A 0.5-W 64-kilobyte snoopy cache memory with pseudo two-portoperation

A 64-kbyte snoopy cache memory was developed. The modified double word-line architecture with word-line buffers resulted in a large-size memory and a time-multiplex snoop operation by the pseudo-two-port method with a single-port cell. The flexible expandability was achieved by cascading multiple cache memories. The device was successfully implemented with 1.0-μm double-polysilicon and double-metal CMOS technology. Low-power sense amplifiers and comparators limited power dissipation to 0.5 W at 40 MHz     

Apatite Formation on Calcium Phosphate Invert Glasses in Simulated Body Fluid

Calcium phosphate invert glasses, which contain P₂O₇²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ ions, have been prepared via the addition of a small amount of TiO₂. The formation of bonelike calcium phosphate apatite on the surface of the phosphate invert glasses was examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37°C. Soaking for 20 d resulted in the deposition of leaflike apatite particles on 6CaO·3P₂O₅·TiO₂ invert glass (based on molar ratio). The glass had much-greater chemical durability against SBF, in comparison with a metaphosphate glass; P ions were not dissolved excessively from the 6CaO·3P₂O₅·TiO₂ glass, so the apatite formation was not suppressed.     

Effect of chemical structure of monoamide resins on adsorptivity to uranium(VI) in nitric acid media

For the development of resins with selectivity for uranium(VI) in nitric acid media, some silica-supported monoamide resins with different chemical structures have been newly synthesized and the adsorptivities to U(VI) in HNO₃ have been examined based on our previous results that the chemical structure of monoamide resins might largely affect their adsorptivities to U(VI). The resin consisting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone was found to show relatively strong adsorptivity to U(VI) in the wide concentration range of HNO₃ and little dependence on them. On the other hand, the adsorptivity to U(VI) of the resin with methylacetamide showed dependence on HNO₃ concentrations such as dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) resins which were previously studied, whereas the affinity to U(VI) was smaller than those of DMAA resins. According to the probable adsorption mechanism of U(VI) onto monoamide resins that two oxygen atoms of the two amide groups coordinate to U(VI), the adsorption data suggest that the adsorptivity of monoamide resins is strongly affected by the ‘chelating effect’, namely there are some optimum numbers of the atoms participating in the chelating formation.     

Synthesis and characterization of Pt-Pd alloy and core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs): Enhanced electrocatalytic properties of well-shaped core-shell morphologies and nanostructures

In our research, we present the controlled synthesis of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) protected Pt-Pd nanoparticles of various alloy and core-shell morphologies by modified polyol method with the assistance of AgNO₃. The Pt-Pd alloy and core-shell nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and electrochemical measurements. The comparison of electrocatalytic properties of Pd-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles was described to confirm their highest catalytic performance. Importantly, the catalytic activity of Pt-Pd alloy and core-shell nanoparticles was investigated to develop novel electrocatalysts in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The results showed that the core-shell nanoparticles with the thin nanoshells as monolayers exhibit as great nanocatalysts. The correlation among structure, size and morphology was presented in their catalytic characterization.     

Tailor‐Made Designer Helical Peptides that Induce Mitochondrion‐Mediated Cell Death without Necrosis

Managing protein–protein interactions is essential for resolving unknown biological events at the molecular level and developing drugs. We have designed and synthesized a side‐chain‐crosslinked helical peptides based on the binding domain of a pro‐apoptotic protein (Bad) that induces programed cell death. The peptide showed high helical content and bound to its target, Bcl‐X_L, more strongly than its non‐crosslinked counterparts. When HeLa cells were incubated with the crosslinked peptide, the peptide entered the cytosol across the plasma membrane. The peptide formed a stable complex with Bcl‐X_L localized at the outer mitochondrial membrane, and this binding event caused the release of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space of mitochondria into the cytosol. This activated the caspase cascade: 70 % of HeLa cells died by the apoptosis pathway (without evidence of necrosis).     

Development of a genetic transfer system in selenate-respiring bacterium Citrobacter sp. strain JSA which was isolated from natural freshwater sediment

Conjugative mating between the selenate-reducing bacterium Citrobacter sp. strain JSA and Escherichia coli S17-1 harboring the broad-host-range plasmid pKT230 or pKT240 (IncQ) allowed genetic transfer to strain JSA at a maximum frequency of 2.5×10(-5) (pKT230) and 5.1×10(-6) (pKT240) per recipient JSA cell. Kanamycin-resistant (selection marker of pKT230 and pKT240) transconjugants were routinely obtained with this method, and we confirmed that both vectors were also successfully transferred and replicated in strain JSA without alteration of the replicon. Furthermore, an electroporation method has also allowed transformation of JSA at a frequency of 10(-7) to 10(-6) transformants per μg vector DNA (per recipient cell), and PCR and hybridization analyses revealed that pKT230 and pKT240 are stably maintained in transformed JSA cells. These results indicated that both InQ plasmids can be used as vectors for gene transfer to selenate-reducing strain JSA. This is the first study to demonstrate an effective method for genetic transfer in a selenate-reducing Citrobacter bacterium and will aid in the elucidation of the selenium oxyanion reduction mechanism in this genus of environmental selenate-respiring isolates.     

Cigarette nicotine yields and nicotine intake among Japanese male workers

OBJECTIVES: To analyse brand nicotine yield including "ultra low" brands (that is, cigarettes yielding less-than-or-equal 0.1 mg of nicotine by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) methods) in relation to nicotine intake (urinary nicotine, cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine) among 246 Japanese male smokers. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Two companies in Osaka, Japan. SUBJECTS: 130 Japanese male workers selected randomly during their annual regular health check up and 116 Japanese male volunteers taking part in a smoking cessation programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Subjects answered a questionnaire about smoking habits. Following the interview, each participant was asked to smoke his own cigarette and, after extinguishing it, to blow expired air into an apparatus for measuring carbon monoxide concentration. Urine was also collected for the assays of nicotine metabolites. RESULTS: We found wide variation in urinary nicotine metabolite concentrations at any given nicotine yield. Based on one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the urinary nicotine metabolite concentrations of ultra low yield cigarette smokers were significantly lower compared to smokers of high (p = 0.002) and medium yield cigarettes (p = 0.017). On the other hand, the estimated nicotine intake per ultra low yield cigarette smoked (0.59 mg) was much higher than the 0.1 mg indicated by machine. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of Japanese male smokers, actual levels of nicotine intake bore little relation to advertised nicotine yield levels. Our study reinforces the need to warn consumers of inappropriate advertisements of nicotine yields, especially low yield brands.