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T Hasegawa

Publications and source records attributed to T Hasegawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Improved search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation in a long-baseline accelerator experiment.

We performed an improved search for nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation with the KEK to Kamioka (K2K) long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, using the full data sample of 9.2 x 10(19) protons on target. No evidence for a nu(e) appearance signal was found, and we set bounds on the nu(mu) --> nu(e) oscillation parameters. At Deltam(2)=2.8 x 10(-3) eV(2), the best-fit value of the K2Knu(mu) disappearance analysis, we set an upper limit of sin(2)2theta(mue) < 0.13 at a 90% confidence level.

Journal Article↗

Double-hadron leptoproduction in the nuclear medium.

The first measurements of double-hadron production in deep-inelastic scattering within the nuclear medium were made with the HERMES spectrometer at DESY HERA using a 27.6 GeV positron beam. By comparing data for deuterium, nitrogen, krypton, and xenon nuclei, the influence of the nuclear medium on the ratio of double-hadron to single-hadron yields was investigated. Nuclear effects on the additional hadron are clearly observed, but with little or no difference among nitrogen, krypton, or xenon, and with smaller magnitude than effects seen on previously measured single-hadron multiplicities. The data are compared with models based on partonic energy loss or prehadronic scattering and with a model based on a purely absorptive treatment of the final-state interactions. Thus, the double-hadron ratio provides an additional tool for studying modifications of hadronization in nuclear matter.

Journal Article↗

Localisation of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 in retina and choroid of aged human eyes and in eyes with age related macular degeneration.

AIM: To examine the immunolocalisation of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 in aged control human donor eyes and eyes with age related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Postmortem eyes from eight aged control donors (mean age 79.8 years) and from 12 donors with AMD (mean age 83.9 years) were cryopreserved and sectioned through the macular region. SDF-1 and CXCR4 were localised using streptavidin alkaline phosphatase immunohistochemistry and then sections were bleached. Three independent masked observers scored the immunohistochemical reaction product. RESULTS: In aged control retinas, SDF-1 immunoreactivity was most intense in inner photoreceptor matrix (IPM). CXCR4 showed a similar pattern of immunostaining, but was more prominent in inner segments of photoreceptors. In aged control and AMD choroid, SDF-1 and CXCR4 localisations were most prominent in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and choroidal stroma. However, the intensity for SDF-1 was significantly reduced in RPE (p < 0.0001) and choroidal stroma (p < 0.05) in late AMD eyes. SDF-1 and CXCR4 immunoreactivities were weak or nearly absent in disciform scars with choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Circulating cells, presumably leucocytes, were most intensely positive for CXCR4. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that changes in distribution and relative levels of SDF-1/CXCR4 were not evident in early AMD. This suggests that SDF-1/CXCR4 may not contribute to the formation of CNV in AMD, in that CXCR4+ cells were not incorporated into neovascularisation. However, the examples of CNV studied were within disciform scars, so the authors cannot comment on the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 in the early stages of CNV formation.

Aged↗

Awareness of the Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension (JSH 2000) and compliance to its recommendations: surveys in 2000 and 2004.

Clinic physicians' awareness of the Japanese hypertension guideline (JSH 2000) and compliance with its recommendations were assessed to derive policy implications for effective blood pressure control. Data were obtained from two postal questionnaire surveys conducted in 2000 and 2004, and subjects were 896 and 1425 clinic physicians, respectively, who were engaged in general internal medicine. Recognition rates of JSH 2000 were 63.1% (n = 822) before its announcement in 2000 and 94.4% (n = 1400) in 2004. Rates of access, familiarity and utilisation of JSH 2000 were 87.0, 81.6 and 68.9%, respectively (n = 1400) in 2004. As for major management strategies for low-risk hypertension: in 2000, for patients with 140-149/90-94 mmHg, 81.5% of 812 respondents performed lifestyle modification, and 11.2% prescribed medicines, whereas for patients with 150-159/95-99 mmHg, 71.7% of 807 respondents prescribed medicines, and 24.3% conducted lifestyle modification; in 2004, 90.0% of 1384 respondents conducted lifestyle modification, 22.6% prescribed medicines, 2.5% referred patients to other facilities, and 6.4% did nothing. In 2004, 68.9% of 1388 respondents agreed with the new definition of hypertension, whereas 17.1% preferred 160/95 mmHg. Respondents' age (P<0.05) and a percentage of hypertensives in daily patient load (P<0.0005) significantly associated with the choice of the old criteria. In conclusion, JSH 2000 achieved a substantial improvement in clinic physicians' awareness and their compliance to its recommendations on low-risk hypertension management. One of the strategies for further enhancement in their compliance with JSH 2004 would be its dissemination to those who are old and/or do not see hypertensive patients so frequently.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Construction of a medium-density horse gene map.

