Prostaglandin E receptor subtypes in mouse osteoblastic cell line

PGE2 is one of the key molecules in the osteoblast. It is the major prostanoid in the bone, and its production is under the control of both systemic and local factors. PGE2 has been reported to have multiple actions in the osteoblast, such as growth promotion and cell differentiation. To better understand the action of PGE2 in the osteoblast, we determined the PGE receptor subtypes in MC3T3-E1, an osteoblastic cell line derived from the normal mouse calvaria. Northern blot analysis revealed that EP1 and EP4 subtypes are expressed in MC3T3-E1. In contrast, EP3 subtype was not detected by either Northern blot analysis or RT-PCR. The contribution of each subtype was evaluated by studying the effects of subtype-specific analogs on osteoblastic function at confluency and 5 days after confluency. An EP1 agonist, 17-phenyl-omega-trinor PGE2, increased DNA synthesis and decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. 11-Deoxy-PGE1, and EP2 and EP4 agonist, decreased DNA synthesis and increased alkaline phosphatase activity at both stages. Butaprost, an EP2-selective agonist, showed effects similar to those of 11-deoxy-PGE1 only at confluency. Another and more differentiated osteoblastic marker, osteocalcin production, was detectable and was stimulated by 11-deoxy-PGE1 only 5 days after confluency. The exposure of these cells to EP1 agonist changed the cell shape to a more fibroblastic appearance. These results indicate that EP1, EP4, and probably EP2 are present in MC3T3-E1 cells; EP1 promotes cell growth, and EP2 and EP4 mediate differentiation of the osteoblast. Furthermore, the decreased response to EP2-specific agonist 5 days after confluency suggests that the expression of PGE receptor subtype is dependent on the stage of osteoblastic differentiation. This is the first report to determine PGE receptor subtypes in the bone.     

Beta 2-receptor density on mononuclear blood cells in patients suffering from neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA)

We describe a rapid and specific differential amplification system which can detect five of the most common cystic fibrosis mutations from a single cell. In the first round of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), regions of exons 4, 10 and 11 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene containing the mutations delta F508, G551D, R553X, G542X and 621+1G > T were co-amplified in a single multiplex PCR. To identify potential contamination, we included external amplification primers for the polymorphic human tyrosine hydroxylase (HUMTH01) locus as a fingerprint for the sample. In the second round of PCR, detection of any of the five mutations was achieved using the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) in two separate reactions, each containing nested amplification primers for either wild type or mutant sequence. A separate second round PCR for the fingerprinting was performed with nested HUMTH01 primers. Using this procedure we have successfully and accurately detected five cystic fibrosis mutations in 30 single cells with a failed amplification rate of 7% and a contamination rate of 4.6% and that PCR failure or possible contamination will also be easily detected. This procedure allows detection of the five most common point mutations and small deletions responsible for cystic fibrosis from a single cell in < 8 h which could be applicable to preimplantation diagnosis in human embryos.     

InxGa1−xAs (x=0.25–0.35) grown at low temperature

In_xGa_1−xAs (x=0.25–0.35) grown at low temperature on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy is characterized by Hall effect, transmission electron microscopy, and ultrafast optical testing. As with low temperature (LT) GaAs, the resistivity is generally higher after a brief anneal at 600°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows all the as-grown epilayers to be heavily dislocated due to the large lattice mismatch (2–3%). When the layers are annealed, in addition to the dislocations, precipitates are also generally observed. As with LT-GaAs, the lifetime shortens as growth temperature is reduced through the range 300–120°C; also, the lifetime in LT-In_xGa_1−xAs is generally shorter in as-grown samples relative to annealed samples. Metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors fabricated on the material exhibit response times of 1–2 picoseconds, comparable to results reported on GaAs grown at low temperature, and the fastest ever reported in the wavelength range of 1.0–1.3 μm.     

Berechnung der Wirbelstromdichten und-kräfte in der Umgebung großer supraleitender Spulen für den magnetischen Einschluß bei der Kernfusion

Übersicht Um die Betriebssicherheit großer supraleitender Magnetsysteme für die Kernfusionsforschung zu gewährleisten, muß die im Magnetsystem gespeicherte Energie schnell entladen werden können. Durch die veränderlichen großvolumigen Magnetfelder werden in benachbarten leitfähigen Strukturen durch Induktion hohe Wirbelströme hervorgerufen. Durch sie treten dort elektromagnetische Kräfte. auf, die einzelne Komponenten mechanisch überlasten können. Zur Berechnung dieser Kräfte wurde eine einfache numerischanalytische Methode entwickelt, die im folgenden vorgestellt und mit Finite-Elemente-Verfahren verglichen wird.

