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We review our optical experiments on two-dimensional electron systems (2DES) of different mobilities, realized in modulation-doped GaAs-AlGaAs single quantum wells, in quantizing magnetic fields. The carrier densities of the 2DESs could be tuned in a quite broad range between about 1 × 1010 cm-2 and 2 × 1011 cm-2 via gate electrodes. In photoluminescence (PL) and absorption experiments on 2DES with moderate mobility, at very low electron densities, we have observed the formation of negatively charged excitons. In these experiments, we could identify a dark triplet exciton, which is observable at temperatures below 1 K and for electron filling factors v < 1/3 i.e., in the fractional quantum Hall regime, only. In experiments where we have increased the density of the 2DES so that a uniform 2DES starts to form, we have found a strong energetic anomaly of the charged excitons in the vicinity of filling factor 1/3. The anomaly could be explained by a model, assuming that at very low temperatures localized charged excitons and a uniform Laughlin liquid coexist. Furthermore, we report on ultrafast optical experiments at the v = 1 quantum Hall state of a high-mobility 2DES in a GaAs-AlGaAs single quantum well. By spectrally-resolved four-wave-mixing experiments, we have investigated the coherent dynamics of photo-excited electron-hole pairs and found extraordinarily long decoherence times for electrons, excited into the upper spin level, around v = 1 We attribute the observed faster decay of the dephasing time for v < 1 as compared to v > 1 presumably to the coherent coupling of the spin levels via spin waves. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

In this letter, detection of target protein molecules has been demonstrated by a two-dimensional (2D) photon burst analysis technique and microfluidic channel device. Individual molecule events are scatter plotted in terms of their photon counts and burst width in 2D photon burst analysis. Detection of target protein is verified by a higher counts-per-bin for rabbit anti-HA polyclonal antibody sample than that of the control sample from the 2D photon burst analysis. Since this is microfluidic single molecule detection scheme, it has the advantages of high sensitivity, small sample consumption and reduced processing time, comparing to the conventional immunological ensemble measurements, such as western blot, immuno-precipitation, etc.

The differentiation deficiencies of osteoclast precursors (pre-OCs) may contribute to osteoporosis. Research on osteoporosis has recently focused on microRNAs (miRNAs) that play crucial roles in pre-OC differentiation. In the current study, we aimed to analyze the expression and function of the glucocorticoid (GC)-associated miRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) in osteoclast formation. We found that dexamethasone induced osteoclast differentiation and inhibited miR-338-3p expression. Overexpression of an miR-338-3p mimic in osteoclast precursor cells attenuated GC-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorption, whereas inhibition of miR-338-3p reversed these effects. The expression of the nuclear factor κB ligand RANKL, a potential target gene of miR-338-3p, was inversely correlated with miR-338-3p expression in pre-OCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that RANKL was directly regulated by miR-338-3p and re-introduction of RANKL reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-338-3p on osteoclast formation and bone resorption. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that miR-338-3p may play a significant role in GC-induced osteoclast differentiation and function by targeting RANKL in osteoclasts.

A fibre optic multiple-pass surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor coupled with a field-assist capability for detecting extremely low concentrations of charged particles is demonstrated for the first time. The field-assist feature forces charged particles/molecules to the SPR surface, increasing the local concentration for detection and thus the sensitivity by an additional factor of about 100. A 10 pM concentration of 47 nm diameter polystyrene (PS) latex beads and 2 µM concentration of salt dissolved in DI water were detected within a few seconds. The equivalent index resolution for atomic size corresponding to ionized chlorine in salt is 2.6 × 10−8. This technique should offer the potential for the sensitive and fast detection of analytes in a solution.

Although the role of H3K9 methylation in rice (Oryza sativa) is unclear, in Arabidopsis thaliana the loss of histone H3K9 methylation by mutation of Kryptonite [also known as SU(VAR)3-9 homolog] reduces genome-wide DNA methylation and increases the transcription of transposable elements. Here, we report that rice SDG714 (for SET Domain Group Protein714) encodes a histone H3K9-specific methyltransferase. The C terminus of SDG714 confers enzymatic activity and substrate specificity, whereas the N terminus localizes it in the nucleus. Loss-of-function mutants of SDG714 (SDG714IR transformants) generated by RNA interference display a mostly glabrous phenotype as a result of the lack of macro trichomes in glumes, leaves, and culms compared with control plants. These mutants also show decreased levels of CpG and CNG cytosine methylation as well as H3K9 methylation at the Tos17 locus, a copia-like retrotransposon widely used for the generation of rice mutants. Most interestingly, loss of function of SDG714 can enhance transcription and cause the transposition of Tos17. Together, these results suggest that histone H3K9 methylation mediated by SDG714 is involved in DNA methylation, the transposition of transposable elements, and genome stability in rice.

