Static characteristics of two different structured InAlGaAs/InAlAs superlattice avalanche photodiodes (SLAPDs) cooled by liquid nitrogen were evaluated at a wavelength of 1. μm. The dark current of the SLAPD having a thick superlattice layer of 0.504 μm was ×10^-13 A. This was successively reduced by four orders of magnitude compared to that of the thin layer SLAPD of 0.231 μm at a breakdown voltage of around 20 V. The thickened layer was effective in suppressing tunneling dark current. An output current of 1.7×10^-12 A at a bias voltage of 15 V was measured for an optical input with a wavelength of 1. μm and a signal power of 1×10^-12 W. This showed a sharp distinction from the dark current.

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We screened the differentiation-inducing activities of 39 mushroom extracts from Akita prefecture, Japan, on the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MCT-1. Sixteen phosphate buffered saline (PBS), boiled PBS, 14 ethanol and 12 methanol extracts induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, an indicator of MCT-1 cell differentiation. The enzyme activities were markedly induced by extracts of Tricholoma auratum, and we isolated the active compound from methanol extracts of this mushroom. Physical data for the isolated active compound were identical to those for (,24R)-ergosta-7,-diene-,,-triol (1). 1 induced ALP activities of MCT-1 cells and promoted cell proliferation. To investigate the relationships between the chemical structure and differentiation-inducing activity of the compound, ALP-inducing activities of MCT-1 cells by 1, ergosterol (2), ergocalciferol (), cholesta-,,-triol (4), 7-dehydrocholesterol () and cholecalciferol () were tested. The enzyme activities of MCT-1 cells were increased .0-fold by 10 μM 1 and 2.4-fold by 10 μM 4. However, 2, , and did not induce MCT-1 cell ALP activity at 0.1—10 μM. These results suggested that the OH groups at C- and/or C- of 1 and 4 played an important role in their differentiation-inducing activities on MCT-1 cells. Furthermore, 1 suppressed induction of MCT-1 cell apoptosis by serum starvation.

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Background : Usefulness of endoscopic microwave coagulation therapy (-MCT) was examined in 27 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Material and Methods : HCC was found in patients with type liver cirrhosis (LC), 16 patients with type C LC, and patients with non non C LC. Median tumor size was 23 mm (solitary lesion , multiple ). Laparoscopic MCT was performed for S2-

6

lesion and thoracoscopic MCT for

S₈

lesion under general anesthesia. Linear type ultrasonography was used in every case for monitoring lesion ant therapeutic effect.
Results : Complete tumor necrosis was obtained in 24 cases (

81

%) and local recurrence was found in

5

cases after the observation period of maximum 34 months. Pleural abscess, hemorrhage and hepatic infarction were found in

3

cases without serious outcome.
Conclusions : We conclude that

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-MCT is quite promising therapy for surface type HCC in term of minimally invasive and curative procedure a time. It is important that sufficient marginal coagulation should be obtained.

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Chemical synthesis of (, 24R)- and (, 24S)-1, 24-dihydroxy--vitamin has been achieved starting with the commercially available dinorcholenic acid acetate. Synthesis involved introduction of the 1-hydroxy group by a reduction of the 1, 2-epoxide generated by epoxidation of the 1, 4, -trien--one. The side chain on the steroid was then constructed by means of a Wittig reaction followed by introduction of the Δ⁷ bond by standard methods and its protection with 1-phenyl-1, 2, 4-triazoline-, -dione. Subsequent reduction of the hydroxy groups in the steroid side chain followed by reduction of the Diels-Alder addition products yielded the both 24-isomers. The , 7-dienes were irradiated and the corresponding vitamin compounds isolated. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to identify individual isomers. The (, 24S)-1, 24-hydroxyvitamin compound bound equally well to the chick intestinal cytosol receptor as 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin , while the 24R-isomer was approximately ten times less active. In vivo, both isomers were less active than 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin ; however, the 24S-isomer was considerably more active than the 24R-isomer approaching the activity of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin .

