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Vascular endothelium formulates the basic defense against cardiovascular diseases. Multiple factors such as inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and biological factors can cause endothelial dysfunction and be involved in the formation and development of cardiovascular diseases. In studies of recent years, accumulated evidences showed that periodontitis was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, and was related to vascular endothelial dysfunction. Periodontal therapy could improve the vascular endothelial function. In this paper, the epidemiological evidences of associations between periodontitis and vascular endothelial dysfunction in recent years were listed, and the possible mechanisms of periodontitis aggravating endothelial dysfunction were analyzed. The importance of periodontal intervention in improving endothelial function was emphasized. This will provide new ideas for further study about the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases and for the prevention and treatment strategies.血管内皮是抵御心血管疾病的基础防线，炎症因子、氧化应激及生物因素等多种因素可引起内皮细胞功能障碍，参与心血管疾病的发生发展。牙周炎是心血管疾病的独立危险因素，近年研究发现，牙周炎与血管内皮功能障碍相关，牙周治疗可以改善血管内皮功能。本文列举了近年牙周炎与内皮功能障碍相关性的证据，分析牙周炎加重血管内皮细胞功能障碍的可能机制，强调牙周干预治疗对改善内皮功能的重要性，为牙周炎与心血管疾病关系的深入研究及防治策略提供新思路。.

Transport signatures of exchange gap opening because of magnetic proximity effect (MPE) are reported for bilayer structures of Bi2Se3 thin films on yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and thulium iron garnet (TmIG) of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). Pronounced negative magnetoresistance (MR) was detected, and attributed to an emergent weak localization (WL) effect superimposing on a weak antilocalization (WAL). Thickness-dependent study shows that the WL originates from the time-reversal-symmetry breaking of topological surface states by interfacial exchange coupling. The weight of WL declined when the interfacial magnetization was aligned toward the in-plane direction, which is understood as the effect of tuning the exchange gap size by varying the perpendicular magnetization component. Importantly, magnetotransport study revealed anomalous Hall effect (AHE) of square loops and anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) characteristic, typifying a ferromagnetic conductor in Bi2Se3/TmIG, and the presence of an interfacial ferromagnetism driven by MPE. Coexistence of MPE-induced ferromagnetism and the finite exchange gap provides an opportunity of realizing zero magnetic-field dissipation-less transport in topological insulator/ferromagnetic insulator heterostructures., 31 pages, 9 figures

Thulium iron garnet (TmIG) films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) were grown on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) (111) substrates by off-axis sputtering. High-resolution synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction studies and spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (Cs-corrected STEM) images showed the excellent crystallinity of the films and their sharp interface with GGG. Damping constant of TmIG thin film was determined to be 0.0133 by frequency-dependent ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements. The saturation magnetization (Ms) and the coercive field (Hc) were obtained systematically as a function of the longitudinal distance (L) between the sputtering target and the substrate. A 170% enhancement of PMA field (H⊥) was achieved by tuning the film composition to increase the tensile strain. Moreover, current-induced magnetization switching on a Pt/TmIG structure was demonstrated with an ultra-low critical current density (jc) of 2.5 × 106 A/cm2, an order of magnitude smaller than the previously reported value. We were able to tune Ms, Hc and H⊥ to obtain an ultra-low jc of switching the magnetization, showing the great potential of sputtered TmIG films for spintronics.

Harnessing the spin–momentum locking of topological surface states in conjunction with magnetic materials is the first step to realize novel topological insulator-based devices. Here, we report strong interfacial coupling in Bi2Se3/yttrium iron garnet (YIG) bilayers manifested as large interfacial in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) and enhancement of damping probed by ferromagnetic resonance. The interfacial IMA and damping enhancement reaches a maximum when the Bi2Se3 film approaches its two-dimensional limit, indicating that topological surface states play an important role in the magnetization dynamics of YIG. Temperature-dependent ferromagnetic resonance of Bi2Se3/YIG reveals signatures of the magnetic proximity effect of TC as high as 180 K, an emerging low-temperature perpendicular magnetic anisotropy competing the high-temperature IMA, and an increasing exchange effective field of YIG steadily increasing toward low temperature. Our study sheds light on the effects of topological insulators on magnetization dynamics, essential for the development of topological insulator-based spintronic devices. Understanding the effects of topological insulators on magnetization dynamics of adjacent magnetic materials is essential for novel spintronic devices. Here, Fanchiang et al. report thickness dependence of interfacial in-plane magnetic anisotropy and damping enhancement in Bi2Se3/yttrium iron garnet (YIG) bilayers, indicating an important role of topological surface states in the magnetization dynamics of YIG.