Right ventricle (RV) transposes deoxygenated oxygen to the lungs at much lower pressure but with similar volume as the left ventricle (LV). Unlike the elliptical LV, the RV is funnel-shaped with crescent cross section in the short-axis direction. In part due to its complex anatomy, the studies on the ventricular flow are quite limited, as compared with LV. In addition, RV dilation is expected, when pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is present, and the alternation of ventricular flow has not been studied to the best of our knowledge. In this study, a normal subject and a PAH patient were selected for MRI scans, based on which the time-resolved RV geometries were reconstructed. To model the patient-specific ventricular flow, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was utilized with dynamic mesh method enabled. The simulation results showed that the ventricular flow in both normal and PAH RVs were smoother than that in LV, especially at the mid and apical regions. The vortex structure indicated that deeper penetration of transtricuspid flow into RV in the normal subject.

Purpose Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor. Cetuximab has activity in squamous cell carcinoma and enhances both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We conducted a pilot phase II study of a new combined-modality paradigm of targeted therapy (cetuximab) with chemoradiotherapy. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had stage III or IV, M0, squamous cell head and neck cancer. Treatment included concomitant boost radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/d weeks 1 to 6; boost: 1.6 Gy 4 to 6 hours later weeks 5 to 6; 70 Gy total to gross disease), cisplatin (100 mg/m2 intravenously weeks 1 and 4), and cetuximab (400 mg/m2 intravenously week 1, followed by 250 mg/m2 weeks 2 to 10). Results Twenty-two patients were enrolled (median age, 57 years; range, 41 to 72 years; median Karnofsky status, 90%; range, 70% to 90%; oropharynx primary tumor, 59% of patients; T4, 36%; N2/3, 77%; stage IV disease, 86%). One patient did not receive study treatment because of an ineligible diagnosis. The severity of expected, acute toxicities was typical of concurrent cisplatin and radiotherapy alone. Grade 3 or 4 cetuximab-related toxicities included acne-like rash (10%) and hypersensitivity (5%). However, the study was closed for significant adverse events, including two deaths (one pneumonia and one unknown cause), one myocardial infarction, one bacteremia, and one atrial fibrillation. With a median follow-up of 52 months, the 3-year overall survival rate is 76%, the 3-year progression-free survival rate is 56%, and the 3-year locoregional control rate is 71%. Conclusion This regimen is not currently recommended outside of the clinical trial setting. Further investigation of its safety profile is needed. However, preliminary efficacy is encouraging, and further development of this targeted combined-modality paradigm is warranted.

The purpose of our prospective study was to investigate the prevalence of adeno-associated virus (AAV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and/or HPV 18 infection in Korean women with normal cervical smears and those with HPV-associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cancer in cytobrush samples, and to evaluate the correlation between AAV 2 and HPV 16 and/or HPV 18 infection. AAV 2 was detected in CIN I (9.7%), CIN II (20%), CIN III (22.8%), and cancer (10%). HPV 16 was detected in CIN I (42%), CIN II (55%), CIN III (54.3%), and cancer (70%). HPV 18 was detected in CIN I (51.6%), CIN II (50%), CIN III (62.8%), and cancer (43.3%). HPV 16 or HPV 18 was detected in CIN I (18.3%), CIN II (80%), CIN III (71.4%), and cancer (80%). In normal and HPV-infected group, AAV 2 DNA was detected in 16.3% and 4.4% of samples, respectively. HPV 16 was detected in 10.2% of normal patients and in 44.4% of HPV-infected patients, and HPV 18 was detected in 12.2% of normal patients and in 40% of HPV-infected patients. HPV 16 or HPV 18 was detected in 18.3% of normal patients and in 57.7% of HPV infection. The correlation between AAV 2 and HPV 16 was statistically significant in normal and CIN I/II group only, and AAV 2 and HPV 16 and/or HPV 18 showed no correlation. Therefore, the correlation between AAV and HPV were not statistically significant. These data support the previous reports that AAV might not be associated with cervical tumorigenesis.

