Volumetric Change and Surface Properties of Temperature-Sensitive Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) Hydrogel

Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) polymer gel is a temperature sensitive polymeric gel, with a critical transition temperature (with H₂O) of 310 K. At higher than 310 K, this temperature sensitive polymer gel shrinks because of discharging water, whereas at lower temperatures, the gel swelled because of absorbing water. The reversibility of the gel's volume change was confirmed by temperature swing. The adsorption behavior of an organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel in water was tested at various temperatures. The amount of adsorbed organic compound increased remarkably at temperatures higher than about 310 K. Then, it was confirmed that the organic compound in PVA polymer gel could be reversibly adsorbed and desorbed by a temperature change between 293 and 323 K. The mechanism of adsorption of the organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel could be explained by hydration and dehydration of polymer gel.     

Lipopolysaccharide primes human alveolar macrophages for enhanced release of superoxide anion and leukotriene B4: self-limitations of the priming response with protein synthesis

Human alveolar macrophages (AM) can produce potent reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and arachidonic acid metabolites (eicosanoids), which have important roles in host defense and the pathogenesis of some diseases of the lung. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is believed to cause profound lung injury and can prime mouse peritoneal macrophages for the enhanced secretion of ROI and eicosanoids. Therefore, we investigated the effect of LPS pretreatment on the ability of AM to release superoxide anions (O2-) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). LPS can prime AM for the enhanced secretion of O2- and LTB4, regardless of whether they are derived from nonsmokers or smokers. Moreover, judging from the time-response characteristics, this priming for LTB4 release could be inhibited in the later stages of pretreatment, when the O2(-)-releasing capacity was enhanced. The priming inhibition was prevented, at least in part, by cycloheximide, but not by SOD and/or catalase. In addition, cycloheximide also inhibited the priming for O2- release. Hence, protein synthesis might be necessary for the priming for O2- release and for inhibiting the priming for LTB4 release. This phenomenon of self-limiting the priming response with LPS seems to be very important when we consider the high oxygen tension in the lungs and the many bacterial substances inspired into alveoli.     

Flashover voltage characteristics of contaminated station insulators under temporary ac overvoltages in the ac system connected with a frequency converter station

According to the recent analysis results of temporary ac overvoltage in the ac system connected with a frequency converter station, large-magnitude over-voltages were confirmed to occur under some special system conditions. Most of the station insulators currently used cannot withstand such overvoltages according to an evaluation based on the data obtained earlier. The necessity of tests to be done to evaluate such performance more accurately was recognized. Both power frequency and switching impulse overvoltage flashover tests were made on contaminated insulators by the method well simulating the natural wetting condition. Switching impulse flashover voltage with the waveshape having a long wavefront time of 2 ms can be well correlated with the flashover voltage characteristics of temporary ac overvoltage. Higher flashover voltage characteristics were obtained by a clean fog test method compared with those obtained by equivalent fog test method.     

An intrinsic guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor in Gi2 alpha. Significance of G-protein self-suppression which antagonizes receptor signal

The alpha subunit of Gi2 (Gi2 alpha) is a member of the heterotrimeric G protein family, which transduces receptor signals as a proto-oncogene product. We have found a novel self-suppressive region in Gi2 alpha near its C terminus. A polypeptide consisting of residues 338-352 of Gi2 alpha (Gi2 alpha-339-352) antagonizes receptor- and receptor peptide-stimulated Gi2 alpha activation, without affecting basal activity. Antagonism by Gi2 alpha-338-352 is attributable to an interaction with activated Gi2 alpha, which is not competitive with receptor polypeptides. Combined with the reports suggesting the presence of self-suppressive domains in a juxta-C-terminal portion of Gi2 alpha and G(o) alpha, this study supports the hypothesis that Gi2 alpha-338-352 constitutes an intrinsic guanine nucleotide exchange inhibitor, which in turn antagonizes receptor stimulation, suggesting that G proteins are activated by receptors through relaxation of a self-suppressive conformation.     

Expression of V642 APP mutant causes cellular apoptosis as Alzheimer trait-linked phenotype

APP is a transmembrane precursor of beta-amyloid. In dominantly inherited familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD), point mutations V6421, V642F and V642G have been discovered in APP695. Here we show that expression of these mutants (FAD-APPs) causes a clone of COS cells to undergo apoptosis associated with DNA fragmentation. Apoptosis by the three FAD-APPs was the highest among all possible V642 mutants; normal APP695 had no effect on apoptosis, suggesting that apoptosis by APP mutants in this system is phenotypically linked to the FAD trait. FAD-APP-induced apoptosis was sensitive to bcl-2 and most probably mediated by heteromeric G proteins. This study presents a model system allowing analysis of the mechanism for FAD-APP-induced cytotoxicity.     

Thermal instability of Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor around 650δC

Bi_0.85Pb_0.15Sr_0.8CaCu_1.4O _y superconductor was quenched to room temperature after annealing at several temperatures in air. From the initial magnetization curve measurement for the annealed samples, it was found that the volume fraction of superconducting phases of the sample annealed at 650°C greatly decreased. TEM observation revealed that a second phase often appeared in the grain-boundary region for the sample annealed at 700°C. The second phase was identified as Bi₁Pb₂Sr_2.6Ca_1.6O _y by energy dispersive spectroscopy.     

A Unified Approach to Submicron DC MOS Transistor Modeling for Low-Voltage ICs

A unified single-equation approach for the MOS transistordrain current modeling for energy-efficient submicron MOS circuitsis presented. Instead of three sets of separate equations forthe triode, saturation, and weak inversion regions, only a continuousexpression which is valid to describe the behavior of drain currentand the derivatives in all operation regions can be realizedby using a combination of hyperbola, sigmoid, and interpolationmethods. The model expression can predict accurate results forthe current, output conductance, and transconductance with continuousand smooth characteristics. The simulation results agree wellwith experimental data.     

Changes in Aging Behavior and Defect Structure of Yttria-Fully-Stabilized ZrO2 with Sc2O3 Doping

Methods of suppressing decreased conductivity in 8 mol% Y₂O₃-stabilized–92 mol% ZrO₂ (8YSZ) with aging were investigated. Different amounts of Sc₂O₃ were doped into 8YSZ. The electrochemical properties of Sc₂O₃-doped 8YSZ were measured, and the microstructural and local structural changes were characterized. The present results indicate that an appropriate amount of Sc₂O₃ doping, 3 or 4 mol%, effectively suppresses decreased conductivity with aging in 8YSZ.     

A new method for power generation planning and problems of uncertainty

This paper presents a new method for power system planning which considers uncertainties of various system parameters as a part of the criterion function. The criterion function involves both the expected values of total system costs and the cost variances of different power plants. Previously, the authors proposed that these cost variances be evaluated from the existing power system plans in the form of the solutions to the inverse optimization problem, and then applied this procedure to the planning of power systems in Japan. However, because of the correlation between fuel and facility costs, the cost variances could not be determined as specific values. Here, to overcome this difficulty, the authors now introduce hydropower plants into the model as the so-called nonrisky elements and focus on the expenditure shares rather than the plant capacity shares. As a result, more reasonable results are obtained. This improved methodology is applied and the derived cost variances are shown. Further, using the resultant cost variances, the authors make Pareto-optimal power generation plans and demonstrate also the robustness of the method to price fluctuations.