Small increase of CR1 and CR3 by C5a-receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus

One of the anaphylatoxins, C5a, is known to increase the expression of the complement receptors, CR1 and CR3, on PMNs which play important roles in the phagocytosis. We measured the expression of these receptors before and after the stimulation with C5a and C5a-receptors (C5aR) on PMNs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PMNs from 16 patients and 11 normal controls were tested. All the patients with SLE were administered with prednisolone orally and were in the inactive stage. The CR1 expression in SLE was significantly weak (p < 0.01) before and after stimulation with 4.55 nM (50 micrograms/ml) of C5a. There was no significant difference of CR3 expression before stimulation. However, after the stimulation with C5a, the increase of CR3 on PMNs from SLE was significantly small (p < 0.01). C5aR on PMNs showed no difference between the two groups. However, the expression of C5aR was significantly suppressed in patients treated with a high dosage of prednisolone (> = 10 mg/day) compared to those with a low dosage of prednisolone (< 10 mg/day). There was no significant difference of CR1 and CR3 expression between these groups. It is concluded that the increase of CR1 and CR3 on PMNs by C5a in small in SLE, of which impaired increase is not due to C5aR on PMNs, and that the expression of C5aR is suppressed by prednisolone.     

Infrared sensing properties of positive temperature coefficient thermistors with large temperature coefficients of resistivity

Infrared (IR) detecting elements were prepared using positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors with large temperature coefficients of resistivity (α). Their compositions were denoted as Ba_1−x Sr _x Nb_0.003Ti_0.997O₃ + 1 mol % TiO₂ + 0.07 mol %MnO (x=0, 0.2), and their temperature coefficients of resistivity were 78 and 50% K⁻¹, respectively. Their IR sensing properties were measured under the self-regulating heating conditions, and were compared with those of a detector with small α (18 % K⁻¹). It was shown that large α was effective for controlling the element temperature by self-regulating heating and for improving sensitivity. The responsivity,R _v of the element withx=0.2 was 980 VW⁻¹, and was as large as those of pyroelectric detectors. Expressions which normalize the sensitivity and the thermal time constant were derived. From these expressions, criteria for improving some IR sensing properties were obtained.     

Sintering of fibrous barium titanate powder compacts with preferred orientation

The sintering of fibrous BaTiO₃ powder particles was investigated. Special emphasis was given to the role of particle orientation in the compact on densification and microstructure development. Compacts were made by dry-pressing. During the initial stage of sintering, the fibrous particles rearranged and bundles of particles were formed. The volume of pores between bundles of particles decreased on further heating. Grain growth started when the sintered density reached ca. 56% of the theoretical density. Higher temperatures of sintering increased the degree of the crystal axis orientation. Thus, highly orientated sintered bodies with high densities were prepared by heating at 1500 °C.     

Highly reliable a‐IGZO TFTs on a plastic substrate for flexible AMOLED displays

We have successfully reduced threshold voltage shifts of amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin‐film transistors (a‐IGZO TFTs) on transparent polyimide films against bias‐temperature stress below 100 mV, which is equivalent to those on glass substrates. This high reliability was achieved by dense IGZO thin films and annealing temperature below 300 °C. We have reduced bulk defects of IGZO thin films and interface defects between gate insulator and IGZO thin film by optimizing deposition conditions of IGZO thin films and annealing conditions. Furthermore, a 3.0‐in. flexible active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode was demonstrated with the highly reliable a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide film. The polyimide film coating process is compatible with mass‐production lines. We believe that flexible organic light‐emitting diode displays can be mass produced using a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide films.     

