New gel-type polyolefin electrolyte film for rechargeable lithium batteries

A random poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (PE-A) with an acrylic acid (AA) content of 5.0–20 mol% was functionalized by esterifying acrylic acid group with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether. Polyethylene oxide functional groups such as a pendant were introduced into the polyethylene backbone chain. The resulting polymer (PEGM-g-EAA) can be easily formed to a thin sheet and possesses the adhesion property such as gluing. Its thin film could absorb and hold a large quantity of the electrolyte solutions employed for the lithium batteries. The ionic conductivity of the PEGM-g-EAA gel electrolyte obtained with the starting PE-A with acrylic acid content of 9.0 mol% was a value of around 1.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 20 °C. The ionic conductivity results obtained for the network type gel, which was entangled with the present PE-A-based polymer, were 1.1 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and 5.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 0 °C and 80 °C, respectively. The characteristics of good thermostability, transparency and good adhesion to the electrodes have also been demonstrated. As an example, the test cell consisted of the proposed polyolefin gel electrolyte, a LiCoO₂ cathode and a lithium anode showed excellent charge/discharge characteristics.     

A 2.2-V operation, 2.4-GHz single-chip GaAs MMIC transceiver forwireless applications

A 2.2-V operation, single-chip GaAs MMIC transceiver has been successfully developed for 2.4-GHz-band wireless applications such as wireless local area network terminals. The chip is fabricated using a planar self-aligned gate field-effect transistor. To generate sufficient negative voltage for gate-biasing and to enhance switch power handling capability under a 2.2-V supply, a newly designed negative voltage generator with a voltage doubler (NVG-VD) and a switch control logic circuit are integrated on the chip, together with a power amplifier, a transmit/receive switch, and a low-noise amplifier. The NVG-VD is designed to produce both a 3.3-V positive step-up voltage and a -2.1-V negative voltage under 2.2 V in operation voltage. Biased with these outputs, the logic circuit accommodates high power outputs of over 25 dBm with a low operating voltage of 2.2 V in transmit mode, With a 2.45-GHz modulated signal based on IS-95 standards, a 21-dBm output power and a 33% efficiency are obtained at a ±1.25-MHz-offset adjacent channel power rejection of -45 dBc. In receive mode, a low-noise amplifier achieves a 1.8-dB noise figure and an 11-dB gain with a 3.0-mA current. This transceiver enables significant size and weight reductions in 2.4-GHz-band wireless application terminals     

Integrated optic Y-branching waveguides with an asymmetricbranching ratio

Integrated optic Y-branching waveguides with an asymmetric branching ratio are proposed by using a novel and simple waveguide configuration. Realisation of a controllable wide branching ratio, simply by shifting the centre axes of the input taper waveguide and the branching waveguide group is clarified both theoretically and experimentally. 1×2 Y-branch splitters with an asymmetric branching ratio of 50.0~75.6%, a low excess loss of <0.2 dB and based on planar lightwave circuits are demonstrated     

Inflammatory mediator and organ dysfunction syndrome

PURPOSE: To assess the role of serum folate in the risk for coronary heart disease in a national cohort of US adults. METHODS: Data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (N = 1921) were used to determine whether a low serum folate concentration was associated with an increased risk for incident coronary heart disease (N = 284). The Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, race, education, serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The association between folate and risk for coronary heart disease differed by age group (p = 0.03). Among persons aged 35-55 years, the relative risk for heart disease was 2.4 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-5.2) for persons in the lowest quartile (< or = 9.9 nmol/L) when compared with those in the highest quartile (> or = 21.8 nmol/L). However, among persons > or = 55 years the relative risk was 0.5 (95% CI, 0.3-0.8) for comparisons of the lowest versus highest quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: If the age differences in the risk for heart disease are confirmed, randomized clinical trials assessing the role of folic acid for the prevention of heart disease may need to include young adults in order to demonstrate benefits related to folate supplementation.     

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of mu-opioid receptors in dendritic targets of dopaminergic terminals in the rat caudate-putamen nucleus

Many motor effects of opiates acting at mu-opioid receptors are thought to reflect functional interactions with dopaminergic inputs to the caudate-putamen nucleus. We examined the cellular and subcellular bases for this interaction in the rat caudate-putamen nucleus by dual immunocytochemical labelling for mu-opioid receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker mainly for dopamine in this region. mu-Opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity showed a patchy distribution by light microscopy. Within the patches, electron microscopy revealed that immunogold labelling for mu-opioid receptors was mainly distributed along extrasynaptic plasma membranes of medium spiny neurons. In contrast, immunoperoxidase labelling for tyrosine hydroxylase was exclusively located in axons and axon terminals without detectable mu-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity. Forty-six percent of the total mu-opioid receptor-labelled neuronal profiles (n = 1441) were in contact with tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive axons and terminals. These contacts were characterized by closely apposed parallel plasma membrane segments, without well-defined synaptic junctions, or with punctate symmetric specializations. From 639 noted appositions, over 90% were between mu-opioid receptor-labelled dendrites and/or dendritic spines and tyrosine hydroxylase-containing terminals. The dendritic spines containing mu-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity often received asymmetric synapses characteristics of excitatory inputs from unlabelled terminals. Axon terminals containing mu-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity formed asymmetric synapses with dendritic spines, or apposed tyrosine hydroxylase-labelled terminals. Our results suggest that, in striatal patch compartments, mu-agonists and dopamine dually modulate the activity of single spiny neurons mainly through changes in their postsynaptic responses to excitatory inputs. In addition, our findings implicate mu-opioid receptors and dopamine in the presynaptic regulation of excitatory neurotransmitter release within the striatal patch compartments.     

Cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum

We report a case of cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum (CMP), a rare tumor. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the histochemical features were studied. The patient was an 18-year-old women who presented with upper abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a well defined cystic mass with a solid papillary projection in its lumen. MRI of the cyst showed high intensity on T2- and proton weighted images and low intensity on T1-weighted images, and the solid projection showed low intensity on T2- and proton-weighted images and slight low intensity on T1-weighted images, on which it was well enhanced. The lesion was suspected to be a benign cyst, such as a hemangioma, lymphangioma, or a splenic or pancreatic cyst. Complete surgical resection was performed. The resected specimen consisted of a unilocular cystic mass, with a solid projection, weighing 260 g and measuring 10 cm in diameter. The final diagnosis, arrived at by histopathological examination, was low-grade malignant CMP. The tumor cells were strongly positive for keratin, weakly positive for vimentin, and negative for epithelial membranous antigen. The patient is now well and symptom-free with no recurrence 19 months after operation. CMP is a rare tumor; only 12 cases have previously been reported in Japan.     

The influence of sleep breathing disorder on growth hormone secretion in children with tonsil hypertrophy

INTRODUCTION: Recently it has been revealed that Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome has an influence on the endocrine system, especially to the secretion of growth hormone (GH). It was previously reported that secretion of GH has a circadian rhythm along with a correlation with slow wave sleep. Normally in a pediatric patient, after 90 min of sleep the brain wave shows patterns of deep sleep, and a matching peak in GH secretion is observed. We have studied the effect of GH secretion in sleep breathing disorder of pediatric patients by observing the pre- and post-operative difference in GH secretion in children with tonsillar hypertrophy who had tonsillectomies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten pediatric patients who complained of sleep apnea or hypopnea, and were highly suspected of having sleep breathing disorders due to tonsil hypertrophy and underwent surgery were chosen. Pre and post-operative blood somatomedin C and urinary growth hormone levels were measured. In 6 of the 10 patients blood GH levels were measured after overnight collection of blood every 30 min through a catheter placed in the vein. METHOD OF ANALYSIS: Integral blood GH calculated from GH levels of the blood samples taken every 30 min was used to express the efficacy of GH secretion during sleep, and was compared with blood somatomedin C and urinary GH levels. Pre- and post-operative somatomedin C and urinary GH measurements were compared. RESULT: 1) In 6 of the 10 patients, there was a positive correlation with integral GH and urinary GH, and no correlation with integral GH or somatomedin C. 2) Post-operatively, 7 of the 10 patients had increased urinary GH levels, 1 showed no change and 2 had decreased levels. There was a significant increase in the mean urinary GH levels from 18.6 +/- 16.1 pg/ml pre-operatively to 35.8 +/- 19.6 pg/ml post-operatively (P < 0.05). 3) Eight of the 10 patients had a post-operative increase in somatomedin C levels, 1 showed no change and the other patient had a decreased level. There was a significant increase in mean somatomedin C levels from 175.9 +/- 124.8 ng/ml pre-operatively to 226.6 +/- 134.3 ng/ml post-operatively (P < 0.01). CASE: An 8-year-old-boy was diagnosed as having habitual tonsillitis and suspected sleep breathing disorder, and was admitted to our hospital for a tonsillectomy. Apnea and hypopnea were observed during sleep in the hospital. After receiving his parents' consent, GH secretion was evaluated before and after the tonsillectomy. Integrated GH measurements, somatomedin C and urinary GH increased significantly after the operation. CONCLUSION: In this study, the improvement of sleep breathing disorder by surgery was associated with a positive effect to the GH secretion. GH secretion is important for growth of a child. Wen the cause of sleep breathing disorder is evident in the upper airway system, active treatment and cure by surgery is advised. Measurement of urinary GH in the morning is useful and simple for evaluating the ability to secrete GH.     

High pressure syntheses of copper oxychlorides with K2NiF4-type and related structures

Several new copper oxychlorides with the K₂NiF₄-type and related structures (the 02(n-1)n where n=1, 2 and 3, and the 0222 structures) are synthesized using a high pressure technique. These are (Ca,K)₂CuO₂Cl₂ (T_c = 24 K), Ba₂CuO₂Cl₂ for the 0201; (Sr,Ca)₃Cu₂O₄₊Cl_2–y (T_c = 80 K) for the 0212; (Sr,Ca)₄Cu₃O₆₊Cl_2–y (T_c = 46 K) for the 0223; CaLnCuO₃Cl (Ln=Y, Ho, Er) for the 0222. Hole carrier doping to induce superconductivity and size tuning of the CuO₂ sheet are attained in these new oxychlorides.