All-trans retinoic acid modulates Fas antigen expression and affects cell proliferation and apoptosis in combination with anti-Fas monoclonal antibody in the human myeloma cell line, U266B1

The potential negative effects of psychoactive medication are well documented. Given the high rate of their use in persons with mental retardation, the need to assess and identify these negative effects is great. The Matson Evaluation of Drug Side Effects (MEDS) was designed to evaluate commonly identified side effects with a psychometrically sound checklist. The initial psychometric properties of this scale are presented and discussed. An examination of interrater reliability and internal consistency revealed that the MEDS has excellent consistency across raters and good internal consistency. Potential uses for the scale and directions for future research are reviewed as well.     

Improvement in nerve regeneration by monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in allogeneic mice

A mixed membrane fraction isolated from C. albicans yeast cells catalyzed the transfer of glucose from UDP-Glc into three classes of endogenous acceptors: glucolipid, glycoprotein and lipid-linked oligosaccharides. About 80% of the total radioactivity transferred into these products corresponded to the glucolipid which was identified as dolichol phosphate glucose by several criteria. The remainder was detected in about equal proportions in the other two fractions. Conditions that stimulated or inhibited glucolipid synthesis did not affect the extent of glycoprotein labeling. The synthesis of dolichol phosphate glucose exhibited a K(m) of 104 microM UDP-Glc and was stimulated by Mg2+ but not by Mn2+ or Ca2+. The latter cations were, however, better stimulators of glycoprotein labeling than Mg2+. Most nucleotides strongly inhibited the synthesis of dolichol phosphate glucose, UMP being a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 100 microM. The dolichol phosphate glucose synthase reaction was reversed about 57% by 0.62 mM UDP but not by UMP.     

Fabrication of a-Si1−xCx:H thin films for solar cells by the Cat-CVD method using a carbon catalyzer

We propose a new approach to fabrication of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-Si_1−xC_x:H) thin films for solar cells by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD) method using a carbon catalyzer, which is more stable than tungsten or tantalum. It was found that by using the carbon catalyzer, undoped and boron-doped a-Si_1−xC_x:H films were easily obtained from a SiH₄, CH₄ and B₂H₆ mixture without any change in the catalyzer surface, even after deposition for longer than 30 h.     

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) of system-on-package (SOP)

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues are expected to be crucial for next-generation system-on-package (SOP) integrated high-performance digital LSIs and for radio frequency (RF) and analog circuits. Ordinarily in SOPs, high-performance digital LSIs are sources of EMI, while RF and analog circuits are affected by EMI (victims). This paper describes the following aspects of EMI in SOPs: 1) die/package-level EMI; 2) substrate-level EMI; 3) electromagnetic modeling and simulation; and 4) near electromagnetic field measurement. First, LSI designs are discussed with regard to radiated emission. The signal-return path loop and switching current in the power/ground line are inherent sources of EMI. The EMI of substrate, which work as coupling paths or unwanted antennas, is described. Maintaining the return current path is an important aspect of substrate design for suppressing EMI and for maintaining signal integrity (SI). In addition, isolating and suppressing the resonance of the DC power bus in a substrate is another important design aspect for EMI and for power integrity (PI). Various electromagnetic simulation methodologies are introduced as indispensable design tools for achieving high-performance SOPs without EMI problems. Measurement techniques for near electric and magnetic fields are explained, as they are necessary to confirm the appropriateness of designs and to investigate the causes of EMI problems. This paper is expected to be useful in the design and development of SOPs that take EMI into consideration.     

Reliable Monolayer‐Template Patterning of SnO2 Thin Films from Aqueous Solution and Their Hydrogen‐Sensing Properties