Harnessing the spin–momentum locking of topological surface states in conjunction with magnetic materials is the first step to realize novel topological insulator-based devices. Here, we report strong interfacial coupling in Bi2Se3/yttrium iron garnet (YIG) bilayers manifested as large interfacial in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) and enhancement of damping probed by ferromagnetic resonance. The interfacial IMA and damping enhancement reaches a maximum when the Bi2Se3 film approaches its two-dimensional limit, indicating that topological surface states play an important role in the magnetization dynamics of YIG. Temperature-dependent ferromagnetic resonance of Bi2Se3/YIG reveals signatures of the magnetic proximity effect of TC as high as 180 K, an emerging low-temperature perpendicular magnetic anisotropy competing the high-temperature IMA, and an increasing exchange effective field of YIG steadily increasing toward low temperature. Our study sheds light on the effects of topological insulators on magnetization dynamics, essential for the development of topological insulator-based spintronic devices., Understanding the effects of topological insulators on magnetization dynamics of adjacent magnetic materials is essential for novel spintronic devices. Here, Fanchiang et al. report thickness dependence of interfacial in-plane magnetic anisotropy and damping enhancement in Bi2Se3/yttrium iron garnet (YIG) bilayers, indicating an important role of topological surface states in the magnetization dynamics of YIG.

γ-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) has been regarded as a biological marker of heavy alcohol consumption or hepatobiliary disease such as fatty liver. However, the role of GGT is unknown in the molecular pathway during alcohol-induced liver injury. To determine the role of GGT in alcohol-induced liver injury, Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 22% and 38% ethanol for 3 days as acute and 5 weeks as subchronic model. In serologic analysis, the level of GGT was significantly increased and the level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were not changed at 3 days and 5 weeks. In histologic analysis, ethanol exposure induced granular deposit formation and sinusoidal dilation in the acute model for 3 days. In the subchronic model for 5 weeks, ethanol exposure further increased the granular deposit formation, sinusoidal congestion, and mild fatty liver change. To determine whether ethanol-exposed liver is associated with changes of antioxidants levels, we performed reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis on ethanol-exposed livers of rats. In RT-PCR analysis, the mRNA levels of GPX1 and SOD1 were significantly increased as well as up-regulation of CYP2E1. In the glutathione assay, the level of glutathione was significantly reduced in response to ethanol in rats. Therefore, in this study, ethanol increased the level of serum GGT but depleted the level of glutathione. Moreover, the CYP2E1 was rapidly reflected to ethanol in rats. Taken together, our findings suggest that the elevated GGT is associated with cellular antioxidant defense system, and the CYP2E1 can be used for early diagnosis in alcohol-related diseases.

This study uses a new resin cement as a sealer material for manhole frames. This material is used for rapid manhole vertical adjustment (RMVA) techniques to complete a ‘Smooth Roads Project’. Precast screws within the newly installed manhole frame are used to adjust the elevation of the cover to match the road elevation and ensure a smooth transition from the road surface to cover. Using this technique, rapid vertical adjustment and replacement of the manhole is achieved. To evaluate the performance of the new resin cement used in RMVA techniques, a 3-meter straightedge was used to measure the smoothness between the manhole cover and the surrounding road surface. The smoothness tests have been carried out for 3·5 years to ensure a smooth ride after opening to traffic. Test results show that the measured values all fit in with the acceptance standard ±6 mm.

In this study, the loading behaviour of a small scale, single pile in unsaturated clayey soil was examined through a series of laboratory pile load tests and numerical analysis. To estimate the maximum bearing load of the pile in an unsaturated soil, the pile load tests were carried out at different water contents. At the same time, a finite element model was developed to simulate nonlinear response of a small scale single pile under a static axial loading. All parameters used in numerical analysis were obtained in laboratory. The results of numerical analyses conducted by finite element method were compared with the results of the physical pile load tests. The general trends of settlement obtained by the numerical analysis are consistent with pile load test results. With increasing soil water content, the dilatancy angle decreases, resulting in a decrease in ultimate bearing capacity.

