Red bean extract reduces inflammation and increases survival in a murine sepsis model

This study used in vitro and in vivo experimental models to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the butanol fraction of red bean ethanol extract (BF-RBEE), which contains the biologically active molecule catechin-7-β-d-glucopyranoside. Treatment with BF-RBEE inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages through suppression of extracellular signalregulated kinase and IκBα activation. In an in vivo murine sepsis model, oral administration of BF-RBEE improved mouse survival. Specifically, the survival rate of mice injected with LPS was 0 and 40% in ICR and BALB/c mice, respectively, whereas the survival of mice co-treated with BF-RBEE was 100% in both mouse types. This increase in survival with the BF-RBEE administration was correlated with decreased tumor-necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ and increased interleukin-10. Oral administration of BF-RBEE also inhibited total and ovalbumin-specific IgE production in experimental mice. These results suggest the possible usefulness of red beans in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.     

Efficiency improvement of polymer light-emitting diodes using a quantum dot interlayer between a hole transport layer and an emitting layer

The current efficiency of polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) were improved using a quantum dot interlayer between a hole transport layer and an emitting layer. The quantum dot interlayer played a role of controlling the hole transport in the PLEDs and enhanced the charge balance in the emitting layer. The current efficiency of the PLEDs was increased by more than 20% by the quantum dot interlayer. In particular, the efficiency improvement was significant at high luminance due to reduced efficiency roll-off in the quantum dot-embedded PLEDs.     

Dieless drawing steel wires using a dielectric heating method and modeling the process dynamics

Modern industries require the production of multi-functional, inorganic, micron-sized metal wires. This study suggests a novel method that could potentially offer a highly efficient dieless drawing technology for manufacturing thin stainless steel fibers. The method is based on a hot-working principle, using microwaves as the heat source and SiC as the susceptor. Experimental trials with a laboratory rig showed that the new system worked effectively for drawing the stainless steel wires and should be able to realize the diameter attenuation with a diameter reduction of up to 21%. The theoretical model describing the deformation behavior of the stainless steel wires in the working zone along with the constitutive equation of Bingham model modified with a power law and Zener–Hollomon parameter turned out to match very good with the actual results of the experiment. The coefficient of variation of the drawn wire diameter increased, as the draw ratio increased, which could be attributed to the occurrence of the narrow necking zone.     

Fabrication of Al matrix composite reinforced with submicrometer-sized Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> particles formed by combustion reaction between HEMM Al and V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> composite particles during sintering

To fabricate an Al-V matrix composite reinforced with submicron-sized Al₂O₃ and Al_xV_y (Al₃V, Al₁₀V) phases, high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) and sintering were employed. By increasing the milling time, the size of mechanically milled powder was significantly reduced. In this study, the average powder size of 59 μm for Al, and 178 μm for V₂O₅ decreased with the formation of a new product, Al-Al₂O₃-Al_xV_y, with a size range from 1.3 μm to 2.6 μm formed by the in-situ combustion reaction during sintering of HEM milled Al and V₂O₅ composite powders. The in-situ reaction between Al and V₂O₅ during the HEMM and sintering transformed the Al₂O₃ and Al_xV_y (Al₃V, Al₁₀V) phases. Most of the reduced V reacted with excess the Al to form Al_xV_y (Al₃V, Al₁₀V) with very little V dissolved into Al matrix. By increasing the milling time and weight percentage of V₂O₅, the hardness of the Al-Al₂O₃-Al_xV_y composite sintered at 1173 K increased. The composite fabricated with the HEMM Al-20wt.%V₂O₅ composite powder and sintering at 1173 K for 2 h had the highest hardness.     

