Use of electrochemical oxidation process as post-treatment for the effluents of a UASB reactor treating cellulose pulp mill wastewater.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the electrochemical oxidation process as a post-treatment for the effluents of a bench-scale UASB reactor treating simulated wastewater from an unbleached pulp plant. The oxidation process was performed using a single compartment cell with two plates as electrodes. The anode was made of Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 and the cathode of stainless steel. The following variables were evaluated: current density (75, 150 and 225 mA cm(-2)) and recirculation flow rate in the electrochemical cell (0.22, 0.45 and 0.90 L h(-1)). The increase in current density from 75 to 225 mA cm(-2) did not increased the color removal efficiency for the tested flow rates, 0.22, 0.45 and 0.90 L h(-1), however the energy consumption increased significantly. The results indicated the technical feasibility of the electrochemical treatment as post-treatment for UASB reactors treating wastewaters from pulp and paper plants.     

Right atrial contractile performance in patients with myocardial infarction

To evaluate right atrial (RA) contractile performance in patients with myocardial infarction, we validated a cineangiographic method of RA volume measurement, and investigated RA volume change in 'normal' individuals and patients with a previous myocardial infarction. Sixteen silicone rubber RA casts made from human cadavers were filmed in the postero-anterior and left lateral projections. The cast volumes calculated following Simpson's rule were in good agreement with those measured by water replacement (r = 0.992, P < 0.01). At cardiac catheterization, biplane RA cineangiography was performed in 19 'normal' individuals (N group), in 14 patients with a previous antero-septal infarction (AMI group) and in seven patients with a previous inferior infarction (IMI group). The RA volume-time curve was constructed at 20-40 ms intervals for one cardiac cycle. RA volume at the beginning of the atrial contraction (RAVd), which was defined as the 'preload' of the RA, tended to be larger in both the AMI and IMI groups compared with 'normal' individuals. The RA ejection volume was significantly larger in both the AMI (18.4 +/- 2.1 ml.m-2, P < 0.01) and IMI groups (19.4 +/- 2.8, P < 0.01) than in the N group (14.5 +/- 1.9), even for a comparable level of RAVd (range from 26 to 36 ml.m-2) (18.6 +/- 2.1, P < 0.01, 18.2 +/- 2.0, P < 0.01, 14.7 +/- 1.9, respectively). These results suggest that RA contraction increases in patients with myocardial infarction by increasing both the 'preload' and 'contractility' of the RA.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel benzophenone derivatives

Novel benzophenone derivatives were synthesized and screened for cytotoxic and antitumor activity. Friedel-Crafts condensation was employed to construct the benzophenone skeleton. Among the compounds synthesized, morpholino and thiomorpholino benzophenones 3a-d exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against P388 murine leukemia and PC-6 human lung carcinoma cells in vitro, and compounds 3a, 3c, and 3j, when administered intraperitoneally, showed significant antitumor activity against the malignant ascites caused by intraperitoneal inoculation of P388 cells in mice.     

Beam test of the CsI(Tl) calorimeter for the BELLE detector at the KEK-B factory

We studied the performance of a prototype electromagnetic calorimeter for the BELLE detector at the KEK proton synchrotron for an energy range of 0.25–3.5 GeV. The prototype consisted of an array of 6 × 5 CsI(Tl) crystals with 30 cm length (16.2 radiation lengths) and about 6 cm × 6 cm cross section. The scintillation light of each CsI(Tl) crystal was read out by two large-area PIN photodiodes and charge-sensitive preamplifiers attached at the rear face of the crystal. We measured the energy and position resolution for electrons and the e/π separation for two sets of matrix configurations: one corresponded to the center and the other to the edge of the barrel calorimeter. The overall performance measured by the test proves that the prototype calorimeter is satisfactory for the use in the BELLE detector.     

