We have reported a blood flow increase in the prefrontal cortex during the performance of the computer version TMT. Although TMT-A was first performed and followed by TMT-B in the previous study, the order was reversed in the present study,i.e., TMT-B was first performed and then followed by TMT-A, and differences in the change of blood flow were compared between the two modes of TMT.

Nine healthy student volunteers (20.7 ± 1.6 yr) performed two different sets of TMT-B. After a resting period of 30 sec, they performed four different sets of TMT-A. Changes of oxyHb and deoxyHb were monitored by 22-channel NIRS from 30 sec before the start of TMT-B through 30 sec after the end of TMT-A. The mean changes of blood flow over a period of 10 sec just before the start of TMT-B and TMT-A, and over a period of 100 sec after the start of TMT-B and TMT-A were determined.

The increase of oxyHb was prominent in the right lateral prefrontal cortex.

The results suggest that the blood flow increases in the prefrontal cortex during the start of either TMT-A or TMT-B. The location of blood flow increase did not change whether TMT-B was performed first or after TMT-A. Therefore, the blood flow increase observed only in the right prefrontal cortex in the previous study could not be due to familiarization of the test. In contrast, TMT-A apparently exhibits a familiarization effect, since blood flow increase was not observed when TMT-A was performed after TMT-B.

We measured concentration changes of oxyHb and deoxyHb in the prefrontal cortex during the performance of the computer version Trail Making Test(TMT) by multichannel NIRS using near infrared light pairs which are more sensitive for detecting changes of oxyHb and deoxyHb.

Sixteen healthy student volunteers performed four different TMT-A sets, and following 30 a sec resting period, two different TMT-B sets. Changes of oxyHb and deoxyHb were monitored by 22 channel NIRS from 30 sec before the start of TMT-A through 30 sec after the end of TMT-B. The mean changes in subjects over a period of 10 sec just before the start of TMT-A and TMT-B, and a period of 50 to 60 sec after the start of TMT-A and TMT-B were determined. OxyHb increased while deoxyHb decreased in the bilateral prefrontal cortices during the performance of TMT. The increase of oxyHb was prominent in the right lateral prefrontal cortex, especially during TMT-A.

On the other hand, deoxyHb significantly decreased in the bilateral prefrontal cortices especially during TMT-A.

The results suggest that blood flow increases in the prefrontal cortex during the performance of the computer version TMT.

In the by now well known talks he gave at Princeton, Saul Kripke claimed that “[t]heoretical identities … are generally identities involving two rigid designators and therefore are examples of the necessary a posteriori.” (Published as “Naming and Necessity,” in G. Harmon and D. Davidson, eds., Semantics of Natural Language (Dordrecht, 1972) 253-355; (hereafter referred to as “NN”; this quote p. 331.) A rigid designator is an expression that designates the same object in all possible worlds when it is used. So Kripke is claiming that ‘Water is H20’ and ‘Heat is the motion of molecules’ are generally identities involving expressions like ‘water’ and ‘the motion of molecules’ which designate the same objects in all possible worlds. If the identity statement is true, both sides designate the same object rigidly, i.e., in all possible worlds, and therefore the statement is necessarily true. On the other hand, whether it is true is determined ultimately by appeal to experience. It follows that if true, the identity is necessary a posteriori.

We present ALMA detection of the [O iii] 88 μm line and 850 μm dust continuum emission in a Y-dropout Lyman break galaxy, MACS0416_Y1. The [O iii] detection confirms the object with a spectroscopic redshift to be z = 8.3118±0.0003. The 850 μm continuum intensity (0.14 mJy) implies a large dust mass on the order of 4×106M⊙. The ultraviolet-to-far infrared spectral energy distribution modeling, where the [O iii] emissivity model is incorporated, suggests the presence of a young (τage ≍ 4 Myr), star-forming (SFR ≍ 60M⊙yr−1), and moderately metal-polluted (Z ≍ 0.2Z⊙) stellar component with a stellar mass of 3 × 108M⊙. An analytic dust mass evolution model with a single episode of star formation does not reproduce the metallicity and dust mass in ≍ 4 Myr, suggesting an underlying evolved stellar component as the origin of the dust mass.