A medium-density map of the horse genome (Equus caballus) was constructed using genes evenly distributed over the human genome. Three hundred and twenty-three exonic primer pairs were used to screen the INRA and the CHORI-241 equine BAC libraries by polymerase chain reaction and by filter hybridization respectively. Two hundred and thirty-seven BACs containing equine gene orthologues, confirmed by sequencing, were isolated. The BACs were localized to horse chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Overall, 165 genes were assigned to the equine genomic map by radiation hybrid (RH) (using an equine RH(5000) panel) and/or by FISH mapping. A comparison of localizations of 713 genes mapped on the horse genome and on the human genome revealed 59 homologous segments and 131 conserved segments. Two of these homologies (ECA27/HSA8 and ECA12p/HSA11p) had not been previously identified. An enhanced resolution of conserved and rearranged chromosomal segments presented in this study provides clarification of chromosome evolution history.

Animals↗

A case of a Japanese neonate with congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma diagnosed as Netherton syndrome.

We report a 6-day-old Japanese girl showing generalized erythroderma accompanied by yellowish, exfoliative scaling that was accentuated on the face and scalp. Histological analysis showed psoriasiform dermatitis with acanthotic epidermis and premature shedding of the stratum corneum. Measurement of trypsin-like hydrolytic activity in SC showed six-fold greater activity compared with age-matched controls. DNA analysis revealed two mutations, 375delAT and 966insC, in exons 5 and 11, respectively, of the SPINK5 gene. Although at 4 weeks the child was still too young to display characteristic hair abnormalities or atopic diathesis, we diagnosed Netherton syndrome based on enzyme assay and DNA analysis.

Carrier Proteins↗

The human renal lymphatics under normal and pathological conditions.

AIMS: The renal lymphatics have not been fully documented in humans. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphology of the human renal lymphatic system under normal and pathological conditions by immunohistochemistry using anti-D2-40 antibody. METHODS AND RESULTS: Normal and pathological renal tissues obtained at autopsy as well as nephrectomy specimens with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were used. Thin sections were immunostained with antibodies against D2-40 and CD31. In normal kidney, D2-40+ lymphatics were abundant in the interstitium around the interlobar and arcuate arteries/veins but sporadic in those around the glomeruli or between the tubules in the cortex. A few lymphatics contained erythrocytes in their lumina. Lymphatics were seldom present in the medulla. In RCC cases, lymphatics were evident at the tumour margin, whereas CD31+ capillaries were abundant throughout the tumour and lymphatics were increased in the fibrous interstitium around the tumour. Lymphatic invasion by RCC cells was also detectable. D2-40+ lymphatics were evident in other pathological conditions and end-stage kidney had a denser lymphatic distribution than normal kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatics are abundant around the arteries/veins and are also present in the renal cortex and medulla. D2-40 immunostaining is helpful for investigating the pathophysiological role of renal lymphatics.

Aged↗

Enhancement of rice canopy carbon gain by elevated CO(2) is sensitive to growth stage and leaf nitrogen concentration.

Increasing our understanding of the factors regulating seasonal changes in rice canopy carbon gain (C(gain): daily net photosynthesis -- night respiration) under elevated CO(2) concentrations ([CO(2)]) will reduce our uncertainty in predicting future rice yields and assist in the development of adaptation strategies. In this study we measured CO(2) exchange from rice (Oryza sativa) canopies grown at c. 360 and 690 micromol mol(-1)[CO(2)] in growth chambers continuously over three growing seasons. Stimulation of C(gain) by elevated [CO(2)] was 22-79% during vegetative growth, but decreased to between -12 and 5% after the grain-filling stage, resulting in a 7-22% net enhancement for the whole season. The decreased stimulation of C(gain) resulted mainly from decreased canopy net photosynthesis and partially from increased respiration. A decrease in canopy photosynthetic capacity was noted where leaf nitrogen (N) decreased. The effect of elevated [CO(2)] on leaf area was generally small, but most dramatic under ample N conditions; this increased the stimulation of whole-season C(gain). These results suggest that a decrease in C(gain) enhancement following elevated CO(2) levels is difficult to avoid, but that careful management of nitrogen levels can alter the whole-season C(gain) enhancement.

Carbon↗

Intrapatellar tendon lipoma with chondro-osseous differentiation: detection of HMGA2-LPP fusion gene transcript.

A 54 year old man developed an unusual lipoma in the patellar tendon, consisting of a fibro-adipose component and a chondro-osseous component. The fibro-adipose component contained mature adipocytes, lipoblasts, and fibroblasts; the chondro-osseous component showed typical endochondral bone formation. Molecular analysis showed that the identical HMGA2-LPP fusion transcript-characteristic of lipoma, parosteal lipoma, and pulmonary chondroid hamartoma-was detectable in the both components.

Adipogenesis↗

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma with telangiectatic osteosarcoma-like features.

