The latest publications regarding the development of technology to control inclusion compositions focusing on MgO · Al 2 O 3 spinel inclusions were summarized in this review article. The problems caused by spinel inclusions, which affect practice as well as products were shown. The formation mechanism of MgO · Al 2 O 3 spinel inclusions is secondly explained thermodynamically from the view points of chemistries of molten steels and slag compositions. Furthermore, crystallization behaviour of spinel was introduced. Countermeasures conducted in practices and laboratories were shown along with some problems still left that should be solved in the future.

Most studies reported that the educational use of SPs was valuable. More rigorous studies would support the evidence-based use of SPs in teaching and learning.

Dynamic membrane remodeling during intracellular trafficking is controlled by the intricate interplay between lipids and proteins. BAR domains are modules that participate in endocytic processes by binding and deforming the lipid bilayer. Sorting nexin 9 (SNX9), which functions in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, contains a BAR domain, however, the properties of this domain are not well understood. Here we show that SNX9 shares many properties with other BAR domain-containing proteins, such as amphiphysin and endophilin. SNX9 is able to deform the plasma membrane, as well as liposomes, into narrow tubules and recruit N-WASP and dynamin 2 to these tubules via its SH3 domain. SNX9-induced tubulation is antagonized by N-WASP and dynamin 2 while it is enhanced by perturbation of actin dynamics. However, SNX9 also has several unique properties. The tubulating activity requires the BAR and PX domains, as well as the low-complexity (LC) domain, which binds the Arp2/3 complex. SNX9 also binds to PtdIns(4)P-5-kinases via its PX domain and its tubulating activity is regulated by phosphoinositides. In addition, the kinase activity of PtdIns(4)P-5-kinases is stimulated by interaction with SNX9, suggesting a positive feedback interaction between SNX9 and PtdIns(4)P-5-kinases. These results suggest that SNX9 functions in the coordination of membrane remodeling and fission via interactions with actin-regulating proteins, endocytic proteins and PtdIns(4,5)P 2 -metabolizing enzymes.

The FT-IR spectra of the CaO-SiO 2 and CaO-SiO 2 -CaF 2 slags were measured to understand the structural aspects of (fluoro-) silicate systems. The relative intensity of Si-O rocking band is very strong at SiO 2 saturation condition and this band disappears in the composition greater than 44.1 (mol%) CaO in the CaO-SiO 2 binary system. The bands for [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedra at about 1 150-760 cm Ϫ1 split up with increasing content of CaO greater than 44.1 mol%. The IR bands in this wavenumber range are divided into four groups, that is about 1090, 990, 920, and 870 cm Ϫ1 , which have been assigned to NBO/Siϭ1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In the CaO-SiO 2 -CaF 2 (2CaO · SiO 2 -Satd.) system, the center of gravity of the bands at about 1 170-710 cm Ϫ1shifts from about 980 to 850 cm Ϫ1 by increasing the ratio X CaF 2 /X SiO 2 from 0.22 to 0.64. The bands for [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedra are observed from about 1 070 to 730 cm Ϫ1 in the CaO-17.6(mol%)SiO 2 -CaF 2 system, while these bands are observed from about 1 120 to 720 cm Ϫ1 in the CaO-40.0(mol%)SiO 2 -CaF 2 system. The effect of substitution of CaF 2 for CaO on the depolymerization of silicate network is observed to significantly depend on the SiO 2 content in the slags. The bands for [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedra are observed from about 1 110 to 720 cm Ϫ1 in the CaO-SiO 2 -14.1(mol%)CaF 2 system and the center of gravity of these bands shifts from about 990 to 850 cm Ϫ1 with increasing CaO/SiO 2 ratio. The fraction of the relatively depolymerized units continuously increases from about 0.5 to 0.8 as the composition of slags changes from 2CaO · SiO 2 to CaO saturation condition.

