Deposition of carbon films by electrolysis of a water-ethylene glycol solution

An attempt was made to deposit carbon films by electrolysis of a water-ethylene glycol solution. Carbon plate and an n-type silicon substrate were dipped in the solution and a high d.c. potential was negatively applied on the silicon substrate. Some deposits were observed in the region between the boiling point curve and the line approximately 50 °C below and parallel to the boiling point, when electrolysis was carried out at 1 kV for 6 h. For higher potentials of 1.4–2.0 kV and longer electrolysis of 12 h, some samples showed a broad X-ray diffraction peak and Raman peaks, corresponding to graphitic carbon.     

The cranial MRI in severe cerebral palsy: a comparative study with clinical data

The magnetic resonance examination was performed in 38 patients with severe cerebral palsy (CP; 15 males and 23 females) who had both motor delay (unable to move anywhere) and mental retardation (I. Q or D. Q below 30). Neuroimaging findings were compared with the CP type, etiology, and grade of understanding of language. Cranial magnetic resonance imagings (MRI) in CP were divided into five types. Type 1 : nine predominantly showed cyst-liked ventricles and periventricular hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging (PVH) and only scarred basal ganglia and thalamus were visible. All suffered from neonatal asphyxia and the clinical type was rigospastic tetraplegia (RST). Type 2: eleven predominantly showed PVH and hyperintensity on T2-weighted (HT2) in basal ganglia and thalamus. All suffered from neonatal asphyxia and the clinical type was RST or rigospastic diplegia. Type 3: five showed PVH and three had cortical atrophy. All suffered from neonatal asphyxia and the clinical type was spastic diplegia. Type 4: four predominantly showed HT 2 in putamen and thalamus. Three had cortical atrophy. All suffered from neonatal asphyxia. The clinical type was athetotic CP (ATH). Type 5: nine predominantly showed HT 2 in globus pallidus. Four had cortical atrophy and two had hippocampal atrophy. All suffered from neonatal jaundice and the clinical type was ATH. All patients who suffered from neonatal asphyxia and spastic CP had MRI in PVH. All patients who suffered from neonatal asphyxia and ATH showed HT 2 in putamen and thalamus. Almost patients who suffered neonatal jaundice and ATH showed HT 2 in globus pallidus. With athetotic CP, cases with atrophy of the cerebral cortex or/and hippocampus were lower grade of understanding of language than no atrophy of both. The result of studies of MRI are in agreement with neuropathological findings.     

Integrated-optic double-ring resonators with a wide free spectralrange of 100 GHz

Integrated-optic double-ring resonators with a wide free spectral range (FSR) of 100 GHz are fabricated using GeO₂-doped silica waveguides with a high relative refractive index difference (Δ) of 1.5%. The resonators are composed of two ring resonators comprising small ring waveguides with radii of 1.75 and 2.0 mm. The double-ring resonator module exhibited a wide FSR of 98.0 GHz, a finesse of higher than 138, a low crosstalk of less than -11.7 dB, and a low insertion loss of 6.1 dB. The measured FSR of 98.0 GHz is wider than any previously reported ring resonator composed of optical waveguides     

Role of conserved Asn-Tyr-Asp-Tyr sequence in bacterial copper/2,4, 5-trihydroxyphenylalanyl quinone-containing histamine oxidase

Copper amine oxidase contains a covalently bound quinonoid cofactor, 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanyl quinone (TPQ), which is synthesized by post-translational modification of a specific tyrosyl residue occurring in the highly conserved sequence, Asn-Tyr-(Asp/Glu)-Tyr. To elucidate the role(s) of the conserved sequence in the biogenesis of TPQ, each of the corresponding residues at positions 401-404 in the recombinant histamine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis has been replaced with other amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis. When Asn-401 was changed to Asp or Gln, the rate of TPQ formation by copper-dependent self-processing was 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold slower than in the wild-type enzyme. When Tyr-402 was replaced by Phe, TPQ was not formed at all, showing that Tyr-402 is essential as the precursor to TPQ. In contrast, Asp-403 could be replaced by Glu without changes in the rate of TPQ formation, whereas its replacement by Asn led to a marked decrease. Furthermore, when Tyr-404 was changed to Phe, TPQ was formed swiftly on incubation with copper ions, but the TPQ enzyme exhibited very low activity with altered substrate specificity. These results collectively indicate that a very rigorous structural motif is required for efficient formation of TPQ and for the catalytic activity in the active site of copper amine oxidases.     