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We compared three groups of pregnant women: placebo with normotensive women, group A which included preeclamptics, and group which comprised preeclamptics who were supplemented their diets with vitamins C and . MDA increased from . ± 2. (placebo) to .48 ± 1.2 (A) and .02 ± 1. nmol/gHb (). NO concentrations were enhanced from 19. ± 4.2 (P) to 23. ± .4 (A) and 24.1 ± .4 μmol/L (). GSH contents were decreased from 10.42 ± 2. (P) to .02 ± 2.92 (A) and 9.39 ± 1.02 μmol/g Hb (), whereas GSSG concentrations increased from 0.98 ± 0.28 (P) to 1.24 ± 0.29 (A) and 1.08 ± 0.12 μmol/g Hb (). SOD activity decreased 23% in A and 14% in ; GRx decreased 27% in A and .% in ; GPx decreased 12% in A and 9.% in . Catalase activity, however, increased 27% in A and 29% in as compared to control. Thus, we conclude that the use of vitamins C and should be considered for the control of certain important biochemical indices during the development of preeclampsia; however, further studies are needed to develop methods for the prevention of preeclampsia in women at high risk.

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Six full-length cDNAs encoding pig cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, CYP1A1, CYP2A19, CYP2, CYP2C33v4, CYP2C49, and CYP21, were isolated and sequenced. The cDNA sequences of pig CYP1A1, CYP2A19, CYP2, CYP2C49, and CYP21 showed high similarity to human CYP1A1 (85.4%), CYP2A13 (88.%), (.1%), CYP2C18 (85.%), and (82.%), respectively, and pig CYP2C33v4 cDNA showed high similarity to rat CYP2C23 (79.2%). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays revealed hepatic gene expression of all these pig CYP enzymes: the order of expression was CYP2C33v4 and > CYP2C49 > CYP1A1 and CYP2A19 > . In the kidney, the CYP2C33v4 gene was expressed at the same level as in the liver, but the CYP1A1, CYP2A19, and genes were expressed at lower levels than in the liver. Little renal gene expression of CYP2C49 and CYP21 was observed. We revealed for the first time the full-length cDNA sequences encoding pig CYP1A1 and five CYP enzymes belonging to the CYP2 gene family, thus making it possible to examine the gene expression levels of these CYP enzymes in pig tissues by RT-PCR.

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A method for analyzing the uncertainties involving the use of empirical relationships in design is developed. It is applied to evaluate the reliability of the relationship s_u(mobilized)=(measured), whereby the pertinent uncertainties are analyzed using extensive laboratory and field observed data. On the average, the relationship s_u(mobilized)= (measured) is unbiased and the error implicit in the relationship is about 15%. When cone values are used to infer s'_p, additional uncertainties on the mobilized undrained strength will incur resulting mainly from the calibration uncertainty between σ'_p and the cone values. Alternatively, vane tests may be performed to infer the mobilized strength using Bjerrum correction factor. Results show that uncertainty level associated with using the vane tests is smaller than that using the cone values, provided that similar scatter is observed between measured vane and cone values at a given site. However, prediction of the mobilized strength is even more accurate if direct measurements can be made on the preconsolidation pressure. The proposed probabilistic method also assesses the benefit of additional tests besides comparing the accuracy of using various soil parameters for predicting mobilized undrained strength. Such information is essential for planning cost-effective site characterization program.

