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Second harmonic components generated from plastic deformed metal rods are detected in real time by using a double-layered piezoelectric transducer (DLPT). The DLPT is comprised of two transducers with resonance frequencies of f 0; its resonance frequency is equal to f 0/2 when the transducers are connected in parallel and f 0 when the transducers are connected in series. The performance of the DLPT used in this ultrasonic system is evaluated. Samples of plastic deformed metal rods are prepared by tensile test equipment. The relative amplitude of the second harmonic component increased by approximately 25 dB in the metal rods after the tensile tests compared to before the tensile tests. A variation of second harmonic components generated by plastic deformed metal rods is distinctly measured by our system.

In this investigation, clastic samples of mudstone produced by in-situ slaking and crushed samples obtained from sound blocks of mudstones which were not affected by the effect of slaking were used, and the compaction properties of crushed mudstones were investigated. The compaction tests were carried out under various conditions. After compaction tests, grain size analyses were performed and the states of grain crushing during compaction were investigated. In order to estimate the compaction effect, compression and CBR tests were also performed on compacted samples. It was reported that the compaction properties of crushed mudstones were influenced considerably by compaction condition, effect of submergence and initial gradation of sample. In particular, as the submerged samples show remarkable grain crushing during compaction, they have large value of dry density.

A DFB laser structure utilizing dye-doped-DNA-lipid films and etchless grating has been studied for potential application to thin-film single longitudinal mode lasers. Although further improvement should be necessary for laser characteristic, the lasing threshold of about 1 mJ/cm 2 was obtained and single longitudinal mode operation has been successfully achieved.

Because the fluorescence from organic dye is enhanced when it is intercalated or bound to DNA double strands, a lot of studies on optical amplification and lasing have been made. In this study, we investigated the optical and lasing properties of several cyanine dyes incorporated in DNA in solution and complex films. At first, we confirmed that the addition of DNA into dye solutions strongly enhances the fluorescence intensity, and also affects the degree of molecular aggregation. We fabricated the films composed of DNA, dye, and lipid by two methods, and observed the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) under the excitation of 532 nm laser pulses with sub-mJ energy. We also made a thin film DFB dye laser by forming DNA/dye/lipid films on a grating plate, from which a laser action was observed under optical pumping.

Rexeed was developed by Asahi Kasei Medical using wave-shaped hollow fibers, a full baffle, and a short taper housing to improve dialysate flow. The present study is clarifies improvement in dialysate flow with Rexeed-15 compared with that of a conventional dialyzer. Dialysate flow was evaluated by the pulse-response method. Dialysate pressure and tracer concentration were measured at a blood-side flow rate (QBeta) of 200 ml/min, a dialysate-side flow rate (QD) of 500 ml/min, and a net filtration rate (QF) of 0 ml/min using needles placed in the test dialyzer. Dialyzer performance was evaluated by measuring urea and vitamin B12 clearance at QB = 200 and 400 ml/min, QD = 300-800 ml/min, and QF = 0 ml/min. In the conventional dialyzer, dialysate channeling was observed. In contrast, Rexeed-15 had a uniform dialysate flow. Urea and vitamin B12 clearance with Rexeed-15 was slightly sensitive to QD. The overall mass transfer coefficient for urea with Rexeed-15 was more than 50% higher than that of the conventional dialyzer, indicating the possibility of reduced dialysate usage with Rexeed. Rexeed has a highly optimal dialysate flow, due to the wave-shaped hollow fibers and the new housing, and gives increased clearance for lower-molecular-weight substances.