Subarachnoid haemorrhage induced proliferation of leptomeningeal cells and deposition of extracellular matrices in the arachnoid granulations and subarachnoid space. Immunhistochemical study

Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) often leads to subarachnoid fibrosis and resultant normal pressure hydrocephalus; however, how subarachnoid fibrosis occurs is unknown. We examined the changes within arachnoid granulations (AGs) and the subarachnoid space (SAS) chronologically at the parasagittal region obtained from patients with SAH at autopsy and made comparison with controls by immunostaining for cytokeratin, specific marker for leptomeningeal cells and by the elastica Masson-Goldner methods. Within a week some AGs were torn, and many inflammatory cells filled the AGs and SAS. Cytokeratin positive cells were scarce. During the next two weeks cytokeratin positive cells increased. After three weeks, AGs and SAS were filled by dense deposits of extracellular matrices surrounded by multiple layers of leptomeningeal cells.     

Model for the potential barrier depth along the grain boundaries of an ultrathin tin dioxide gas sensor

A potential barrier model along the grain boundaries in ultrathin tin dioxide (SnO₂) gas sensors is presented. It is assumed that the negatively charged oxygens are adsorbed only on the grain boundaries. The potential barrier depth is expressed as functions of grain size, donor concentration and surface coverage of adsorbed oxygen ions at the boundaries. A direct consequence is that the conduction electrons are effectively confined in a grain when the film thickness becomes smaller than a critical value. This indicates a drastic increase in resistivity with decreasing film thickness in air, and thus an occurrence of an extremely high gas sensitivity.     

Is it possible to differentiate between choledochal cyst and congenital biliary atresia (type I cyst) by antenatal ultrasonography?

Both choledochal cyst and congenital biliary atresia (type I cyst) may share the same ultrasonographic pattern. We report 2 cases which were shown to have cystic structures on the upper abdomen by antenatal ultrasonography. The size of the choledochal cyst found at 24 weeks' gestation increased steadily as gestational age advanced. But the size of the cyst in congenital biliary atresia found at 29 weeks' gestation remained unchanged throughout the remaining pregnancy. Cyst enlargement, therefore, may suggest the possibility of a choledochal cyst.     

Study of sexual function in male hemodialysis patients--a sexual function survey using a questionnaire

Sexual dysfunction is a well-documented complication among male hemodialysis patients. To evaluate it in detail, we conducted a sexual function survey using the Sapporo Medical University Sexual Function Questionnaire. Two hundred five male patients receiving outpatient hemodialysis were entered into this study. Patients with diabetes mellitus and severe anemia (Hb value < 8.0 g/dl) were excluded. The control group consisted of 3,462 healthy male subjects. Of male hemodialysis patients, 33.7% showed deterioration of libido, while 44.4% showed deterioration of potency, both of them decreased greatly with age. Ejaculatory ability correlated with potency. We compared the frequency of sexual intercourse in male hemodialysis patients with that in normal males. Twelve point nine percent of hemodialysis patients (HP) ranging from 30 to 39 in age versus 3.5% of age-matched normal males had no sexual intercourse and 22.4% of HPs from 40 to 49 versus 3.0% of age-matched normal males, 52.2% of HPs from 50 to 59 versus 7.5% of age-matched normal males, and 89.3% of HPs from 60 to 69 versus 18.0% of age-matched normal males had no sexual intercourse. These results revealed that the sexual frequency in hemodialysis patients decreased more than that in normal males in all age groups and with age.     

Assignment of most genes encoding major peroxisomal polypeptides to chromosomal band V of the asporogenic yeast Candida tropicalis

The peroxisomes of the asporogenic yeast Candida tropicalis contain about 20 major polypeptides (PXPs). We have isolated a number of genes encoding them; 11 POX genes encoded independent PXPs and three POY genes were likely to encode three other PXPs. To locate these genes on the chromosomes, chromosomes of C. tropicalis were separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eight chromosomal bands were observed over the range of 1.0 Mbp (band 1) to 2.8 Mbp (band VIII); the genome size was estimated to be about 20 Mbp. Southern blot analysis showed that ten genes were on band V, three genes were on band IV, and the other gene was on band VI. Three genes gave hybridization signals of nearly equal intensity on two different chromosomal bands: POX6A and POX8B, on bands V and VII; and POX8A, on bands IV and VI. Ribosomal RNA genes also hybridized to two bands, VI and VII. Most genes assigned to only one band hybridized to two restriction fragments produced by either NotI or SfiI endonuclease. The results suggested that C. tropicalis was diploid and that restriction sites were conserved little between homologues. The three POX genes that were found on two chromosomal bands hybridized to not more than two restriction fragments, implying that the allelic genes were present on different chromosomal bands.