The soluble methane monooxygenase gene cluster of the trichloroethylene-degrading methanotroph Methylocystis sp. strain M

In methanotrophic bacteria, methane is oxidized to methanol by the enzyme methane monooxygenase (MMO). The soluble MMO enzyme complex from Methylocystis sp. strain M also oxidizes a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic compounds, including trichloroethylene. In this study, heterologous DNA probes from the type II methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b were used to isolate souble MMO (sMMO) genes from the type II methanotroph Methylocystis sp. strain M. sMMO genes from strain M are clustered on the chromosome and show a high degree of identity with the corresponding genes from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene from Methylocystis sp. strain M have confirmed that it is most closely related to the type II methanotroph Methylocystis parvus OBBP, which, unlike Methylocystis sp. strain M, does not possess an sMMO. A similar phylogenetic analysis using the pmoA gene, which encodes the 27-kDa polypeptide of the particulate MMO, also places Methylocystis sp. strain M firmly in the genus Methylocystis. This is the first report of isolation and characterization of methane oxidation genes from methanotrophs of the genus Methylocystis.

Non-invasive monitoring of gingival crevicular fluid for estimation of blood glucose level

Development of a non-invasive method for measuring the blood glucose level is an urgent necessity, and putting such a method into practical use will enable some of the physical and mental stress that patients with diabetes have to endure to be removed. To realise a non-invasive blood glucose monitor, the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was measured. A GCF-collecting device was developed that was designed to be disposable, biocompatible and small enough to be inserted in the gingival crevice for collection of a sub-microlitre sample of GCF. Also, a high-sensitivity glucose testing tape incorporated in the device was developed. Red laser light in a portable optical device measured the colour density of the testing tape. Standard glucose solutions were used to investigate the measurement accuracy of the GCF glucose monitor and showed a correlation coefficient of R = 0.99 (n = 20) between the optical density and the glucose levels. The GCF glucose monitor was evaluated on healthy Swedish and Japanese adults (n = 10) and both GCF glucose levels (GCFLs) and blood glucose levels (BGLs) were measured in conjunction with meal loads. The GCFLs were about 1/10-1/560 lower than the BGLs. No difference in the range of GCFLs between the Swedish and the Japanese subjects was observed. Therefore it was concluded that physique, body mass index and life-style, such as dietary habit, did not significantly influence the GCFLs. Further, the correlation coefficients of all the subjects were 0.70 and 0.88 with each group. It was suggested that GCF could be used as a method of non-invasive blood glucose measurement.

Reentrant superconductivity driven by quantum tricritical fluctuations in URhGe: evidence from ^{59}Co NMR in URh_{0.9}Co_{0.1}Ge

Our measurements of the ^{59}Co NMR spin-spin relaxation in URh_{0.9}Co_{0.1}Ge reveal a divergence of electronic spin fluctuations in the vicinity of the field-induced quantum critical point at H_{R}≈13  T, around which reentrant superconductivity (RSC) occurs in the ferromagnetic heavy fermion compound URhGe. We map out the strength of spin fluctuations in the (H_{b},H_{c}) plane of magnetic field components and show that critical fluctuations develop in the same limited region near the field H_{R} as that where RSC is observed. This strongly suggests these quantum fluctuations as the pairing glue responsible for the RSC. The fluctuations observed are characteristic of a tricritical point, followed by a phase bifurcation toward quantum critical end points.

Field Induced Multiple Superconducting Phases in UTe_{2} along Hard Magnetic Axis

The superconducting (SC) phase diagram in uranium ditelluride is explored under magnetic fields (H) along the hard magnetic b axis using a high-quality single crystal with T_{c}=2.1  K. Simultaneous electrical resistivity and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements discern low- and high-field SC (LFSC and HFSC, respectively) phases with contrasting field-angular dependence. Crystal quality increases the upper critical field of the LFSC phase, but the H^{*} of ∼15  T, at which the HFSC phase appears, is always the same through the various crystals. A phase boundary signature is also observed inside the LFSC phase near H^{*}, indicating an intermediate SC phase characterized by small flux pinning forces.

NMR evidence for triple-q multipole structure in NpO2

In order to elucidate the nature of the exotic ordered phase of NpO2 below T(0)=26 K, we have initiated the first 17O-NMR measurements on this system. From the 17O-NMR spectrum, the occurrence of two inequivalent oxygen sites has been confirmed below T0. It has also been shown that the characteristic features of the hyperfine interaction at the oxygen sites are well explained by invoking a hyperfine interaction with field-induced antiferromagnetic moments which appear as a result of the triple-q antiferroquadrupolar order. The NMR findings strongly support the occurrence of the longitudinal triple-q multipole structure in NpO2.

