Preparation of CdS-doped Glasses from Gels Containing Diethyldithiocarbamatocadmium

CdS-doped SiO₂ glasses were prepared via silica gels containing diethyldithiocarbamatocadmium Cd(S₂CN(C₂H₅)₂)₂. Heat treatment of the gels gave transparent yellow SiO₂glasses doped with hexagonal CdS crystals. In optical absorption and fluorescence spectra, the optical absorption edge and the emission peak clearly exhibited a blue shift, which was attributed to the quantum size effect of the carrier confinement, as the CdS content was decreased. In the fluorescence spectra of the CdS-doped silica glasses, the emission peak was observed only near 500 nm and not observed at longer wavelengths which were known to be present if there were sulfur vacancies.     

Growth of carbon impurity density and adequate divertor wall temperature for fusion experimental reactors

Sudden increase of carbon impurity called carbon bloom has terminated the energy breakeven condition in the present large tokamak. In order to lengthen the burning plasma state in the next device, carbon bloom has to be well suppressed. The temporal evolution of carbon impurity density is analytically examined by using a simple one-point kinetic or zero-dimensional model including the effects of graphite erosions due to oxygen and ion, and gettering for oxygen due to boron or beryllium. The growth of carbon bloom due to radiation-enhanced sublimation is discussed based on the effective self-sputtering of carbon. Even when the self-sputtering yield is less than unity, carbon density is observed to continuously increase with the discharge time if the oxygen gettering action is not perfectly conducted. From the present analysis and data on the erosion of carbon materials, and the evaporation of gettering materials, it is suggested that the divertor wall temperature has to be kept less than approximately 900–1000°C to avoid the continuous growth of the carbon density.     

Sonographic analysis of recurrent parotitis in children: a comparative study with sialographic findings

BACKGROUND: Patients with asthma show altered surface expression of the adhesion molecules CD11b and L-selectin on airway granulocytes compared with blood granulocytes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether this modulation is related to disease activity or due to transendothelial migration, we compared the CD11b and L-selectin expression on blood and induced sputum eosinophils and neutrophils between patients with asthma and normal subjects. METHODS: Eleven normal subjects (21-43 years), nine patients (21-34 years) with mild atopic asthma and 10 patients (20-47 years) with moderate to severe atopic asthma on regular treatment with inhaled steroids underwent sputum induction by inhalation of nebulized hypertonic saline (4.5%). CD11b and L-selectin expression on granulocytes from blood and DTT-homogenized sputum were analysed by flow cytometry. Eosinophils could be discriminated from neutrophils by using depolarized light scatter. Disease activity was assessed by baseline FEV1 and airway responsiveness to histamine (PC20). RESULTS: Sputum eosinophils showed higher expression of CD11b (P<0.001) and lower expression of L-selectin (P<0.001) compared with peripheral blood eosinophils. CD11b and L-selectin expression on eosinophils from blood or sputum did not differ between the three groups. Similar results were obtained for neutrophils. The PC20 in the patients with moderate-to-severe asthma was related to CD11b expression on blood (R=-0.92, P=0.001) and sputum eosinophils (R=0.75, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Flow cytometry of induced sputum granulocytes from asthmatic as well as normal subjects is feasible. We conclude that the modulated expression of CD11b and L-selectin on airway granulocytes is not specific for asthmatic airway inflammation, but is probably the result of tissue migration per sé. This implies that CD11b and L-selectin expression on granulocytes in induced sputum cannot be used as marker of disease activity.     

模拟流体中真核状态鞭毛运动和纤毛运动的放大推进机构

由于大部分的生物体都具有相对的自发性、功能性和有效率性，模仿生物体动作的机械研究在工程领域是非常重要的。根据这个观点，我们研究了一种基于水中微生物动作的微型推进机构。     

Reduced susceptibility to collagen-induced arthritis in mice deficient in IFN-gamma receptor