The soluble decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a member of the TNFR superfamily. Because DcR3 is up-regulated in tumor tissues and is detectable in the sera of cancer patients, it is regarded as an immunosuppressor to down-regulate immune responses. To understand the function of DcR3 in vivo, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing DcR3 systemically. In comparison with HNT-TCR (HNT) transgenic mice, up-regulation of IL-4 and IL-10 and down-regulation of IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α were observed in the influenza hemagglutinin126–138 peptide-stimulated splenocytes of HNT-DcR3 double-transgenic mice. When infected with Listeria monocytogenes, DcR3 transgenic mice show attenuated expression of IFN-γ as well as increased susceptibility to infection. The Th2 cell-biased phenotype in DcR3 transgenic mice is attributed to decreased IL-2 secretion by T cells, resulting in the suppression of IL-2 dependent CD4+ T cell proliferation. This suggests that DcR3 might help tumor growth by attenuating the Th1 response and suppressing cell-mediated immunity.

In this paper, we introduce systems of simultaneous generalized vector equilibrium problems and prove the existence of their solutions. As application of our results, we derive the existence theorems for solutions of systems of vector saddle–point problems. Consequently, we prove the existence of a solution of systems of generalized minimax inequalities. Further application of our results is also given to establish the existence of a solution of a Debreu-type equilibrium problem for vector-valued functions.

Background/objectives: The key to HIV/STI control is community-wide intervention (CWI) which depends heavily on continuous monitoring and evaluation. Unfortunately, comprehensive CWI assessment methodology and reports are generally lacking. This study developed, applied, and evaluated a rapid tool for assessing CWI in China. Methods: A total of 120 county level respondents in charge of county-wide responses to HIV/STI thoughout China were selected randomly and surveyed using a structured inventory consisting of three tiers of indicators developed via consensus group techniques. The respondents were asked to rate each of the indicators against a five grade (1-5) scale. 30 pairs of the same staff from within Anhui Province were surveyed to gauge inter-rater reliability. Results: Response rate for the nationwide survey was 85% and for inter-rater reliability survey, 90%. Correlation coefficients between the inter-rater ratings ranged from 0.68 to 0.95. The overall average rating of CWI in China was 2.85. Average ratings for the six first tier indicators, organisation and policy development, goals and objectives setting, project and action planning, resource exploitation, project and task implementation, and CWI evaluation were 2.87, 2.83, 2.67, 2.77, 3.26, and 2.71 respectively. Ratings derived for the 24 second tier indicators ranged from 2.1 to 3.86; while for the 96 third tier indicators, 1.90 to 4.40 Conclusions: The instrument developed proved to be reliable, useful, and easily applicable in common communities. Application of it in China revealed that a large gap exists between desired and actual CWI, and areas meriting particular attention include policy and incentives development, intervention planning and evaluation, and fund raising and utilisation.

DNA vaccine has been tested for protection against foot-and-mouth disease. However, the relatively low efficacy of DNA vaccine in inducing immune responses in large animals has restricted its practical use. Interleukin-1 plays an essential role in amplifying both the cellular and humoral immune responses to foreign antigens, and may therefore represent a good candidate as an adjuvant of DNA vaccines. Since the inflammatory activity of IL-I may restrict its application in DNA vaccine treatment, we explored the possibilities of augmenting immune responses without unwanted inflammatory effects using the IL-1beta fragment (amino acids (aa) 163-171), which is essential for IL-1 receptor-1 binding. The DNA fragment encoding the human IL-1beta fragment (aa 163-171) was fused to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) DNA vaccine, and injected into mice to analyse its immune response. Compared with control mice receiving FMDV DNA vaccine alone, significant increases in the FMDV-specific antibody response and also in T cell proliferation were observed in mice receiving IL-1beta (163-171)-FMDV. These results suggested that DNA fragment encoding IL-1beta 163-171 peptide might represent a good candidate for an adjuvant of FMDV DNA vaccine.

The layered organic superconductors kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)X exhibit similar normal and superconducting state properties with those of the high temperature cuprate superconductors. Many experimental measurements support the version that the superconducting state is on the verge of the Mott insulator. Using the strong-coupling approach, we employ the Gutzwiller variational method to study a two-dimensional Hubbard model including a spin exchange coupling term on an anisotropic triangular lattice as a minimal model for the compounds. The ground state is found to be a Gossamer superconductor at a small on-site Coulomb repulsion U and an antiferromagnetic Mott insulator at large U, separated by a first order phase transition. The lattice structure anisotropy, or the ratio of the hopping integrals along different lattice orientation t'/t plays an important role in determining the highly non-trivial phase diagram. Our theory is qualitatively consistent with major experiments reported in organic superconductors.

A fibre optic technique based on the Fresnel reflection from the fibre tip is used for measurements of the refractive indices of various liquids at wavelengths of 1310 and 1551 nm. Reflection signals from liquid?fibre interface are compared with reflection signals from air?fibre interface to obtain the refractive index. Values of refractive indices for distilled water measured by this technique compare very well with known values at both wavelengths only if the fibre effective waveguide index is used. Applying the double-pulse measurement technique, it is shown that a measurement resolution of about 2.5 ? 10?5 can be achieved.

