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Notes: It can generally be considered that an actual contact makes an angle with the extension of the contact surface because the tip of a contact element is convex in shape (macroscopically) and has surface roughness (microscopically). The effect of this angle on constriction resistance and contact resistance for a point contact is analyzed theoretically by solving Laplace's equation subject to boundary conditions determined by a modeled morphology of the contact. The analysis leads to the modified formulas for the constriction resistance and the contact resistance, which show that the effect cannot always be neglected and that the contact model with space angle is useful.

Notes: It has been clarified in an earlier work [Y. Sano, J. Appl. Phys. 65, 3857 (1989)] that the locations of attenuating peaks in smooth strain, particle velocity, and stress profiles in a smooth plane-wave front differ, that is, the order of peak precedence is stress, particle velocity, and strain. As a result of the precedence order, the wave front composed of elementary waves such as a contraction wave C, mesocontraction waves I and II, and a vice-rarefaction wave R was formed. That the process is degraded by another rarefaction wave Rb which first follows the wave R, and then outruns the waves R, II, and I in sequence, has also been proved. [Y. Sano, J. Appl. Phys. 67, 4072 (1990)]. After the completion of the degradation process, the wave front, i.e., the wave C, may attenuate little, but steepen. This paper extends the process under consideration to include the steepening process during which the wave C approaches a steady state. In addition to this extension, stationary phenomena in strain, particle velocity, and stress-time profiles are shown to be able to take place in the degradation process. It is one of the main purposes of this paper to show through the phenomena that the response caused by the wave fronts during the process will be unsteady and nonequilibrium. Furthermore, universal properties of the stress-particle velocity paths are clarified. The properties involve concavity or convexity of the path curves produced by the waves C, I, II, and R. Universal properties of the stress-strain paths such as concavity, convexity, or inflection of the path curves by the waves C, I, II, and R are also clarified. Through the behavior of the stress-particle velocity and stress-strain paths having the properties mentioned above, it is also shown that the response caused by the waves will be unsteady and nonequilibrium. The stationary phenomena, the universal properties, and the stress-particle velocity and stress-strain behaviors are compared with the previous experiments and computational data. Another main purpose of this paper is to confirm through comparison the occurrence of the elementary waves and the degradation process in the experiments.

Notes: Background:  Bronchial asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, notably because of eosinophils and T cells. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is known to selectively attract Th2 cells, and is increased in response to interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which share a common receptor, IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα). While corticosteroids have proven, very effective in modifying airway inflammation, the effect of corticosteroids on TARC in asthmatics has been little studied.Objective:  We examined the effects of inhaled budesonide (BUD) on the expression of TARC and the number of inflammatory cells in bronchial biopsy specimens taken from asthma patients.Methods:  Inhaled BUD 800 μg daily, or placebo was administered for 3 months in a double-blind, parallel-group study, and bronchial biopsies were performed before and after treatment. Biopsy specimens were examined by immunocytochemistry.Results:  We observed a significant decrease in the epithelial expression of TARC (P 〈 0.01) in the BUD group compared with the placebo group. This was accompanied by decreases in the number of eosinophils (P 〈 0.01), CD3+ T cells (P 〈 0.05), and CD4+ T cells (P 〈 0.01). A significant correlation was found between changes in epithelial TARC and in IL-4Rα immunoreactivity (rs = 0.66, P 〈 0.01).Conclusions:  These findings suggest that corticosteroid asthma treatment can reduce infiltration of the airway by inflammatory cells, an effect modulated by down-regulation of bronchial epithelial TARC expression.

Notes: Background: Cytokines liberated by TH2 cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Recent studies have demonstrated that CC chemokine receptor (CCR)4 is preferentially expressed by TH2 cells. These facts suggest possible involvement of two CCR4-specific ligands i.e., thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma via recruitment of TH2 cells to inflammatory sites. We investigated the levels of TARC and MDC in the serum and induced sputum of asthmatics. Methods: The levels of TARC in the serum (46 asthmatics and 26 healthy subjects) and induced sputum (30 asthmatics and 6 healthy subjects) were measured using a highly sensitive ELISA system. The levels of eotaxin and MDC were also measured by ELISA. Results: TARC, but not MDC, was significantly increased in asthmatic sera (P〈0.001). Although MDC was undetectable in the sputum of most cases by our assay system, sputum TARC was significantly increased (P=0.027). Conclusions: The elevated TARC levels in asthmatics might be involved in the pathophysiology of asthma.

Notes: Wxa and Wxb are the most common alleles of the Wx gene in Asian cultivated rice. The difference between them is responsible for differences in the levels of the Wx gene product in the endosperm, as well as in amylose content, which is an important determinant of the quality of edible rice. Since Indica rice mostly carries the Wxa allele, we introduced the Wxb allele into Indica-type rice (IR36) from a Japonica-type rice (T65) by repeated backcrossing. In the near-isogenic line (IR36 Wxb), the level of the Wx gene product was reduced and, as expected, the level of amylose. However, IR36Wxb had a lower amylose content than the recurrent parent of T65 with the Wxb allele. The results suggest that the Indica (IR36) background might lower the amylose content more than the Japonica (T65) background when the Wx allele is the same. The possible importance of modifiers that regulate expression of the Wx gene is also discussed in relation to improvements in the grain quality of rice.

Notes: There is increasing evidence for the role of basophils in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. To examine the presence of basophils in the airways of patients with fatal asthma by immunohistochemistry, we stained lung tissues from four post-mortem cases who had died from severe asthmatic attacks and four controls with a monoclonal antibody raised against tryptase (AA-1) and anti-IgE. Mast cells and basophils were identified in the bronchioles as A A-1- and anti-IgE-positive cells, and anti-IgE-posilive cells, respectively. Airway mast cells were found beneath the basemenl membrane, near blood vessels in the submucosa, and adjacent to the submucosal glands, and scattered throughout the muscle bundles. There was a significant increase of mast cells in the asthma group compared with the control group (203.5 ± 84.6/mm2, mean ± s. d. vs 37.7 ± 8.7/mm2, P 〈 0.05, n= 4). In contrast, basophils were observed in the airway lumen, in the bronchial epithelium and in the submucosa. The number of basophils in the bronchioles was 81.8 ± 55.5/mm2 (n= 4); however, basophils were not found at all in the airways of the control group. Although eosinophils, B lymphocytes and macro-phages bear low affinity IgE receptors and could react with anti-IgE, the location of these cells in the close sections did not correspond closely with basophils. The presence of basophils in lung tissues obtained from fatal asthma patients supports the view that basophils play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.