以辉锑矿为原料放电等离子烧结快速制备黝铜矿Cu_(12)Sb_4S_(13)及反应机理

采用辉锑矿为原料成功制备出Cu_(12)Sb_4S_(13)块体。研究以Sb_2S_3矿物为原料时烧结工艺对Cu_(12)Sb_4S_(13)合成的影响。在400 ～ 440℃温度区间内均可快速合成Cu_(12)Sb_4S_(13)块体且二次烧结能够进一步减小中间相CuSbS_2和Cu_3SbS_3。第二相Cu_3SbS_4和残留相CuS随着烧结时间的延长而降低。二次烧结前进行机械化球磨处理,干磨比湿磨更容易减小残留相。初次烧结块体的断面SEM和EDS能谱分析表明内部存在Cu或Cu_2S颗粒团聚现象。适当降低Cu或CuS摩尔量(化学计量比0.1 mol)能促进烧结块表面反应进行。烧结过程中,硫磺蒸汽压的导致烧结块表面成分和内部粉末的成分不同。     

Hot carrier analysis in low-temperature poly-Si thin-film transistors using pico-second time-resolved emission microscope

We have analyzed degradation of N-channel thin-film-transistor (TFT) under dynamic stress using a pico-second time-resolved emission microscope. We have successfully detected emission at pulse fall edge for the first time. Emission intensity increased with the decrease of pulse fall time. As the degradation depended on the pulse fall time, this dependence clearly illustrates that hot electrons are the dominant cause of the degradation under dynamic stress. Based on these dependences, we proposed a model considering electron traps in the poly-Si.     

Molecular cloning of human Frizzled-6

The Frizzled genes encode receptors for WNTs, secreted glycoproteins implicated in development as well as in carcinogenesis. In this paper, we report molecular cloning of Hfz6, the human homologue of Mfz6. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the Hfz6 gene encodes the 706 amino-acid protein with seven transmembrane domains, a cystein-rich domain in the N-terminal extracellular region, two N-linked glycosylation sites, and two cystein residues in the second and third extracellular loops. Hfz6 mRNA 4.4-kb in size was detected in various normal adult and fetal tissues, and a larger amount of Hfz6 mRNA was detected in both fetal lung and fetal kidney. The Hfz6 gene has been mapped to human chromosome 8q22.3-q23.1. In conclusion, we have cloned Hfz6, which encodes a seven-transmembrane receptor with the cystein-rich domain in the N-terminal extracellular region, but without the Ser/Thr-X-Val motif in the C-terminus.     

Inhibitory effect of bifemelane on superoxide generation by activated neutrophils measured using a simple chemiluminescence method

We evaluated the effect of 4-(2-benzylphenoxy)-N-methylbutylamine hydrochloride (bifemelane hydrochloride) on superoxide production by human neutrophils using an MCLA-dependent chemiluminescence assay. Bifemelane hydrochloride dose-dependently inhibited superoxide production by neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate, opsonized zymosan, or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, while it had no effect on superoxide production by a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. These results indicate that bifemelane hydrochloride does not have a scavenging effect, but has an inhibitory effect on superoxide generation by neutrophils. Although this drug is commonly used for treating chronic cerebral infarction, it may also have a protective effect on acute ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Preparation of SiB4±x and SiB6 plates by chemical vapour deposition of SiCl4 + B2H6 system

SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates were prepared by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using SiCl₄, B₂H₆ and H₂ gases under the conditions of deposition temperatures (T _dep) from 1323–1773 K, total gas pressures (P _tot) from 4–40 kPa and B/Si source gas ratio (m _B/Si=2B₂H₆/SiCl₄) from 0.2–2.8. The effects of CVD conditions on the morphology, structure and composition of the deposits were examined. High-purity and high-density SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates about 1 mm thick were obtained at the deposition rates of 71 and 47 nm s⁻¹, respectively. The lattice parameter, composition and density of CVD SiB_4±x plates were dependent on their non-stoichiometry. The lattice parameter,a, was 0.6325 nm, butc ranged from 1.262–1.271 nm.The B/Si atomic ratio ranged from 3.1–5.0, and the density ranged from 2.39–2.45×10³ kg m⁻³. The CVD SiB₆ plates showed constant values of lattice parameters (a=1.444 nm,b=1.828 nm,c=0.9915 nm), composition (B/Si=6.0) and density (2.42×10³ kg m⁻³), independent of CVD conditions.     