A novel cyclic trimer of a beta-amino acid, trans-2-aminocyclohexylcarboxylic acid, was synthesized and its conformation and ability to form assemblies investigated. FT-IR and NMR measurements and computational calculations showed that this cyclic tri-beta-peptide has a C3-symmetric conformation with trans amide groups. A notable feature of the conformation is a vertical and parallel orientation of the three amide groups to the cyclic skeleton. The cyclic tri-beta-peptide was crystallized from a solution in trifluoroacetic acid-methanol (or trifluoroacetic acid-water) to yield a rod-shaped molecular assembly, as observed by TEM. The electron crystallography of the rod-shaped assembly both in suspension and in ultrathin cross-section revealed that the cyclic tri-beta-peptides were stacked up to form molecular columns, and that a two-fold screw symmetry operation along the column direction was present in the unit cell, which contained two cyclic tri-beta-peptides. This indicates that all the amide groups are oriented in the same direction. Since any two molecular columns are staggered by a quarter of a c-axis length and aligned parallel to each other, the dipole moments of the columns are aligned to enhance the strength additively in the whole assembly.

Latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) blocks B-cell receptor signal transduction in vitro by binding the Syk and Lyn protein tyrosine kinases. As well as blocking B-cell signal transduction, LMP2A has been shown to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathway, which acts as a survival signal in both B cells and epithelial cells. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays important roles in regulating cell growth and differentiation in many biological systems. The loss of the growth-inhibitory response to the TGF-β1 signal is found in many cancers and is widely thought to promote tumor development. In this study, we found that LMP2A induced the phosphorylation of Akt (serine 473) in Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Ramos and in gastric carcinoma cell line HSC-39 and partially enhanced cell viability following TGF-β1 treatment. In addition, LMP2A partially inhibited TGF-β1-induced DNA fragmentation and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In the presence of LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3-K, the LMP2A-mediated inhibitory effects on TGF-β1-induced DNA fragmentation and cleavage of PARP were alleviated. Furthermore, LMP2A did not alter the levels of expression of type I and type II TGF-β1 receptors. Taken together, these results suggest that LMP2A may inhibit TGF-β1-mediated apoptosis through activation of the PI3-K/Akt pathway.

Accumulated low molecular weight proteins in hemodialysis patients require a high-flux dialyzer. There have been several methods proposed for enhancing internal filtration, including narrowing the inside diameter of the hollow fibers, lengthening the fibers, and increasing the fiber density ratio. We tried to enhance the internal filtration by increasing the pressure drop in the dialysate compartment through increasing the fiber density ratio. If the fiber density ratio is too high, however, an irregular dialysate path may result, thus decreasing dialysis performance. Therefore, we took note of the shape of the inner housing and added a short taper structure, which improved the dialysate path dramatically. Consequently, we developed an internal filtration-enhanced dialyzer (APS-Prototype) to improve dialysis performance. The internal filtration rate in water (measured by Doppler ultrasound) was 13.2 l/session for the APS-Prototype and 5.3 l/session for the APS-15E. The amount of alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG) in bovine plasma was 0.34 g for the APS-Prototype and 0.11 g for the APS-15E. In addition, the amount of alpha1-MG in vivo was 29.0% +/- 5.8% for the APS-Prototype, significantly higher than that for the APS-15E (13.6% +/- 1.9%). The desirable loss of albumin is 2-4 g in hemodiafiltration, and it was 3.92 +/- 1.03 g for the APS-Prototype. The prototype showed excellent solute removal performance with no clinical or engineering problems.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important factor involved in angiogenesis. Many studies have reported that the expression of VEGF in breast cancer is an unfavorable prognostic factor. However, there are few studies that have analyzed blood VEGF levels because most used serum VEGF, generally thought to originate from platelets. We measured plasma VEGF levels, which evaluate the level of tumor-derived VEGF, in various breast diseases. We analyzed 15 patients with benign breast disease, 187 patients with primary breast cancer, 32 patients with no postoperative recurrence, and 56 patients with recurrence. Plasma VEGF levels were measured by ELISA. Plasma VEGF levels were higher in malignant than in benign breast disease, and were also high in patients with recurrence or distant metastasis. In primary cases, higher VEGF levels were clearly correlated with menopause and overexpression of p53, and postmenopausal patients with high levels had a significantly lower disease-free survival rate. These results suggest that plasma VEGF levels in breast cancer have a clinical significance in that they are associated with the extent or metastasis of malignant lesions and are involved in angiogenesis in postmenopausal patients.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected, gastric epithelial cell line GT38 is resistant to TGF-beta 1-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis, although TGF-beta 1 partially induces EBV reactivation in the cells. These findings indicate that abnormalities exist in these cells in the TGF-beta 1-mediated signaling pathway, influencing growth inhibition and apoptosis. In order to characterize the steps with abnormalities, we analyzed the TGF-beta 1/MAPK/p21 pathway in the cells. TGF-beta 1 activated MAPK (ERK 1/2) and p21 in the TGF-beta 1-susceptible cell line HSC-39 but not in GT38 cells. GT38 cells had higher constitutive levels of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and p21 expression than did HSC-39 cells. U0126, a specific inhibitor of MEK, suppressed TGF-beta 1-mediated ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and p21 induction in HSC-39 cells and constitutive ERK 1/2 phosphorylation in GT38 cells. EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) induced constitutive ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation in LMP1-transfected HSC-39 cells, which then became resistant to TGF-beta 1-mediated growth inhibition, TGF-beta 1-mediated ERK 1/2 phosphorylation, and p21 induction, and proliferated in low-serum medium. These results are consistent with the conclusion that the TGF-beta 1/MAPK/p21 pathway is required for TGF-beta 1-mediated growth inhibition, and that the resistance to TGF in GT38 cells is derived from constitutive MAPK phosphorylation induced by LMP1.

