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Symptomatic narcolepsy is characterized as low orexin (hypocretin) levels (≤ 110 pg/ml) due to neurological diseases. However, we have experienced the cases that show symptoms similar to narcolepsy, complaining of pathological sleepiness even in cases with intermediate orexin levels (110–200 pg/ml). Therefore, we reevaluated the previously reported cases to make the concept of disease to the group in which the orexin concentration is intermediate. Although orexin-deficient symptomatic narcolepsy has been reported worldwide, facilities that are capable of measuring orexin are still limited. Currently, our laboratory handles with almost all the CSF samples from Asian countries for determining orexin levels. We measured over 2500 cases including 182 cases suspected of symptomatic narcolepsy/hypersomnolence. Therefore, we subdivided these cases into three groups according to CSF orexin levels, low orexin group (≤ 110 pg/ml), intermediate orexin group (110–200 pg/ml), and normal orexin group (> 200 pg/ml). We defined “symptomatic hypersomnia” for hypersomnolence cases with intermediate CSF orexin levels. MSLT was recommended but not necessary. Short sleep latency (

Verticillium dahliae infecting tomato can be differentiated into races 1 and 2 based on differential pathogenicity on tomato cultivars carrying resistance gene Ve1. Although no commercial cultivars resistant to race 2 are available, race 2-resistant rootstock cultivars Aibou and Ganbarune-Karis have been bred in Japan. Nevertheless, the resistance of these rootstocks appears to be unstable in commercial tomato fields. Pathogenicity assays conducted under controlled conditions revealed that these rootstock cultivars are resistant to some isolates of race 2; this resistance is controlled by a single dominant locus, denoted by V2, based on segregation of resistance in F2 populations from selfed rootstock cultivars. However, some other isolates of race 2 can overcome this resistance. Therefore it is proposed that the current race 2 of V. dahliae should be divided into two races, i.e. ‘race 2’ (nonpathogenic on Aibou) and ‘race 3’ (pathogenic on Aibou). The distribution of these races was surveyed in 70 commercial tomato fields in Hida, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Race 3 was found in 45 fields, indicating that race 3 had already spread throughout the region. On the other hand, 25 fields had only race 2, and thus race 2-resistant rootstocks would be effective for disease management in these fields. Races 2 and 3 could not be identified by genomic Southern hybridization probed with a telomere sequence, nor with previously reported race-specific PCR assays. Elucidation of race-determining mechanisms and development of methods for quick race identification should be made in future studies.

The first practical terabit-scale hierarchical optical cross-connect system is realized by employing silica-based planar lightwave circuit devices. The system is scalable to 320 line cross connects + 160 client cross connects, and fully implemented equipment would require a 16-U-high chassis and only a 350-W power consumption. The potential of node cascadability is discussed and experimentally confirmed using partially implemented equipment that has four wavelength-division-multiplexed ports and one waveband switching capability. Stable operation was also confirmed using field-installed fibers.

The symptoms of narcolepsy can occur during the course of other neurological conditions (i.e. symptomatic narcolepsy). We define symptomatic narcolepsy as cases that meet the International Sleep Disorders Narcolepsy Criteria, which are also associated with a significant underlying neurological disorder that accounts for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and temporal associations. By 2005, we have counted 116 symptomatic cases of narcolepsy reported in the literature. As several authors previously reported, inherited disorders (n = 38), tumors (n = 33), and head trauma (n = 19) are the three most frequent causes for symptomatic narcolepsy. A review of these cases (especially those with brain tumors), illustrates a clear picture that the hypothalamus is most often involved. Reduced CSF orexin-A levels were seen in most symptomatic narcolepsy cases of EDS, with various etiologies including brain tumors, head trauma, and immune-mediated neurological conditions, such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and EDS in these cases is sometimes reversible with an improvement of the causative neurological disorder and an improvement of orexin status. It is also noted that some symptomatic EDS cases (with Parkinson diseases and the thalamic infarction) were observed,, but were not linked with orexin ligand deficiency. In this chapter, we first provide an overview of cases of symptomatic narcolepsy and EDS and then extend our discussions to the roles of the orexin system in EDS disorders associated with various neurological conditions.