Clinical implications of chromosomal abnormalities in 401 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a multicentric study in Japan

It is well known that cytogenetic analysis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) provides information useful in determining their prognosis. Based on the chromosomal results obtained from 401 MDS patients by a multicentric study in Japan, we studied correlations between chromosomal findings and prognosis or leukemic transformation in MDS patients. Patients with complex aberrations (cytogenetic abnormalities at more than three chromosomes), of any subtype, had a poor prognosis; for example, > 60% of patients with refractory anemia (RA) showing complex aberrations died within one year, but only 11% of them developed leukemia. In patients with RA with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), > 70% of those with complex aberrations evolved into the leukemic phase and survived for less than one year, suggesting a biologic heterogeneity in RARS patients. By contrast, about 5% of patients with RA or RARS exhibiting chromosomal findings other than -7/7q-, +8, two aberrations, and complex aberrations, developed leukemia and had a favorable prognosis. Therefore, the presence of chromosome abnormalities alone in patients with RA or RARS is not a factor in predicting leukemic transformation or poor prognosis. In patients with refractory anemia with an excess of blasts (RAEB), the presence of chromosome aberrations at MDS diagnosis affected the occurrence of leukemic transformation (24% versus 43%), however, no particular difference was noted in patients with RAEB in transformation with regard to whether they had chromosome changes or not, and about 60% of them evolved into leukemia. The poor prognosis related to complex aberrations was consistently noted in all MDS subtypes or age-matched groups, indicating that this cytogenetic anomaly is an independent risk factor for a poor prognosis in MDS patients. The duration between MDS diagnosis and development of the leukemic phase and that between the latter and death were significantly shorter in patients with complex aberrations than those without this change. Although the clinical significance of certain chromosomal abnormalities differs among subtypes of MDS, a new scoring system for predicting prognosis by cytogenetic changes, in combination with hematologic parameters, was proposed.     

Effect of ecabet sodium on Helicobacter pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality in a cohort of intoxicated ED patients 5 years after presentation and to compare them with those of non-intoxicated ED patients. METHODS: The study group comprised 150 consecutive ED patients who presented with intoxication (blood alcohol level higher than 100 mg/dL) in June 1986 and 50 control patients matched for age, sex, ED arrival time, and date. The setting was an urban university hospital ED. Morbidity and mortality over a 5-year follow-up period were measured using hospital ED and admission records from all state Level I trauma centers and computerized statewide databases. RESULTS: The 5-year mortality rate among alcohol-intoxicated patients was 2.4 times that of the comparison group (95% confidence interval, .3 to 18.9). The 5-year death rate among intoxicated patients aged 40 to 69 years was especially high (19%). Thirty-seven percent of the intoxicated patients made at least one alcohol-related ED revisit during the follow-up period, compared with 6% of the comparison group (P < .001). Intoxicated patients were more likely to revisit EDs because of suicidal behavior or domestic violence (P = .001). Admission to an alcohol detoxification unit during the follow-up period occurred in 24% of the intoxicated patients, compared with 10% of the sober controls (P = .03). At least one arrest for drunk driving occurred in 47% of the intoxicated group; the rate was lower, but still substantial, in the comparison group (20%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: A single alcohol-related ED visit is an important predictor of continued problem drinking, alcohol-impaired driving and, possibly, premature death.     

A new method for power generation planning and problems of uncertainty

This paper presents a new method for power system planning which considers uncertainties of various system parameters as a part of the criterion function. The criterion function involves both the expected values of total system costs and the cost variances of different power plants. Previously, the authors proposed that these cost variances be evaluated from the existing power system plans in the form of the solutions to the inverse optimization problem, and then applied this procedure to the planning of power systems in Japan. However, because of the correlation between fuel and facility costs, the cost variances could not be determined as specific values. Here, to overcome this difficulty, the authors now introduce hydropower plants into the model as the so-called nonrisky elements and focus on the expenditure shares rather than the plant capacity shares. As a result, more reasonable results are obtained. This improved methodology is applied and the derived cost variances are shown. Further, using the resultant cost variances, the authors make Pareto-optimal power generation plans and demonstrate also the robustness of the method to price fluctuations.     

Inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by cell growth-related molecules

Certain MHC class I molecules on target cells are known to inhibit the cytotoxic action of NK cells. By using monoclonal antibody (mAb) Cho-1, we have found inhibitory non-MHC class I cell surface molecules that are noncovalently-associated with 200 kDa and 40 kDa antigens. Poly I-C-induced rat NK cells were not cytotoxic to rat fetus-derived fibroblast WFB cell line. In contrast, NK cells were cytotoxic to H-ras oncogene-induced transformants of WFB, W14 and W31. FACS analysis indicated that mAb Cho-1 reacts with WFB, but not with W14 and W31 cells. Thus, this antigen may disappear concomitantly with cell growth and transformation. Cho-1 antigens were also expressed on other NK-resistant lines, such as mouse BALB3T3 fibroblast, EL-4 lymphoma and human fibroblast HEPM. However, they were not expressed on NK-sensitive mouse YAC-1 and H-ras transformant (Brash) of BALB3T3 cells. Furthermore, treatment of target cells with IFN-gamma clearly induced the cell surface expression of Cho-1 antigens, and conferred a resistance to NK cytolysis on target cells. These data strongly suggest that Cho-1 antigen expression may correlate with target cell susceptibility to NK cells. Indeed, treatment of NK-resistant WFB as well as HEPM cells with F(ab')2 fragments of mAb Cho-1 resulted in the acquisition of susceptibility to NK cytolysis. Cho-1 antigens may be novel molecules that regulate the NK resistance of cells.