Epitaxial growth of Dy2O3 thin films on epitaxial Dy-germanide films on Ge(0 0 1) substrates

Ultra-thin films of Dy are grown on Ge(0 0 1) substrates by molecular beam deposition near room temperature and immediately annealed for solid phase epitaxy at higher temperatures, leading to the formation of DyGe_x films. Thin films of Dy₂O₃ are grown on the DyGe_x film on Ge(0 0 1) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Streaky reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) patterns reveal that epitaxial DyGe_x films grow on Ge(0 0 1) substrates with flat surfaces. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum suggests the growth of an orthorhombic phase of DyGe_x films with (0 0 1) orientations. After the growth of Dy₂O₃ films, there is a change in RHEED patterns to spotty features, revealing the growth of 3D crystalline islands. XRD spectrum shows the presence of a cubic phase with (1 0 0) and (1 1 1) orientations. Atomic force microscopy image shows that the surface morphology of Dy₂O₃ films is smooth with a root mean square roughness of 10 Å.     

LaScO3 as a higher-κ dielectric for p-MOSFETs

The electrical properties of MOS capacitors with LaScO₃ thin films grown by molecular beam deposition (MBD) have been studied with and without post deposition annealing (PDA) in O₂ environment followed by forming gas. An EOT of 0.65 nm could be achieved for samples without PDA. However, the films suffer from large hysteresis and interface trap density. Applying PDA reduces the hysteresis, the D_it (down to the mid of 10¹¹ (eV cm²)⁻¹) and the leakage current by two orders of magnitude (down to the range of 10⁻⁴A/cm²) for an EOT of 1.1 nm. Furthermore we have successfully integrated LaScO₃ into FD MOSFETs on SOI substrates. The p-FETs with LaScO₃ show excellent characteristics with a steep subthreshold slope down to 65 mV/dec and hole mobilities comparable to HfO₂ and HfSiON.     

结直肠癌中NF-κB表达的研究

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the protein level of NF-κB change in carcinoma and different grades of tumor cells differentiation tissue in colorectal cancer patients. Methods: This was a comparative study between normal and carcinoma tissues and in different grades of tumor cells differentiation tissue in colorectal cancer patients. Expression of NF-κΒ were assessed by immunohistochemical method using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against human p65 NF-κΒ proteins. Results: There was none or very little expression of NF-κB in non-neoplastic colon epithelial cells, while the expression of it's protein was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in adjacent cancerous cells. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the mean expression of NF-κB-p65 between poorly differentiated malignant epithelial cell and well-differentiated cells (P < 0.05). Conclusion: NF-κB-p65 may play an essential role in colorectal carcinogenesis and may be valuable for diagnosis, evaluating malignancy extent and prognosis.     

PPARγ、NFκ-B、TNFα-在慢性缺血性肾病大鼠模型中的表达及意义

目的观察PPARγ、NF-κB、TNFα-在慢性缺血性肾病大鼠模型中的表达,探讨PPARγ、NFκ-B、TNF-α之间的关系及其在慢性缺血性肾病中的作用。方法通过单侧肾动脉部分结扎建立慢性缺血性肾病动物模型。按随机数字表法将16只大鼠分为模型对照组（MC）和假手术组（sham）2组,每组8只。测大鼠术后第4、8、12周动脉血压（SBP）。术后第12周末测24 h尿蛋白、尿β2微球蛋白（β2-MG）,然后处死大鼠取肾脏观察肾组织病理改变;分别用免疫组化SP法和RT-PCR法测定肾组织PPARγ、NFκ-B蛋白和PPARγ、NFκ-B、TNF-αmRNA的表达。结果与sham组比较,MC组SBP明显上升,24 h尿蛋白、尿β2-MG水平均明显升高,差异均有统计学意义（均P〈0.05）。组织病理检查结果示：与sham组比较,MC组间质有大量炎症细胞侵润,肾小管损伤较明显（均P〈0.05）。免疫组化检查结果示：与sham组比较,MC组PPARγ、NF-κB蛋白表达水平均明显升高（均P〈0.05）。RT-PCR结果示：与sham组比较,MC组PPARγ、NF-κB、TNFα-mRNA表达水平均升高（均P〈0.05）。直线相关性分析表明,MC组大鼠PPARγmRNA表达水平与肾脏病理损害评分及NFκ-B、TNF-αmRNA表达水平均呈正相关（r分别为0.976、0.992、0.954,均P〈0.01）。结论慢性缺血使大鼠肾脏PPARγ、NF-κB、TNF-α表达上调,加重肾损害。     

