Radiation conductance of SSBW IDT on rotated Y-cuts of LiNbO3

The letter deals with radiation conductance of an interdigital transducer (IDT) for surface skimming bulk waves (SSBWs) on 41°- and 64°-rotated Y-cuts of LiNbO3. The radiation conductance was estimated theoretically by two methods and was compared with experimental results. The frequency response of SSBW IDTs on these cuts of LiNbO3 is similar to that of a conventional surface acoustic wave transducer, but markedly different from the response obtained when launching SSBWs from an IDT on rotated Y-cuts of quartz.     

Effects of glucagon on glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis are region-specific in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes

BACKGROUND: Survival of post-myocardial infarction patients is related inversely to their levels of very-low-frequency (0.003 to 0.03 Hz) RR-interval variability. The physiological basis for such oscillations is unclear. In our study, we used blocking drugs to evaluate potential contributions of sympathetic and vagal mechanisms and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to very-low-frequency RR-interval variability in 10 young healthy subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recorded RR intervals and arterial pressures during three separate sessions, with the patient in supine and 40 degree upright tilt positions, during 20-minute frequency (0.25 Hz) and tidal volume-controlled breathing after intravenous injections: saline (control), atenolol (0.2 mg/kg, beta-adrenergic blockade), atropine sulfate (0.04 mg/kg, parasympathetic blockade), atenolol and atropine (complete autonomic blockade), and enalaprilat (0.02 mg/kg, ACE blockade). We integrated fast Fourier transform RR-interval spectral power at very low (0.003 to 0.03 Hz), low (0.05 to 0. 15 Hz), and respiratory (0.2 to 0.3 Hz) frequencies. Beta-adrenergic blockade had no significant effect on very-low- or low-frequency RR-interval power but increased respiratory frequency power 2-fold. ACE blockade had no significant effect on low or respiratory frequency RR-interval power but modestly (approximately 21%) increased very-low-frequency power in the supine (but not upright tilt) position (P<0.05). The most profound effects were exerted by parasympathetic blockade: Atropine, given alone or with atenolol, abolished nearly all RR-interval variability and decreased very-low-frequency variability by 92%. CONCLUSIONS: Although very-low-frequency heart period rhythms are influenced by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, as low and respiratory frequency RR-interval rhythms, they depend primarily on the presence of parasympathetic outflow. Therefore the prognostic value of very-low-frequency heart period oscillations may derive from the fundamental importance of parasympathetic mechanisms in cardiovascular health.     

Is adenomyosis an immune disease?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gain information about the employment status of legally blind patients. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with one of four juvenile-onset macular dystrophies or achromatopsia responded to questions about their employment histories and their psychological well-being. Results from the questionnaire were analyzed using z-tests for differences in proportions or t-tests for differences in means. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of the patients reported that they were employed and 52% that they were not employed. The subgroup that was not employed had a significantly higher proportion of women than men, whereas the employed group had approximately equivalent proportions of men and women. The employed subgroup reported that their success at work was due to social support. This subgroup had significantly higher household incomes, was significantly less likely to collect disability-income benefits, had significantly higher educational levels, had significantly higher positive affect, and had significantly lower negative affect than the subgroup that was not employed. A logistic regression analysis indicated that education was the primary predictor of employment. CONCLUSION: Analysis supports the conclusion that it is beneficial for legally blind individuals to obtain an optimal level of education and receive suitable social support to facilitate their successful employment.     

Chemical Removal of CeO2 Segregated on the Surface of CeO2–ZrO2 Binary Oxides for Improvement of OSC

A chemical treatment to remove residual CeO₂ phase on CeO₂–ZrO₂ (CZ) solid solution was carried out. A CZ was treated by H₂O₂ for the reduction of Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺ and then HNO₃ for the dissolution of Ce³⁺ compounds (H–CZ). H₂-TPR, TEM-EDX and XPS analyses revealed the removal of CeO₂ phase and the homogeneous distribution of Ce species. About 20% improvement in oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of H–CZ was confirmed at 773 K by the weight measurements under H₂/N₂ and air atmospheres, indicating that the HNO₃/H₂O₂ treatment was effective to avoid the deterioration of the OSC by segregated CeO₂ on the CZ binary oxides.     

