Mitsubishi Chemical (Germany)

Since the mid-1990s, phosphors have played a key role in emerging solid-state white-lighting technologies that are based on combining a III-nitride-based near-UV or blue solid-state light source with downconversion to longer wavelengths. Almost all widely used phosphors comprise a crystalline oxide, nitride, or oxynitride host that is appropriately doped with either Ce 3+ or Eu 2+ . These ions, with [Xe] 4f n 5d 0 configurations (n = 1 for Ce 3+ and 7 for Eu 2+ ) have proximal excited states that are [Xe] 4f n−1 5d 1 . Optical excitation into these states and concomitant reemission can be tuned into the appropriate regions of the visible spectrum by the crystal these ions are hosted in. In this article, we review the current needs and key aspects of the conversion process. We describe some currently used families of phosphors and consider why they are suitable for solid-state lighting. Finally, we describe some empirical rules for new and improved host materials.

The wetting of microstructured surfaces is studied both experimentally and theoretically. Even relatively simple surface topographies such as grooves with rectangular cross section exhibit a large variety of different wetting morphologies as observed by atomic force microscopy. This polymorphism arises from liquid wedge formation along the groove corners and from contact line pinning along the groove edges. A global morphology diagram is derived that depends only on two system parameters: (i) the aspect ratio of the groove geometry and (ii) The contact angle of the underlying substrate material. For microfluidics, the most interesting shape regimes involve extended liquid filaments, which can grow and shrink in length while their cross section stays essentially constant. Thus, any method by which one can vary the contact angle can be used to switch the length of the filament, as is demonstrated in the context of electrowetting.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis, a leading cause of death in critically ill patients, is the result of complex interactions between the infecting microorganisms and the host responses that influence clinical outcomes. We evaluated the prognostic value of presepsin (sCD14-ST), a novel biomarker of bacterial infection, and compared it with procalcitonin (PCT). METHODS: This is a retrospective, case-control study of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial enrolling patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in ICUs in Italy. We selected 50 survivors and 50 non-survivors at ICU discharge, matched for age, sex and time from sepsis diagnosis to enrollment. Plasma samples were collected 1, 2 and 7 days after enrollment to assay presepsin and PCT. Outcome was assessed 28 and 90 days after enrollment. RESULTS: Early presepsin (day 1) was higher in decedents (2,269 pg/ml, median (Q1 to Q3), 1,171 to 4,300 pg/ml) than in survivors (1,184 pg/ml (median, 875 to 2,113); P = 0.002), whereas PCT was not different (18.5 μg/L (median 3.4 to 45.2) and 10.8 μg/L (2.7 to 41.9); P = 0.31). The evolution of presepsin levels over time was significantly different in survivors compared to decedents (P for time-survival interaction = 0.03), whereas PCT decreased similarly in the two groups (P = 0.13). Presepsin was the only variable independently associated with ICU and 28-day mortality in Cox models adjusted for clinical characteristics. It showed better prognostic accuracy than PCT in the range of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (area under the curve (AUC) from 0.64 to 0.75 vs. AUC 0.53 to 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter clinical trial, we provide the first evidence that presepsin measurements may have useful prognostic information for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. These preliminary findings suggest that presepsin may be of clinical importance for early risk stratification.

Oxidative stress is a critical mediator in liver injury of steatohepatitis. The transcription factor Nrf2 serves as a cellular stress sensor and is a key regulator for induction of hepatic detoxification and antioxidative stress systems. The involvement of Nrf2 in defense against the development of steatohepatitis remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the protective roles of Nrf2 in nutritional steatohepatitis using wild-type (WT) and Nrf2 gene-null (Nrf2-null) mice. WT and Nrf2-null mice were fed a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 3 and 6 wk, and the liver tissues were analyzed for pathology and for expression levels of detoxifying enzymes and antioxidative stress genes via the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. In WT mice fed an MCD diet, Nrf2 was potently activated in the livers, and steatohepatitis did not develop over the observation periods. However, in Nrf2-null mice fed an MCD diet, the pathological state of the steatohepatitis was aggravated in terms of fatty changes, inflammation, fibrosis, and iron accumulation. In the livers of the Nrf2-null mice, oxidative stress was significantly increased compared with that of WT mice based on the increased levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and malondialdehyde. This change was associated with the decreased levels of glutathione, detoxifying enzymes, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity. Correlating well with the liver pathology, the mRNA levels of factors involved in fatty acid metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and fibrogenesis-related genes were significantly increased in the livers of the Nrf2-null mice. These findings demonstrate that Nrf2 deletion in mice leads to rapid onset and progression of nutritional steatohepatitis induced by an MCD diet. Activation of Nrf2 could be a promising target toward developing new options for prevention and treatment of steatohepatitis.

