Multi-grooved cutting tool to reduce cutting force and temperature during bone machining

The cutting temperature of a cutting tool are required to be low during bone machining for preventing damage to bone cells. However, conventional tools are practically the same as those used for metal cutting, and many operational limitations have been reported. In this study, a dedicated cutting tool was designed for reducing cutting force and temperature. A short contact between the workpiece and the cutting edge leads to a reduction in the cutting force. Furthermore, a straight-line edge improves surface roughness. The effectiveness was evaluated using bovine bone, and the cutting force was found to be decreased by about 40%.     

The roles of apoptosis in lung injury and fibrosis

The effect of recombinant porcine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the immunogenicity in vivo of inactivated suid herpesvirus-1 (SHV-1, Phylaxia strain) was studied applying two successive i.m. immunizations. The animals were injected with inactivated virus alone or inactivated virus supplemented with 10(4) or 10(6) U IFN-gamma. After the first immunization, none of the animals responded with measurable virus-neutralizing antibody (VNAb), virus-specific IgG or IgA. Following a second immunization 4 weeks later, a significantly increased VNAb response was noted in animals that had received vaccine doses containing 10(4) U IFN-gamma (p < 0.05). These animals also had significantly augmented serum levels of IgG (p < 0.01) and IgA (p < 0.05). Inclusion of 10(6) U IFN-gamma in the vaccine preparation did not affect the antibody response. In one experiment, the pigs were challenged oronasally with 10(5) TCID50 of the 75V19 strain of SHV-1, 7 weeks after administration of the second vaccine dose. Those that had received 10(4) U IFN-gamma in the vaccination developed less fever during the postchallenge period (p < 0.004). In all challenged pigs, growth performance was compromised during the first week after challenge. However, the only animals retaining an average net increase in body mass were those covaccinated with 10(4) U IFN-gamma (p < 0.05). Nasal excretion of virus was not significantly different between groups that had been vaccinated with or without IFN-gamma. Multiple linear regression analysis of variables from individual vaccinated animals revealed the VNAb response to be correlated with serum IgG levels (p < 0.025) and with postchallenge growth performance (p < 0.0001) but not with serum IgA levels (p > 0.5). On the other hand, serum IgA appeared to be inversely correlated with early nasal virus excretion after challenge (p < 0.006). Taken together, our data suggest that addition of IFN-gamma to inactivated SHV-1 vaccine may be a useful tool for enhancement of both mucosal and systemic immune responses in pigs.     

Age-related decrease in centrally-mediated pressor response to clonidine in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) is a neuronal messenger that it is thought to be involved in the nociceptive transmission modulation. The activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) was shown to be identical to NOS activity in the brain. Since the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) plays an important role in pain perception and antinociception this study was carried out to monitor the expression of NADPH-d in PAG after nociceptive visceral stimulation. Our data showed that the noxious visceral stimulation significantly increased NADPH-d positive neurons and that these neurons were localized in the ventrolateral areas of the PAG. These findings suggest that NO in the PAG may play a role in pain modulation and antinociception.     

BASIC RESEARCH FOR RICE DRYING WITH SILICA GEL

Using silica gel as a desiccant, rice drying tests were carried out under two elemental drying systems. In the first system ( a divided particle bed system ), a rough rice bed was directly put on a silica gel bed in an airtight cylinder. In the second system ( a mixed particle bed system ). an intimate mixture of rice grains and silica gel particles was sealed in airtight bottles. Experimental results showed that the first system was not appropriate as a practical drier because of moisture inequalities in the rice bed. However, the second system which was assumed to have uniform moisture content was considered to be applicable to use in a practical drier because of reasonable drying rate and product rice quality. An empirical equation for predicting required amount of silica gel was given as a function of initial moisture content of both the rice and silica gel.     