NMR evidence for higher-order multipole order parameters in NpO2

We report a microscopic investigation of multipolar order parameters in the ordered state of NpO2 conducted via 17O NMR on a single crystal. From the angular dependence of hyperfine fields at 17O nuclei, we have obtained clear evidence for the appearance of field-induced antiferro-octupolar as well as field-induced antiferro-dipolar moments below T0 = 26 K. We have also observed oscillatory spin-echo decay, which is well understood in terms of small electric field gradients created by antiferro-quadrupolar ordering. This reveals that the quadrupolar order parameter is directly observable by means of NMR. The present NMR studies provide definitive support for a proposed longitudinal triple-q type octupolar-quadrupolar ordering model for NpO2.

Effect of uranium deficiency on normal and superconducting properties in unconventional superconductor UTe2

Single crystals of the unconventional superconductor UTe₂have been grown in various conditions which result in different superconducting transition temperature as well as normal state properties. Stoichiometry of the samples has been characterized by the single-crystal x-ray crystallography and electron microprobe analyses. Superconducting samples are nearly stoichiometric within an experimental error of about 1%, while non-superconducting sample significantly deviates from the ideal composition. The superconducting UTe₂showed that the large density of states was partially gapped in the normal state, while the non-superconducting sample is characterized by the relatively large electronic specific heat as reported previously.

NMR study of in-plane twofold ordering in URu(2)Si(2)

We report (29)Si NMR spectra and Knight shift measurements as a function of applied field orientation in the (001) basal plane of URu(2)Si(2). Observed linewidth oscillations confirm the in-plane twofold ordered domain state observed in recent magnetic susceptibility measurements. Analysis of our linewidth data leads to estimate ∼ 0.4% for the twofold intrinsic (monodomain) susceptibility anisotropy in the basal plane, a value ∼ 15 times smaller than that obtained from recent susceptibility measurements.

Emergent antiferromagnetism out of the "hidden-order" state in URu2Si2: high magnetic field nuclear magnetic resonance to 40 T

Very high field (29)Si-NMR measurements using a fully (29)Si-enriched URu(2)Si(2) single crystal were carried out in order to microscopically investigate the "hidden order" (HO) state and adjacent magnetic phases in the high field limit. At the lowest measured temperature of 0.4 K, a clear anomaly reflecting a Fermi surface instability near 22 T inside the HO state is detected by the (29)Si shift, (29)K(c). Moreover, a strong enhancement of (29)K(c) develops near a critical field H(c) ≃ 35.6 T, and the ^{29}Si-NMR signal disappears suddenly at H(c), indicating the total suppression of the HO state. Nevertheless, a weak and shifted (29)Si-NMR signal reappears for fields higher than H(c) at 4.2 K, providing evidence for a magnetic structure within the magnetic phase caused by the Ising-type anisotropy of the uranium ordered moments.

Evidence for Spin Singlet Pairing with Strong Uniaxial Anisotropy in URu_{2}Si_{2} Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

In order to identify the spin contribution to superconducting pairing compatible with the so-called "hidden order", ^{29}Si nuclear magnetic resonance measurements have been performed using a high-quality single crystal of URu_{2}Si_{2}. A clear reduction of the ^{29}Si Knight shift in the superconducting state has been observed under a magnetic field applied along the crystalline c axis, corresponding to the magnetic easy axis. These results provide direct evidence for the formation of spin-singlet Cooper pairs. Consequently, results indicating a very tiny change of the in-plane Knight shift reported previously demonstrate extreme uniaxial anisotropy for the spin susceptibility in the hidden order state.

Consideration of physical condition in estimation of blood glucose via data mining

Many diabetics carry a portable-type blood glucose monitor and collect their own blood to examine their blood glucose levels daily (self monitoring of blood glucose, SMBG). The use of a physical condition variable was suggested in order to estimate the blood glucose level for diabetics. Four sets of data, including FBG, food intake, metabolic rate and physical condition, were collected from four Type 1 diabetics over a five-month period. Using these data, an increasing or decreasing tendency for FBG for the next day was estimated using the data mining method. The results revealed that the estimation accuracy was improved when a physical condition variable was used. An average correspondence rate of 81 % was observed, with a maximum of 90 %. These results indicated that the data mining method could be effective in the estimation of blood glucose levels.

Longitudinal Spin Fluctuations Driving Field-Reinforced Superconductivity in UTe_{2}

Our measurements of ^{125}Te NMR relaxations reveal an enhancement of electronic spin fluctuations above μ_{0}H^{*}∼15  T, leading to their divergence in the vicinity of the metamagnetic transition at μ_{0}H_{m}≈35  T, below which field-reinforced superconductivity appears when a magnetic field (H) is applied along the crystallographic b axis. The NMR data evidence that these fluctuations are dominantly longitudinal, providing a key to understanding the peculiar superconducting phase diagram in H∥b, where such fluctuations enhance the pairing interactions.

[Esophago-bronchial fistulas in adult]

Esophago-bronchial fistulas in adult are rare and for the most part are due to a malignant tumor. The authors present two cases of benign Esophago-bronchial fistula which were discovered accidentally by esophagography. One case was considered to be congenital. Esophagography is the most useful for diagnosis of this disease.