In order to understand mechanistic relationships between signaling pathways regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation, we compared MAPK phosphorylation, and EBV reactivation and latency in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines (BLCLs) versus B lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). EBV was reactivated in the BLCLs Akata and Raji, and in a LCL OB-R33 cells after cross-linking surface immunoglobulin (sIg) with anti-Ig. After stimulation with anti-Ig, MAPK phosphorylation was strongly induced in all BLCLs and in a few LCLs, but not in other LCLs. MAPK was constitutively phosphorylated in most LCLs but not in BLCLs. Expression of EBNA2 and LMP1, and LMP2A was analyzed with both immunoblotting and RT-PCR. EBNA2 and LMP1 were expressed in most LCLs and in some BLCLs. LMP2A was expressed in all BLCLs and LCLs except Namalwa cells. To test the hypothesis that LMPI induces constitutive MAPK phosphorylation, the LMP1 expression vector was transfected into Akata cells. MAPK phosphorylation was not induced in such transfected cells. Our results indicate that BLCLs and LCLs respectively have distinct MAPK phosphorylation patterns, and that induction of MAPK phosphorylation correlates with EBV reactivation in a few cell lines but not in most of the tested cell lines.

The classical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, also known as ERK) pathway is widely involved in eukaryotic signal transductions. In response to extracellular stimuli, MAPK becomes activated and translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. At least two pathways for the nuclear import of MAPK are shown to exist; passive diffusion of a monomer and Ran-dependent active transport of a dimer, the detailed molecular mechanism of which is unknown. In this study, we have reconstituted nuclear import of MAPK in vitro by using digitonin-permeabilized cells with GFP-fused MAPK protein (GFP-MAPK), which is too large to pass through the nuclear pore by passive diffusion. GFP-MAPK was able to accumulate in the nucleus irrespective of its phosphorylation state. This import of GFP-MAPK occurred even in the absence of any soluble cytosolic factors or ATP but was inhibited by wheat germ agglutinin or an excess amount of importin-beta or at low temperatures. Moreover, MAPK directly bound to an FG repeat region of nucleoporin CAN/Nup214 in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest the third pathway for nuclear import of MAPK, in which MAPK passes through the nuclear pore by directly interacting with the nuclear pore complex.

