Preparation and Characterization of Deposited Tetraethylorthosilicate-SiO2/SiC MIS Structure

The SiO2 layer was deposited on the 4H-SiC Si face by the thermal decomposition of tetraethylorthosilicate(TEOS) in N2 atmosphere to from MIS diodes. The post deposition annealing was effective to improve the interface properties. The interface state density of the deposited SiO2/SiC MIS structure was estimated to be the order of 1011 cm-2eV-1 by Terman method. The direct nitridation of SiC surface prior to the deposition of the SiO2 layer was effective to reduce the interface state density.ArticleMaterials Science Forum, Vols. 740-742, pp. 805-808 (2013)journal articl

The Role of Nephritis-Associated Plasmin Receptor (NAPlr) in Glomerulonephritis Associated with Streptococcal Infection

It is well known that glomerulonephritis can occur after streptococcal infection, which is classically referred to as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). The pathogenic mechanism of APSGN has been described by so-called immune complex theory, which involves glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen and subsequent formation of immune complexes in situ and/or the deposition of circulating antigen-antibody complexes. However, the exact entity of the causative antigen has remained a matter of debate. We isolated a nephritogenic antigen for APSGN from the cytoplasmic fractions of group A streptococcus (GAS) depending on the affinity for IgG of APSGN patients. The amino acid and the nucleotide sequences of the isolated protein revealed to be highly identical to those of reported plasmin(ogen) receptor of GAS. Thus, we termed this antigen nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr). Immunofluorescence staining of the renal biopsy tissues with anti-NAPlr antibody revealed glomerular NAPlr deposition in essentially all patients with early-phase APSGN. Furthermore, glomerular plasmin activity was detected by in situ zymography in the distribution almost identical to NAPlr deposition in renal biopsy tissues of APSGN patients. These data suggest that NAPlr has a direct, nonimmunologic function as a plasmin receptor and may contribute to the pathogenesis of APSGN by maintaining plasmin activity

Preparation and Characterization of Deposited Tetraethylorthosilicate-SiO₂/SiC MIS Structure

The SiO2 layer was deposited on the 4H-SiC Si face by the thermal decomposition of tetraethylorthosilicate(TEOS) in N2 atmosphere to from MIS diodes. The post deposition annealing was effective to improve the interface properties. The interface state density of the deposited SiO2/SiC MIS structure was estimated to be the order of 1011 cm-2eV-1 by Terman method. The direct nitridation of SiC surface prior to the deposition of the SiO2 layer was effective to reduce the interface state density.ArticleMaterials Science Forum, Vols. 740-742, pp. 805-808 (2013)journal articl

Diarylheptanoid Sulfates and Related Compounds from <i>Myrica rubra</i> Bark

Three new diarylheptanoids, myricanol 11-sulfate (<b>1</b>), juglanin B 11-sulfate (<b>2</b>), and myricanone 5-<i>O</i>-(6′-<i>O</i>-galloyl)­glucoside (<b>3</b>), were isolated from the bark of <i>Myrica rubra</i>. Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were characterized as diarylheptanoid sulfates on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. The antioxidative activities of the fractionated extracts and isolated compounds were estimated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity assays. The major isolate, myricitrin (<b>4</b>), displayed a high ORAC value and moderate SOD-like activity (13 198 μmol TE (Trolox equivalent)/g and IC₅₀ 127.5 μg/mL, respectively), which might explain the potent antioxidative activity of this material

Formation of CuO on TiO₂ Surface Using its Photocatalytic Activity

Some co-catalyst nanoparticles can enhance the activity of photocatalysts due to prolonging the charge separation lifetime by promoting the electron or hole transfer. CuO particles were prepared from an aqueous solution of copper (II) nitrate at 351 K on a TiO2 surface by a photocatalytic reaction and heating at 573 or 673 K. The amount and size of the particles deposited during the photocatalytic reaction can be controlled by changing the amount of the irradiated photons. The CuO crystals with about 50&#8722;250 nm-sized particles were formed. Nitrate ions were reduced to nitrite ions in the solution by the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2, and water was simultaneously transformed into hydroxide ions. An increase in the basicity on the TiO2 surface induced formation of a copper hydroxide. The copper hydroxide was subsequently dehydrated and transformed into CuO by heating. The TiO2 loading of a small amount of CuO demonstrated a higher photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation compared to the original TiO2 due to the electron transfer from the TiO2 conduction bands to the CuO conduction band

Early Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Defect in Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus C2/1-Infected Macaques and Relevance to Advance of Disease

To clarify hematological abnormalities following infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we examined the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow by using cynomolgus monkeys infected with pathogenic simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) strain C2/1, an animal model of HIV infection. The relationship between the progress of the infection and the CD4/CD8 ratio of T lymphocytes or the amount of SHIV C2/1 viral load in the peripheral blood was also investigated. A colony assay was performed to assess the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow stem cells during the early and advanced phases of the infection. Colonies of granulocytes-macrophages (GM) were examined by PCR for the presence of the SIVmac239 gag region to reveal direct viral infection. There was a remarkable decrease in the CFU-GM growth on days 1 and 3 postinoculation, followed by recovery on day 56. During the more advanced stage, the CFU-GM growth decreased again. There was minimal evidence of direct viral infection of pooled cultured CFU-GM despite the continuously low CD4/CD8 ratios. These results indicate that the decrease in colony formation by bone marrow stem cells is reversible and fluctuates with the advance of the disease. This decrease was not due to direct viral infection of CFU-GM. Our data may support the concept that, in the early phase, production of inhibitory factors or deficiency of a stimulatory cytokine is responsible for some of the bone marrow defects described in the SHIV C2/1 model

Characterization of Phenolic Constituents from Ephedra Herb Extract

Nine known compounds: trans-cinnamic acid, catechin, syringin, epicatechin, symplocoside, kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside 7-O-glucoside, isovitexin 2-O-rhamnoside, herbacetin 7-O-glucoside, and pollenitin B and a new flavonoid glycoside, characterized as herbacetin 7-O-neohesperidoside (1) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence, were isolated from a traditional crude drug, “Ephedra herb extract”. Compound 1 had no effects on HGF-induced motility, whereas herbacetin, which is an aglycone of 1, significantly inhibited it

A Wireless Sensor Network for Growth Environment Measurement and Multi-Band Optical Sensing to Diagnose Tree Vigor

We have tried to develop the guidance system for farmers to cultivate using various phenological indices. As the sensing part of this system, we deployed a new Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). This system uses the 920 MHz radio wave based on the Wireless Smart Utility Network that enables long-range wireless communication. In addition, the data acquired by the WSN were standardized for the advanced web service interoperability. By using these standardized data, we can create a web service that offers various kinds of phenological indices as secondary information to the farmers in the field. We have also established the field management system using thermal image, fluorescent and X-ray fluorescent methods, which enable the nondestructive, chemical-free, simple, and rapid measurement of fruits or trees. We can get the information about the transpiration of plants through a thermal image. The fluorescence sensor gives us information, such as nitrate balance index (NBI), that shows the nitrate balance inside the leaf, chlorophyll content, flavonol content and anthocyanin content. These methods allow one to quickly check the health of trees and find ways to improve the tree vigor of weak ones. Furthermore, the fluorescent x-ray sensor has the possibility to quantify the loss of minerals necessary for fruit growth