We demonstrate a novel lithographic technique utilizing a solvent to fabricate a chemically based semiconductor microdevice from an aqueous solution. According to this technique, SnO₂ thin film could be integrated onto predefined sites on a SiO₂/Si wafer. A patterned octadecyltrimethoxysilane self‐assembled monolayer (ODS‐SAM) was prepared by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation through a photomask to use as a template for the fabrication of a micropatterned SnO₂ thin film on the SiO₂/Si surface. A Sn‐based thin film was then deposited onto the entire surface of the ODS template from an aqueous solution containing 0.03 mol L^–1 of SnCl₂·2H₂O at 60 °C for 16 h in an ambient atmosphere. The thin film deposited on the methyl‐terminated area of the template was then peeled using an ultrasonic rinse in anhydrous toluene for 30 min, while the film deposited on the silanol area remained intact and undamaged. Rinsing in hydrophilic solvents did not facilitate peeling of the thin film from the methyl‐terminated area. We succeeded by this process in obtaining a high‐resolution, micropatterned Sn‐based thin film on an ODS‐SAM template on Si. The as‐deposited film was composed of fine Sn‐based particles. The sensitivity of this SnO₂ thin film to H₂ gas increases linearly with improving crystallinity. The effectiveness of anhydrous toluene as a rinse in solution lithography is discussed from the viewpoint of the high hydrophobic affinity between the rinse solvent and the terminal groups in the monolayer template.     

Progress in imaging diagnosis of circulatory diseases

Five patients with femoral nonunion and a broken interlocking nail were treated with the augmentative plating procedure. This group included two male and three female patients whose average age was 25 years (range, 21-35 years). All of the injuries resulted from traffic accidents and were closed fractures. Four of the injuries were initially managed with a Grosse-Kempf interlocking nailing system, and one case was managed with an AO interlocking nailing system. The broken interlocking nail was left in place in situ, and an augmentative plate fixation was applied to the fracture site to provide a rigid fixation. Simultaneous bone grafting was performed in three of the patients to repair the bony defect. All of these patients walked bearing full weight on the extremity without aching at the fracture site within 3 months, and all of these five fractures obtained a bony union within an average of 5.4 months after this treatment. From our experience, we have found this method to be a useful treatment for the nonunion of femoral shaft fracture with a broken interlocking nail.     

A data taking system with low power consumption for cosmic ray research

We have succeeded in operating the 64 m² solar neutron detector based on 24 W power consumption. The detector has been operated at the Mount Norikura Cosmic Ray Observatory (2770 m) with the small amount of power delivered by solar cell arrays and windmills, without generator service, throughout severe winter of 2003–2004. The results of our experiences are described.     

Tensile properties and microstructure of weld metal in MAG welded X80 pipeline steel

In the wake of the recent upsurge in demand for natural gas, more efficient gas transport through gas transport pipelines has been required. One way of responding to this problem is through pipeline upgrading. Where such upgrading takes place, application of pipes with the same diameter and same plate thickness means that an increase in operating pressure can be expected. At the same operating pressure, smaller-bore pipes and pipe wall downgauging are possible, and a reduction in transport costs or construction costs can be expected.     

Dynamic viscoelastic properties in torsion of four commercially available resins for crown and bridge

An apical membrane ouabain-sensitive H-K exchange and a barium-sensitive basolateral membrane potassium channel are present in colonic crypt cells and may play a role in both K absorption and intracellular pH (pHi) regulation. To examine the possible interrelationship between apical membrane H-K exchange and basolateral membrane K movement in rat distal colon in the regulation of pHi, experiments were designed to assess whether changes in extracellular potassium can alter pHi. pHi in isolated rat crypts was determined using microspectrofluorimetric measurements of the pH-sensitive dye BCECF-AM (2', 7'-bis(carboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxy-fluorescein acetoxy methylester). After loading with the dye, crypts were superfused with a Na-free solution which resulted in a rapid and reversible fall in pHi (7.36 +/- 0.02 to 6.98 +/- 0.03). Following an increase in extracellular [K] to 20 mm, in the continued absence of Na, there was a further decrease in pHi (0.20 +/- 0.02, P < 0.01). K-induced acidification was blocked both by 2 mm bath barium, a K channel blocker, and by 0. 5 mm lumen ouabain. K-induced acidification was also observed when intracellular acidification was induced by a NH4Cl prepulse. These observations suggest that increased basolateral K movement increases intracellular [K] resulting in a decrease in pHi that is mediated by a ouabain-sensitive apical membrane H,K-ATPase. Our results demonstrate an interrelationship between basolateral K movement and apical H-K exchange in the regulation of pHi and apical K entry in rat distal colon.