Electron holography observation of electron spin polarization around charged insulating wire.

We report direct observation by electron holography of the spin polarization of electrons in a vacuum region around a charged SiO2 wire coated with Pt-Pd. Irradiating the SiO2 wire with 300 keV electrons caused the wire to become positively charged due to the emission of secondary electrons. The spin polarization of these electrons interacting with the charged wire was observed in situ using a phase reconstruction process under an external magnetic field.

Time-resolved electron holography and its application to an ionic liquid specimen.

Time-resolved electron holography was implemented in a transmission electron microscope by means of electron beam gating with a parallel-plate electrostatic deflector. Stroboscopic observations were performed by accumulating gated electron interference images while applying a periodic modulation voltage to a specimen. Electric polarization in an ionic liquid specimen was observed under applied fields.

Electron holography for observing magnetic bubbles and stripe-shaped domains in magnetic fields.

An electron holography optical system was developed for relatively high magnetic fields up to 500 mT. The objective lens worked as a magnetic field generator for the specimen and the first intermediate lens worked for imaging as one of the pair lens composed of the objective lens. Specimen images were first formed on the object plane of the second intermediate lens.

Lorentz scanning electron/ion microscopy.

We have developed an observation and measurement method for spatial electromagnetic fields by using scanning electron/ion microscopes, combined with electron holography reconstruction technique. A cross-grating was installed below the specimen, and the specimens were observed under the infocus condition, and the grating was simultaneously observed under the defocus condition. Electromagnetic fields around the specimen were estimated from grating-image distortions.

Quantitative analysis of selective glycosylation of saccharides with aromatic amines.

Glycosylation, a part of the Maillard reaction, occurs non-enzymatically in food and biological processes. The selectivity of N-glycosylation was analyzed based on the reactivity of monosaccharides with aromatic amines, including aromatic amino acids, and the degree of molecular interaction (MI) measured using liquid chromatography. Furthermore, the chemical structures of reaction products were determined using X-ray crystallography and/or NMR.

Toward the quantitative the interpretation of hole-free phase plate images in a transmission electron microscope.

We present progress toward the quantitative interpretation of phase contrast images obtained using a hole-free phase plate (HFPP) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). We consider a sinusoidal phase grating test object composed of ~5 nm deep groves in a ~13 nm thick amorphous silicon membrane. The periodic grating splits the beam current into direct beam and diffracted side beams in the focal plane of the imaging lens, where the HFPP is located.

Electron holography on Fraunhofer diffraction.

Electron holography in Fraunhofer region was realized by using an asymmetric double slit. A Fraunhofer diffraction wave from a wider slit worked as an objective wave interfered with a plane wave from a narrower slit as a reference wave under the pre-Fraunhofer condition and recorded as a hologram. Here, the pre-Fraunhofer condition means that the following conditions are simultaneously satisfied: single-slit observations are performed under the Fraunhofer condition and the double-slit observations are performed under the Fresnel condition.

Interference experiment with asymmetric double slit by using 1.2-MV field emission transmission electron microscope.

Advanced electron microscopy technologies have made it possible to perform precise double-slit interference experiments. We used a 1.2-MV field emission electron microscope providing coherent electron waves and a direct detection camera system enabling single-electron detections at a sub-second exposure time.

Association between the sense of coherence 13-item version scale score of pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy and threatened premature birth.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the score of the sense of coherence 13-item version (SOC-13) scale in the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with threatened premature birth.

Methods: All the subjects gave their informed written consent before their participation in the study. A self-reported questionnaire survey was conducted on the pregnant women at approximately 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Do infertile women and government staff differ in the evaluation of infertility-related Web sites?

Objective: To investigate the evaluation of local government Web sites carrying information on infertility by infertile women and by government staff. In particular, the study investigated whether the women and staff differed with respect to the information they rate as important and their self-reported satisfaction with the Web sites.

Design And Sample: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Development and evaluation of a self care program on breastfeeding in Japan: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Although the importance of breastfeeding is well known in Japan, in recent years less than 50% of mothers were fully breastfeeding at one month after birth. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-care program for breastfeeding aimed at increasing mothers' breastfeeding confidence and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was conducted in Japan.

Support for infertility treatment in Japan: differences in perceptions between female clients and staff.

The aim of this study was to clarify the perceptions of both infertile women accessing support services from local governments related to infertility treatment and the public servants providing that assistance. This cross-sectional descriptive study surveyed 62 local government staff members who managed medical expense subsidy programs for infertility treatment in the Hokuriku region of Japan and 84 infertile women attending the clinics. We measured the levels of satisfaction regarding the support services from local governments and the perceptions of the importance of each type of support.

Low serum secretory immunoglobulin A level and sense of coherence score at an early gestational stage as indicators for subsequent threatened premature birth.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the candidate indicators secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and sense of coherence (SOC) as predictors of threatened premature birth.

Methods: This was a panel study conducted on women in their first and latter half of pregnancy during survey period. The survey period was from December 2005 to June 2006 and from December 2007 to June 2008.

Relationship between sense of coherence in final stage of pregnancy and postpartum stress reactions.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated postpartum stress using a postpartum depression scale and by measuring the level of a stress-related substance, to clarify the relationship between the stresscoping capabilities of women in the final stage of pregnancy and their postpartum stress reactions.

Methods: Between April 2004 and October 2004, 54 women participated in a question naire survey and the measurement of their secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) level as a stress-related substance two times in the final stage of their pregnancy (prepartum) and in their early puerperium (postpartum) was carried out. The questionnaire used in the prepartum stage included the following parameters: "basic features", "Sense of Coherence (SOC)" and "Japanese version of the self-assessment depression scale" of Zung.

Sex-determining region Y levels in maternal plasma: Evaluation in abnormal pregnancy.

Aim: A number of studies for the measurement of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood have been reported; however, their clinical significance has remained unclear. We proposed to clarify the relationship between fetal DNA levels and obstetrical disorders.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-five cases of normal pregnancy, ranging from 8 to 40 weeks' gestation, and 70 cases of abnormal pregnancy were included.

Fetal DNA levels in maternal blood correlated with fetal prognosis in a case of intervillous hematoma.

Several methods for detection of fetal components in maternal blood have been reported. However, few have proven clinically useful for determining the treatment in cases of placental injuries. Here, we report a case of extensive intervillous hematoma diagnosed at 25 weeks of gestation with severe intrauterine growth restriction and oligohydramnios.

Dynamic responses to acute heat stress between 34 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C, and characteristics of heat stress response in mice.

We focused on dynamic responses to acute heat stress between 34 degrees C and 38.5 degrees C. Physiological and neuroendocrinological changes between 34 degrees C and 38.