Structure of microporous polypropylene sheets containing CaCO3 filler

The microporous polypropylene sheets were prepared by biaxially stretching polypropylene sheets containing CaCO₃ filler (particle size, 0.08–3.0 μm), when the CaCO₃ filler content was 59% by weight and the stretching ratio was 2.8 × 1.8. The microstructure of the sheets were investigated in relation to the CaCO₃ particle size by a N₂ gas permeation method. (1) Effective porosity increases with decreasing mean particle size of filler. (2) The tortuosity factor of the pore is in the range of 25–40 and becomes relatively smaller with decreasing mean particle size of filler. (3) The equivalent pore size becomes relatively smaller with decreasing mean particle size of filler.     

A novel on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection withcommon discharge line for high-speed CMOS LSIs

A novel on-chip electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for high-speed CMOS LSI's that operate at higher than 500 MHz has been developed. Introduction of a newly developed common discharge line (CDL) can completely eliminate the protection device influence on the inner circuit operation. This enables minimization of the I/O capacitance by shrinking the dimension of the output transistor, which also serves as a protection device in conventional devices. This new protection (CDL protection) was applied to a high-speed DRAM of which I/O pin capacitance specification is 2 pF. As a result, the ESD tolerance of 4 kV for the charged device model test, 4 kV for the human body model test, and 700 V for the machine model test were obtained. In addition, the DRAM data rate higher than 660 MHz at room temperature was achieved. The results show significant improvement for both ESD and the I/O capacitance, compared with the conventional structure     

Phenotypic diversity and kinetics of proliferating microglia and astrocytes following cortical stab wounds

Brain injury induces reactive gliosis, characterized by increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), astrocyte hypertrophy, and hyperplasia of astrocytes and microglia. One hypothesis tested in this study was whether ganglioside GD3+ glial precursor cells would contribute to macroglial proliferation following injury. Adult rats received a cortical stab wound. Proliferating cells were identified by immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and by [3H]-thymidine autoradiography, and cell phenotypes by immunocytochemical staining for GD3, GFAP, ED1 (for reactive microglia) and for Bandeiraea Simplicifolia isolectin-B4 binding (all microglia). Animals were labeled with thymidine at 1,2,3, and 4 days postlesion (dpl) and sacrificed at various times thereafter. Proliferating cells of each phenotype were quantified. A dramatic upregulation of GD3 on ramified microglia was seen in the ipsilateral hemisphere by 2 dpl. Proliferating cells consisted of microglia and fewer astrocytes. Microglia proliferated maximally at 2-3 dpl and one third to one half were GD3+. Astrocytes proliferated maximally at 3-4 dpl, and some were also GD3+. Both ramified and ameboid forms of microglia proliferated and by 4 dpl all GD3+ microglia were ED1+ and vice versa. In the contralateral cortex microglia expressed neither GD3 nor ED1. Thus they acquired these antigens when activated. Neither microglia nor astrocytes that were thymidine-labeled at 2, 3, or 4 dpl changed in number in subsequent days. Most thymidine+ astrocytes were large GFAP+ reactive cells that clearly arose from pre-existing astrocytes, not from GD3+ glial precursors. In this model of injury microglia proliferate earlier and to a much greater extent than astrocytes, they can divide when in ramified form, and GD3 is up-regulated in most reactive microglia and in a subset of reactive astrocytes. We also conclude that microglial proliferation precedes proliferation of invading blood-borne macrophages.     

Solid-Phase Syntheses of Two Deacetyl-Thymosin β4 Analogues with Substitution at Position 12 and Their Effects on Impaired Blastogenic Response of T Lymphocytes of Uremic Patients

Two deacetyl-thymosin β₄ analogues containing Phe(4Br) or D-Phe(4Br) as position 12 were synthesized by the manual solid-phase method, and their immunological effects on the impaired blastogenic response of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T lymphocytes of uremic patients with infectious diseases were studied. Bromination of the p-position of Phe¹² resulted in a marked restorative effect on the impaired blastogenic response of T lympocytes compared with that of our synthetic deacetyl-thymosin β₄ The synthetic [Phe(4Br)¹²]deacetyl-thymsin β₄ was approximately equal in potency to our synthetic [Phe(4F)¹²]deacetyl-thymosin β₄ in uremic patients, but the other analogue, [D-Phe(4Br)¹²]deacetyl-thymosin β₄, had no effect.     

