Synchronization in networks of chaotic systems with time-delay coupling.

In this paper, we consider synchronization of N identical nonlinear systems unidirectionally or bidirectionally coupled with time delay. First we show, using the small-gain theorem, that trajectories of coupled strictly semi-passive systems converge to a bounded region. Next, we consider the network structure under which the synchronization error dynamics has a trivial solution at zero and derive a necessary condition for synchronization with respect to the network structure.

A case of peripheral neuropathy and skin ulcer in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis after a single infusion of tocilizumab.

We report a case of peripheral neuropathy and skin ulcer in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who received tocilizumab. A 65-year-old woman with a 20-year history of RA participated in a tocilizumab clinical trial. She received a single dose of 8 mg/kg tocilizumab intravenously.

[Cystoscopy-assisted partial cystectomy for paraganglioma of the urinary bladder].

A 39-year-old woman visited our hospital with a complaint of gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a nodular tumor 3 cm in diameter in the posterior wall of the bladder. A transurethral resection was performed.

[Adult Wilms' tumor mimicking adrenal tumor: case report].

A 33-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further examination of a right adrenal mass 4.5 cm in diameter. Hormonal findings were normal.

Formulation study of intravesical oxybutynin instillation solution with enhanced retention in bladder.

A formulation study of intravesical oxybutynin (OB) preparations was carried out in order to improve the effectiveness in intravesical instillation therapy for spastic neurogenetic bladder. Sodium hyaluronate (HYA) was introduced to enhance the muco-adhesiveness of the instillation preparation, and the physicochemical properties of the OB formulation were evaluated in comparison with a conventional formulation containing hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC). The viscous properties and in vitro adhesiveness increased with the amount of the polymeric additives, and retention properties of OB in rabbit bladder were comparable after addition of 0.

[Evidence-based quality management of clinical formulations: determination of expiration date of powdered medicine prepared by grinding tablets].

Beraprost sodium (BPS) is often used for pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine the expiration date of the powdered medicine prepared by grinding tablets. In the present study, the hygroscopicity and stability of the beraprost tablet (DORNER tablet), ground Dorner tablet and powder formulation (Dorner powder) consisting of the ground DORNER tablet and lactose (EFC lactose) were investigated after storage at various relative humidities (RHs) and light exposures.

The localization of proteins encoded by CRYM, KIAA1199, UBA52, COL9A3, and COL9A1, genes highly expressed in the cochlea.

Genes that are highly expressed in the inner ear, as revealed by cDNA microarray analysis, may have a crucial functional role there. Those that are expressed specifically in auditory tissues are likely to be good candidates to screen for genetic alterations in patients with deafness, and several genes have been successfully identified as responsible for hereditary hearing loss. To understand the detailed mechanisms of the hearing loss caused by the mutations in these genes, the present study examined the immunocytochemical localization of the proteins encoded by Crym, KIAA1199 homolog, Uba52, Col9a3, and Col9a1 in the cochlea of rats and mice.

Total synthesis of spiruchostatin B, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, from a microorganism.

The first total synthesis of spiruchostatin B, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, was achieved in a convergent manner; the synthesis established stereochemistry at the C5'' position.

Development of event-specific quantitation method for GA21 maize, which is a gm event without CaMV35S promoter.

A real-time PCR detection method was developed for event-specific quantitation of Roundup Ready maize, GA21. The developed PCR method was designed to amplify an artificial junction site between the native maize genome DNA and the recombinant DNA of GA21 maize, which provides only one target sequence per haploid of GA21 genome. Thus, the amplification efficiency of the event-specific target for GA21 became closely similar to the amplification of SSIIb, and the conversion factor (Cf) for the quantitation method was similar to the theoretical value.

Individual detection of genetically modified maize varieties in non-identity-preserved maize samples.

In many countries, the labeling of grains and feed- and foodstuffs is mandatory if the genetically modified organism (GMO) content exceeds a certain level of approved GM varieties. The GMO content in a maize sample containing the combined-trait (stacked) GM maize as determined by the currently available methodology is likely to be overestimated. However, there has been little information in the literature on the mixing level and varieties of stacked GM maize in real sample grains.

Theoretical study of the benzyl+O2 reaction: kinetics, mechanism, and product branching ratios.

Ab initio calculations at the level of CBS-QB3 theory have been performed to investigate the potential energy surface for the reaction of benzyl radical with molecular oxygen. The reaction is shown to proceed with an exothermic barrierless addition of O2 to the benzyl radical to form benzylperoxy radical (2). The benzylperoxy radical was found to have three dissociation channels, giving benzaldehyde (4) and OH radical through the four-centered transition states (channel B), giving benzyl hydroperoxide (5) through the six-centered transition states (channel C), and giving O2-adduct (8) through the four-centered transition states (channel D), in addition to the backward reaction forming benzyl radical and O2 (channel E).

Highly efficient total synthesis of the marine natural products (+)-avarone, (+)-avarol, (-)-neoavarone, (-)-neoavarol and (+)-aureol.

Biologically important and structurally unique marine natural products avarone (1), avarol (2), neoavarone (3), neoavarol (4) and aureol (5), were efficiently synthesized in a unified manner starting from (+)-5-methyl-Wieland-Miescher ketone 10. The synthesis involved the following crucial steps: i) Sequential BF(3)Et(2)O-induced rearrangement/cyclization reaction of 2 and 4 to produce 5 with complete stereoselectivity in high yield (2 --> 5 and 4 --> 5); ii) strategic salcomine oxidation of the phenolic compounds 6 and 8 to derive the corresponding quinones 1 and 3 (6 --> 1 and 8 --> 3); and iii) Birch reductive alkylation of 10 with bromide 11 to construct the requisite carbon framework 12 (10 + 11 --> 12). An in vitro cytotoxicity assay of compounds 1-5 against human histiocytic lymphoma cells U937 determined the order of cytotoxic potency (3 > 1 > 5 > 2 > 4) and some novel aspects of structure-activity relationships.

