The relation between platelet aggregation and constitutional and lifestyle variables in two Japanese communities

To investigate the contribution of the platelet aggregation in the development of cardiovascular diseases, we examined the relation of constitutional and lifestyle variables with platelet aggregation for a total of 306 males aged 50 to 70 in Ikawa town, Akita prefecture (n = 163) and Noichi town, Kochi prefecture (n = 143). The examination of platelet aggregation was completed within 3 hours of obtaining blood samples. We used ADP (Adenosine 5'-diphosphate) as an agonist and obtained PATI (the platelet aggregatory threshold index) by nephelometry. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, white blood cell count, serum fatty acid compositions were also examined and dietary intake of fish, seafood and soy bean foods were inquired using one-week dietary records. PATI indicated a logarithmic normal distribution in both Ikawa and Noichi. The mean of logarithmic transformed PATI (log PATI) was higher in Ikawa than in Noichi. Thus platelet aggregation was lower in Ikawa than in Noichi. According to multiple regression analysis, age, platelet count in platelet rich plasma, mean platelet volume in platelet rich plasma, and white blood cell count were inversely associated with log PATI. Serum arachidonic acid composition tended to be inversely related with log PATI. Serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid composition was positively related with log PATI, and log gamma-GTP tended to be positively associated with log PATI. Soy protein intake and cigarette smoking showed no consistent associations with log PATI. This cross-sectional study suggests that serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid, and gamma-GTP, as an index of alcohol intake, reduce platelet aggregation while age, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean platelet volume, and serum arachidonic acid raise platelet aggregation.     

Time-series primitive static states for detailing work state and flow of human-operated work machine

This paper proposes a quantification method for a comprehensive work flow in construction work for describing work states in more detail on the basis of analyzing state transitions of primitive static states (PSS), which consist of 16 symbolic work states defined by using on-off state of the lever operations and joint loads for the manipulator and end-effector. On the basis of the state transition rules derived from a transition-condition analysis, practical state transitions (PST), which are common and frequent transitions in arbitrary construction work, are defined. PST can be classified into essential state transition (EST) or nonessential state transitions (NST). EST extracts common phases of work progress and estimates positional relations between a manipulator and an object. NST reveals wasted movements that degrade the efficiency and quality of work. To evaluate comprehensive work flows modeled by combining EST and NST, work-analysis experiments using our instrumented setup were conducted. Results indicate that all the PSS definitely changes on the basis of PST under various work conditions, and work analysis using EST and NST easily reveals work characteristics and untrained tasks related to wasted movements.     

E.s.r. study of annealing and melting effects on the molecular motion of spin trapped chain-end radicals located on the polyethylene surface

E.s.r. spectra of chain-end spin labels on the surface of polyethylene powder were obtained for high and low density polyethylene samples at various stages of heat treatment process. The subsequent crystalline structures of the samples were examined with wide angle and small angle X-ray diffraction spectra. The effects of annealing on the motion of the labels were dependent on annealing temperature and the type of the samples. Higher temperature annealing decreased the rotational correlation times (τ_c) and their activation energy in high density polyethylene but did not affect those of low density polyethylene. Melting decreases the values of τ_c and ΔE for both high an low density polyethylene samples. The cause of these decreases were attributed to the changing of the sites of the chain-end labels. The motion of the labels appeared to be influenced by the local segmental motion of the polymer main chains.     

Observation of the intrinsic pinning of a magnetic domain wall in a ferromagnetic nanowire

The spin transfer torque is essential for electrical magnetization switching. When a magnetic domain wall is driven by an electric current through an adiabatic spin torque, the theory predicts a threshold current even for a perfect wire without any extrinsic pinning. The experimental confirmation of this 'intrinsic pinning', however, has long been missing. Here, we give evidence that this intrinsic pinning determines the threshold, and thus that the adiabatic spin torque dominates the domain wall motion in a perpendicularly magnetized Co/Ni nanowire. The intrinsic nature manifests itself both in the field-independent threshold current and in the presence of its minimum on tuning the wire width. The demonstrated domain wall motion purely due to the adiabatic spin torque will serve to achieve robust operation and low energy consumption in spintronic devices.     

Preparation of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films on Strontium-Doped LaMnO3 Cathode Substrates via Electrophoretic Deposition for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film on an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ porous cathode substrate was prepared, using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to fabricate a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The electrical conductivity of an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate is satisfactorily high at room temperature; therefore, YSZ powder could be deposited electrophoretically onto an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate without any extra surface treatment, such as a metal coating. Successive repetition of EPD and sintering was required to obtain a film without gas leakage, because of the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the YSZ and the La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate. On the other hand, the electromotive force of the oxygen concentration in the cell that used YSZ film prepared via EPD increased and attained the theoretical value when the number of deposition and calcination cycles was increased. Six or more successive repetitions were required to obtain a YSZ film without gas leakage. A planar-type SOFC was fabricated, using nickel as the anode and YSZ film (∼10 μm thick) that had been deposited onto the La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate as the electrolyte and cathode. The cell exhibited an open circuit voltage of 1.0 V and a maximum power density of 1.5 W/cm². Thus, the EPD method could be used as a colloidal process to prepare YSZ thin-film electrolytes for SOFCs.     

Contamination levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and Co-PCBs in commercial baby foods in Japan

To examine dioxin contamination in commercial baby foods in Japan, congener analyses of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) were performed on 102 varieties of baby foods obtained from supermarkets in 2001-2002. The toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) levels for dioxins in samples ranged from < 0.001 to 0.135 pg-TEQ/g wet weight when undetected or trace levels of congeners were taken as zero. Among 102 samples tested, 26 samples exceeded 0.010 pg-TEQ/g. The highest TEQ value was for "sardine, vegetables" (0.135 pg-TEQ/g), followed by "Japanese radish (daikon), sardine" (0.080 pg-TEQ/g). Thus, dioxins were detected at low levels in baby foods containing animal products such as fishes and/or dairy products.     

Preparation of La2Zr2O7 by Sol—Gel Route

The La₂Zr₂O₇ phase was prepared from metal acetylacetonates by a sol—gel route without any intermediate phase formation. X-ray peaks appeared at a temperature as low as 500°C at the positions expected for La₂Zr₂O₇, although they were broad. The crystal structure of La₂Zr₂O₇ was found to be of the fluorite type below 900°C and of thepyrochlore type above 1000°C. The substitution of a small amount of Eu for La was carried out to investigate the crystal structure from the viewpoint of fluorescence, and these results confirmed the formation of fluorite type La₂Zr₂O₇ below 900°C.     

21世纪柴油机降低油耗和排放的关键技术

本文论述了下世纪柴油机降低油耗和排放所需关键技术的现状。这些技术可分为三门:燃油、燃油系统和后处理。它们所体现的新发展在于采用共轨式电控燃油喷射装置、中置式喷油器和四气门气缸盖。要使柴油机能在很长一段时期内保持其竞争力,需要合理地综合应用这些技术。