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Stop joint boxes (SJB) serve to maintain constant cooling efficiencies by separating the cooling sections on superconducting DC cable systems. SJBs are composed of polypropylene laminated paper (PPLP) and an epoxy spacer. PPLP is wound against a superconductor and epoxy spacer to improve surface flashover performance. The interface between the insulating paper and epoxy is vulnerable to surface flashover due to the extreme distortion of electric fields at the interface. In addition, PPLP is subject to constant tensile stress that affects the dielectric characteristics of insulating paper. The breakdown characteristics of insulating paper with diverse tensile stress in cryogenic environments has been previously reported. However, research with regard to the surface flashover characteristics of composite insulation structures under cryogenic environments depending on tensile stress has not yet been reported. Therefore, in this paper the DC surface flashover characteristics of the interface between PPLP and epoxy was investigated in liquid nitrogen in accordance with the tensile stress of PPLP. TM systems which are able to convert rotational motion into linear motion by torque were devised for changing and subjecting the tensile stress to PPLP. From the experiments, it was confirmed that the DC surface flashover strength of PPLP decreased over 40% due to tensile stress. In the case of the interface, tensile stress had no effect on the DC surface flashover strength. Consequently, tensile stress was an important design factor in a single insulation structure with PPLP but was not essentially considered in the composite insulation structure with PPLP and epoxy.

Background/Objectives:We investigated the effect of long-term treatment with lobeglitazone, a novel thiazolidinedione-based activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, on adipose tissue (AT), focusing on its effects on insulin resistance in obese db/db mice.Methods:Seven-week-old male db/db mice were assigned to either a vehicle-treated (n=8) or lobeglitazone-treated (n=8) group. Lobeglitazone (1?mg?kg-1daily) was injected intraperitoneally for 20 weeks.Results:Lobeglitazone treatment for 20 weeks resulted in a remarkably improved glycemic index, including significantly decreased glucose levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity and preserved pancreatic beta cells. Both whole body and subcutaneous AT weight increased in the lobeglitazone-treated group. However, lobeglitazone induced an increase in the number of small adipocyte in both epididymal and subcutaneous AT, with a significant weight decrease in the epididymal AT of db/db mice. Using flow cytometry, the CD11c-positive M1 macrophages and CD206-positive M2 macrophages in the epididymal AT were observed to exhibit a decreased M1-to-M2 ratio in lobeglitazone-treated db/db mice. Furthermore, in the lobeglitazone-treated group, interscapular brown AT was clearly visualized by 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) and its mass was significantly greater than that of the vehicle-treated group. In the lobeglitazone-treated group, beige-specific gene expression and the number of mitochondria in white AT were upregulated. Lobeglitazone, with upregulating interferon regulatory factor-4 (a key transcriptional regulator of thermogenesis), promoted the development of brown adipocytes and the differentiation of white adipocytes into beige adipocytes.Conclusions:Long-term lobeglitazone treatment has a beneficial role in remodeling and ameliorating inflammation in white AT and in glycemic control, in relation to insulin sensitivity in obese db/db mice. Moreover, lobeglitazone induced the differentiation of brown and beige adipocytes. Collectively, our data suggest that lobeglitazone treatment provides promising effects on white and brown AT as well as great improvement in glycemic control, as a potent insulin sensitizer.

