Polymerization and depolymerization reactions between fullerene C60 molecules in a C60 monolayer film on a highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) surface are selectively induced at the single ...molecular level resolution and precision under the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope at room temperature (see figure).
Genomic analysis revealed that the vaccine seed lot of
bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Tokyo 172 contains two subclones (types I and II), but their phenotypic differences have not been elucidated. In ...this study, we compared the susceptibility of bacilli types I and II to oxidative stress
and within host cells. Notably, the subclones displayed similar superoxide dismutase activity; however, foam height in the catalase test and lysate catalase/peroxidase activity were higher for type I bacilli than for type II bacilli. Additionally, type I bacilli were less susceptible to hydrogen peroxide (H
O
) than type II bacilli. After exposure to H
O
, antioxidative stress response genes
,
,
, and
were more strongly induced in type I bacilli than in type II bacilli. Further, we investigated cell survival in macrophages. Fewer type II bacilli were recovered than type I bacilli. However, in the presence of apocynin, a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, type II recovery was greater than that of type I. The production of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-12 p40, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was higher in type I bacillus-infected macrophages than in type II bacillus-infected macrophages. The proportions of type I and type II bacilli in vaccine lots over 3 years (100 lots) were 97.6% ± 1.5% and 2.4% ± 1.5%, respectively. The study results illustrated that type I bacilli are more resistant to oxidative stress than type II bacilli. Overall, these findings provide important information in terms of the quality control and safety of BCG Tokyo 172 vaccine.
This study revealed the difference of
and
antioxidative stress properties of BCG Tokyo 172 types I and II as one of the bacteriological characteristics. In particular, the bacilli exhibited differences in catalase/peroxidase activity, which could explain their different protective effects against infection. The differences correlated with survival in the host cell and the production of proinflammatory cytokines to protect against infection by
The proportion of bacilli types I and II in all commercial lots of BCG Tokyo 172 over 3 years (100 lots) was constant. The findings also highlighted the importance of analyzing their content for quality control during vaccine production.
We demonstrate 20 kV-class 4H-SiC n-channel implantation and epitaxial (IE)-IGBTs having both low on-state voltage and high blocking characteristics. We fabricated n-IE-IGBTs on a (0001) silicon face ...with free-standing epitaxial layers. Effective carrier lifetime increased significantly from 0.9 μs to 9.6 μs by a lifetime enhancement process. We used the IE structure to suppress an increase of the surface p+-well concentration, reduce implantation damage at the p+-well, and reduce junction field effect transistor (JFET) region resistance by ion implantation as a counter doping. The n-IE-IGBT at 100 A/cm2 on-state voltage and specific differential on-resistance was 8.2 V and 36.9 mΩcm2, respectively, at room temperature with a 30 V gate voltage. The blocking voltage was 26.8 kV at 45.7 μA.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a major comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the association of PH detected by echocardiography and COPD-related outcome in ...longitudinal follow-up has not been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical characteristics of COPD patients with PH detected by echocardiography and various outcome parameters such as COPD exacerbation and health status over a three-year observation period.
In this observational study, we analyzed patients with COPD who underwent chest computed tomography and echocardiography at baseline (n = 183).
The prevalence of PH was 21.9% (40 patients). The median estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure in patients with PH was 38.8 mmHg. COPD patients with PH were older, had a lower body mass index, scored worse in the COPD Assessment Test and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, and exhibited a lower diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide in comparison to patients without PH. In computed tomography images, the percentages of low-attenuation areas (LAA%) and interstitial abnormalities were higher in COPD patients with PH than in those without PH. Higher values for LAA% (LAA ≥ 30%) and interstitial abnormalities independently increased the risk of PH. The ratio of main pulmonary diameter to aortic artery diameter was significantly correlated with estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure. In the follow-up analysis, the frequency of exacerbations in three years was significantly higher in patients with PH compared to patients without PH.
In this study, we identified the clinical characteristics of COPD patients with PH detected by echocardiography. The presence of PH assessed by echocardiography was related to future COPD exacerbations and closely related to radiographical emphysema.
The application of alternative developers for both extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and 193-nm immersion (“ArFi”) lithography is investigated by focusing on their effects on the “Defect-Not-Found” (DNF) ...margins. In case of EUV lithography, defects primarily comprise line bridging at the underdose region and line breaks at the overdose region. The application of a 0.26-N tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) developer solution when compared to that of a 0.26-N tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) developer solution resulted in improved resist sensitivity while maintaining the same DNF margin. In case of ArFi lithography, defects primarily comprise line bridging at the underdose region and pattern collapse at the overdose region. The same improvement that has been mentioned above can be observed with respect to the resist sensitivity using the TBAH developer solution. However, the TBAH developer solution significantly minimizes the pattern collapse at the overdose region, further extending the minimum line pattern size. This translated to significant improvements in both the exposure latitude (EL) and overdose margin (OM) and resulted in a significant increase in the DNF margin. Furthermore, the application of a non-ionic surfactant type additive on the TMAH developer solution demonstrates resist sensitivity improvement and pattern collapse mitigation. Increased EL and OM values were observed, which also resulted in increased DNF margin. Results indicate the advantages of utilizing alternative developer solutions in improving the DNF margins.
