Effects of antiallergic drug, pemirolast potassium on phospholipase D activation in antigen-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells

An anti-allergic drug, permirolast potassium (TBX), inhibited antigen (Ag)-induced phospholipase D (PLD) activation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The concentration-dependent inhibitory profile for Ag-induced PLD activation was parallel to those for secretory response and inositol phosphate formation. In contrast, TBX had no effect on PLD activation caused by calcium ionophore A23187 or phorbol myristate acetate. These results suggest that TBX inhibits Ag-induced PLD activation by interfering with the signal transduction pathway upstream of Ca2+ mobilization and protein kinase C activation.     

Modified carbonization of polyacrylonitrile by incorporation of FeCl2 and Fe(NO3)3—pore structure

The structure and texture of the pyrolysis product was modified by the incorporation of FeCl₂ or Fe(NO₃)₃ into polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The additives were added to a PAN solution in dimethylformamide. The incorporation of FeCl₂ and Fe(NO₃)₃ into PAN was found to result in carbons with a smaller interlayer spacing than the carbon derived from pure PAN, as well as a larger crystallite size and a larger volume of micropores with a radius of ca. 1.8 nm. FeCl₂ was more effective than Fe(NO₃)₃ in the modification of the carbonization behavior of PAN.     

Promotion of practical SIMOX technology by the development of a 100 mA-class high-current oxygen implanter

A high-current oxygen implanter which has an acceleration energy of 200 keV and a beam current of 100 mA has been developed. This implanter has been used to form SIMOX wafers, on which p- and n-channel MOSFETs have been fabricated on a trial basis. Good electrical characteristics have been achieved with these MOSFETs. It has been shown that a 100 mA-class high-current oxygen implanter can promote SIMOX technology in a practical way.     

Transient liquid phase bonding of HfC-based ceramics

Transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding enables joining at lower temperatures than traditional bonding techniques and preserves the potential for high-temperature applications, making it particularly attractive for joining ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs) such as carbides and borides. The feasibility of a TLP joint between “pure” carbides has been recently demonstrated. The present study examines the interactions that occur between undoped HfC or MoSi₂-doped HfC and a Ni/Nb/Ni multilayer interlayer during TLP bonding. Bonding is performed at 1400 °C for 30 min in a high-vacuum furnace. SEM–EDS characterization shows that the reaction layer formed at the interlayer/ceramic interface contains mixed carbides and depending upon the ceramic, Ni–Nb–Hf, or Ni–Nb–Hf–Si, or Ni–Nb–Si alloys. Nanoindentation tests traversing the reaction layer between the bulk ceramic and Nb foil midplane also show a clear transition zone across which the indentation modulus and hardness vary. Crack-free joints have been obtained with undoped HfC. The addition of 5 vol% MoSi₂ introduces small (<5 μm long) isolated cracks within the reaction layer, whereas with 15 vol% MoSi₂ added, cracking was pervasive within the reaction layer. When the reaction layer exceeds a critical thickness, as in the case of the bond obtained with HfC doped with 15 vol% MoSi₂, residual stresses become sufficiently large to cause extensive cracking and bond failure. The results suggest a need to characterize and balance the positive role of additives on sintering with the potentially deleterious role they may have on joining.     

Simultaneous Measurements of Temperature and Iron–Slag Ratio at Taphole of Blast Furnace

As the initial process in an integrated steel-making plant, molten iron is produced in a blast furnace. The molten iron has a temperature between 1700 K and 1900 K. The outflow stream discharged from a taphole comprises the molten iron and slag (which is a mixture of molten oxides). Monitoring of the stream temperature is important because it has information on the thermal condition inside the blast furnace. A newly developed simultaneous measurement technique for temperature and iron–slag ratio is reported. A monochromatic CCD camera with a short exposure time is used to obtain a thermal image of the rapidly moving stream. The thermal image has a marble-like pattern caused by the physical separation of the iron and slag and their different optical properties. Iron thermometry is realized by automatically detecting the peak of the iron gray-level distribution on a histogram. Meanwhile, the thermal radiance of the semitransparent slag varies as a function of the thickness. The slag temperature is calculated from the maximum gray level, presuming that the emissivity of the slag is constant at a thick slag part. The slag ratio is measured by counting the number of pixels on the histogram. A field test was carried out at an operating blast furnace. The iron temperature, slag temperature, and slag ratio were successfully measured. This multiple image measurement is expected to be the new information source for stable blast furnace operation.     

Electricity markets volatility: estimates,regularities and risk management applications

The recent deregulation of the market for electric power in many parts of the US and Canada has expanded the set of potential tools for managing the types of risks faced by both generators and consumers of electric power. In particular manufacturing and other firms whose operations are powered by electricity now face, on a continuing basis, the engineering management decisions concerning whether they should buy or produce electricity, and if they are to buy or sell electricity, what types of contracts are optimum. These types of risk management decisions typically involve futures, forwards, options and other financial derivatives. The price and volatility of electric power are known to play an essential role in determining which of these instruments should be used. However, electricity as a commodity possesses certain special features not shared by other commodities and hence its risk properties are not yet well understood. In this paper we consider and test certain hypotheses about the properties of electricity price using recent market data. We find that electricity prices possess certain volatility and other systematic properties that can be characterized by the type and method of delivery of electricity. These properties can be used by firms in formulating their optimal demand and supply schedules of electric power.     

