Nitrogen-doped TiAl alloys Part I Microstructure control

Effects of nitrogen addition on the microstructure control of two-phase TiAl intermetallic compounds were investigated. 1.0 at.% nitrogen addition leads to remarkable grain refinement in the fully lamellar microstructure but had little effect on the duplex microstructure. Only Ti₃AlN precipitate was formed in 0.3 at.% nitrogen-doped alloy and both Ti₂AlN and Ti₃AlN precipitates were formed in 1.0 at.% nitrogen-doped alloy. Since the formation of the gamma phase is retarded by nitrogen addition, long-term heat treatment is needed for the duplex microstructure in the 1.0 at.% nitrogen-doped alloy. Though 0.3 at.% nitrogen-doped alloy had much lower elongation than the mother alloy, 1.0 at.% nitrogen addition had little effect on room temperature elongation and increased room temperature yield strength by two times in the fully lamellar microstructure.     

Design and in vitro activity of ribozymes against mRNA of a rat membrane inhibitor of complement

Mammalian cells are usually protected from the complement-mediated injury by a number of complement regulatory proteins. A rat protein designated as 512 antigen is thought to be such a complement regulatory protein. A cDNA of 512 antigen has been cloned and analyzed. To investigate the function of 512 antigen, we plan to construct a ribozyme system against 512 antigen expression. We have designed two hammerhead ribozymes targeted to the 512 antigen mRNA and tested the ribozyme activities in vitro. Both hammerhead ribozymes efficiently cleaved the 512 antigen mRNA in vitro. We have also designed a hairpin ribozyme against this mRNA. The activity of the hairpin ribozyme will also be discussed.     

Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide as an index for evaluation of cardiac function in female gene carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The level of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was elevated in 8 of 15 female gene carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and the level correlated with indices of cardiac function. In one of these carriers, whose clinical course was followed for one year, the plasma BNP level was elevated before the development of cardiac symptoms, further increased with the evolution of cardiac symptoms, and then decreased after treatment for cardiac failure. These results suggest that the plasma BNP level may be useful for the early detection of cardiac dysfunction and for evaluating the efficacy of cardiac treatment in female DMD carriers.     

Performance evaluation of squirrel‐cage damper structure for superconducting generators

Superconducting generators have many advantages such as increasing generation efficiency and improving power system stability. In Japan, 70‐MW‐class superconducting generators have been developed through the national project “Electric Power Application of Superconducting Technologies (1988–1999).” In this paper, performance evaluation of the rotor damper structure for the 70‐MW‐class model generator is discussed. Double‐layered damper structure, which consists of a squirrel‐cage warm damper and a single‐layered cold damper, was set as the target. As the first step, basic electromagnetic and thermal performances were obtained. Consequently, it was proven that the damper structure had the performances to satisfy the requirements of the superconducting generators. Performances obtained from the experimental model, design of the 70‐MW model rotor, and evaluation by the verification tests are described in this paper. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 151(1): 19–33, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience. wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20025     

Catalytic combustion of natural gas as the role of on-site heat supply in rapid catalytic CO2---H2O reforming of methane

Development in highly active catalysts for the reforming of methane with H₂O, CO₂, and H₂O+CO₂, and partial oxidation of methane was conducted to produce hydrogen with high reaction rates. A Ni-based three-component catalyst such as Ni---La₂O₃---Ru or Ni---Ce₂O₃---Pt supported on alumina wash-coated ceramic fiber in a plate shape was very suitable for both reactions. The catalyst composition was set at 10 wt.-% Ni, 5.6 wt.-% La₂0₃, and 0.57 wt.-% Ru for example, or molar ratios of these components were 1:0.2:0.03. Even with such a low concentration, the precious metal enhanced the reaction rate markedly, and this synergistic effect was ascribed to the hydrogen spillover effect through the part of precious metal and it resulted in a more reduced surface of the main catalyst component. In particular, a marked enhancement in the reaction rate of CO₂-reforming of methane was observed by the modification of a low concentration Rh to the Ni---Ce₂0₃---Pt catalyst. Very high space-time yields of H₂ (i.e., 8300 mol/1 h in partial oxidation of methane at 600°C with a methane conversion of 37.5%, and 3585 mol/1 h in CO₂reforming of methane at 600°C with a methane conversion of 58%) were realized in those reactions. By combining the catalytic combustion reaction, methane conversion to syngas was markedly enhanced, and even with a very short contact time (10 ms) the conversion of methane increased more than that at 50 ms. The space-time yield of hydrogen amounted to 2,780 mol/1 h with a methane conversion of 90% at 700°C. Furthermore, in a reaction of CH₄---CO₂---H₂O---O₂ on the four components catalyst, an extraordinarily high space-time yield of hydrogen, 12 190 mol/1 h, could be realized under the conditions of very high space velocity (5 ms).     