The design of the JT-60U tokamak, the configuration of the coil power supplies, and the operational experiences gained to date are reviewed. JT-60U is a large tokamak upgraded from the original JT-...

We describe a silica-based 16/spl times/16 strictly nonblocking thermooptic matrix switch with a low loss and a high extinction ratio. This matrix switch, which employs a double Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switching unit and a matrix arrangement to reduce the total waveguide length, is fabricated with 0.75% refractive index difference waveguides on a 6-in silicon wafer using silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology. We obtained an average insertion loss of 6.6 dB and an average extinction ratio of 53 dB in the worst polarization case. The operating wavelength bandwidth completely covers the gain band of practical erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). The total power consumption needed for operation is reduced to 17 W by employing a phase-trimming technique which eliminates the phase-error in the interferometer switching unit.

Organic electronics covered in this issue, are those in which active electronic or optoelectronic components are composed partly or entirely of organic semiconducting materials. Organic electronics is now entering its second decade as a commercial technology but in many ways is a relatively recent and emerging field. As such, significant advances are being made across a broad range of activities, from improving the understanding of very fundamental phenomena to improving manufacturing technologies.

An 8/spl times/8 optical matrix switch consisting of asymmetric Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer switching units with a waveguide intersection was fabricated using silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLC's) on a silicon substrate. This switching unit can realize a high extinction ratio and a wide operation wavelength range even if the coupling ratios of the directional couplers (DC's) consisting the switching unit, deviate greatly from the ideal value of 50%. A matrix switch with a DC-coupling ratio of 30% was fabricated to test the validity of the proposed geometry. The average insertion loss was 7.3 dB in the transverse electric (TE) mode and 7.5 dB in the transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The average extinction ratio was 31.2 dB in the TE mode and 31.3 dB in the TM mode. The wavelength range with an extinction ratio greater than 20 dB was over 100 nm.

The arrival-time spectra (ATS) of electrons in mixtures of nitrogen and carbon dioxide have been measured for reduced electric fields from 100 to 1000 Td at room temperature by using a double-shutter drift tube. The drift velocity of the electrons in and mixtures was evaluated from a previously reported ATS method. In mixtures of and , we found that is larger than the value predicted by a linear combination of the drift velocities of the pure gases based on the mole fraction (partial pressure) of in the mixture, k, in the range of low . We refer to this as the `mixing effect'. In contrast, a linear combination of the drift velocities of the pure gases based on k was found to accurately predict the drift velocities in mixtures in the higher region . In addition to the experimental evaluation, calculations of in these gas mixtures were carried out by a Boltzmann equation analysis, and the results were compared with those from the ATS measurements. The ratio of the longitudinal diffusion coefficient to the electron mobility was also estimated. The value of , called the characteristic energy, also shows a small mixing effect with increasing k in the range of low and increases monotonically in the range of , while the value decreases linearly as k increases in the higher range.

This paper demonstrates our previously developed large-capacity optical path cross-connect (OPXC) system. The major hurdles to be cleared are (1) establishment of a highly modular architecture that facilitates hardware design and upgrading and (2) the development of an OPXC demonstrator designed to achieve 320-Gbit/s throughput capacity. Due to the use of planar lightwave circuit technologies, compact size packaging for an 8/spl times/16 delivery-and-coupling type optical switch and an arrayed-waveguide grating for a wavelength-demultiplexer are achieved. The dense packaging of the four-channel optical regenerators (3-R function regenerator) makes it possible to realize a large-capacity OPXC that can offer high quality transmission and ensure robustness in terms of multiple node connection. Performance test results confirm the validity of the system design and the feasibility of 320-Gbit/s OPXC implementation.

