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A new spherical harmonic solution of the lunar gravity field to degree and order 100, called SGM100h, has been developed using historical tracking data and 14.2 months of SELENE tracking data (from 20 October 2007 to 26 December 2008 plus 30 January 2009). The latter includes all usable 4‐way Doppler data collected which allowed direct observations of the farside gravity field for the first time. The new model successfully reveals farside features in free‐air gravity anomalies which are characterized by ring‐shaped structures for large impact basins and negative spots for large craters. SGM100h produces a correlation with SELENE‐derived topography as high as about 0.9, through degree 70. Comparison between SGM100h and LP100K (one of the pre‐SELENE models) shows that the large gravity errors which existed in LP100K are drastically reduced and the asymmetric error distribution between the nearside and the farside almost disappears. The gravity anomaly errors predicted from the error covariance, through degree and order 100, are 26 mGal and 35 mGal for the nearside and the farside, respectively. Owing to the 4‐way Doppler measurements the gravity coefficients below degree and order 70 are now determined by real observations with contribution factors larger than 80 percent. With the SELENE farside data coverage, it is possible to estimate the gravity field to degree and order 70 without applying any a priori constraint or regularization. SGM100h can be used for global geophysical interpretation through degree and order 70.

A lunar gravity field model up to degree and order 100 in spherical harmonics, named SGM100i, has been determined from SELENE and historical tracking data, with an emphasis on using same-beam S-band differential VLBI data obtained in the SELENE mission between January 2008 and February 2009. Orbit consistency throughout the entire mission period of SELENE as determined from orbit overlaps for the two sub-satellites of SELENE involved in the VLBI tracking improved consistently from several hundreds of metres to several tens of metres by including differential VLBI data. Through orbits that are better determined, the gravity field model is also improved by including these data. Orbit determination performance for the new model shows improvements over earlier 100th degree and order models, especially for edge-on orbits over the deep far side. Lunar Prospector orbit determination shows an improvement of orbit consistency from 1-day predictions for 2-day arcs of 6 m in a total sense, with most improvement in the along and cross-track directions. Data fit for the types and satellites involved is also improved. Formal errors for the lower degrees are smaller, and the new model also shows increased correlations with topography over the far side. The estimated value for the lunar GM for this model equals 4902.80080±0.0009 km 3 /s 2 (10 sigma). The lunar degree 2 potential Love number k 2 was also estimated, and has a value of 0.0255 ± 0.0016 (10 sigma as well).

Same beam very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the two subsatellites of SELENE (KAGUYA) are demonstrated for purpose of the precise gravimetry of the Moon. Same beam VLBI contributes a great deal to cancel out the tropospheric and ionospheric delays and to determine the absolute value of the cycle ambiguity by using the multifrequency VLBI method. As a result, the differential phase delay of the X‐band signal is estimated within an error of below 1 ps. This accuracy is more than 1 order of magnitude smaller than former VLBI results. The preliminary results for the orbit determination of the subsatellites show a decrease of the orbit error from a few hundreds of meters to around 10 m when the differential phase delay data are added to the conventional range and Doppler data. These results reveal the possibility of precise gravimetry.

The Japanese lunar mission, Selenological and Engineering Explorer (Kaguya), which was successfully launched on 14 September 2007, consists of a main satellite and two small satellites, Rstar and Vstar. Same‐beam very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of Rstar and Vstar were performed for 15.4 months from November 2007 to February 2009 using eight VLBI stations. In 2008, S band same‐beam VLBI observations totaling 476 h on 179 days were undertaken. The differential phase delays were successfully estimated for most (about 85%) of the same‐beam VLBI observation periods. The high success rate was mainly due to the continuous data series measuring the differential correlation phase between Rstar and Vstar. The intrinsic measurement error in the differential phase delay was less than 1 mm RMS for small separation angles and increased to approximately 2.5 mm RMS for the largest separation angles (up to 0.56 deg). The long‐term atmospheric and ionospheric delays along the line of sight were reduced to a low level (several tens of milimeters) using the same‐beam VLBI observations, and further improved through application of GPS techniques. Combining the eight‐station (four Japanese telescopes of VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry and four international telescopes) S band same‐beam VLBI data with Doppler and range data, the accuracy of the orbit determination was improved from a level of several tens of meters when only using Doppler and range data to a level of 10 m. As a preliminary test of the technique, the coefficient sigma degree variance of the lunar gravity field was compared with and without 4 months of VLBI data included. A significant reduction below around 10 deg (especially for the second degree) was observed when the VLBI data were included. These observations confirm that the VLBI data contribute to improvements in the accuracy of the orbit determination and through this to the lunar gravity field model.

A quantum spin system is seldom observed in f-electron compounds, probably because their magnetic ground states are represented by the total angular momentum J which is usually much larger than 1/2. One of exceptional cases is Yb4As3, which behaves as a one-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet. Recently, a new candidate of the quantum spin system YbAl3C3 with the ScAl3C3 type crystal structure has been found, where a magnetic dimer ground state is realized at low temperatures. To investigate the mechanism of the magnetic dimer formation in YbAl3C3, we have prepared several rare earth compounds RAl3C3with the ScAl3C3 type crystal structure and compared their physical properties with those of YbAl3C3.