Nondestructive readout mode static induction transistor (SIT) photosensors

The nondestructive readout (NDRO) performance of two static induction transistor (SIT) photosensors, a 40×40 pixel area array and a 140-b linear array, is examined. NDRO operation in the SIT sensors is demonstrated by imaging with the area array and by examining the output waveform of the linear array. The charge lost per NDRO cycle in the linear array was 0.014% near the saturation signal level, and no charge loss could be detected at the ⩽0.5 saturation level. NDRO performance in the area array was degraded compared to the linear array, due to the larger value of the load capacitance connected to the output electrode of the SIT. NDRO operation also enables the cancellation of both the photosite reset noise and the signal nonuniformity by subtracting the first NDRO output from the following NDRO outputs, as well as the advantage of monitoring the signal state during the integration period     

Effects of nondensifying inclusions on the densification and microstructure of zinc oxide matrix composites

The densification and microstructure development of ZnO containing Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂, ZrO₂, and aggregated ZnO were investigated to elucidate the effect of nondensifying inclusions on the sintering of ceramic/ceramic composites. The inclusion retarded the densification, and the degree of retardation was found to depend on the chemical species of inclusion; Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ had the largest effect, followed by ZrO₂ and then aggregated ZnO last. The experimental results for aggregated ZnO was explained by the theory which predicts the generation of backstresses. The backstresses give a less significant effect on the densification. For Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ and ZrO₂, the microstructure of the matrix varied with distance from an inclusion particle; much porosity was observed in the region surrounding the inclusion. Circumferential voids, which are responsible for the suppression of densification, form during the initial stage of sintering. Inclusion particles generate an anchoring effect which retards the densification of the matrix immediately surrounding the inclusion particle during the intermediate stage.Supported by the Inamori Foundation.     

Annealing behavior of Ar ion irradiated Bi2Sr2Can-1CunO4+2n superlattice and intergrowth films

Artificially layered Bi₂Sr₂Ca_n–1Cu_nO_4+n films were synthesized by sequential sputter deposition of BiO, SrCu_0.5O_1.5 and CaCuO₂ layers. Annealing behavior of these films which were irradiated by Ar ions was studied. Defect assisted improvement of their crystalline perfection is expected which might results in the improvement of the superconducting properties of these films. An artificial film, such as an intergrowth of 2223 and 2234 phases, and superstructure films of (2245)₁(2201)₁ and (2234)₁(2212)₁, were irradiated by Ar ions (150 keV, 2–10×10¹² ions/cm₂) and annealed at 730 °C. An improvement of superconducting transition temperatures were observed.     

Suppurative lesions without prominent epithelioid cell response in abscess-forming granulomatous lymphadenitis

To clarify the clinicopathological significance of the suppurative lesions without an epithelioid granulomatous response (SLs without Ep) in lymph nodes and their relationship to abscess-forming granulomatous lymphadenitis (AGL) and cat scratch disease (CSD), 10 cases were assessed clinicopathologically and immunohistologically. SLs without Ep were located in the subcapsular sinus, paracortical area and medullary cords, but not in the germinal centers. The microabscesses were surrounded by collections of monocytoid B-lymphocytes (MBLs), histiocytes without epithelioid features, neutrophils, small lymphocytes and small numbers of plasma cells. The majority of the MBLs seen in the SLs without Ep were of the large cell type. The histological triad of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, i.e., reactive follicular hyperplasia, small clusters of epithelioid cells and aggregates of MBLs, were also seen in all cases. Some of the clinical and pathological findings in our 10 cases were characteristic of CSD, i.e., (1) cat exposure before the lymphadenopathy was in four of the 10 cases, (2) occurrence in autumn and winter months in all cases, (3) typical suppurative granulomas surrounded by palisaded epithelioid cells were in four of the 10 cases, and (4) Warthin-Starry silver stain-positive bacteria were detected in seven of the 10 cases. The results of our study suggest that SLs without Ep are an early stage of CSD.     

Cytomegalovirus disease accompanied by severe hypoproteinemia in a patient with adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma

A 62-year-old Japanese man complained of fever, general fatigue, anorexia and watery diarrhea during remission of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Laboratory examinations showed severe hypoproteinemia (2.9 g/dl). However, neither intestinal lesions associated with ATL nor findings suggesting protein losing gastroenteropathy were observed. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen detection assay using peripheral blood leukocytes revealed that he had an active CMV infection with hemophagocytic syndrome. Treatment with ganciclovir and methylprednisolone led to an improvement of hypoproteinemia. CMV disease and associated hemophagocytic syndrome should be considered as a cause of hypoproteinemia in an immunocompromised host.     

Environmental effect on room- temperature ductility of isothermally forged tial- base alloys

Isothermally forged TiAl-base alloys (Al-rich, Mn-containing, and Cr-containing TiAl) were heat-treated in various conditions, and equiaxed grain structures consisting of γ and α₂ or Β phases were obtained. The heat-treated alloys were tensile tested in vacuum and air at room temperature, and the environmental effect on tensile elongation was studied. The ductility of the alloys consisting of equiaxed γ grains and a large amount of α₂ grains was not largely affected by laboratory air, and a decrease in the amount of α₂ grains resulted in a large reduction of ductility in air. The Β phase in the Cr-containing alloy improved the ductility in vacuum, but it resulted in a large reduction of ductility in air. Formerly with Kougakuin University, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Formerly with National Research Institute for Metals, Meguro-ku, Tokyo,