Microstructure and superconducting properties of rapidly-quenched copper-based alloys containing immiscible lead and bismuth elements

Copper-based superconducting alloys including finely dispersed f c c lead or h c p (Pb- Bi) particles in f c c copper matrix have been obtained by rapid quenching (Cu-M)_100-x Pb_x and (Cu-M)_100-x (Pb_0.6Bi_{0.4 x} (M = aluminium, silicon or tin;x < 10 at%) alloys containing immiscible elements such as lead and bismuth. The particle size and interparticle distance were about 30 to 130 nm and 20 to 200 nm for had particles and about 30 to 60 nm and 30 to 150 nm for (Pb- Bi) particles. The transition temperature,T _c, was in the range of 3.2 to 5.5 K for the Cu-M-Pb alloys and 6.2 to 6.3 K for the Cu-M-Pb-Bi alloys. Critical magnetic field,H _c2, and critical current density,J _c, for the later alloys were 0.47 to 0.93T at 4.2 K and 1.1 × 10⁵ to 2.7 × 10⁵ Am^–2 at zero applied field and 4.21 K. The mechanism of the appearance of such a soft-type superconductivity for the rapidly quenched copper-based alloys was discussed, and inferred to be due to the formation of a percolation path of a superconducting lead or Pb-Bi phase along the grain boundaries, sub-boundaries and/or tangled dislocations where the lead or Pb-Bi phase precipitated preferentially, rather than the proximity effect based on lead or Pb-Bi particles.     

A carboxyalkanethiol monolayer modified electrode for blocking of ascorbic acid oxidation and its application to a biosensor

Upon the application of amperometric biosensor to the biological fluid, ascorbic acid interferes the amperometric determination of analytes, because the oxidative potential of ascorbic acid is lower than that of electro active substances such as H₂O₂ produced by the enzymatic reaction. In this study we propose a method to block ascorbic acid based on the electrostatic interaction with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and its application of the surface modified electrode to biosensor. In order to form SAM on the gold electrode with carboxyl group, 7-carboxy-heptanethiol (7-CHT) was used. The 7-CHT modified electrode did not show anodic response to ascorbic acid, but oxidized phenanthroline cobalt complex [Co(phen)₃²⁺], which can be used as a mediator of biosensor. Thus, the 7CHT-modified electrode was applied to biosensor mediated with Co(phen)₃²⁺. Fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) was immobilized to the 7-CHT modified electrode. Fructose was determined selectively with the FDH/7-CHT modified electrode at the range of 0.2-2 mM.     

Effect of applying voltage on photocatalytic destruction of 1,4-dioxane in aqueous system

In the current work, we prepared a TiO₂ coating on stainless mesh using electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and applied voltage to a stainless mesh to examine the synergy effect on photocatalysis of both 1,4-dioxane and ethylene glycol diformate (EGDF), a main intermediate of the photocatalysis of 1,4-dioxane. The photocatalytic decomposition rate of 1,4-dioxane depends on applying voltage under diffusion-limited reaction conditions. Ethylene glycol diformate and 1,4-dioxane exhibited inverse voltage dependence. Voltage swing provides high-efficiency photocatalysis of 1,4-dioxane while suppressing EGDF formation. This method will be effective for a photocatalysis system containing several chemicals, each with different voltage dependence.     

Brillouin-Scattering Study of the Elastic Constants of ErVO4

The room-temperature elastic constants of ErVO₄ were considerably smaller than those of isostructural silicate and phosphate analogs. The generally "less-rigid" crystalline lattice and weaker metal-oxygen bond-strength in the RVO₄ (R = rare earth elements) phases indicates that these materials are of interest for potential applications as an interphase component in toughened oxide ceramic composites.     

High-Resolution Electron Microscopy Observations of Stacking Faults in β-SiC

Structural images of the stacking faults in β-SiC were obtained with a high-resolution electron microscope. Stacking faults initially present in β-SiC powder particles were eliminated as grain growth proceeded at elevated temperatures.     

Stabilization of β-Bi2O3 by Sb2O3 Doping

The metastable β form of bismuth sesquioxide was obtained by doping antimony oxide. The solubility of antimony was 4 to 10 at. %in β specimens, where more than 75% of the antimony atoms were valenced at 5+.