An anomalous case of the hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery.

In a stdudenet course of gross anatomy dissection at Kanagawa Dental College in 2006, we found an extremely rare case of the hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery of a 78-year-old Japanese male cadaver. This case belonged to type V in Adachi's classification of the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery (1928). The gastro-splenic trunk and hepato-mesenteric trunk both arose from the abdominal aorta and the left gastric artery arose from the gastro-splenic trunk.

Distribution of NOS isoforms in a porcine endotoxin shock model.

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. NO, an endogenous vasodilator, has been associated with the hypotension, catecholamine hyporesponsiveness, and myocardial depression of septic shock. Although iNOS is thought to be responsible for the hypotension and loss of vascular tone occurring several hours after endotoxin administration, little is known on the effects of constitutive eNOS on LPS-induced organ dysfunction.

International conference on quantum simulators and design, hiroshima, Japan, 3-6 december 2006.

This special issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter comprises selected papers from the 1st International Conference on Quantum Simulators and Design (QSD2006) held in Hiroshima, Japan, 3-6 December 2006. This conference was organized under the auspices of the Development of New Quantum Simulators and Quantum Design Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), and Hiroshima University Quantum design is a computational approach to the development of new materials with specified properties and functionalities. The basic ingredient is the use of quantum simulations to design a material that meets a given specification of properties and functionalities.

[Two cases of urethrovaginal fistula repaired by Martius labial-rotation flap].

Urethrovaginal fistulas are rare. In case 1, a 48-year-old woman had undergone transvaginal drainage for an paraurethral abscess. In case 2, a 33-year-old woman had undergone resection of vaginal varicocele with massive bleeding during pregnancy.

Fibrous adsorbent for removal of aqueous aromatic hydrocarbons.

Bundles of a strongly hydrophobic fibrous material (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole; PBO; Zylon) were employed as an adsorbent for the removal of aqueous aromatic compounds, because the PBO fibers are too rigid to be woven and did not entrap suspended solids. The removal performance for nine kinds of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was evaluated. PAHs and DEHP at initial concentrations of 50 microg L(-1) were removed at 72.

A spot test for ammonium ion by the color band formation method.

Removing nutrients from wastewaters is important in controlling eutrophication. Processes for removing nutrients require accurate control of operational conditions, and it is necessary to monitor nutrient concentrations during the removal process. For this purpose, a simple and accurate analytical method is especially important for small-scale wastewater treatment facilities.

Anticipating synchronization of chaotic Lur'e systems.

In this paper we consider the anticipating synchronization of chaotic time-delayed Lur'e-type systems in a master-slave setting. We introduce three scenarios for anticipating synchronization, and give sufficient conditions for the existence of anticipating synchronizing slave systems in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The results obtained are illustrated on a time-delayed Rossler system and a time-delayed Chua oscillator.

Preparation of drug nanoparticles by co-grinding with cyclodextrin: formation mechanism and factors affecting nanoparticle formation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the formation of pranlukast nanoparticle prepared by co-grinding with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and to elucidate the mechanism of nanoparticle formation. The effects of grinding time, moisture content and CD content on the nanoparticle formation were evaluated by means of UV quantitative determination and particle size analysis. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) was employed to observe drug nanoparticles in the ground mixture.

Micronization and polymorphic conversion of tolbutamide and barbital by rapid expansion of supercritical solutions.

Rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS) was applied to tolbutamide and barbital. The solubility in supercritical CO2 was determined to estimate the extraction efficiency roughly by a simple method and accurately by a direct spectrophotometric technique. The latter revealed that the solubility of tolbutamide was a function of applied pressure and temperature and was proportional to the pressure.

Specific inclusion mode of guest compounds in the amylose complex analyzed by solid state NMR spectroscopy.

The inclusion compound formation between linear amylose of molecular weight 102500 (AS100) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PA) during the sealed-heating process was investigated by powder X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and solid state NMR spectroscopy. Sealed-heating of AS100 and PA at 100 degrees C for 6 h provided an inclusion compound with 6(1)-helix structure, while a 7(1)-helix structure was found when sealed-heating was carried out at 150 degrees C for 1 h. The formation of an inclusion compound was not observed when sealed-heating was performed at 50 degrees C for 6 h.

Differences in the expression of genes between normal tissue and squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck using cancer-related gene cDNA microarray.

Conclusion: This study clearly showed the molecular characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) on the basis of gene expression patterns.

Objective: cDNA microarray has recently been shown to have the ability to represent the expression patterns of large numbers of genes from a small amount of tissue, potentially enabling definition of groups of patients with similar biological behavior of cancer. Although gene expression profiling using this technique has proven helpful for predicting the prognosis in various cancers, little is known regarding HNSCC.

Complete ureteral duplication associated with megaureter and ureteropelvic junction dilatation: report on an adult cadaver case with a brief review of the literature.

Although ureteral duplication, megaureter (MU) or ureteropelvic junction obstruction is a common anomaly of the urinary tract, complete ureteral duplication accompanied by MU and ureteropelvic junction dilatation (UPD) appears to be rare. In this paper, a case of a Japanese female cadaver with complete ureter duplication associated with MU in the upper pole ureter (UpU) and UPD in the lower pole ureter (LoU) is described. Besides describing and illustrating this case, we discuss the anatomy and etiology of these anomalous structures with a brief review of the literature.