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[1] The purpose of this reserch is to make clear what type of design can give good effects to win the high readership score. At the begining I had to know what factors decide the readership score, and how to change the quality of the desing into numerical value. I have used the method of multi-dimentional analysis with the help of a computer, and got the estimation formula, with 7 kinds of factors, as follows ; A^^〜=+C++K++bF+cG. A^^〜=estimated values of the readership score. 1) , C, , K : these four factors are given as category values (so we call them); each factor is classified into several categories. =week day, classified into 7 categories. C=pages of a newspaper, which are characterized by the kinds of articles, news, and the other reading matters, classified into categories. =kinds of goods and trades of the advertizement, classified into 14 catedories. K=constants, given to each 13 surveys. 2) , F, G : these factors are given as numerical values. G=area of advertizement, measured by the unit of column in the whole page length, being classified into kinds of area (2., ., , 7, 10, 15) and 15 column means a whole page, about 2,000cm^2. , F are the marks obtained in the design of advertizements. =sum of the marks obtained in each design element on the advertizement. F=the marks obtained on the whole effect of the design. ) a, , c : coefficients Using the above formula with the category values and the coefficients, we can obtain the naked design effect from the actual value A of readership score: +bF=A-(+C++K+cG). In this research, I used 1,829 data of readership score from 1960 to 1968, being obtained by 13 survevs, spring and autumn twice a year. The sample of size each survey was ,541, 2,251, or 200 in the other 11 surveys. Multiple correlation coefficient between the estimated value A^^〜 and the actual value A is 0.951. The table 2^* shows the contribution indexes of each factor by kinds of expression-(1) Range : the absolute difference between the maximum and the minimum category values, (2) Standard deviations of the category values, () Partial correlation coefficient : the relationship between the actual values A and each factors. *see the table 2 in the thesis in Japanese. [2] The important point was in the determination of the values of , F. is the sum of the marks obtained in each design element, classified into four kinds : =_1+_2+_+_4. design elements [table] _1, _2, _, _4, these values have the grades, as 0, 1, 2, , 4 and 0 is given to the design that has no attractive effect or no applicable element. And obtain the marks of 0 to 9 grades as the sum of them. The values of F have also grades, 0 to 4. The principles to determine the values of , F are as follows : a) The marks obtained of , F must be the relative values among the each survey, and at the same time, they must have constancy within the same survey-the same elements of design must win the same marks obtained. ) They must be determined as to win the highest multiple correlation coefficient, when they are put into the estimation formula. c) They must be reasonable. In order to justify them, we must carry many researches on the actual condition. The frequency of accurence of each grade of , F values, as the table -4, and - in the thesis in Japanese.

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Two new vitamin analogues, 1α-hydroxy-24, 24-dimethyl--dehydrovitamin (13) and 1α, 25-dihydroxy-24, 24-dimethyl--dehydrovitamin (17), which are blocked for 24-hydroxylation by the methyl groups, were synthesized from 1α, -bismethoxymethoxypregn--ene-20Scarbaldehyde () by using the orthoester Claisen rearrangement for construction of the carbon skeleton of their side chains. These compounds (13 and 17) elicited a rise in serum calcium, but not in serum inorganic phosphorus in rats. In a bioassay for alkaline phosphatase, they were found to show much weaker activity than 1α-hydroxy vitamin ().

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It has been shown after mathematical and mechanical investigation that Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) can be considered as a method to obtain the necessary condition of Slip Line Method (SLM), and that the solution can be obtained under the condition that F_s=1 and ∂F_s/∂θ=O, where F_s is the safety factor and θ is the inclination of the plane on which the safety factor is defined. Next, the generalized LEM (GLEM) is proposed, dealing with the following points : (1) Triangular or quadrangular blocks can be treated; (2) Safety factors are defined also on interblock planes; and () All types of plastic problems, slope stability, bearing capacity, and earth pressure are identically formulated. Two situations regarding treatment of the moment equilibrium condition are discussed. GLEM is applied to well-known problems. The results agree well with those obtained by theoretical methods. GLEM can be used to obtain the distribution of earth pressure or bearing capacity. GLEM, Iike ordinary LEM, is very effective for the practical problems, but GLEM is more theoretical and it can result in more accurate solutions.

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The effects of dimensions and supporting conditions on the compressive strength and deformation of polyvinylchloride pipes under external pressure were discussed. The following four kinds of pipe supporting conditions were used; (A) compression between two steel plates, () compression between a steel plate and a concave wooden block, (C) compression between two concave wooden blocks, and () compression between two concave hard rubber supporters. The main results obtained are as follows.
(1) The relation between the compressive strength P and the dimensions of PVC pipe is given by the following formula, similar to the mid load bending for a both end fixed straight beam with a rectangular section;
P=4σ_b·l·t²/·D_m·c₁ (a)
where, l, t and D_m are the length, thickness and diameter of pipe, respectively, c₁ the correction coefficient according to pipe supporting conditions, and σ_b the bending stress in kg/mm². The value of correction coefficient c₁ was 0.∼1.35 for A-method, 1.35 for -method, .0 for C-method and 2. for -method, respectively.
(2) The deflection δ under elastic deformation is given by the following formula;
δ=/ ()
where, is Young's modulus in kg/mm² of pipe material, and c₂ the correction coefficient similar to c₁. The value of c₂ was 2. for A-method.
() It seems reasonable, therefore, that the theory of straight beam may be applied to the compressive strength and deflection of plastics-pipe under external pressure by using the correction coefficient c₁ or c₂.

