Activation of thymic B cells by signals of CD40 molecules plus interleukin-10

We have previously found that thymic B cells, particularly thymic CD5+ B cells, show low responsiveness to the usual B cell stimulants such as lipopolysaccharide or anti-IgM plus interleukin (IL)-4, although they proliferate and produce antibodies after direct interaction with major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted T blasts. These findings raise the possibility that a CD40-CD40 ligand (L) interaction is involved in the activation of thymic B cells. In the present study, we therefore examine this possibility using CD40L-transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (mAb). When B cells in the spleen and peritoneal cavity were stimulated, they proliferated and produced immunoglobulin (Ig) in the presence of CD40L-CHO cells or anti-CD40 mAb alone. However, another signal delivered by IL-10 in addition to CD40L-CHO cells or anti-CD40 mAb was found to be necessary for thymic B cells to proliferate and secrete Ig. Other interleukins acting on B cells, such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6, had no effect on the activation of thymic B cells, which thus have unique characteristics not found in peripheral B cells. This report discusses the physiological significance of IL-10- and CD40-driven signals in the activation of thymic B cells.     

Postdetection diversity using differential phase detection forM-ary DPSK

Postdetection diversity that uses L differential phase detector outputs for data decision is described for M-ary differential phase shift keying (M-ary DPSK. Data decision is based on minimising the weighted sum of the errors of L DPD detector outputs. The squared geometric mean of the two consecutively received signal envelope samples is used as the branch weight. The simulation results on average bit error rate (BER) performances due to additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), multipath Doppler spread, and delay spread of π/4-shift 4DPSK are reported     

Oligosaccharide structures formed during the hydrolysis of lactose by Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase

Di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexasaccharides were formed during the hydrolysis of lactose by transgalactosylation reaction of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase. In this study the isolation and characterization of the major constituents of tri-, tetra- and pentasaccharides are described. The structure elucidation of 3 tri-, 2 tetra- and 1 pentasaccharides was carried out by methylation analysis, mass spectrometry and ¹³C-nmr spectrometry. The trisaccharides are $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 3)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}\text{(3′-}\text{galactosyl-lactose}\text{)}$, $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}\text{(6′-}\text{galactosyl-lactose}\text{)}$ and $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-O-[β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)]-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}\text{(4,6-}\text{digalactosyl-glucose}\text{)}$. Tetrasaccharides are $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}$ and $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 3)}$ [or $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 3)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)]-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}$. Pentasaccharide is $\text{O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 6)-O-β-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{galactopyranosyl}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{d}\text{-}\text{glucose}$.     

High performance 35 nm gate length CMOS with NO oxynitride gate dielectric and Ni salicide

The 35 nm gate length CMOS devices with oxynitride gate dielectric and Ni salicide have been fabricated to study the feasibility of higher performance operation. Nitrogen concentration in gate oxynitride was optimized to reduce gate current I/sub g/ and to prevent boron penetration in the pFET. The thermal budget in the middle of the line (MOL) process was reduced enough to realize shallower junction depth in the S/D extension regions and to suppress gate poly-Si depletion. Finally, the current drives of 676 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m in nFET and 272 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m in pFET at V/sub dd/=0.85 V (at I/sub off/=100 nA//spl mu/m) were achieved and they are the best values for 35 nm gate length CMOS reported to date.     

Induction of necrosis by zinc in prostate carcinoma cells and identification of proteins increased in association with this induction

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a cardiovascular peptide that binds to two distinct receptors, ET(A) and ET(B), resulting in systemic and regional vasoconstriction, alteration in sodium excretion, mitogenesis, and release of other vasoactive peptides such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). A role for ET-1 has been proposed in congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the increase in circulating ET-1 in this cardiovascular disease state. The present study determined the cardiorenal and endocrine responses to chronic selective oral ETA antagonism in experimental CHF. Two groups of conscious dogs underwent 21 days of pacing-induced CHF. These groups included a control untreated group (n = 6) and a group that received an orally active ET(A) receptor antagonist (A-127722, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, 5 mg/kg PO bid, n = 6). Each group was studied at baseline before the onset of CHF and after 14 and 21 days of CHF. Compared with the CHF control group, the ET(A) receptor antagonism group at 14 days of CHF showed lower mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Similarly, ET(A) receptor antagonism markedly attenuated the increase in circulating ANP despite similar atrial pressures. At 21 days of CHF, ET(A) receptor antagonism lowered pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and systemic vascular resistance in association with a higher cardiac output. Plasma ANP remained suppressed. Despite the lower mean arterial pressure and circulating ANP in the ET(A) receptor antagonist group, the absolute decrease in sodium excretion from baseline was less compared with the untreated CHF control group. The present investigation supports the conclusion that endogenous ET-1 participates in the systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction, the elevation of ANP, and the sodium retention that characterize this model of experimental CHF, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for ET(A) receptor antagonism in CHF.     