IL-4 suppresses the IFN-gamma-induced expression of the IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene, and this suppression is attenuated by increasing the amount of IFN-gamma. The effects of IFN-gamma and IL-4 on transcription of a reporter gene under control of a 1.3-kb fragment from the IRF-1 gene promoter or the STAT binding element (SBE) from this gene in the context of a heterologous promoter are similar to their effects on the endogenous IRF-1 gene. IFN-gamma-dependent transcription of reporter gene is suppressed by IL-4, but IL-4 alone has no trans-activating function. IL-4 treatment does not inhibit the tyrosine phosphorylation or nuclear translocation of IFN-gamma-activated STAT1. Rather, IFN-gamma and IL-4 independently activate STAT1 and STAT6, respectively, and both proteins bind to the IRF-1 SBE in homodimeric form. The affinity of STAT1 for the IRF-1 SBE is higher than the affinity of STAT6, as measured by competition with unlabeled oligonucleotide. These observations suggest that IL-4 may suppress IFN-gamma-stimulated transcription of the IRF-1 gene by activation of STAT6, which can compete with STAT1 for occupancy of the IRF-1 SBE when STAT1 levels are low. Suppression may be attenuated as the quantity of STAT1 relative to that of STAT6 increases in cells treated with increasing amounts of IFN-gamma and displaces STAT6.

Electroluminescent (EL) diodes utilizing metal-free phthalocyanine (H/sub 2/Pc) have been fabricated by the vacuum evaporation method. The EL characteristics of the diodes depending upon the metal cathode and the characteristics of the diodes with the coevaporated layer with 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) have been investigated. We have demonstrated the infrared electroluminescence originated from the radiative transition corresponding to the Q band of H/sub 2/Pc by taking the energy band structure into consideration.

The authors report, in detail, an integrated-optic variable group-delay dispersion equalizer based on a lattice-form programmable optical filter. The variable dispersion equalizer consists of an alternating cascade of symmetrical and asymmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometers. An equalizer with nine symmetrical and eight asymmetrical interferometers is fabricated on a planar lightwave circuit and its dispersion varied step by step from -681 to +786 ps/nm in the operational frequency range of 16.3 GHz. The effectiveness of the equalizer is shown by compensating the dispersion of three different fibers with a single equalizer. The performance of the equalizer is also evaluated and examined by numerical investigations.

Three important transport coefficients, namely the ratio of the Townsend first ionization coefficient to the gas number density , the mean-arrival-time drift velocity and the product of the longitudinal diffusion coefficient and the gas number density , in methane have been experimentally determined over a wide range of E/N, E being the electric field and N the gas number density, from 0.2 to 2000 Td by a double-shutter drift tube method analysed by an arrival-time-spectrum (ATS) technique. Equilibrium of the electron energy at high values of E/N in the present experiment is confirmed by a Monte Carlo simulation for the same gas. The present values of and as a function of E/N agree well with those in the literature which were obtained by using techniques such as the steady-state Townsend experiment, time-of-flight analysis and a pulse experiment. This demonstrates the validity of the present drift tube method and ATS analysis. The present result for , however, agrees with that in the literature in the rough shape of variation with E/N only; it is found that there are differences of a few tens of percentage in the present values against the values in an earlier paper and that a local maximum and minimum found in the previous article do not exist.

To evaluate irradiation effects on the metabolism of metastatic brain tumors treated by Gamma Knife radiosurgery, positron emission tomography (PET) and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies were performed on five patients. The tumor origins were lung cancer in three patients and breast cancer in two. Treatment volume was 0.4–10.1 cm3 (mean: 5.5 cm3). The marginal dose to the tumor was 24–30 Gy (mean: 26.2 Gy). The follow-up period was 5–19 months (mean: 13.4 months). No patients had conventional whole-brain radiation therapy. 18F-fluoroboronophenylalanine (18FBPA) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) were used as tracers for the PET study. Using 1H-MRS, several metabolites were simultaneously measured in metastatic brain tumor and adjacent brain. In the PET study of the representative case, the uptake rate of 18FBPA that is actively transported to the tumor decreased markedly 15 days after radiosurgery and continued to decrease thereafter. In the 1H-MRS study, choline, which is characteristically high in metastatic brain tumors, also decreased over time. In two cases with suspected radiation injury, the enhanced region, which was decreased in size in early follow-up, enlarged progressively and was accompanied by edema. However, 18FBPA and 18FDG were not transported to the enhanced region. The peak of free lipid, which might show destruction of the cell membrane, was recognized in the enhanced region and adjacent brain in these cases. This study revealed that radiation effects on the metabolism of metastatic brain tumors occur at an early stage after radiosurgery and continue over several months. In particular, in the case of radiation injury, PET and 1H-MRS studies made it possible to distinguish between regrowth of the tumor and radiation injury.

