Characterization of the initial steps of precursor import into rat liver mitoplasts

Mitochondria have two independent protein-import machineries, one in the outer membrane (the Tom system) and the other in the inner membrane (the Tim system). Here, we have characterized the initial steps of precursor import into rat liver mitoplasts. The import reaction was separated into two stages, consisting of precursor binding to the mitoplasts at 0-10 degreesC, and a subsequent chase reaction at 30 degreesC. This assay revealed four distinct precursor-import steps: DeltaPsi-dependent initial binding of the precursor, precursor transfer to the Tim23-Tim17 stage, DeltaPsi-dependent translocation of the presequence across the inner membrane, and the complete translocation of the mature portion of the precursor. Antibodies against the intermembrane space domain of Tim23 inhibited neither the precursor binding nor the subsequent translocation of the presequence across the inner membrane. In contrast, the antibodies inhibited the complete translocation of the mature domain of the precursor across the inner membrane. Immunoprecipitation with anti-Tim23 IgGs revealed that the precursor-Tim23 complex increased with time and temperature after the initial targeting of the precursor to the mitoplasts. These results suggest that the precursor is first targeted to the inner membrane component DeltaPsi-dependently, then transferred to the Tim system consisting of Tim23-Tim17, and finally imported into the matrix.     

Design Guidelines of FRP Reinforced Concrete Building Structures

The “Design Guidelines of FRP Reinforced Concrete Building Structures” was established in 1993 as one of the final outputs of the research committee on fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) reinforced concrete building structures organized under the Japanese Ministry of Construction's research and development project titled: “Effective Use of Advanced Construction Materials (1988–92).” These Guidelines are a translation of the Japanese guidelines. They describe the design concept for nonprestressed concrete structures reinforced with FRP rebars, and the calculation equations are all relegated to the commentaries due to lack of design data on FRP reinforced concrete structures. A limit-state design method has been adopted under the guidelines. Among the subjects covered are overview, design method, materials, loads and combination, stress and deformation, ultimate state design, serviceability state design, structural requirement, and testing methods for the tensile strength and bond strength of materials. “The Design Guidelines for FRP Prestressed Concrete Members” is separate from these guidelines.     

Intracranial penetrating injuries via the optic canal

Two cases of intracranial penetration of a plastic or wooden chopstick via the optic canal are described. CT scans showed the chopsticks as linear hypodense structures in the suprasellar cistern contiguous with the optic canal. In one case, MR imaging was performed, which clearly depicted the foreign body and adjacent brain structures. Although they are extremely rare, transorbital intracranial penetrating injuries via the optic canal require physicians' awareness.     

Application of direct-tunneling gate oxides to high-performance CMOS

The characteristics of direct-tunneling gate oxide metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)s are described. The effect of gate leakage current on MOSFET characteristics drops off as the gate length is reduced. Extremely good DC and AC performance has been realized using ultra-thin oxides down to 1.5 nm. Improved hot-carrier reliability and high oxide breakdown voltage have also been observed.     

Power Generation of a p-Type Ca3Co4O9/n-Type CaMnO3 Module

Thermoelectric modules composed of eight pairs of p -type Ca_2.7Bi_0.3Co₄O₉ (Co-349) and n -type CaMn_0.98Mo_0.02O₃ (Mn-113) bulks were constructed using Ag electrodes and paste including powder of the n -type oxide. The former bulks were prepared by hot pressing. On the other hand, the latter were densified using a cold isostatic pressing technique and sintered in atmospheric pressure. Dimensions of both oxide legs were 5 mm wide and thick and 4.5 mm high. An alumina plate was used as a substrate, and there was no alumina plate on the other side of the modules. When the substrate side was heated, the module could generate up to 1.0 V and 0.17 W of open circuit voltage ( V _O) and maximum power ( P _max), respectively, at a hot-side temperature of 1273 K (furnace temperature as a heat source) and a cold-side temperature of 298 K (circulated water temperature) in air. But internal resistance R _I reached a value of 1.5 Ω, which is about six times higher than the calculated one from resistivity of both p - and n -type bulks. When the substrate side was cooled, V _O and P _max reached 0.7 V and 0.34 W of V _O and P _max, respectively, at a furnace temperature of 1273 K.     