Enhanced transformation of triclosan by laccase in the presence of redox mediators

Triclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial agent, is an emerging and persistent environmental pollutant that is often found as a contaminant in surface waters and sediments; hence, knowledge of its degradability is important. In this study we investigated laccase-mediated TCS transformation and detoxification, using laccase (from the fungus Ganoderma lucidum) in the presence and absence of redox mediators. Transformation products were identified using HPLC, ESI-MS and GC-MS, and transformation mechanisms were proposed. In the absence of redox mediator, 56.5% TCS removal was observed within 24 h, concomitant with formation of new products with molecular weights greater than that of TCS. These products were dimers and trimers of TCS, as confirmed by ESI-MS analysis. Among the various mediators tested, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) and syringaldehyde (SYD) significantly enhanced TCS transformation (∼90%). The presence of these mediators resulted in products with lower molecular weights than TCS, including 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP; confirmed by GC-MS) and dechlorinated forms of 2,4-DCP. When SYD was used as the mediator, dechlorination resulted in 2-chlorohydroquinone (2-CHQ). Bacterial growth inhibition studies revealed that laccase-mediated transformation of TCS effectively decreased its toxicity, with ultimate conversion to less toxic or nontoxic products. Our results confirmed the involvement of two mechanisms of laccase-catalyzed TCS removal: (i) oligomerization in the absence of redox mediators, and (ii) ether bond cleavage followed by dechlorination in the presence of redox mediators. These results suggest that laccase in combination with natural redox mediator systems may be a useful strategy for the detoxification and elimination of TCS from aqueous systems.     

Enhanced thermal stability of a sputtered titanium-nitride film as a diffusion barrier for capacitor-bottom electrodes

The effect of a thin RuO_x layer formed on the Ru/TiN/doped poly-Si/Si stack structure was compared with that on the RuO_x/TiN/doped poly-Si/Si stack structure over the post-deposition annealing temperature ranges of 450–600°C. The Ru/TiN/poly-Si/Si contact system exhibited linear behavior at forward bias with a small increase in the total resistance up to 600°C. The RuO_x/TiN/poly-Si/Si contact system exhibited nonlinear characteristics under forward bias at 450°C, which is attributed to no formation of a thin RuO_x layer at the RuO_x surface and porous-amorphous microstructure. In the former case, the addition of oxygen at the surface layer of the Ru film by pre-annealing leads to the formation of a thin RuO_x layer and chemically strong Ru-O bonds. This results from the retardation of oxygen diffusion caused by the discontinuity of diffusion paths. In particular, the RuO_x layer in a nonstoichiometric state is changed to the RuO₂-crystalline phase in a stoichiometric state after post-deposition annealing; this phase can act as an oxygen-capture layer. Therefore, it appears that the electrical properties of the Ru/TiN/poly-Si/Si contact system are better than those of the RuO_x/TiN/poly-Si/Si contact system.     

Ubiquitous Information Services with JAIN Platform

To provide responsive information services in a ubiquitous computing environment, service software and system development are indispensable. A component-based ubiquitous information system with a JAIN (Java APIs for Integrated Networks) platform to achieve seamless transmissions and reach-everywhere communications was designed in our research. In this development, numerous ubiquitous service modules were identified: location management, roaming, mobile IP and WAP networking. These component-based network modules were constructed using a component composition language with component specification and interface definition, running on top of a distributed service architecture using a JAIN platform to distribute the ubiquitous information services to mobile users. Two applications, Wireless-Application-Protocol (WAP) Mail and Video-on-Demand (VoD) services, show that the JAIN-like platform with the developed networking components effectively fills the gap for application developers between mobile appliances and various kinds of ubiquitous information services.     

Fabrication and performance of parallel-addressed InGaN micro-LED arrays

High-performance, two-dimensional arrays of parallel-addressed InGaN blue micro-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with individual element diameters of 8, 12, and 20 /spl mu/m, respectively, and overall dimensions 490 /spl times/490 /spl mu/m, have been fabricated. In order to overcome the difficulty of interconnecting multiple device elements with sufficient step-height coverage for contact metallization, a novel scheme involving the etching of sloped-sidewalls has been developed. The devices have current-voltage (I-V) characteristics approaching those of broad-area reference LEDs fabricated from the same wafer, and give comparable (3-mW) light output in the forward direction to the reference LEDs, despite much lower active area. The external efficiencies of the micro-LED arrays improve as the dimensions of the individual elements are scaled down. This is attributed to scattering at the etched sidewalls of in-plane propagating photons into the forward direction.