Preparation of SiB4±x and SiB6 plates by chemical vapour deposition of SiCl4 + B2H6 system

SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates were prepared by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using SiCl₄, B₂H₆ and H₂ gases under the conditions of deposition temperatures (T _dep) from 1323–1773 K, total gas pressures (P _tot) from 4–40 kPa and B/Si source gas ratio (m _B/Si=2B₂H₆/SiCl₄) from 0.2–2.8. The effects of CVD conditions on the morphology, structure and composition of the deposits were examined. High-purity and high-density SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates about 1 mm thick were obtained at the deposition rates of 71 and 47 nm s⁻¹, respectively. The lattice parameter, composition and density of CVD SiB_4±x plates were dependent on their non-stoichiometry. The lattice parameter,a, was 0.6325 nm, butc ranged from 1.262–1.271 nm.The B/Si atomic ratio ranged from 3.1–5.0, and the density ranged from 2.39–2.45×10³ kg m⁻³. The CVD SiB₆ plates showed constant values of lattice parameters (a=1.444 nm,b=1.828 nm,c=0.9915 nm), composition (B/Si=6.0) and density (2.42×10³ kg m⁻³), independent of CVD conditions.     

Effect of Ratio of Surface Area to Volume on Oxygen Self-Diffusion Coefficients Determined for Crushed MgO-Al2O3 Spinels

Oxygen self-diffusion coefficients for single-crystal MgO-Al₂O₃ spinels previously determined for crushed particles were recalculated using the microscopic suface area of the sample, as was done for alumina. The corrected results agree well with those of Reddy and Cooper .     

Effects of Na2SiO3 on anodization of Mg-Al-Zn alloy in 3 M KOH solution

The anodic behavior of Mg-Al-Zn alloy (AZ91D) under low potential electrolysis in 3 M KOH solutions was studied with and without addition of 0.5-5 M Na₂SiO₃. Anodic films incorporating silicon were formed during electrolysis, and the films formed under constant potential electrolysis at 4 V in 3 M KOH solution with Na₂SiO₃ were uniform and thicker than the films formed without Na₂SiO₃. A few at% of silicon was present as Mg₂SiO₄ in the films, although the main compound was Mg(OH)₂. The corrosion resistance of the films formed in solutions with Na₂SiO₃ increased in an anodic polarization test in 0.1 M KCl solution.     

A Passive UHF RF Identification CMOS Tag IC Using Ferroelectric RAM in 0.35-μm Technology

A passive UHF RF identification (RFID) tag IC with embedded 2-KB ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) for rewritable applications enables a 2.9 times faster read-and-write transaction time over EEPROM-based tag ICs. The resulting FeRAM-based tag has a nominally identical communication range for both read and write operations, which is indispensable for data write applications. The evaluated tag communication range with a folded dipole antenna is from 0 m to 4.3 m, at the 953-MHz carrier frequency with 4-W transmitting Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) from a reader/writer. The developed tag IC features two circuit blocks to maximize the communication range in 0.35-mum CMOS/FeRAM technology. First is a CMOS-only full-wave rectifier, which can improve the measured efficiency by up to 36.6% by reducing the input parasitic capacitances and optimization of multiplier structure. This efficiency is more than twice that of previously-published results. Second is a low-voltage current-mode ASK demodulator to accommodate a low-breakdown voltage of FeRAM, which converts the ASK power modulation into a linearly modulated current over an incoming power range of 27 dB, corresponding to the entire communication range. The developed demodulator can thus resolve the primary design tradeoff issue between device protection and detection sensitivity in the conventional voltage-mode demodulator     

Characterisation of volatile sulphur-containing compounds generated in crushed leaves of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler)

To characterise the composition of sulphur-containing constituents in Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler), GC–MS and HPLC analyses were carried out, using 12 varieties of Chinese origin, 4 varieties of Japanese origin and 6 commercially available cultivars. Five disulphides (dimethyl, allyl methyl, methyl 1-(E)-propenyl, diallyl, and allyl 1-(E)-propenyl), two trisulphides (dimethyl and allyl methyl), and two vinyldithiins (3-vinyl-[4H]-1,2- and 2-vinyl-[4H]-1,3-) were identified on the basis of their mass spectral and GC-retention data. Among the detected sulphur compounds, sulphides with a methyl group predominated over those with an allyl group. This was supported by the HPLC estimations, suggesting that all cultivars examined had much greater amounts of methiin than alliin. Also, two novel compounds were tentatively identified as [3H,4H]-1,2-dithiin and [2H,4H]-1,3-dithiin on the basis of their mass spectral features, GC-retention data, and some experimental results on their formation in reaction mixtures with different proportions of methiin and alliin. Their formation mechanism was proposed.     

Formation of Alkoxy-Derived lead Niobates in the PbO-Rich Region

The formation of lead niobates in the PbO-rich region is studied using powders prepared by the simultaneous hydrolysis of lead and niobium alkoxides. Cubic 3PbO·2Nb_2PO₅ solid solutions crystallize at low temperatures from amorphous materials having concentrations of 58 to 75 mol% PbO. The lattice parameter a increases linearly from 1.0544 to 1.0708 nm with increasing PbO. At higher temperatures the solid solutions made with 66.67 and 71.43 mol% PbO transform into 2PbO·Nb₂O₅ (monoclinic) and 5PbO·2Nb₂O_s (monoclinic), respectively. Monoclinic 5PbO·2Nb₂O₅ transforms into a new modification at = 3850° to = 3900°C. It has a rhombohedral unit cell with a = 0.7461 nm and c = 4.8092 nm ( a = 1.6599 nm, a = 25.97°). In the presence of excess lead, monoclinic 5PbO·2Nb₂O₅ transforms into tetragonal 3PbO·Nb₂O₅.     

THERMOELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF Si-Ti-B IN SITU COMPOSITE PLATES PREPARED BY CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION

Highly pure, dense SiB₄ and SiB₆ plates were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at deposition temperatures (T_DEP) from 1323 to 1773 K, total gas pressures (P_tottot) from 4 to 40 kPa and B/Si source gas ratios (m_B/SI =2B₂H₆/SiCl₄) from 0.2 to 2.6 and their thermoelectrical properties were measured. The Seebeck coefficient (S) of CVD-SiB₆ (0.7 mm in thickness), which is known to be a high temperature thermoelectric material, was 320 μVK^-1, while its electrical conductivity (s) was 7 Ω ^-1cm^-1, SiB₆ + TiB₂ and SiB₆ + SiB₄ in situ composite plates were also prepared to improve the thermoelectric property of CVD-SiB₆, The a value of the CVD-SiB₆ + 12 wt% TiB₂ in situ composite plate (0.7 mm in thickness) was one order of magnitude larger than that of CVD-SiB₆ at room temperature, while the figure of merit for the thermoelectric materials (Z) was smaller because of the smaller value of S. However, the Z value of SiBe + 40 wt% SiB₄ in situ composite plate (0.5 mm in thickness) was 10^-5, larger than that of CVD-SiB₆     

Recombinant human growth-regulated oncogene-alpha induces T lymphocyte chemotaxis. A process regulated via IL-8 receptors by IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13

The human cytokine growth-regulated oncogene (GRO)-alpha is a small glycoprotein secreted by monocytes, endothelial cells, glycoprotein secreted by monocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, synovial cells, and some tumor cells such as melanoma cells. It is structurally related to IL-8 and can activate neutrophils, whereas it induces chemotaxis, exocytosis, and a respiratory burst in neutrophils. To date, its functions on T lymphocytes have not been well established. We report here that recombinant human (rh)GRO-alpha is a potent chemoattractant for freshly isolated T lymphocytes, but not for anti-CD3 mAb-activated T lymphocytes. It attracts CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets to an equal extent. The migrating T lymphocytes toward rhGRO-alpha are predominantly CD45RO+ memory CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. The chemotactic migration of T lymphocytes toward rhGRO-alpha is stimulated via the IL-8 receptors on the cells. This process can be augmented by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, and inhibited by IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13. In addition, we also document that on T lymphocytes there exist IL-8 receptors that can be up-regulated by IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2. Our results demonstrate that rhGRO-alpha gene encodes for an inflammatory mediator that stimulates the directional migration of T lymphocytes. It may thus be another important mediator in the diseases in which T lymphocytes form the major constituent of the cellular infiltration.     

Detection of urinary interleukin-8 in glomerular diseases

To clarify the mechanism of neutrophil infiltration in glomerulonephritis, both urinary and plasma levels of a potent neutrophil chemotactic cytokine, interleukin-8 (IL-8), were measured in 40 healthy volunteers and 96 patients with various renal diseases. The plasma IL-8 levels were less than 16 pg/ml. The urinary IL-8 levels were elevated in several renal diseases including IgA nephropathy (17 of 43), acute glomerulonephritis (4 of 6), lupus nephritis (11 of 15), purpura nephritis (2 of 4), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (1 of 1), and cryoglobulinemia (2 of 2). IL-8 was detected immunohistochemically in diseased glomeruli, suggesting its local production. Elevated urinary IL-8 levels during the acute phase or exacerbations were found to be decreased during spontaneous or steroid pulse therapy-induced convalescence in all patients examined. The urinary IL-8 levels were higher in patients with glomerular leukocyte infiltration than in those without infiltration. Collectively, local production of IL-8 in diseased glomeruli might be involved in the pathogenesis of the glomerular diseases and measurement of IL-8 in the urine might be useful for monitoring the glomerular diseases.     

The waffle procedure (multiple incision of epicardium) with pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis

Tea catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) and (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), have been reported to suppress oxidation of plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro. If dietary catechins can be efficiently incorporated into human blood plasma, anti-atherosclerotic effects in preventing oxidative modification of LDL would be expected. In this study, a newly developed chemiluminescence detection-high pressure liquid chromatography (CL-HPLC) method for measuring plasma catechins was used and the incorporation of EGCg and EGC into human plasma was investigated. Healthy subjects orally ingested 3, 5, or 7 capsules of green tea extract (corresponding to 225, 375, and 525 mg EGCg and 7.5, 12.5, and 17.5 mg EGC, respectively). The plasma EGCg and EGC concentrations before the administration were all below the detection limit (< 2 pmol/ml), but 90 min after, significantly and dose-dependently increased to 657, 4300, and 4410 pmol EGCg/ml, and 35, 144, and 255 pmol EGC/ml, in the subjects who received 3, 5, and 7 capsules, respectively. Both EGCg and EGC levels detected in plasma corresponded to 0.2-2.0% of the ingested amount. Catechin intake had no effect on the basal level of endogenous antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and lycopene) or of lipids in plasma. These results suggested that drinking green tea daily would contribute to maintain plasma catechin levels sufficient to exert antioxidant activity against oxidative modification of lipoproteins in blood circulation systems.