The mouse KC gene is an alpha-chemokine gene whose transcription is induced in mononuclear phagocytes by LPS. DNA sequences necessary for transcriptional control of KC by LPS were identified in the region flanking the transcription start site. Transient transfection analysis in macrophages using deletion mutants of a 1.5-kb sequence placed in front of the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene identified an LPS-responsive region between residues -104 and +30. This region contained two kappa B sequence motifs. The first motif (position -70 to -59, kappa beta 1) is highly conserved in all three human GRO genes and in the mouse macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) gene. The second kappa B motif (position -89 to -78, kappa B2) was conserved only between the mouse and the rat KC genes. Consistent with previous reports, the highly conserved kappa B site (kappa B1) was essential for LPS inducibility. Surprisingly, the distal kappa B site (kappa B2) was also necessary for optimal response; mutation of either kappa B site markedly reduced sensitivity to LPS in RAW264.7 cells and to TNF-alpha in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Although both kappa B1 and kappa B2 sequences were able to bind members of the Rel homology family, including NF kappa B1 (P50), RelA (65), and c-Rel, the kappa B1 site bound these factors with higher affinity and functioned more effectively than the kappa B2 site in a heterologous promoter. These findings demonstrate that transcriptional control of the KC gene requires cooperation between two kappa B sites and is thus distinct from that of the three human GRO genes and the mouse MIP-2 gene.

The present study investigates mechanisms involved in cooperation between IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha to promote transcription from the IP-10 gene in NIH 3T3 cells. IFN-gamma synergistically enhanced TNF-alpha-induced levels of IP-10 mRNA, whereas levels of JE (MCP-1) or KC (GRO/MGSA) mRNA induced by TNF-alpha were unaffected by IFN-gamma. The cooperation between IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha for induction of IP-10 mRNA was independent of de novo protein synthesis and mediated at least in part by increased transcription. Transient transfection analysis with a 243-bp fragment flanking the transcription start site of the murine IP-10 gene indicated that synergy between the two stimuli was dependent upon occupancy of at least two of three critical regulatory sequence elements: an IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and one of two kappa B sites. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha independently activated nuclear factors capable of specific interaction with the ISRE and kappa B sites, respectively. IFN-gamma induced two ISRE binding complexes, one of which was protein synthesis independent, appeared within 15 min of stimulation, and contained p91 or signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1. TNF-alpha induced only one ISRE binding activity, which was dependent upon protein synthesis. TNF-alpha also induced kappa B binding activity that was composed of NF-kappa B1 (p50) and RelA (p65) whereas IFN-gamma had no detectable effect on kappa B binding activity. Together these results indicate that the highly synergistic transcriptional activation of the IP-10 gene by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha involves the cooperation between factors that are independently activated by the two stimuli and that bind to independent sites.

腫瘤脱で発見された下行結腸の巨大脂肪腫を経験したので報告する.症例は75歳,女性.下血と肛門違和感を主訴に来院し,肛門より脱出した黄色,表面平滑,弾性軟の腫瘤を触知した.用指にて容易に還納し,以後腫瘤触知は不可能となった.諸検査で大腸脂肪腫と診断し,内視鏡的腫瘍切除術を試みたが,茎部も太く施行不可能であったため結腸部分切除術を行った.腫瘤は9.5×6.5cmで茎の基部は2.5cmであり,割面は脂肪成分であった.病理組織学的には,腫瘤は成熟した脂肪組織の増殖よりなり,脂肪腫と診断した.術前診断には内視鏡と,CT検査が有用であった.