A relatively large sample of gallium nitride (GaN) was grown as a single crystal using the hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) process. The thermal diffusivity of the single crystal has been measured using a vertical-type laser flash method. The thermal expansion was measured using a dilatometer in order to estimate the thermal diffusivity with sufficient reliability. The effect of sample thickness and temperature on thermal diffusivity was evaluated. The specific heat capacity of GaN was also measured by using a differential scanning calorimeter. The thermal properties of single-crystal GaN have been compared with the measured thermal properties of single-crystal silicon carbide (SiC). The thermal conductivity of single-crystal GaN at room temperature is found to be 253±8.8% W/mK, which is approximately 60% of the value obtained for SiC. The excellent thermal property that is obtained in this study clearly indicates that GaN crystals are one of the promising materials for use in high-power-switching devices.

High sensitivity capacitive pressure sensors can be created with bottlebrush dielectric layers that overcome the limitations of traditional polymeric materials.

X-ray powder diffraction patterns and transmission electron diffraction patterns of superconductors with the nominal composition of BiSrCa 3 Cu 4 O x have been observed and compared with the results of the magnetic susceptibility. Unit cell dimensions of high- T c phase ( T c ∼107 K) are a =5.40 Å, b =27.0 Å, c =36.8 Å, indicating a pseudotetragonal symmetry. High resolution structure image of the high- T c phase shows that there are layer structural units with 15.4 Å and 22.5 Å in thickness, in addition to the main layer structural unit with a thickness of 18.4 Å.

Abstract The electrochemical conversion of CO 2 into commodity chemicals or fuels is an attractive reaction for sustainable CO 2 utilization. In this context, the application of gas diffusion electrodes is promising due to efficient CO 2 mass transport. Herein, a scalable and reproducible method is presented for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐bound copper gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) via the dry‐pressing method and compositional parameters are emphasized to alter such electrodes. The assembly of the catalytic layer plays a critical role in the electrode performance, as elevated bulk hydrophobicity coupled with good surface wettability is observed to offer highest performance in 0.5 m KHCO 3 . With optimized electrodes, formate, CO, and H 2 are obtained at a current density of 25 mA cm −2 as main products in 1 m KOH in faradaic efficiencies (FEs) of 27%, 30%, and 36%. At 200 mA cm −2 , an altered product composition with ethylene (33% FE) and ethanol (9% FE) along with H 2 (33% FE) is observed. In addition, n ‐propanol is observed with 7% faradaic efficiency. The results indicate that the composition of the GDE has a severe influence on the electrode performance and setting proper hydrophobicity gradients within the electrode is key toward developing a successful electrochemical CO 2 reduction.

A two-generation reproduction toxicity study in rats adding extra endpoints to detect endocrine disrupting activity was conducted using vinclozolin by dietary administration at 0, 40, 200, and 1000 ppm, for investigation of its utility. The extra endpoints included anogenital distance (AGD), nipple development, sexual maturation (vaginal opening and preputial separation), estrous cycle, spermatogenesis, sex organ weights, and blood hormone concentrations (thyroid and sex hormones). Hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activities were also measured. The results revealed changes due to vinclozolin in the AGD, nipple development, sexual maturation, sex organ weights, and blood sex hormone concentrations in males of both parental animals and offspring, even at the lowest dose of 40 ppm, confirmed by results for the classical endpoints of histopathological examination at 200 ppm and mating at 1000 ppm. The effects on parental males included increased pituitary and testis weights, and decreased epididymis weights at 1000 ppm in both generations, and decreased prostate and epididymis weights at 200 and 1000 ppm and seminal vesicle weights at 1000 ppm in F1 males. Histopathological examination revealed hypertrophy of the basophilic cells in the pituitary at these two doses, and diffuse hyperplasia of the testicular interstitial cells and atrophy of the seminal vesicle mucosa at 1000 ppm in F0 and F1 males. In addition, F1 males demonstrated decrease in prostate fluid at 200 and 1000 ppm. Blood hormone analysis revealed increases in LH, FSH, testosterone, and DHT in F0 and F1 males at 1000 ppm. General toxicological effects included suppressed body weight gain in F0 and F1 females and in F1 males, and reduced food consumption in F0 and F1 females at 1000 ppm. Histopathological examination revealed centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in males at 200 and 1000 ppm and in females at 1000 ppm, increased lipid droplets in the adrenal zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa in males at 200 and 1000 ppm and in females at 40 ppm and above, and hyperplasia of ovarian interstitial cells and vacuolation of lutein cells in females at 1000 ppm in both generations. Almost all the tissue changes were accompanied by changes in weights. Decreases in T3 and/or T4 were observed in both sexes and generations at 1000 ppm and in F0 females at 200 ppm. However, these were presumed to be secondary to induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, activities being increased for a range of enzymes in both sexes and generations at 1000 ppm. Rise in BROD activity was the most prominent, suggesting that vinclozolin mainly induces CYP2B. As for effects on reproductive function, a marked decrease in the fertility index caused by male infertility was observed in F1 animals at 1000 ppm. However, no effects on spermatogenesis were seen in either F0 or F1 males. Since cleft prepuce and penile hypoplasia were observed in infertile males, it is probable that the cause of infertility in F1 males was related to morphological abnormalities in the external genitalia. Vinclozolin did not affect the estrous cycle, mating, fertility, pregnancy, parturition, or nursing behavior in either F0 or F1 females. In offspring, in addition to suppressed body weight gain in F1 males and females at 1000 ppm, neonatal toxicity caused by antiandrogen activity of vinclozolin was observed in F1 and F2 males. Effects included shortened AGD in F1 males at 1000 ppm and in F2 males at 200 and 1000 ppm, and nipple/areola remnants in F1 males at 200 and 1000 ppm and in F2 males at 40 ppm and above. In addition, decreased epididymis weights at weaning and morphological abnormalities of the external genitalia, including cleft prepuce, penile hypoplasia, and vaginal pouch, were seen in F1 and F2 males at 1000 ppm.