gamma-Tubulin is an essential component of the microtubule-nucleation machinery and therefore plays a crucial role during mitosis. To gain further insights into the function of this protein in the events that take place during embryogenesis and differentiation, we carried out detailed studies on gamma-tubulin during all the developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified the gamma-tubulin gene from this organism and analyzed the localization of the protein by both immunofluorescence and GFP reporter construct. We show that gamma-tubulin association with the centrosome is highly dynamic in mitotic cells, being massively recruited at prophase and released at anatelophase. This accumulation in mitotic centrosomes is dramatic during the first embryonic divisions. We provide the first description of the morphological changes at the centrosome level during the orientation of the mitotic spindle and the flattening of the posterior aster. Loss of function of the gamma-tubulin gene by RNAi induces a strong polyploidization of mitotic germ cells and embryos, but does not affect meiosis and pronuclear migration. In addition, we demonstrate the prominent redistribution of gamma-tubulin in adults at basal bodies of amphid and phasmid neurons, and at the apical membrane of polarized intestinal cells.

In this paper, a broadband bandstop filter consisting of periodically arranged nonuniform microstriplines is presented. The Fermi-Dirac distribution function is used for determining the linewidth of the microstriplines. The advantage of using this function is that the shape of the transmission line can be varied by varying a parameter of the function. Calculation and measurement results showed that the filter provides frequency characteristics between those obtained by using a step function and those obtained by using a linear function. As a result, broadband bandstop filter with a center frequency of 5.25 GHz and bandwidth of 3.58 GHz was obtained.

A great deal of research has been conducted focusing on membrane materials with reference to their blood compatibility, but blood compatibility is influenced both by the material used in membranes and their structure, and by the flow conditions at the membrane surface. Accordingly, the relationship between membrane surface roughness and hemocompatibility has been evaluated using five types of membranes of differing surface roughness by evaluating the inner surfaces of the hollow fibers by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and by measuring platelet adhesion ratios using bovine blood. The yield stress, which equates to flow characteristics, was also evaluated using a glycerol suspension of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a Bingham fluid. It was found that membranes having rough surfaces had high platelet adhesion ratios and poor hemocompatibility, whereas those with smoother surfaces had lower platelet adhesion ratios and better hemocompatibility. Measurement of the yield stresses for these membranes revealed higher values for those with rough surfaces, and lower values for those with smoother polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted surfaces. This suggests that flow conditions at the membrane surface differ according to its surface roughness, and that this difference in flow conditions also influences hemocompatibility.

WAVE is a Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)-family protein that functions in membrane-ruffling formation induced by Rac, a Rho family small GTPase. Here we report that WAVE is a phosphoprotein whose phosphorylation increases in response to various external stimuli that activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling. When Swiss 3T3 cells are stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor, electrophoretic mobility shift occurs to WAVE, which reflects hyperphosphorylation. This is perfectly inhibited by the addition of PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase. Indeed, the ectopic expression of an activated mutant of MAP kinase kinase induces WAVE mobility shift. When MAP kinase activation is suppressed by PD98059, the intensity of platelet-derived growth factor-induced membrane ruffling is greatly reduced. In various cancer cell lines, the amount of WAVE mobility shift was found to increase significantly, suggesting the importance of WAVE hyperphosphorylation in the formation of membrane ruffles and oncogenic transformation.

