Microstructure analysis of Ag films deposited by low-voltage sputtering

The microstructure of Ag films was investigated as a function of the cathode voltage during sputter deposition. It was found that the resistivity of the Ag films decreased when the Ag film was deposited at low cathode voltage using a magnetron cathode with high-magnetic flux density. X-ray diffraction measurement revealed that the Ag films deposited at low cathode voltages exhibited higher crystallization degree and larger crystallites. Besides, it was confirmed from glancing incident X-ray reflectivity measurement that the density of the Ag films increased with decreasing in the cathode voltage. It can be concluded from these results that the improvements in the resistivity and microstructure of Ag films result from the low-voltage sputtering. It can be concluded that the kinetic energy of the Ar gas particles decreased with decreasing the cathode voltage; as a result, the microstructure of Ag films should be improved.     

Vapor absorption by LiBr aqueous solution in vertical smooth tubes

Heat and mass transfer in a falling film vertical in-tube absorber was studied experimentally with LiBr aqueous solution. The presented results include the effect of solution flow rate, solution subcooling and cooling water temperature on the absorption in a smooth copper tube 16.05 mm I.D. and 400 mm long. The experimental data in the previous report for a 1200-mm-long tube was also re-examined and compared. It was demonstrated by the observation of the flow in the tube that the break down of the liquid film into rivulets leads to deterioration of heat and mass transfer at lower film Reynolds number or in longer tubes. An attempt to evaluate physically acceptable heat and mass transfer coefficients that are defined with estimated temperature and concentration at the vapor–liquid interface was also presented.     

Transcription factor E2F controls the reversible gamma delta T cell growth arrest mediated through WC1

IL-2-stimulated expansion of T cells requires continued and sequential passage of the dividing cells through a major cell cycle check point in the G1 phase. We have previously shown that a gamma delta T cell-specific surface receptor, WC1, induces G0/G1 growth arrest, reversible with Con A, in proliferating IL-2-dependent gamma delta T cells. We now show that this reversible WC1-induced cell cycle arrest is correlated with induction of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27kip1 and an associated down-regulation in cyclins A, D2, and D3 expression, along with dephosphorylation of pocket proteins p107, p130, and pRb. Together with diminished pocket protein phosphorylation, p107 expression levels are significantly down-regulated in response to WC1 stimulation. This coordinated sequence of signaling events is focused on E2F regulation so that, downstream of the pocket proteins, WC1 stimulation results in a diminished DNA binding activity for free E2F as a consequence of reduced E2F1 expression, whereas E2F4 expression is unaffected. Consistent with this interpretation, overexpression of E2F1 overcomes the growth-arresting effects induced by WC1 stimulation. Finally, in accordance with our previous observations at both the cellular and molecular level, subsequent mitogen stimulation can reverse all the above changes induced by WC1. These results, focused on E2F regulation, therefore provide a first insight into the effects of both positive (mitogen) and negative (anti-WC1) stimuli on cell cycle control in IL-2-dependent gamma delta T cells.     

Hydraulic Model for Sedimentation in Storm-Water Detention Basins

Treatment of storm-water runoff may be necessary before discharge to surface waters. In urban areas, space constraints limit selection of conventional treatment systems, and alternative systems are needed. This research program involves design and laboratory testing of a small footprint nonproprietary detention basin which consists of pipes and box culvert sections with a specialized inlet and outlet system. This system can be placed below grade near the roadway section as part of the conventional drainage system and does not require additional right-of-way. A mathematical model, based entirely on hydraulic principles, is developed to estimate particle removal efficiency of the rectangular detention basin for the treatment of storm-water runoff by extending ideal horizontal tank theory under the condition in which water level is varied. A physical model was built in 1/5 scale to measure particle removal performance and validates the conceptual model. Experiments were performed for steady inflow conditions with different inflow rates, durations, and suspended sediment concentrations. Measured time series outflow suspended sediment concentrations and particle removal efficiency compare well with calculated results from the conceptual model. The outflow particle-size distribution can also be estimated using the conceptual model.     

