Characterization of phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) like antigen in renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) produced by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae), can be used as a marker of renal tumors. METHODS: Using a preparted anti-PGL-I monoclonal antibody (SF-I), anti-PGL-I group antibodies and PGL-I group antigens were detected and PGL-I immunohistologic staining were performed. RESULTS: The titer of anti-PGL-I antibody in patients with renal cell carcinoma was 0.283 +/- 0.103, showing a trend of rising titer of anti-PGL-I group antibody with higher cytologic atypia. When compared by the extent of tumor infiltration, a high antibody titer was observed in stage 4 infiltration group. Regarding the PGL-I group antigen that was detected using SF-1 in the urine of patients with renal cell carcinoma, no relationships between the positive rte of the antigens with common antigenicity to PGL-I and the grade of carcinoma were observed. However, in terms of the extent of tumor infiltration, a trend that the positive rate for PGL-I group antigen increased with the progression of cancer stage was seen. The Western blot assay of the urine of patients with renal cell carcinoma following electrophoresis revealed a change around 40 KD. The immunohistologic stains with SF-1 disclosed a predominance in the proximal kidney tubule. CONCLUSION: Using PGL-I group antigen and PGL-I group antibody as markers of renal cell carcinoma, a rapid and precise measurement may be provided.     

Superconducting Gap Structure of YNi2B2C Determined by Thermal Conductivity

In order to determine the superconducting gap structure of the borocarbide superconductor YNi₂B₂C, we have measured the angular variation of the c-axis thermal conductivity _zz in magnetic field rotated within the ab-planes. A clear fourfold symmetry with narrow cusps was observed in the angular variation of _zz . These results provide a strong evidence that the gap function has point nodes which are located along the a- and b-axes of the crystal.     

Mössbauer studies and magnetic properties of SnO2 doped with Fe

Transparent conducting SnO₂ powders doped with 10% Fe content were prepared by a polymerized complex method under acidic solutions, and annealed finally at 550 °C, and at 600 °C. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetization, and Mössbauer spectrometry at room temperature. Rutile SnO₂ phase was obtained for both samples, and the crystallite sizes were in the range of 13-14 nm. Both samples exhibit magnetization and the saturation magnetization was smaller for the sample annealed at 600 °C than for sample annealed at 550 °C. Room temperature Mössbauer spectra for both samples showed the presence of two different paramagnetic iron sites but no magnetic sextets. These results suggest that ferromagnetism originates from magnetic defects and not directly from iron ions.     

Colorectal Laterally Spreading Tumors by Computed Tomographic Colonography

To date, few reports focused primarily on detecting colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs) have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the visibility of LSTs on computed tomographic colonography (CTC) compared with that on colonoscopy as a standard. We retrospectively reviewed and matched data on endoscopic and CTC reports in 157 patients (161 LSTs) who received a multidetector CT scan using contrast media immediately after total colonoscopy at the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, between December 2005 and August 2010. The results of the total colonoscopy were known at the time of the CTC procedure and reading. Of the 161 LSTs detected on colonoscopy, 138 were observed and matched by CTC (86%). Of the 91 granular type LSTs (LST-Gs), 88 (97%) were observed and matched, while of the 70 non-granular type LSTs (LST-NGs), 50 (71%) were observed and matched by CTC (p < 0.0001). CTC enabled observation of 73% (22/30) of 20–29 mm, 83% (35/42) of 30–39 mm, 88% (49/56) of 40–59 mm, and 97% (32/33) of ≥60 mm tumors. The rate of observed LSTs by CTC was 86% (97% of LST-G, 71% of LST-NG) of the LSTs found during total colonoscopy.     

Catalytic synthesis of N-alkylacrylamide from acrylonitrile and alcohol with solid acids

Catalytic synthesis of N-alkylacrylamides, which are useful monomers for functional polymers, from acrylonitrile and alcohols, such as 1-adamantanol, tert-butyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol has been studied using various solid acids including heteropoly compounds and zeolites. For the reaction with 1-adamantanol or tert-butyl alcohol, a heteropoly compound, Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀, exhibited a high catalytic performance and water-tolerance. On the other hand, for the synthesis of N-isopropylacrylamide from isopropyl alcohol, a high-silica zeolite, H-ZSM-5 with Si/Al ratio of 37, showed an exceptionally high activity, while it was less active in the reaction with tert-butyl alcohol or 1-adamantanol. This marked effect of reactant alcohol observed for H-ZSM-5 is probably due to shape selectivity. The prominent performance for N-isopropylacrylamide synthesis is attributable to a steric effect of the constrained pores; two reactants might be arranged adequately to form an intermediate in the pores.     

基于蒸汽炉物煅烧氧化铋构成复合物自由引导压电材料性能的研究

由于环境污染问题，取代传统的基于引导的PZT自由引导压电材料得到了发展。其中CaBi4Ti4O15由于其多极性显示出铁和压电特性。在早期研究中，Ca-Bi-Ti合成醇盐的旋转涂层薄膜作为一个前期方案，通过钙、铋的氧化物和锑的异丙氧化物在酒精和2-甲氧基乙氧基混合物中的化学反应已经很好地合     

Application of a novel polypropylene to the insulation of an electric power cable

Cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) has been widely adopted as insulating material for high‐voltage power cables up to 500 kV. Further improvement of electrical and thermal properties on insulating material is required in order to increase cable operation efficiency. Therefore, the development of novel insulating material possessing high thermal properties will be necessary. Recent progress of catalysis technology contributes to obtain new polymeric materials which may be applied to electrical insulation. The authors investigated the basic properties of newly developed stereoregular syndiotactic polypropylene (s‐PP) which is synthesized with homogeneous metallocene catalyst. Though recycling of cross‐linked polymers such as conventionally used XLPE may be difficult because of their poor heat deformation, the s‐PP which is not cross‐linked must be suitable for recycling. A series of experiments on its physical and electrical properties gave the following results.

• (1) s‐PP has sufficient flexibility compared with isotactic polypropylene (i‐PP ).
• (2) Both AC and lightning impulse breakdown strength of s‐PP in spite of no cross‐linking are superior to those of XLPE in the temperature range from 25 to 90 °C.
• (3) Degradation by copper of s‐PP is less than that of i‐PP.
• (4) s‐PP/VLDPE blend shows sufficient brittleness temperature for use.

These results suggested that s‐PP should serve as insulating material for power cables at higher‐temperature operation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(1): 18–26, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002//eej.10210     

MR perfusion imaging by alternate slab width inversion recovery arterial spin labeling (AIRASL): a technique with higher signal-to-noise ratio at 3.0?T

Object  

To propose a new arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion-imaging method (alternate slab width inversion recovery ASL: AIRASL) that takes advantage of the qualities of 3.0 T.