Reactions of sunscreen agents, octyl dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate (ODPABA) and octyl-p-methoxycinnamate (OMC), with hypochlorite in aqueous solution were investigated under the conditions that simulate swimming pool disinfection sites. Chlorination byproducts were determined by GC-MS. At a concentration of 9 μM, ODPABA reacted rapidly with free chlorine in the buffered solution at pH 7.0, OMC reacted with hypochlorite reasonably slowly under the same condition. ODPABA and OMC produced chlorine-substituted compounds as intermediates, which were decomposed to cleavaged products of ester-bond during the aqueous chlorination process. The chlorination intermediates of OMC exhibited weak mutagenic on Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain without the S9 mix. The extent of the reactions depended on the chlorine dose, solution pH, and compound structures.

A new impedance-photocurrent device analysis technique is developed to elucidate the complex factors that dictate the fill factor in operating devices.

Four conjugated copolymers with a donor/acceptor architecture comprising 4,4-dihexadecyl-4H-cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b']dithiophene as the donor structural unit and benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazole fragments with varying degrees of fluorination as the acceptor structural units have been synthesized and characterized. It has been shown that the energy levels were decreased after the fluorine substitution. The field-effect charge carrier mobility was similar for all polymers with less than an order of magnitude difference between different acceptor units.

Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of superconducting Bi 0.25- y Sr 0.25- y Ca 2 y Cu 0.5 O x ( y =0.1, 0.125, 0.15) have been measured and compared with the results of X-ray powder diffraction. The volume fraction of the low- T c phase ( T c ∼75 K) decreases as the Ca concentration is increased and superconductivity attributed to the high- T c phase ( T c >100 K) is observed. Resistivity of Bi 0.125 Sr 0.125 Ca 0.25 Cu 0.5 O x shows a sharp transition above 100 K and becomes zero at 97 K.

The basis of diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is the measurement of androgen levels. Traditionally, total testosterone (total T) was also used as the primary indicator of gonadal function in Japan. In 1998, the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male was founded to conduct basic and clinical research on this issue internationally. As a result, it is said that bioavailable testosterone levels should be measured in the diagnosis of LOH. At present, however, there are a number of problems for bioavailable testosterone to become a routine diagnostic tool. Here, we will explain the various measurement indicators of androgens, measurement problems, standard values of total T, and free testosterone (free T) in Japan, and the diagnostic methods for LOH overseas. In Japan, the Japanese Urological Association and the Japanese Association of Men's Health recommend the measurement of free T levels in the diagnosis of LOH, for the following reasons: (i) It has been demonstrated that free T is more strongly correlated with calculated bioavailable testosterone, than total T, showing a statistically significant difference; (ii) The behavior of free T is highly consistent with that of bioavailable testosterone, with free T levels being markedly decreased due to aging; (iii) For the measurement of free T, a method that allows the measurement of free T only, without affecting the balance between free T and protein-bound testosterone in blood, is available; and 4) The mean total T by age range decreases only to 80% of the young adult mean even during presenile and senile periods, when LOH occurs most frequently, but the free T level shows a linear decrease with aging and drops to 50% of the young adult mean. For these reasons, we will describe the validity of the recommendation for the measurement of free T levels.

