PTFE-Doped CeO2 Films: Synthesis, Characterization and Properties

Multi-functional hybrid films were developed by doping PTFE into CeO2 by co-sputtering of CeO2 and PTFE targets. The hybrid films formed on borosilicate glass substrate containing from 5 to 15 vol. % PTFE in CeO2 showed UV shielding, high indentation hardness, hydrophobicity, optical transmittance in visible light, and high bending crack resistance. Optical properties of 100 nm thick CeO2 -5 vol. % PTFE film revealed UV light shielding of more than 80 % at 380 nm and visible light transmittance higher than 80 %. Indentation hardness measured under the load of 0.001mN was more than 16,000N/mm2 of 2.7 times higher than the glass substrate. No crack in the film was observed by bending 1.5 cm in diameter. Furthermore, the hydrophobic surface property was evaluated by the water contact angle to be higher than 90 degrees. Preliminary characterization of the CeO2-PTFE film using XPS and XMA revealed that chemical states of F in sputter doped PTFE in CeO2 can be considered to exist as C-F and Ce-F compounds. On the other hand, chemical states of Ce changed partially from Ce+4 (CeO2) to Ce+3 (Ce2O3 or CeF3) with increasing doped PTFEF in the film.In this rapid communication, we preliminary described the optical, mechanical and chemical properties of newly developed hybrid CeO2-PTFE films prepared by sputtering

The Effect of Lyso-PAF on Ciliary Activity of Human Paranasal Sinus Mucosa in vitro

The effect of lyso-PAF on ciliated cells was investigated in vitro. Normal mucosa was surgically obtained from human paranasal sinuses and incubated in the form of tissue culture. Ciliated epithelium was magnified under an inverted microscope, and ciliary movement was photo-electrically measured. Ciliary activity was significantly inhibited by 10−8 M lyso-PAF and could be restored. The effect of lyso-PAF was completely blocked by CV-6209, a specific PAF antagonist. The PAF concentration in the incubation medium of lyso-PAF was determined by radioimmunoassay, because PAF is a well known inhibitor of ciliary activity. PAF gradually increased and after 20 min reached its maximal level. These findings indicated the existence of an enzyme in the paranasal sinus mucosa, by which lyso-PAF is converted to PAF, and that lyso-PAF can inhibit ciliary activity by means of PAF

Elevation of soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in nasal allergy

To investigate soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in nasal allergy, the sera and nasal secretions from patients with nasal allergy and from healthy subjects were subjected to a double-epitope enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant elevation of sIL-2R concentrations in the sera and nasal secretions was observed in the allergy patients (n = 26) compared with those of healthy subjects (n = 9). IL-2R-positive (CD25+) cells were observed in the crust formed in an allergic nasal mucosa. The concentration of sIL-2R in the sera correlated neither with the eosinophil count of the peripheral blood count nor with clinical severity. The concentration of sIL-2R in the nasal secretions was significantly higher compared with that in the sera from allergic patients (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was observed between sIL-2R levels in the sera and nasal sections from normal subjects. These findings indicate that sIL-2R plays an essential role in allergic processes by regulating IL-2R-positive cells recruited into the nasal mucosa

Detection of soluble interleukin-2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the effusion of otitis media with effusion

We measured sIL-2R, TNF-α and sICAM-1 in the sera and middle ear effusions (MEEs) of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). Although there was no signmcant difference between the sIL-2R levels of the serous and mucoid MEEs, they were significantly higher than serum sIL-2R levels of OME patients and healthy controls. TNF-α levels of the mucoid MEEs were significantly higher than those of the serous type. However, TNF-α was rarely detected in the sera of OME patients or healthy controls. We observed significant differences between the serous and mucoid MEEs with respect to their sICAM-1 levels, which were also higher than serum slCAM-1 levels of OME patients and healthy controls. Our findings suggested that IL-2, TNF-α and ICAM-1 could be significantly involved in the pathogenesis of OME through the cytokine network

New constraint on the existence of the mu+-> e+ gamma decay

The analysis of a combined data set, totaling 3.6 \times 10^14 stopped muons on target, in the search for the lepton flavour violating decay mu^+ -> e^+ gamma is presented. The data collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut show no excess of events compared to background expectations and yield a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of 5.7 \times 10^-13 (90% confidence level). This represents a four times more stringent limit than the previous world best limit set by MEG.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, a version accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

The MEG detector for μ+→e+γ{\mu}+\to e+{\gamma} decay search

The MEG (Mu to Electron Gamma) experiment has been running at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI), Switzerland since 2008 to search for the decay \meg\ by using one of the most intense continuous $\mu^+$ beams in the world. This paper presents the MEG components: the positron spectrometer, including a thin target, a superconducting magnet, a set of drift chambers for measuring the muon decay vertex and the positron momentum, a timing counter for measuring the positron time, and a liquid xenon detector for measuring the photon energy, position and time. The trigger system, the read-out electronics and the data acquisition system are also presented in detail. The paper is completed with a description of the equipment and techniques developed for the calibration in time and energy and the simulation of the whole apparatus.Comment: 59 pages, 90 figure