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is an arthritic model that was developed after immunization with type II collagen (CII). Apparently, contradictory results have been reported regarding the role of IFN-gamma in the development of CIA. Therefore, we employed IFN-gamma R-deficient mice to study the role of IFN-gamma. To introduce the CIA susceptibility gene (H-2q), IFN-gamma R-deficient (H-2b/b/IFN-gamma R-/-) mice were mated with DBA/1 (H-2q/q/IFN-gamma R+/+) mice; next, the F1 mice were interbred to yield F2 offspring bearing different combinations of H-2 (H-2q/q, H-2q/b, and H-2b/b) and IFN-gamma R (IFN-gamma R+/+, IFN-gamma R+/-, and IFN-gamma R-/-) genes. Although the H-2q allele appeared to confer susceptibility to CIA, mice that were homozygous for the IFN-gamma R mutation showed a substantially decreased incidence and severity of CIA. The CII-specific IgG levels of serum samples, which are known to be involved in the development of CIA, were remarkably reduced in IFN-gamma R-/- mice. Furthermore, the anti-CII IgG2a levels controlled by IFN-gamma R were significantly reduced in IFN-gamma R-/- F2 mice compared with those seen in IFN-gamma R+/+ and IFN-gamma R+/- mice, although the levels of all IgG subclass Abs examined were lower in IFN-gamma R-/- mice than in IFN-gamma R+/+ mice. No clear evidence of the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines was observed in CII-immunized, IFN-gamma R-deficient mice. Taken together, these results suggest that IFN-gamma exacerbates CIA by affecting, at least, levels of CII-specific IgG Ab rather than the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells.     

A case report of multiple hepatic hilar cyst associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Two types of cDNA encoding gonadotropin beta subunits (GTH beta) were isolated from a cDNA library prepared from pituitary gland of Baikal omul (Coregonus autumnalis migratorius Georgi). The nucleotide sequences of cDNA were determined. The CTHI beta and GTHII beta cDNAs code for polypeptides of 137 and 142 amino acids, respectively. Both of them include a putative signal peptide of 24 amino acids. The predicted amino acid structures of omul gonadotropins were compared with those of other vertebrate species.     

Fabrication of amorphous bulk and multi-phase ceramics by melting method in the HfO2-Al2O3-Gd2O3-Eu2O3system

Ceramics have generally been fabricated from powders by shape forming & sintering methods except for glasses and glass ceramics. Glasses and glass ceramics can be fabricated by melting methods. The melting method has not only higher productivity but also higher shape forming ability than powder processes via forming & sintering methods. Thus we have reinvestigated melting methods in binary and ternary oxides systems to fabricate amorphous bulk ceramics and bulk nano composites. We have successfully fabricated amorphous phases by simple melt solidification methods in ternary eutectic melts in the HfO₂-Al₂O₃-Gd₂O₃system. The present study demonstrates the formation of the amorphous phases in quaternary systems HfO₂-Al₂O₃-Gd₂O₃-Eu₂O₃. Furthermore, we have also succeeded to fabricate nano-structured bulk ceramics, which consisted of constituent oxide grains with 20–100 nm in size, by post annealing of the amorphous phase.     

Optical cascade star network--A new configuration for a passive distribution system with optical collision detection capability

A new fiber-optic passive network configuration with novel star couplers is reported. The new optical network configuration, an Optical Cascade Star Network, optimizes contradictory requirements for network system size and cable cost, and matches the actual layout in offices or factories. The star coupler is novel in that the optical signal does not return to the source terminals. This feature enables cascade connection of star networks, the use of simple repeaters for system extension, and the easy support of carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) bus access procedure. Experimental results obtained from novel star couplers, optical transceivers with (CSMA/CD) bus compatibility, and a total network system are also discussed.     

Clinical study on hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic malignancies

In a consecutive series of 146 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 10 patients (6.8%) were found to have one or two extrahepatic malignancies (EHM). Of these, eight had double cancers and two, triple cancers. The associated malignancies included eight cases of gastric cancer and four cases of colon cancer. Among the 12 lesions, eight were in the early stage. All the 10 patients were hepatitis B surface antigen negative. The incidence of coexisting liver cirrhosis and the retention rate of indocyanin green in 15 minutes among HCCs with EHM were significantly lower than those among HCC alone. These results suggest that the etiology of HCC with EHM is different from the etiology of HCC alone in Japan.     

Direct Observation of the Collection Process for Dust Particles from an Air Stream by a Charged Water Droplet

One of the most effective precipitation methods for submicrometer particles is the charged droplet scrubber. The dust collection in the charged droplet scrubber is considered to consist of some processes with respect to the interaction between charged dust particles and a charged water droplet. That is, the charged dust particles are attracted to, collide with, adhere to, penetrate into, rebound from, accumulate on, and reentrain from a charged water droplet. The direct observation of the collection process for dust particles by a charged water droplet was conducted by using the experimental setup designed by the authors. It was found from the experiments that particles with good wettability were captured inside the water droplet, particles with poor wettability floated at regular intervals on the droplet surface, and particles with medium wettability were trapped on or inside the water droplet. When particles were trapped on the droplet surface the growth of dendritic depositions was found, and their behavior was very distinct from those obtained on the fibrous filter due to the fluidity of the droplet surface. The deposition mechanisms of charged particles on the charged water droplet are discussed qualitatively.