The cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan glypican-1 regulates growth factor action in pancreatic carcinoma cells and is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) play diverse roles in cell recognition, growth, and adhesion. In vitro studies suggest that cell-surface HSPGs act as coreceptors for heparin-binding mitogenic growth factors. Here we show that the glycosylphosphatidylinositol- (GPI-) anchored HSPG glypican-1 is strongly expressed in human pancreatic cancer, both by the cancer cells and the adjacent fibroblasts, whereas expression of glypican-1 is low in the normal pancreas and in chronic pancreatitis. Treatment of two pancreatic cancer cell lines, which express glypican-1, with the enzyme phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase-C (PI-PLC) abrogated their mitogenic responses to two heparin-binding growth factors that are commonly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer: fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). PI-PLC did not alter the response to the non-heparin-binding growth factors EGF and IGF-1. Stable expression of a form of glypican-1 engineered to possess a transmembrane domain instead of a GPI anchor conferred resistance to the inhibitory effects of PI-PLC on growth factor responsiveness. Furthermore, transfection of a glypican-1 antisense construct attenuated glypican-1 protein levels and the mitogenic response to FGF2 and HB-EGF. We propose that glypican-1 plays an essential role in the responses of pancreatic cancer cells to certain mitogenic stimuli, that it is relatively unique in relation to other HSPGs, and that its expression by pancreatic cancer cells may be of importance in the pathobiology of this disorder.     

Fracture behavior of carbon steel pipe with local wall thinning subjected to bending load

To evaluate the structural integrity of power plant piping, monotonic bending tests are conducted on 4- and 3.5-in. diameter full-scale carbon steel pipe specimens with local wall thinning. The local wall thinning is simulated as erosion/corrosion metal loss. The eroded area of the wall thinning is subjected to tensile or compressive stress by applied bending moment. The deformations or fracture behaviors at maximum moments are found to be classified into three types. When the eroded area is subjected to tensile stress, ovalization or crack initiation/growth occurs at the maximum moment. When an eroded area is subjected to compressive stress, ovalization or local buckling occurs. The occurrence of ovalization, crack initiation/growth, or local buckling depends on the initial size of local wall thinning. From the relationships among ovalization, crack growth and local buckling, allowable sizes for local wall thinning are proposed.     

Effect of Nitric Acid Distribution on Extraction Behavior of Trivalent F‐Elements in a TRUEX System

Abstract

The extraction characteristics of nitric acid with a typical TRUEX (transuranic elements extraction) solvent, the mixture of octyl(phenyl)‐N,N‐ diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide and tri‐n‐butyl phosphate dissolved in n‐dodecane, were studied. From the extraction results of lanthanum, the concentration of CMPO, which was not bound to metal ions or nitric acid, were estimated. The estimated concentration was appropriate in comparison with the extraction results of nitric acid. The applicability of the determined effective CMPO concentration to the formulation of the distribution equilibrium of other f‐elements was confirmed.     

Diffusion of Water into Silica Glass at Low Temperature

Diffusion of water into silica glass was measured in the temperature range of 200° to 750° by treating the glass in air containing a constant water vapor pressure and analyzing the concentration profile using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. In the short-time diffusion heat treatments, the surface concentration was lower and the apparent diffusion coefficient was higher than the corresponding steady-state values. The temperature dependence of the steady-state diffusion coefficient showed two different activation energies. Above ∼550° the diffusion coefficients were similar to the published results with an activation energy of ∼80 kJ/mol, while below ∼550°, the diffusion coefficient was higher than the value obtained by extrapolation from higher temperatures, and the activation energy was ∼40 kJ/mol. Correspondingly, the water solubility–temperature relation showed a sudden change at around the same temperature: at temperatures above this temperature the solubility increased with decreasing temperature, while at lower temperatures the trend was reversed. It was suggested that this observed peculiarity was caused by the initial nonequilibrium reaction between water and SiO₂ glass and a change in enthalpy of the glass–water reaction.     

Acrylate Copolymer/Ultraviolet Curable Oligomer Blends as Pressure-sensitive Adhesives

For the blends of acrylate copolymer [poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid); P(2EHA-AA)] with ultraviolet (UV) curable oligomer [urethane acrylate oligomer; UAO], pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) properties, such as peel adhesion, probe tack, and holding power were examined. The values of peel adhesion and probe tack of the P(2EHA-AA)/UAO blends were dramatically reduced by UV irradiation. On the other hand, all blends had a high holding power even if these blends were cured by UV irradiation. The mechanism of reduced PSA properties was investigated via dynamic mechanical properties, DSC, and dynamic contact angle (DCA). The peel adhesion decreased monotonically with increasing storage modulus, E', and loss modulus, E', for all non-UV and UV-cured blends. Since modulus values and glass transition temperatures, Tg, of these blends after UV irradiation were higher than those of these blends before UV irradiation, we judged that the reduced peel adhesion and probe tack values were caused by the modulus increase and the Tg increase due to UV irradiation. In other words, the ability of the deformation energy of UV-cured blends to influence the adhesive tests was reduced by the curing process. The DCAs of non-UV-cured blends were the same as those of UV-cured blends. We presumed that the segment mobility of the polymer chain on the surface did not contribute to the reduced peel adhesion and probe tack values.     

