Fritless packed columns for capillary electrochromatography: separation of uncharged compounds on hydrophobic hydrogels

A novel column is described that does not require frits to keep packing material within a capillary. A continuous bed is prepared in situ in aqueous solution by radical copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (the resultant gel is denoted poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm). N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide is used for cross-linking. On the application of an electrical field, electroosmotic flow (EOF) is developed in the bed along the capillary, where fluid propulsion would be otherwise difficult to achieve. The resultant EOF transports neutral compounds through the column without forcing the gel out of the capillary. Examination of the fluid motion in the continuous bed using a video microscope system and an image processor shows a relatively flat flow profile of EOF. The bed functions as the stationary phase for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography (CEC). This new approach is an alternative to packed capillary columns which have been used previously in CEC. A high efficiency is obtained for a steroid which is separated on a 4.0% total monomer concentration (T), 10.0% degree of cross-linking (C), and 10.0% mole fraction of AMPS in the total monomer (S), poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm) column. A mixture of polyaromatic hydrocarbons is separated on a 6.9% T, 5.8% C, and 5.5% S poly(AMPS-co-IPAAm) column. The capacity factor of benzo[a]pyrene increases from 0.63 to 1.91 as the acetonitrile content in a Tris-boric acid buffer is decreased from 45 to 30% (v/v). The run-to-run RSD of analyte migration time is less than 0.73%, and the day-to-day RSD is acceptable. Potential benefits of this approach are also mentioned.     

Osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor exhibits hypocalcemic effects in normal mice and in hypercalcemic nude mice carrying tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

In the present study, we attempted to determine the extent to which an anterior capsulorrhexis carried out during cataract surgery contracts postoperatively. The size of the continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) was measured at the end of surgery and at the final follow-up examination in 52 eyes of 40 patients who underwent phacoemulsification/aspiration and implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) with 6-mm optics. Images obtained by video during surgery and by slit-lamp microscopy were used to determine the CCC size with reference to the optics of the IOL. The average CCC size was 5.0 mm at the end of surgery; it contracted to 4.4 mm by the final postoperative examination. The contraction of the anterior capsule progressed rapidly in the first 50 days following surgery and then gradually thereafter. The extent of contraction was greater in older patients. The smaller the CCC size immediately after surgery, the more rapidly it contracted. The size of the capsulorrhexis contracted an average of 22% following cataract surgery. The contraction rate tended to be higher in older patients. The results suggest that the capsulorrhexis carried out in cataract surgery for elderly patients should be sufficiently large, but not larger than the optics size of the IOL.     

Spectral linewidth estimation of a 1.5 µm range InGaAsP/InP distributed feedback laser

Spectral linewidth of a 1.5 μm range distributed feedback buried heterostructure (DFB-BH) laser in CW operation is estimated theoretically and experimentally. Considering the equivalent mirror facet loss coefficient and the confinement factor in the active layer, etc., we modified the conventional formula for the spectral linewidth of single-mode semiconductor lasers and presented a formula for the linewidth of DFB lasers. Furthermore, power-dependent linewidth measurements of a 1.5 μm range InGaAsP/InP DFB-BH laser with a window region were carried out using Fabry-Perot interferometers. The linewidth was observed to increase linearly with inverse output power. The measured result was explained by the calculated result through the modified formula. The full width at half maximum was estimated to be 50 MHz at an output power of 1 mW.     

Linewidth measurements of a 1.5 ?m range DFB laser

The linewidth of a 1.5 ?m range DFB laser with a window region has been measured using Fabry-Perot interferometers. The linewidth was observed to increase linearly with inverse output power with a slope which approximately agreed with the theoretically calculated value. The full width at half maximum was estimated at 50 MHz at an output power of 1 mW.     

Solving systems of algebraic equations by a general elimination method

A method of factorisation of a U-resultant into linear factors is given. Using this method we can obtain solutions and their multiplicities of a system of algebraic equations, provided the system of algebraic equations has finitely many solutions. We directly calculate a matrix à which gives all solutions of the system by using a Gröbner basis of the ideal generated by the polynomials of the system of algebraic equations.     