The integration of quantum materials like topological insulators (TIs) with magnetic insulators (MIs) has important technological implications for spintronics and quantum computing. Here we report excellent crystallinity of c-axis oriented epitaxial TI films Bi2Se3 grown on MI films, a rare earth iron garnet (ReIG), such as thulium iron garnet (Tm3Fe5O12, TmIG) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with a Se-buffered low-temperature (SBLT) growth technique. We demonstrated a streaky reflection high-energy electron diffraction pattern starting from the very first quintuple layer of Bi2Se3, indicating the high-quality interface between TmIG and Bi2Se3, a prerequisite for studying interfacial exchange coupling effects. The strong interfacial exchange interaction was manifested by observations of anomalous Hall effect in the Bi2Se3/TmIG bilayer and a shift of ferromagnetic resonance field of TmIG induced by Bi2Se3. We have reproducibly grown high-quality Bi2Se3/ReIG and interfaces using this new TI growth method, which may be applied to grow other types of van der Waals (vdW) hetero-structures., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures

Introduction Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have potential to differentiate into various lineages, replacing cells during normal turnover and tissue regeneration to replace damaged or lost adult tissues during osteoporosis and arthritis, or traumatic injuries. We investigated the osteogenic signature in mouse adipose tissue (AD)- and bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs. Materials and Methods MSCs from adipose tissue and bone marrow were compared for osteogenic endogenous mRNA markers by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cellular proliferation and immunophenotype analyzed by flow cytometry revealed that mouse AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs shared similar characteristics. Result Isolated AD-MSC and BM-MSC showed high proliferation rates and fibroblast morphology. Flow cytometry revealed positive markers for mesenchyme, but negative for primitive hematopoietic and endothelial cells. At day 21, Alizarin red S and Von-kossa staining of differentiated cells showed high calcium deposits compared with undifferentiated cells. After 21 days of osteogenic differentiation, AD-MSCs expressed osteocalcin and parathyroid hormone (PTH) compared with undifferentiated cells. Osteogenic-specific transcript of osteocalcin (OC), bone gamma carboxyglutamate protein, and PTH receptor (PTHr) were detected only in differentiated not undifferentiated cells. Undifferentiated BM-MSCs, expressed all markers at low intensity, which amplified during differentiation. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the OC and PTHr can be used as differentiation markers for osteogenesis of mouse AD-MSC.

ON THE PERIODICITY OF TWO RATIONAL RECURSIVE SEQUENCES

ESTIMATES ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT ZEROS OF OSCILLATORY SOLUTIONS FOR FIRST-ORDER DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH SEVERAL DELAYS

GLOBAL BEHAVIOUR OF A DISCRETE EPIDEMIC MODEL

Keratinocytes are important for epithelial antimicrobial barrier function. The activity of ion channels can affect the proliferation of keratinocytes. Little is known about Ca2+-activated K+ currents in these cells. Ion currents in normal human oral keratinocytes were characterized with a patch-clamp technique. In whole-cell configuration, depolarizing pulses evoked K+ outward currents ( IK) in oral keratinocytes. Iberiotoxin (200 nM) and paxilline (1 μM) suppressed IK; however, neither apamin (200 nM) nor 5-hydroxydecanoate (30 μM) had any effects on it. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a compound of honeybee propolis, increased IK with an EC50 value of 12.8 ± 1.2 μM. In inside-out patches, a BKCa channel was observed in keratinocytes, but not in oral squamous carcinoma (OCE-M1) cells. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester or cinnamyl-3,4-dihydroxy-α-cyanocinnamate applied to the intracellular surface of a detached patch increased BKCa-channel activity. The results demonstrate that the properties of BKCa channels in normal human oral keratinocytes are similar to those described in other types of cells. Caffeic acid derivatives can also stimulate BKCa-channel activity directly.

