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An important parameter of Josephson junctions (JJs) is the product of normal state resistance (R n) and critical current (I c) for designing superconductor analogue devices or digital circuits. Determination of R n and I c from voltage–current (U–I) characteristic curves often faces difficulties; in particular I c is considerably reduced by intrinsic thermal or extrinsic electrical noises. Here, we propose a standard measurement method of R n and intrinsic critical current (I ci) for high-T c superconductor (HTS) grain boundary JJs operated in liquid nitrogen and low-T c superconductor (LTS) multilayer superconductor/normal-conductor/superconductor (SNS) JJs in liquid helium. The applicable condition of this method is that both HTS and LTS JJs have U–I curves compatible with resistively-shunted junction (RSJ) model. Both R n and I ci values are extracted by combining a geometric mean criterion to select a data set and a least-squares fitting method with the RSJ model, eliminating two distortion effects on U–I curves: noise-rounding and self-heating. The combined method ensures relative standard uncertainty values of 1.9% for R n and 8% for I ci or better, when the users follow the standard protocol. It is demonstrated that the combined method is valid for d-wave HTS JJs near 77 K, regardless of peculiarities such as 0–π junction transition in d-wave superconductors at lower temperatures, and s-wave LTS SNS JJs with a wide range of junction parameters. This work is the first step to facilitate standardization for superconductor electronics with JJs.

Participant-level meta-analyses assessed the age-specific relevance of office blood pressure to cardiovascular complications, but this information is lacking for out-of-office blood pressure. At baseline, daytime ambulatory (n=12 624) or home (n=5297) blood pressure were measured in 17 921 participants (51.3% women; mean age, 54.2 years) from 17 population cohorts. Subsequently, mortality and cardiovascular events were recorded. Using multivariable Cox regression, floating absolute risk was computed across 4 age bands (≤60, 61-70, 71-80, and >80 years). Over 236 491 person-years, 3855 people died and 2942 cardiovascular events occurred. From levels as low as 110/65 mm Hg, risk log-linearly increased with higher out-of-office systolic/diastolic blood pressure. From the youngest to the oldest age group, rates expressed per 1000 person-years increased (P

We have measured microscopic 3-dimensional distribution of plasma-charged hydrogen in polycrystalline Al. The measurements have been carried out nondestructively by using elastic recoil detection analysis under transmission geometry of a collimated 8 MeV 4He2+ beam. The recoil cross section as large as 2 × 103 mb/sr due to the nuclear elastic collision allowed observation of the spatial distribution of hydrogen in the Al sample of 80 μm thickness. The distribution maps of hydrogen clearly visualize hydrogen bubbles of 10–20 μm diameter in the surface layer of about 12 μm thickness. The critical concentration of hydrogen minimally needed for growth of the hydrogen bubble of ten-μm size has been determined to be 1.6 × 1020 cm−3.

An experimental technique for measuring a temperature field in an axisymmetric non-luminous flame is developed using the flame reaction technique combined with the inverse Abel transformation. Flame visualization is carried out using alkali metal solution of Potassium (K), which is supplied to a premixed methane/air flame in a form of spray mist. The basic principle of this technique is based on the measurement of local emission intensity distribution visualized by the flame reaction, which is a function of temperature according to the Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics of thermodynamics. The relationship between the local intensity and the temperature is obtained from the calibration study, in which the local intensity is evaluated from the line of sight intensity by the inverse Abel transformation, and the temperature is measured by thermocouple. This technique is successfully applied to the measurement of local temperature distribution in steady and flickering premixed methane/air flame. The temperature field in the flickering flame indicates that the local temperature oscillates periodically with the flickering frequency, and the highest temperature is found along the flame front and in the merging region.

The flow accelerated corrosion in a pipe is an important topic of interest associated with pipe-wall thinning phenomenon in a highly aged nuclear power plant. In the present study, the velocity field behind an orifice in a pipe is studied by PIV measurement in some combinations of swirl flow magnitudes and orifice bias. The flow observations along the flow axis and across the pipe indicate that the effect of orifice bias is not so influential on the flow behavior behind the orifice at small swirl flow magnitude. However, the asymmetrical flow pattern is observed in the flow behind the orifice at large swirl flow magnitude. The accelerated flow behind the orifice reattaches on the pipe wall of shorter orifice height and the corresponding velocity fluctuation decreases at large swirl flow magnitude, which occurs even at the small orifice bias of 0.7% of pipe diameter. This phenomenon is expected to promote the asymmetrical distribution of pipe-wall thickness due to flow accelerated corrosion in a prototype pipe flow.

