Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) act on collagens (C-P4Hs) and the oxygen-dependent degradation domains (ODDDs) of hypoxia-inducible factor alpha subunits (HIF-P4Hs) leading to degradation of the latter. We report data on a human P4H possessing a transmembrane domain (P4H-TM). Its gene is also found in zebrafish but not in flies and nematodes. Its sequence more closely resembles those of the C-P4Hs than the HIF-P4Hs, but it lacks the peptide substrate-binding domain of the C-P4Hs. P4H-TM levels in cultured cells are increased by hypoxia, and P4H-TM is N-glycosylated and is located in endoplasmic reticulum membranes with its catalytic site inside the lumen, a location differing from those of the HIF-P4Hs. Despite this, P4H-TM overexpression in cultured neuroblastoma cells reduced HIF-alpha ODDD reporter construct levels, and its small interfering RNA increased HIF-1alpha protein level, in the same way as those of HIF-P4Hs. Furthermore, recombinant P4H-TM hydroxylated the two critical prolines in HIF-1alpha ODDD in vitro, with a preference for the C-terminal proline, whereas it did not hydroxylate any prolines in recombinant type I procollagen chains.

NiFe films with different thicknesses as were etched under several Ar+-ion-beam energy conditions. The functional dependence of the saturation magnetic flux on the remaining NiFe film thickness was used to determine the magnetic dead layer (MDL) thickness (tMDL). A tMDL of 24Å was generated in the NiFe films etched using a 1200-eV Ar+-ion beam. A dual-energy (1200eV∕400eV) etching process was found to be effective in reducing tMDL to 16Å without much throughput loss. A combination of optimal etching depth with an appropriate ion-beam energy is necessary in minimizing tMDL. The mechanism of MDL formation is discussed in terms of oxidation and surface roughening of the NiFe films.

In this article we describe an advanced inductively coupled plasma ion source being developed at Veeco for applications in data storage and active optical device fabrication. The new source design minimizes rf capacitive coupling. Capacitive coupling is responsible for erosion of the quartz discharge chamber and high transverse ion energies. Suppression of capacitive coupling, however, can be problematic for some applications due to the fact that, without it, conductive coatings that shield the transfer of inductive power to the plasma can accumulate inside the source. The authors have developed a simple and unique protective device that when installed on the quartz hardware effectively inhibits rf losses in the deposited films, greatly extending the quartz maintenance cycle and overcoming the above problem. Reduction of capacitive coupling is achieved using a slotted Faraday shield inserted between the low-frequency 1.8 MHz rf antenna and the plasma. It is found that the rf power loss to this shield is extremely low, yet it is very effective, essentially eliminating signs of discharge chamber sputtering. Further advantages of these new design features and application to special controlled etching processes are described. Also, new performance and reliability data for Veeco’s recently developed “flangeless” self-aligned ion optics grid assembly, implemented on the RIM-210 focused beam deposition ion source is shown, demonstrating the advantages of this design.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on various substrates using direct ion beam deposition from an RF IC hydrocarbon plasma source. Combinations of gases such as CH4. CH4-N2 were used to form plasma. The mechanical, electrical and optical properties of the films were examined as a function of deposition conditions and N2 content in gas mixture. A small amount of N2 (<8 sccm) did not markedly change hardness and stress, while electrical conductivity was significantly increased. In addition, a small amount of N2 improved wear performance of the films reducing amount of debris and wear track size. Introduction of high N2 flow into the system significantly deteriorates value of these parameters. It was found that N2 essentially increases absorption coefficient, and reduces optical band gap. Analysis of the experimental results shows that observed effects can be explained by incorporation of N2 into carbon-strained network that induces structural changes and. in turn, leads to an increase of sp2 fraction in the DLC films.