The utility boilers in China usually burn inferior coal with high ash content, so the fouling problems are more serious than that in developed countries. However, there is little information on the effects of utility boiler fouling on operating costs in China. This paper proposes a method for evaluating the costs due to utility boiler fouling in China. The fouling costs include excess heat transfer surface area, extra fuel, and maintenance costs. The excess heat transfer surface area of the 100 MW and 200 MW boilers units in Changshan Power Plant is calculated, and the results show that the excess heat transfer surface area is about 29%. This increases the investment 86,400 Yuan per megawatt unit. Based on the parameters measured in situ, a case study of a 350 MW unit in Huaneng Dalian Power Plant demonstrates that the costs due to utility boiler fouling are 10.008 billion Yuan RMB without considering the costs due to product loss, which is about 0.11% GDP of China in 2000. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 34(2): 53–63, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20051

The properties of the ZnO thin films prepared by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy under various oxygen partial pressures were thoroughly studied. It was found that the conduction type in undoped ZnO epilayers could be controlled by adjusting the family VI precursor, oxygen partial pressure during growth. The films were characteristic of n-type conductivity under oxygen partial pressure lower than 45 Pa. With the increase of oxygen content, the crystallinity of the ZnO thin films was degraded to polycrystalline with additional (10–12) orientation and the intrinsic p-type ZnO was produced as the oxygen partial pressure was larger than 55 Pa. The hole concentration and mobility could reach to 1.59×1016 cm−3 and 9.23 cm2 V−1 s−1, and the resistivity was 42.7 Ω cm. The near-band-edge emission and the deep level emission in photoluminescence (PL) spectra at room temperature were influenced strongly by the oxygen partial pressure. Temperature-dependent PL spectra in n-type ZnO films showed a dominant neutral-don...

Summary Length-weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for five endemic fish species from the Yalong and Wujiang rivers (tributaries of the Yangtze River, China): Folifer brevifilis (Peters, 1881), Pelteobagrus ussuriensis (Dybowski, 1872), Schistura fasciolata (Nichols & Pope, 1927), Triplophysa daqiaoensis (Ding, 1993) and Triplophysa orientalis (Herzenstein, 1888). Samples were obtained between April 2004 and July 2014 using various fishing gear (set nets, drift gill nets, fish cages, hook and electro fishing). For each specimen from each species the sample size was recorded, total length and weight were measured and the LWR determined. Further, the 95% confidence intervals of a and b, and coefficient of correlation were estimated. Prior to this study, the LWRs for these five species were unknown.

Accumulated plastic strain in subgrade soils under repeated loading is an important factor for the design and analysis of flexible pavement. Accurate prediction of the plastic strain is dependent on the constitution of a predictive model. This study discusses the plastic strain properties in subgrade soil under repeated loading and develops a predictive model using a genetic programming (GP) method. Repeated load triaxial tests were conducted under various confining pressures, stress levels, and moisture contents. To develop the predictive model, a total of 475 records were randomly divided into three datasets (159, 158, and 158 records) for training, validation, and application purposes. The results showed that the GP method was applied successfully to develop a predictive model that uses stress level, load repetition, dry unit weight, liquid limit, plastic index, and clay content as inputs and has plastic strain as the output. The R2 values for the training, validation, and applied datasets were 0.9551, 0.9494, and 0.9489, respectively. This study demonstrates and confirms the superior performance of GP over traditional prediction methods when applied to predict plastic strain in subgrade soils. The model and algorithms proposed in this study provide a good foundation for further development when more robust datasets of other types of soils are available.

Background: Smoking is a risk factor for incident colorectal cancer (CRC); however, it is unclear about its influence on survival after CRC diagnosis. Methods: A cohort of 706 CRC patients diagnosed from 1999 to 2003 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, was followed for mortality and recurrence until April 2010. Smoking and other relevant data were collected by questionnaire after cancer diagnosis, using a referent period of ‘2 years before diagnosis' to capture pre-diagnosis information. Molecular analyses of microsatellite instability (MSI) status and BRAF V600E mutation status were performed in tumour tissue using standard techniques. Multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with Cox proportional hazards regression, controlling for major prognostic factors. Results: Compared with never smokers, all-cause mortality (overall survival, OS) was higher for current (HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.04–3.06), but not for former (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.71–1.59) smokers. The associations of cigarette smoking with the study outcomes were higher among patients with ⩾40 pack-years of smoking (OS: HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.03–2.85; disease-free survival (DFS: HR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.25–3.19), those who smoked ⩾30 cigarettes per day (DFS: HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.22–2.67), and those with microsatellite stable (MSS) or MSI-low tumours (OS: HR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.04–1.82 and DFS: HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.01–1.72). Potential heterogeneity was noted for sex (DFS HR: 1.68 for men and 1.01 for women: P for heterogeneity=0.04), and age at diagnosis (OS: HR: 1.11 for patients aged

