Expression of cell adhesion molecule CD44 and sialyl Lewis A in gastric carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma in association with hepatic metastasis

To clarify the role of the expression of adhesive molecules [CD44 (standard form) and sialyl Lewis A (sialyl Lea)] on hepatic metastasis, 108 advanced gastric carcinomas and 94 advanced colorectal carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CD44 expression and lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer and CD44 and sialyl Lea expression in colorectal cancer were significantly related to hepatic metastasis. The incidence of hepatic metastasis was highest in patients with the expression of both CD44 and sialyl Lea. The expression of CD44 standard form as well as sialyl Lea may have a major role as adhesion molecules in the process of hepatic metastasis.     

Comparison of 12 assays for detecting hCG and related molecules in urine samples from Down syndrome pregnancies

Urine is a new medium for Down syndrome testing. In an effort to determine the best type of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-related immunoassay for urine testing, we examined 14 Down syndrome and 91 unaffected pregnancy urine samples with 12 established assays. The assays included (a) those that detect hCG beta-core fragment only; (b) those that detect beta-core fragment with less than 18 per cent free beta-subunit cross-reactivity; (c) that which equally detects free beta-subunit and beta-core fragment; and (d) those that detect hCG, free beta-subunit, or combinations thereof. The seven type a and b assays had the highest sensitivity for Down syndrome. The median MOM for Down syndrome was 5.93 (range 4.73-7.53). At a 10 per cent false-positive rate, the median observed detection rate was 93 per cent (range 79-100 per cent) and the median predicted detection rate was 85 per cent (range 69-96 per cent). The assays that did not mainly detect beta-core fragment (types c and d) had poorer screening performance. The median MOM for Down syndrome was 2.70 (range 2.16-3.63 MOM). At a 10 per cent false-positive rate, the median observed detection rate was 50 per cent (range 36-64 per cent) and the median predicted detection rate was 37 per cent (range 21-62 per cent). We infer that the assays that only detect beta-core fragment, or beta-core fragment with minor free beta-subunit cross-reactivity (types a and b), are the better urine-based tests for Down syndrome screening.     

Senescence Marker Protein-30 (SMP30) Deficiency Impairs Myocardium-Induced Dilation of Coronary Arterioles Associated with Reactive Oxygen Species

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) decreases with aging. Mice with SMP30 deficiency, a model of aging, have a short lifespan with increased oxidant stress. To elucidate SMP30’s effect on coronary circulation derived from myocytes, we measured the changes in the diameter of isolated coronary arterioles in wild-type (WT) mice exposed to supernatant collected from isolated paced cardiac myocytes from SMP30 KO or WT mice. Pacing increased hydrogen peroxide in myocytes, and hydrogen peroxide was greater in SMP30 KO myocytes compared to WT myocytes. Antimycin enhanced and FCCP (oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler in mitochondria) decreased superoxide production in both groups. Addition of supernatant from stimulated myocytes, either SMP30 KO or WT, caused vasodilation. The degree of the vasodilation response to supernatant was smaller in SMP30 KO mice compared to WT mice. Administration of catalase to arterioles eliminated vasodilation in myocyte supernatant of WT mice and converted vasodilation to vasoconstriction in myocyte supernatant of SMP30 KO mice. This vasoconstriction was eliminated by olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Thus, SMP30 deficiency combined with oxidant stress increases angiotensin and hydrogen peroxide release from cardiac myocytes. SMP30 plays an important role in the regulation of coronary vascular tone by myocardium.     

Experimental study on fuel-discharge behaviour through in-core coolant channels

In core-disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors, fuel discharge from the core region reduces the possibility of severe re-criticality events. In-core coolant channels with large hydraulic diameters, such as the control-rod guide tube and a concept of the Fuel Assembly with Inner Duct Structure have a potential to provide effective fuel-discharge paths if effects of sodium in these paths on molten fuel discharge are limited. Two series of experiments were conducted to investigate fuel-discharge behaviour through the sodium-filled channels. In the first series of experiments, an alloy with low melting temperature was ejected into a water channel to clarify dominant phenomena for melt discharge through the coolant-filled channel and to develop methodologies for evaluating the effects of coolant on melt discharge. In the second series of experiments, a molten alumina was discharged through the sodium-filled channel in order to verify the applicability of the knowledge and evaluation methodologies obtained in the first series of experiments to the sodium-filled channel. These series of experiments showed that the discharge path can be entirely voided by the vaporisation of a part of the coolant at the initial melt discharge phase that this is followed by coolant vapour expansion and that melt penetrates significantly into the voided channel. Preliminary extrapolation of the present results to the in-core coolant channel suggests that the effects of the sodium on fuel discharge are limited and, therefore, in-core coolant channels will provide effective fuel-discharge paths for reducing neutronic activity.     

