Transverse beam deflection in a semiconductor laser

Switching of a radiation beam of a semiconductor laser in the direction perpendicular to the active layers is realised. The laser has two active layers which are controlled individually and are optically coupled to each other. The far-field peak moves vertically from ?2° (downward) to 10° (upward) off the facet normal. An analysis of the beam deflection is also given.     

Prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma

We report here a retrospective study of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in 140 patients with human endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (median period of follow-up, 43.8 months; ranging from 1 to 155 months). Tumor specimens were immunohistochemically examined for the overexpression of EGFR, and the correlation among EGFR status, various clinicopathologic parameters, and prognosis was statistically evaluated. Monoclonal antibody (clone 31 G 7), which recognizes the extracellular domain of the EGFR molecule, was used for immunostaining. Ninety-four of 140 cases were immunohistochemically positive for EGFR (67.1%). The presence or absence of EGFR did not correlate with surgical stage, depth of myometrial invasion (DI), or lymph node involvement, but did correlate with histological grade and patient's age. Furthermore, patients with EGFR-positive endometrial carcinoma had a statistically significant shorter length of survival than those with EGFR-negative tumors (P = .018). This trend is more apparent among the patients more than 50 years old (P = .003). When adjusted for surgical stage, DI, and patient age, EGFR status retained prognostic value by multivariate analysis. However, when adjusted for surgical stage, histological grade, DI, and patient age, EGFR status failed to retain prognostic value by multivariate analysis. The results of this study suggest that EGFR expression is correlated with histological grade and greater invasiveness of human endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.     

Expression of epidermal growth factors and epidermal growth factor receptor in normal cycling human ovaries

Immunolocalization of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha), epidermal growth factor (EGF), cripto-1, amphiregulin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was studied in 51 premenopausal human ovaries at various phases of the menstrual cycle. Localization of mRNA for TGF alpha and EGF was also studied by in-situ hybridization. Immunoreactive TGF alpha was observed predominantly in theca cells in 12 of 33 antral follicles in the follicular phase (6/14 dominant follicles, and 6/19 non-dominant) but not in any of the 18 follicles in the luteal phase or in primordial and pre-antral follicles. TGF alpha immunoreactivity was present predominantly in the luteinized granulosa cells in 13 of 15 corpora lutea in the luteal phase, which are considered to be active in steroidogenesis, but not in any of the regressed corpora lutea. Accumulation of TGF alpha mRNA hybridization signal was observed only in the theca cells in the follicles and luteinized theca cells in the ovaries that were immunohistochemically positive for TGF alpha. EGFR immunoreactivity was detected in 24 of 33 antral follicles in the follicular phase and in two of 18 follicles in the luteal phase but not in any of the corpora lutea. Immunoreactive EGF, cripto-1 and amphiregulin or EGF mRNA was not detected in any follicles, corpora lutea, or the stroma cells examined. These results indicate that, of the epidermal growth factors examined in this study, TGF alpha is locally synthesized in normal cycling human ovaries and TGF alpha may be synthesized in theca cells and act on the granulosa cells in a paracrine fashion through the EGFR in ovarian follicles.     

Calcium Silicate Carbonation Products

calcium silicates such as C₃S, βT-C₂S, and γgM-C₂S ^† were carbonated under saturated humidity at room temperature. Carbonation products were examined by DT-TGA, gasphase mass spectroscopy, and XRD. Two types of carbonate were produced: one type, which was rather poorly crystallized, was decarbonated at a very low temperature, below 600°C; the other type was a crystalline phase such as calcite, aragonite, and/or vaterite which was decarbonated above 600°C. The data were compared to existing data for calcium carbonates and basic calcium carbonates. The results suggest that an amorphous calcium silicate hydrocarbonate was one of the carbonation products which formed during the hydration/carbonation reaction.     

Studies of the water-soluble polymers. XVI. Azo dyes of poly-N-vinylimidazole

Homopolymer of 2-methyl-N-vinylimidazole and copolymer of the monomer with acrylamide were coupled with some aromatic diazonium compounds to give polymeric azo dyes. The dyestuff prepared from the homopolymer was soluble in water only when it was coupled with diazonium component containing sulfonic acid group, but the dyestuffs prepared from the copolymer were soluble. The reactivity, chemical structure, color, and dyeability of the polymeric dyes are discussed by comparing them with those of the corresponding monomeric dyes. The color fastness of the polymeric dyes was found to be in a high class; the rubbing and dry-cleaning fastness were especially excellent.     

Automated synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography: an apparatus for [1-11C] labeled carboxylic acid

A fully automated apparatus for the synthesis and formulation of short-lived ¹¹C (t_1/2 = 20 min)-labeled carboxylic acids for positron emission tomograpy (PET) has been developed. Injectable solutions of [1-¹¹C]acetic acid, [1-¹¹C]octanoic acid and [1-¹¹C]palmitic acid wilh radioactivities of 6.36-8.29 GBq, 0.070-1.43 GBq and 0.42-0.89 GBq were obtained. The preparation time was under 40 min after the end of bombardment. An automatic washing function means that labeled compound of the same or different kinds can be produced several times a day without any maintenance of the system. The control system is sited away from the ‘hot laboratory’, so operator exposure to radiation is minimized.     

Increase of static electrification in an aged oil‐immersed transformer

Increase of static electrification activity and discharge generation was experienced during the service operation of an aged power transformer. The transformer oil had high sulfide and sulfoxide contents and was liable to show high ECT value after aging. However, there was no apparent increase in standard ECT (electrostatic charging tendency) measurement of the insulating oil and, therefore, deterioration of pressboard was suspected as the cause of the increase. The ECT tests with aged oil and pressboard sampled from the aged transformer were insufficient to demonstrate the increase in static electrification for the aged transformer. On the other hand, the results suggested a possibility that increase in static electrification can be caused by adsorption of some deterioration compound in the aged oil to the pressboard. In order to make more effective evaluation to the transformer insulation, potential measurement on the pressboard in the oil duct was carried out. The experimental results demonstrated strong increase of the accumulated charge by the aged pressboard, which suggested effectiveness of potential measurement for the assessment of static electrification in transformers. The device of potential measurement for practical use was designed by reducing the necessary amount of oil sampling. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 167(3): 10–19, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20789     

Preparation and Cathodoluminescence of Mg-Doped and Zn-Doped GaN Powders

In this paper, undoped, Mg- and Zn-doped gallium nitride powders were prepared by direct nitridation of Ga₂O₃ under a flowing NH₃ gas. The phase purity, morphology and cathodoluminescence spectra were presented. The Ga₂O₃ powders can be completely nitridized to GaN at 1000°C. The resultant GaN powders agglomerated together with submicron-sized polyhedral crystals. At room temperature, the Mg- and Zn-doped powders exhibit bright blue-violet emission at around 3.05 and 2.81 eV, respectively. This provides clear evidence that magnesium or zinc is incorporated into the GaN powders as an acceptor and suggests that the luminescent materials are promising candidates for optoelectronic applications.