We report a new process which promises high critical current density in oxide superconductors. The process consists of three stages. Firstly a YBa2Cu3O x sample is rapidly heated and quenched from the Y2O3 plus liquid region. Subsequently the quenched sample is reheated to the Y2BaCuO5 plus liquid region, and then slowly cooled with a temperature gradient in flowing oxygen. The process enables us to grow a superconducting phase unidirectionally and to suppress the second phase intrusion, leading to the production of well textured YBa2Cu3O x which yields a high J c value in the presence of magnetic fields. It is also found that Bean's critical state is realized in such high J c samples.

The objective of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of porous bioactive titanium metal for use in a spinal fusion device, based on a prospective human clinical trial. A high-strength spinal interbody fusion device was manufactured from porous titanium metal. A bioactive surface was produced by simple chemical and thermal treatment. Five patients with unstable lumbar spine disease were treated surgically using this device in a clinical trial approved by our Ethics Review Committee and the University Hospital Medical Information Network. Clinical and radiological results were reported at the minimum follow-up period of 1 year. The optimal mechanical strength and interconnected structure of the porous titanium metal were adjusted for the device. The whole surface of porous titanium metal was treated uniformly and its bioactive ability was confirmed before clinical use. Successful bony union was achieved in all cases within 6 months without the need for autologous iliac crest bone grafting. Two specific findings including an anchoring effect and gap filling were evident radiologically. All clinical parameters improved significantly after the operation and no adverse effects were encountered during the follow-up period. Although a larger and longer-term follow-up clinical study is mandatory to reach any firm conclusions, the study results show that this porous bioactive titanium metal is promising material for a spinal fusion device.

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Since accessibility is an essential factor in land-use and transport planning, several methods have been developed to evaluate it. Nevertheless, it has seldom been an essential part of performance measures for policy evaluation from the viewpoint of individuals' quality of life (QoL). The objective of this study is to develop an integrated evaluation method of accessibility, QoL, and social interaction which contributes to the evaluation of land-use and transport policies for livable and sustainable urban development. In this paper, based on quantification of the weights of multielements of QoL, we develop a QoL-based accessibility measure and a QoL performance measure to address appropriate policies of land-use transport coordination and integration by disentangling the mismatch between real urban structures and people's demand for QoL. Furthermore, we explore embryonic ideas for the development of a generalised framework of QoL evaluation, incorporating social interactions and institutional design which link the QoL concept with quality of space and quality of procedure.

Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and flow cytometric analyses were performed on vulvar angiomyofibroblastomas in six women (ages 32 to 46 years; average age, 41.3 years). The tumors were all well circumscribed, and measured 2 to 9 cm in greatest dimension. Five tumors were clinically diagnosed as Bartholin's gland cysts. At histologic analysis, the tumors were characterized by alternating hypercellular and hypocellular edematous areas with abundant blood vessels. The hypercellular areas showed a perivascular proliferation of spindle-shaped and round cells, which often formed small nests or epithelioid arrangements, and a short fascicular pattern of spindle cells. The proliferating vessels were thin-walled and capillary-sized. Cellular atypia and mitotic figures were absent. TwoThe term "angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva" was coined by Fletcher et al 1 in 1992. This rare neoplasm is a d i s t i n c t i v e c l i n i c o p a t h o l o g i c entity. The well-circumscribed tumor generally arises in the superficial soft tissues of the vulva and is often clinically diagnosed as a Bartholin's gland cyst. The tumor is often misdiagnosed at pathologic analysis as aggressive angiomyxoma. The tumor does not recur after excision. To our knowledge, 43 vulval angiomyofibroblastomas have been reported in the English language literature.1-6 Recently these tumors were described in the vaginal and inguinal areas, and even the scrotum.2-6 We report our findings in six vulval angiomyofibroblastomas examined with immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and flow cytometric analyses and discuss their histogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODSSix case reports of vulval angiomyofibroblastoma treated between 1982 and 1996 were retrieved from the surgical pathology files at Jikei University Medical Center and the consultation files of one of the authors (M.F.). All tissue specimens were obtained by excision. The excised tumors were fixed in buffered formalin solution and embedded in paraffin. Sections were routinely stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and some also were stained with periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, and Masson trichrome stains.Immunohistochemical studies were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method (ABC kit, Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif) and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. Primary antibodies against the following antigens were used: vimentin (monoclonal, diluted 1:40; Amersham, Little Chalfont, England), desmin (polyclonal, 1:50;