Promising window layer of thin film Si solar cell with p–i–n structure prepared by using SiH2Cl2

The fabrication process for a-Si:H solar cells with p–i–n structure contains a problem of damage to the SnO₂ substrate particularly at higher process temperatures. We have reported that the suppression of darkening and wide optical gap (E_opt) are obtained by using SiH₂Cl₂ instead of SiH₄ as a source gas (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 609 (2000), in press). In this paper, p-type a-Si:H:(Cl) was investigated. Comparable E_opt and dark conductivity (σ_dark) to those of conventional a-SiC:H were obtained. Solar cells using this a-Si:H:(Cl) show higher current density (J_sc) and higher collection efficiency in all wavelength regions as compared to a p-layer not using chlorine processes. The newly developed p-layer has been applied to solar cells with p–i–n structure fabricated at higher substrate temperatures (T_s). Although the a-Si:H material deposited at higher substrate temperatures has been reported as being more stable against light soaking (21st IEEE PVSC Proceeding, Florida, USA, 1990, p. 1656), the high temperature processing is difficult to apply to the a-Si:H p–i–n structure because of the significant darkening of SnO₂ at higher T_s. With an a-Si:H:(Cl) buffer layer, a-Si:H solar cells can be fabricated at higher T_s (300°C) with reasonable cell performance. The best stabilized efficiency was 7.5% obtained at a T_s of 250°C.     

Effect of HIV reporting by name on use of HIV testing in publicly funded counseling and testing programs

CONTEXT: Policies requiring confidential reporting by name to state health departments of persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have potential to cause some of them to avoid HIV testing. OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in use of HIV testing services at publicly funded HIV counseling and testing sites before and after the implementation of HIV reporting policies. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analysis of service provision data from 6 state health departments (Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, and Tennessee) 12 months before and 12 months after HIV reporting was introduced. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percent change in numbers of persons tested at publicly funded HIV counseling and testing sites after implementation of confidential HIV reporting by risk group. RESULTS: No significant declines in the total number of HIV tests provided at counseling and testing sites in the months immediately after implementation of HIV reporting occurred in any state, other than those expected from trends present before HIV reporting. Increases occurred in Nebraska (15.8%), Nevada (48.4%), New Jersey (21.3%), and Tennessee (62.8%). Predicted decreases occurred in Louisiana (10.5%) and Michigan (2.0%). In all areas, testing of at-risk heterosexuals increased in the year after HIV reporting was implemented (Louisiana, 10.5%; Michigan, 225.1 %; Nebraska, 5.7%; Nevada, 303.3%; New Jersey, 462.9%; Tennessee, 603.8%). Declines in testing occurred among men who have sex with men in Louisiana (4.3%) and Tennessee (4.1%) after HIV reporting; testing increased for this group in Michigan (5.3%), Nebraska (19.6%), Nevada (12.5%), and New Jersey (22.4%). Among injection drug users, testing declined in Louisiana (15%), Michigan (34.3%), and New Jersey (0.6%) and increased in Nebraska (1.7%), Nevada (18.9%), and Tennessee (16.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Confidential HIV reporting by name did not appear to affect use of HIV testing in publicly funded counseling and testing programs.     

A randomized cross-over study of high-dose metoclopramide plus dexamethasone versus granisetron plus dexamethasone in patients receiving chemotherapy with high-dose cisplatin

We carried out a randomized, single-blind, cross-over trial to compare the antiemetic effect, for both acute and delayed emesis, of granisetron plus dexamethasone (GRN+Dx) with that of high-dose metoclopramide plus dexamethasone (HDMP+Dx). Fifty-four patients with primary or metastatic lung cancer, given single-dose cisplatin (> 80 mg/m2) chemotherapy more than twice, were enrolled in this study. They were treated with both HDMP+Dx and GRN+Dx in two consecutive chemotherapy courses. On day 1, patients experienced a mean of 2.5 (SD = 4.3) and 0.1 (SD = 0.4) episodes of vomiting in the HDMP+Dx and the GRN+Dx groups, respectively (P = 0.0008). Complete response rate on day 1 was 45 and 90% in the HDMP+Dx and the GRN+Dx groups, respectively (P = 0.0001). Patients treated with GRN+Dx had a tendency to suffer more episodes of vomiting than the HDMP+Dx group on days 2-5, but it was not statistically significant. Twenty-four patients (57%) preferred the GRN+Dx treatment and 14 patients (33%), HDMP+Dx. In the HDMP+Dx group, nine patients (21%) had an extrapyramidal reaction, and 5 patients (12%) had constipation that lasted for at least two days. In contrast, no patients had extrapyramidal reactions, and 18 patients (43%) had constipation in the GRN+Dx group (P < 0.01). GRN+Dx was more effective than HDMP+Dx only in preventing the acute emesis induced by cisplatin. An effective treatment for delayed emesis is still needed.