Background/Objectives:: Activation of Notch signaling pathologically enhances lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis in the liver causing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and diabetes. Delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1), an imprinted gene that can modulate adipogenesis and muscle development in mice, was found as an inhibitory regulator of Notch signaling. Therefore, we investigated the metabolic effect of exogenous DLK1 in vitroand in vivo. Subjects/Methods:: A soluble DLK1 peptide was generated with fusion between a human Fc fragment and extracellular domain of DLK1. Male db/db mice were randomly assigned to two groups: vehicle treated and DLK1-treated group (25?mg?kg-1, intraperitoneal injection, twice a week for 4 weeks). Primary mice hepatocytes and HepG2 cells were used for in vitroexperiments. Results:: After 4 weeks of DLK1 administration, hepatic triglyceride content and lipid droplets in liver tissues, as well as serum levels of liver enzymes, were markedly decreased in db/db mice. DLK1 treatment induced phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC and suppressed nuclear expression of SREBP-1c in the mouse liver or hepatocytes, indicating regulation of fatty acid oxidation and synthesis pathways. Furthermore, DLK1-treated mice showed significantly lower levels of fasting and random glucose, with improved glucose and insulin tolerance compared with the vehicle-treated group. Macrophage infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the epididymal fat were decreased in DLK1-treated db/db mice. Moreover, DLK1 suppressed glucose production from hepatocytes, which was blocked after co-administration of an AMPK inhibitor, compound C. DLK1-treated hepatocytes and mouse liver tissues showed lower PEPCK and G6Pase expression. DLK1 triggered AKT phosphorylation followed by cytosolic translocation of FOXO1 from the nucleus in hepatocytes. Conclusions:: The present study demonstrated that exogenous administration of DLK1 reduced hepatic steatosis and hyperglycemia via AMPK activation in the liver. This result suggests that DLK1 may be a novel therapeutic approach for treating NAFLD and diabetes.

The present work deals with the spheroidisation behaviour of pearlitic cementite in 1·0 wt-% carbon steel subjected to equal channel angular extrusion followed by annealing. The influences of intense strain and annealing temperature on the morphological change of cementite were investigated. Intense strain even by single equal channel angular extrusion was sufficiently beneficial to accelerate spheroidisation kinetics upon annealing, resulting in reducing annealing time required for achieving fully globular cementites with uniform distribution. An optimum condition to obtain the fully spheroidised microstructure of 1·0 wt-% carbon steel was suggested. In addition, the correlation between processing variables and spheroidisation of 1·0 wt-% carbon steel was explored based on microstructural evolution.

We have developed a portable device for patient use in logging snoring loudness in the home, for guiding treatment decisions and measuring the clinical effectiveness of treatment. The device uses a free field microphone and is positioned on a bedside table. The prototype devices contain no inherently expensive components and are simple to operate (producing only 5% patient error to date). They are portable, battery powered, rugged and produce digital data which are easily and automatically analysed, and these design parameters enable the devices to be used for first line patient assessment.

The differentiation of palatal from non-palatal snoring is very important for ENT surgeons trying to determine whether palatal surgery would be curative. At present sleep nasendoscopy is the accepted method.

SummaryWith the recent availability of a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free metered dose inhaler (MDI) (AiromirTM), a patient survey was carried out to evaluate awareness of the role of CFCs in our environment and acceptance of this new inhaler. A questionnaire survey was conducted on parents and guardians of 201 children. Depending on respondents' preference, the interview was conducted in English (71%), Chinese (23%), Malay (5%) or Tamil (1%). A ‘taste’ test was also conducted on 103 of these children. Only 13% (26/201) of parents/guardians were aware that MDIs contained CFCs. Although 70% of children were in favour of the new taste of the CFC-free inhaler, the cost of the new inhaler was an important consideration for parents and guardians in their decision to switch to the new inhaler. The majority (93%) were willing to switch if its cost were equivalent to their current inhaler. This study has provided pertinent information with regard to acceptance of CFC-free inhalers which should be considered when making the inevitable switch to environmentally friendly inhalers.

An analysis of the composition of Ce and Tb barium copper oxide samples with the nominal composition CeBa2Cu3Oy and TbBa2Cu3Oy, prepared with the same solid state reaction method used for the other superconducting rare earth (R) barium copper oxide RBa2Cu3O7-d compounds, is described. The analysis indicates that these samples are multiphase and consist mostly of 1) the perovskite phases BaCeO3 or BaTbO3, 2) CuO, and 3) BaCuO2. No trace of the oxygen deficient orthorhombic perovskite type structure of YBa2Cu3O7-d could be found in the X-ray diffraction patterns. Consequently, the compounds do not display superconductivity. The magnetization measurements indicate that BaCeO3 is weakly paramagnetic which is consistent with tetravalent Ce. The BaTbO3 compound exhibits an antiferromagnetic transition at a Néel temperature TN-35 K, and its magnetic susceptibility above TN can be described by a Curie-Weiss law with an effective moment that corresponds to tetravalent Tb.

