Cortical spreading depression protects against subsequent focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Specific, high-affinity angiotensin II (A II) receptors were observed on granulosa and thecal cells of preovulatory ovarian follicles from immature PMSG-treated rabbits. Scatchard analysis of 125I-[Sar1,Ile8]A II binding to freshly prepared cells was indicative of only one class of binding sites. Kd values were 0.26 +/- 0.11 nM and 0.18 +/- 0.02 nM, densities of A II receptors were 0.06 +/- 0.02 fmol/10(5) cells and 0.08 +/- 0.01 fmol/10(5) cells for granulosa and thecal cells, respectively. When cells were incubated for 48 h with hCG, Kd values were of the same order of magnitude, but the amount of A II receptors was increased 2-fold in granulosa and 4-fold in theca. Using subtype specific ligands (Losartan for AT1 and PD 123319 for AT2) in competitive binding experiments, A II receptors were found to be of the AT1 type on both granulosa and thecal cells freshly prepared or incubated 48 h in vitro. These results establishing the existence of high affinity AT1 receptors on the two cell types of the rabbit preovulatory follicles contrast with previous observations showing the presence of AT2 receptors on granulosa or theca from several species.     

Nonlinear level crossing in the infrared transitions of optically pumped far infrared laser media

In conjunction with the Stark field induced power enhancement in optically pumped far infrared lasers, absorption transitions in a degenerate two level system under the influence of an weak static Stark field have been analyed. A third order theory to the density matrix formalism leads to zero field level crossing signals for absorption in rate equation approximation and in Doppler limit. For fast relaxation among Zeeman sublevels, the zero field level crossing signal arises from population effect. Optoacoustic measurements have been carried out on the ν₅,^qQ(16,8) absorption line of CH₃OH which produces the familiar 119-μm laser with the CO₂ 9P(36) pump line. The optoacoustic absorption signals observed are well reproduced by the theoretical expression.     

Disposition of the selective alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist tamsulosin in humans: comparison with data from interspecies scaling

Tamsulosin-HCl is an alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist that is mainly eliminated by metabolism in animals and humans and is highly bound to alpha1-acid glycoprotein in blood plasma. The disposition of the compound (0.4 mg as modified-release granules in a capsule) was determined in male volunteers, using intravenous (iv) infusion of tamsulosin-HCl (0.125 mg over 4 h) as reference treatment for the assessment of absolute oral bioavailability. Disposition parameters of iv tamsulosin in humans was compared with data predicted from animal data by interspecies scaling techniques. Levels after iv dosing in humans showed a biexponential decline, with mean half-lives (+/-SD) of 1.2 +/- 0.6 and 6.8 +/- 3.5 h, respectively. The mean systemic clearance (+/-SD) was low (viz., 48 +/- 24 mL/min). The mean volume of distribution (+/-SD) was rather small (21 +/- 6 L), and was estimated at 16 +/- 4 L in the steady state. The mean absolute oral bioavailability (+/-SD) was approximated at 100 +/- 19%. Systemic clearance in humans was poorly predictable from a logarithmic clearance versus body weight relation of rat, rabbit, and dog data. The prediction improved dramatically (accuracy 213%) when scaling was done with systemic clearance values of unbound drug, and it improved further (accuracy 59%) with the product of unbound clearance and maximum life-span potential. Also, the prediction of volume of distribution improved dramatically (accuracy 81%) after correction for differences in extent of protein binding between species. The terminal disposition half-life of 7.0 h, as predicted after integrating maximum life-span potential and protein binding in scaling of clearance, was very close to the value of 6.8 h established experimentally in humans. The present results with tamsulosin underline the importance of correction for extent of protein binding in allometric scaling of clearance and distribution volume.     

Plasma Oxidation of a Titanium Electrode in dc-Plasma Above the Water Surface

Plasma oxidation of a titanium electrode above liquid water was investigated to reveal the interaction between metallic titanium and plasma above liquid water. Dc-plasma was generated between the titanium and water electrodes. When the titanium electrode was set as anodal, a thick rutile layer was formed on the surface. We had reported previously that the layer showed the preferred orientation along 〈110〉normal to the surface. The degree of the preferred orientation showed a maximum of 0.8 at the electrode temperature of 1073 K. When the titanium electrode was set as cathodal, a plume was generated with the temperature rise because of the bombarding effect of cationic species in the plasma. The collected particles were spherical and were identified as anatase with a small amount of rutile. Optical emission spectroscopy suggested that an oxide layer (TiO₂) firstly formed on the Ti cathode surface, and then vaporization took place with the temperature rise. The spherical anatase particles were formed from the TiO₂ vapor through the rapid cooling.     