DNA vaccines induce protective humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in several animal models. Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is particularly rich in polysaccharides, and has shown particularly strong results in treating and preventing cancers. The goal of this study was to investigate whether co-immunization of the fungus ABM with hepatitis B virus (HBV) core DNA vaccine could increase the immune responses. Compared with the control mice which received hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) alone, significant increase in not only the HBcAg-specific antibody response but also T cell proliferation was observed in mice which received HBcAg DNA vaccine plus ABM extract. These results suggest that ABM extract might represent an adjuvant to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines in vivo.

We propose an explanation of several experimental features related to the "pseudogap" in high Tc cuprates in terms of a spin-charge gauge theory. In this approach, based on a formal spin-charge separation applied to the t-J model, the low energy effective action describes gapful spinons (with a theoretically derived doping dependence of the gap ms~J(δ| ln δ|)1/2, where δ is the doping concentration) and holons with "small" Fermi surface (∊F~tδ) interacting via a gauge field. The main effect of gauge fluctuations is to introduce a dissipation ~T/χ, where χ is the diamagnetic susceptibility. The competition between the two energy scales, ms and T/χ, is the root in our approach of many phenomena peculiar to in-plane transport properties of the "pseudogap phase". Furthermore the gauge interaction induces binding of spinon and holon into an "electron" resonance. This binding introduces another energy scale, the recombination rate, which dominates the out-of-plane resistivity, yielding an insulating behavior. A good agreement is found between the experimental data and theoretically derived doping and temperature dependence of resistivity, both in-plane and out-of-plane, and spin relaxation.

A technique based on the coherent mixing of scattered signal with Fresnel reflection signal from the tip of an optical fiber is used to demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the velocity and fraction ratio of solid particles and gas bubbles or liquid droplets in a liquid or gas flow. If the liquid or gas flow is seeded with small neutrally buoyant particles, the technique is then capable of measuring the velocity as well as the fraction ratio of all three phases of the flow at a given point. The method is briefly described as follows. An optical signal derived from a diode laser driven by a constant current is launched into a single-mode optical fiber and transmitted, through a fiber coupler, to the signal fiber inserted into the test fluid. The diode laser used is a multilongitudinal mode device that has a low coherence length of about 200 μm. The coherently mixed signal propagates back to the signal fiber, through the fiber coupler, and detected by a detector. By analyzing the signal, the velocity and fraction ratio of each phase can be obtained. Using water seeded with small solid particles and air bubbles, it is demonstrated that the technique is capable of measuring the velocity in the direction parallel to the fiber. Since the only intrusion to the fluid is the tiny fiber probe (a dimension of 125 μm in diameter), the disturbance to most fluid flows is negligible, therefore, the technique is nearly nonintrusive.

A new and simple calibration technique that greatly enhances the measurement sensitivity of conventional fiber-optic reflectometry based on Fresnel reflection from the tip of a fiber is used for demonstrating the feasibility of measuring solute concentrations and index changes in fluids to very high precision. The amplitude of pulses originating from reflection from the fiber-fluid interface is compared in real-time with the amplitude of reference pulses from a fiber-air interface such that errors caused by pulse amplitude fluctuations and slightly varying detector responses are corrected. Using solutions of salt and water, it is demonstrated that the technique is capable of measuring index changes of about $1 {\times} 10^{-5}$ corresponding to a salt concentrations of 0.01 %.

The Nd3+-doped Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) single-crystal fiber (SCF) was successfully grown by the micro-pulling-down method with the resistance heating system. The fluorescence spectrum and transmission spectrum of the Nd:BGO SCF were measured. Excited by a continuous-wave 808-nm laser diode, a fluorescence peak around 1064 nm was observed. At an absorbed pump power of 15.25 W, the Nd:BGO SCF laser delivered a power of 3.37 W with a slope efficiency of 31.2%.

We performed Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of SiO masers () toward VX Sgr from 2006 July to 2008 August. With the application of a phase reference technique, the accurate relative positions of maser spots at the two transitions can be acquired. The relative positions enable us to obtain more matched masers in the same coordinate frame to better study the dynamics of the maser shell. We adopt two different methods to investigate the global motions of the maser shell, which is found to expand in a decelerated manner. At the beginning of this process, the decelerative force can be interpreted as a force dominated by the gravitational attraction of the star. However, in the later epochs, the deceleration has a smaller magnitude, suggesting that an outward force is combating the stellar gravity. In addition, we construct a model of a rotating and expanding maser shell. The consistency of the model and observations at the first two epochs suggests approximate Keplerian rotation of the shell with a period of 46.9 years. However, other explanations, such as an axisymmetric outflow, are also possible. We also find two matched maser spots with double-peak spectra moving at a velocity of 6.8 km s−1. The special spectra provide direct observational evidence that the motion of a maser spot reflects the real gas stream, rather than changes in physical conditions. Finally, the distance to VX Sgr is calculated to be 1.10 ± 0.11 kpc using a statistical parallax method. This value is within the range reported in the literature.