We present a quantitative study of the simultaneous effects of surface topography and friction in atomic force microscopic imaging of octadecyltriethoxysilane-on-glass self-assembled monolayers, patterned by illumination with ultraviolet radiation through a mask. The ultraviolet light leaves a ~1 nm deep topographic depression in the exposed areas, and produces larger surface-tip friction which can be the dominant contribution to the apparent topography.

The first live-attenuated Oka strain varicella vaccines needed to be stored at −20°C. Reformulation of this vaccine by SmithKline Beecham Biologicals has provided a vaccine shelf life of up to 2 years when stored at +2°C to +8°C. In this study the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of two different production lots of this reformulated vaccine at two different titres each, which corresponded to the release and expected expiry titres, were evaluated. A double-blind randomised clinical trial was conducted in healthy children aged from 9 to 24 months. Immunogenicity was assessed by the measurement of varicella specific antibodies in paired serum samples taken before and from 35 to 63 days post vaccination. Reactogenicity was assessed by the evaluation of any untoward reactions occurring up to 42 days post vaccination. In order to assess protective efficacy, parents of these subjects were contacted approximately 6 months after completion of the trial. One hundred and ninety-one subjects were recruited into the study. Of the 181 initially seronegative subjects who completed the trial according to the protocol, 179 showed seroconversion (98.9%). Reactions to the vaccine were minor and observed in 46/191 (24%) of subjects. Rashes were present in 19, fever in 22, and both fever and rashes in 5. Rashes were mainly maculo-papular in nature but were vesicular in 6. Febrile reactions were shortlived. After a 6-month follow up period, attenuated varicella with minor clinical symptoms was diagnosed in 6/52 vacinees who had close contact with natural varicella (attack rate=11.5%).

A 110-kDa Borrelia burgdorferi fusion protein, Escherichia coli expressing the fusion protein, transformed E. coli lacking the fusion protein insert, and lyophilized whole B. burgdorferi bacteria were compared for immunogenicity in C3H/He mice. Immunized mice were challenged with a variety of isolates from the United States or the European isolate P/Gau 3 weeks following the last inoculation. An average of 76.7% of the mice immunized with 25 micrograms of lyophilized whole B. burgdorferi cells were protected from infection, while 60% of the mice immunized with the 110-kDa fusion protein were protected. Whole E. coli bacteria expressing the fusion protein protected 57.7% of immunized mice against experimental challenge. Lower levels of protection occurred in mice challenged with the European isolate than in those challenged with isolates originating from the United States. These results demonstrate the potential of the 110-kDa fusion protein for use as a component of a subunit vaccine for prevention of Lyme borreliosis.