The potential role of the inhibitory protein (I)-kappa B alpha gene in control of LPS-dependent transcription has been investigated in the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. LPS-induced transcription in macrophages is believed to involve activation of members of the Rel homology family of transcription factors, and may be negatively regulated by cytoplasmic inhibitor proteins collectively termed I-kappa Bs. To evaluate the role of I-kappa Bs in LPS-stimulated macrophages, murine I-kappa B alpha (ml-kappa B alpha) has been expressed as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein and examined for its ability to control kappa B binding activities in nuclear extracts from LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. ml-kappa B alpha-GST inhibited LPS-induced kappa B binding activity from RAW 264.7 cells in a phosphorylation-dependent fashion, but did not affect IFN-alpha-induced IFN stimulus response element binding. Recombinant I-kappa B alpha inhibited kappa B motif binding by nuclear factor-kappa B1, RelA, and c-Rel as indicated by studies using UV radiation-induced covalent cross-linking to a bromodeoxyuridine-substituted kappa B oligonucleotide. Transfection of macrophages with an expression vector encoding ml-kappa B alpha inhibited LPS-stimulated transcription driven by a 243-bp promoter sequence obtained from the 5' flanking region of the murine IP-10 gene. This promoter sequence contains two kappa B motifs that have been shown to be critical to LPS-dependent reporter gene transcription. The kappa B sites seem to be the specific target of I-kappa B alpha function, as reporter gene transcription driven by these motifs in the context of a heterologous thymidine-kinase promoter (TK) also was inhibited by co-transfection with ml-kappa B alpha. These observations indicate that ml-kappa B alpha is capable of controlling kappa B-dependent transcription in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages.

A number of esters were prepared from the reaction of acid chlorides with ricinoleic acid polymers and screened for anti-rust properties and antimicrobial activity in spent coolants of water-based cutting fluids. Aqueous solutions of triethanolamine salts with decanoic acid, undecanoic acid and oleic acid esters of ricinoleic acid dimer, trimer, tetramer and hexamer showed good anti-rust properties for water-based cutting fluids. Dehydrates of ricinoleic acid polymers also showed good anti-rust properties for water-based cutting fluids.

IFN-gamma and LPS have both been shown to stimulate enhanced chemoattractant cytokine gene expression in mononuclear phagocytes. In this report, IFN-gamma was found to suppress LPS-induced chemokine mRNA expression in a cell type- and gene-specific fashion. Expression of JE (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and KC (GRO/melanoma growth-stimulating activity) mRNA in macrophages stimulated with LPS was markedly suppressed by IFN-gamma in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. LPS-induced IP-10 mRNA was unaffected by IFN-gamma under identical experimental conditions. This effect was cell type-specific because JE and KC mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated murine endothelial cells, TNF-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells, and NIH-3T3 cells were unaffected by IFN-gamma. The IFN-gamma-mediated suppression of LPS-stimulated KC mRNA expression was independent of protein synthesis and mediated at the transcriptional level. These observations indicate that IFN-gamma may function as a negative regulatory signal for the expression of some proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. The cell type-dependent differential behavior of individual members of the chemokine family may be an important determinant of the cellular composition and outcome of an inflammatory response.

The careful analysis of far-infrared reflectivity spectra of GaSb/AlSb superlattices allows us to obtain information on intermixed Al x Ga 1− x Sb layers at the heterointerfaces, namely, average chemical composition and thickness. Complementary information on structural properties and strain relaxation processes are obtained from X-ray diffraction.

Fabrication and lasing characteristics of Nd-doped P/sub 2/O/sub 5/-SiO/sub 2/ core planar waveguide lasers are described. CW oscillation at a wavelength of 1052.5 nm was successfully demonstrated in 0.2 wt%-Nd-doped silica-based planar waveguides fabricated on a silicon substrate by flame hydrolysis deposition and reactive ion etching. The lasing threshold and slope efficiency were optimized in an 8-/spl mu/m-wide waveguide, in which a lasing threshold pump power of 26 mW and a slope efficiency of 2.0% were obtained for 805-nm pumping. The measured lasing characteristics agreed with theoretical characteristics calculated by employing finite-element waveguide analysis, indicating that the waveguide structure was well controlled by the developed waveguide fabrication technique. The possible lasing characteristics of the waveguide lasers are discussed based on this agreement. The attenuation and emission properties of the waveguides are also described. >

Enzyme (uricase or invertase) was entrap-immobilized in gel fibre of cellulose acetate-TiO2 by using a gel formation of cellulose acetate and titanium iso-propoxide. The fibre is stable in common solvents, phosphate solution and electrolyte solution over a wide range of pH 4–10. The pH maximum of activity shifts to a more alkaline side compared to free enzyme, reflecting an amphoteric property of TiO2.