Complementary DNAs encoding gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) precursors were cloned from the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus brain, showing that this species has three GnRH forms, i.e. medaka Oryzias latipes GnRH (mdGnRH), chicken GnRH-II (cGnRH-II) and Atlantic salmon Salmo salar GnRH (sGnRH). The F. heteroclitus prepro GnRHs have common structural architectures of vertebrate GnRHs, consisting of the signal peptide, 10 amino acids of mature peptide, GKR sequence and GnRH-associated peptide (GAP). Phylogenetic analysis of fish prepro GnRHs showed that F. heteroclitus mdGnRH is a homologue of sbGnRHs and mdGnRHs of other acanthopterygian. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that mdGnRH was abundantly expressed in the olfactory bulb and in olfactory lobe areas and is expressed in the pituitary. The cGnRH-II was mainly expressed in the midbrain and interbrain areas, and the sGnRH was expressed not only in the olfactory bulb but also in other regions of the brain. These results suggest that the mdGnRH is involved in the stimulation of gonadotrophs in the pituitary, whereas cGnRH-II and sGnRH are involved in neurotransmission and neuromodulation.

In this paper, temperature measurement of axisymmetric dilute hydrogen flame is described using digital laser-speckle technique, which allows the measurement of refractive index field of the flame without any tracers. The measurement system consists of laser and CCD camera, which are placed in-line configuration. The temperature field of the flame is derived from the refractive index field using the cross-correlation analysis of the speckle pattern with and without flame. The influence of the species concentration on the temperature measurement is evaluated from the gas composition in the flame using gas chromatography. It is found that the temperature field measured by the present method with concentration correction agrees with that of the thermocouple measurement within an experimental accuracy, suggesting the usefulness of this measurement technique.

We present systematic ab-initio calculations for nonmagnetic (NM), ferromagnetic (FM), and antiferromagnetic (AFM) states of fullHeusler alloys (X2YZ) such as Co2MnSi (X = Co, Y = Mn, Z = Si), Ni2MnAl (X = Ni, Y = Mn, Z = Al), and Ru2MnSi (X = Ru, Y = Mn, Z = Si). The calculations are based on the all-electron full-potential (FP) screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) Green’s-function method combined with the generalized-gradient approximation in the density-functional formalism. We show that the present calculations reproduce very well the experimental ground states of these alloys (FM of Co2MnSi and Ni2MnAl, AFM of Ru2MnSi) and the available measured values for lattice parameters and magnetic moments. It is also shown that the fundamental features of the magnetism of Co2MnSi (strong FM) and Ni2MnAl (weak FM) are understood by using the Mn spin-flip energies and the Mn-Mn exchange interaction energies in X (= Co, Ni), both of which are obtained by the present FP-KKR calculations for the impurity systems. We can show that the magnetism of Ni2MnAl may be changed from FM to AFM by atomic disorder (B2-structure) occurring at elevated temperatures. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MRA2008100]

A multi-pixel TES array is one of the attractive methods to read-out the incident x-ray position, which simplifies a read-out circuit for imaging applications. We fabricated a ten-pixel Ir/Au TES microcalorimeter with asymmetrical slits parallel to the electric current, and analyzed its noise and signal characteristics. The device was successfully operated in a strong electro-thermal feedback (ETF) mode. However, very large excess noise is observed, which cannot be explained by the noise theory for a single pixel TES. We have modeled the multi-pixel TES array as separated thermal group components, and analyzed noise performance theoretically. As a result, the current noise in our theory is well agreed with the measured noise at a low frequency below 3 kHz. From the x-ray irradiation measurements, ten divided signal groups are observed, which will be associated with the incident x-ray position pixel. The best energy resolution was 18 eV (FWHM) for 5.9 keV x-rays at 0.5 /spl mu/V bias voltage.

