Displacement of gold marker in immunoelectron microscopy of human respiratory cilia

The incidence of tuberculosis is rising in the United States. Similarly, the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Taiwan is increasing, but that of large bowel tuberculosis in this region has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changing disease pattern and to determine some possible surgical prognostic factors for large bowel tuberculosis. Seventy cases of large bowel tuberculosis treated at our institute during the period 1965-1995 were reviewed and analyzed. A steady decline in the case number of large bowel tuberculosis were noted from 1975, but there seems to be a slight increase in cases since 1990. The average age of these patients was 65.1 years, and none had human immunodeficiency virus infection. The ileocecum is the most common region of involvement. Of these 70 patients, 59 had not been definitively diagnosed until surgery. Active pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 18 patients (25.7%). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was higher in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis or disseminating large bowel tuberculosis. Postoperative abdominal complications, including intestinal obstruction, abdominal cutaneous fistula, and wound infection, were seen in 13 patients, none of whom had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Although the incidence of tuberculosis has been reduced for years, it is now rising. Physicians should bear in mind the possibility of large bowel tuberculosis in patients with intestinal obstruction without specific origin. Postoperative respiratory care is important for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, with either active or disseminating lesions.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the capillary loops in the dermal papillae of the hand in primates,including man

The microvasculature of the skin of the hand in primates, including man, was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. In this study, the microvascular patterns and structures in different areas of the hand, and the changes in vascular patterns that occur with age, have been described. The typical structure of the capillary loops in the hand can be observed in the ball of the finger of the young adult monkey. The capillary loops were formed out of not just one capillary vessel, but two or three vessels. Each capillary vessel arose and divided into several branches at the papillae, and these became descending limbs. After the loop passed a hairpin turn, the descending limbs were 1.5 times larger than the ascending limbs in the intrapapillary portion, and they became extrapapillary venules. The descending limbs connected with the postcapillary venules in the postpapillary portion and with the horizontal network. The postcapillary venules fused with each other to form the primary and secondary venous arcades. The secondary venous arcades anastomosed with each other and flowed into the subpapillary venules, which run along the dermal furrow in the fingerprint. Changes in vascular patterns with age could be observed. In the infant fingerprint, the vascular systems had not yet differentiated, especially the venous system in the dermis. In the old adult finger, the capillary loops presented complicated features deviating due to aging.     

Assessment of cardiac toxicity by 123I-MIBG myocardial SPECT in elderly non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with COP-BLAM and G-CSF

COP-BLAM chemotherapy with concomitant G-CSF was performed on patients 65 or older with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and cardiac sympathetic disorders due to the chemotherapeutic agents were studied using 123I-MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) myocardial SPECT (single photon emission CT). The results showed no correlation between the ejection fraction due to echocardiography and the total dose of adriamycin (ADR). However, there was a positive correlation between the total dose of ADR and the washout rate, and the possibility of cardiac sympathetic disorders caused by ADR was suggested.     

Prevention of diabetes-induced abnormal retinal blood flow by treatment with d-alpha-tocopherol

Hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus has been shown to activate diacylglycerol (DAG)-protein kinase C (PKC) pathway in the vascular tissues, possibly altering vascular function. We have characterized the effects of vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) on activation of PKC and DAG levels in retinal tissues of diabetic rats, and correlated its effects to retinal hemodynamics using video-based fluorescein angiography (VFA). Comparing streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats to controls, membranous PKC specific activities were increased by 71% (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that the membranous PKC beta II isoform was significantly increased by 133 +/- 45% (p < 0.05). Intraperitoneal injection of d-alpha-tocopherol (40 mg/kg) every other day prevented the increases in membranous PKC specific activity and PKC beta II protein shown by immunoblots. Similar to PKC activities, total DAG levels were increased in the retina and were normalized by d-alpha-tocopherol treatment. Physiologically, abnormalities of retinal blood hemodynamics, as measured using VFA, which previously have been reported to be associated with increases of DAG and PKC levels in the diabetic rats, were prevented by d-alpha-tocopherol treatment in diabetic rats. The direct effect of d-alpha-tocopherol on total DAG and [3H]-palmitate incorporation into DAG were also examined using cultured bovine retinal endothelial cells (REC). Exposure of REC to 22 mM glucose for three days increased total DAG and [3H]-palmitate labeled DAG levels by 35 +/- 8% and 50 +/- 8%, respectively (p < 0.05). The presence of d-alpha-tocopherol (50 micrograms/ml) prevented the increase of both total DAG and [3H]-palmitate labeled DAG levels in cells exposed to 22 mM glucose. These findings suggested that the mechanism of the d-alpha-tocopherol's effect appears to be mediated by the normalization of the hyperglycemia-induced activation of the DAG-PKC pathway which leads to the normalization of abnormal retinal blood flow seen in diabetes mellitus.     