We describe gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and luminescence characterization of strain Si 1− x Ge x /Si quantum wells (QWs). Successful and reproducible growth of strained QWs is demonstrated, addressing the significance of selecting a higher growth temperature to establish a high degree of structural integrity and to maintain the crystallinity in terms of “optical” quality. Excellent heterointerface transcience was evidenced by an almost perfect match between the spectral shift due to exciton confinement and the theoretical calculation. A good spatial uniformity in terms of well width and composition was obtained when QWs are grown in the adsorption/dissociation-limited growth regime.

The initiation and propagation of hydrogen cracks in a pure iron single crystal have been investigated via notched tensile tests with simultaneous cathodic charging of hydrogen. The notch opening displacement for hydrogen crack growth when the tensile direction was parallel to [001] was much smaller than for [110] tension. Hydrogen cracks under [001] tension propagated in a straight line on the (001) plane from the notch root with only slight plastic deformation, whereas under [110] tension they propagated in a zigzag fashion with significantly larger plastic strain accompanying many slip bands. The slip band formation and the crack arrest patterns on the fracture surfaces indicate that hydrogen cracks were initiated and propagated by dislocation reactions on the slip systems in accordance with calculations for the maximum resolved shear stress distribution around the crack tip. The difference in hydrogen crack propagation between [001] and [110] oriented specimens has been explained by assuming t...

An improved 8/spl times/8 optical matrix switch was fabricated using silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) on a silicon substrate. Three improvements were made. First, the waveguide material was changed from titanium-doped silica (SiO/sub 22/-TiO/sub 2/) to germanium-doped silica (SiO/sub 22/-GeO/sub 2/) to reduce propagation loss. Second, offset driving powers were supplied to every switch unit to realize high extinction ratios. Third, the dummy switch units were modified to suppress the crosstalk through these units. The average insertion loss of the fabricated device was 3.81 db in the TE mode and 3.82 dB in the TM mode. The average extinction ratio of the switch units was 25.3 dB in the TE mode and 22.3 dB in the TM mode. The accumulated crosstalk was estimated to be less than -14 dB in the TE mode and -11 dB in the TM mode. The average driving power of the phase shifter in the on-state was 0.54 W in the TE mode and 0.52 W in the TM mode. The switching response time was 1.3 ms. The packaged 8/spl times/8 matrix switch with additional fiber-waveguide coupling loss of 2.7 dB was successfully employed in photonic multimedia switching and photonic inter-module connector system experiments. >

Temperature dependence of the resistivity and susceptibility on single-crystalline Ce(Ru 1− x Pd x ) 2 Si 2 , x =0.08 has been measured in directions parallel and perpendicular to the c -axis in various magnetic fields along the c -axis. These results show clear anomalies at around T N only in the parallel direction and suggest partial gapping of the Fermi surface along the c -axis due to a uniaxial Fermi-surface nesting.

Specific heat measurements have been performed on single-crystalline Ce(Ru 1− x Rh x ) 2 Si 2 ( x =0.15,0.35) in various magnetic fields parallel to the c -axis. For x =0.15, the magnetic specific heat C mag shows a jump due to the spin density wave for B B c (∼3.6 T). For B c B C mag / T increases with decreasing temperature with a non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior. The paramagnetic Fermi liquid (FL) behavior was observed for B >6 T. For x =0.35, C mag / T shows the NFL behavior for B B >6 T.

A thin film multi-layer structure consisting of alternating layers of organic 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminium (Alq3) and aromatic diamine (TPO) has been grown by organic molecular beam deposition. The structure of the multi-layer has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Optical characteristics have been studied using optical absorption and photoluminescence. The photoluminescence peak of Alq3 shifts to a higher energy with decreasing layer thickness, suggesting a quantum size effect. An electroluminescent diode has also been fabricated using the Alq3/TPD multi-layer structure, and the emission characteristics have also been discussed.