ABSTRACT Background Carnitine deficiency is common in patients on hemodialysis. However, the efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation for improving lean body mass (LBM) and physical function has not yet been evaluated. Methods In this multicenter, prospective, parallel, randomized, controlled trial, 91 patients on hemodialysis who developed carnitine deficiency were randomly assigned to receive injections of 1,000 mg L-carnitine 3 times per week after each hemodialysis session (L-carnitine group) or no injections (control group) with monitoring for 12 months. Results The data for 84 of the 91 patients were available for analysis (L-carnitine group, n  = 42; control group, n  = 42). Dry weight and body mass index did not significantly change in the l -carnitine group, but significantly decreased in the control group. Arm muscle area (AMA) did not change significantly in the L-carnitine group but decreased significantly in the control group; the difference in mean AMA between the groups was 6.22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.90–10.5; P  = 0.037). Hand grip strength did not change significantly in the L-carnitine group, but decreased significantly in the control group. The difference in change in hand grip strength between the groups was 4.27% (95% CI 0.42–8.12; P  = 0.030). Furthermore, LBM did not change significantly in the l -carnitine group but decreased significantly in the control group; the difference in mean LBM between the groups was 2.92 % (95% CI 1.28–4.61; P  = 0.0007). Conclusions l -carnitine supplementation is useful in patients who develop carnitine deficiency on hemodialysis because it maintains physical function and LBM.

Background: In hemodialysis (HD) patients, zinc depletion caused by inadequate intake, malabsorption, and removal by HD treatment leads to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) hyporesponsiveness. This study investigated the effects of zinc supplementation in HD patients with zinc deficiency on changes in the erythropoietin responsiveness index (ERI). Methods: Patients on HD with low serum zinc levels (<65 μg/dL) were randomly assigned to two groups: The polaprezinc group (who received daily polaprezinc, containing 34 mg/day of zinc) (n = 35) and the control group (no supplementation) (n = 35) for 12 months. All the 70 patients had been taking epoetin alpha as treatment for renal anemia. ERI was measured with the following equation: Weekly ESA dose (units)/dry weight (kg)/hemoglobin (g/dL). Results: There were no significant changes in hemoglobin levels within groups or between the control and polaprezinc groups during the study period. Although reticulocyte counts were increased immediately after zinc supplementation, this change was transient. Serum zinc levels were significantly increased and serum copper levels were significantly decreased in the polaprezinc group after three months; this persisted throughout the study period. Although there was no significant change in the serum iron or transferrin saturation levels in the polaprezinc group during the study period, serum ferritin levels significantly decreased following polaprezinc treatment. Further, in the polaprezinc group, ESA dosage and ERI were significantly decreased at 10 months and nine months, respectively, as compared with the baseline value. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the change in the serum zinc level was an independent predictor of lowered ERI. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation reduces ERI in patients undergoing HD and may be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with renal anemia and low serum zinc levels.

Ultrasonic measurements were made on a single crystal of the unfilled skutterudite compounds RhSb3 and IrSb3 and compare with that of the filled skutterudite PrOs4 Sb12 to elucidate the role of the guest ions Pr. A characteristic increase was observed around 30 K in the temperature dependence of elastic constants (C11-C12)/2 and C44 which is ascribed to unusual vibration \"rattling\" of Pr ions in an atomic cage formed by Sb-icosahedron. On the other hand, the elastic constants C11, (C11-C12)/2 and C44 increase monotonically with decreasing temperature in the case of RhSb3 and IrSb3. No such a characteristic increase was observed. These results give us a piece of evidence that the guest ions would play a crucial role for \"rattling motion\" in filled skutterudite compounds.

Purpose: To present an alternative to the recent proposal that the extant theories of nursing be replaced with culture‐specific theories of nursing in order to have theories of nursing that are culturally responsive. Method: A philosophical analysis of the implications for nursing practice of adopting the proposal serves as the basis for recommending a different philosophically based theoretical solution. Anticipated probable objections to that recommendation are considered. Conclusion: Culture‐specific theories of nursing might allow nurses to be culturally sensitive. However, because nurses must be humanly responsive to the needs of people as human beings and not just as cultural beings, cultural theories of nursing should be developed within the precepts of a transcultural theory of nursing grounded in a conception of objective human needs and values.

Background and Aims: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease patients often exhibit a deficiency in l-carnitine due to loss during hemodialysis (HD). We studied the effects of l-carnitine supplementation on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of atherosclerosis, in HD patients. Methods: This was a prospective, open-label, randomized, parallel controlled, multi-center trial testing the anti-atherosclerotic efficacy of oral l-carnitine administration (20 mg/kg/day). HD patients (n = 176, mean age, 67.2 ± 10.3 years old; mean duration of HD, 54 ± 51 months) with plasma free l-carnitine deficiency (<40 μmol/L) were randomly assigned to the oral l-carnitine group (n = 88) or control group (n = 88) and monitored during 12 months of treatment. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline clinical variables between the l-carnitine and control groups. l-carnitine supplementation for 12 months significantly increased total, free, and acyl carnitine levels, and reduced the acyl/free carnitine ratio. The baPWV value decreased from 2085 ± 478 cm/s at baseline to 1972 ± 440 cm/s after six months (p < 0.05) to 1933 ± 363 cm/s after 12 months (p < 0.001) of l-carnitine administration, while no significant changes in baPWV were observed in the control group. Baseline baPWV was the only factor significantly correlated with the decrease in baPWV. Conclusions: l-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced baPWV in HD patients. l-carnitine may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.