We clarify the relation between two kinds of statistics for particle excitations in planar systems: the braid statistics of anyons and the Haldane exclusion statistics(HES). It is shown non-perturbatively that the HES exists for incompressible anyon liquid in the presence of a Hall response. We also study the statistical properties of a specific quantum anomalous Hall model with Chern-Simons term by perturbation in both compressible and incompressible regimes, where the crucial role of edge states to the HES is shown.

As fractures in rock significantly reduce the strength as well as the stiffness of the rock mass, grouting may be required to improve the performance of the rock mass in engineering or mining projects. During grouting, mortar of cement or other materials is injected into the rock mass so that the fractures can be filled up and the rock mass can act as an integral unit. Unlike water, grouts are usually viscous and behave as non-Newtonian fluids. Therefore, the equations describing the flow of grout are more complicated and the solutions are quite difficult to obtain. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that the fractures are mostly randomly distributed, and it is rarely possible to accurately define the fractures and the distribution patterns. In this paper, a numerical model is proposed for analyzing the grouting process. The model is based on the stochastic approach, and it can provide the depth of penetration and the fluid pressure due to the flow of grout, which is modeled as a Bingham fluid, in the fractured rock mass. Parametric studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of various factors on the depth of penetration, and a regression formula is developed for calculating the penetration depth. Experiments have been carried out and their results are used to validate the present method.Key words: stochastic fractures, fractured rock mass, grout flow, grout penetration.

A new and simple normalization technique that greatly enhances the measurement resolution of conventional fibre-optic reflectometry based on Fresnel reflection from the tip of a fibre is used for demonstrating the feasibility of measuring solute concentrations and index changes in fluids to very high precision. The amplitude of pulses originating from reflection from the fibre?fluid interface is compared in real time with the amplitude of reference pulses from a fibre?air interface such that errors caused by pulse amplitude fluctuations and slightly varying detector responses are corrected. Using solutions of sodium chloride and water, it is demonstrated that the technique is capable of measuring index changes of 2 ? 10?5 corresponding to a NaCl concentration of 0.02%.

The U(1)×SU(2) Chern-Simons gauge field theory, proposed by the authors to explain in a unified fashion the metal-insulator crossover of the in-plane resistivity upon temperature decrease in heavily underdoped cuprates without magnetic field and a similar phenomenon, observed in several classes of superconducting cuprates, when a strong magnetic field suppresses the superconductivity, is briefly outlined and confronted with recent experiments.

A 4-year-old intact female schnauzer dog was presented with a history greater than 1 year of alopecia, thick crusting and secondary seborrhea with mild pruritus. The dog was diagnosed pituitary-dependant hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) concurrent with severe Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection. The dog showed generalized alopecia, enlarged pendulous abdomen, mild polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia. Liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) were normal. ACTH stimulation and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests were performed prior to therapy. The concentrations of serum cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods. The results of both assay systems indicated PDH. Fungal cultures showed T. mentagrophytes infection in 4 days. Histological examination of a skin biopsy specimen revealed severe irregular acanthosis accompanied by compact hyperkeratosis, and numerous dermatophytic spores and hyphae heavily colonized in the keratin layer. After 3 months of oral terbinafine (25 mg kg−1, once daily) and mitotane therapy, the hair regrew and the result of an ACTH stimulation test were normal. Three sets of biweekly fungal cultures were negative after 6 months. In this case, terbinafine was given concurrently with mitotane without detectable adverse effects (no abnormal clinical signs were observed and liver enzymes remained within normal ranges). Thus, the combination of terbinafine and mitotane appears to be a safe therapeutic protocol in treatment of PDH with dermatophytosis. This study was supported by The Association of Veterinary Dermatology, Taipei.

An embossing method based on the viscous polymer processed (VPP) ceramic tape has been used to fabricate 3D ceramic microstructures with high aspect ratios. Examples of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) microrod arrays with feature sizes of 10–150 μm and aspect ratios of 3–10 have been demonstrated. Advantages of the embossing technique over conventional casting and moulding methods are discussed.