Determination of material constants and prediction of fracture in sintering of ceramic products

Methods of determining material constants required for finite element simulation of sintering of ceramic green bodies are proposed. The flow stress and shrinkage strain-rate in sintering are measured from a simple compression test with a constant load. The critical difference in volumetric strain in the criterion for sintering fracture is determined from a three-point bending test with a constant load. Using the measured material constants, the densification behaviour in compaction and sintering processes of circular tiles composed of a coloured upper layer and uncoloured substrate with a groove is simulated by the viscoplastic finite element method. The occurrence of sintering fracture is predicted from the difference of volumetric strain calculated by the finite element simulation. The accuracy of the calculated results is improved by using the flow stress with strain-rate and temperature sensitivities and the history of shrinkage strain-rate.     

2-46.5 GHz quasi-static 2:1 frequency divider IC usingInAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMTs

The authors report a 2-46.5 GHz quasi-static frequency divider IC using InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMTs. Wideband clock/data buffers and an HLO (high-speed latching operation)-type T-FF were incorporated to enhance the operating range. The IC was mounted on a dedicated IC package and operated up to 45.2 GHz     

High quality railgun HYPAC for hypervelocity impact experiments

The characteristic of a very high quality railgun HYPAC (10 kV, 6,000 μ F, 300 kJ) at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) which is capable of accelerating a 1–2 gram projectile of 10–20 mm diameter made of polycarbonate to a hypervelocity of 7.8 km/sec and its utilization in hypervelocity impact experiments are reviewed. Also shown are further efforts to increase the velocity, to improve the quality of the projectile such as the acceleration of metal powder and to explore a new application of this facility.     

Basic studies for the practical use of bitterness inhibitors: selective inhibition of bitterness by phospholipids

PURPOSE: We examined the effects of phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidic acid (PA) on human taste sensation to various substances. METHODS: The effects were evaluated psychophysically using paid volunteers. RESULTS: PA inhibited the bitterness of various substances dissolved in water without affecting sweetness, saltiness, and sourness, although its inhibitory activity was less than that of PA-LG. PI also showed inhibitory activity on bitterness, although its activity was less than PA. A soybean lecithin fraction containing high contents of PA and PI also demonstrated inhibitory activity on the bitterness of various substances. Both the incorporation of either PA or the lecithin fraction into granules containing quinine and the coating of the granules with PA or the fraction effectively inhibited the bitterness of quinine. CONCLUSIONS: The lecithin fraction is permitted for use as an additive to drugs and food and can be produced on an industrial scale. It is expected that the lecithin fraction will be used safely as a bitterness inhibitor for practical applications.     

Effect of non-uniform electron energy distribution function on plasma production in large arc driven negative ion source

Spatially non-uniform electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in an arc driven negative ion source (JAEA 10A negative ion source: 10 A NIS) is calculated numerically by a three-dimensional Monte Carlo kinetic model for electrons to understand spatial distribution of plasma production (such as atomic and ionic hydrogen (H(0)∕H(+)) production) in source chamber. The local EEDFs were directly calculated from electron orbits including electromagnetic effects and elastic∕inelastic collision forces. From the EEDF, spatial distributions of H(0)∕H(+) production rate were obtained. The results suggest that spatial non-uniformity of H(0)∕H(+) productions is enhanced by high energy component of EEDF.     

Characterization of light extraction efficiency for WOLEDS with light‐out‐coupling layer

We studied the light extraction efficiencies of white organic light‐emitting diodes with a light‐out‐coupling layer by simulations and experiments. The light extraction efficiencies estimated by the simulation were confirmed to agree well with those measured by the experiments. Moreover, we successfully obtained the high light extraction efficiency (η_OC) of 69%.