce prehospital delay by informing the bystander of appropriate action to take and providing knowledge to prevent onset of stroke in future. Previously, we developed effective teaching materials consisting of an animated cartoon and a Manga for junior high school students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of our educational materials for stroke education taught by schoolteachers to elementary school children.

Existence of an exotic torus configuration in high-spin excited states of 40Ca.

We investigate the possibility of the existence of the exotic torus configuration in the high-spin excited states of (40)Ca. We here consider the spin alignments about the symmetry axis. To this end, we use a three-dimensional cranked Skyrme Hartree-Fock method and search for stable single-particle configurations.

Linear chain structure of four-α clusters in 16O.

We investigate the linear chain configurations of four-α clusters in 16O using a Skyrme cranked Hartree-Fock method and discuss the relationship between the stability of such states and angular momentum. We show the existence of a region of angular momentum (13-18ℏ) where the linear chain configuration is stabilized. For the first time we demonstrate that stable exotic states with a large moment of inertia (ℏ2/2Θ∼0.

Suppression of charge equilibration leading to the synthesis of exotic nuclei.

Charge equilibration between two colliding nuclei can take place in the early stage of heavy-ion collisions. A basic mechanism of charge equilibration is presented in terms of the extension of single-particle motion from one nucleus to the other, from which the upper energy limit of the bombarding energy is introduced for significant charge equilibration. The formula for this limit is presented, and is compared to various experimental data.

Microscopic study of the triple-α reaction.

We present a microscopic dynamical study of the reactions involving three 4He clusters. We show that the much discussed triple-α linear chain configuration of 12C is formed with a certain lifetime and subsequently makes a transition to a triangular configuration of 12C and then to a configuration near the ground state. Time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory coupled with a density constraint is used to study the properties of these configurations.

[Female case of successful engraftment after PBSCT from her HLA-haploidentical son for severe aplastic anemia during maintenance peritoneal dialysis].

A 51-year-old woman developed very severe aplastic anemia complicated by chronic renal failure. She underwent ATG therapy, resulting in a transient effect. Thereafter, renal insufficiency progressed, followed by the induction of CAPD therapy.

[Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting with hypoglossal nerve palsy and great occipital neuralgia].

A 74-year-old man was hospitalized with hypoglossal nerve paralysis and severe great occipital neuralgia. Enhanced MRI of the head showed tumor on the left petrous bone, which compressed the medulla oblongata. Soluble IL-2 receptor was elevated and malignant lymphoma was clinically diagnosed.

Coexistence of covalent superdeformation and molecular resonances in an unbound region of 12Be.

The generalized two-center cluster model, which can treat static structures and dynamical reactions in excited states, is applied to the light neutron-rich system, 12Be=alpha+alpha+4N. We discuss the change of the neutrons' configuration around two alpha cores from the covalent structure to the ionic one. We show that, in the unbound region above particle-decay thresholds, the ionic configurations appear as the molecular resonances of alpha+8He, 6He+6He, and 5He+7He.

[Frequency of MDR-TB/XDR-TB strains isolated from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Japan].

Purpose: To observe the frequency of MDR-TB/XDR-TB strains isolated from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Japan.

Object: Ad hoc National Tuberculosis Survey 2000 on frequency of MDR-TB and XDR-TB strains.

Materials And Method: Four hundred and thirty four clinical isolates were collected by the Ad hoc National Tuberculosis Survey 2000, the drug susceptibility testings (proportion method, MGIT Middlebrook, and BrothMIC NTM) were conducted on these strains.

Overview of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs and their resistance mechanisms.

One-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis. Tuberculosis continues to be the most common infectious cause of death and still has a serious impact, medically, socially and financially.

Enantio- and diastereo-controlled synthesis of (+)-juvabione employing organocatalytic desymmetrization and photoinduced fragmentation.

(+)-Juvabione, a natural sesquiterpene exhibiting insect juvenile hormone activity, has been synthesized from sigma-symmetric 4-(2-formyl-ethyl)cyclohexanone by employing organocatalytic asymmetric aldolization and Norrish I-type fragmentation as the key steps.

Signatures for multi-alpha-condensed states.

An experimental way of testing Bose-Einstein condensation of alpha clusters in the atomic nucleus is reported. The enhancement of cluster emission and the multiplicity partition of possible emitted clusters could be direct signatures for the condensed states. The barrier for the emission of clusters, such as (8)Be and (12)C(O(+)(2)), is calculated and compared with the barrier for the sequential emission of 2 or 3alpha particles from the compound nucleus.