T cells mediating chronic rejection (CR) of human kidney allografts were characterized by comparing them with those mediating acute rejection (AR). Two lines of analysis were performed using biopsy specimens (23 CR and 8 AR). First, the extent of infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells into allografts was assessed from mRNA expression of CD4 and CD8. The group of CR specimens was not significantly different from the group of AR specimens in terms of the extent of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration, underlining the importance of the immunological contribution to the progress of CR. Second, Th1/Th2 polarization in infiltrating T cells was investigated by measuring mRNA expression of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma; a Th1 cytokine) and interleukin 4 (IL-4; a Th2 cytokine). IFN-gamma expression was detected in most CR specimens, and was not significantly different between the group of CR specimens and the group of AR specimens. On the other hand, IL-4 expression was detected in only two CR specimens and one AR specimen; from its pathological features, the AR in this last case was concomitant with CR. These results suggest that most cases of CR and of AR are mediated by Th1 mechanisms, although some cases of CR show features of both Th1 and Th2.

The clonality of T-cell populations mediating acute and chronic rejection (AR and CR, respectively) of kidney allografts was ascertained by investigating the diversity of TCRBV genes expressed by allograft-infiltrating T cells. Both oligoclonality and polyclonality cases were found in biopsy specimens of AR as well as CR. These results indicated that the T-cell clonality in each specimen did not correlate directly with the mode of rejection. When AR and CR specimens were compared, however, the CR specimen group was significantly more polyclonal (or less oligoclonal) than the AR group. This result may reflect the higher chance of epitope spreading in the more slowly progressing CR than in AR.

We are developing a new x-ray microcalorimeter based on superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) as an imaging sensor. This device has ten pixelated transition edge sensors with Iridium superconductive films. When a constant bias voltage is applied to all pixels, each pixel is operated at slightly different equilibrium temperature. This arises from the different thermal responses between pixels, so that response signal shapes would vary according to the position of the incident x-ray. We have fabricated a prototype of the pixelated array and examined its performance. The position dependency measurements by scanning the collimated x-ray over the device have successfully shown that the device is able to resolve its pixel position. The energy resolution of a test device was 13.1 eV (FWHM) for 3 keV x-rays.

We are developing an X-ray microcalorimeter with high energy resolution and position sensitivity by using an Iridium transition edge sensor. The Ir-TES with a new pixel-type geometry has ten small pixel TES array. Each pixel size is 80 μm ×200 μm . This device has shown a good energy resolution of 26 eV (FWHM) at 5.9 keV . Furthermore, the Ir-TES film was scanned along each pixel by a collimated X-ray microbeam and signal pulses were measured at each incident position. The pulse height and rise time map has shown ten different regions where pulses are concentrated which correspond to each pixel. This might be useful for an imaging TES array.

We measured the magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetization of Co wires of various widths in the range from 0.3 to 200 μm. The observed width dependence of some characteristics of MR is attributed to the change of the domain structure. As the width decreased below 1 μm, an abrupt jump appeared in the longitudinal MR. This can be interpreted as due to an abrupt reversal of the overall magnetization. The measured longitudinal MR was compared with the calculation in the Stoner–Wohlfarth model.

We earlier investigated a new type of parametric motor using a laminated iron core, and we showed that the output and efficiency of a prototype motor are comparable to those of conventional single-phase capacitor motors. This paper discusses the performance characteristics and the stability of parametric oscillation of a motor having a stator with an asymmetrically arranged pole. Parametric oscillation was stabilized and the output and efficiency were significantly improved by giving the stator an asymmetric shape.

Flow behind an orifice is one of the important topics of interests associated with the maintenance of nuclear power stations, because it is closely related to the pipe-wall thinning phenomenon caused by the flow accelerated corrosion, which often occurs in a pipeline behind an orifice in a nuclear power station (JSME 2005, 2009). A typical example of the pipe-wall thinning phenomenon has been observed in a prototype circular pipeline of Mihama nuclear power station in Japan (2004). This phenomenon occurs in the prototype pipeline behind the orifice and is often asymmetrical in circumferential direction even if the pipe shape is circular (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 2004). However, the reason why the asymmetrical pipe-wall thinning occurred in the prototype pipeline has not yet been fully understood. In order to clarify the mechanism, the influence of allowable orifice biases on the flow field behind the orifice has been studied experimentally in a square pipe (Fujisawa and Yamamoto 2009). The result indicates that the flow reattachment behavior behind the orifice is mainly determined by the orifice bias even if it is smaller than the allowable level of standards. However, this phenomenon may be suffered from the influence of pipe shape and the layout of the pipe upstream of the orifice. The purpose of this short paper is to show the new finding of orifice bias effect on the flow behind the orifice in a circular pipe under the influence of swirling flow.