Argon/oxygen based chemically assisted ion-beam etching has been investigated for the patterning of stacked capacitor platinum electrodes at ground rules of 200 nm and below. Titanium nitride and bilayers of titanium on top of titanium nitride were used as hard mask layers in the patterning of the platinum. The ion-beam platinum etch process relies on physical sputtering by Ar ions with oxygen being added to the chamber during the etch to provide passivation of the Ti or TiN hard mask material. Pt:Ti etch selectivities of up to 20 have been achieved on blanket wafer samples. Sidewall profile angles greater than 80° (measured from the horizontal) were obtained for tightly spaced platinum features with a pitch of 350 nm using a multiple-angle ion-beam etch process. The uniformity of the etch process across 200 mm diam blanket oxide wafers was measured to be 3.5% (3σ value).

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are frequently used signal transduction mechanisms in eukaryotes. Of the five MAPK cascades in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) pathway functions to sense and respond to hypertonic stress. We utilized a partial loss-of-function mutant in the HOG pathway, pbs2-3, in a high-copy suppressor screen to identify proteins that modulate growth on high-osmolarity media. Three high-copy suppressors of pbs2-3 osmosensitivity were identified: MSG5, CAK1, and TRX1. Msg5p is a dual-specificity phosphatase that was previously demonstrated to dephosphorylate MAPKs in yeast. Deletions of the putative MAPK targets of Msg5p revealed that kss1 Delta could suppress the osmosensitivity of pbs2-3. Kss1p is phosphorylated in response to hyperosmotic shock in a pbs2-3 strain, but not in a wild-type strain nor in a pbs2-3 strain overexpressing MSG5. Both TEC1 and FRE::lacZ expressions are activated in strains lacking a functional HOG pathway during osmotic stress in a filamentation/invasion-pathway-dependent manner. Additionally, the cellular projections formed by a pbs2-3 mutant on high osmolarity are absent in strains lacking KSS1 or STE7. These data suggest that the loss of filamentation/invasion pathway repression contributes to the HOG mutant phenotype.

Introduction T HE objective of this numerical study is to investigate flow development in the vicinity of a strut (finite-length fin) of various thicknesses that intersects curved endwalls with well-developed turbulent boundary layers for weak-to-strong interaction strengths. To accomplish this, four diamond-shaped, symmetric struts were placed circumferentially equidistant in an annular flow passage with a steady supersonic core flow. This type of application may exist, for example, in dual combustion ramjets with supersonic annular flow or other configurations where struts are needed between the cowl and centerbody. The current investigation extends previous studies by Williams et al.' by examining the influence of strut thickness on interaction phenomena induced by each strut configuration. The interactions occur in an annular flow passage with convex and concave curved endwalls for the inner and outer walls, respectively, and include the effect of crossing shocks between struts. The inner-toouter wall radius ratio is 0.7, the annular gap-to-strut chord ratio is 0.7, and the strut chord is 2.54 cm long. The maximum thickness of the struts examined includes 0.125, 0.188, 0.25, and 0.5 chord lengths, which corresponds to strut half-angles of 7, 11, 14, and 26.5 deg, respectively. The contraction ratios for the four 14and 26.5-deg struts, 1.09 and 1.19, respectively, are less than the maximum permissible value for Mach 3 of 1.39, so that these supersonic flows can be established experimentally. The turbulent boundary layers on the walls of the annular duct are roughly 0.15 strut chords thick at a location 0.5 chords upstream of the strut and the "inviscid" core has a nominal Mach number of 3.0. The calculations were made at a Reynolds number based on the strut chord of 3 x 10.

A combined experimental and numerical study was conducted to investigate the nature of supersonic turbulent flow past an array of four, circumferentially equidistant, diamond-shaped struts which spanned the width of an annular, constant area duct. The validity of the experimental and numerical techniques is demonstrated by comparing predicted and measured duct wall static pressure, pitot pressure, and limiting surface streamlines. The computations and experiments both indicate a complex shock structure which persists many chord lengths downstream of the strut. The computations and experiments also reveal the existence of horseshoe-type vortices which are generated at the leading and trailing edges of the struts. Corner vortices are generated at the intersections of both the compression and expansion faces of the struts with the duct walls.