Serum insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, sex steroids, osteocalcin and bone mineral density in male and female rats

Although it has been reported that the rate of weight gain and linear growth increases markedly during puberty in rats, little is known about the relationship between endocrine changes and bone mineral density (BMD) changes upon sexual maturation in these animals. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, sex steroids and osteocalcin, and the changes in BMD in normal aging male and female rats. Male rats exhibited increases in serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations before increases in serum testosterone levels. IGF-I and testosterone peaked at 9 weeks of age, and thereafter remained in a steady state, whereas IGFBP-3 reached a peak at 7 weeks of age, and then gradually declined. A strong correlation between serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels was found in subjects 3-9 weeks old. A highly significant correlation between serum IGF-I and testosterone levels was also found. In females, serum 17 beta-estradiol, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels increased gradually from 3 to 5 weeks old, peaked at 9 weeks, and then decreased slowly thereafter. The correlation coefficient between serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 was highly significant. The correlation coefficient between serum IGF-I and 17 beta-estradiol levels was weak, although it was strongest when the subjects were 3-9 weeks old. Serum osteocalcin is a marker of bone formation; its level remained relatively high from 3 to 9 and from 3 to 7 weeks of age in males and females, respectively, although osteocalcin in both sexes declined gradually with age. As for bone mass, sharp increases in BMD in the tibia, femur and lumbar vertebrae appeared earlier in female than in male rats, and the BMD in females tended to be higher than in males between 5 and 9 weeks old. After 9 weeks of age, BMD in males was higher than that in females, as BMD in males continued to increase whereas females tended to remain in a steady state after this stage. The correlation coefficients between tibial BMD and serum IGF-I or IGFBP-3 levels were highly significant when the subjects were from 3 to 9 weeks old. Taken together, these results suggest that BMD development occurs earlier in female than in male rats. This sex-related difference in changes in the BMD pattern may result from the earlier onset of puberty in females, and from sex-specific differences in concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and sex steroids during maturation.     

Dual control by divalent cations and mitogenic cytokines of alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 integrin avidity expressed by human hemopoietic cells

Beta-1 integrins have essential functions in hemopoietic and immune systems by controlling phenomenons such as cell homing and cell activation. The function alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 integrins is regulated by divalent cations and, as demonstrated more recently, by mitogenic cytokines which activate them by "inside-out" mechanisms. Using the adhesive interaction of a cytokine-dependent human hemopoietic cell line to immobilized fibronectin, we have analyzed the requirements in divalent cations Mn2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ for alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 activation by "inside-out" mechanisms triggered by cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor or KIT ligand, or by external conformational constraints with the function-activating anti-beta 1 integrin monoclonal antibody 8A2. The intrinsic difference between these two modes of beta 1 integrin activation was revealed by their different requirements in divalent cations. We found that in the absence of any divalent cations, alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 were non-functional even after further stimulation by cytokines or 8A2. However, whilst either Ca2+, Mg2+ or Mn2+ were able to restore adhesive functions of alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 when activated by 8A2, only Mg2+ and Mn2+ were able to support activation of alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 by cytokines. Furthermore, high concentrations of Ca2+ exceeding 20 mM dramatically inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin induced by Mn2+ and cytokines but not by 8A2. On the contrary, in the presence of both Ca2+ and Mg2+, Mn2+ had an additive effect on the activation of alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 by mitogenic cytokines. The presence of the absence of these divalent cations did not inhibit early tyrosine phosphorylation induced by the binding of KIT ligand to its tyrosine-kinase receptor KIT. Therefore, we propose that in hemopoietic cells, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ may modulate in vivo alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 regulation by mitogenic cytokines, a phenomenon involved in the regulation of hemopoietic progenitor cell homing within the bone marrow.     

