Low-Thermal-Expansion Properties of Sodium- and Lithium-Substituted Cubic Cesium Leucite Compounds

Cubic cesium leucite-based compounds, namely cesium leucites, cesium sodium leucites, and cesium lithium leucites, were synthesized using a multistep solid-state reaction method. The thermal expansion properties, in the temperature range of 298-1273 K, for the synthesized cubic cesium leucite-based compounds were examined using high-temperature powder X-ray diffractometry data. The thermal expansions of the cubic cesium leucite-based compounds were found to vary with the chemical composition. For instance, the thermal expansions of Cs_0.7Na_0.2Al_0.9Si_2.1O₆ and Cs_0.7Li_0.2Al_0.9Si_2.1O₆ were 0.14% at 1273 K and 0.081% at 1073 K, values lower than those of Cs_0.9Al_0.9Si_2.1O₆, which were 0.16% at 1073 K and 0.2% at 1273 K. The results showed that the thermal expansions of the cubic cesium leucite-based compounds changed with ionic substitution at the Cs⁺ sites because of ionic size differences between Cs⁺ and the Na⁺ or Li⁺ substitutional ions.     

Phase equilibria in Fe-Cu-X (X: Co, Cr, Si, V) ternary systems

Phase equilibria on the Fe-Cu side in the Fe-Cu-X (X: Co, Cr, Si, V) system were experimentally determined over the temperature range of 1073–1273 K. Based on the present results and previous works, the thermodynamic assessments of the phase equilibria in the Fe-Cu-X system were evaluated using the Calculation of Phase Diagram (CALPHAD) method. The Gibbs energies (G) of the bcc, fcc, and liquid phases are described by the subregular solution model, and a set of thermodynamic parameters enable us to calculate various isothermal and vertical sections and the miscibility gaps of the solid and liquid phases.     

Characterization of electrode/electrolyte interface for lithium batteries using in situ synchrotron X-ray reflectometry—A new experimental technique for LiCoO2 model electrode

A new experimental technique was developed for detecting structure changes at electrode/electrolyte interface of lithium cell using X-ray reflectometry and two-dimensional model electrodes with a restricted lattice-plane. The electrodes were constructed with an epitaxial film of LiCoO₂ synthesized by pulsed laser deposition method. The orientation of the epitaxial film depends on the substrate plane; the 2D layer of LiCoO₂ is parallel to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 1) substrate (_(0 0 3)LiCoO₂//_(1 1 1)SrTiO₃)$({(003)}_{\text{LiCo}{\text{O}}_2}//{(111)}_{\text{SrTi}{\text{O}}_3})$, while the 2D layer is perpendicular to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 0) substrate (_(1 1 0)LiCoO₂//_(1 1 0)SrTiO₃)$({(110)}_{\text{LiCo}{\text{O}}_2}//{(110)}_{\text{SrTi}{\text{O}}_3})$. The anisotropic properties were confirmed by electrochemical measurements. Ex situ X-ray reflectivity measurements indicated that the impurity layer existed on the as-grown LiCoO₂ was dissolved and a new SEI layer with lower density was formed after soaking into the electrolyte. In situ X-ray reflectivity measurements indicated that the surface roughness of the intercalation (1 1 0) plane increased with applying voltages, while no significant changes in surface morphology were observed for the intercalation non-active (0 0 3) plane during the pristine stage of the charge–discharge process.     

Novel screening system for protein-protein interactions by bimolecular fluorescence complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

For high-throughput screening of protein-protein interactions, we have developed a novel yeast screening system using Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Two yeast plasmids, in which genes of heterodimerized peptides LZA and LZB were each fused with those of non-fluorescent half fragments of Kusabira-Green mutant (mKG2), were transformed into a- and α-type yeast, respectively. Mating of them gave a library, which was screened by following green fluorescence resulted from LZA-LZB interaction. The method showed potential ability to detect the positive clones from a model library, in which green-fluorescent and non-fluorescent yeast was mixed in a ratio of 1:675.     

Geotechnical Aspects of the Sumatra Earthquake of September 30, 2009, Indonesia

This paper reports and discusses the results of a field survey conducted by a joint scientific group from Japan and Indonesia to assess the geotechnical aspects of the Sumatra earthquake (M_w=7.6) of September 30, 2009. The studied area included the Padang and Pariaman cities, where a number of buildings collapsed as a result of strong shaking, and a mountainous part of the Pariaman district, a place where massive landslides buried several villages, claiming more than 400 human lives. The main objective of the survey was to investigate the causes and mechanisms of catastrophic landslides; however, other geotechnical problems such as lateral spread and liquefaction were also addressed. Field observations indicated that the catastrophic landslides occurred on relatively gentle slopes, then mobilized into debris flows, and traveled several hundred meters from their points of origin. The failure surfaces developed along the boundary of highly weathered pumice tuff with more intact and less weathered bedrock. Data from a portable cone penetration test showed that the sliding material was rather weak, having SPT N-values in the range of 5-10. The results of the field survey suggested that the main cause of slope instability was high pore-water pressures that generated in the soil mass during the earthquake.     