This paper demonstrates the difference between the entropy generation number method proposed by Bejan and the method of entropy generation per unit amount of heat transferred in analyzing the thermodynamic performance of heat exchangers, points out the reason for leading to the above difference. A modified entropy generation number for evaluating the irreversibility of heat exchangers is proposed which is in consistent with the entropy generation per unit amount of heat transferred in entropy generation analysis. The entropy generated by friction is also investigated. Results show that when the entropy generated by friction in heat exchangers is taken into account, there is a minimum total entropy generation number while the NTU and the ratio of heat capacity rates vary. The existence of this minimum is the prerequisite of heat exchanger optimization.

The paper characterizes the mineralogy and spectral properties of three slightly palagonitized basaltic tephra samples collected near the summit of Mauna Kea in order to contribute to the basis for inferring mineralogy and processes for Martian surface materials. The mineralogy of size fractions of these samples is examined by diffuse reflectance and FIR spectroscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Moessbauer spectroscopy, magnetic analysis, EMPA, TEM, and SEM. For the 20-1000 micron size fraction, sample HWMK11 (red) is essentially completely oxidized and has a hematite (Ti-hematite) pigment dispersed throughout the silicate matrix. Sample HWMK12 (black) has the lowest proportion of ferric-bearing phases and is thus least weathered. For HWMK11, the amount of hematite is essentially constant, and mica is present only in the coarse clay-sized fraction; smectites are low in structural Fe.

The aim of this study is to develop a novel chemical gas sensing nanocomposite material. The traditional use for carbon nanotube in gas sensing polymer is to increase the composite’s conductivity. However, we added functionalized carbon nanotube to fill the free volume of the sensing polymer films and enhance the gas absorption/desorption response time of these nanocomposites. These sensing materials were prepared by mixing functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and Poly (n, n dimethylamino propylsilsequioxane) SXNR polymer. These new materials were coated on the Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device, which is expected to increase its sensitivity in analyzing specific classes of vapors. The proposed materials showed an enhanced sensitivity upon exposure to ethanol and dimethyl methylphosphonate (Dmmp) vapors. Additionally, the performances of our nanocomposite film are much higher than those polymers without functionalized carbon nanotubes.

The previous work on the topic of phase transitions in proustite is briefly reviewed. Study on the fundamental absorption edge related optical properties of proustite is reported, which reveals anomalies in the average absorption coefficient, band gap energy and polarization shift at temperatures near 210 K. These anomalies together with the abnormal photodielectric behaviour observed in this study provide conclusive evidence for the existence of the photoinduced broad phase change near 210 K. The nature of this photoinduced phase change is assumed to be a displacive type ferroelectric phase transition with a relative displacement of the two sublattices resulting from the redistribution of silver ions under the action of illumination and cooling near to the phase transition temperature.

The temperature dependent ac conductivity of single‐crystal proustite measured at several frequencies over the temperature range from 82 to 467 K reveals six distinct regions associated with different conduction mechanisms. A phase transition from ionic to superionic conduction has been found to occur at a temperature of approximately 420 K. The frequency dispersion spectra obtained at different temperatures from 82 to 373 K, over the frequency range 10−2 to 103 Hz show two regions of frequency dependent conductivity. The dc conductivity and ionic hopping rate as well as the carrier densities have been extracted from the ac conductivity data. The results show that the ac conductivity of proustite is characterized by low hopping rates and high carrier densities suggesting that the Ag+ ions may execute a long range hopping motion in the lattice. The relationship between the dc and ac components of conductivity have been critically examined and the results show that the ratio σdc/σac is thermally stimulated ...

