Electrical Properties of (110)-Oriented Nondoped Mg2Si Films with p-Type Conduction Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering Method

Magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si) thick films with (110) orientation were fabricated on (001) sapphire substrate using radiofrequency magnetron sputtering. Stoichiometric Mg₂Si films with composition Si/(Mg + Si) = 0.33 were achieved over a range of vacuum from 10 mTorr to 140 mTorr and 300°C. On postannealing the film at 500°C, the out-of-plane lattice parameter shifted to lower values and the electrical conductivity increased by two orders of magnitude. A room-temperature Seebeck coefficient of 517 μV K^?1 was observed and found to decrease with increasing temperature; the Seebeck coefficient remained at a constant positive value of 212 μV K^?1 at 500°C. This can be related to the possibility of p-type conduction in this temperature range.     

Bovine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Are More Resistant to Apoptosis than Testicular Cells in Response to Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate

Although the androgen receptor (AR) has been implicated in the promotion of apoptosis in testicular cells (TSCs), the molecular pathway underlying AR-mediated apoptosis and its sensitivity to environmental hormones in TSCs and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) remain unclear. We generated the iPSCs from bovine TSCs via the electroporation of OCT4. The established iPSCs were supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor and bone morphogenetic protein 4 to maintain and stabilize the expression of stemness genes and their pluripotency. Apoptosis signaling was assessed after exposure to mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the active metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Here, we report that iPSCs were more resistant to MEHP-induced apoptosis than were original TSCs. MEHP also repressed the expression of AR and inactivated WNT signaling, and then led to the commitment of cells to apoptosis via the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p21^CIP1. The loss of the frizzed receptor 7 and the gain of p21^CIP were responsible for the stimulatory effect of MEHP on AR-mediated apoptosis. Our results suggest that testicular iPSCs can be used to study the signaling pathways involved in the response to environmental disruptors, and to assess the toxicity of environmental endocrine disruptors in terms of the maintenance of stemness and pluripotency.     

Digitized holography: modern holography for 3D imaging of virtual and real objects

Recent developments in computer algorithms, image sensors, and microfabrication technologies make it possible to digitize the whole process of classical holography. This technique, referred to as digitized holography, allows us to create fine spatial three-dimensional (3D) images composed of virtual and real objects. In the technique, the wave field of real objects is captured in a wide area and at very high resolution using the technique of synthetic aperture digital holography. The captured field is incorporated in virtual 3D scenes including two-dimensional digital images and 3D polygon mesh objects. The synthetic field is optically reconstructed using the technique of computer-generated holograms. The reconstructed 3D images present all depth cues like classical holograms but are digitally editable, archivable, and transmittable unlike classical holograms. The synthetic hologram printed by a laser lithography system has a wide viewing zone in full-parallax and give viewers a strong sensation of depth, which has never been achieved by conventional 3D systems. A real hologram as well as the details of the technique is presented to verify the proposed technique.     

Determination of nequinate and buquinolate in livestock products using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

We studied the simultaneous determination of nequinate and buquinolate, which are used as feed additives to prevent coccidiosis, by means of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile, then loaded onto an HLB mini-column with 20% methanol. After clean-up with 20% methanol, the analytes were eluted with acetonitrile-methanol (1 : 1). The coccidiostats in the purified samples were determined using ESI-MRM mode LC-MS/MS with a sample matrix calibration curve. Mean recoveries of nequinate and buquinolate from 8 kinds of livestocks samples (chicken muscle, chicken liver, chicken heart, swine muscle, swine heart, cattle muscle, sheep muscle, egg) were in the range of 89.5% to 108.6%, and the relative standard deviation values were <20% (n=10) at the levels of 0.01 μg/g and 0.05 μg/g, respectively. The limits of quantification of these compounds were 0.001 μg/g in each sample.     

High sensitivity of VPE-grown InGaAs/InP-heterostructure APD with buffer layer and guard-ring structure

A planar-type InGaAs/InP-heterostructure APD with an InGaAsP buffer layer was made by using a VPE technique. To avoid the edge breakdown, a guard-ring structure was employed. The average received optical power for a 10?9 error rate at 280 Mbit/s was as low as ?43 dBm, which corresponded to 2 and 7 dB improvements over a Ge-APD at 1.52 and 1.59 ?m, respectively.     

Large strain finite element analysis of a local second gradient model: application to localization

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in the International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 2002; 54 :365–398.     

Angular distribution of reactive carbon dioxide desorption on a rhodium (110) surface

The angular distribution of reactive CO₂ desorption was studied on Rh (110) by means of angle-resolved thermal desorption. Four CO₂ formation peaks appear in the range of 170–500 K. The distribution of the desorption collimated along the surface normal becomes sharp with increasing reactant coverages. No azimuth dependence is found in the distribution.     

Heterogeneous Strain and Bonded Granular Structure Change in Triaxial Specimen Studied by Computer Tomography

In recent years, the method of x-ray computer tomography imaging has been used to characterize the microstructure of asphalt concrete, cement concrete, soil, and rock. This paper focuses on developing an algorithm that links the particle identity at different load steps and thus provides sequential movements of particles. The measured data from a specimen under triaxial load is analyzed to study the nonuniform strain field and to identify shear band formation. Packing structure change and the evolution of fabric tensors due to external load are discussed. The validity of a commonly used kinematic hypothesis in granular mechanics is also evaluated.     

The exon/intron organization and chromosomal mapping of the mouse ADAMTS-1 gene encoding an ADAM family protein with TSP motifs

ADAM is a recently discovered gene family that encodes proteins with a disintegrin and metalloproteinase. ADAMTS-1 is a gene encoding a new member protein of the ADAM family with the thrombospondin (TSP) type I motif, the expression of which is associated with inflammatory processes. In the present study, we have characterized the exon/intron organization of the mouse ADAMTS-1 gene. The ADAMTS-1 gene is composed of nine exons, all of which are present within the 9.2-kb genomic region. Among the nine exons, exons 1, 5, and 6 encode a proprotein domain, a disintegrin-like domain, and a TSP type I motif, respectively, of the ADAMTS-1 protein, suggesting that there is a correlation between exon/intron organization and functional domains. In addition, the exon/ intron organization of the ADAMTS-1 gene is very different from that of the metalloproteinase-like/disintegrin-like/ cysteine-rich protein gene (MDC) (ADAM11), suggesting that the genomic structure of ADAM family genes is not necessarily conserved. Furthermore, fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that the ADAMTS-1 gene is located in region C3-C5 of chromosome 16, to which none of the previously identified ADAM genes have been mapped.     

Molecular cloning and mapping of a human cDNA (SC5DL) encoding a protein homologous to fungal sterol-C5-desaturase

OBJECTIVE: To study the effective materials in the immune response and the humoral immunity in graft rejective reaction in the host after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). METHODS: PK was performed on 2 groups of monkeys with a 5.5 mm button in a 5.0 mm bed. The heterogroup (human to monkey) had 4 monkeys, and homo-group (monkey to monkey) also 4. Nelken's method was modified. Two kinds of antigens, corneal endothelial and stromal antigens, had been made the first time. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the anti-corneal endothelial antibody (ACEAb) in the serum and aqueous humor of the host. RESULTS: After PKP, the anti-corneal stromal antibody did not increase obviously, while the increase of ACEAb was distinct. CONCLUSION: Humoral immune response can occur in the host after PK, and the effective material is ACEAb.