Treatment of highly fouling waste waters with tubular membrane systems

Membrane fouling by suspended solids is a severe problem in reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration of highly fouling feed streams. Tubular membrane systems are inherently fouling resistant and can be automatically mechanically cleaned at regular intervals by a sponge ball cleaning device. The use of this type of system to process a number of highly fouling feed streams difficult to treat by membrane processes is described     

Microsphere resonators strongly coupled to a plane dielectric substrate: coupling via the optical near field

A model is proposed that describes the essential optical process in the recently observed resonant light scattering from a microsphere resonator that is strongly coupled to the substrate. The experimentally observed field patterns across the resonance can be reproduced quite well by a numerical calculation taking into account only a few vector spherical waves that are converted from nonpropagating to propagating waves at the substrate surface. Explicit consideration of the multiple-reflection effect is not necessary to reproduce the experimental results. Comparison of the experiment and the calculation suggests the splitting of degenerate resonance modes that have different azimuthal mode numbers within a single broad resonance line. These results are discussed on the basis of the strongly coupled nature of the system.     

Study of local intracellular signals regulating axonal morphogenesis using a microfluidic device

The establishment and maintenance of axonal patterning is crucial for neuronal function. To identify the molecular systems that operate locally to control axonal structure, it is important to manipulate molecular functions in restricted subcellular areas for a long period of time. Microfluidic devices can be powerful tools for such purposes. In this study, we demonstrate the application of a microfluidic device to clarify the function of local Ca²⁺ signals in axons. Membrane depolarization significantly induced axonal branch-extension in cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Local application of nifedipine using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic device demonstrated that Ca²⁺ entry from the axonal region via L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCC) is required for branch extension. Furthermore, we developed a method for locally controlling protein levels by combining genetic techniques and use of a microfluidic culture system. A vector for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused to a destabilizing domain derived from E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (ecDHFR) is introduced in neurons by electroporation. By local application of the DHFR ligand, trimethoprim (TMP) using a microfluidic device, we were able to manipulate differentially the level of fusion protein between axons and somatodendrites. The present study revealed the effectiveness of microfluidic devices to address fundamental biological issues at subcellular levels, and the possibility of their development in combination with molecular techniques.     

Expression of IFN-inducible protein-10 in chronic hepatitis

Chemokines such as IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and JE/monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) are induced in the murine liver in a tissue-specific manner. We examined whether IP-10 and MCP-1 are pathologically involved in chronic hepatitis. Whereas the serum levels of IP-10 and MCP-1 in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis C were elevated compared with those in normal volunteers, both chemokine levels were further significantly higher in patients with the active form (chronic active hepatitis (CAH)). The elevated IP-10 level was not a general phenomenon of inflammation, because it was not seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas MCP-1 levels were elevated to the same extent in both patient groups. Better responsiveness to IFN therapy in CAH was related to lesser grades of necroinflammatory activity and was predicted by the lower IP-10 and higher MCP-1 levels. IP-10 levels in patients cured by IFN therapy decreased to the levels in normal volunteers, while the MCP-1 levels only slightly decreased. Serum levels of both chemokines in patients who were not cured remained unchanged after IFN therapy. In situ hybridization analysis of CAH revealed that IP-10 mRNA was expressed mainly in hepatocytes around intralobular focal and periportal piecemeal necrosis, while some MCP-1 mRNA was expressed in some sinusoidal cells. These results suggested that IP-10 plays a specific role in the intralobular accumulation of mononuclear cells and/or the death of hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis.     

Development of automatic fault point locating and sectional isolating system for power distribution line

This paper describes the development of the Automatic Fault Point Locating and Sectional Isolating System. This system locates a single-line-to-ground fault point at each pole by using ground-current sensors, and isolates the faulted section by controlling pole switches with no outage of unfaulted sections. The ground-current sensor is connected to the line between allied ground terminals of pole devices and grounded conductor. It detects a ground fault current of more than 0.64 amperes that is determined so as to avoid an unexpected operation by stray current, but to detect the fault current accurately, and sends out an emergency signal with time delay of 0.1 s. Sectional isolation starts when both the emergency signal from the sensor and relay operation signals from a substation are received and ends within a feeder circuit-breaker tripping time of 1.5 s.     

Role of p27Kip1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer

There is strong evidence that depression can have profound negative effects on the functional status, psychologic outlook, and possibly the medical outcome of cancer patients. Its presence often is taken for granted by both patients and physicians as being either inevitable or easily explained by the grim prognosis and complex treatment regimens experienced by many cancer patients, and thereby less deserving of an aggressive approach to diagnosis and treatment. This view is inappropriate, and hinders an effective approach to the problem. Effective treatment, similar to that provided for any other depressed patient, can enhance the cancer patient's overall approach to life and the disease, irrespective of the eventual medical outcome.