Procedure to prevent temperature rise of primary upper shielding in high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR)

In a non-nuclear heat up test of the high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR), which was conducted in February 1997, the temperature of primary upper shielding as well as helium gas temperature inside standpipes of the reactor became much higher than expected. Because it was estimated that these temperatures should exceed design values at full power operation of the HTTR, countermeasures were considered and taken to prevent the temperature rise. After applying two countermeasure steps, confirmation tests to demonstrate the effect of the measures were performed. The test results and extrapolation by temperature analysis finally showed that the countermeasures are appropriate, and the design temperatures should be observed at full power operation.     

Development and applications of lightning arresters fortransmission lines

A lightning arrester with a series gap for transmission lines has been developed to prevent faults due to lightning. It has shown excellent performance since 1986 on 77 kV service lines in heavy lightning regions. A 275 kV lightning arrester has also been developed, and a field test was started on a service line in 1988. The authors describe the requirements for lightning arresters for transmission lines, design concepts, specifications, and operational records on the 77 kV lines for three years. The gapped-type lightning arrester is considered the most practical given the existing technology. To obtain light and small lightning arresters, an ethylene-propylene rubber shed was adopted for external insulation and a special pressure relief mechanism was introduced in place of the pressure relief guide of the station arresters. The follow current can be cut off within a period of 0.25 to 0.5 cycles even under contaminated and wet conditions     

High‐Mobility p‐Type and n‐Type Copper Nitride Semiconductors by Direct Nitriding Synthesis and In Silico Doping Design

Thin‐film photovoltaics (PV) have emerged as a technology that can meet the growing demands for efficient and low‐cost large‐scale cells. However, the photoabsorbers currently in use contain expensive or toxic elements, and the difficulty in bipolar doping, particularly in a device structure, requires elaborate optimization of the heterostructures for improving the efficiency. This study shows that bipolar doping with high hole and electron mobilities in copper nitride (Cu₃N), composed solely of earth‐abundant and environmentally benign elements, is readily available through a novel gaseous direct nitriding reaction applicable to uniform and large‐area deposition. A high‐quality undoped Cu₃N film is essentially an n‐type semiconductor, while p‐type conductivity is realized by interstitial fluorine doping, as predicted using density functional theory calculations and directly proven by atomically resolved imaging. The synthetic methodology for high‐quality p‐type and n‐type films paves the way for the application of Cu₃N as an alternative absorber in thin‐film PV.     

Proposal and experimental validation of the electrophoretic Coulter method for analyzing microparticles and biological cells

Zeta potential measurement is one of the simplest methods for analyzing the electrical surface properties of microparticles and biological cells in a solution. The authors propose a new methodology for simultaneous measurement of the number, size and zeta potential of different specimens in a microchannel, referred to as the electrophoretic Coulter (EC) method. First, a microchannel is fabricated using soft lithography, a small amount of a specimen is injected into it, and ion current modulation through the microchannel is measured while a DC electric field is applied. The results are then compared with those obtained using the conventional methods involving dynamic light scattering (DLS) method and microscopy. The results of the EC method show good agreement with those of the conventional approaches. Accordingly, the technique enables high-throughput analysis of different specimens including nano materials and biomolecules using a micro/nanochannel, thereby significantly contributing to the field of bio-nano fusion research.     

Experimental study of the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock joints using a parallel-plate model containing contact areas and artificial fractures

In recent years, geological disposal of radioactive wastes is considered to be the most promising option, which requires the understanding of the coupled mechanical, hydraulic and thermal properties of the host rock masses and rock fractures. The hydro-mechanical behavior and properties of rock fractures are usually determined by laboratory experiments on fracture specimens that serve as the basic building block of the constitutive models of fractured rock masses.Laboratory testing of rock fractures involve a number of technical issues that may have significant impacts on the reliability and applicability of the testing results, chief among them are the quantitative estimation of the evolutions of hydraulic transmissivity fields of fractures during shear under different normal constraint conditions, and the sealing techniques when fluid flow during shear is involved. In this study, a new shear-flow testing apparatus with specially designed fluid sealing techniques for rock fractures were developed, under constant normal load (CNL) or constant normal stiffness (CNS) constraint. The topographical data of all fracture specimens were measured before testing to constitute the geometrical models for simulating the change of mechanical aperture distributions during shearing. A number of shear-flow coupling tests were carried out on three kinds of rock fracture specimens to evaluate the influence of morphological properties of rock fractures on their hydro-mechanical behaviour. Some empirical relations were proposed to evaluate the effects of contact area and surface roughness on the behavior of fluid flow through rock fractures.