In this study, we used an in vitro coculture system to determine which virulence factor from Pasteurella haemolytica A1 was responsible for augmenting bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-mediated killing of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAEC). A 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay was used as a measure of BPAEC killing. The mechanisms associated with this BPAEC killing were also studied. Our results demonstrated that the leukotoxin and not the lipopolysaccharide from P. haemolytica was responsible for augmenting the PMN-mediated killing of BPAEC. Furthermore, this augmented killing was related to the stimulation of PMNs by the leukotoxin. Killing of BPAEC by leukotoxin-stimulated PMNs was diminished in the presence of the H2O2 inactivator, catalase. The membrane-permeant H2O2, hydroxyl radical (HO.) scavenger 1,3-dimethyl-2 thiourea, and the HO. scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide but not the myeloperoxidase inhibitor sodium azide attenuated this BPAEC killing. Pretreatment of BPAEC with a 21-aminosteroid (U74500A), a potent iron chelator-antioxidant, provided the most effective protection against BPAEC killing induced by leukotoxin-stimulated PMNs. These data were compatible with the concept that the H2O2 generated by leukotoxin-stimulated PMNs interacts with intracellular iron in the endothelial cell to form highly reactive HO.. We suggest that HO. may be a key factor in BPAEC killing. Furthermore, since the elastase-specific inhibitor N-methoxy-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-chloromethyl ketone (CMK) also attenuated BPAEC killing and both CMK and 1,3-dimethyl-2 thiourea functioned additively in protecting against BPAEC killing, we conclude that both HO. and elastase may jointly contribute to BPAEC killing induced by leukotoxin-stimulated PMNs. This study broadens our understanding of how leukotoxin-stimulated PMNs injure lung endothelial cells and provides new insight into the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Low temperature heat-capacity measurements have been performed to study the magnetic ordering in NdBa2Cu3Ox and DyBa2Cu3Ox. In order to investigate the type of ordering, magnetic fields up to 6 T and hydrostatic pressures up to 4.5 kbar were applied. While for NdBa2Cu3Ox and DyBa2Cu3Ox both the fully oxidized and the fully oxygen reduced samples display long rang antiferromagnetic ordering, only magnetic short range interaction could be found for samples in an intermediate range of oxygen concentration. For NdBa2Cu3Ox, where superexchange is believed to be the dominant magnetic interaction,TN is three times higher in the sample withx=6.26 compared to the one withx=6.98. In contrast,TN of DyBa2Cu3Ox is almost oxygen independent as expected for this mainly dipolar interacting system.

Finely ground powders ofRBa2Cu3O7 - d (R=Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) have been mixed at dilute 3%-by-volume concentrations into epoxy matrices which were then allowed to harden in applied magnetic fieldsHA=18 kOe. X-ray diffractometry studies and 4.3 K measurements of supercurrent-induced magnetization hysteresis?M are interpreted as indicating at least partial alignment of single-crystal-grain c-axes (1) parallel toHA forR=Y, Nd, Sm, Dy, Ho (as earlier found by Farrell et al. forR=Y), and (2) perpendicular toHA forR=Eu, Er, Tm, Yb. With a few exceptions (Y, Sm, Eu) the alignment direction correlates with the sign of the second-order Stevens factoraJ of the crystalline electric field Hamiltonian in the manner suggested by Livingston et al. For the best aligned specimens (Ho, Dy) critical current densitiesJc (4.3 K, 5 kOe) for individual grains are estimated from?M and the Bean model to be of order 107 A/cm2 for the measuring fieldH parallel to the original alignment fieldHA, and of order 106 A/cm2 forH perpendicular toHA.

Investigations of Y1-xMxBa2Cu3O7-d (M=Ce, Th)c-axis oriented thin film specimens show that the rate of depression ofTc withx is larger for M=Th, than for M=Ce and Pr, and suggest that Ce, like Th, is tetravalent in this compound. Hall effect measurements on Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-d single crystals reveal aT2 dependence of the cotangent of the Hall angle in the normal state and a “negative Hall anomaly” belowTc in the superconducting state, in agreement with recent reports. Our research shows that the depth, ?, of the negative Hall signal scales withT/Tc and that the maximum value of ? decreases linearly withx and vanishes atx˜0.24. Magnetoresistance measurements on Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-d single crystals indicate that the irreversibility lineH(T*) obeys a universal scaling relation characterized by anm=3/2 power law nearTc, with a crossover to a more rapid temperature dependence of belowT/Tc˜0.6, similar to that observed for polycrystalline specimens.

PZT and modified lead titanate thin films were prepared by pulsed excimer laser irradiation of dense ceramic targets. The amorphous phase of the lead titanate was crystallized to pyrochlore and/or perovskite by post annealing and the ratio, perovskite to pyrochlore, was found to depend on the depositional P02. Formation of two types of pyrochlore was discussed. A PZT film formed from a target having the morphotropic phase boundary composition showed no tetragonal X-ray peak splitting. However, Raman spectroscopy suggested that this film had mixed tetragonal and rhombohedral phases, the same as the target.