Background and Objectives Apoptosis is essential to maintain homeostasis in living organisms and occurs in a variety of tissues in response to both physiological and pathological stimuli. In breast cancer, most cytotoxic drugs and hormonal treatments induce apoptosis. We studied the relationships between apoptosis and clinicopathological variables or prognosis in 143 patients with operable breast cancer. Methods Apoptosis was numerically graded in 5 consecutive 40× high-power fields (HPF) of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) stained sections, since we showed that there was a significant correlation of H&E staining with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Results The average number of apoptotic cells was 19.9 (0∼168)/5 HPF, and cases were classified into 3 groups based on the number of apoptotic cells/5HPF: 0 to 10, 11 to 30, and 31+. The level of apoptosis increased with increasing size of the tumor, and apoptosis was rarely seen in tumors with positive ER or lower proliferative activity, as assessed by DNA polymerase α. As shown by DNA content analysis, apoptotic cells were observed more frequently in tumors with low G1 and high S-phase fractions. In addition, apoptosis was correlated with overexpression of p53 and poor prognosis. Although apoptosis did not correlate with EIC (extensive intraductal component) status, tumors with comedo component had higher values of apoptosis than those without comedo component. Conclusions In breast cancer, apoptosis might reflect biological behavior, namely a higher degree of biological aggressiveness and unfavorable prognosis. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;71:226–234. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Actin is a highly conserved, ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein, which is essential for multiple cellular functions. Despite its small size (Mr = 42 000), unpolymerized forms of actin, as well as polymerized forms, exist primarily in the cytoplasm, excluded from the nucleus. Although spatial control of actin is crucially important, the molecular mechanisms ensuring the cytoplasmic localization of unpolymerized actin have not been revealed so far. In this paper we report that actin contains two leucine-rich type nuclear export signal (NES) sequences in the middle part of the molecule, which are both shown to be functional. Monomeric actin, when injected into the nucleus, was rapidly exported in a manner which was sensitive to leptomycin B (LMB), a specific inhibitor of NES-dependent nuclear export. LMB treatment of cells prevented nuclear exclusion of endogenous actin, inducing its nuclear accumulation. Furthermore, actin mutants with disrupted NESs accumulated in the nucleus. Expression of these NES-disrupted actin mutants, but not of wild-type actin, induced a decrease in the proliferative potential of the cell. These results reveal a novel molecular mechanism controlling the subcellular distribution of actin.

It has been hypothesized that certain viral infections directly activate a transcription factor(s) which is responsible for the activation of genes encoding type I interferons (IFNs) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via interferon regulatory factor (IRF) motifs present in their respective promoters. These events trigger the activation of defense machinery against viruses. Here we demonstrate that IRF-3 transmits a virus-induced signal from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In unstimulated cells, IRF-3 is present in its inactive form, restricted to the cytoplasm due to a continuous nuclear export mediated by nuclear export signal, and it exhibits few DNA-binding properties. Virus infection but not IFN treatment induces phosphorylation of IRF-3 on specific serine residues, thereby allowing it to complex with the co-activator CBP/p300 with simultaneous nuclear translocation and its specific DNA binding. We also show that a dominant-negative mutant of IRF-3 could inhibit virus-induced activation of chromosomal type I IFN genes and ISGs. These findings suggest that IRF-3 plays an important role in the virus-inducible primary activation of type I IFN and IFN-responsive genes.

In solid-state dye lasers, the deterioration of laser output power due to the photobleaching of dye molecules is a serious problem. Therefore, a laser-output-power-stabilizing system is necessary if solid-state dye lasers are to be put into practical use. We designed a stabilizing system using a one-chip microcomputer and an x-axis stage with a stepping motor. Consequently, the output power of the laser material was successfully maintained using the system.