The effect of gas atmospheres on resistivity of indium tin oxide films at high temperature

The effects of heat treatment in Q₂, O₂ and N₂, and Ar gases on the high temperature (500 C) electrical resistivity of indium tin oxide (ITO) film 52 nm thick prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis method were studied. The partial oxygen pressure effect on the resistivity was found to be to . The resistivity changes for cyclic exchange of O₂ by Ar gas at 500 C. These lead to the conclusion that chemisorption of oxygen atoms in the film surface is dominant for this thin film, for thicker films such as 640 nm oxygen diffusion is found to occur. The Langmuir model of the monolayer isothermal adsorption of oxygen atoms in the surface is applicable to the rapid change of resistivity.     

A copper/polyimide Metal-base packaging technology

A unique substrate MCPM (Mitsubishi Copper Polyimide Metal-base) technology has been developed by applying our basic copper/polyimide technology.¹ This new substrate technology MCPM is suited for a high-density, multi-layer, multi-chip, high-power module/package, such as used for a computer. The new MCPM was processed using a copper metal base (110 × 110 mm), full copper system (all layers) with 50-μm fine lines. As for pad metallizations for the IC assembly, we evaluated both Ni/Au for chip and wire ICs and solder for TAB ICs. The total number of assembled ICs is 25. To improve the thermal dispersion, copper thermal vias are simultaneously formed by electro-plating. This thermal via is located between the IC chip and copper metal base, and promotes heat dispersion. We employed one large thermal via (4.5 mm^?) and four small vias (1.0 mm^?) for each IC pad. The effect of thermal vias and/or base metal is simulated by a computer analysis and compared with an alumina base substrate. The results show that the thermal vias are effective at lowering the temperature difference between the IC and base substrate, and also lowering the temperature rise of the IC chip. We also evaluated the substrate’s reliability by adhesion test, pressure cooker test, etc.     

The behavior of a swarm of particles moving in a viscous fluid

A significant bulk flow is thought to occur if a part of the body of a suspension, which has a different density from the density of the remainder of the suspension, is large enough in space however slight the difference may be. As a typical case, the slow motion of a swarm of particles in a viscous fluid was studied both theoretically and experimentally. Under a certain condition, the suspended particles formed a drop of suspension, in which the suspended particles and fluid moved as one body in the same way. The falling velocity of a spherical swarm of particles, which was called a drop of suspension, was measured and compared with a new theoretical prediction presented in this paper.It may be also noted that the theoretical model may be applicable to the flow due to density difference by means of replacement of the continuous mass by the damped mass which is regarded as consisting of particles.     

Role of Acetic Acid Added to the Reaction Media for the Enantio-differentiating Hydrogenation of Methyl Acetoacetate Over a Tartaric Acid-modified Nickel Catalyst

The role of acetic acid added to the reaction media for the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate over a (R,R)-tartaric acid-in-situ-modified nickel catalyst was studied from the viewpoint of the hydrogenation rate during repeated runs. The hydrogenation of methyl acetoacetate on the “enantio-differentiating sites” of a tartaric acid-modified nickel catalyst was specifically accelerated by the acetic acid added to the reaction media to increase the enantio-differentiating ability of the catalyst. In order to increase the enantio-differentiating ability, the addition of acetic acid to the reaction media was required in each run during the repeated use of the catalyst.     

Enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of prochiral ketones over modified nickel

This article reviews the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of prochiral ketones over a asymmetrically modified catalyst, focusing on the hydrogenation of simple prochiral alkanones. The parameters affecting catalytic activity and enantiodifferentiating ability are considerable in number, and each parameter should be optimized in order to attain a highperformance enantio-differentiating catalyst. Optimization of the parameters and the mode of enantio-differentiation are discussed and compared with the enantio-differentiating hydrogenation of β-ketoesters.