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This paper reports an electroplating method with supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO 2 ) emulsion (EP-SCE) on hole test element group (TEG), which has an integrated structure of Cu seed layer on TiN barrier layer sputtered on Si substrates. The reaction is carried out in an emulsion of sc-CO 2 in copper-sulfate-based electrolyte with surfactants. It was reported that Ni film obtained by EP-SCE is uniform and without pinhole, because sc-CO 2 has low viscosity and compatibility of hydrogen. Thus, this method is applicable in fine Cu wiring, but dissolution of Cu seed layer in EP-SCE was observed. Therefore, Cu particle was added to form a suspension. An electroplating method with sc-CO 2 suspension (EP-SCS) is proposed to inhibit dissolution of Cu seed layer. Electroplated Cu film obtained by this method was a smooth film without pinhole. Moreover, we applied EP-SCS technique into filling of hole TEG with holes having 60 and 70 nm in diameter, and complete filling of all the holes with electrodeposited Cu without any void was obtained. The Cu filled into the holes was found to be single crystal or had only a few twin boundaries parallel to the surface of TEG. We suggest that crystal growth in EP-SCS could be bottom-up growth along [111] crystallographic orientation of Cu.

We reported filling of nanoscale holes with high aspect ratio by Cu electroplating with a supercritical carbon dioxide suspension (EP-SCS). The Cu film electrodeposited by the EP-SCS was smooth. The nanoscale holes with 70nm in diameter and aspect ratio of 2 and 5 can be filled by electrodeposited Cu with no voids and pinholes by the EP-SCS. Gap-filling capability of the EP-SCS is high for the nanoscale holes with high aspect ratio even when using Cu electrolyte originally designed to fill holes with 70nm diameter and aspect ratio 1 by conventional method.

The bzimpy iron(II) complexes, 1–3, containing branched long alkyl chains were synthesized and characterized in detail. The temperature-dependant magnetic susceptibility of 1 showed gradual spin crossover behavior from low spin to high spin state, while 2 retained only low spin state in the same condition. Interestingly, 3 displayed an abrupt spin transition in temperature range from T1/2↑ = 236 K to T1/2↓ = 230 K with the thermal hysteresis loop about 6 K. The differential scanning calorimetric analysis of 3 revealed two species of liquid crystal phase transitions at 236 K and 351 K, respectively.

In this review article we discuss the unique and novel magnetic properties for the cobalt(II) compounds with a variety of terpy derivatives including substituents at the 4-position. These are also compared with the unsubstituted terpy cobalt(II) complex. Since the first SCO cobalt(II) complex with terpy ligand was reported, this system has been widely studied. SCO cobalt(II) complexes possessing terpy or OH-terpy ligand reveal incomplete or gradual SCO behavior. The pyterpy-appended cobalt(II) complex shows SCO depending on the guest molecules involved. Cobalt(II) complexes with long-alkylated terpy ligands, [Co(Cn-terpy)2](BF4)2 (n = 16, 14 and 12) have been synthesized and some were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. Furthermore, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility indicated that the non-solvated compounds [Co(Cn-terpy)2](BF4)2 (n = 16, 14 and 12) exhibit “reverse spin transition” phenomenon with wide thermal hysteresis around room temperature. In addition, the solvated compound [Co(C12-terpy)2](BF4)2·EtOH·0.5H2O shows “re-entrant SCO” behavior. The long alkyl chains in SCO cobalt(II) complexes can lead to novel physical properties resulting from a synergetic effect between SCO and response of the flexibility toward external stimuli.

Background/Aims Well-organized turnover of the extracellular matrix is important in liver regeneration, which is regulated by the plasminogen activating system. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) after excessive hepatectomy and to ascertain whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are PAI-1 inhibitors as well, successfully improve the survival rate of rats that have undergone 95% partial hepatectomy (PHx). Methods Using liver tissues sampled after 90% or 95% PHx, the expression of PAI-1 mRNA was evaluated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Hepatic PAI-1 protein and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Survival study and cytodynamic analysis by 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine staining were performed to evaluate the effects of ACE inhibition. Results The levels of PAI-1 mRNA and hepatic PAI-1 protein in the 95% PHx group peaked and were then maintained. By contrast, the uPA level fell relative to the 90% PHx group. Additionally, the hepatic PAI-1 protein level decreased and the survival rate improved in the 95% PHx rats that had undergone ACE inhibition. Conclusions Our experimental results suggest that PAI-1 plays a role in the occurrence of liver failure after excessive hepatectomy via accelerated maturation of pro-uPA and fibrinolytic factors. These are potential molecular therapeutic targets for liver failure after excessive hepatectomy.

Background/Aims : The liver has the capacity to regenerate after partial hepatectomy. In order to clarify the mechanism of liver regeneration, we observed the initial stage, especially the mechanism of gene expression during progress from G0 to S phase (0–24 h), and attempted to identify new genes controlling progress to the S phase. Methods : We applied large-scale gene expression analysis with complementary DNA microarrays in mouse hepatectomy models to clarify the mechanism of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Results : As a result, 23 new immediate-early gene candidates such as interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-1 and karyopherin α-1, which are involved in transportation within the nucleus, were discovered. Candidates for new genes concerned with the progress to the S phase were discovered: inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (ID2) and inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3), both new liver regeneration factors that promoted progress to the S phase, and GADD45 γ (growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible protein) as a factor inhibiting that process. Conclusions : The above results not only suggest the importance of NFκB in the initial stage of liver regeneration but also points to the orderly maintenance of the proliferation of the cells in liver regeneration.