The first wall of a fusion reactor blanket faces the core plasma directly. The first wall endures high heat loads that lead to high thermal stresses. To ensure the reliability of the first wall structure, it is desirable to reduce the thermal stress. In this study, structural optimization of the blanket first wall was carried out using the Taguchi method. The finite element method was used to conduct a numerical simulation to investigate the thermo-mechanical responses of the blanket first wall. The optimal configuration of the blanket first wall was derived. c © 2014 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade consisting of MAPK and its direct activator, MAPK kinase (MAPKK), is essential for signaling of various extracellular stimuli to the nucleus. Upon stimulation, MAPK is translocated to the nucleus, whereas MAPKK stays in the cytoplasm. It has been shown recently that the cytoplasmic localization of MAPKK is determined by its nuclear export signal (NES) in the near N-terminal region (residues 33-44). However, the mechanism determining the subcellular distribution of MAPK has been poorly understood. Here, we show that introduction of v-Ras, active STE11 or constitutively active MAPKK can induce nuclear translocation of MAPK in mammalian cultured cells. Furthermore, we show evidence suggesting that MAPK is localized to the cytoplasm through its specific association with MAPKK and that nuclear accumulation of MAPK is accompanied by dissociation of a complex between MAPK and MAPKK following activation of the MAPK pathway. We have identified the MAPK-binding site of MAPKK as its N-terminal residues 1-32. Moreover, a peptide encompassing the MAPK-binding site and the NES sequence of MAPKK has been shown to be sufficient to retain MAPK to the cytoplasm. These findings reveal the molecular basis regulating subcellular distribution of MAPK, and identify a novel function of MAPKK as a cytoplasmic anchoring protein for MAPK.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is activated in cytoplasm in response to extracellular signals and then is translocated to nucleus. A directed activator for MAPK, MAPK kinase (MAPKK), stays in cytoplasm to transmit the signal from the plasma membrane to MAPK. Here we show that MAPKK contains a short amino acid sequence in the N-terminal region (residues 32-44), which acts as a nuclear export signal (NES) and thus is required for cytoplasmic localization of MAPKK. This NES sequence of MAPKK, like that of protein kinase inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase or Rev, is rich in leucine residues, which are crucial for the NES activity. Furthermore, the NES peptide of protein kinase inhibitor, as well as the NES peptide of MAPKK, inhibited the nuclear export of ovalbumin conjugated to the NES peptide of MAPKK. These results may suggest a common mechanism of nuclear export using a general leucine-rich NES.

A novel cyclic dimer composed of chiral L-β-homoalanine was synthesized, and the formation of molecular assembly in water was investigated. The cyclic dimer was found to spontaneously form a spheri...

Tungsten is one of the candidate materials being considered for fabricating the plasma facing components (PFCs) of fusion reactors. When used in fusion reactors, PFCs are exposed to high heat loads from the fusion plasma, resulting in the PFCs being subjected to induced thermal stresses. This study focused on the creep deformation of pure tungsten under such a deformation-controlled thermal stress. Bend stress relaxation (BSR) tests were performed on specimens of as-received pure tungsten at temperatures of 600-1000 ◦ C for 0.1-1h in vacuum. The BSR ratio decreased with an increase in the temperature, decreasing sharply in a short period of 0.1h and then decreasing gradually. Most of the stress was relieved during the BSR test performed at 1000 ◦ Cf or 1h. The activation energy of stress relaxation, calculated using the cross-cut method, was similar to that of the Peierls mechanism. This suggested that the mobility of the dislocations controls the stress relaxation mechanism. Most of the stress was relieved quickly because the activation energy of stress relaxation was relatively small.

The efficacy of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy in controlling progressive measurable metastatic breast cancer was assessed in 61 patients. In addition serum MPA concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and subjective effects of treatment were monitored. Overall 24 patients (39.3%) achieved an objective response(2 complete responses [ CR ] and 22 partial responses [ PR ]). There was no significant relationships between response to therapy and menopausal status, metastatic sites, previous therapy, histological type, or disease-free interval. Patients with estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor-positive tumors responded more frequently. Significant differences in serum MPA concentrations were seen between responders and non-responders, objective tumor shrinkage being seen in patients with serum levels in excess of 55 ng/ml. There were few cases responding to the therapy with serum MPA concentrations lower than 25 ng/ml. The serum MPA levels significantly correlated with an improvement in the performance status and survival. Patients with serum MPA concentrations lower than 25 ng/ml had significantly poorer survival. There was a significant relationship between MPA level and dose per area of boby surface (mg/ m(2)) in cases with CR or PR or no change (NC). However, the serum levels of patients with progressive disease despite therapy were lower than the expected levels based on the body surface area. This study demonstrated that serum MPA concentration is a determining factor for therapeutic benefit in advanced or recurrent breast cancer.