A Study of the Effect of Aluminium on the Mechanochemical Reduction of Hematite by Graphite

The effect of addition of small amounts of aluminium on mechano‐chemical reduction of hematite by graphite was studied. Various amounts of aluminium (0 to 10%) were added to a hematite‐graphite mixture, in which C/O ratio was 1:1. The hematite‐graphite‐aluminium mixtures were then subjected to ball milling followed by heating up reduction. The heating up reduction was carried out in Ar atmosphere, using TG‐DTA device. In TG‐DTA experiments, samples were heated by a constant heating rate of 10 °C/min from room temperature up to 1100 °C and maintained for 30 minutes at this temperature. To clarify the reactions which took place during milling and heating up reduction, the samples were subjected to XRD examinations. It was found that the heat generated during exothermic reaction of aluminothermic reduction of hematite promoted the endothermic reaction of carbothermic reduction. In the course of heating up reduction, the carbothermic reaction occurred just after aluminothermic reaction. Increasing of aluminum content from 0 to 10% in 2 hours ball milled samples decreased the temperature of carbothermic reaction from 1020 °C to about 860 °C. The further ball milling of the samples up to 5 and 10 hours, for the samples containing 10 and 5% aluminium respectively, caused the decrease of the temperature of aluminothermic and carbothermic reactions to around the melting point of aluminium.     

Cisplatin/5-fluorouracil intraperitoneal administration superior to intravenous administration for liver metastases of colonic carcinoma]

A 28-year-old female underwent sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer with peritoneal seeding. One month later, a solitary metastasis was found in S3 of the liver. After CDDP/5-FU intravenous chemotherapy, another metastasis appeared in S7. Intravenous administration showed PD. But the metastatic tumors shrank and became inobservable by CT after the 1st round of CDDP/5-FU intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and S7 tumor could not be identified after the 2nd round. Many previous reports demonstrated the concentration of cytotoxic drug in intraperitoneal administration was much higher than in intravenous administration. Theoretically, intraperitoneal chemotherapy is superior to intravenous chemotherapy for the prevention and treatment of liver metastases. This case demonstrated this hypothesis was right. We think adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be re-considered for the prevention of the liver metastases of gastrointestinal cancers.     

Assessment and treatment of liver disease in Japanese haemophilia patients

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of various parameters obtained by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) as predictors of the onset of acute urinary retention in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: From April 1993 to March 1997, 331 men aged 51 to 84 years with symptoms of BPH were enrolled in this study. Among them, 64 patients presented to our clinic because of acute urinary retention. TRUS was used to calculate the transition zone (TZ) volume, the transition zone index (TZ index = TZ volume/total prostate volume), the total prostate volume, and presumed circle area ratio (PCAR). To compare the usefulness of the various indices, the area under the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for each index. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, total prostate volume, TZ volume, TZ index, and PCAR between patients with and without acute urinary retention, but no significant differences in age and quality of life score. In patients with acute urinary retention, the area under the ROC curve was 0.924 for the TZ index, 0.834 for the TZ volume, 0.753 for the PCAR, 0.684 for the total prostate volume, and 0.628 for the AUA symptom score. CONCLUSIONS: The TZ index is an accurate predictor of acute urinary retention in patients with BPH and may be a useful method for deciding between surgical intervention and antiandrogen treatment.     

Effect of immunosuppression on composition of quasispecies population of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To study the effects of the immunosuppression caused by the reduction of CD4 activity on the composition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) populations, we analyzed the number of HCV quasispecies clones and the nucleotide diversity of the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of HCV in 37 patients with hemophilia with persistent HCV infection, with or without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: The numbers of HCV quasispecies clones were measured by fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. Direct sequencing was used to analyze the degree of diversity of HVR1. We compared these values according to coinfection with HIV, and CD4 counts of patients. RESULTS: There were no differences in either the number of HCV clones or the diversity between patients with and without HIV coinfection. In HIV coinfected patients the diversity decreased in association with the decrease in CD4 count while the number of HCV clones did not. The diversity of HVR1 was 3.64 +/- 5.03% in patients with a CD4 count < 50/microliters and 14.92 +/- 6.03% in patients with a CD4 count > or = 50/microliters; it was significantly lower in the former (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: A severe reduction in the CD4 count, which is considered to cause a decline in the activity of helper T-lymphocytes, induced changes in the composition of HCV populations; one or a few quasispecies clones are predominant in the HCV population in the serum of individual patients.