Comparison of long-term efficacy of medical treatment versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in multivessel coronary artery disease

The long-term results of medical therapy and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were compared in patients with multivessel disease. All patients were confirmed to have > or = 75% luminal narrowing of major coronary arteries by coronary arteriogram. When multivessel disease was stratified into double- and triple- vessel disease, the outcomes varied. In triple-vessel disease, the outcome with CABG was good, but the outcome was unfavorable in those employing medical therapy, particularly in patients with decreased left ventricular (LV) function. In patients with double-vessel disease with good LV function, the long-term results with medical therapy were just as favorable as those with CABG. However, double-vessel disease complicated by reduced LV function (ejection faction < or = 40%) had a clearly less favorable outcome when treated with medical therapy than with CABG. Thus, it is important for patients with multivessel disease to undergo revascularization if indicated, to improve their prognosis. On the other hand, the incidence of cardiac events arising from vein graft occlusions tended to increase in CABG patients after 5 years or more following surgery.     

Fracture behavior of straight pipe and elbow with local wall thinning

Fracture behavior of pipes with local wall thinning is very important for the integrity of nuclear power plant. Then we studied the fracture behavior of straight pipe and elbow with local wall thinning. For the straight pipe, failure mode, limit load and allowable wall thinning limit based on plastic deformation ability have been studied systematically. Twenty two straight pipe specimens were tested. The failure mode was divided into four types; cracking, local buckling, ovalization and plastic collapse (ovalization+buckling). Maximum load was successfully evaluated using plastic section modulus and modified flow stress, in dependent to failure mode. For the elbow, plastic collapse and low cycle fatigue fracture by reversed loading have been tested using ten specimens. Observed failure modes were ovalization and local buckling under monotonic loading, and were local buckling and cracking under cyclic loading, especially local buckling promoted crack initiation. Test results were compared with ASME design curve and allowable limit of local wall thinning will be discussed.     

Fracture strength and behavior of carbon steel pipes with local wall thinning subjected to cyclic bending load

The power plant piping is designed to withstand seismic events using the design fatigue curve. However, the fatigue strength of a pipe with local wall thinning caused by erosion/corrosion is not clear. To evaluate the fatigue strength of pipes with local wall thinning, low cycle fatigue tests were conducted on 100A carbon steel pipes with local wall thinning. In load controlled tests on these pipes, ratcheting deformation was observed, and the fatigue strength became lower than that of cracked pipes. In displacement controlled tests, the fatigue strength of eroded pipes with 100 mm in eroded axial length, 0.5 in normalized eroded depth and 90° in eroded angle was almost equal to that given by the design fatigue curve in ASME B&PV Code Sec. III. To evaluate the local strain range in the maximum wall thinning area, the finite element analysis was conducted on the eroded pipes in the displacement controlled tests. It is concluded that the Mises strain range in the maximum wall thinning area and the low cycle fatigue curve can be used to conservatively estimate the low cycle fatigue life of an eroded pipe and the validity of estimated results can be confirmed experimentally.     

Long-term recovery of regional wall motion in patients with medically treated anterior myocardial infarction: quantitative assessment of the post-infarction left ventriculograms

Contrast sensitivity has been shown to be affected in Alzheimer's disease (Ad). We investigated low contrast acuity and contrast sensitivity using clinical test charts in this patient population. Additionally, we tested patients with vascular dementia (vd) and mixed dementia (md), (Alzheimer' with vascular dementia). Contrast sensitivity was assessed using the Vistech VCTS 6500 test chart. Low contrast acuity was measured using the Regan charts at four contrast levels (96%, 50%, 25% and 11%). The patient population consisted of 19 Ad patients, 9 vd patients and 10 md patients. Reduction in acuity was found with contrast level in all cases. Regression lines were fit to the data and statistical analysis was performed. We did not find a statistically significant difference between the Ad and vd or md groups. We did, however, find a difference between the vd and md groups. We did find reduction in contrast sensitivity at all spatial frequencies when compared to the elderly normal. Correspondingly, we found a significant difference in acuity when compared with normal data at the four contrast levels tested. Acuity is reduced with contrast in all patient groups. Our contrast sensitivity results are similar to those reported in the literature. This study points out the importance of using simple clinical test charts and further underscores the idea that there is a primary visual deficit in Ad.     

Influence of high-temperature protective coatings on the mechanical properties of nickel-based superalloys

The low-pressure plasma spray coating process has been established in the field of gas turbines and is used for hot parts, such as turbine blades and duct segments, which are exposed to corrosive gases at high temperatures. Overlay coatings based on the MCrAlY alloy system (M is Ni, CO or both) are commonly employed as oxidation- and corrosion-resistant coatings. Mechanical properties, such as creep and fatigue lives, of various MCrAlY coating systems were investigated at high temperature as compared with the uncoated substrates, such as eqiaxis IN738LC, directional solidified CM247LC and single-crystal CMSX-2. It was clear that the MCrAlY coatings had no significant influence on the creep lives of substrates for the sake of superior ductility of MCrAlY coatings at high temperature. The low-cycle fatigue lives of MCrAlY coated superalloys at high temperature showed only a little superior performance in comparison with the uncoated results. However, the high-cycle fatigue lives of MCrAlY coated superalloys at high temperature showed inferior performance in comparison with the uncoated results. It was because that the low-cycle fatigue cracks initiated at casting cavities inside the substrate in both the coated and the noncoated cases. However, the high-cycle fatigue cracks initiated at interface defects, such as small pores and grit residues, between the MCrAlY coating and the substrate and grew into the MCrAlY coating, and then into the substrate.