Growth and Perfection of Nickel and Cobalt Single Crystals Using the Floating-Zone Method(Physics)

Using the floating-zone method, Ni and Co single crystals were grown under various experimental conditions. Detailed observations of low angle boundaries or striations and of the dislocation arrangements in the grown crystals were carried out using an optical microscope. Ni single crystals grew preferentially along the direction and were striation-free. As the growth direction deviated from the , sharp striations were formed. The dislocation density in the crystals was about 10^6 cm^, which were distributed at random. Co single crystals grew along the direction and were also striation-free. As the growth direction deviated from the , many striations were formed with more complex shapes. These experimental results are discussed on the basis of the growth mechanism of crystals and of dislocation behaviour during the solidification process

Expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein Livin in renal cell carcinoma and non-tumorous adult kidney

The antiapoptotic Livin/ML-IAP gene has recently gained much attention as a potential new target for cancer therapy. Reports indicating that livin is expressed almost exclusively in tumours, but not in the corresponding normal tissue, suggested that the targeted inhibition of livin may present a novel tumour-specific therapeutic strategy. Here, we compared the expression of livin in renal cell carcinoma and in non-tumorous adult kidney tissue by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. We found that livin expression was significantly increased in tumours (P=0.0077), but was also clearly detectable in non-tumorous adult kidney. Transcripts encoding Livin isoforms α and β were found in both renal cell carcinoma and normal tissue, without obvious qualitative differences. Livin protein in renal cell carcinoma samples exhibited cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining. In non-tumorous kidney tissue, Livin protein expression was only detectable in specific cell types and restricted to the cytoplasm. Thus, whereas the relative overexpression of livin in renal cell carcinoma indicates that it may still represent a therapeutic target to increase the apoptotic sensitivity of kidney cancer cells, this strategy is likely to be not tumour-specific

Problems of the human body model and electrostatic discharge part 1: discharge from LSIs held by a charged person

Abstract. The nanosecond transient response between a pin of a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) held by a charged person and the ground plane showed a very sharp impulse and high peak current. This response could not be represented using the human body model (HBM), and it was caused by the parasitic capacity between an inner conductor in the LSI and the ground plane. However, the conventional HBM tester could not control the low capacitance. Consequently, the machine model (MM) using a low capacitance or the charged device model (CDM) with low device capacitance should be used. Moreover, the capacitanc of charged objects including LSIs can be determined by a Coulomb meter. Practical use of these data will give us the methods to prevent electrostatic discharge troubles for quarter-micron LSIs

Evaluation of blood culture broths with lysis buffer to directly identify specific pathogens by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry methods

Maya Hariu,1,2 Yuji Watanabe,1,2 Nozomi Oikawa,1,2 Takafumi Manaka,1,2 Masafumi Seki1 1Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan; 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is now widely used to detect pathogens in clinical settings in Japan. Method: Here, we report the effects of adding lysis buffer in the MALDI-TOF MS method to directly detect bacteria from 3 blood culture systems and compare their detection efficiencies for each pathogen. Results: Blood culture broths from BD, bioMérieux, and Oxoid showed similar detection efficiencies without lysis buffer use and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were efficiently detected in all broths when lysis buffer was used. However, Streptococcus pneumoniae was not detected in BD broth when lysis buffer was added. Furthermore, Haemophilus influenzae and Bacteroides fragilis were not detected in all 3 systems when lysis buffer was used. Conclusion: Optimization of blood culture system and lysis buffer is necessary according to each pathogen for direct identification by MALDI-TOF MS methods. Keywords: blood cultures broth, lysis buffer, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, time-of-flight mass spectrometr

Characterization of the EL2 center in GaAs by optical admittance spectroscopy

We have measured the electron optical capture cross section, σ0n(hν), of EL2 (the most important native center in GaAs) using a new technique which we have recently developed: optical admittance spectroscopy. This is a spectroscopic technique based on the measurement of the capacitance and conductance of a junction under monochromatic light of energy hν. This technique allows the measurement of the spectrum σ0n(hν) of each center located in the band gap. We have measured the electron photoionization cross section of the EL2 center, σ0n(hν), at three different temperatures within a range limited at high temperature by thermal emission and at low temperature by photoquenching (a feature characteristic of EL2 below 140 K). The study of the experimental data reveals that this center has a more complex nature than that of a simple defect. It seems to behave like a family of very close levels corresponding to similar atomic structures and located near the midgap. These results also reveal the existence of a sha..

Beam Test of a BSO Calorimeter(I. Nuclear Physics)

The response of an electromagnetic calorimeter of large bismuth silicate (BSO) crystals has been measured for the first time for electrons, positrons, and charged pions at the incident momentum ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 GeV/c. The calorimeter consists of 9 BSO crystals arranged in a 3×3 matrix. The size of each crystal is 22mm×22mm×180mm (15.6 radiation lengths). The energy resolution of (σ_E/E)^2=(0.024±0.003√+(0.018±0.002)^2 has been obtained for incident electrons. The position information for the electrons injected onto the center crystal is given with energy deposit signals from 9 BSO crystals. The obtained position resolution is better than 5 mm in this energy range. The misidentification probability of pions to electrons is found to be ～10^ in the energy range from 1.0 to 3.0 GeV