Introduction to the special issue: Work–family research in occupational health psychology.

In this introduction, the authors discuss work–family research in the context of occupational health psychology (OHP), describe the special contributions of articles in this special issue, and outline directions for the next generation of research in the field of OHP. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of a high‐definition 32‐in. PDP

We developed the world's smallest‐profile 32‐in. HDTV PDP. By improving the luminous efficiency, a luminance of 650 cd/m² and power consumption (discharge and driving circuit) of 200 W or less was achieved. Moreover, incorporating an advanced color compensating (ACC) filter improved the PDP's color‐reproduction capability, better than that of CRTs.     

Analysis of the fiber-matrix cylindrical model with a circumferential crack

An axisymmetrical fiber-matrix cylindrical model with a circumferential crack in the matrix of finite diameter is formulated within elastostatic scope. The problem is considered by means of integral transforms and a singular integral equation with a dominant generalized Cauchy kernel is obtained. Following the numerical solution technique developed by Erdogan, Gupta and Cook, the singular integral equation is reduced to a system of linear equations. By solving the linear equations, stress intensity factors associated with the crack length and the material properties are calculated and discussed. The solutions presented in this study are found to be general, including the solutions as special cases of the present formulation for a homogeneous solid cylindrical bar and a thick-walled shell with an outer circumferential crack. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interactions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with rat renal organic anion transporter, OAT-K1

We recently cloned and characterized the rat kidney-specific organic anion transporter, OAT-K1, which was suggested to mediate renal tubular transport of methotrexate. In this study, we investigated the interactions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with OAT-K1 by evaluating the effects of these drugs on renal distribution of methotrexate in vivo, and on methotrexate accumulation in the stably transfected LLC-PK1 cells expressing OAT-K1 (LLC-OAT-K1). NSAIDs such as indomethacin and ketoprofen had significant inhibitory effects on renal accumulation of methotrexate in rats after coadministration. Indomethacin and ketoprofen inhibited methotrexate accumulation by LLC-OAT-K1 cells in a competitive manner with the apparent inhibition constant values of 1. 0 mM and 1.9 mM, respectively. Other NSAIDs including ibuprofen, flufenamate and phenylbutazone also showed potent inhibitory effects on methotrexate accumulation. However, indomethacin was not transported via OAT-K1. These results indicate that NSAIDs have potent inhibitory effects against the OAT-K1-mediated methotrexate transport, which suggests that the OAT-K1 may be one of interaction sites for methotrexate and NSAIDs in the kidney.     

A new methodology for studying the performance of products against ruminal acidosis

This paper describes a new and convenient methodology for studying the performance of products used in the treatment of ruminal acidosis. The method is based on potentiometric titration of the increase in buffer capacity and acid consuming capacity after the addition of products to a suitable medium at physiological rumen pH values. The testing medium is a mixture of buffer substances (phosphate, maleate and volatile fatty acids) that mimics real ruminal fluid in chemical composition, pH and temperature, providing useful experimental results allowing easy testing of antacids. This methodology was applied to the testing of four raw materials (sodium bicarbonate, two calcium carbonates and magnesium oxide). Results in good agreement with theoretical predictions and field experience were obtained. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Vascular endothelial growth factor enhances vascularization in microporous small caliber polyurethane grafts

Neoarterial regeneration in an implanted small caliber vascular prosthesis is complexly controlled by many structural and biologic factors, such as cytokines. The authors designed an artificial graft, which was prepared as follows. Segmented polyurethane tubular film (inner diameter, 1.5 mm; wall thickness, 100 microns; length, 20 mm), in which micropores (pore size, 100 microns) were fabricated by an excimer laser ablation technique, were coated with a mixed solution of photoreactive gelatin and heparin with or without cytokines (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]: 5 or 50 micrograms/ml, basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF]: 1 microgram/ml). These coated grafts were irradiated by ultraviolet light, and were implanted in aortas of rats for 4 weeks; the VEGF (5 micrograms/ml) group, n = 6; the bFGF group, n = 6; the VEGF (5 micrograms/ml)/bFGF group, n = 11; the VEGF (50 micrograms/ml)/bFGF group, n = 5; and the control group, n = 9. Control grafts were treated without cytokines. Endothelial coverage was greater for the cytokine immobilized groups (approximately equal to 50-60%) than for the control group (approximately equal to 30%). At the midportion of the triple VEGF immobilized group, many capillaries were seen in the neoarterial intima, and in the micropores, although such capillaries were rarely observed in the bFGF and control groups. Thus, impregnation of VEGF in the gelatinous layer of grafts enhanced transanastomotic tissue ingrowth and transmural capillary ingrowth.     

Malignant lymphoma of the testis: report of two cases

Two cases on non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma (NHL) of the testis are reported. A 63-year-old man with left painless scrotal swelling underwent orchiectomy. Although prophylactic irradiation was performed under the diagnosis of seminoma, subsequent immunohistochemistry revealed NHL, large diffuse cell type (B type). He had stage IEA disease. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin vincristine and prednisolone was performed. The second case was in a 63-year old man with right painless scrotal swelling. Orchiectomy revealed NHL, diffuse medium cell type (B type). Because of tumor in the retrosternum, he had stage IIIEA disease. Chemotherapy and irradiation to the contralateral testis was performed.     

Direct observation of PFPE lubricant molecules by cryogenic AFM under ultra-high vacuum

Surface lubrication is one of the essential technologies in modern magnetic disk systems and improvement of the surface lubrication is very important in the development of next generation systems. In this study, we used AFM for the direct observation of perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant molecules on atomically flat surfaces. We used a cryogenic non-contact AFM to observe the molecules in a frozen state of micro-Brownian motion of PFPE segments, because the glass transition temperature of PFPE is very low. To avoid freezing a trace amount of water vapor on the sample surface at liquid nitrogen temperatures, the AFM observation was performed under ultra-high vacuum. We observed that on a gold surface the size of the molecules increases with repeated AFM scans. This is because the mechanical stimulus causes the fusion of PFPE lubricant molecules to form reversed micelles at the non-polar surface. At a hydrophilic silicon wafer surface, however, we succeeded in observing single lubricant molecules. This is because almost all PFPE lubricant molecules are fixed to the hydrophilic solid surface by polar–polar bond formation and they cannot move around on the surface and thus they cannot fuse to each other. As formation of the reversed micelle structure is a rather general phenomenon in the PFPE lubricant thin layer at non-polar surfaces, we also will discuss briefly the expected molecular structures of PFPE lubricants at the surface of the carbon overcoat of magnetic disks.