Possibility of light-pulse generation from junction lasers by the external magnetic field

The possibility of light-pulse generation from junction lasers due to inhomogeneous excitation by an external magnetic field is discussed on the basis of the repetitivelyQ-switching model. The pulsation takes place with suitable choices of the current and the magnetic field. The pulsewidth and period increase with the magnetic field.     

Experiment and analysis on pressure pulse propagation in a plastically deforming pipe

This paper presents an experimental and analytical study on pressure pulse propagation phenomena in a plastically deforming pipe filled with water.The simple and well-defined experiments have been performed in order to provide the fundamental data to verify a two-dimensional fluid-structure interaction code. The experimental facility consists of a test pipe and a pulse gun filled with water at room temperature. The pressure pulse was generated in the pulse gun by low velocity SK explosive, high velocity pentolite or a low energy detonator. Experiments have been performed on 3 m long, 16 cm OD and 0.287 cm thick stainless steel-316 pipe both with and without elbow section. Transient pressure, transient strain and plastic deformation are measured when the pressure pulse propagates along the test pipe which is jointed rigidly to the pulse gun.On entering the test pipe, the pulse attenuates rapidly to the yield pressure of the pipe (14 MPa) in about 40 cm. Large plastic deformation occurs over wider range in low velocity explosive experiments than high velocity explosive experiments. Peak pressure reduces in the elbow section more in the high velocity explosive experiments than the low velocity explosive experiments.The experimental results have been analyzed by using a two-dimensional code. The comparison between experiment and prediction for the pressure pulse propagation behavior shows fairly good results. However, the strains are 30–100% over-estimated by the code. This discrepancy is attributable to the influence of the strain rate on stress and the limitation of the calculational model for simulating the detailed structure of the test facility.     

Current Enhancement in Organic Films through Gap Compression by Cold and Hot Isostatic Pressing

The spatial gaps in organic films are compressed using cold and hot isostatic pressing (CIP and HIP, respectively) with the aim of enhancing their electrical characteristics. The microscopic gaps formed in amorphous organic films by inefficient molecular packing are difficult to compress using CIP and HIP; however, the macroscopic gaps formed between grains and other grains or substrates in polycrystalline organic films can be compressed using CIP and HIP. The gap compression by CIP and HIP in polycrystalline films enhances their electrical characteristics. Conversely, the electrical characteristics of amorphous films remain unchanged after CIP and HIP. HIP gives almost the same results as CIP in terms of gap compression and current enhancement, probably because the expected activation of molecular motion at high temperature is suppressed under high applied pressure. CIP markedly improves the performance of organic light‐emitting diodes, organic solar cells, and organic field‐effect transistors containing polycrystalline films. These findings are important for understanding the carrier injection and transport mechanisms of organic films containing gaps as well as enhancing the performance of future organic devices, especially those with polycrystalline films.     

Magnetic Convection Inside a Polymer Solution Droplet on a Lyophobic Surface

Convection inside a polymer solution sessile droplet under a strong magnetic field is numerically studied. The droplet presumed is a diamagnetism solution, which has different magnetic susceptibility between solute and solvent. The magnetic field is presumed by a single electric coil. The coil placed in a lower position induces the upward force near the surface, which enhances the Marangoni convection. If the coil is located above the droplet, the flow is suppressed by the downward force. These effects are found to be remarkable for a large droplet.     

Exciton Dynamics and Optically Pumped Lasing in 1-Naphthylmethylamine-Based Quasi-2D Perovskite Films

Films of the quasi-2D perovskite based on 1-naphthylmethylamine (NMA) are promising as the gain medium for optically pumped lasing and future electrically pumped lasing because of its low lasing threshold and small electroluminescence efficiency rolloff. However, reasons for the low threshold and small efficiency rolloff are still unclear. Therefore, exciton dynamics are investigated in NMA-based quasi-2D perovskite films. It is found that quenching of bright excitons by other excitons or charge carriers is unlikely in NMA-based quasi-2D perovskite films, which is one reason for the low lasing threshold and small efficiency rolloff. Moreover, thermally stimulated current measurements reveal that the defect levels inside the band gap of the NMA-based quasi-2D perovskite are shallow, with a depth of ≈0.3 eV, causing a decrease in nonradiative exciton recombination through the defects. Therefore, population inversion can be easily achieved, leading to the low lasing threshold as well. For fabrication of NMA-based quasi-2D perovskite laser devices with even lower lasing thresholds, a circular-shaped optical resonator, and small-molecule-based defect passivation are used. Optically pumped lasing can be obtained from these devices, with a threshold of ≈1 µJ cm⁻², which is one of the lowest values ever reported in any perovskite lasers.