We report scanning tunneling microscopy of semiconductor-semiconductor carbon nanotube junctions with different band gaps. Characteristic features of the wave functions at different energy levels, such as a localized defect state, are clearly exhibited in the atomically resolved scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The peaks of the Van Hove singularity on each side penetrate and decay into the opposite side across the junction over a distance of 2 nm. These experimental features are accounted for, with the help of tight-binding calculation, by the presence of pentagon-heptagon pair defects at the junction.

Emotional and behavioural problems in primary school children were investigated with Rutter's questionnaires, in Japan (N = 2638), China (N = 2432) and Korea (N = 1975). The prevalence rates of children with deviant scores on the teachers' and parents' scales were 3.9 and 12.0% in Japan, 8.3 and 7.0% in China and 14.1 and 19.1% in Korea, respectively. Deviance of the antisocial type was more frequent than the neurotic type in Japan and China. Both types were almost equally frequent in Korea. The prevalence of deviance was higher in boys, and also higher in those children with poor school achievement. In China and Korea, the prevalence was higher in children from one-parent families. Although other family background factors had major effects on deviant behaviour in these two countries, the number of siblings and birth order had only a limited effect on the deviant behaviour of children in Japan, China and Korea.

No abstract

To stably maintain pregnancy, several genes are expressed in the uterus. In particular, the endometrial expression of genes encoding growth factors appears to play a key role in maternal-foetal communication. The previous studies characterized the endometrial expression kinetics of the genes encoding epidermal growth factor (EGF), its receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), amphiregulin (Areg), heparin-binding (Hb) EGF and calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) in pigs during implantation. Here, we further characterized the expression patterns of these molecules during the entire porcine pregnancy. Porcine uteri were collected at pregnancy days (PD) 12, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 110 and subjected to RT-PCR. EGF and EGFR showed similar expression patterns, being highly expressed around implantation and then disappearing. TGF-alpha and Areg expression levels rose steadily until they peaked at PD30, after which they gradually decreased to PD12 levels. This Areg mRNA expression pattern was confirmed by real-time PCR and similar Areg protein expression patterns were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis of PD60 uteri revealed Areg in the glandular and luminal epithelial cells. Hb EGF was steadily expressed throughout the entire pregnancy, while CaBP-9k was expressed strongly on PD12, and then declined sharply on PD15 before recovering slightly for the remainder of the pregnancy. Thus, the EGF family may play a key role during implantation in pigs. In addition, CaBP-9k may help to maintain uterine quiescence during pregnancy by sequestering cytoplasmic Ca(2+).

We report on the MR imaging findings in a case of spinal desmoplastic fibroma (DF). DF of the bone is a rare, locally aggressive tumor. It is commonly located in long bones, pelvis or mandible. DF involving the spine is extremely rare and difficult to distinguish from other bony lesions such as giant cell tumor, chordoma and fibrous dysplasia of the spine. This case of DF of the spine showed MR findings similar to those of DF arising in the metaphysis of a long bone.