The viscosity of CaO-SiO 2 (-MgO)-Al 2 O 3 slags was measured to clarify the effects of Al 2 O 3 and MgO on the structure and viscous flow of molten slags at high temperatures. Furthermore, the infrared spectra of the quenched slags were analyzed to understand the structural role of Al 2 O 3 in the polymerization or depolymerization of silicate network. The Al 2 O 3 behaves as an amphoteric oxide with the composition of slags; that is, the alumina behaves as a network former up to about 10 mass pct Al 2 O 3 , while it acts as a network modifier, in parts, in the composition greater than 10 mass pct Al 2 O 3 . This amphoteric role of Al 2 O 3 in the viscous flow of molten slags at the Newtonian flow region was diminished by the coexistence of MgO. The effect of Al 2 O 3 on the viscosity increase can be understood based on an increase in the degree of polymerization (DOP) by the incorporation of the [AlO 4 ]-tetrahedra into the [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedral units, and this was confirmed by the infrared (IR) spectra of the quenched slags. The influence of alumina on the viscosity decrease can be explained on the basis of a decrease in the DOP by the increase in the relative fraction of the [AlO 6 ]-octahedral units. The relative intensity of the IR bands for the [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedra with low NBO/Si decreased, while that of the IR bands for [SiO 4 ]-tetrahedra with high NBO/Si increased with increasing Al 2 O 3 content greater than the critical point, i.e., about 10 mass pct in the present systems. The variations of the activity coefficient of slag components with composition indirectly supported those of viscosity and structure of the aluminosilicate melts.

In this study, tin sulfide thin films were obtained by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using Tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin (TDMASn, [(CH3)2N]4Sn) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The growth rate of the tin sulfides (SnSx) was shown to be highly dependent on the deposition temperature, and reaction times of 1 second for the TDMASn and H2S were required to reach the saturation regime. Surface morphologies were smooth or rectangular with rounded corners as observed by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and were dependent on temperature. X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the crystal structure of SnSx can be tuned by changing the ALD temperature. Below 120 °C, SnSx films appeared to be amorphous. In addition, SnSx films were SnS2 hexagonal at 140 and 150 °C and SnS orthorhombic above 160 °C. Similarly, the values of the optical band gap and binding energy showed significant differences between 150 and 160 °C. The electronic structures of SnSx were extracted by UPS and absorption spectroscopy, and the unsaturated Sn 3d molecular orbital (MO) states in the band edge were found to be responsible for the great improvement in electrical conductivity. This study shows that TDMASn-H2S ALD is an effective deposition method for SnSx films, offering a simple approach to tune the physical properties.

We investigated the effects of pravastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, on interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, using an animal model of chronic cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced nephropathy. Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a low-salt diet (0.05% sodium) and treated daily for 1 or 4 wk with vehicle (olive oil; 1 ml/kg sc), CsA (15 mg/kg sc), or both CsA and pravastatin (5 or 20 mg/kg in the drinking water). Anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of pravastatin were studied by evaluating the concentrations of the inflammatory mediators osteopontin (OPN) and C-reactive protein (CRP), of fibrotic cytokine-transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and the presence of ED-1-positive cells (macrophages). In addition, renal function, serum lipid levels, histopathology (arteriolopathy and tubulointerstitial fibrosis), and the expression of the vasoactive factors endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and renin protein were also compared for different treatment groups. Pravastatin induced dose-dependent decreases in the expression of OPN, intrarenal CRP, and TGF-beta1, and in the numbers of ED-1-positive cells at 1 and 4 wk. These were accompanied by a significant attenuation of tubulointerstitial fibrosis at 4 wk. The downregulation of eNOS protein expression in CsA-treated rat kidney was markedly upregulated by pravastatin treatment, although intrarenal renin expression was unaffected. Renal dysfunction induced by CsA significantly improved with administration of pravastatin at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Neither CsA nor pravastatin influenced serum lipid or high-sensitivity CRP levels in the treatment groups. Thus in chronic CsA nephropathy, pravastatin effectively abrogates the progression of tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis. This may support the clinical use of pravastatin.

IgSF9b forms a novel subsynaptic domain for adhesion that links to the gephyrin- and GABAA receptor–containing domain to promote inhibitory synaptic development.