Supersonic annular flow passages exist in propulsion applications that include dual combustion ramjet engines where a supersonic annular flow (the outer flow) mixes with a sonic (or supersonic) gas generator flow (the inner flow) in the shock expansion zone downstream of the gas generator nozzle exit. Other engine designs include components in the form of annular ducts whose cross-sectional area varies in the streamwise flow direction. In some of these configurations, it is necessary to support the outer shroud (cowl) by means of struts positioned between the cowl and centerbody. To investigate the distorting influence of these struts on the local flow structure, it is first necessary to ensure that the intrinsic flow without struts is free of wave reflections and the effects of upstream disturbances. It is also necessary to demonstrate that the intrinsic flow exhibits the characteristics of a well-defined turbulent boundary layer flow, so that changes in the local flow structure induced by the presence of struts can be interpreted properly. The purpose of this Note is to demonstrate that a supersonic flow facility that meets these objectives has been developed.

Experimental and numerical results are presented for developing supersonic turbulent flow in an annular duct formed by a circular centerbody and outer shroud. The experimental results are based on data taken in a new flow facility that was designed to generate a shock-free, supersonic annular flow. Numerical computations were performed using the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model for comparison with experimentally measured profiles. The results demonstrate that computed and measured profiles are in excellent agreement, so that studies can now be conducted of shock wave/boundary layer interaction phenomena within the duct, such as those induced by changes in downstream duct geometry or by the placement of struts between the duct walls.

A combined experimental and numerical investigation of strut/endwall interactions within an annular duct having a supersonic core flow has been conducted. Four diamond-shaped struts with a 7 deg half angle were positioned circumferentially equidistant within an annular duct having a gap height of 0.7 strut chords, and an inner-to-outer wall radius ratio of 0.7. Turbulent boundary layers exist on both inner and outer walls of the duct, but have not merged. The core flow upstream of the struts is uniform at a nominal Mach number of 3.0 and a Reynolds number of 3 x 10 exp 5 based on the strut chord length. Experimental results, which include Pitot pressure distributions within the flow field, static pressure distributions on the inner and outer walls of the duct, and oil flow visualization on the centerbody and strut, are presented and compared with CFD predictions. Secondary flows associated with the interactions are examined including the trajectories of the horseshoe vortices formed at the leading and trailing edges of the strut and the trajectories of the vortices formed in the corner of the strut/endwall intersection.

A full 3D Navier-Stokes numerical investigation has been conducted of the shock-wave/boundary-layer flow interactions caused by four diamond-shaped struts, of varying thickness, in an annular duct with Mach 3 core flow and turbulent boundary-layers on both walls. Secondary flows caused by weak-to-strong interactions are examined in the vicinity of a strut which is bounded by curved endwalls. The duct endwall boundary-layer separated for the strongest interaction. The struts studied had maximum thickness-to-chord ratios of 0.125, 0.188, 0.250, and 0.500. The duct gap height is 0.7 strut chords, the duct inner-to-outer wall radius ratio is 0.7, and the Reynolds number is 3 x 10 exp 5 based on the strut chord length which was held constant for all interactions considered. The effects of strut thickness on the secondary flows are discussed, including: trajectories for the leading and trailing edge horseshoe vortices, strut/endwall corner vortices, and boundary-layer separation. The line of coalescence discussed in the literature, previously ascribed to boundary-layer separation, is shown to be caused by the leading edge horseshoe vortex convecting along the shock front.

Campylobacter fetus is a rare cause of meningitis in the pediatric age group and, in particular, among neonates. The clinical presentation of campylobacter meningitis in high-risk neonates is not well-described. A review of campylobacter meningitis by Lee et al 1 in 1985 reported nine cases occurring in neonates, of which only one case was caused by C. fetus. In the ensuing six years only three more confirmed cases of neonatal meningitis caused by C. fetus have been reported. 2,3 We here report another confirmed case of C. fetus meningitis in a neonate.

Under normal drying conditions, the free acids of C.I. Acid Red 88 and 27 have been shown to undergo partial desulphonation in the naphthionic acid portion of the molecule, with formation of 1‐naphthaleneazo‐2‐naphthol and 1‐naphthaleneazo‐2‐naphthol‐3,6‐disulphonic acid, respectively. This must be taken into account in preparing pure dye acids for dyeing studies. The reason for the apparent stability towards desulphonation of the intermediate member of the series, C.I. Acid Red 13, is not obvious.