An approximation and its applications in wireless networks performance analysis

In the literature, there are two common assumptions for the tele‐traffic parameter in analyzing the wireless network performance, that is, the tele‐parameter follows a specific probability density function (pdf) and additionally the pdf exists closed‐form Laplace Transform (LT). However, taking into account the cell irregular shape, the specific pdf may be unavailable while only the measured statistical moments are available. Moreover, the pdf function may not exist a closed‐form LT, for example, lognormal distribution function. In this paper, based on the Central Limit Theorem and hyper‐Erlang universal approximation property, we propose an approximation method applicable in the situations when only the statistical moments are available or LT of pdf does not exist. We then employ the technique in diverse applications, including the performance analysis of wireless network and the cost evaluation of mobility management. Extensive numerical examples demonstrate the good approximation capability to the exact formula and the simulation results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carrier-to-noise ratio and sidelobe level in a two-laser modeloptically controlled array antenna using Fourier optics

The carrier-to-noise ratio of the microwave signal and the reduction of the antenna sidelobe are discussed for an optically controlled array antenna whose microwave aperture distribution is generated and controlled using Fourier transform and optical/electrical conversion. A two-laser model using two laser diodes whose frequency difference is set to the desired microwave frequency is proposed and compared with a single-laser model using an external modulator. The two-laser model seems to be favorable from the viewpoint of available laser diode output power. The required laser output for the two-laser model can be about 10 dB less than that for the single-laser model. Moreover, relationships between the antenna radiation characteristics and the aperture size of an image mask are investigated. It is clarified that the sidelobe level can be reduced about 20 dB without changing the gain and beamwidth by using a reference optical beam with a tapered amplitude distribution     

Dual slot-coupled microstrip antenna for dual frequency operation

A new dual slot-coupled circular antenna for dual frequency or dual polarisation operation is proposed. By optimising the placement of the two slots, high isolation between two ports is achieved. Experimentally, an isolation of more than 35 dB is obtained at L-band.<>     

Relationship between morphological diversity and AgNORs or cathepsin B expression in colorectal cancers

The biological characteristics associated with the morphological diversity of colorectal cancers were investigated to elucidate the causes of this diversity. We examined the proliferative and infiltrating activity of tumor cells, indicated by the mean number of Ag nucleolar organizer region associated proteins (NORs) per nucleus (MNA) and the immunohistochemical response to cathepsin B(CB), in various morphological types of early and advanced colorectal cancers. We examined 73 colorectal cancers obtained by endoscopic and surgical resection. MNA values for sessile and flat-elevated cancers were greater than the values for pedunculate, subpedunculate, and flat-or-depressed early cancers (sessile, P < 0.05). In advanced cancers invading the muscularis propria, protruding cancers showed significantly higher MNA values than small ulcerative cancers (P < 0.01). CB expression increased significantly with the progression of colorectal cancers (P < 0.01), but was not related to morphological diversity in early and advanced cancers. In both sessile and flat cancers, CB expression was higher in moderately differentiated than in well differentiated adenocarcinomas. These results indicate that, in colorectal cancers, protruding early cancers without stalks and protruding advanced cancers have higher proliferative activity than pedunculate or flat early cancers and small ulcerative advanced cancers, respectively, and that CB expression is not associated with morphological diversity, but with depth of invasion and histological differentiation.     

Influence of age on cardiac pump function during laparoscopic cholecystectomy--measurements by ear densitography

Using ear densitography, consisting of photoelectric plethysomography and Holter electrocardiography, we measured systolic time intervals (STI) in 21 patients, ASA class 1 and 2, undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy using CO2 insufflation under general anesthesia (neuroleptanesthesia with isoflurane in air, FIO2 0.5). The patients were divided into two groups: Y-group (10 patients under 59 years of age) and O-group (11 patients over 60 years of age). We investigated the influence of age on cardiac pump function during pneumoperitoneum non-invasively. Y-group showed improvement of cardiac pump function (reduction of PEP/LVET) from 30 minutes after the beginning of insufflation and quick recovery of cardiac function immediately after deflation. O-group showed a tendency of increasing PaCO2 and arterial diastolic pressure, and delayed recovery of cardiac function (elongation of PEP at 60 minutes, and increase of PEP/LVET at 60 and 90 minutes, respectively, after insufflation). Hypertension and tachycardia were apparent immediately after pneumoperitoneum in the O-group. We conclude that special care and monitoring are mandatory for the aged patients with impaired cardiac or respiratory function during laparoscopic surgery.