The Ig heavy chain gene is frequently involved in chromosomal translocations in multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia as detected by in situ hybridization

Chromosome rearrangement of 14q32.33 has recurrently occurred with variable partner sites, including 11q13.3, 8q24.1, 18q21.3, and 6p21.1 in multiple myeloma (MM). To assess the actual incidence of 14q32.33 translocation and to elucidate its implication in the pathogenesis of MM, we studied 42 patients with MM, plasma cell leukemia, or plasmacytoma and 5 with monoclonal gammopathy with undetermined significance (MGUS) by G-banding and molecular cytogenetic methods. Using double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (DCFISH) with 2 Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene probes, a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone containing variable region, and a phage clone containing gamma constant region, 14q32.33 translocation was detected as split signals of the IgH gene in 31 patients with plasma cell malignancies and 3 with MGUS. In contrast, of 40 patients who were assessed by G-banding, 3 (7.5%) showed the 14q+ chromosome. DCFISH detected a split of the IgH gene on interphase nuclei in 34 (73.9%) of 46 patients analyzed, whereas on metaphase spreads, it was in 22 (51.2%) of 43 patients analyzed. Interphase DCFISH was particularly useful to detect 14q32.33 translocation in 17 (65.4%) of 26 patients with normal karyotypes. Donor sites were identified in 11 of 22 patients demonstrated as carrying 14q32.33 translocation by metaphase FISH. Chromosome t(11;14)(q13.3; q32.33) was detected in 5 patients, t(8;14)(q24.1;q32.33) in 2, t(14;18)(q32.33;q21.3) in 2, and t(7;14)(q32.1;q32.33) in 1. A complex 14q32.33 translocation involving 3q and 16q24 was detected in 1 patient. Myeloma cells with t(7;14) showed myelomonocytoid surface antigen. Because rearrangements of 14q32.33 were closely associated with translocation of proto-oncogenes into the IgH gene, our findings indicate that 14q32.33 translocation with various partner chromosomes is a critical event in the pathogenesis of MM and MGUS.     

Histo-pathological study of a glass-ionomer/resin (Geristore) restoration system

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate histo-pathologically the pulpal reaction to a glass-ionomer/resin (Geristore) restoration system in human teeth. Black's class I cavities were prepared in 22 human teeth; these were divided into 2 groups, one with the Geristore after cavity was cleaned with 10% NaOCl solution and 3% H2O2 solution (Group G) and the other with the Geristore after the cavity was applied with Mirage-Bond (Group MG). The treated teeth were observed clinically over 90 days after operation. They were then extracted for histological examination. No unpleasant symptoms were noted. A few pathological changes were observed. No histo-pathological score differences were observed between groups G and MG. The average evaluation score of pathological results in both groups G and MG were excellent. Microorganisms observed in the cavity dentin of the group G was fewer than in group MG. In some cases, microorganisms were observed along the dentin walls. In conclusion, the pulpal injury due to this Geristore restoration system was slight, and the system was considered to be safe for the pulp and clinically useful.     

Partial phase relationships in Ir-Nb-Ni-Al and Ir-Nb-Pt-Al quaternary systems and mechanical properties of their alloys

Two quanternary systems, Ir-Nb-Ni-Al and Ir-Nb-Pt-Al, were successively investigated to assess their possible use in ultra-high-temperature applications. The phase relationships concentrated on the fcc/L1₂ two-phase region were primarily established, and the mechanical properties were studied. Ir-Nb-Ni-Al quaternary alloys around the Ir-rich or Ni-rich corners of the Ir-Nb-Ni-Al tetrahedron showed a coherent fcc/L1₂ two-phase structure, analogous to that of Ni-base superalloys; however, most of the alloys presented three or four phases with two types of L1₂ phases. Although these alloys showed a high compressive strength at high temperature, they exhibited a higher creep rate than Ir-base binary and ternary alloys. Another quanternary system, Ir-Nb-Pt-Al, showed promising results. Only an fcc/L1₂ two-phase structure was found in all the alloys investigated with compositions ranging from the Ir-rich side to the Pt-rich side, and the lattice misfit between the fcc and L1₂ phases was small. The high-temperature strength at 1200 °C of Ir-Nb-Pt-Al alloys was higher than that of Ir-Nb-Ni-Al alloys with the same Ir content (at. pct). Moreover, Ir-Nb-Pt-Al alloys exhibited excellent creep resistance at 1400 °C and 100 MPa. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Beyond Nickel-Base Superalloys,” which took place March 14–18, 2004, at the TMS Spring meeting in Charlotte, NC, under the auspices of the SMD-Corrosion and Environmental Effects Committee, the SMD-High Temperature Alloys Committee, the SMD-Mechanical Behavior of Materials Committee, and the SMD-Refractory Metals Committee.     