Clinical studies on vancomycin in the treatment of MRSA infection

We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of vancomycin (VCM) alone and in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics in the treatment of MRSA infections, and obtained the following results: 1. Effectiveness. (1) In cases of MRSA infections alone, the improvement rate was 71.4% (5/7 patients) with VCM alone and 77.8% (35/45) with VCM in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics. (2) In cases of polymicrobial infections, few cases were treated with VCM alone, but the improvement rate in combination use with beta-lactam antibiotics was 71.8% (28/39). 2. Bacteriological effect. (1) In cases of single infection with MRSA, the rate of bacterial eradication was 71.4% (5/7) with VCM alone and 68.2% (30/44) with VCM in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics. (2) In cases of polymicrobial infections, few cases were treated with VCM alone, but the rate of bacterial eradication in combination use with be ta-lactam antibiotics was 63.2% (24/38) against MRSA and 31.6% (12/38) against polymicrobial agents including MRSA. 3. Safety. Occurrences of adverse reactions and abnormal laboratory test values when VCM was used alone or when it is used in combination with another drug were about the same in these uses. As a whole, advance reactions were observed in 16 patients (9.5%). Main adverse reactions were whole body redness, drug eruption, and rash etc. Abnormal laboratory test values were observed mainly in hepatic functions, and renal functions. 4. VCM concentrations in blood was determined in 38 patients. Doses of 0.5 g and 1.0 g of VCM was administered by intravenous drip infusion over a period of 1 to 2 hours, and mean blood concentrations 1 to 2 hours after the completion of drip infusion were 25.4 micrograms/ml and 14.4 micrograms/ml, respectively. 5. Synergic effects between VCM and other antibiotics tested were observed in FIC index against all of the six MRSA strains isolated from six patients, and the clinical effects of improvement or better were obtained against five of them.     

Mammalian Polycomb group genes are categorized as a new type of early response gene induced by B-cell receptor cross-linking

Polycomb group (PcG) genes were initially described in Drosophila melanogaster as regulators of the homeobox gene. Four mammalian homologues, mel-18, bmi-1, M33 and rae-28, are analyzed in this study. They not only regulate mammalian homeotic genes by analogy with their Drosophila counterparts, but also have some influence on the growth and differentiation of B lymphocytes. Here we report that these four mammalian PcG genes are rapidly induced after antigen-receptor cross-linking in B cells. Thus we would like to propose that mammalian PcG genes can be categorized as a new type of immediate early gene.     

Seven zinc-finger transcription factors are expressed sequentially during the development of anthers in petunia

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the value of heart rate variability in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease with a preserved left ventricular function. We hypothesized that in these patients heart rate variability might be a helpful adjunct to conventional parameters to predict clinical events. METHODS: In a prospective 2-year follow-up study ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were performed in 263 consecutive male patients (mean age 56+/-8 years) with stable angina pectoris and a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 71%+/-12%. Clinical events consisted mainly of coronary events such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft operation. RESULTS: Low measures of standard deviation of normal R-R intervals, standard deviation of the mean R-R intervals of 5 minutes, and two spectral components of heart rate variability were found in patients who had had an event compared with patients with no event. Adjusted for severity of angina, the presence of a previous myocardial infarction, and the use of beta-blockers in a logistic regression model this relation remained statistically significant for SDNN. Healthy volunteers appeared to have the highest measures of heart rate variability. CONCLUSION: In patients with ischemic heart disease and normal or near normal ventricular function decreased heart rate variability is associated with adverse clinical events.     

Effects of topical nipradilol, a beta-blocking agent with alpha-blocking and nitroglycerin-like activities, on aqueous humor dynamics and fundus circulation

PURPOSE: To study the effects of nipradilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha 1-blocking activity and nitroglycerin-like activity, on aqueous humor dynamics and optic nerve head (ONH) circulation in albino rabbits. METHODS: Experiments were carried out during the dark phase, in conscious rabbits conditioned to a schedule of alternating 12-hour periods of light and dark. The blood-aqueous barrier permeability and the aqueous flow rate were determined fluorophotometrically. The effect on outflow to general blood circulation and uveoscleral outflow were determined by using the fluorophotometric Diamox technique, and the effect on the uveoscleral outflow was further assessed by using the anterior chamber perfusion method. The ONH circulation was estimated by using the laser speckle method. RESULTS: Unilateral topical administration of 0.25% nipradilol solution lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) with relatively weak contralateral effects in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum reduction of 6 mm Hg and an effect duration of 6 hours. Twice-daily instillation for 14 days showed no attenuation of the effects. Single instillation of 0.25% nipradilol showed no significant effect on blood-aqueous barrier permeability and decreased aqueous flow rate in the treated eye (17%; P < 0.01) and in the contralateral eye (9%, P < 0.05). Nipradilol produced no significant effect on outflow facility to general blood circulation, whereas it substantially increased uveoscleral outflow. Twice-daily 0.25% nipradilol instillation increased ONH tissue blood velocity by 13% (P < 0.01), which was probably attributable to locally penetrating drug. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its ability to lower IOP and to increase uveoscleral outflow and optic nerve head circulation in rabbits, further studies are warranted to determine whether nipradilol has potential as an antiglaucoma agent in humans.