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Calculation of eddy current densities and forces around large superconducting coils for nuclear fusion

Contents The reliable operation of the superconducting magnet systems used for the magnetic confinement in nuclear fusion research requires the ability of a fast discharge of the stored magnetic energy. The corresponding magnetic field variation gives rise to high eddy currents by inductive coupling with surrounding conductive components. The eddy current forces can lead to a mechanical overload of some of these components. A simple numerical-analytical method was developed in order to calculate these forces. This method is presented and compared with the Finite Element Method.

     

Solidification Behavior of Undercooled Liquid Aluminum Oxide

Solidification of aluminum oxide from undercooled melts was investigated in containerless experiments. Specimens were levitated in a gas jet, stabilized with an acoustic positioning device, and melted with cw CO₂ laser beams. Cooling curves were obtained by optical pyrometry when the laser intensity was reduced. The materials examined were high-purity Verneuil sapphire, 99.5% polycrystalline alumina, and oxide materials recovered from the effluent of an aluminum-fueled rocket motor. The degree of undercooling, the apparent temperature behavior during the thermal arrest on solidification, and the structure of the materials formed were different in argon and oxygen atmospheres. Undercooling of the sapphire and alumina materials was 360 ± 10 K in an oxygen atmosphere and approximately 450 K in argon. Melting and solidification of high-purity sapphire resulted in a dendritic and porous polycrystalline material in oxygen. Dense, larger crystals were obtained in argon. Products formed from 99.5% alumina were discolored and the cores were white, indicating impurity segregation effects. More reproducible behavior was observed for the sapphire and 99.5% alumina than for the tungstencontaminated rocket motor effluent materials.     

Phase I trial of inhaled natural interleukin 2 for treatment of pulmonary malignancy: toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and biological effects

Safety, local and systemic immunomodulation, and tumor response to treatment with aerosolized natural interleukin 2 (nIL-2) applied five times a day were studied in a Phase I trial in 16 patients with pulmonary malignancies refractory to conventional therapy. The toxicity of inhaled nIL-2 was different from that observed after systemic administration. Reversible airway irritation causing a nonproductive cough represented the dose-limiting toxicity. Mild to moderate reduction of the vital capacity and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) with minor effects on relative FEV1, peak expiratory flow, airway resistance, and PaO2 was experienced by individual patients. In 14 patients suffering from pulmonary metastases due to renal cell cancer, one durable complete response, one partial response, and one mixed response were observed. Inhalation of nIL-2 aerosol resulted in a dose-dependent expansion of pulmonary immunocompetent cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Posttreatment bronchoalveolar lavage showed an activated lymphocyte phenotype with increased HLA-DR expression. The only systemic biological effect detectable in peripheral blood was a marked increase of soluble interleukin 2 receptor serum levels. We conclude that treatment with aerosolized nIL-2 is an effective means for site-specific immunomodulation and deserves further investigation for the treatment of malignant and inflammatory lung disease.     

THE FRACTURE MECHANISM OF 475°C EMBRITTLEMENT IN A DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL

The mechanism of “475°C embrittlement” of a duplex stainless steel was investigated using finite element modelling of the stress distribution at brittle fracture initiation. Brittle fracture initiated at a critical shear stress, which increased with ferrite hardness. The fracture stress was affected by the duplex microstructure. Fracture was nucleated by deformation twins, which were identified using electron back-scatter diffraction. The ductile-to-brittle fracture transition was sensitive to age-hardening and could be described simply by the effect of age-hardening and test temperature on the yield stress.     

Oscillation of the scattering time in a 2D electron system with oval antidots

Electron scattering by a single barrier is predicted to reveal singularities as the magnetic field is changed, because the number of electron collisions with the barrier dramatically increases as chaotic orbits around the barrier are changed into periodic orbits. To test this experimentally we have measured the magnetoresistance of AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with a two-dimensional electron gas and a lateral lattice containing a macroscopic number of oval-shaped antidots fabricated using electron lithography. Reproducible fluctuations in the magnetoresistance are observed at low field, which are due to the oscillations of the number of electron collisions with the antidots. The number of collisions N before the electron escapes from the antidot has been calculated as a function of B in an electric field. The position of the maxima in N(B) obtained from calculations and experiment are in reasonable agreement.     

Mechanical degradation of coating systems in high temperature cyclic oxidation

Cyclic oxidation tests were performed on a large variety of commercially available overlay coatings. The results of cyclic oxidation tests confirmed that the composition of the coating as well as the processing method of the coating can affect the life of the system. Coating life was determined by the time to coating penetration and initiation of substrate attack. As this work was part of a effort to evaluate the relative protectiveness of available coating systems for Industrial Gas Turbine applications at relatively high temperature, an extensive testing programme was undertaken. The different coatings were tested to visual failure. The results presented in this paper concentrate on the surface instability of the coating. Apart from usual oxidation of the coating an additional degradation mechanism was observed. A mechanical effect caused by the instability of the coating as a result of the difference in the thermal coefficient of expansion and mechanical properties between the substrate and coating. This effect, the so-called “rumpling” effect, resulted in a significant reduction in time to penetration and was in some systems the life controlling factor.