Molecular cloning of a novel melanocortin receptor

Using the technique of the polymerase chain reaction primed with oligonucleotides based on the homologous transmembrane regions of seven transmembrane G protein-linked receptors, we isolated three full-length human genes that encode a novel subgroup of this receptor family. Recently, two of these receptors were identified as specific for alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone. We report the molecular cloning and pharmacologic characterization of a third member of this subgroup. The gene for this receptor encodes a protein of 361 amino acids in length. Its pharmacology characterizes it as an MSH receptor specific to the heptapeptide core common to adrenocorticotropic hormone and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-MSH. By Northern blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction, it is expressed in brain, placental, and gut tissues but not in melanoma cells or in the adrenal gland. These findings may yield insight into the physiology of peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin post-translational processing.     

FDTD analysis of switching characteristics in magnetooptic functional devices using magnetostatic surface waves

Collinear magnetooptic interaction with magnetostatic surface waves (MSSW) can be used for wavelength‐selective switches, wavelength filters, and frequency shifters in wavelength‐division‐multiplexed (WDM) photonic networks and optical processing systems. The switching efficiency can be improved with a multilayer waveguide structure. To investigate the dynamic switching characteristics, the FDTD method was employed. The mode conversion between TE and TM mode was successfully demonstrated with FDTD simulation. The filtering characteristics were also evaluated. The FDTD results were compared with the result from the coupled mode theory, and good agreement was obtained. Switching of an optical pulse was also demonstrated by the FDTD method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(1): 40–47, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20501     

Comparative clinical study of adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy (5-FU, Tegafur, 5-FU + MMC) in curatively resected cases of gastric cancer. Study Group on 5-FU Oral Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer

A multi-center collaborative study was conducted in curatively resected gastric cancer patients at Stages II and III to compare oral 5-FU (Group A), oral Tegafur (Group B) and i.v. MMC + oral 5-FU (Group C). From May 1982 to April 1985, 1,012 cases were enrolled at 55 institutions. Some 138 (13.8%) were excluded, and 874 were analyzable. In the analysis of background factors, Group B had more cases with tumor of large diameter and advanced Stage. Adverse effects were relatively mild in all groups, and there was no problem in drug tolerance. Five-year survival rate was 67.6%, 62.4% and 68.6% in Groups A, B and C, respectively, reflecting no significant difference among them. It was 85.0%, 83.0% and 81.1% in Stage II and 52.5%, 51.0% and 59.0% in Stage III of Groups A, B and C, respectively. No significant difference was found, but Stage III of Group C showed a slightly higher survival rate. Supportive clinical study will be required to assess the usefulness of MMC as an introduction therapy. We found no difference in efficacy between 5-FU and Tegafur as maintenance therapy. The life-prolongation effect of fluoropyrimidines in comparison with surgery alone should be studied separately.     

Athletes as health testing examinees

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The usefulness of monoclonal antibodies that recognize markers of neoplastic lesions in complementing conventional cytology was evaluated by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex, indirect immunoperoxidase technique. METHODS: In order to enhance the sensitivity of the traditional method, a pool of seven combined monoclonal antibodies (Pool C7), which reacts specifically with cells of epithelial origin and is able to distinguish between mesothelial and malignant cells, was tested on cytologic smears of 262 serous effusions. The effusions were benign or neoplastic, mainly from breast, ovary and lung cancers. RESULTS: Immunocytochemical method showed an 100% specificity and 100% of predictivity whereas the sensitivity was 98%, 96% and 95% for breast ovarian and lung carcinomas, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that the pool when used together with conventional methods, is useful in analysis of serous effusions in diagnostic investigations.     

Subcellular localization of Bcl-2 protein in synovial sarcoma

The subcellular localization of Bcl-2 protein in surgically resected, fixed-frozen tissue specimens of seven tumors from six cases of synovial sarcoma and a synovial sarcoma cell line was examined using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. Bcl-2 protein in synovial sarcoma cells was detected in the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and mitochondrial circumference. Based on the finding of pre-embedding immunoelectron-microscopy observation, the distribution of Bcl-2 protein in such membranous organella was patchy. A computer-based image analysis failed to reveal any quantitative differences between the inner and the outer mitochondrial membranes. The tumorigenesis of synovial sarcoma is also discussed from the viewpoint of Bcl-2 overexpression.