In this study, we evaluated cortisol concentrations from 53 healthy dogs in response to ACTH stimulation test. The concentrations of serum cortisol were directly determined by a competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with a 104-fold diluted self-made monoclonal antibody. The sensitivity of EIA was 0.1 ng mL−1 with intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation of 8.28 ± 0.09 and 14.60 ± 0.28%, respectively. The recovery rates for 1, 5 and 10 ng mL−1 of cortisol in dog serum were 77.8–128.7% with direct detection. The parallelism test revealed its reliability to detect directly the cortisol concentration in canine serum without extraction. In general, this EIA showed low crossreactivities with a variety of steroids. In the ACTH stimulation tests, we gave each dog 250 µg ACTH (Cortrosyn® Organon) intramuscularly and collected blood samples before and 1 h after administration of ACTH. The cortisol concentrations from 53 healthy dogs were 0.85–14.63 ng mL−1 pre- and 3.06–37.22 ng mL−1 post-test, respectively. Sex and age did not significantly affect the cortisol concentrations in response to ACTH stimulation, but the large breeds (body weight > 25 kg; most of them were German shepherd dogs) showed lower cortisol responses than the smaller breeds. Thus, the results of this test suggested that body weight and breed might play an important role in adrenal dynamic tests.

In this paper results are presented from a range of experiments to explore the feasibility of inserting a ceramic material PZT (lead zirconium titanate) into different kinds of high-aspect-ratio resist moulds. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and SU-8 on silicon substrates and free-standing SU-8 membranes with micro-cavities or through-holes (defined by X-ray lithography) have been used as moulding medium. Processing conditions for the resist materials including pre-bake, exposure, post-bake, development and stripping have been compared. The advantages of different types of resist mould for the LIGA process has been evaluated. Additionally a comparison of photosensitivity of PMMA and SU-8 has been carried out. Using a range of load pressures (5 to 60 MPa), appropriate conditions for PZT embossing into resist moulds have been determined (ensuring minimum void formation in the final PZT structures). In the final form, SU-8 moulds have been removed by laser ablation. This is the first reporting of high-aspect-ratio ceramic microstructures fabricated using a combination of SU-8 moulds and PZT embossing.

Employing an acousto-optic modulator (AOM), the Q-switched laser characteristics of a Tm,Y:CaF2 crystal have been investigated. With T = 1%, 2% and 5% output couplers (OCs), output laser performance in both continuous-wave (CW) and Q-switching regimes have been presented and are discussed in details. The AOM Q-switched Tm,Y:CaF2 laser can run at high repetition rates ranging from 1 kHz to 10 kHz. Under the modulation frequency of 1 kHz, pulses with the shortest duration of 280 ns and the maximum pulse energy of 0.335 mJ have been delivered, corresponding to a maximum peak power of 1.19 kW. The results indicate that Tm,Y:CaF2 crystals can act as a promising candidate of gain medium for pulsed 2 μm laser.

By using the ultrasound-assisted liquid phase exfoliation method, Bi2Te3 nanosheets are synthesized and deposited onto a quartz plate to form a kind of saturable absorber (SA), in which nonlinear absorption properties around 2 μm are analyzed with a home-made mode-locked laser. With the as-prepared Bi2Te3 SA employed, a stable passively Q-switched all-solid-state 2 μm laser is successfully realized. Q-switched pulses with a maximum average output power of 2.03 W are generated under an output coupling of 5%, corresponding to the maximum single-pulse energy of 18.4 μJ and peak power of 23 W. The delivered shortest pulse duration and maximum repetition rate are 620 ns and 118 kHz under an output coupling of 2%, respectively. It is the first presentation of such Bi2Te3 SA employed in a solid-state Q-switched crystalline laser at 2 μm, to the best of our knowledge. In comparison with other 2D materials suitable for pulsed 2 μm lasers, the saturable absorption performance of Bi2Te3 SA is proved to be promising in generating high power and high-repetition-rate 2 μm laser pulses.

A Tm3+ ion and Y3+ ion co-doped CaF2 crystal was grown and characterized, in which spectral and lasing performance was presented for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Under diode end-pumping, in a continuous-wave regime, maximum output power of 453 mW was delivered under an absorption pump power of 2.5 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 17.9% and a slope efficiency of 21%. With a birefringent quartz plate, wavelength-tunable operation with a tunable range of more than 190 nm was realized. The results show that Tm,Y:CaF2 is a promising laser crystal operating in a spectral region ranging from 1850 nm to 2050 nm.