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Enterococcus faecalis is a frequent cause of hospital-acquired infection. Two hundred fifty one

E

. faecalis isolates from patients with urinary tract infection at Okayama University Hospital over an -year period from 1991 through 1998 were collected. The presence of the asaI, cylA, aac (

6

')-aph (2''), and aph (

3

')-III genes was analyzed by PCR methods. Of the 251 isolates, 205 (.7%) were positive for asaI. The .% (167/205) of asaI-positive isolates also possessed either cylA or aminoglycoside resistance genes, compared to only 15.2% of (7/46) asaI-negative isolates (p<0.0001). The incidence of asaI gradually increased from 69.2% in 1991 to 90.7% in 1998. The number of isolates that contain asaI, cylA and aminoglycoside resistance gene (s) also increased. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analyses of 28 asaI-positive and hemolysin-producing isolates revealed different banding patterns, including pairs with similar patterns. The plasmid analyses of these isolates showed different patterns except for 1 pair with similar PFGE pattern. These results suggest that

E

. faecalis possessing the asaI gene may play an important role in the exchange of genetic information among enterococci in the urinary tract.

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Background: The association between the T-peak to T-end interval (Tp-

) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA) events in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Tp- was associated with VA events in CS patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds).

Methods and Results: We retrospectively studied 50 patients (16 men; mean [±SD] age 56.

±10. years) with CS and ICD/CRT-. The maximum Tp- in the precordial leads recorded by a 12-lead electrocardiogram after ICD/CRT- implantation was evaluated. The clinical endpoint was defined as appropriate ICD therapy. During a median follow-up period of 85.0 months, patients underwent appropriate therapy and 10 patients died. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the probability of the clinical endpoint was 28.% at 2 years and 35.% at 4 years. The optimal cut-off value of the Tp- for the prediction of the clinical endpoint was 91 ms, with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 87.0% (area under the curve=0.). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Tp- ≥91 ms (hazard ratio [HR] .10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.–13.1; P<0.001) and a histological diagnosis of CS (HR .84; 95% CI 1.28–11.; P=0.016) were significantly associated with the clinical endpoint.

Conclusions: Tp-

≥91 ms was a significant predictor of VA events in patients with CS and ICD/CRT-.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if the optical properties of zirconia and glass–ceramic (

.max) were affected by low-temperature degradation (aging).

Methods: Experiment samples were fabricated with seven zirconia brands (n=10): Zenostar, Zirlux, Katana, Bruxzir, DD-BioZX², DD-cubeX², NexxZr; and

.max were used as a control. This resulted in a total of 80 samples in the experiment. The L*, a* and * were measured for each sample, and then the optical properties including translucency parameter (TP), contrast ratio (CR), and opalescence parameter (OP) were calculated. The samples were aged (20, 40, 60, 80, 100h), and the optical properties were calculated after each interval.

Results: Most zirconia brands had lower L*, higher a*, higher

* with increased aging, which visually corresponds to darker, redder, and more yellow. Aging also increased CR, lowered TP, and lowered OP. .max was also affected by aging but still had the highest TP (23.9±2.), L* (.7±.4), and lowest CR (0.41±0.05) compared to any zirconia. The Zenostar had the closest TP (24.1±0.4), and L* (90.2±0.) values to .max before aging. However, after 100h of aging, the DD-cubeX² was least effected and had the highest TP (.2±0.) and lowest CR (0.43±0.01) compared with other zirconia samples and highest OP (11.±0.2) of all ceramic samples.

Conclusions: The optical properties of zirconia and

.max materials were affected by aging with the effects increasing with time. The magnitude of change was affected by seven brands of dental zirconia.

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