Integrated-optic 64*64 and 144*144 star couplers have been rigidly connected to single-mode fiber pigtails and packaged in bookshelf-type units. The 64*64 and 144*144 star coupler modules exhibit average insertion losses of 21.7 and 26.6 dB, respectively, at 1.55 mu m and wavelength insensitive operation over the wide spectral range of 1.3-1.6 mu m. >

A simple new technique is presented for evaluating the structural parameters of antireflection coating films formed on optical waveguide facets. SiO(x)/MgF(2) double layer AR coatings are fabricated on silica based optical waveguide facets by the thermal evaporation method. The transmission properties of the waveguides are measured in the 0.5-1.7-microm wavelength region. The structural parameters (refractive index and thickness) of the SiO(x) and MgF(2) films are determined by fitting the theoretical transmission properties to the experimental results by iteratively changing the parameters for calculation. The calculated reflectivity is in good agreement with the value measured with an optical time domain reflectometer. A graphic method for the simple determination of the parameters is also discussed.

Transmission bandwidth properties of GeO(2)-P(2)O(5)-doped silica graded-index fibers have been investigated. Theoretical results obtained from Olshansky's theory are represented in the form of a bandwidth map with profile parameter alpha on the vertical axis and wavelength lambda horizontally. The material dispersion sigma(m)(lambda) and the optimal profile parameter alpha(opt)(lambda) determined by the glass refractive-index measurement are used for calculating the transmission bandwidth. It is confirmed that the estimated results from the bandwidth map agree with the experimental results of transmission bandwidth measurements at lambda = 0.82,1.06,1.27, and 1.52 microm for twenty GeO(2)-P(2)O(5)-doped silica graded-index fibers with different alpha values.

Ring resonators composed of GeO/sub 2/-doped silica waveguides fabricated on silicon substrates by a flame hydrolysis deposition method are described. GeO/sub 2/-doped silica waveguides are developed to provide a lower propagation loss than that of TiO/sub 2/-doped silica waveguides. Since the finesse and transmission at resonance is determined mainly by total loss in the ring, the loss characteristics of the fundamental components are investigated in detail. Experimental and theoretical investigations show that a finesse of the ring resonator for GeO/sub 2/-doped silica waveguides is about 2.7 times higher than that for TiO/sub 2/-doped silica waveguides with the same transmission at resonance. >

The fabrication and performance of integrated-optic 64*64 and 144*144 star couplers based on high-silica planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology are reported. The star couplers exhibit low insertion loss (average excess loss alpha =1.66 dB for 64*64 and alpha =2.02 dB for 144*144) and good splitting uniformity (standard deviation sigma =0.92 dB for 64*64 and sigma =1.47 dB for 144*144P) at 1.55 mu m. >

The fabrication and characteristics of a hybrid-integrated optical gate matrix switch were studied. The switch was composed of a silica-based single-mode guided-wave circuit and two InGaAsP gate array chips, each of which comprised eight laser diode optical gates. The gate array chips were assembled on the guided-wave circuit using a hybrid integration technique. The insertion loss of the fabricated 4*4 matrix switch was scattered among switching paths and ranged from 26 to 33 dB. The switch was applicable to a 400 Mb/s signal system with a bit error rate of 10/sup -9/. The numerical analysis shows that the residual reflectivity at the LD gate and waveguide facets caused the loss scattering among the paths and that reduction of the residual reflectivity is essential for improving the switch characteristics. >