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex process involving chronic liver injury, inflammation, unregulated wound healing, subsequent fibrosis and carcinogenesis. To decipher the molecular mechanism underlying transition from chronic liver injury to dysplasia, we investigated the oncogenic role of gankyrin (PSMD10 or p28GANK) during malignant transformation in a transgenic mouse model. Here, we find that gankyrin increased in patients with cirrhosis. In addition to more severe liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis after DEN plus CCl4 treatment, hepatocyte-specific gankyrin-overexpressing mice (gankyrinhep) exhibited malignant transformation from liver fibrosis to tumors even under single CCl4 administration, whereas wild-type mice merely experienced fibrosis. Consistently, enhanced hepatic injury, severe inflammation and strengthened compensatory proliferation occurred in gankyrinhep mice during CCl4 performance. This correlated with augmented expressions of cell cycle-related genes and abnormal activation of Rac1/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Pharmacological inhibition of the Rac1/JNK pathway attenuated hepatic fibrosis and prevented CCl4-induced carcinogenesis in gankyrinhep mice. Together, these findings suggest that gankyrin promotes liver fibrosis/cirrhosis progression into hepatocarcinoma relying on a persistent liver injury and inflammatory microenvironment. Blockade of Rac1/JNK activation impeded gankyrin-mediated hepatocytic malignant transformation, indicating the combined inhibition of gankyrin and Rac1/JNK as a potential prevention mechanism for cirrhosis transition.

The aim of the work was to evaluate the influence of the filler size and shape in the final architecture of biomimetic composite produced through the freeze casting technique.Different samples of ceramic infiltrated with resin, composed by a different ratio between RonaFlair White Sapphire aluminium oxide powder - EMD Chemicals/Rona Gibbstown, USA (platelet-like morphology and average particle size16 µm) and Almatis alumina filler ‑ CT3000SG, Almatis, USA (average particle size of 0.8 µm) have been produced. The samples have been then characterized through thermal analysis and calorimetry (Model TG/DT A 6300, Seiko Instruments USA Inc. Torrance, CA, USA), scanning electron microscopy (Phenom-World BV, Eindhoven, The Netherlands), and optical microscope (Nikon Eclipse E600 microscope). Moreover the percentage of shrinkage after the ceramic sintering have been measured through a digital calibre (Mitutoyo USA, Aurora, IL, USA). Four different groups have been considered: Group 1 (10R): 10% RonaFlair- 90% Almitas; Group 2 (20R): 20% RonaFlair- 80% Almitas; Group 3 (40R): 40% RonaFlair- 60% Almitas; Group 4 (60R): 60% RonaFlair- 40% Almitas.Optical microscope and SEM observations have confirmed that all samples were characterized by a biomimetic hierarchic structure. For what concerning the average thickness of lamellae measured at 4 and 8 mm from the cooling plate, samples 10R were characterized by higher thickness at both levels. The measured parameter indeed decreases with the increment of the percentage of RonaFlair in the slurry composition. On the contrary the distance between lamellae (wavelength), was characterized by an opposite trend. The measurement of the diameters of the samples after the sintering process through a digital calibre has shown that 10R and 20R samples were characterized by a constant shrinkage in all the samples. On the contrary, groups 40R and 60R were distorted and were characterized by a higher diameter at the bottom respect the upper portion of the samples. Indeed these samples were characterized in the bottom by a greater amount of particles, both Almatis than RonaFlair ones. We have supposed that gravity force, during the freeze casting process, tended to push down in the lower layers all heaviest particles and then the lightest ones have occupied the spaces they have left. Consequently in upper layers there were only few particles so during the sintering process were characterized by the higher shrinkage. This phenomenon was limited in samples 10R and 20R because the percentage of greatest particle was so much inferior that their position was not influential.The present study has shown that samples composed by a higher percentage of RonaFlair, were characterized by a higher distortion after sintherization; the cause of this phenomenon could be the different sedimentation process that characterizes particles of different weight and size.

For the warship formation cooperative anti-air operation process, so as to shorten the whole of penetration synergy anti-missile interception time, and reduce the antimissile resource consumption, building the invite public bidding strategy of fleet anti-missile optimization model. This model combines fuzzy mathematics and dynamic programming optimization techniques, in the condition that the single combat unit needs formation from other collaborative anti-missile combat units, using invite public bidding strategy to establish projection meet the decision scheme of missile defense strategies, so that we can in time adjust it.