This embedded-DRAM macro is designed as a DRAM cache for a future gigahertz microprocessor system based on a logic-based DRAM technology. The most notable feature of this macro is its ability to run synchronously with a gigahertz CPU clock in a fully pipelined fashion. It is designed to operate with a 1-GHz clock signal at 85/spl deg/C, nominal process parameters, and a 10% degraded V/sub DD/. The design is fully pipelined and synchronous with 16 independent subarrays. With 1-kb wide I/0 and a 1-GHz clock, the maximum data rate becomes 1 Tb per second. The address access time is 3.7 ns, four cycles with a 1-GHz clock. The subarray cycle time is 12 ns.

Summary. CD8+ T cells in FIV-infected cats inhibit feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) replication by producing a soluble factor(s). In the present study, four SPF cats were experimentally infected with FIV. The period during which the anti-FIV activity of CD8+ T cells became detectable was investigated, and the presence or absence of this activity in the lymph nodes and spleen was examined. Furthermore, we investigated which step(s) of the FIV replication cycle are affected by this antiviral activity. This antiviral activity became detectable five weeks after FIV infection in early cases, and it was simultaneous with or one week after the induction of humoral immunity. All cats having CD8+ T cells with anti-FIV activity in the peripheral blood also possessed CD8+ T cells with anti-FIV activity in the lymph nodes. In contrast, CD8+ T cells from the spleens of some, but not all cats showed anti-FIV activity. CD8+ T cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured and reconstituted with CD8+ T cells on day 12 of culture after confirming FIV replication. The number of FIV proviral DNA copies in the cells did not change, but the amount of FIV p24 antigen production in the culture supernatant and the number of FIV mRNA copies in the cells decreased. These findings suggested that CD8+ T cell anti-FIV activity acts at the level of FIV mRNA synthesis from the FIV proviral DNA, inhibiting FIV replication by a non-cytolytic mechanism.

Some normally-on n-channel GaAs MESFETs with large size gates are designed and fabricated for low-noise, low power consumption application at cryogenic temperatures. Low-doping n-type GaAs (Si-doped) epitaxial wafers are used to fabricate n-channel MESFETs. The comparison of DC characteristics of the MESFETs at room temperature and at 4.2 K is reported. The maximum consumption power of the fabricated MESFETs is calculated to be 0.8mW. With the increasing of gate length, the power consumption and transconductance of MESFETs reduce consequently. The specific contact resistance of the metal/GaAs ohmic contacts determined from circular transfer line model and four-point probe method at 4.2K is at the order of 10–7 Ωcm2, which is available for low noise application at cryogenic temperature. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Nanocrystallite GaN and AlN (nc-GaN and nc-AlN) films have been made by reactive sputtering and were studied by photoluminescence (PL), absorption coefficient and X-ray diffraction measurements. A yellow PL is observed in nc-GaN films. The PL spectrum has two broad peaks with energies of 2.8 eV and 2.4 eV. The optical gap (E04) is about 3.2 eV and the Urbach tail energy is 335 meV. A PL peak at 2.8 eV disappeared after annealing at 400°C and 600°C. After annealing at 800°C, the PL peak at 2.8 eV recovered again. The changes of PL intensity are explained by the creation of recombination centers. Hydrogenation of GaN did not occur by H2 plasma treatment. The optical gap (E04) of the AlN film is about 4.8 eV. The absorption coefficient spectrum has an exponential tail region with the Urbach tail energy of 674 meV, but photoluminescence was not observed.

SummaryThe Build-up method is becoming an important process with the increase in electric wiring density and miniaturization of the hole diameter. Preparation and circulation of plating solutions become difficult in the via hole with reduction of the hole diameter, so that uniformity of deposits decreases and this leads to lowering the electric reliability between each layer. Therefore the uniformity of electroless copper plating was investigated using small via holes (20–100 μn φ, 30–230 μm depth) prepared on the wiring board. Uniform deposits were obtained by changing the parameters related to the deposition characteristics. The possibility of via filling by the electroless copper was also investigated.

Contribution of photon recycling (PR) effects to solar cell properties has been theoretically studied with a conventional n + -p structure of InP. The study is focused on the effects of structural and material parameters on the magnitude of PR effects. For the sample structure employed in this study, PR effects are found as an increase in photocurrent. The magnitude of PR decreases with decreasing n + -emitter thickness and disappears at a thickness ⪅0.1 μm. The PR effect is also decreased as doping level of the n + -emitter decreases. High surface recombination velocity for the n + -emitter is found to reduce the PR effect. The contribution of the p-base layer to the PR is scarcely observed in the present structure.