Antegrade or retrograde blood cardioplegic method: comparison of postsurgical right ventricular function and conduction disturbances

This study was undertaken to compare postsurgical right ventricular function and the occurrence of conduction disturbances after employing cold blood antegrade or retrograde cardioplegia during open heart surgery. Thirty-four patients were divided into AC (antegrade) and RC (retrograde) groups for the difference of route for delivery of cardioplegic solutions. Preoperative evaluation of cardiac and respiratory function revealed to be equal characteristics between the groups. Postoperatively, A-aDO2 and respiratory index (RI) as functional parameters of oxygenation capacity, LVSWI, RVSWI, dosage of dopamine and conduction disturbances were monitored at 0, 3, 6, 12 hours after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass and at extubation period. Although the recovery of respiratory function and left ventricular function were similar in both groups, temporal suppression of right ventricular function was indicated in RC group during early period after surgery, and then recovered to the same values of AC group within 3 hours. In RC group, several type of conduction disturbances were detected in 28 per cent of patients. But none of the persistent conduction disturbances were remained in all patients. We suggest retrograde coronary sinus perfusion may emerge as a valuable alternative to antegrade methods for delivery of cardioplegia.     

Anxiety-like behavior in transgenic mice with brain expression of neuropeptide Y

In an attempt to understand the relationship between photorepair and dark repair in Neurospora crassa, a new mutant was isolated, which showed defects in both repair processes. The new mutant, mus-38, is moderately sensitive to UV and shows imperfect photoreactivation following UV irradiation. DNA was purified from this mutant and the other UV-sensitive mutants, and analyzed for the removal of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). UV-specific endonuclease-sensitive sites (ESS) completely disappeared with 1 h of photoreactivation in mus-38 DNA, although the survival recovery with photoreactivation was greatly reduced in this mutant. This suggests that the insufficient survival recovery with photoreactivation in mus-38 does not result from a failure of photo-reversal of CPDs. Removal of ESS during liquid holding (dark repair) was slower in mus-38 compared to wild type. To test the possibility that this mutant was involved in excision repair, the double mutant was made between mus-38 and mus-18, which encodes a UV-damage-specific endonuclease. CPD excision in the mus-18 null mutant was severely affected but not completely inhibited. The double mutant showed a complete loss of the excision activity and was super sensitive to UV. These results indicate that mus-38 participates in an excision pathway that is different from the mus-18 pathway. The mus-38 mutant was sensitive not only to UV but also to some chemical mutagens which make adducts on DNA. Thus, mus-38 is possibly involved in an excision-repair pathway that is related to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3 pathway.     

Ig receptor binding protein 1 (alpha4) is associated with a rapamycin-sensitive signal transduction in lymphocytes through direct binding to the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A

Rapamycin is an immunosuppressant that effectively controls various immune responses; however, its action in the signal transduction of lymphocytes has remained largely unknown. We show here that a phosphoprotein encoded by mouse alpha4 (malpha4) gene transmitting a signal through B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) is associated with the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac). The middle region of alph4, consisting of 109 amino acids (94-202), associates directly with PP2Ac, irrespective of any other accessory molecule. Rapamycin treatment disrupts the association of PP2Ac/alpha4 in parallel with the inhibitory effect of lymphoid cell proliferation. The effect of rapamycin was inhibited with an excess amount of FK506 that potentially completes the binding to FKBP. Rapamycin treatment also suppresses the phosphatase activity of cells measured by in vitro phosphatase assay. Introduction of the malpha4 cDNA into Jurkat cells or the increased association of PP2Ac/alpha4 by the culture with low serum concentration confers cells with rapamycin resistance. Moreover, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-alpha4 augments the PP2A activity upon myelin basic protein (MBP) and histone in the in vitro assay. These results suggest that alpha4 acts as a positive regulator of PP2A and as a new target of rapamycin in the activation of lymphocytes.     

Synthesis of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet by the Glycothermal Method

The reaction of a stoichiometric mixture of aluminum isopropoxide and yttrium acetate in 1,4-butanediol at 300°C yielded crystalline yttrium aluminum garnet having an approximate particle size of 30 nm. No other phases were detected. The use of ethylene glycol in place of 1,4-butanediol afforded an amorphous product.