Local coupling between nitrogen fixation and denitrification in current biogeochemical models could result in a run-away feedback in open-ocean oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), eventually stripping OMZ waters of all fixed nitrogen. This feedback does not seem to operate at full strength in the ocean, as nitrate does not generally become depleted in open-ocean OMZs. To explore in detail the mechanism that prevents nitrogen depletion in the OMZ of the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (ETSP), we develop a box model with fully prognostic cycles of carbon, nutrients, and oxygen in the upwelling region and its adjacent open ocean. Ocean circulation is calibrated with Δ14C data of the ETSP. The sensitivity of the simulated nitrogen cycle to nutrient and oxygen exchange and ventilation from outside the model domain and remineralization scales inside an OMZ is analysed. For the entire range of model configurations explored, we find that the fixed-N inventory can be stabilized at non-zero levels in the ETSP OMZ only if the remineralization rate via denitrification is slower than that via aerobic respiration. In our optimum model configuration, lateral oxygen supply to the model domain required at rates sufficient to oxidize at least about a fifth of the export production in the model domain to prevent anoxia in the deep ocean. Under these conditions, our model is in line with the view of phosphate as the ultimate limiting nutrient for phytoplankton, and implies that for the current notion of nitrogen fixation being favored in N-deficit waters, the water column of the ETSP could even be a small net source of fixed-N.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an immune deficiency disease. The etiology of hyperthyroidism, which can also be immune-related, is usually divided into six classical categories, including hypophyseal, hypothalamic, thyroid, neoplastic, autoimmune and inflammatory hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a rare complication of highly active antimicrobial therapy (HAART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Hyperthyroidism caused directly by AIDS has not been previously reported.A 29-year-old man who complained of dyspnea and asthenia for 1 month, recurrent fever for more than 20 days, and breathlessness for 1 week was admitted to our hospital. The thyroid function test showed that the level of free thyroxine (FT4) was higher than normal and that the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was below normal. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Additional investigations revealed a low serum albumin level and chest infection, along with diffuse lung fibrosis. Within 1 month, he experienced significant weight loss, no hand tremors, intolerance of heat, and perspiration proneness. We recommended an HIV examination; subsequently, AIDS was diagnosed based on the laboratory parameters.This is the first reported case of hyperthyroidism caused by AIDS.AIDS may cause hyperthyroidism by immunization regulation with complex, atypical, and easily ignored symptoms. Although hyperthyroidism is rare in patients with AIDS, clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction and should carefully monitor thyroid function in HIV-positive patients.

The extraction of Co(II) and Ni(II) from sulfate solution with Cyanex 272 in kerosene has been studied by titration microcalorimetry. The heats produced in the reaction processes were determined by the power–time curves and the ΔrHθ m values at 298 K were identified. The extraction equilibrium constants and thermodynamic functions at different temperatures were calculated. *This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (29971020) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (L2000B01).

Dense and adherent CdS films were successfully deposited onto glass substrates at low temperatures (≤450°C) using a novel and cost-effective electrostatic spray assisted vapor deposition process. A mixture of cadmium chloride and thiourea precursors in ethanol/water solvent was used to deposit CdS films in an open atmosphere. The relationship between the field strength and electrostatic spray mode was established. The influences of substrate temperature and precursor flow rate on the microstructure of the films were investigated. The microstructure of the films was examined using a combination of X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. At optimum process conditions, the desirable uniform CdS films with oriented columnar structure were deposited at 400∼420°C at a growth rate of 0.05 μm/min. The relationships between the growth behavior and structure of the films are discussed, and a deposition model for the process is proposed.

It is shown that the measurement of photocurrents induced by optical pumping at subband gap wavelengths may be a useful technique for studying deep-level traps in semiconductor lasers. In this experiment a 1.3 μm wavelength laser is used to probe a 0.78 μm wavelength GaAs laser device. The trap density of a predegraded and postdegraded device was measured. The measurement indicates a significant increase in the trap density for the degraded device over the nondegraded device. Rate equations describing this excitation process are given and are shown to describe the experiment very well.

Based on recently proposed U(1) × SU(2) Chern-Simons gauge field theory, an interpretation of the transport and magnetic relaxation properties of underdoped cuprates is proposed. The interplay of the doping-dependent spin gap effect and dissipation due to gauge fluctuations gives rise to a crossover from metallic to insulating behavior of conductivity as temperature decreases, in semi-quantitative agreement with experimental data. For the same reason the magnetic relaxation rate shows a maximum nearby.

Experimental studies were made on the surface characteristics of glass fibers with two different finishes. The effects of the chemical composition and thermal stability of the finishes on the compatibility between glass fibers and high melting temperature thermoplastics were investigated. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) was used to characterize the composition of surface finishes and their thermal stability. The chemical composition of surface finishes was investigated using a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF SIMS). Static contact angle measurements were performed at room temperature to characterize the interfacial tension between the glass fibers and thermoplastics. The study provides a fundamental understanding on some important compatibility issues between thermoplastic resins and glass fiber related to composite fabrication and applications.