0.13-μm 32-Mb/64-Mb embedded DRAM core with high efficientredundancy and enhanced testability

This paper describes the 32-Mb and the 64-Mb embedded DRAM core with high efficient redundancy, which is fabricated using 0.13-μm triple-well 4-level Cu embedded DRAM technology. Core size of 18.9 mm ² and cell efficiency of 51.3% for the 32-Mb capacity, and core size of 33.4 mm² and cell efficiency of 58.1% for the 64-Mb capacity are realized. This core can achieve 230-MHz burst access at 1.0-V power-supply condition by adopting a new data bus architecture: merged shift column redundancy. We implemented four test functions to improve the testability of the embedded DRAM core. It realizes the DRAM core test in a logic test environment     

Microwave tissue coagulation therapy with mini-laparotomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Twenty four thiouracil derivatives, including N3-allyl- (19) and N1-allyl-2-thiouracil (20) were synthesized and their pharmacological effects [sedative-hypnotic activity (loss of righting reflex and spontaneous activity), convulsant activity, effect on pentobarbital (PB)-induced sleep and mortality] were evaluated in mice at doses of 320 mg/kg, i.p. and 2 mumol/mouse by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections, respectively. N3-Allyl-6-propyl-2-thiouracil (3), N3-allyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil (10), N3-allyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9-nonahydro-4-oxo-2-thiocyclohepta [d]pyrimidine (16) and N3-allyl-5-methyl-2-thiouracil (18) exhibited sedative-hypnotic activity, whereas N3-allyl-6-ethyl-5-methyl-2-thiouracil (11), N1-allyl-5-methyl-2-thiouracil (21), N1-allyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9-nonahydro-4-oxo-2-thiocyclohepta[ d]pyrimidine (23) and N1-allyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil (24) conversely displayed clonic- and/or tonic-convulsant seizures. N3-Allyl-6-propyl-2-thiouracil (3) and N3-allyl-5-methyl-2-thiouracil (18) decreased spontaneous activity. Other compounds examined were inactive, or only slightly active in the sedative-hypnotic assay even at high doses. Fifteen compounds (1-4, 7, 10, 11, 14-16, 18-21, and 23) significantly prolonged the PB-induced sleeping time. Interestingly, only N1-allyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil (24) shortened the PB-induced sleeping time. These results showed that these thiouracils possessed many different effects such as sedative-hypnotic, anticonvulsant and/or convulsant, and that N3-allyl-5-methyl-2-thiouracil (18) and N1-allyl-5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil (24) had the most potent hypnotic activity and antagonistic effect against PB, respectively.     

No deterioration in insulin sensitivity, but impairment of both pancreatic beta-cell function and glucose sensitivity, in Japanese women with former gestational diabetes mellitus

Recent studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between infection and preterm labor. Preterm delivery is also associated with high levels of cytokines and prostaglandins in amniotic fluid. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the levels of cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin E2 production (PGE2), and expression of the PGE2 receptor subtype EP1 in amnion WISH cell culture. Amnion WISH cell cultures were incubated in increasing concentrations of TNF-alpha (0-50 ng/ml). Changes in cyclooxygenase and EP1 receptor proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Changes in EP1 mRNA were evaluated by Northern blot, and culture fluid concentrations of PGE2 were estimated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). EP1 protein (p<0.01), EP1 mRNA (p<0.05), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein (p<0.001), and PGE2 concentrations (p<0.01) all increased with increasing concentrations of TNF-alpha. Changes in COX-1 protein were not observed following TNF-alpha-incubation. The results suggest that TNF-alpha may play a role in infection-induced preterm labor by its pleiotropic ability to simultaneously stimulate COX-2 activity, PGE2 concentrations, and PGE2 EP1 receptor levels in human amnion.     

Gastric function after pylorus-preserving duodenectomy in dogs

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to delineate the alterations in gastric physiology after pylorus-preserving duodenectomy (PPD). METHODOLOGY: The duodenum was transected 2 cm distal to the pyloric ring in five dogs. A patch graft around the papilla of Vater was preserved. Reconstruction was completed using an end-to-end duodenojejunostomy, anastomosis of the patch graft to the jejunum, and cholecystojejunostomy, in that order. Gastric acid analysis, serum gastrin and secretin concentrations, and gastric emptying were investigated before and one and three months after surgery. RESULTS: The postoperative mean basal and maximal acid outputs were not significantly increased. Fasting serum gastrin concentrations remained unchanged. The fasting serum secretin concentrations one month after surgery increased significantly as compared to the controls. There were no significant differences in meal-stimulated gastrin or secretin responses or gastric emptying after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The acid output and gut hormone release after PPD were maintained at preoperative levels. Preservation of the duodenal bulb is postulated to be responsible for the maintenance of near-normal gastric physiology.