Kinetic diversity in the fusion of exocytotic vesicles

Age is the most important factor for the durability of biological valves. With an original design the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve showed improved results at 10 years. The influence of age on valve related complications is studied with a 10 year follow up on 807 valvular replacements. METHODS: Between January 1984 and December 1993, 807 patients underwent valve replacements with a Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis. Patients, 193 were younger than 60 years, 284 between 60 and 70 years and 330 patients were older than 70 years. All patients but seven were followed up for an average of 4.18 years after their operation and total follow up was 3373 patient years. Patients were divided into three groups of age: group I, less than 60 years; group II, 60-70 years; group III, over 70 years. A retrospective comparison was made between age groups. RESULTS: At 11 years, valve related complications included 97 patients with 27 valve related deaths. Rates of valve related death increase with age linearized rate were 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2%, respectively. No difference was observed for rates of all valve related morbidity: 2.6, 2.4 and 3.5%, respectively. Risk of thromboembolism increased with age, linearized rates were: 0.3, 0.7 and 1.3%. Risk of deterioration and reoperation decreased with age, rates of deterioration were 0.8, 0.1 and 0%. Other valve related events had the same incidence in all groups. No statistical difference was observed between group II and group III for deteriorations and reoperations. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial valve is the same at 10 years in group II and III. This study supports the clinical use of this tissue valve in patients over 60 years. The results in group I are satisfactory, nevertheless, a more durable biological valve is needed for young patients.     

A 144-Mb, eight-level NAND flash memory with optimized pulsewidthprogramming

We report a fast-programming, compact sense and latch (SL) circuit to realize an eight-level NAND flash memory. Fast programming is achieved by supplying optimized voltage and pulsewidth to the bit lines, according to the programming data. As a result, all data programming is completed almost simultaneously, and 0.67-MB/s program throughput, which is 1.7 times faster than conventional program throughput, is achieved. The compact layout of the SL circuit is made possible by four 3-bit latches sharing one unit of the read/verify control circuit. Using these techniques, we fabricated a 144-Mb, eight-level NAND flash memory using a 0.35-μm CMOS process, resulting in a 104.2-mm² die size and a 1.05-μm² effective cell size     

A simple method for measuring the relative permittivity of printedcircuit board materials

This paper presents a simple method to measure the relative permittivity of glass-epoxy printed circuit boards (PCBs). In this method, the relative permittivity as a function of frequency is measured using an actual PCB. In order to estimate the relative permittivity, the reflection coefficient is measured with a network analyzer. The relative permittivity is calculated by observing the frequencies of the resonant cavity modes. We show that the relative permittivity of an FR-4 sample decreases from 4.3 to 4.2 at frequencies from 300 MHz to 2 GHz     

Surface modification using polymer Langmuir-Blodgett films

We describe a simple and effective approach to introduce a functional group into polymer film on a solid surface using reactive polymer LB films. N-dodecylacrylamide copolymers containing terminal amino groups in the side chains as the reactive moiety form a stable monolayer, and the monolayer was transferred onto a solid support to modify the solid surface using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. The transferred coatings were characterized with fluorescence, IR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of the terminal amino group incorporated in the LB films was investigated in detail using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) as a fluorescent probe. The chemical reaction between amino groups in the LB films and FITC in the bulk solution was completed within approximately 30 minutes and the chemical bond formation was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the fluorescent image of the multilayers reacted with FITC were observed with fluorescent microscopy. This method is effective for tailoring functional organic ultrathin films on solid substrates.     

Study on an after-laying test for a long-distance GIL

Technologies for the after-laying test of long-distance SF₆ gas insulated transmission line (GIL) have been developed for the detection of partial discharge (PD) and contact defects. We constructed a long (168 m) test line in a deep tunnel and clarified the propagation characteristics of PD signals through the GIL as well as the spatial sensitivity and S/N characteristics of PD sensors for locating metallic particles. We have also proposed the application of a fiber-optic temperature distribution sensor for locating contact defects and confirmed the validity of this sensor for the GIL test line     

An advanced laser application for controlling of electric resistivity of thick film resistors

When electric resistivity of Thick Film Resistor (TFR) is adjusted to the desired value, laser beam is irradiated onto the resistor material so that a part of the resistor material is instantaneously vaporized and cut away. This conventional laser trimming method to adjust the resistivity of TFRs is an indispensable technique for manufacturing elec-tronic devices such as hybrid ICs. A peculiar phenomena was revealed by us, that is, when specially selected pulse laser beams were irradiated to TFR, the TFR was surface modified without cutting grooves, and then resistivity of the TFR was decreased. We completed the advanced laser process to apply this peculiar phenomena. 8 By comparing with conventional trimming processes, we can show prominent features of the advanced process, for example, resistivity of fine size TFR (300 micrometers-width and under) can be easily controlled. The decrease in resistivity of the TFR is considered to result from the decrease in specific resistivity of glass in the TFR. Because it is considered that the glass in the TFR is heavily doped with ruthenium impurities during the surface modification due to results of morphology observations and x-ray diffraction analysis. We have applied this advanced laser process to fine size TFR (300 micrometers-width), and developed high density hybrid ICs.     

Development of a strain for efficient degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by patchwork assembly of degradation pathways

Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 accumulates chlorobenzoates (CBA) during the degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). CBA degradation is considered one of the rate-limiting steps in the complete degradation of PCBs. To reduce the accumulation of CBAs, the upper pathway enzyme genes for PCB degradation of RHA1 were introduced into a CBA-degrading bacterium, Burkholderia sp. NK8. The resulting recombinant strain exhibited no biphenyl 2,3-dioxygenase (BphA) activity encoded by bphAaAbAcAd genes, which encode the large and small subunits of the terminal oxygenase component and the ferredoxin and reductase subunits responsible for electron transfer from NADH to the large subunit. The remaining enzyme genes involved in the transformation of biphenyl to benzoate, bphB2C1D1, which encode dehydrogenase, ring-cleavage dioxygenase and hydrolase, conferred activities to NK8. To obtain the BphA activity of RHA1 in NK8, sets of BphA genes were constructed by combining the bphAaAbAcAd genes of RHA1 and bphA3A4 of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707, encoding the ferredoxin and reductase subunits. Hybrid derivatives of BphA containing the KF707 bphA3 conferred BphA activity to NK8, and a derivative containing the RHA1 bphAaAb and KF707 bphA3A4 genes exhibited the highest BphA activity. A plasmid containing the RHA1 bphAaAb and KF707 bphA3A4 genes plus the RHA1 bphB2C1D1 genes was constructed and introduced into NK8. The resulting recombinant strain efficiently degraded 2-, 3- and 4-chlorobiphenyls with an apparent reduction in CBA accumulation in comparison to the recombinant mutant strain, which had an insertion in the cbeA gene to inactivate CBA dioxygenase.     

Amplified fragment length polymorphism of the AWA1 gene of sake yeasts for identification of sake yeast strains

Sake yeasts are used for sake brewing and have a crucial role in the quality of sake, since they produce not only ethanol but also various compounds that provide sake flavors. Therefore, the appropriate selection and monitoring of a strain used in sake mash is important. However, the identification of specific sake yeast strains has been difficult, because sake yeasts have similar characteristics in taxonomic and physiological analyses. We found amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) in the PCR products of the AWA1 gene of sake yeast strains. The AWA1 gene encodes a cell wall protein that is responsible for foam formation in sake mash. This polymorphism of the AWA1 gene can be used for the identification of sake yeast strains.     

Stability of liquid‐crystal layers based on the analysis of the adsorption on the alignment‐layer surface

Abstract— The adsorption strength of liquid‐crystal molecules on the alignment‐layer (polymer) surface was judged measuring temperature dependence of birefringence of an absorbed liquid‐crystal layer above the nematic—isotropic transition temperature. The relationship between the surface‐order parameter and the adsorption strength of liquid‐crystal molecules on the non‐rubbed polymer surface was also discussed.