The present study characterizes the neurochemical profile of the newly synthesized compound 5-(3-[((2S)-1,4-benzodioxan-2-ylmethyl)amino]propoxy)-1,3-be nzodioxole HCl (MKC-242). In in vitro experiments, MKC-242 had high affinity for serotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptors (Ki: 0.35 nM) and moderate affinity for alpha 1-adrenoceptors (Ki: 21 nM), whereas it had no appreciable affinity for any other neurotransmitter recognition sites studied and 5-HT transporter. MKC-242 (0.3-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.; 1-10 mg/kg, p.o.) caused presynaptic 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated responses (decreases in 5-HT turnover and 5-HT release) and postsynaptic 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated responses (hypothermia, an increase in serum corticosterone level and 5-HT1A behavioral syndrome). The effects of MKC-242 on decarboxylase inhibitor-induced 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation and rectal temperature were blocked by the 5-HT1A-receptor antagonist N-tert-butyl-3-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-phenylpropana mide. The comparative studies on the in vivo responses induced by MKC-242 and the 5-HT1A-receptor full agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propyl-amino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) showed that MKC-242 and 8-OH-DPAT had similar efficacy at presynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, whereas the former had less efficacy than the latter at postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. Furthermore, MKC-242 partially inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in hippocampal membranes. These findings suggest that MKC-242 acts as a full and partial agonist at pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, respectively, in the central nervous system.

Stability of high-level liquid waste (HLW) from nuclear fuel reprocessing was studied by using a simulated HLW. Fundamental works disclosed that precipitates formed during aging at ambient temperature or refluxing the simulated HLW in 2 mol/lHNO3 solution consist mainly of Mo, Zr and Te contributing significantly to the formation of precipitate. When the simulated HLW was denitrated with formic acid or deacidified with NaOH, fractions of precipitated Mo, Zr and Te increased with pH and amounted to over 85% at pH 0.5, where the fraction of precipitated La was below 0.1%. For further treatment of HLW such as partitioning, denitration of HLW to pH 0.5 might be useful for removing Mo, Zr and Te from the solution without significant contamination with rare earths, Am and Cm.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of Helicobacter pylori isolates showing antibiotic resistance has been increasing. Rifabutin (RFB) is one of the possible candidates for H. pylori eradication. In the present study, the RFB minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the resistance-determining genes to RFB (rpoB) were examined to clarify the relationship between drug MICs, rpoB mutations, and past history of rifampicin (RFP) treatment. METHODS: The MICs of RFB and rpoB mutations were examined for 48 strains with failure of H. pylori eradication in the University Hospital and 46 isolated from patients at a specialized hospital for chronic respiratory diseases without past H. pylori eradication. Past RFP treatment was also examined. RESULTS: Eight of 94 strains showed high RFB MICs and 6 of the 8 strains showed rpoB point mutations. Although no strains showed high RFB MICs among 48 strains from the patients in the University Hospital, all 7 strains isolated from patients with past RFP treatment showed high RFB MICs (>or=0.12 mg/l). CONCLUSION: Although RFB might be a potential candidate component of a new H. pylori eradication regimen following the first- or second-line failure, it should be used after examining a past history of RFP treatment.

Tetracyanoquinodimethane leads to trap-enhanced photoconductive gain and highly efficient broadband sensing for bulk heterojunction organic photodetectors.

Critical Care 2017, 21(Suppl 1):P351 2.60) vs. 2.81 EU/mL (2.73-2.91) median (IQR)). Furthermore, endotoxin levels at 4 h, one hour after completed [i]E. coli[/i] infusion, were lower in Pre-existing SIR vs. Non-Pre-existing SIR group both in arterial (Fig. There was no difference in the ratio of splenic venous to arterial endotoxin levels between Pre-existing SIR and Non-Pre-existing SIR groups.

BACKGROUND: Perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is an abnormal connection between the inner and middle ear. A procedure for obtaining definite proof of a PLF remains elusive, and methods of diagnosis remain controversial. To date, there is no clinically relevant biochemical marker for perilymph leakage. Using proteomic analysis of inner ear proteins, we have previously found unique properties of cochlin, encoded by the COCH gene. We detected 3 cochlin isoforms (p63s, p44s and p40s) in the inner ear tissue and a short 16-kDa isoform of cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) in the perilymph. Since cochlin was found to be highly specific to the inner ear, we speculated that CTP might also be specific to the perilymph. The aim of this study was to determine whether CTP, a novel perilymph-specific protein, could be used as a marker for the diagnosis of PLF. METHODS: By Western blotting, we investigated the specificity of CTP expression in a range of body fluids that included perilymph, serum, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid. To elucidate the detection limit of CTP, serially diluted recombinant human (rh)CTP as well as human perilymph was tested. RESULTS: CTP was selectively expressed in all 20 perilymph samples tested, but not in 77 samples of the other body fluids. The detection limit of rhCTP was 0.27 ng or 0.022 microl of perilymph per well on Western blot analysis. CONCLUSION: The results strongly suggest that CTP can be a specific marker of perilymph leakage. Moreover, CTP has the potential to be a biochemical marker that allows a definitive diagnosis of the etiology of PLF-related hearing loss and vestibular disorders.