Novel 1-D polymeric metallo-organic triazole iron(II) complex {[Fe(C5C12C10-trz) 3 ](ClO 4 ) 2 } n ( 1 ) with branched long alkyl chain was synthesized and characterized in detail. The compound exhibited liquid crystal transition and spin crossover behavior. The liquid crystal transition occurred at 233 K, and the spin crossover was observed at T 1/2 ↑ = 250 K and T 1/2 ↓ = 248 K.

The effects of portal venous inoculation with donor splenocytes on lung allograft survival were evaluated in dogs. Within the dose range examined, portal venous inoculation with donor splenocytes alone did not affect the graft survival time. Although the mean graft survival time was prolonged by FK 506 treatment for 14 days, the transplanted lungs were rejected within 12 days after termination of FK 506 administration. However, when the recipients were given portal venous inoculation with donor splenocytes at the time of transplantation, the graft survival time after termination of FK 506 administration was significantly prolongated. In the recipients that received combined therapy of portal venous inoculation with donor splenocytes and FK 506 treatment, arterial oxygen tension and histologic architecture of the transplanted lungs remained within the normal range for a longer period than these measures did in control animals that received FK 506 treatment alone. Dose-response experiments revealed that 1 × 10 8 cells/recipient was most effective in causing prolonged graft survival after termination of FK 506 treatment. On the basis of these results, perioperative portal venous inoculation with donor splenocytes can enhance the immunosuppressive effect of FK 506 in the canine lung transplantation model. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1996;112:300-5)

As is well known, massive stars, which would be the progenitor of type II supernovae, are rapid rotators. It is obviously necessary to investigate the effects of rotation on gravitational collapse of stellar cores and supernova explosions. We review (i) rotational core collapse, (ii) jet-like explosion induced by rotation and asymmetric neutrino emission from proto-neutron-stars, and (iii) explosive nucleosynthesis when an asymmetric jet-like explosion occurs, based on our recent work.

Recent theoretical development of collapse-driven supernova explosion is reviewed. In particular, we discuss in detail i) convection in the hot bubble region above the protoneutron star as the source of the large amplitude velocity fluctuations which is necessary to explain large scale mixing in SN1987 A, and ii) jet-like explosion induced by axisymmetric neutrino emission from a rotating oblate proto-neutron star, which might account for asymmetry of expanding envelope of SN1987 A.

We examine the effect of several complicated patterns of amisotropic neutrino radiation on the supernova explosion. We find that the neutrino radiation of global anisotropy, i.e., no angle fluctuation with the peak at the pole, is the most effective to increase the explosion energy.

Monoclonal antibody rp-28 directed against the ras gene product p21 has been studied to evaluate ras p21 expression in malignant and benign ovarian tissues. Some ovarian carcinomas of serous and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, undifferentiated adenocarcinomas, and clear cell carcinomas demonstrated intense staining of ras p21. The frequency and intensity of ras p21 staining were observed to increase with the degree of malignancy. There was no significant difference in ras p21 expression between early and late stages in ovarian tumors arising from the coelomic epithelium. With respect to prognosis, no differences between the ras p21-positive and -negative cases in ovarian tumors arising from the coelomic epithelium were observed. It is, therefore, possible to say that ras p21 expression was not related to clinical staging and prognosis. Expression of ras p21 in malignant lesions was higher than that in benign lesions of the ovary, and the expression is associated with the degree of malignancy in some types of ovarian tumors. Overexpression of ras p21 was observed in epithelial tumors; however, increased expression was not observed in germ cell and sex-cord stromal tumors. This differential expression of ras p21 is due to the different histogenesis of ovarian tumors. This fact may reflect a different carcinogenic mechanism for different types of malignancy.

The mechanism of ovulation has been compared to an inflammatory reaction. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important mediator of inflammation as it may induce the production of prostaglandins and lysosomal enzyme. We evaluated the potential role of PAF in PMSG-HCG induced ovulation using CV3988, a specific PAF receptor antagonist in a superovulated ICR mice (9-12 weeks old). CV3988 blocked the ovulation in a dose dependent manner, and the significant reduced ovulatory efficiency was observed at more than 500 micrograms dose (p less than 0.001). The ovulatory efficiency reduced by CV3988 was reversed by PAF in a dose dependent manner. In vitro fertilization (IVF) rate of follicular oocytes with treatment of CV3988 was not different from that of ovulated ova without treatment. These results suggest that PAF may be involved in the ovulation process but the presence of PAF may not be essential for the fertilization of the ova as IVF.

The synthesis and release of Prostaglandin F (PGF) by the rabbit blastocyst and endometrium were investigated on Day 6 and Day 7, using radioimmunoassay, autoradiography and conversion experiments. The following results were obtained: The content of PGF in the blastocyst increased significantly (P less than 0.01) from Day 6 to Day 7. The content of PGF in the endometrium was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) on Day 7 implantation sites compared to the other areas. The in vitro synthesis and release of PGF by Day 6 blastocysts sharply increased after one and two hours of culture, respectively. Thereafter both values declined with time. The in vitro synthesis and release of PGF by Day 6 endometria increased continuously with time. /sup 14/C-arachidonic acid (/sup 14/C-AA) was incorporated into Day 6 blastocysts in vitro and converted to PGF2 alpha. These results suggest that both the endometrium and the blastocyst are the sources of the PGs involved in implantation, and that PGF derived from the blastocysts may act as the trigger of implantation.