Evaluation of the Anti-Proliferative Activity of Rare Aldohexoses against MOLT-4F and DU-145 Human Cancer Cell Line and Structure-Activity Relationship of D-Idose

D-Allose (D-All), a C-3 epimer of D-glucose (D-Glc), is a naturally rare monosaccharide, which shows anti-proliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines. Unlike conventional anticancer drugs, D-All targets glucose metabolism and is non-toxic to normal cells. Therefore, it has attracted attention as a unique “seed” compound for anticancer agents. However, the anti-proliferative activities of the other rare aldohexoses have not been examined yet. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of rare aldohexoses against human leukemia MOLT-4F and human prostate cancer DU-145 cell lines. We found that D-All and D-idose (D-Ido) at 5 mM inhibited cell proliferation of MOLT-4F cells by 46 % and 60 %, respectively. On the other hand, the rare aldohexoses at 5 mM did not show specific anti-proliferative activity against DU-145 cells. To explore the structure–activity relationship of D-Ido, we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of D-sorbose (D-Sor), 6-deoxy-D-Ido, and L-xylose (L-Xyl) against MOLT-4F cells and found that D-Sor, 6-deoxy-D-Ido, and L-Xyl showed no inhibitory activity at 5 mM, suggesting that the aldose structure and the C-6 hydroxy group of D-Ido are important for its activity. Cellular glucose uptake assay and western blotting analysis of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression suggested that the anti-proliferative activity of D-Ido is induced by inhibition of glucose uptake via TXNIP-independent pathway.     

Synergistic effects in binary systems of lubricant additives: a chemical hardness approach

Tribochemical interactions between antiwear zinc dithiophosphate (Zndtp), friction modifier molybdenum dithiocarbamate (Modtc) and detergent overbased calcium borate (CB) lubricant additives have been investigated by coupling analytical TEM and micro‐spot XPS in the tribotester Optimol of SRV GmbH (mild wear conditions in boundary lubrication). Synergistic effects have been observed on both friction and wear data, especially in the Modtc/Zndtp combination. Results have been interpreted on the basis of a chemical hardness concept: the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle, stabilisation of hard–hard pairs and the maximum hardness principle. The performance of the Modtc/Zndtp mixture is mainly due to the generation of MoS₂ single sheets and the digestion of MoO₃, which is also formed, by the zinc polyphosphate glass. The final result of the tribochemical reaction is a tribofilm composed of MoS₂ sheets embedded in a mixed Mo/Zn polyphosphate glass. The CB/Modtc mixture has a similar mechanism except that the oxide is not completely eliminated, due to the softer borate anion compared with the phosphate one. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Extended Narrow Band FLIP for Liquid Simulations

The Fluid Implicit Particle method (FLIP) reduces numerical dissipation by combining particles with grids. To improve performance, the subsequent narrow band FLIP method (NB‐FLIP) uses a FLIP‐based fluid simulation only near the liquid surface and a traditional grid‐based fluid simulation away from the surface. This spatially‐limited FLIP simulation significantly reduces the number of particles and alleviates a computational bottleneck. In this paper, we extend the NB‐FLIP idea even further, by allowing a simulation to transition between a FLIP‐like fluid simulation and a grid‐based simulation in arbitrary locations, not just near the surface. This approach leads to even more savings in memory and computation, because we can concentrate the particles only in areas where they are needed. More importantly, this new method allows us to seamlessly transition to smooth implicit surface geometry wherever the particle‐based simulation is unnecessary. Consequently, our method leads to a practical algorithm for avoiding the noisy surface artifacts associated with particle‐based liquid simulations, while simultaneously maintaining the benefits of a FLIP simulation in regions of dynamic motion.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant displaying beta-glucans on cell surface

The deletion of MCD4 leads to an increase in beta-1,6-glucan level and a decrease in glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein and mannan levels in the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suggesting that mcd4 deletion mutant (mcd4Delta) displays beta-glucans on the cell surface without a mannan cover. An observation of the cell surface of mcd4Delta cells and an examination of the effect of contact between mcd4Delta cells and mouse macrophages indicated that macrophages were activated by contact with mcd4Delta cells displaying beta-glucans on the cell surface. We further examined the effect of intraperitoneal ethanol-fixed mcd4Delta cells on the survival period of mice infected with Candida albicans. mcd4Delta cells prolonged the survival period, implying that mcd4Delta cells may enhance the immune function of mice via macrophage activation. Moreover, we examined the structures of beta-glucans (i.e., alkali- and acetic acid-insoluble beta-glucans) extracted from mcd4Delta with (13)C-NMR and the effect of extracted beta-glucans on TNF-alpha secretion from macrophages. The structures of the beta-glucans from mcd4Delta differed from those of wild type (WT); however, there was no difference in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion level between beta-glucans from mcd4Delta and those from WT. The yield of purified beta-glucans obtained from dry cells of mcd4Delta was higher than that obtained from dry cells of WT. mcd4Delta may be a superior strain for the preparation of beta-glucans.