Genetic definition of a new bovine papillomavirus type 1 open reading frame, E5B, that encodes a hydrophobic protein involved in altering host-cell protein processing

We have previously observed that bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) induces the appearance of five cellular proteins in C127 mouse fibroblasts, four of which appear to arise by altered processing of resident endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Studies of various cell lines revealed that expression of the 3' end of the BPV early region was sufficient for induction of these changes. To identify the BPV gene responsible, we have utilized the simian virus 40 (SV40)/BPV-1 recombinant virus Pava-1, which expresses the 3' end of the BPV early region behind an SV40 early promoter. C127 cells infected with Pava-1 for 48 h show the expected BPV-associated alterations, as do cells infected with Pava constructs mutated in the E5 or E2 genes. However, a mutation in the start codon of a previously ignored open reading frame extending from nucleotides 4013 to 4170 (E5B) eliminated the BPV-associated changes. Similar results were obtained with COS cells infected with the Pava mutants and C127 cells transformed by full-length mutated BPV. Despite its influence on the processing of cellular endoplasmic reticulum proteins, this mutation in E5B did not alter BPV-transforming efficiency or the ability of transformants to form colonies in soft agar. The E5B open reading frame encodes a hydrophobic 52-amino-acid polypeptide that shares structural similarities with HPV6 E5A and HPV16 E5. Speculations on a role for E5B in the viral life cycle are discussed.     

Deactivation of copper-ion-exchanged hydrogen-mordenite-type zeolite catalyst by SO2 for no reduction by NH3

Deactivation of copper-ion-exchanged hydrogen-mordenite-type zeolite catalyst by SO₂ for NO reduction by NH₃ was examined in a fixed-bed flow reactor. The deactivation of the catalyst was strongly dependent on reaction temperature. At high reaction temperatures over 300°C, the catalyst did not lose its initial activity up to 50 h of operation, regardless of SO₂ feed concentration from 500 to 20,000 ppm. However, at low reaction temperatures near 250°C, apparent deactivation did occur. Changes in the physicochemical properties such as surface area and sulfur content of deactivated catalyst well correlated with catalyst activity, depending upon reaction temperatures. The deactivation was due to pore blocking and/or filling by deactivating agents, which plugged and/or filled the pores of catalyst. The deactivating agents deposited on the catalyst surface were presumed to be (NH₄)₂SO₄ and/or (NH₄)HSO₄ from the results of TGA and ion-chromatography measurement.     

Monolithically integrated four-channel receiver array using diffused InGaAs (JFET technology)

Four-channel receiver arrays have been fabricated by monolithically integrating diffused InGaAs JFET-based electronics with InGaAs pin photodiodes. Cascode and simple inverter transimpedance amplifier circuits have been produced, both of which use a micro-FET as a tunable feedback element to vary bandwidth between 20 and 800 MHz. A sensitivity of -28.2 dBm was achieved at 1.25 Gbit/s with crosstalk between adjacent channels of -50 dB (electrical).<>     

Nanoporous activated carbon cloth for capacitive deionization of aqueous solution

Activated nanostructured-carbon cloths with a high ratio of surface area to volume are used as electrode for capacitive deionization. The electrochemical properties on capacitive deionization for NaCl solution have been investigated to improve efficiency of capacitive deionization properties from aqueous solution, employing chemical surface-modification by etching in alkaline and acidic solution. The removal efficiency of inorganic salts of activated carbon cloths by chemical modification significantly increased. Specially the carbon cloth surface modified in HNO₃ showed an effect of improvement in the CDI efficiency due to not only ion adsorption by an electric double layer, but also electron transfer by Faradaic reaction.     

Structural properties of 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric thin films on SrRuO3 conducting oxides

Coating of 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.35PbTiO₃ (PMN–PT) relaxor ferroelectrics by a sol–gel method is followed by growth of epitaxial SrRuO₃ (SRO) metallic oxide electrodes on SrTiO₃ (STO) single-crystal substrate by pulsed laser deposition. High-quality PMN–PT films on SRO with preferred growth orientation were successfully fabricated by controlling the operation parameters. Structural properties of relaxor ferroelectric PMN–PT thin films on SRO/STO substrates have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In-plane and out-of-plane alignments of the heterostructure are confirmed and the structural twinning of the materials are also revealed.     

Study on Contamination Control for Yield Enhancement in the Manufacturing Line of Cellular Phone Modules

Practical studies on the method of contamination control for yield enhancement in the cellular phone modules production line were carried out. A contamination control method was proposed, consisting of data collection, data analysis, improvement action, verification, and implementation of control. The partition check method and the composition analysis for data collection and data analysis were respectively used in the cellular phone modules manufacturing process, and these methods were evaluated by the variation of yield loss before and after implementing the actions for improvement. In the partition check method, the critical process step was selected, and yield loss reduction through improvement actions was observed, whereas in the composition analysis, critical sources were selected, and yield loss reduction through improvement actions was investigated. From the results, it is concluded that the partition check and the composition analysis are effective solutions for contamination control in cleanroom production lines.