30 GHz pulse train generation from a multiquantum well electroabsorption intensity modulator

Stable optical pulse trains with repetition rates as high as 20-30 GHz have been successfully generated at 1.55 mu m from an InGaAs/InAlAs multiquantum well electroabsorption modulator for the first time.<>     

Probabilistic fault grading based on activation checking and observability analysis

A simplified probabilistic fault grading method is described. The concept of propagation probability is introduced in place of the sensitization probability of STAFAN, and the empirical parameters of STAFAN are eliminated. The division of input vectors into subsets is monitored by the activation or toggle rate. The accuracy of the method is examined for fault coverage estimation and for predicting the undetected faults.     

256-QAM (64 Gb/s) Coherent Optical Transmission Over 160 km With an Optical Bandwidth of 5.4 GHz

We report a polarization-multiplexed (Pol-Mux) 4-Gsymbol/s 256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) coherent optical transmission over 160 km. A 64-Gb/s data signal was successfully transmitted with an optical bandwidth of 5.4 GHz. We also describe a Pol-Mux, 10-Gsymbol/s, 128- and 64-QAM (140 and 120 Gb/s) transmission over 150 km.      

An efficient 0.04-nm apodized fiber Bragg grating and its application to narrow-band spectral filtering

A narrow-band apodized fiber Bragg grating was fabricated with a phase mask method that incorporated a fluorescence monitoring technique. The grating length was 100 mm and the 3-dB reduced bandwidth was as small as 0.04 nm. The 20-dB reduced bandwidth was 0.1 nm at a center wavelength of 1554 mm. A single longitudinal oscillation mode of a 10-GHz pulse train from a mode-locked fiber laser was successfully extracted using the grating.     

Mass mating method in combination with G418- and aureobasidin A-resistance markers for efficient selection of hybrids from homothallic strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have developed a mass mating method using the spore suspensions of homothallic yeasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination with dominant selective drug resistance markers, Tn601(903) against geneticin and AUR1-C against aureobasidin A for the selection of the hybrids. To examine the effectiveness of these markers in the mass mating method, each marker was introduced into a homothallic wine yeast. Using a mixed culture of spore suspensions from the resultant transformants, many hybrids were screened by the drug resistance markers. This method is more practical than the spore-to-spore mating method because it does not require the use of a micromanipulator and many hybrids are obtained at one time. The resultant hybrids could be utilized for industrial brewing because plasmids, which are used to confer resistance markers, are easily eliminated from the hybrids by cultivation in a medium without drugs. We propose that the mass mating method using spore suspensions in combination with dominant selective geneticin- and aureobasidin A-resistance markers is useful for the selection of hybrids from industrial homothallic yeasts.     

Application of an electron backscatter diffraction pattern to Cu damascene-fabricated interconnections filled by a high-pressure anneal process

The microstructure of Cu interconnections fabricated by high-pressure annealing was evaluated using a field emission scanning electron microscope/electron backscatter diffraction pattern (FE-SEM/EBSP) technique, and the results are compared with as-deposited and normally annealed Cu films. The results show some grains extending from the bulk field to the via regions in the case of the high-pressure annealed Cu films. The existence of via holes was also observed, in which all grains were (111) oriented. This indicates that the high-pressure annealing process enables the Cu that in-fills the via holes to develop into favorable microstructures, i.e., single-crystal and with (111) orientation.