Effect of commercial or depurinized milk on rat liver growth-regulatory kinases,nuclear factor-kappa B,and endonuclease in experimental hyperuricemia: Comparison with allopurinol therapy

Hyperuricemia is a biochemical hallmark of gout, renal urate lithiasis, and inherited purine disorders, and may be a result of enormous ATP breakdown or purine release as a result of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease, eclampsia, obesity, metabolic syndrome, psoriasis, tumor lysis syndrome, or intense physical training. The beneficial role of dairy products on hyperuricemia management and prevention is well documented in the literature. The primary aim of our experimental study was to examine the effect of milk dietary regimen (commercial 1.5% fat UHT milk or patented depurinized milk) compared with allopurinol therapy on experimental hyperuricemia induced by oxonic acid in rats. Principal component analysis was applied on a data set consisting of 11 variables for 8 different experimental groups. Among the 11 parameters measured (plasma uric acid and the liver parameters NFκB-p65, Akt kinase/phospho-Akt kinase, ERK kinase/phospho-ERK kinase, IRAK kinase/phospho IRAK kinase, p38/phospho-p38, and DNase), Akt/phospho Akt and ERK/phospho-ERK signaling were extracted as the most discriminating. We also compared the content of various potentially toxic compounds (sulfur compounds, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, carboxylic acids, and phthalates) in untreated commercial milk and depurinized milk. Of all the compounds investigated in this study that were observed in commercial milk (24 volatile organic compounds and 4 phthalates), 6 volatile organic compounds were not detected in depurinized milk. For almost all of the other compounds, significant decreases in concentration were observed in depurinized milk compared with commercial milk. In conclusion, a depurinized milk diet may be recommended in nutritional treatment of primary and secondary hyperuricemia to avoid uric acid and other volatile, potentially toxic compounds that may slow down liver regeneration and may induce chronic liver diseases.     

Milk-clotting properties on bovine caseins of a novel cysteine peptidase from germinated Moringa oleifera seeds

A cysteine peptidase was previously identified from germinated Moringa oleifera seeds, but its milk-clotting properties on bovine caseins was still unclear. In this study, this novel cysteine peptidase (MoCP) showed preferential activity on κ-casein (κ-CN), with greater hydrolytic activity compared with calf rennet, whereas weak hydrolysis of α-casein and β-casein made MoCP suitable for application in cheesemaking and may yield various functional peptides. All 3 evaluated caseins were hydrolyzed to form relatively stable peptide bands within 3 h of proteolysis with MoCP. Cleavage sites were determined by gel electrophoresis, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, and peptide sequencing, which revealed that cleavage of κ-CN by MoCP occurred at residue Ile129-Pro130 and generated a 14,895.37-Da peptide. The flocculation reaction between MoCP and κ-CN determined by 3-dimensional microscopy with super-depth of field revealed that the initial 30 min of reaction were key for milk coagulation, which may affect curd yield. Overall, the findings presented herein suggest that the cysteine peptidase from germinated M. oleifera seeds can be considered a promising plant-derived rennet alternative for use in cheese manufacture.     

Formation of aluminium carbide by cast iron and liquid aluminium interaction

Abstract

Aluminium carbide (Al₄C₃) has been identified in ex service and laboratory test specimens of cast irons exposed to liquid aluminium. In cast iron/aluminium couples, the formation of Al₄C₃ and κ-Fe₃AlC was confirmed for the first time. The growth kinetics of Al₄C₃ were parabolic with an activation energy 145±23 kJ mol^?1 (1023–1223 K), which is consistent with the reported activation energy for growth in graphite/liquid aluminium couples. The aim of this work is to shed light upon the origin and growth of Al₄C₃ in cast iron/liquid aluminium couples in the temperature range of 1023–1223 K.