The long-term hemodynamic effect of fusaric acid in elderly hypertensive patients

The hemodynamic effect of fusaric acid calcium salt (calcium salt of 5-butylpicolinic acid), an inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, was studied in long-term administration of this agent in 10 elderly hypertensive patients. The hemodynamic items were measured by dye-dilution method before and 3 months, 6 months and one year after administration of fusaric acid calcium salt. The main hemodynamic changes observed were as follows: 1) Heart rate did not show any consistent change. 2) Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased. The mean values of these pressures after fusaric acid calcium salt administration were significantly lower than the mean values before administration of this agent. 3) Total peripheral vascular resistance index decreased. The mean values of this index at 3 months, 6 months and one year after fusic acid calcium salt administration were significantly lower than the mean value before administration of this agent. 4) Cardiac index showed various changes throughout administration of fusaric acid calcium salt. The changes in this index might be secondary following the changes in total peripheral vascular resistance index, an inverse correlation being existed between them. 5) Stroke volume index showed almost a similar pattern of change as observed in cardiac index. An inhibitory action of fusaric acid calcium salt on the inotropism of the heart could be hardly found. 6) Plasma volume showed no tangible changes after fusaric acid calcium salt administration throughout one year. It might be concluded that fusaric acid calcium salt elicited the hypotensive response primarily through the reduction of total peripheral vascular resistance index.     

n-3 long-chain FA decrease serum levels of TG and remnant-like particle-cholesterol in humans

A large number of papers have reported that administration of n−3 FA reduced serum TG concentrations in hypertriglyceridemic patients. However, few studies have examined the effect of n−3 FA on serum concentrations of remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol. Volunteers (n=41) whose serum TG concentrations were 100–300 mg/dL were recruited and randomly assigned to either an n−3 FA group or a control group with stratification by sex, age, and serum TG level in a double-blind manner. The subjects in the n−3 FA group were administered 125 ml of fermented soybean milk with fish oil containing 600 mg of EPA and 260 mg of DHA/d for 12 wk. The controls consumed control soybean milk with olive oil. Fasting blood samples were obtained before the start of administration and at 4, 8 and 12 wk. EPA concentrations in red blood cells increased significantly in all but one subject in the n−3 FA group, with no significant changes in the control group. TG levels decreased more in the n−3 FA group than in the control group at weeks 4 (P<0.05), 8 (P<0.01), and 12 (P<0.05) with their baseline as covariate. RLP cholesterol levels decreased more in the n−3 FA group than in the control at weeks 8 (P<0.01) and 12 (P<0.05) with their baseline as covariate. The groups did not differ in the other lipid levels. It is likely that n−3 long-chain FA may exert anti-atherosclerotic effects by lowering serum TG and RLP-cholesterol levels even at the dose of 860 mg/d.     

New approach to resolution limit and advanced image formationtechniques in optical lithography

Practical resolution, the minimum feature size with a depth of focus (DOF) required for LSI fabrication process, is analyzed. Dependence of practical resolution on various factors, such as optical system parameters (exposure wavelength λ, and numerical aperture NA), resist processes, and required DOF, is investigated. It is shown that practical resolution in the sub-halfmicrometer region is not improved, and may even be degraded, with increasing NA. Furthermore, resolution improvement by increasing NA becomes less effective as λ becomes shorter. This means that the high-resolution capability of high-NA/short-wavelength optics cannot be utilized to create fine-pattern LSIs. In order to overcome this limitation, the effectiveness of advanced image formation techniques, the phase-shifting method and the FLEX method, in practical resolution enhancement is investigated. It is experimentally verified, using a phase-shifting mask and the excimer laser stepper, that a pattern feature size less than 0.2 μm can be clearly delineated with sufficient focus latitude. These advanced techniques make it possible to overcome the resolution limitation of conventional optical lithography     

Decolorization of Brown Pigments in Foods by Immobilized Mycelia of Coriolus versicolor IFO 30340 and Paecilomyces canadensis NC-1

Three microorganisms were cultured to investigate their decolorizing activity on mixtures of 2 types of model brown pigment and 2 types of browned food. The mixture of model brown pigments of the Maillard reaction type and phenol type was not decolorized by cultivation with Coriolus versicolor IFO 30340, but it was decolorized by Paecilomyces canadensis NC‐1 and by Streptomyces werraensis TT 14. The immobilized mycelia of C. versicolor IFO 30340 and P. canadensis NC‐1 were incubated simultaneously or successively with each mixture of 2 types of browned food. It was found that the mixed culture of these 2 mycelia showed a higher decolorization rate than their successive culture.     

Development of an interrupting chamber for 1000-kV high-speed grounding switches

In Japan, construction of 1000 kV (UHV) transmission lines is planned in order to deal with the expected increase of electric power demand. On the line, after the fault current is interrupted by circuit breakers, the arc caused by electrostatic induction current remains for a long time because of its high voltage. To re-energize the fault line after arc extinction, a new circuit breaker reclosing system which has high-speed grounding switches (HSGS) installed at both ends of the line is employed. If, while the HSGS is interrupting an electromagnetic induction current, a ground fault takes place in another energized line, causing a shirt-circuit current including a dc component to flow, the large dc component is superimposed on the HSGS current, producing a zero shifting state with no passage through the zero point for long time. Such zero shifting durations are estimated to be up to about 80 ms. Therefore HSGS are required to interrupt this delayed zero current as a special duty. This requirement is met by a newly developed puffer interrupting chamber allowing a long pressure rise by optimizing the exhaust and residual volume of the puffer cylinder and utilizing the effect of pressure rise due to the arc. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 119(4): 12–21, 1997     

Chemical reaction between lead-free multicomponent alkali borosilicate glass frit and hematite during heat treatment

A mixture of a lead-free multicomponent alkali borosilicate glass frit containing zinc ions and hematite was heat-treated under various conditions to elucidate the reaction between the two components, which is essentially important for controlling the color of red overglaze enamels. Above the glass transition temperature, the interaction between the frit fluid and hematite was evident, as the viscosity of the frit decreased. Moreover, hematite dissolved, the iron ions diffused into the glass matrix and they precipitated on residual hematite, resulting in enhanced crystal growth through Ostwald ripening. Concurrently, the iron and zinc ions reacted to form zinc ferrite. During cooling, the supersaturated iron ions were consumed for precipitation of hematite and zinc ferrite. Because frit and hematite dramatically react during heat treatment, conventional modification of hematite alone is insufficient. Development of the frit exhibiting low reactivity toward hematite through precise control of physical properties is a future challenging issue.