Regulation of reduction/oxidation (redox) state is critical for cell viability, activation, proliferation and organ function, and imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant balance is implicated in various chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. CS (cigarette smoke) is a complex mixture of various noxious gases and condensed tar particles. These components elicit oxidative stress in lungs by continuous generation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and various inflammatory mediators. In the present review, we have discussed the role of oxidative stress in triggering the inflammatory response in the lungs in response to CS by demonstrating the role of NADPH oxidase, redox-sensitive transcription factors, such as pro-inflammatory NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) and antioxidant Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 2), as well as HDAC (histone deacetylase) in pro-inflammatory cytokine release by disruption of HDAC–RelA/p65 NF-κB complex.

Ultrafine gallium nitride (GaN) powder has been synthesized by the dc arc plasma method through the reaction of metal gallium (Ga) with the mixture gas of nitrogen ( N2) and ammonia ( NH3). The analyses of the produced powder by x‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and selected‐area electron diffraction showed that the GaN particles in wurtzite structure consisted of nanometer‐sized polycrystals and monocrystals. The conversion of Ga to GaN was determined by the mixture ratio of NH3 and N2 in the mixture gas. The morphology of the GaN particles was mainly hexagonal with the size about 20–200 nm. When heated in air or nitrogen atmosphere, the thermostablity of the GaN powder was different.

ACAD SINICA,INST MET RES,SHENYANG 110015,PEOPLES R CHINA. ACAD SINICA,LANZHOU INST CHEM PHYS,LANZHOU 730000,PEOPLES R CHINA.;Liang, YN (reprint author), TSING HUA UNIV,DEPT MECH ENGN,BEIJING 100084,PEOPLES R CHINA

CT signs of thirty-six cases of maxillary mucocele surgically and pathologically proved were analyzed. 20 of 36 cases revealed as low density lesion. 16 of 36 cases revealed as isodensity or high density lesion. They were morphologically classified as three types: nodular type, inflammatory type, bony defect type. Cystic morphology and fluid density within the lesion obviously indicated mucocele. Differential diagnosis should be made between mucocele and polyps, when the lesion revealed as soft tissue density. Inflammatory type need to be distinguished from maxillary inflammation. And bony defect type should be distinguished from the benign or malignant tumor of maxillary sinus. The islet sign and bone sclerosis are considered to be valuable for the differential diagnosis.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay suitable for the simultaneous determination of verapamil (I) and its major active metabolite norverapamil (II) in human plasma is described. After adding internal standard ethmosine, plasma samples were extracted using a mixture of n-hexane and n-butyl alcohol (12:1) to give mean recoveries of92% of both I, and II. The extracts were chromatographed on a C18 reversed phase column with a mobile phase composed of methanol, water and triethylamine (67: 33: 0.4, pH 6.7), with UV (lambda, 279 nm) detection. The calibration curves were linear over a wide range of concentrations (25-1000 ng.ml-1), and the limits of determination was 2.5 ng.ml-1 for I and 5.0 ng.ml-1 for II. The method showed good precision: the within-day RSD were7.6% for both I and II; the day-to-day RSD were8.6% for both I and II. Using this assay, plasma concentrations of both I and II were simultaneously determined in six volunteers after a single oral dose of 120 mg of verapamil.HCl.

The miniature endplate currents (MEPC's) were recorded at the neuromuscular junction of Xenopus laevis embryo neuron-muscle co-cultured cells. These MEPC's were due to the spontaneous release of acetylcholine from the nerve terminal. After perfusion with glutamate (10 mumol/L), both frequency and amplitude of the MEPC's increased. After washing away of glutamate, this effect persisted. We named this phenomena "Long-Term Facilitation". GABA (20 mumol/L) on the other hand had an inhibitory effect on both frequency and amplitude of the MEPC's. After washing away of GABA, the MEPC frequency and amplitude increased. We named this effect "Post-Potentiation". Local perfusion experiments furthermore indicated that the effect of glutamate was restricted to the neuromuscular junction, the effect of GABA was restricted to the soma.