A 35-year-old Japanese man was admitted to the National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan, in December 2000, with a 2-month history of pain around the left thigh. Radiographs showed a poorly demarcated osteolytic lesion with focal mineralisation and endosteal scalloping in the left proximal femur. Biopsy showed a proliferation of highly anaplastic cells without any cartilaginous component. A wide excision of the left proximal femur with a replacement by endoprosthesis was carried out in February 2001 after treatment with methotrexate and 20 Gy radiation therapy. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen showed a focus of low-grade chondrosarcoma and the coexistence of telangiectatic osteosarcoma-like features. The patient was diagnosed with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma with telangiectatic osteosarcoma-like features. Lung metastasis appeared in July 2001 despite an adjuvant chemotherapy including methotrexate, cis-platinum and doxorubicin. The latest follow-up study in June 2004 showed multiple lung metastases. Establishing a definitive diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma may be difficult with limited small biopsy specimens. Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic tumours with focal calcification and endosteal scalloping even if an extraosseous tumour component is not identified.

Adult↗

[Prognosis of patients after resection for lung cancer with intrapulmonary metastasis in different lobes].

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of lung cancer patients with intrapulmonary metastasis in different lobes (pm2) is poor. However, some patients achieve long-term survival. We retrospectively investigated the prognosis of resected primary lung cancer patients with pm2. METHOD: Among 845 patients with primary lung cancer who underwent complete resection from 1984 to 2003, 14 cases that had lung cancer with pm2 were evaluated about prognostic factors. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 9.5%. The analysis of survival curve based on clinicopathological factors (surgical procedure, histology, tumor size, lymph nodal metastasis, pleural invasion, pleural dissemination and number of pm2) revealed that bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), the absence of pleural invasion and the absence of pleural dissemination are better prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer patients with pm2 whose lesions show BAC histology, the absence of pleural invasion or pleural dissemination may achieve long-term survival and could be candidates for surgical treatment.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗

Search for coherent charged pion production in neutrino-carbon interactions.

We report the result from a search for charged-current coherent pion production induced by muon neutrinos with a mean energy of 1.3 GeV. The data are collected with a fully active scintillator detector in the K2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. No evidence for coherent pion production is observed, and an upper limit of is set on the cross section ratio of coherent pion production to the total charged-current interaction at 90% confidence level. This is the first experimental limit for coherent charged pion production in the energy region of a few GeV.

Journal Article↗

First measurement of the transverse spin asymmetries of the deuteron in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering.

First measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized 6LiD target are presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the muon beam of the CERN SPS at 160 GeV/c. The Collins asymmetry turns out to be compatible with zero, as does the measured Sivers asymmetry within the present statistical errors.

Journal Article↗

Evidence for muon neutrino oscillation in an accelerator-based experiment.

We present results for nu(mu) oscillation in the KEK to Kamioka (K2K) long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. K2K uses an accelerator-produced nu(mu) beam with a mean energy of 1.3 GeV directed at the Super-Kamiokande detector. We observed the energy-dependent disappearance of nu(mu), which we presume have oscillated to nu(tau). The probability that we would observe these results if there is no neutrino oscillation is 0.0050% (4.0 sigma).

Journal Article↗

Rapid heating of a strongly coupled plasma near the solid-liquid phase transition.

Between 10(4) and 10(6) 9Be+ ions were trapped in a Penning trap and laser cooled to approximately 1 mK, where they formed a crystalline plasma. We measured the ion temperature as a function of time after turning off the laser cooling and observed a rapid temperature increase as the plasma underwent the solid-liquid phase transition at T approximately 10 mK (Gamma approximately 170). We present evidence that this rapid heating is due to a sudden release of energy from weakly cooled degrees of freedom involving the cyclotron motion of trapped impurity ions. This equilibration of cyclotron motion with motion parallel to the magnetic field is more than 10 orders of magnitude faster than that predicted by currently available theory, which is valid only in the absence of correlations (Gamma<<1).

Journal Article↗

Quantized conductance atomic switch.

A large variety of nanometre-scale devices have been investigated in recent years that could overcome the physical and economic limitations of current semiconductor devices. To be of technological interest, the energy consumption and fabrication cost of these 'nanodevices' need to be low. Here we report a new type of nanodevice, a quantized conductance atomic switch (QCAS), which satisfies these requirements. The QCAS works by controlling the formation and annihilation of an atomic bridge at the crossing point between two electrodes. The wires are spaced approximately 1 nm apart, and one of the two is a solid electrolyte wire from which the atomic bridges are formed. We demonstrate that such a QCAS can switch between 'on' and 'off' states at room temperature and in air at a frequency of 1 MHz and at a small operating voltage (600 mV). Basic logic circuits are also easily fabricated by crossing solid electrolyte wires with metal electrodes.

Journal Article↗