We examined the relationship between proliferative activity determined by DNA polymerase alpha and clinicopathologic variables in breast cancer patients, and evaluated the usefulness of DNA polymerase alpha as a prognostic predictor in 337 early breast cancers with tumors smaller than 2 cm, which had favorable outcomes. About 60% of tumors had lower proliferative activity. A significant correlationwas found between DNA polymerase alpha and ER, PgR, histological type, or the degree of infiltration into lymphatic vessels which reflect the prognosis. Cancers with higher DNA polymerase alpha activity were associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival times. In a multivariate analysis the DNA polymerase alpha was found to be an independent and significant factor in early breast cancer.

A white emission from a methanol solution of mixed dyes was observed. We mixed and diluted stilbene 3, coumarin 153, and rhodamine B into methanol, and studied the fluorescence characteristics of the solvent by pumping the samples with 355-nm-wavelength UV light. The pump energy was transferred among the above-mentioned dye molecules that emitted blue, green, and red light, respectively. We measured the white emission properties of the mixed-dye solvent.

Perylene orange is a kind of pigment that is not easily photobleached. We doped perylene orange into a 2-mm-thick acrylic plastic monolith as a laser-active medium. Commercially available metalized film tape was affixed to both sides of the acrylic monolith and served as mirrors for a Fabry–Perot resonator. The pump source was a Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. We obtained a yellow laser beam whose center wavelength was 578.6 nm.

Detections of second harmonic components generated from micro cracks created by fatigue tests using finite amplitude Lamb wave were carried out using double-layered piezoelectric transducer (DLPT) with pulse-echo method. Three pure magnesium (Mg) plates applied to fatigue test were used in this experiment. In received waveforms from the plate had fatigue test of 100,000 and 200,000 cycles, second harmonic components were increased by 6 dB and 10 dB, respectively, compared with in the plate had 0 cycles. Their waveforms and spectra were captured in real time by our DLPT system. Detection of second harmonic component is resulted in the useful tool in evaluating defect in the material.

Ras p21 in the GTP-bound form was shown to act as an upstream activator for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase (MAPKK) and MAP kinase, and Raf-1 was reported to act as a MAPKK kinase. Further, physical association between Ras and Raf-1 was demonstrated. Here we have shown that incubation of Xenopus immature oocyte extracts with Ras enhances the ability of endogenous Raf-1 to activate MAPKK. Moreover, a dominant negative form of Raf-1 blocked the Ras-induced activation of MAPKK and MAP kinase in the extracts, but not the cyclin A-dependent activation of MAP kinase. When the extracts were depleted of 45-kDa MAPKK with polyclonal anti-MAPKK antibody, no activation of MAP kinase occurred even after incubation with Ras. These results suggest that Ras can activate the MAPKK kinase activity of Raf-1 in the extracts and that MAPKK is indispensable for the Ras-induced MAP kinase activation. It is well known that Ras can induce oocyte maturation when injected into immature Xenopus oocytes. Co-injection of Ras with an anti-MAPKK antibody that inhibits the MAPKK activity prevented the Ras-induced germinal vesicle breakdown, suggesting that MAPKK mediates, at least, one of cellular functions of Ras.

Simple analytical model is developed to evaluate spatial distribution of sheet electron density in the channel of the high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT)-like structure periodically modulated by the bias voltages applied to interdigitated gate. Resonant frequencies of plasma oscillations excited in the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel of such structures are evaluated in the ideal and realistic situations. The realistic model accounts for the ungated regions which due to nonideality of gate contact—2DEG channel system can be also affected by the gate bias voltages. It is shown that plasma resonances in realistic structures with fringed ungated regions deviate from those predicted by the ideal model. The model developed can be used to interpret the terahertz plasmon spectra measured experimentally.