Pneumococcal serotype replacement is an important issue after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in children. After the introduction of 13-valent PCV, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 12F (Sp12F) have increased in some countries; however, an outbreak of Sp12F has not reported in the post-13-valent PCV era. We experienced a local outbreak of Sp12F during March through May 2016 in Tsuruoka city, Japan after the introduction of 13-valent PCV in 2013. The IPD patients were two children and seven adults, three of whom died with a rapid disease progress. Although the clear transmission route was not determined, eight of the nine patients (89%) had close contact with children, which suggests that transmitted colonisation of Sp12F among children and adults might be the source of transmission. Continuous monitoring of IPDs, along with the determination of pneumococcal serotypes, is warranted in the post–13-valent PCV era. New IPD control strategies may be needed if this fatal outbreak continues to occur.

A new species of Roscoea is described and illustrated. Roscoea megalantha Tosh.Yoshida & R.Yangzom occurs in the Eastern Zone of Bhutan and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh in India. A distribution map and an IUCN conservation assessment are given. A key to the three species of Roscoea found in Bhutan is provided.

We present new, wide, and deep images in the AzTEC/ASTE 1.1 mm continuum and the 12 CO (J = 1–0) emission toward the northern part of the Orion-A GMC. We have found evidence for interactions between molecular clouds and the external forces that may trigger star formation. Two types of possible triggers were revealed: (1) Collisions of the diffuse gas on the cloud surface, particularly at the eastern side of the OMC-2/3 region, and (2) Irradiation of UV on the pre-existing filaments and dense molecular cloud cores. Our wide-field and high-sensitivity imaging has provided the first comprehensive view of the potential sites of triggered star formation in the Orion-A GMC.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and the 2024 aluminum alloy (Al2024) are used in the production of Al2024-CNTs composites. An homogeneous dispersion of the CNTs into the aluminum matrix is achieved by a mechanical milling processing. CNTs keet their morphology after milling and sintering processes. Formation of aluminum carbide as a function of CNTs contents is observed. Formation of equilibrium phases during sintering is observed by electron microscopy. CNTs and aluminum carbide in the composites are characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Hardness results of sintered products show an increment of up to 285% over the unreinforced alloy prepared by the same route.

Two trials designed to measure progress in the yield of durum wheat cultivars released in Mexico by the Institute Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas over the period 1960–84 were grown in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico, during the 1983–4 and 1984–5 cropping seasons. The trials compared grain yield, above-ground biomass, harvest index (ratio of dry grain yield to dry above-ground biomass), yield components, grain-growth rates and phenological characters for eight key cultivars and the modern advanced line, Carcomun ‘S’, when grown at a high level of agronomic inputs and management.

The grain yield of durum wheat was estimated to have risen for 25 years of breeding from 3·70 to 8·40 t/ha. The estimated average annual rates of increase in grain yield for the periods 1960–71 and 1971–85 were 251 and 121 kg/ha respectively. Grain yield improvements were based on a linear increase in the number of grains/m2 over the 25-year period, the result of more grains per spikelet. An improved above-ground biomass at maturity was a feature of the two modern genotypes, Altar 84 and Carcomun ‘S’. Harvest index increased with each new cultivar up to the release of Mexicali 75 in 1975, but thereafter the higher grain yields achieved with the modern genotypes were not associated with a higher harvest index. Thousand-grain weight remained steady for the released cultivars but fell slightly for the advanced line Carcomun ‘S’. Improvements in yield were not associated with a longer cropping cycle.

It is concluded that a breeding strategy combining selection for morphological characters thought to confer high yield potential, such as a more erect leaf posture and high number of grains per spikelet, with selection for grain yield per se has been successful in improving the grain yield of durum wheats adapted to north-west Mexico. Improvements have come not only in the size of the grain sink and the efficiency of assimilate partition to grain but also in the biomass produced above ground.