Heteroepitaxial InN layers grown on GaAs(1 1 1)B and α-Al 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1) substrates by conventional OMVPE have been compared with respect to crystal structure and surface morphology. Cubic InN is found to be grown on GaAs(1 1 1)B substrates nitrided at a temperature lower than 700°C where a cubic GaN layer is formed. This is only when the layer thickness is small ∼ 0.05 μ m. Upon increasing the thickness, the cubic InN domains diminish and hexagonal domains become dominant. The surface of the grown layer is completely covered with a hexagonal InN domain when the layer thickness exceeds about 0.2 μm. The growth of cubic InN is not found on both GaAs(1 1 1)B substrates nitrided at a temperature higher than 800°C and α-Al 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1) substrates nitrided at 900°C, where a hexagonal GaN or AlN layer is formed, respectively. The nucleation behavior of InN is found to be remarkably different between α-Al 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1) and GaAs(1 1 1)B substrates. InN layers grown on α-Al 2 O 3 (0 0 01) substrates have a very rough surface owing to the columnar fibrous structure growth. Layers grown on GaAs(1 1 1)B have no columnar fibrous structure and, as a result of that, have smooth surfaces.

クスアナアキゾウムシによるシキミの被害発生条件を明らかにするために,四国地方の184か所の栽培地で被害本数率と栽培環境を調査し,被害発生要因を解析した。高知県81%,愛媛県77%。,徳島県58%,香川県14%の栽培地で被害が確認された。被害地の分布密度は,四国西部・南部地域では高かったが,北東部地域では低かった。栽培環境として,標高,斜面方位,植栽木の入手方法,栽培地の前作,周囲の森林の有無,栽培年数,雑草の繁茂状態,落葉・落枝の堆積状態,薬剤の散布頻度および他の作物との混植の有無の10項目を調査し,これらを説明変数とした重回帰分析を主に用いて解析した。被害本数率は,栽培年数が長くなるほど高くなり,また栽培地の周囲に森林がある場合には,ない場合に比べて高かった。さらに被害本数率は,雑草がある場合には,ない場合よりも,薬剤の散布頻度が年1回以下の場合には,年2回以上の場合よりも高かった。栽培年数は虫がクスアナアキゾウムシによるシキミの被害 15侵入する機会の多さおよび密度の増加と,周囲の森林の有無は侵入のしやすさと,雑草は産下卵の保護および成虫越冬場所としての効果と,薬剤の散布頻度は成虫に対する防除効果とそれぞれ関係があると考えられた。これらのことから,特に被害地の分布密度が高い地域で本種による被害を軽減するためには,雑草の除去や薬剤散布などの圃場管理を徹底する必要があると考えられた。

(1996). Selection of electron beam welding conditions for 7175 high strength aluminium alloy. Welding International: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 89-94.

To realize imaging X-ray spectroscopy with high-energy resolution, we proposed a new pixellated array of Ir-TES. In this type of device, the bias point of each pixel is slightly modified. Therefore the analysis of the pulse shape parameter, such as the pulse height, the rise time and the fall time of a signal pulse, can identify the incident pixel position. We have obtained 13 eV (FWHM) at 3 keV energy resolution and 80 μm position resolution for 10 pixel devices. At this moment we could successfully operate a 20 pixel device.

Summary Fourteen mutants of a human single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA or pro-UK), with amino acid substitutions in or near the epidermal growth factor-like (EGF-like) domain were produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, and their pharmacokinetic and biochemical properties compared to those of natural pro-UK. Plasma half-lives in rat circulation of the mutants S26T, N32P, P34A, K35A+K36A, and C33A+C42A were extended more than two-fold compared to that of natural pro-UK. Kinetic constants of natural and mutant pro-UKs for hydrolyzing synthetic substrates were almost unchanged. The conversion rate from single-chain to two-chain form of Y24A and G38A+G39A were accelerated while those of other mutants were very similar to that of natural pro-UK. Binding ability to fibrin/celite of the mutants G16K, G38K, and D45N increased, while that of C33A+C42A decreased and that of K35A+K36A virtually disappeared. It is likely that LySummary5 and/or LySummary6 are important for pro-UK's binding to fibrin/celite, and that changing the amino acid charge from negative towards positive enhances binding ability to fibrin/celite.

