Synthesis of Compositionally Homogeneous Sr(CuxZn1−x)1/2W1/2O3

A complex perovskite of Sr(Cu _x Zn_{1- x} )_1/2 W_1/2O₃ (SCZW) is synthesized by a new combination of wet and dry processess. Mixed oxides containing Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ (CZ) are prepared by the wet process (coprecipitate method). SCZW is obtained by the dry process (mixed-oxide method) from a mixture of CZ, SrCO₃, and WO₃. SCZW has practically no compositional, unlike solid solutions prepared by the conventional dry method. The wet–dry process method is useful because the wet process is applied to only B-site cations having the same valence.     

Effects of controlled water temperatures on oviposition in a lotic‐breeding and externally fertilizing salamander (Hynobius kimurae)

Warm or cool ambient temperatures during winter generate plasticity in the within‐year timing of oviposition or breeding phenology shifts through the use of a reaction norm in many riverine ectotherms, but within‐year timing of oviposition in Hynobius kimurae (Caudata: Hynobiidae) is predicted to be constant at different water temperatures of a mountain stream. To clarify this difference, by experimentally controlling water temperatures from fall to spring and thus changing durations of aquatic hibernation and dates of oviposition, we determined whether oviposition is more advanced when water temperatures increase earlier than usual or is more delayed when water temperatures increase later than usual. Oviposition was more delayed than usual with earlier exposure to high water temperatures during spring and was earlier than usual with exposing to higher water temperatures during hibernation. Days from submergence to oviposition were responsive to cumulative daily water temperatures from submergence to oviposition within a population. A rate of increase in days from submergence to oviposition was different between populations but was constant within a population even if minimal water temperatures varied each year. When running a program of a Markov chain Monte Carlo generalized linear mixed model for Bayesian computation to interpret confounding effects, neither different treatments nor different years statistically affected days from submergence to oviposition. These results suggest that a biological clock exits for days from submergence to oviposition in H. kimurae, which could allow survival in situations with either warmer or cooler environments.     

Preparation of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 Using Oxine

A solution containing Mg²⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ was added to an aqueous ammonia solution of oxine, resulting in a precipitate. After the precipitate was thermally decomposed and fired, it was mixed with BaCO₃ powder and fired again at high temperatures to obtain Ba(Mg_1/3Ta_2/3)O₃ (BMT). This method resulted in BMT formation at temperatures lower than those used in the conventional mixed-oxide method, and single-phase BMT formed directly at 1300°C without intermediates.     

Preparation of Pb(Zr,Ti)03 Through the Use of Cupferron

An organic chelation reagent, cupferron, was used to coprecipitate Ti⁴⁺ andZr⁴⁺. After the materials were fired, they were mixed with PbO powder and fired again at high temperatures to obtain Pb(Zr,Ti)0₃ (PZT). It was confirmed that this method is useful for the preparation of homogeneous PZT having no compositional fluctuations. No coexistence range of the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases was observed in the PZT compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary.     

Pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties of freeze-dried formulations of egg albumin, indomethacin, olive oil, or fatty acids. II

To confirm the increased bioavailability of indomethacin (IND) when incorporated in a preparation with egg albumin and olive oil, we studied the detailed pharmaceutical characteristics of a ternary formulation consisting of egg albumin, IND and olive oil. From the results of X-ray powder diffraction measurements, the drug in the formulation was found to be in an amorphous form. When orally administered to rats, the ternary formulation significantly increased the plasma concentration and cumulative biliary and urinary excretion of IND alone as well as the urinary excretion of its major metabolite, desmethylindomethacin, compared with the drug alone. In addition, the dissolution rate of IND from the formulation was higher than that of the drug alone. These results clearly suggest that the bioavailability of IND was markedly improved by incorporating it in a protein-drug formulation containing olive oil as an absorbefacient element, and this effect may be due to an increased absorption of IND.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis effectively treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC, 5'-DFUR, OK-432

A sixty-eight-year-old male patient was diagnosed as having inoperable advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis. The patient was treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC 10 mg/M, 5'-DFUR 800 mg/day and OK-432 5 KE/2 W. Six months after commencing chemotherapy, CT-scan and upper GI series revealed that metasized liver tumors and stomach lesion were remarkably decreased in size and no cancer cell was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Further, the metastatic lung tumor has disappeared on chest X-ray. The patient had been well without any evidence of tumor re-progression for over one year, but from July the liver tumor began to metastasize again and the patient eventually died of liver metastasis on Jan. 1, 1993.     

Electrophoretic analysis of the "cross-class" interaction between novel inhibitory serpin, squamous cell carcinoma antigen-1 and cysteine proteinases

We investigated the "cross-class" interaction between cysteine proteinases and a novel inhibitory serpin, recombinant squamous cell carcinoma (rSCC) antigen-1, which inhibits a serine proteinase, chymotrypsin. rSCC antigen-1 inhibited the cysteine proteinases, papain, papaya proteinase IV and cathepsin L. Interestingly, although rSCC antigen-1 formed sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)- and heat-stable complexes with chymotrypsin, rSCC antigen-1 gave the 40 kDa fragment and small molecular mass peptide by incubation with papain without forming an SDS- and heat-stable complex. The cleavage was observed between the Gly353-Ser354 bond, indicating that rSCC antigen-1 interacts with cysteine proteinases not at the predicted reactive site P1-P1' portion (Ser354-Ser355), but at the Gly353-Ser354 of the P2-P1 portion. These findings promote understanding of the "suicide inhibition" mechanism of SCC antigen-1 against cysteine proteinases.     

Microstructures and Pyroelectric Properties of Multicomposition 0.9PbZrO3·xPbTiO3·(0.1−x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 Ceramics

The microstructures and pyroelectric properties of multicomposition 0.9PbZrO₃· x PbTiO₃·(0.1− x )Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PZ–PT–PZN) ceramics were investigated. The PZ–PT–PZN ceramics with nearly theoretical density were prepared by spark plasma sintering at low temperature (800°C) for a very short time (10 min) from two original compositions with x = 0.025 and x = 0.050. The heat treatment was successfully used to control the diffusion between the different compositions in such ceramics. For ceramics heat-treated at 900°C, two pyroelectric peaks corresponding to the original compositions were observed. When the heat-treatment temperature was increased to 1200°C, these two pyroelectric peaks combined into one sharp pyroelectric peak, which corresponds to average composition. When the spark-plasma-sintered ceramics were heat-treated at 950°C, a high and stable pyroelectric coefficient (>100 nC·cm⁻²·K⁻¹) over a wide temperature range (23°–47°C) was obtained. It was found that the pyroelectric properties strongly depended on the microstructures.