Single calcium channel current was studied on the identified spinal cholinergic neurons from embryonic Xenopus laevis with patch clamp method. The results indicate that some calcium channels show opening activity at resting membrane potential. According to the characteristics of conductance and kinetics of such channels, they could be divided into two types: a stretch sensitive Type-NS with a slope conductance of 7.5 pS (mean open time 0.58 ms at resting membrane potential) and a Type-NL with a slope conductance of 16.7 pS (and two opening times of 2 ms and 19.3 ms). Both types of channel are predominantly active at resting potential and negative membrane phases. It is suggested that they may be involved in the calcium-dependent neuronal events at resting state.

Observations of the polarisation-sensitive optical absorption in single-crystal proustite have been made over the temperature range from 82 to 460 K. By combining the data obtained from a number of samples of varying thickness the complete absorption spectrum has been found for absorption coefficients of up to approximately=2*104 cm-1. The experimental results show that the optical inter-band transitions are dominated by indirect processes up to photon energies of about 3 eV. The phonons involved in these transitions have been tentatively identified. Deviations from the simple indirect transition scheme at high absorption coefficients are attributed to additional indirect transitions to higher branch conduction band minima. A possible schematic band structure is suggested close to the Gamma point.

Ultralow‐frequency (10−2–103 Hz) electrical conductivity and dielectric constant measurements have been made on single‐crystal proustite at room temperature under various illumination conditions. An unusual phenomenon of frequency‐dependent negative photoconductivity and negative photocapacitance was observed at very low frequencies. We believe that both these negative photoeffects can be attributed to space‐charge effects and the results are interpreted using a two‐layer dielectric structure model.

Partition coefficients were determined for Gd, Lu, Hf and Zr among ilmenite, armalcolite, and synthetic high-Ti mare basaltic melts at temperatures from 1122 deg to 1150 deg, and at oxygen fugacities of IW x 10 exp 0.5, by in situ analysis with an electron microprobe, using samples doped to present concentration levels. Coefficients for Zr were also measured for samples containing 600-1600 ppm Zr using this microprobe. In addition, coefficients were determined for Hf and Zr between chromian ulvospinel and melt, for Hf between pigeonite and melt, and for Lu between olivine and melt by microprobe analysis of samples doped to present levels. Values measured using the microprobe were in agreement with the values measured by analyzing mineral separates from the same run products by isotope dilution. Coefficient values for ilmenite are less than 0.01 for the LREE, are around 0.1 for the HREE, and are several times greater than this for Zr and Hf.

Rare-earth element (REE) distribution coefficients were measured between synthetic pyroxenes and melts similar in composition to the Shergotty intercumulus fluid. REE-doped synthetic glass samples were analyzed by means of an automated microbeam electron microprobe. The coefficients were found to exhibit a strong positive correlation with pyroxene wollastonite content. Using distribution coefficients measured for the natural phase compositions, REE abundances for the Shergotty intercumulus melt were computed.

The subject of fabric primary handle evaluation is discussed in this paper. Some problems existing in Kawabata's system for primary hand values are revealed, which are considered inevitable in an approach involving subjective sensory assessment. Based on the same theory introduced in Part I, a new proposal for the objective evaluation of primary handle is presented by which the necessary and sufficient number of primary handle terms and the corresponding primary handle values are obtained. The methods and results of determining and testing the physical meanings of these primary handle terms are also provided.

Fabric handle evaluation can be reduced to a typical clustering problem, and fuzzy cluster analysis is applied to a practical example in this paper. For comparison, the same example is also tackled using hierarchical cluster methods of multivariate analysis. Both kinds of results have been found to be consistent. To determine the optimum group number g of clustering, Marriot's g2 | W| criterion is suggested and the result is demonstrated as satisfactory; consequently it will be possible to use discriminant analysis to evaluate fabric handle.

Measurements of the complex dielectric constant of single-crystal proustite over the frequency range 10-2-5*106 Hz have shown the presence of a temperature-dependent relaxation process with characteristic times of between 1*10-2 and 6.5*10-4 s. Three activation energies are observed in the resistance measurements which correlate with reported phase transitions in this material. The dielectric relaxation can be interpreted in terms of a combined model, in which the 'Universal' dielectric dispersion law describing the anomalous low-frequency behaviour is combined with a two-layer Maxwell-Wagner model to account for the relaxation processes. The limited dielectric properties of the material have been established.