Behavioral and in vitro receptor binding methods were used to evaluate and compare the effects of FR115427 ((+)-l-methyl-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride) with those of MK801, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist. FR115427 inhibited NMDA-induced convulsions in mice by intracerebroventrical(ICV) and systematic injection. FR115427 was found to be about ten times less potent than MK801. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of FR115427 and MK801 on NMDA-induced convulsions was evaluated in time course studies in mice. MK801 exhibited a more sustained anticonvulsive activity than FR115427. In addition, PCP-like behaviors were examined in mice after ICV injection of these compounds. At the lowest dose FR115427 significantly increased locomotor activity, although the effect of this compound was about hundred times less potent than that of MK801. At higher dose a more complex pattern of behavior, e.g. head-movement and eventually ataxia was observed. In binding assays with rat brain membranes, FR115427 inhibited the binding of (3H)TCP (IC50 = 0.249 microM) and (3H)MK801 (IC50 = 0.312 microM) but did not inhibit the binding of (3H)CPP or (3H)glycine. These results suggest that FR115427 is a novel non-competitive NMDA antagonist that acts on a binding site located within the NMDA receptor associated ion channel.

(1995). Weldability of dissimilar joints between aluminium wrought alloy A5052 and aluminium casting AC4C by high energy density welding processes. Welding International: Vol. 9, No. 11, pp. 845-851.

Iron ions were implanted into a polymer, Kapton, at 300 keV to a dose of 10 17 atoms cm −2 in order to modify magnetic properties. Magnetization curves were measured by a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer at 4.2, 77 and 300 K in fields up to 40 kG. The as-implanted sample exhibits paramagnetic behaviour at all temperatures. Annealing in vacuum caused ferromagnetic behaviour at 4.2 K. Unexpectantly, it has been found that the magnetic moments of all samples are abnormally small at low temperatures. The magnetization curves can be explained by taking into account the existence of magnetic clusters and free iron ions with antiferromagnetic interactions.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a method of analyzing ions based on their mass/charge (m/z) ratios. The m/z peak identification requires speculation on the ionic unit-charge states. This problem can be solved by using superconducting junction devices to measure the kinetic energies of single molecules. However, the kinetic energy measurement is followed by the dead time of 1-20 µs, which is fatally slow for modern high-resolution time-of-flight (TOF) analyzers. In this paper, we demonstrate that a superconducting nano-stripline detector (SSLD) composed of a 10-nm-thick and 800-nm-wide NbN strip realizes the charge-state derivation, and furthermore satisfies the ideal MS detector specifications such as a nano-second response, a short recovery time, a wide mass range, and no noise.

Although Clupeiformes contain many economically important species, there is limited information on their reproductive physiology. To obtain more insight into reproductive mechanisms in clupeiform fishes, molecular cloning of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus luteinizing hormone beta (LHbeta) and glycoprotein hormone alpha (GPHalpha) subunits, and immunocytochemistry of gonadotrophs in the pituitary using antisera raised against the synthetic peptides for both subunits were carried out. The cDNAs for LHbeta and GPHalpha subunits consisted of 963 and 535 nucleotides encoding 141 and 122 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the E. japonicus LHbeta subunit showed a 60% similarity to the Pacific herring Clupea pallasii LHbeta subunit and 24-31% similarities to FSHbeta subunits of other fish species. The E. japonicus GPHalpha subunit showed 52-57% similarities to anguilliform and cypriniform GPHalpha subunits. Both the subunits have typical structural characteristics of each subunit such as N-linked glycosylation sites, conserved cysteine residues and highly conserved short amino acid sequences. These results indicate that cDNAs cloned in this study encode the E. japonicus LHbeta and GPHalpha subunits. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that both the LHbeta and GPHalpha subunit genes were abundantly expressed in the pituitary, and the GPHalpha subunit was observed to be weakly expressed in the extrapituitary tissues. Immunocytochemistry of the E. japonicus pituitary showed that cells that immunoreacted with antiserum against the LHbeta subunit were distributed in the peripheral regions of proximal pars distalis, and these cells were also immunoreactive to antiserum against the GPHalpha subunit. An abundant number of both LHbeta and GPHalpha cells in the pituitary of matured fish were observed, in comparison with immature fish. These results indicate that the E. japonicus LH is involved in the final reproductive maturation as well as those of other teleosts.