Ferrite particle-dispersed carbon composite were synthesized by in-situ pressure pyrolysis of organometallic polymers at temperatures from 500 to 700°C under 125 MPa. Magnetite-dispersed carbon composite could be prepared from 550 to 700°C at 125 MPa. Nickel and nickel zinc ferrite particles were dispersed in carbon matrices at 550°C and 500°C, respectively, under 125 MPa. The morphology of the carbon matrix can be controlled by the pyrolysis conditions and the amount of coexistent supercritical water. Carbon spherulites of several micrometers dispersed with ferrite particles less than 100 nm were successfully synthesized by pressure pyrolysis of organometallic polymers in the presence of supercritical water. The saturation magnetization of magnetite-, nickel ferrite- and nickel zinc ferrite-dispersed carbon were 74, 30 and 65 emu/g, respectively. The coercive force of nickel ferrite-dispersed carbon was about 200 Oe.

The effect of protonation on the conformation of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) has been studied by Raman spectroscopy and ab initio theory. TMEDA and TMEDAH22+ molecules assume predominantly the trans NC–CN conformation in aqueous solution, while a large number of TMEDAH+ molecules assume the gauche NC–CN conformation, as stabilized by strong intramolecular 1,4-N–H+···N hydrogen bonding.

Chemical nanoimprint lithography is proposed as a new nanoimprint category. The authors investigate chemical nanoimprint utilizing an electrochemical reaction based on the anodic oxidation that occurs as a result of moisture that is present between a mold and a substrate. For stable nanoimprint patterning, the authors have developed a silicon carbide mold with low resistance. The mold also has excellent surface flatness and mechanical strength. In addition, the authors have developed the prototype of chemical nanoimprinter equipped with a step-and-repeat system. The imprinter also has a temperature-humidity controller and a mold-pressure adjustment system, in addition to a voltage supply source.

A novel real-time ultrasonic imaging system for extracting several orders of harmonic ultrasonic pulse waves has been constructed using a double-layered piezoelectric transducer (DLPT). Enhanced odd and even harmonics can be detected in real-time by switching the DLPT to receive the ultrasonic pulse waves. To demonstrate the performance of the system, a steel ball target has been imaged as an application of the new system.

A simple method of fabricating blazed diffraction gratings using synchrotron radiation lithography was developed that employs an ordinary binary mask with a line-and-space pattern, a step-and-expose procedure that provides a linear cumulative-dose distribution, and a thick resist with a linear sensitivity curve. This method enables the fabrication of blazed gratings with a grating pitch of 1μm and a blaze angle of 15°–40°. The angle and pitch can be changed by changing the dose from step to step and/or by using mask spaces of different widths.

A double-layered piezoelectric disk-type transducer (DLPT) without a backing and/or an intermediate layer is newly constructed and analyzed to generate short ultrasonic pulses. One of the disks is excited for the purpose of transmission and the other is used for canceling the ringing of the pulse. The driving conditions of the system, including the DLPT and the peripheral electronic component for generating the short ultrasonic pulse, are optimized by analysis using the cascade connection of a transmission line model. Experiments using the active ringing cancellation method with DLPT in water are also demonstrated. The analysis and experimental results were mostly in agreement with each other. A short ultrasonic pulse having a pulse width of 1.5 wavelengths is achieved.

Perylene orange doped acrylic polymer has been applied successfully to the solid-state dye laser system. Its optical properties and laser characteristics have preliminarily been measured. Its superior photostability has been demonstrated as compared to the solid-state dye laser systems reported thus far.

This paper describes the action of a solid-state dye laser utilizing a photo-induced distributed feedback (DFB) resonator. We solidified rhodamine B into a dried xerogel monolith using the sol–gel method, and used it as an active laser medium. The pump source was third-harmonic generation (THG) produced by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. We divided the pump beam in two and irradiated the two beams on the active medium. The interference fringes simultaneously form both a spatial periodic modulation of optical gain and a refractive index in the active medium. This periodical structure functions as a DFB resonator. Without an external resonator, we achieved a laser oscillation with a narrowed spectrum. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the laser wavelength was approximately 1 nm. We tuned the center wavelength of the laser from 600 nm to 635 nm. In addition, we achieved a second-order DFB laser oscillation with second-harmonic generation (SHG) of a Nd:YAG laser.