A tutorial survey of job-shop scheduling problems using genetic algorithms-I. representation

Job-shop scheduling problem (abbreviated to JSP) is one of the well-known hardest combinatorial optimization problems. During the last three decades, the problem has captured the interest of a significant number of researchers and a lot of literature has been published, but no efficient solution algorithm has been found yet for solving it to optimality in polynomial time. This has led to recent interest in using genetic algorithms (GAs) to address it. The purpose of this paper and its companion (Part II: Hybrid Genetic Search Strategies) is to give a tutorial survey of recent works on solving classical JSP using genetic algorithms. In Part I, we devote our attention to the representation schemes proposed for JSP. In Part II, we will discuss various hybrid approaches of genetic algorithms and conventional heuristics. The research works on GA/JSP provide very rich experiences for the constrained combinatorial optimization problems. All of the techniques developed for JSP may be useful for other scheduling problems in modern flexible manufacturing systems and other combinatorial optimization problems.     

New electrical test method for LCD cell‐manufacturing process

Abstract— A new electrical test method resulting in repeatable and unambiguous test results, which solves the drawback of the current lighting test used for the LCD cell‐manufacturing process, is proposed. This paper shows the basic scheme and the wide test coverage of this test method to detect defects in the cell process and gives an example of the actual measurement result.     

Size determination of microscratches on silicon oxide wafer surface using scattered light

Scattered light intensity distributions from microscratches on a silicon oxide wafer surface are simulated and analyzed for the purpose of microscratch sizing using a boundary element method (BEM)-based electromagnetic scattering simulator. At normal incidence, the characteristic scattered light resulting from microscratches appears in two symmetric regions of scattering angles, namely, at high and low angles. The scattered light intensities at high and low angles show characteristic fluctuation according to the depth and width variations of microscratches. It is found that the size of a microscratch can be obtained from the scattered light intensities at these characteristic angles. We propose microscratch sizing map which uses the detected light intensities to size the microscratches. Once the map is created, quick and easy categorization of microscratch size can be realized by collating the detected intensities with the map. The major advantage of using the map is the ability to measure simultaneously not only microscratch width but also depth. Generally, the depth cannot be obtained from an imaging system. Several experiments demonstrate the feasibility of our scheme and their results are in very good agreement with the simulation results.     

Photoresponsive permeability of polyelectrolyte complex capsule membrane containing triphenylmethane leucohydroxide residues

To develop a functional capsule, which can be controlled to release materials entrapped in the inner aqueous space responding to light, partly crosslinked poly(acrylic acid)–poly-ethylenimine complex capsules containing a copolymer of acrylic acid and bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl](4-vinylphenyl)methyl leucohydroxide as an additional membrane component with radii of ca. 3 mm have been prepared. The triphenylmethane derivative on the copolymer dissociated into an ion pair under ultraviolet light irradiation in the weak alkaline region. Permeation of p-toluenesulfonate through the capsule membrane was enhanced significantly by the photoirradiation after a several minutes time lag under a weak alkaline condition. The photoinduced increase in permeability of the capsule was pH-dependent. The maximum effect of light on the permeability was observed near pH 8, whereas less enhancement was observed above or below the pH value. When the irradiation of the light was stopped, permeation of the permeant decreased. The photoresponsive permeability change of the capsule membrane can be carried out reversibly. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ultra-precision grinding of optical glass lenses with La-doped CeO2 slurry

Higher accuracy and more efficient production of large aperture glass lenses is increasingly required for high-resolution imaging devices. These glass lenses are typically manufactured by both ultra-precision grinding and polishing. However, prolonged polishing deteriorates the lens shape accuracy and diminishes productivity. In order to reduce the required amount of polishing or even obtain a polish-free fine surface, chemical action-assisted ultra-precision grinding using La-doped CeO₂ slurry is proposed and its effectiveness is experimentally evaluated. The results show that the proposed grinding method successfully provides a high-quality surface comparable to a polished surface and results in five times higher productively than conventional grinding.