In the last decade, a declining prevalence of HCV infection has been described in injecting drug users (IDUs) in different countries. This study is the first to assess temporal trends in drug-injecting patterns, HCV infection rates and viral genotype distribution in 770 Brazilian IDUs, recruited by two cross-sectional studies (1994–1997 and 1999–2001). A substantial decline in the prevalence of HCV infection was found over the years (75% in 1994 vs. 20·6% in 2001, P<0·001) that may be a consequence of the significant reduction in the overall frequencies of drug injection and needle-sharing, as well as the participation of IDUs in initiatives aimed at reducing drug-related harm. No trend was found in terms of viral genotype distribution. Despite the favourable scenario, preventive measures must be maintained, especially in vulnerable subgroups such as young or new injectors, where risky behaviours through direct and indirect sharing practices remain common.

During 22–24 August 2004, an outbreak of Shigella sonnei infection affected air travellers who departed from Hawaii. Forty-seven passengers with culture-confirmed shigellosis and 116 probable cases who travelled on 12 flights dispersed to Japan, Australia, 22 US states, and American Samoa. All flights were served by one caterer. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of all 29 S. sonnei isolates yielded patterns that matched within one band. Food histories and menu reviews identified raw carrot served onboard as the likely vehicle of infection. Attack rates for diarrhoea on three surveyed flights with confirmed cases were 54% (110/204), 32% (20/63), and 12% (8/67). A total of 2700 meals were served on flights with confirmed cases; using attack rates observed on surveyed flights, we estimated that 300–1500 passengers were infected. This outbreak illustrates the risk of rapid, global spread of illness from a point-source at a major airline hub.

Electrical properties of the shallow thermal donors (TDs) in n-type CZ-Si diodes by the electron irradiation were investigated. After the electron irradiation, carrier concentration was decreased. From deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements, some peaks related to TDs and vacancy-oxygen complexes were observed for the irradiated samples. The peak related to V-O and/or A-center at EC -0.18 eV increased with the electron fluence. To compare that, the level of EC -0.09 eV related to TDs was independent of electron fluence. In addition to that, reverse current of the diodes was increased with increasing irradiated electron fluence.

The High Energy Transient Explorer 2 is a small scientific satellite designed to detect and localize gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The coordinates of GRBs detected by HETE-2 will be distributed to interested ground-based observers within seconds of burst detection, thereby allowing detailed observations of the initial phases of GRBs. HETE-2 was launched successfully on October 9, 2000. The GRB positions will start to be delivered after a few months of the complete testing and calibration of the spacecraft system and the science instruments.

In this work the nucleation and growth of CVD Cu on MOCVD TiN barrier layer as well as on PVD Ta with and without a PVD Cu seed layer on top were studied. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the dependence of morphology and microstructure on deposition time. XRD measurements were carried out to study the orientation of the polycrystalline films. Atomic force microscopy was applied to investigate the surface topography. A random crystal orientation and an amorphous interlayer between the CVD Cu film and the barrier - leading to a poor adhesion performance of the CVD Cu films - were obtained on Ta and TiN, where island growth can be observed. A CVD Cu film deposited on top of PVD Cu leads to a highly preferred <111> orientation and a significantly improved adhesion of the Cu film. A PVD Cu seed layer as thin as 60 Å was found to produce an epitaxially grown <111> textured Cu film. These results highlight the importance of the initial growth stages for both morphology and adhesion of the CVD Cu films.

We have confirmed that grain boundaries are related to leakage problems in Ta2O5/SiON capacitors for high dielectric DRAMs. XRD studies using an intensity ratio of (200) to (001) showed that the crystallographic structure of Ta2O5 film was strongly dependent on preparation conditions. As the (200) oriented grains grew faster than the other grains, it became important to control its grain growth in forming uniform grain boundaries. TEM observation has shown that Ta2O5 film with a high intensity ratio of (200) to (001) was made up of large size grains and had SION interface intruding into grain boundaries. By using the current-mode AFM, we could monitor leakage current directly through grain boundaries on Ta2O5 film.