Bcl-2 relieves the trans-repressive function of the glucocorticoid receptor and inhibits the activation of CPP32-like cysteine proteases

Glucocorticoid induces apoptosis in immature lymphocytes which is inhibitable by Bcl-2. Although glucocorticoid-mediated signal transduction is well understood, the mechanism of the induction of apoptosis by the activated glucocorticoid receptor as well as the inhibition of apoptosis by Bcl-2 remains enigmatic. Here we report that overexpressed Bcl-2 relieves the glucocorticoid receptor-mediated repressive function on the AP-1 activity and completely inhibits the activation of CPP32-like cysteine proteases. In contrast, glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transactivation was not affected by Bcl-2. This suggests that glucocorticoid may induce apoptosis by repressing transactivation by AP-1 which is relieved by Bcl-2. Furthermore, we report evidence that, in contrast with CPP32-like proteases, ICE-like proteases are not involved in this apoptotic pathway.     

基于制动时间间隔的ABS控制策略研究

制动强度大小是影响汽车制动安全性的重要因素.通过对制动过程的分析与仿真,提出了一种基于制动时间间隔为控制参数的ABS控制策略.制动过程中,通过改变制动力作用的时间间隔,使制动力的平均值变化.适应不同路面对制动强度的要求,达到防止车轮抱死,提高汽车制动时车辆的稳定性和操纵性的目的.     

Fabricating high performance a-Si solar cells by alternately repeating deposition and hydrogen plasma treatment method

The performance of a p-i buffer layer in pin amorphous silicon solar cell was improved by the “alternately repeating deposition and hydrogen plasma treatment method (ADHT)”. The optical bandgap of the a-Si film was increased by hydrogen plasma treatement. The wide optical bandgap and the high photoconductive a-Si:H films without carbon could be fabricated by the ADHT method. The conversion efficiency of the solar cell with a-Si:H buffer layer was almost the same as that using an a-SiC:H buffer layer. Second, the a-Si (ADHT) films were applied to the n-i buffer layer. The insertion of a-Si (ADHT) films between the i-layer and the n-layer was effective to improve the cell performance, especially the fill factor. With the use of high performance a-Si p-i and n-i buffer layer deposited by ADHT method, a cell conversion efficiency of 12.9% was obtained.     

Self-organized dendritic patterns in the polymer Langmuir-Blodgett film

We report the formation of a self-organized dendritic pattern of nanometer thickness in polymer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Poly(N-dodecylacrylamide) (pDDA)/chloroform solution was spread on a water surface to form a stable polymer monolayer. A pDDA monolayer was deposited onto a hydrophilic silicon substrate by upward deposition from a water subphase, and a second layer was then deposited by downward deposition. The substrate with the two layers was withdrawn from a clean water surface at a high speed to form the dendritic pattern, which was imaged by atomic force microscopy. The height of the pattern, 3.5 nm, corresponds to the height of a bilayer pDDA LB film, suggesting that the pattern forms when the deposited outermost layer overturns by meniscus oscillation. A similar dendritic structure of narrower width and lower height was fabricated on a hydrophobic silicon substrate.     

Role of peritoneal lavage smears and gastric wall brushing smears in gastric cancer surgery

Examinations of peritoneal lavage smears (LC) and gastric wall brushing smear cytology (BC) appear to be important for determining accurately the stage of gastric cancer. We have been carrying out such examinations during gastric cancer surgery for 7 years. In the present study, we evaluated the results obtained from 287 patients with gastric cancer. Tumor invasion and peritoneal dissemination were correlated with a positive incidence of cancer cells in LC and/or BC. Gastric cancer showing serosal invasion was classified into positive for LC and/or BC and negative for LC and/or BC. Patients positive for LC and/or BC had a poorer prognosis. For future gastric cancer treatment, patients positive for peritoneal cytology are expected to be targeted for intensive treatment during or before surgery.     

Phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of Sn-Ag based Pb-free solder alloys

We have recently developed a thermodynamic database for micro-soldering alloys, alloy database for micro-solders (ADAMIS). ADAMIS which consists of the elements Ag, Bi, Cu, In, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn has been constructed by the calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) method. The thermodynamic parameters for describing the Gibbs energy of the liquid and solid phases have been evaluated by optimizing the experimental data on phase boundaries and thermo-chemical properties. In this paper, the phase equilibria and the related thermodynamic properties pertaining to the Sn-Ag-X (X=Bi, In, Cu, and Zn) alloys are examined using ADAMIS. Typical examples of the isothermal and vertical section phase diagrams, liquidus surface, etc. for these promising lead-free solders are presented. In addition, ADAMIS is also applied to calculate the nonequilibrium solidification process using the Scheil model.     

Dependence of electron channel mobility on Si-SiO2interface microroughness

The effect of the Si-SiO₂ interface microroughness on the electron channel mobility of n-MOSFETs was investigated. The surface microroughness was controlled by changing the mixing ratio of NH₄ OH in the NH₄OH-H₂O₂-H₂O solution in the RCA cleaning procedure. The gate oxide was etched, following the evaluation of the electrical characteristics of MOS transistors, to measure the microroughness of the Si-SiO₂ interface with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). As the interface microroughness increases, the electron channel mobility, which can be obtained from the current-voltage characteristics of the MOSFET, gets lower. The channel mobility is around 360 cm²/V-s when the average interface microroughness is 0.2 nm, where the substrate impurity concentration is 4.5×10¹⁷ cm^-3, i.e. the electron bulk mobility is 400 cm²/V-s. It goes down to 100 cm²/V-s when the interface microroughness exceeds 1 nm