The role of Ca2+ and Calmodulin in regulating LPS-induced cytokine gene expression in murine peritoneal macrophages has been investigated. Treatment of macrophages with three structurally distinct antagonists of Calmodulin (Trifluoperazine, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-napthalenesulfonamide, and 1,3-dihydro-1-(-((4-mentyl-4H,6H-pyrrolo(1,2-a) (4,1)-benzoxazepin-4-yl)methyl)-4-peperidinyl)-2H-benzimi dazol-2-one) resulted in a characteristic modulation of the expression of three LPS-inducible cytokine genes: IL-1 alpha mRNA levels were only modestly reduced, IL-1 beta mRNA levels were markedly suppressed and IP-10 mRNA levels were increased. The same pattern of modulation was seen when LPS-stimulated cells were also treated with two different Ca2+ antagonists (8-(diethylamono)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride and bis-(o-amonophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid). Although the suppression of IL-1 beta mRNA accumulation by N-(6-amonohexyl)-5-chloro-1-napthalene-sulfonamide or bis-(o-amonophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid occurred even if the antagonist was added after LPS, the potentiation of IP-10 mRNA levels required the use of the agent before or along with the LPS stimulus. Elevation of intracellular Ca2+ using ionomycin did not initaite cytokine gene expression and thus changes in Ca2+ cannot replace the LPS-initiated signal. Furthermore, removal of extracellular Ca2+ did not block the response to LPS. Calmodulin antagonists selectively increased the transcriptional activity of the IP-10 gene but decreased the stability of all three mRNA measured. Thus the mechanisms involved in Ca2+/Calmodulin control of macrophage gene expression are multifactorial and contribute to the diversity of macrophage inflammatory behavior. In concert with previous reports, the present results indicate that Ca2+, acting through Calmodulin may be a necessary but insufficient component of the signalling process that mediates intracellular response to LPS. Agents that alter intracellular Ca2+ levels without inducing cytokine gene expression may thereby indirectly regulate inflammation.

The resistivity and the susceptibility for Ce(Ru 1– x Rh x ) 2 Si 2 , x =0.03,0.33 and 0.35 have been measured. For x =0.33, an anomaly in the resistivity due to antiferromagnetic (AF) transition was observed and the paramagnetic Fermi liquid behaviors were observed in field B ⩾1 T. For x =0.35, the resistivity shows disappearance of the anomaly due to the AF transition and follows AT n , n =1.4 at B =0 T and n =1.8 at B =4 T. Finally, the B – x magnetic phase diagram has been proposed.

Magnetic structure of single-crystalline Ce(Ru1−xPdx)2Si2, x=0.025 has been measured by neutron diffraction. The magnetic moment is oriented and modulated along the c-axis with incommensurate wave vector τ =(0,0,0.368) . At 1.4 K the moment was estimated to be about 0.15 μB. Temperature dependence of the specific heat on polycrystalline Ce(Ru1−xPdx)2Si2, x=0.05 has also been measured in various magnetic fields, suggesting partial gapping of the Fermi surface due to a Fermi-surface nesting.

A high-speed BiCMOS ECL (emitter coupled logic) interface SRAM (static RAM) architecture is described. To obtain high-speed operation for scaled-down devices, such as MOSFETs with a feature size of 0.8 mu m or less and with a small MOS level, a new SRAM architecture featuring all-bipolar peripheral circuits and CMOS memory cells with V/sub SS/ generator has been developed. Two key circuits, a V/sub SS/ generator and a current switch level converter, are described in detail. These circuits reduce the external supply voltage to the internal MOS level, thus permitting high-speed SRAM operation. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept, a 256 kb SRAM with an address access time of 5 ns is described. >

Pharmacological and biochemical characteristics of the partially purified gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptor using baclofen affinity column chromatography have been examined. The Scatchard analysis of [3H]GABA binding to the purified GABAB receptor showed a linear relationship and the KD and Bmax values were 60 nM and 118 pmol/mg of protein, respectively. Although GTP and Mg2+ did not affect on the GABAB receptor binding, Ca2+ significantly increased [3H]GABA binding to the purified GABAB receptor in a dose-dependent manner and showed its maximum effect at 2 mM. The enhancement of the binding by Ca2+ was found to be due to the increase of Bmax by the Scatchard analysis. The treatments with pronase and trypsin significantly decreased the binding of [3H]GABA, but phospholipase A2 had no significant effect on the binding. In addition, treatment with glycosidases such as glycopeptidase A and beta-galactosidase significantly decreased the binding of [3H]GABA to the purified GABAB receptor. These results suggest that purification of the solubilized GABAB receptor by the affinity column chromatography may result in the functional uncoupling of GABAB receptor with GTP-binding protein. Furthermore, the present results suggest that cerebral GABAB receptor may be a glycoprotein and membrane phospholipids susceptible to phospholipase A2 treatment may not be involved in the exhibition of the binding activity.