用快速热工艺氮化超薄SiO2膜的研究

将热生长的超薄（４－２３ｎｍ）ＳｉＯ２置于用卤素钨灯作辐射热源的快速工艺系统中，用快速热氮化工艺制备了超薄的ＳｉＯｘＮｙ膜。研究表明，设定温度是工艺的关键。研究ＲＴＮ过程的化学和动力学与温度关系及其对氮化质量的影响，比较各种不同条件ＲＴＮ制备的ＳｉＯｘＮｙ膜的ＡＥＳ测量的结果，得到ＲＴＮ反应的临界混度约为９００℃，初步了灯眼薄ＳｉＯ２生长动力学的氮／氧替代的微观过程。     

Electrochemical Behaviour of Sputtering Deposited DLC Films

Diamondlike carbon (DLC) films were deposited via magnetron sputtering process. The energetic ion bombardment on the surface of growing film is one of the major parameters that control the atom mobility on the film surface and further the physical and chemical characteristics of the films. In this study, the energy of carbon ions was monitored by changing sputtering power density, and its effect on the electrochemical performance of the films was investigated. For the deposition at a higher sputtering power density, a higher sp3 content in the DLC films was achieved with denser structure and increased film-substrate adhesion. The impedance at the interface of Si substrate/sulfuric acid solution was significantly enhanced, and at the same time higher film resistance, lower capacitance, higher breakdown potential and longer breakdown time were observed, which were related to the significant sp3 content of the DLC films.     

Bioavailability of progesterone enhanced by intranasal spraying

Summary The bioavailability of progesterone (P) in terms of area under time-concentration curve and maximal concentration in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid was studied in adult ovariectomized rhesus monkeys following the administration of P as a nasal spray, i.v. or i.m. injections, nasal or eye drops. The bioavailability of P in both the body fluids was found to be considerably higher following its being sprayed intranasally.This work was supported by the World Health Organization, Geneva.     

Role of hepcidin in murine brain iron metabolism

Brain iron homeostasis is maintained by a balance of both iron uptake and release, and accumulating evidence has revealed that brain iron concentrations increase with aging. Hepcidin, an iron regulatory hormone produced by hepatocytes in response to inflammatory stimuli, iron, and hypoxia, has been shown to be the long-sought hormone responsible for the regulation of body iron balance and recycling in mammals. In this study, we report that hepcidin is widely expressed in the murine brain. In cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, hepcidin mRNA levels increased with aging. Injection of hepcidin into the lateral cerebral ventricle resulted in decreased Fpn1 protein levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Additionally, treatment of primary cultured neurons with hepcidin caused decreased neuronal iron release and Fpn1 protein levels. Together, our data provide further evidence that hepcidin may be involved in the regulation of brain iron metabolism.     

Operant behavior of pre and post pubertal rats irradiated with I131 in the last trimester of gestation

Résumé Les petits de rates irradiées au 14^e jour de leur gestation, avec 3000 µC/kg de¹³¹I i.p. ont montré une plus grande réduction de leur capacité à presser sur un levier lorsqu'ls l'ont appris avant la puberté. Cet effet fut d'autant plus manifeste chez les animaux qui avaient été conditionnés lentement et qui ont généralement tendance à améliorer leur performance avec l'âge.

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Supported by NIMH Grant No. NS-07889.