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Based on the central role of the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) in the degradation of cellular proteins, proteasome inhibition has been considered an attractive approach for anticancer therapy. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) remove ubiquitin conjugates from diverse substrates; therefore, they are essential regulators of the UPS. DUB inhibitors, especially the inhibitors of proteasomal DUBs are becoming a research hotspot in targeted cancer therapy. Previous studies have shown that metal complexes, such as copper and zinc complexes, can induce cancer cell apoptosis through inhibiting UPS function. Moreover, we have found that copper pyrithione inhibits both 19S proteasome-associated DUBs and 20S proteasome activity with a mechanism distinct from that of the classical 20S proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. In the present study, we reveal that (i) nickel pyrithione complex (NiPT) potently inhibits the UPS via targeting the 19S proteasome-associated DUBs (UCHL5 and USP14), without effecting on the 20S proteasome; (ii) NiPT selectively induces proteasome inhibition and apoptosis in cultured tumor cells and cancer cells from acute myeloid leukemia human patients; and (iii) NiPT inhibits proteasome function and tumor growth in nude mice. This study, for the first time, uncovers a nickel complex as an effective inhibitor of the 19S proteasomal DUBs and suggests a potentially new strategy for cancer treatment.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials of complex type of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) as an intrinsically conducting polymer and silver‐palladium (AgPd) metal compound coated on woven or non‐woven fabrics are synthesized. From dc conductivity and SEM photographs of PPy/fabric complexes, we discuss charge transport mechanism and the homogeneity of coating on the fabrics. The EMI shielding efficiency of PPy/fabric and AgPd/fabric complexes is in the range of 8 ∼ 80 dB depending on the conductivity and the additional Ag vacuum evaporation. The highest EMI shielding efficiency of PPy/fabric complexes vacuum‐evaporated by Ag is ∼80 dB, indicating potential materials for military uses. We propose that PPy/fabrics are excellent RF and microwave absorber because of the relatively high absorbance and low reflectance of the materials. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Successful fabrication of high performance microlenses and microlens arrays using the titanium-indiffusion and proton-exchange technique has enabled realization of a variety of integrated electrooptic Bragg modulator modules in the LiNbO_3 channel-planar composite waveguides of 0.2- × 1.0- × 1.8-cm^3 substrate size. These integrated optic device modules have been utilized successfully to perform matrix–vector and matrix–matrix multiplications. Through the channel-waveguide and the linear microlens arrays, the very large channel capacities that are inherent in the diode laser and the optical fiber as well as the photodetector arrays may be conveniently exploited. Consequently, such integrated optic device modules should facilitate realization of multichannel optical computing as well as communication and rf signal processing systems.

The results of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion therapy in 36 patients with stage II–IV malignant melanoma of the extremities are presented. With the technique employed, neither severe complications nor functional deficiencies attributable to the perfusion therapy were observed. The findings on follow-up for up to 36 months are comparable to those reported in the literature, with survival rates of about 90% for stage II and III patients and nearly 50% for stage IV patients. Thus, our technique appears to be beneficial, especially in respect of the very low rate of side effects.

In this paper, design, fabrication, measurement, and performance charcteristics of the titanium-indiffused proton-exchanged microlenses, microlens arrays, and their combinations in LiNbO_3 with emphasis on the most recent results are detailed first. Utilization of such TIPE microlenses for acoustooptic Bragg diffraction in a LiNbO_3 channel–planar composite waveguide and realization of an integrated AO Bragg modulator module in a substrate size of 0.2 × 1.0 × 2.0 cm are then described. Some of the potential applications of such an integrated optic module together with the preliminary results of a simple experiment on matrix–vector multiplication are also presented.

Zusammenfassung Es konnte gezeigt werden, daß das vonCoulter hergestellte elektronische Partikelzählgerät infolge seiner hohen Meßgenauigkeit und- geschwindigkeit in der Hämatologie für Klinik und Wissenschaft gleich geeignet ist.

Female, male and total fertility variations were estimated in a base population and a seed orchard derived from the base population in Pinus brutia. Relative status number for gametes (female and male contribution) and zygotes (average of female and male contribution) were estimated based on the fertility variation. Average female and male strobilus production were 229.1 and 1003.3 in the base population, and 98.9 and 244.9 in the seed orchard for combined years, respectively. Positive and significant correlations were found between female and male strobilus production in both base population and seed orchard. The male fertility variation was higher than female fertility variation in the seed orchard, while female fertility variation was higher than male fertility variation in the base population. Coefficients of variations in female and male strobilus production were 0.721 and 0.696 in the base population, and 0.403 and 1.110 in the seed orchard for combined years, respectively. Total fertility variation was 1.41 in the base population and 1.40 in the seed orchard for combined years. The relative status numbers estimated based on the total fertility were 70% of census number in the base population, and 71% in the seed orchard for combined years.

Two 10-channel integrated-optic device modules have been constructed and tested. The architecture common to both modules consists of a LiNbO_3 composite waveguide 1.0 cm × 2.0 cm in size in which a channel-waveguide array, a planar waveguide, a linear microlens array, an electro-optic Bragg modulator array or an acousto-optic and electro-optic Bragg modulator array, and a large-aperture lens are integrated. A novel scheme that employs a linear ion-milled planar microlens array was devised to excite the entire channel-waveguide array simultaneously, and thus greatly facilitate testing and application of the two device modules. The performance characteristics obtained in programmable correlation of binary sequences are also presented.