Effect of Al Electrodeposition Treatment Using Molten Salt on the High-Temperature Oxidation of TiAl

Oxidation of Metals - An Al layer on a TiAl substrate was formed by electrodepositing Al and alloying it with TiAl in molten salt. Electrolysis of Al was conducted using a potentiostatic...     

FK506 promotes liver regeneration by suppressing natural killer cell activity

We examined the mechanism of promotion of liver regeneration by tacrolimus hydrate (FK506), a potent immunosuppressant, after partial hepatectomy. The administration of FK506 significantly increased the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling index at 36 and 48 h after 70% hepatectomy compared with the placebo group. Using the same model, we examined the effect of FK506 on the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and found no changes in HGF and TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression in the liver or in the HGF protein concentration in plasma. We found that pretreatment with FK506 markedly reduced the activity and number of liver-resident natural killer (NK) cells at the time of partial hepatectomy. Our observations suggest that the promotion of liver regeneration by FK506 may be attributable to a reduction in the number of liver-resident NK cells and to inhibition of their activity.     

Influence of substituents on the reorientational behavior in photocrosslinkable polymer liquid crystal films with p-substituted cinnamoyloxybiphenyl side groups by irradiating with linearly polarized ultraviolet light and annealing

This paper describes the synthesis and influence of the substituent on the reorientation behavior of photocrosslinkable methacrylate polymer liquid crystals (PPLCs), which contain p-substituted cinnamoyloxybiphenyl (CB) side groups. Irradiating with linearly polarized ultraviolet (LPUV) light induced optical anisotropy of all PPLC films due to an axis-selective photoreaction of the mesogenic groups. The thermally enhanced reorientation direction depended on the substituent groups and liquid crystalline nature of the PPLC. A high in-plane reorientational order (S>0.6) parallel to the polarization of LPUV light was obtained for PPLCs with p-methoxy-CB and p-methyl-CB side groups, while out-of-plane reorientation was predominant for p-fluoro-CB and p-trifluoromethyl-CB side groups.     

Effect of alloy composition on enthalpy and entropy changes of hydride formation for stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric hydrogen storage alloys

Both enthalpy change ΔH° and entropy change ΔS° of hydride formation were evaluated from the measurement of pressure-composition isotherms (P-C-T curves) for hydrogen desorption in stoichiometric and nostoichiometric Mm (Ni₁₆Mn_11.4Al_0.3Co_0.7)₃ (Mm = misch metal, 0.88 x 1.12 values decreased with increasing x value, supporting that the low stability of the hydride causes the improved high-rate dischargeability of the Mm-poor Mm(Ni₁₆Mn_0.4Al_0.3Co_0.7)₁₁₂ alloy electrode.     

T cell proliferation-augmenting activities of the gene 3 protein derived from a phage library clone with CD80-binding activity

We have isolated a phage clone, F2, by panning a phage library with a CTLA4-conformation recognizing mAb (anti-CTLA4 mAb). The unique sequence of 15 amino acids with an internal disulfide bond was inserted in the gene 3 proteins of F2 phage clone (F2-g3p). We show here that 1) F2-g3p was recognized with anti-CTLA4 mAb but not with anti-CD28 mAb, and 2) F2-g3p bound to CD80 but not to CD86. The surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that F2-g3p strongly bound CD80. F2-g3p inhibited the binding of CTLA4 to CD80 but not to CD86. In contrast, F2-g3p weakly inhibited the binding of CD28 with CD80. When hen egg lysozyme (HEL)-primed lymph node cells were stimulated with HEL in the presence of F2-g3p in vitro, cell proliferation was highly potentiated. In the absence of antigenic stimulation, F2-g3p induced no T cell proliferation, indicating the costimulatory nature of F2-g3p. The T cell-augmenting activity of the F2 clone was eliminated when the F2 clone was preincubated with CD80-Ig before the addition to the cultures, indicating the involvement of CD80-binding in the F2-g3p-mediated immunopotentiation. Thus, the F2 motif conferred CD80-binding activity and an immunoregulatory function to the g3p.     

Rapidly progressive T-cell angiocentric lymphoma with CD56+ phenotype involving bilateral orbits and skin in a patient with anti-HTLV-I antibody

The pressure dependent or myogenic contraction of arterioles is one of the most fundamental control mechanisms of microvascular perfusion. While many experimental observations have been obtained on the myogenic response, no generally accepted biomechanical model has been formulated. A novel biomechanical theory is proposed based on two fundamental assumptions: the arteriolar wall exhibits viscoelastic properties before and during myogenic contractions, and the contraction is achieved by a pressure dependent change of reference length. The formulation of the model and its application to different experimental procedures on microvascular smooth muscle in the literature is presented. The model describes closely a broad spectrum of steady and unsteady pressure dependent diameter variations of arterioles under a pressure dependent stimulus.     

Corrosion behavior of Hastelloy-N alloys in molten salt fluoride in Ar gas or in air

The effects of air on the corrosion of Hastelloy-N alloys in molten salt coolant containing fission product elements were investigated to determine the safety of structural materials in high-temperature reactors cooled with fluoride salt. Corrosion tests of Hastelloy-N in the molten fluoride salt FLiNaK in an alumina crucible and a graphite crucible under argon gas or air were performed at 773–923 K for 100 h. The depth of corrosive attack, as well as the extent of chromium and molybdenum depletion, increased with increasing temperature. The extent of Hastelloy-N corrosion in molten salt under air was significantly greater than under argon gas. The effect of adding the impurity cesium iodide to molten salt containing nuclear waste fuel on the corrosion behavior was negligible.     

Playback performance of ultrahigh-capacity tape media with nanosized composite advanced particle (NanoCAP)

We have developed nanosized composite advanced particles (NanoCAP) with spherical shape and high coercivity, and fabricated dual coated tape to evaluate playback performance. The spherical shape contributes to smooth surfaces and reduced boundary variation between the magnetic layer and underlayer. The fine particle size, 17 nm, yields low media noise and high signal-to-noise ratio. The high coercivity, compared to metal particulate media, contributes to high amplitude resolution (D50=170 kfci). We confirmed that write demagnetization is well restrained and that NanoCAP tape should show very good playback performance with a superior writer.