P-n junction solar cells based on anthradithiophene (ADT) as a p-type semiconductor were fabricated by using the photoprecursor method in which an α-diketone-type precursor was spin-coated and then ...transformed to ADT in situ by photoirradiation. Combination with PC71BM as an n-layer material led to 1.54% photoconversion efficiency.
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Controlling the moisture balance between exudates and their transpiration from the surface of wounded skin is important for healing. Low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC) ...hydrogel sheets (HGSs) possessing high water retention and water vapor transmission properties were prepared by neutralizing the highly viscous alkaline liquid of 7–10% L-HPC. Glycerol-impregnated L-HPC hydrogel sheets (L-HPC G-HGSs) were obtained by exchanging aqueous liquid in L-HPC HGSs. The physical characteristics required for wound dressings, i.e., mechanical strength, adhesive strength, and water retention properties, as well as the water vapor transmission (WVT) properties of L-HPC HGSs and L-HPC G-HGSs were evaluated. The mechanical strengths of L-HPC HGSs were enhanced with increases in the L-HPC content. The impregnation of glycerol in L-HPC HGSs yielded a significantly elasticated sheet. The adhesive strengths of L-HPC HGSs were significantly lower than those of commercial medical dressings. Water retention in L-HPC HGSs after being stored for 2h at 37°C was approximately 50%. The WVT rate of 7% L-HPC HGS was approximately 40g/m2/h, which was markedly higher than that of silicone gel type medical dressings. In conclusion, L-HPC HGSs are promising dressings that maintain an adequate moisture balance by transpiring excessive wound exudates with less damage to the healing wound.
There have been no large, nationwide, birth cohort studies in Japan examining the effects of house renovation during pregnancy on congenital abnormality. This study examined the impact of (1) ...prenatal exposure to house renovation and (2) maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents and/or formaldehyde on the incidence of congenital abnormality. The fixed data of 67,503 singleton births from a large national birth cohort study that commenced in 2011 were used to evaluate the presence of congenital abnormalities and potential confounding factors. We employed multiple logistic regression analysis to search for correlations between maternal exposure to house renovation or organic solvents and/or formaldehyde during pregnancy and such congenital abnormalities as congenital heart disease, cleft lip and/or palate, male genital abnormality, limb defect, and gastrointestinal obstruction. After controlling for potential confounding factors, we observed that house renovation was significantly associated with male genital abnormality (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.03-3.17, P = 0.04) when stratified by congenital abnormality, with no other remarkable relations to house renovation or occupational use of organic solvents and/or formaldehyde during pregnancy. There were also significant correlations for maternal BMI before pregnancy, history of ovulation induction through medication, maternal diabetes mellitus/gestational diabetes mellitus, and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with an increased risk of congenital abnormality. In conclusion, this large nationwide survey provides important information on a possible association of house renovation during pregnancy with congenital male genital abnormality which needs confirmation in future studies.
The succession of faunal composition of a whale-fall community is believed to depend on the progress of decomposition of the whale carcass, which itself is dependent on microbial activity in the ...sediment around the carcass. This means that the faunal succession could be reflected in the variation of the geochemical environment. In this study, we examined sperm whale carcasses placed in two areas of Japanese waters. In Sagami Bay at a depth of ca. 500 m, dive surveys were performed 2 weeks, 2 months, and 9 months after implantation, when mobile scavengers and
Osedax
worms were observed. Off Cape Nomamisaki, 12 carcasses were implanted at a depth of 200–300 m, and dive surveys were performed there 17, 29, and 41 months after implantation, and abundant chemosynthesis-based mussels were observed at these times. The recovered sediment cores from beneath and around the carcasses in Sagami Bay showed increases in
15
N-enriched ammonium and
34
S-depleted sulfide and decreases in
34
S-enriched sulfate during the 9 months following implantation, and their stoichiometric relationship suggested that proteinaceous matter from the carcass was decomposed preferentially followed by active bacterial sulfate reduction. In comparison, relatively low ammonium but high sulfide concentrations after 41 months off Cape Nomamisaki suggest that primarily lipids from the almost skeletonized carcasses were decomposed in the sediment during bacterial sulfate reduction. Such variation of decomposed organic substrates and geochemical environments result from interaction with the animals inhabiting in and on the sediments adjacent the whale carcasses. It is possible that evolution of the geochemical environment plays an important role in faunal succession, from the enrichment opportunist to sulfophilic stages.
The expression levels of mRNA for multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene, multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), lung resistance‐related protein (LRP) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), which ...confer multidrug resistance in vitro, were examined in 43 untreated breast carcinoma patients, of whom 38 subsequently received doxorubicin‐based chemotherapy after surgery, in order to elucidate the roles of these genes in drug resistance in vivo. The mRNA levels were determined using a semi‐quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction method in breast carcinoma tissues including at least 80% carcinoma cells. The expression level of BCRP gene was low and did not vary markedly in comparison with that of MDR1, MRP1 or LRP gene. The expressions of MDR1 and MRP1 genes were correlated with each other, but the expression of BCRP or LRP gene did not correlate with that of other genes. These four gene expressions were independent of age, TNM categories and the status of progesterone or estrogen receptor. The expression levels of these four genes were not related to the relapse or prognosis of the 38 patients treated with doxorubicin‐based chemotherapy. P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp)/MDRl, MRP1 and LRP may play more important roles than BCRP in chemotherapy of human breast carcinoma.
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