Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are believed to be indirect evidence for black holes. Several authors have reported detections of QPOs from Sgr A*, the nucleus of our Galaxy, in infrared and X-ray wavelength during flare-ups. Miyoshi et al. (2011) reported a tentative detection of QPOs in the 43 GHz light curve of Sgr A* obtained with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). To confirm their detection, we reanalysed their VLBA data very conservatively. The 43 GHz flux was calculated for every 15 seconds by assuming a two-dimensional Gaussian-shape spatial structure. The Lomb-Scargle periodogram of the 43 GHz flux just after a millimeter wave flare of Sgr A*, shows three apparent peaks at 10.2, 14.6 and 32.1 min. Two of them are barely consistent with the previously reported QPOs. Using the resonant oscillation model, we estimated the spin parameter of the Sgr A* black hole to be 0.56 assuming the mass of 4.3 × 106 M ⊙.

We have carried out an extensive survey of Hα emission stars in the Orion region over an area of about 100 deg2. We present the results for the areas A-0975 and A-0976 of about 25 deg2 each.

In this paper, the effect of shock compression on the synthesis of a Bi-based oxide superconductor was investigated. Bi1.85-Pb0.35-Sr1.90-Ca2.05-Cu3.05-O x calcined powder was shock-compacted around 20 GPa and 30 GPa, and divided specimens were annealed at 845 °C for 1, 6 and 48 hours. The specimens were evaluated by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope.

The ultrastructure of Betz cells in the 5th layer of the primary motor cortex of 17 neurologically and psychiatrically normal control individuals was studied. Normal-appearing Betz cells showed a wide range of features including novel electron-dense inclusion bodies (Bunina-like bodies) resembling Bunina bodies characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accumulations of neurofilaments (10 nm in diameter), bundles of filaments (20–25 nm in diameter) thicker than neurofilaments, lamellar structures, lamellar bodies and structures similar to Hirano bodies. Among these ‘abnormal’ features, the presence of Bunina-like bodies may be an age-related nonspecific degenerative change, since they appeared more frequently in elderly individuals. The presence of these abnormal features—particularly the Bunina-like bodies—in the Betz cells of normal human brains must be considered in the assessment of the pathognomonic significance of such structures in ALS and other neurological diseases that affect the motor cortex.