Early therapy with interferon for acute hepatitis C acquired through a needlestick

Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells have been widely used in studies of DNA damage and DNA repair. Since the p53 gene is involved in normal responses to DNA damage, we have analyzed the molecular genetics and functional status of p53 in V79 cells and primary Chinese hamster embryonic fibroblast (CHEF) cells. The coding product of the p53 gene in CHEF cells was 76 and 75% homologous to human and mouse p53 respectively, and was 95% homologous to the Syrian hamster cells. The V79 p53 sequence contained two point mutations located within a presumed DNA binding domain, as compared with the CHEF cells. Additional immunocytochemical and molecular studies confirmed that the p53 protein in V79 cells was mutated and nonfunctional. Our results indicate that caution should be used in interpreting studies of DNA damage, DNA repair and apoptosis in V79 cells.     

4*4 directional coupler switch matrix with an InGaAlAs/InAlAs multiquantum well structure

A 4*4 directional coupler switch matrix is developed which uses, for the first time, the quantum confined Stark effect of InGaAlAs/InAlAs multiquantum well structures. The rearrangeable nonblocking 4*4 network with six 2*2 switches is shown to be perfectly functional with switching voltages between 5 and 6 V and crosstalk below -17 dB in all the operation states.<>     

Beam test of the CsI(Tl) calorimeter for the BELLE detector at the KEK-B factory

We studied the performance of a prototype electromagnetic calorimeter for the BELLE detector at the KEK proton synchrotron for an energy range of 0.25–3.5 GeV. The prototype consisted of an array of 6 × 5 CsI(Tl) crystals with 30 cm length (16.2 radiation lengths) and about 6 cm × 6 cm cross section. The scintillation light of each CsI(Tl) crystal was read out by two large-area PIN photodiodes and charge-sensitive preamplifiers attached at the rear face of the crystal. We measured the energy and position resolution for electrons and the e/π separation for two sets of matrix configurations: one corresponded to the center and the other to the edge of the barrel calorimeter. The overall performance measured by the test proves that the prototype calorimeter is satisfactory for the use in the BELLE detector.     

An On-Chip Multichannel Waveform Monitor for Diagnosis of Systems-on-a-Chip Integration

An on-chip multichannel waveform monitoring technique enhances built-in test and diagnostic capabilities of systems- on-a-chip (SoC) integration. The proposed multichannel monitor includes multiple probing front-end modules and a single shared waveform acquisition kernel that consists of an incremental variable step delay generator and an incremental reference voltage generator, featuring adaptive sample time generation for the operation of a target circuit and unidirectional waveform acquisition flow for area-efficient control. A 16-channel prototype in 0.18-mum CMOS technology demonstrated on-chip waveform acquisition at 40-ps and 200-muV resolutions. Combined on- and off-chip streamed-bit processing achieves background continuous waveform acquisition at 260 ms per single timing point for repetitive signals, while eliminating the integration of on-die high-capacity memory. A 700 mum times 600 mum area was occupied by a waveform acquisition kernel and an additional 60 mum times 100 mum area for each front-end module. The developed on-chip multichannel waveform monitoring technique is waveform accurate, area efficient, and suitable for diagnosis toward power supply and signal integrity in analog and digital circuits in mixed-signal SoC integration.     

FDTD analysis of switching characteristics in magnetooptic functional devices using magnetostatic surface waves

Collinear magnetooptic interaction with magnetostatic surface waves (MSSW) can be used for wavelength‐selective switches, wavelength filters, and frequency shifters in wavelength‐division‐multiplexed (WDM) photonic networks and optical processing systems. The switching efficiency can be improved with a multilayer waveguide structure. To investigate the dynamic switching characteristics, the FDTD method was employed. The mode conversion between TE and TM mode was successfully demonstrated with FDTD simulation. The filtering characteristics were also evaluated. The FDTD results were compared with the result from the coupled mode theory, and good agreement was obtained. Switching of an optical pulse was also demonstrated by the FDTD method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(1): 40–47, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20501     

Subcellular localization of Bcl-2 protein in synovial sarcoma

The subcellular localization of Bcl-2 protein in surgically resected, fixed-frozen tissue specimens of seven tumors from six cases of synovial sarcoma and a synovial sarcoma cell line was examined using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. Bcl-2 protein in synovial sarcoma cells was detected in the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and mitochondrial circumference. Based on the finding of pre-embedding immunoelectron-microscopy observation, the distribution of Bcl-2 protein in such membranous organella was patchy. A computer-based image analysis failed to reveal any quantitative differences between the inner and the outer mitochondrial membranes. The tumorigenesis of synovial sarcoma is also discussed from the viewpoint of Bcl-2 overexpression.     

Dynamic moduli for short fiber-CR composites

The dynamic moduli, E′ and E″, and tan δ for nylon–CR and PET–CR composites with unidirectional short fibers were studied as a function of temperature by using a Rheovibron. The temperature dependence of tan δ showed two dispersion peaks for nylon–CR composite. The peak at ?28°C corresponded to the main dispersion of CR and the peak at 100°C to the α-dispersion of nylon 6. For a PET-CR composite, in addition to the individual dispersion of CR and PET, a small and broad peak was observed at about 90°C. The angular dependence of E′ indicated that the short fibers assumed good orientation. The storage modulus for the composites was given by the parallel model as E′ = V_f′E_f + V_mE′_m., where E′_c, E′_f and E′_m were the storage modulus for the composite, fiber, and matrix and V_f and V_m were the volume fraction of fiber and matrix, respectively. In the transverse direction of fiber, the peak values of tan δ at ?28°C were given by the following equation; tan δ_c = tan δ_m ? δV_f, where tan δ_c and tan δ_m are the loss tangent for the composite and matrix, respectively, and α is coefficient depending on fiber type. The results indicated that a region with strong interaction was formed between fibers and CR matrix.     

Prediction model of compressive strength development of fly-ash concrete

Based on experimental results concerning the compressive strength development of concrete containing fly ash, the authors derived an estimation equation for compressive strength development. The equation can express coefficient , which indicates the activity of fly ash as a binder, in the form of a function of age, fly-ash content, and Blaine specific surface area of fly ash.

This equation is capable of explaining the increases in the early strength due to fly ash in place of part of fine aggregate, the decreases in the early strength due to fly ash in place of part of cement, the increases in the long-term strength due to pozzolanic reaction, the relationship between the fly-ash replacement ratio and the ratio of strength increase/decrease, and the effect of fly ash's Blaine specific surface area on the strength.