Tuberculosis, caused by the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the world's leading cause of death in humans from a single infectious agent. A safe and effective vaccine against this scourge is urgently needed. This study demonstrates that immunization with the 30-kDa major secretory protein, alone or in combination with other abundant extracellular proteins of M. tuberculosis, induces strong cell-mediated immune responses and substantial protective immunity against aerosol challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis bacilli in the highly susceptible guinea pig model of pulmonary tuberculosis. Protection is manifested by decreased clinical illness including decreased weight loss, reduced mortality, and decreased growth of M. tuberculosis in the lungs and spleens of immunized animals compared with sham-immunized controls. This study demonstrates that purified major extracellular proteins of M. tuberculosis are candidate components of a subunit vaccine against tuberculosis and provides compelling support for the concept that extracellular proteins of intracellular pathogens are key immunoprotective molecules.

rIL-4 (B cell stimulatory factor 1) induces the expression of Fc epsilon R2/CD23 on normal human monocytes (Mo). Fc epsilon R2/CD23 induction was detectable both by flow cytometry using anti-CD23 mAbs as well as soluble IgE, and by the immunoprecipitation with CD23-specific mAb or IgE of a 45-kD band from 125I-lactoperoxidase-labeled Mo. Fc epsilon R2/CD23 was fully expressed after a 24-h incubation with rIL-4, and was still detectable after 72 h from the addition of IL-4. This effect was specific, because none of the other rILs tested (IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, B cell stimulatory factor 2, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and IFN-gamma) could induce FC epsilon R2/CD23, either alone or in various combinations. No synergism was observed between IL-4 and other ILs. IFN-gamma was not able to inhibit the IL-4-induced expression of Fc epsilon R2/CD23 on Mo, neither when added to the culture together with IL-4, nor when added 36 h earlier.

A 110-kDa Borrelia burgdorferi fusion protein, Escherichia coli expressing the fusion protein, transformed E. coli lacking the fusion protein insert, and lyophilized whole B. burgdorferi bacteria were compared for immunogenicity in C3H/He mice. Immunized mice were challenged with a variety of isolates from the United States or the European isolate P/Gau 3 weeks following the last inoculation. An average of 76.7% of the mice immunized with 25 micrograms of lyophilized whole B. burgdorferi cells were protected from infection, while 60% of the mice immunized with the 110-kDa fusion protein were protected. Whole E. coli bacteria expressing the fusion protein protected 57.7% of immunized mice against experimental challenge. Lower levels of protection occurred in mice challenged with the European isolate than in those challenged with isolates originating from the United States. These results demonstrate the potential of the 110-kDa fusion protein for use as a component of a subunit vaccine for prevention of Lyme borreliosis.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the T cell receptor β-chain gene was studied in two groups of Chinese thyrotoxic patients, those with thyrotoxic hypokaleamic periodic paralysis (THPP) and those with Graves' Disease (GD). DNA digested with restriction enzymes Bgl II, Bam HI, Eco RI, Pvu II and Tag I were hybridized to a 770 bp TcRβ cDNA probe containing the joining (J) and constant (C) region segments. The TcRβ/Bgl II polymorphism of 9.2 kb and 10 kb fragments were observed in THPP, GD and normal controls. The genotype frequencies of this polymorphism, however, did not differ between patients (THPP or GD) and controls. These results, therefore, do not support the presence of an association between the TCRβ/Bgl II RFLP and THPP nor with GD susceptibility. Finally, restriction analysis of DNA from our patients and normal controls using enzymes Bam HI, Eco RI, Pvu II and Taq I with the T cell receptor β-chain gene did not show polymorphisms, and were therefore not informative.

The new isoprenylated tetrahydroxyxanthone, 2,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-5-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-9H-xanthen-9-one (1), was isolated from the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata together with macluraxanthone B (2) and cudraxanthone L (3), which were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses.