Exchangeability of actin in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts as determined by fluorescence photobleaching recovery

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether hypertension is a risk factor for hysterectomy performed for benign diseases. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires were collected from 77% of 2301 Danish women aged 30, 40, 50, or 60 years selected at random in 1982 for a prevalence study. Information about cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, use of medicine, weight and dieting history, life-styles, psychologic factors, gynecologic history (including history of hysterectomy), and social background were recorded. Weight, height, and blood pressure were measured. In an incidence study, the cohort was followed during 1982-1990 via central registers to assess the incidence of hysterectomy. Logistic and Cox regressions were used to analyze data. RESULTS: In the prevalence study, history of hypertension partly explained the relation between hysterectomy and cardiovascular diseases. In the incidence study, history of hypertension and use of diuretics were significant risk factors for hysterectomy. After confounder control, use of diuretics was explained by weight-related variables, and hypertension was a risk factor for hysterectomy in educated women (adjusted relative risk [RR] 2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 7.76) and in women with weight fluctuations (adjusted RR 3.31, 95% CI 1.35, 8.14). Weight cycling and lack of education remained significant risk factors for hysterectomy in women with and without hypertension, respectively. CONCLUSION: History of hypertension, weight cycling, and lack of education are closely related risk factors for premenopausal hysterectomy. These three risk factors contribute to women undergoing hysterectomy having an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. We proposed that hypertension might be a plausible biological cause of menorrhagia and an indication for hysterectomy.     

Surface characterization and catalytic properties of La1−x -Sr x CoO3

The surface chemical states of the perovskite-type compounds, strontium doped lanthanum cobalt oxides (La_1?x Sr _x CoO₃), have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Catalytic oxidations of both methane and CO have also been investigated using flow methods. The chemical composition of the surface of La_1?x Sr _x CoO₃ was very different from that in the bulk, which was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS). The catalytic activity of La_1?x Sr _x CoO₃ increased with an increase in the quantity of cobalt atoms on the surface.     

Superconductivity in W-containing diamond-like nanocomposite films

Superconductivity in a tungsten-containing carbon-oxide film was reported. The film with 500 nm thickness was deposited onto polycrystalline silicon oxides using chemical vapor deposition and the co-sputtering of a tungsten metal target. The bonding state of the carbon atoms and the macroscopic and microscopic crystal structure of the film were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements. From the experimental results, we determined that this film essentially had an amorphous structure. The temperature dependence on resistivity was measured in the temperature range of 2–300 K. Resistive superconducting transition was observed at 3.8 K. The dc magnetizations were measured in the temperature range of 1.8–6.5 K. The diamagnetism resulting from a superconductive state was observed below 3.75 K, which is consistent with a resistive superconducting transition. It is thought that the finite sized clusters of the different superconductive transition temperatures cooperatively produce a macroscopic superconducting phenomenon.     

New method for selective growth of diamonds by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition

Selective nucleation and deposition of diamonds were achieved on an SiO₂-patterned Si substrate. The substrate was pre-treated with an electric field in plasma to introduce diamond nuclei. This treatment did not affect the SiO₂ area. Consequently, diamonds grew only on the area where Si was exposed under the conventional conditions of diamond growth. The maximum nucleation density on the area of SiO₂was about 5 × 10⁷ cm⁻². The ratio of the selectivity was 2 × 10² or higher. This process will be useful and very promising for manufacturing diamond electronic devices.     

Studies on catalysis by molten metals. 14. Catalytic cracking of asphalts at low temperature

The catalytic effects of liquid metals for low-temperature (336 °C) asphalt-cracking have been examined using a semi-batch reactor. All the liquid metals examined (Bi, Cd, Ga, In, Pb and Sn) effectively catalysed the reduction of molecular weight with minimal gasification (<1 wt%). Gasification had a positive correlation with the reduction in molecular weight in the processed asphalts. The catalytic activities of liquid metals tor these two reactions were proportional to a parameter which represents the interaction between the atoms of the catalyst metal and the radicals formed in the course of the reaction. Mass flow among four fractions (saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes) had two independent paths: conversion of resins to saturates and of aromatics to asphaltenes. The former path dominated when catalytic dehydrogenation activity was relatively low, whereas the latter dominated when the catalytic activity was high.     

Analysis of Energy Saving and Environmental Characteristics of Electric Vehicles in Regionally Disaggregated World Energy Model

This paper investigates the impact of an extensive introduction of electric vehicles (EV) and plug‐in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) into the global energy system by 2050. The significant growth of automobile ownership in emerging countries is likely to increase world oil demand and the associated carbon dioxide emissions. In order to address these energy, security, and environmental concerns, the deployment of clean energy vehicles, such as EV and PHEV, is expected to play a crucial role due to their high fuel efficiency. Consequently, we develop both a global energy system model and a world vehicle penetration model, which can explicitly analyze the impact of EV introduction into the seasonal daily electric load curve, with consideration of the specific electricity charging profile through 2050. The simulation results confirm that EV deployment contributes to energy conservation, because oil demand reduction outstrips the growth in electricity demand and the associated fuel input into the power generation mix. Concerning carbon dioxide abatement, the magnitude of the impact relies on the carbon intensity of the power generation mix. If the intensity is low enough to guarantee a carbon mitigation effect due to EV fuel saving, emissions reduction is well assured. It should be noted, however, that in regions with high carbon intensity in the power generation mix, carbon emissions per mileage of EVs is almost equivalent to that of efficient gasoline vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, and the figure for PHEV is slightly higher than for hybrid vehicles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 186(4): 20–36, 2014; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22373     

Effective Characterization of DNA Ligation Kinetics by High-Resolution Melting Analysis

High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis has been improved and applied for the first time to quantitative analysis of enzymatic reactions. By using the relative ratios of peak intensities of substrates and products, the quantitativity of conventional HRM analysis has been improved to allow detailed kinetic analysis. As an example, the ligation of sticky ends through the action of T4 DNA ligase has been kinetically analyzed, with comprehensive data on substrate specificity and other properties having been obtained. For the first time, the kinetic parameters (k_obs and apparent K_m) of sticky-end ligation were obtained for both fully matched and mismatched sticky ends. The effect of ATP concentration on sticky-end ligation was also investigated. The improved HRM method should also be applicable to versatile DNA-transforming enzymes, because the only requirement is that the products have T_m values different enough from the substrates.     

W-type hexaferrite nanoparticles: A consideration for microwave attenuation at wide frequency band of 0.5-10 GHz

The static and dynamic magnetic properties of W-type hexaferrites are tuned to meet the requirements of wide band frequencies for attenuation of electromagnetic interference and microwave absorptions purposes. For this purpose, the W-type hexaferrite of entirely new composition of BaCoZnFe_16−2yAl_yCe_yO₂₇ (y = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) has been synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation. The material is characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The complex permittivity (?_r = ?′ − j?″) and permeability (μ_r = μ′ − jμ″) spectra are determined using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) in a range from 0.5 GHz to 10 GHz. During this study, it is noticeable that the Al³⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions have considerable effect on the shape of the nanoparticles. Samples having Al-Ce contents y = 0.2 and y = 0.4 showed large values for magnetization (70.5 emu/g) and remanent magnetization (32.9 emu/g). In addition, more than 99% absorption (>−20 dB) is noted for this sample composition. Based on these results it is concluded that the microwave absorption characteristics of these compounds can be tuned for the required frequency by varying the thickness of the absorber. Due to this reason, potential employment of the synthesized nanoparticles for absorption of electromagnetic radiations at wide frequency band of 0.5-10 GHz has been proposed.     

Far-infrared laser oscillation due to cyclotron emission in p-type germanium

Far-infrared laser oscillation due to cyclotron emission in the light hole band of p-type germanium was observed under crossed electric and magnetic fields. The wavelength is inversely proportional to magnetic fields with a cyclotron mass ofm _c =0.048m _c . Numerical calculations based on Luttinger Hamiltonian show that mixing of wavefunctions between the light and heavy hole bands causes population inversion betweenn=0 andn=1 light-hole Landau levels. It is also shown that non-equidistant energy spacing of light-hole Landau levels is essential to yield net amplification.