Two variants of pro-urokinase (pro-UK), Δ11–32pro-UK lacking the first and the second loops (Cys11Asn32) within the EGF-like domain and δ33–42pro-UK lacking the third loop (Cys33Cys42), were prod in Chinese hamster ovary cells. They were compared with natural pro-UK (n-pro-UK) and Δ10–42pro-UK lacking entire EGF-like domain (Hiramatsu et al1) in terms of clearance rate and biochemical properties. Fibrinolytic activity half-lives of these mutants in rat circulation after bolus administration were 7.1 min for Δ11–32pro-UK and 6.8 min for Δ33–42pro-UK, which were about 3.5 times longer than that of n-pro-UK (2.0 min) and slightly shorter than that of Δ10–42pro-UK (7.6 min). The amidolytic activity of these deletion mutants were almost the same as n-pro-UK in terms of both Km and kcat (3.4–4.O × 10−4 M, and 8.4–10.O × 103 min−1 respectively), suggesting that the protease domain was not affected by the deletion in EGF-like domain. It was also found that the binding ability to fibrin-celite was decreased by the absence of the third loop of the EGF-like domain. In addition, conversion from the single chain form to the two chain form by the action of plasmin was slowed in proportion to the size of the deletion in the EGF-like domain.

A single crystal of sapphire was implanted with 100-keV57Fe to a dose of 3.4×1015 ions/cm2. The charge states of iron ions were investigated with the CEMS technique at low temperatures. The formation of the observed charge states Fe2+(1) and Fe2+(2) were elucidated in terms of crystal structure.

(1992). Effects of aluminium content on electron beam weldability of Zn‐Al alloy castings. Welding International: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 9-15.

(1992). The effects of casting pressure applied during squeeze casting of aluminium alloys on the properties of welds made by electron beam welding. Welding International: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 96-103.

We proposed a model of fault and slip formation to explain the excessive increase of the leak current of Nb/Al superconducting tunnel junction detectors and the nano‐structural deformation. Observations of the cross‐sections at pinpoint places in the array detectors with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) support our model. The nano‐scale tectonism due to the relaxation of the residual stress in the sputtered films, which corresponds to a wafer bend motion at a few tens nm at 10 mm‐apart two points, generates the vertical fault in the Nb/Al film and the slip plane in the 1 nm‐thick AlOx tunneling layer. The slip in the AlOx layer can cause the leak current increase.

We realized a \ery fast and large Superconducting Strip Line Detector based on a parallel configuration of nanowires. The detector with size 200×200 μm2 recorded a sub‐nanosecond pulse width of 700 ps in FWHM (400 ps rise time and 530 ps relaxation time) for lysozyme monomers/multimers molecules accelerated at 175 keV in a Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer. This record is the best in the class of superconducting detectors and comparable with the fastest NbN superconducting single photon detector of 10×10 μm2. We succeeded in acquiring mass spectra as the first step for a scale‐up to ∼mm pixel size for high throughput MS analysis, while keeping a fast response.

Heavily Zn-doped graded-base AlGaAs/GaAs HBTs with base doping concentrations of 3.5*10/sup 19/, 5.5*10/sup 19/, and 8.1*10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/ were fabricated using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD)-grown epitaxial wafers. The maximum measured current gain was 42 with a base doping concentration of as high as 8.1*10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. The current gain decreased drastically from 96 to 42 when doping concentration increased from 3.5*10/sup 19/ to 8.1*10/sup 19 /cm/sup -3/. Assuming that the emitter efficiency is unity, the minority electron lifetime in the base is estimated by the current gain by consideration of drift in the graded base. The dependence of the electron lifetime in the graded base on Zn doping concentration was similar to that in a uniform base. >

GaAs/AlGaAs HBT epitaxial layers with highly zinc-doped bases have been succesfully fabricated by an atmospheric pressure MOVPE method. By optimizing the growth temperature, a highly doped Zn concentration and an abrupt Zn profile can be achieved at the same time. Current gain over 40 was obtained for a graded base HBT with a high Zn concentration (5×1019 cm-3) and 25×25 μm2 emitter.

Cavitation erosion—corrosion tests by means of a magnetostriction vibratory unit were conducted on commercially pure irons in various corrosive solutions consisting of inhibitors added to ...