Dispersion of phosphovanadates on silica gel chemically modified with silane coupling agents having an amino group and their catalytic activities for methanol oxidation

Phosphotetradecavanadate (PV14) was dispersed on a silica gel chemically modified with a silane coupling agent (AnPS-SiO₂) by an equilibrium adsorption method. The PV14 contents approximately correlated with the V(IV) spin contents by ESR. PV14 dispersed on AnPS-SiO₂ resulted in a quite high selectivity for formaldehyde such as 97% in methanol oxidation.     

Mechanical properties of Ni3(Si,Ti) polycrystals alloyed with substitutional additions

The mechanical properties of the L1₂-type Ni₃(Si, Ti) polycrystals, which were alloyed with 1–2 at% of various transition metals and also doped with boron, were investigated over a wide range of temperatures. The addition of Hf enhanced the levels of yield stress whereas the addition of Cr, Mn and Fe reduced the levels of the yield stress over a wide range of temperatures. Ni₃(Si, Ti) alloyed with Cr, Mn and Fe showed a shallow minimum in the yield stress-temperature curves. This result was correlated with the modification of the micro-cross-slip process by the additives. At low temperatures, the addition of Hf and Nb slightly reduced the elongation, while the addition of Cr, Mn and Fe improved elongation. This elongation behaviour was interpreted as the alloying effect on the intergranular cohesive strength of L1₂ ordered alloys. At high temperatures, the elongation of Ni₃(Si, Ti) alloyed with Hf showed a particularly high value. This elongation behaviour is discussed based on the alloying effect on the competition between dynamic recrystallization and cavitation at grain boundaries. The fracture surfaces exhibited a variety of fracture patterns, depending on temperature and the alloy, and were primarily well correlated with the elongation behaviour. The ductilities of most of the alloys at high temperatures were reduced by the tests in air.     

Technology and corporate culture of industrial robots in Japan

This paper describes with examples of some typical industrial robots developed in Japan the process of development, which industrial robots in Japan took. It also describes citing the differences of cultural basis between Japan and western countries the influences of automation to man, culture and society, and survey the future industrial robots.     

The use of scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry to detect visual impairment caused by macular photocoagulation

The use of Tamoxifen as treatment for breast cancer is well established and its use experimentally as prophylaxis is promising, but little has been written about mammographically detected changes in breast parenchyma as a result of Tamoxifen therapy. We report two cases of spontaneous regression of breast cysts after Tamoxifen therapy for premenopausal breast cancer in the contralateral breast.     

Bidirectional signaling between sarcoglycans and the integrin adhesion system in cultured L6 myocytes

The rat L6 skeletal muscle cell line was used to study expression of the dystrophin-containing glycoprotein complex and its interaction with the integrin system involved in the cell-matrix adhesion reaction. A complex of dystrophin and its associated proteins was fully expressed in L6 myotubes, from which anti-dystrophin or anti-alpha-sarcoglycan co-precipitated integrin alpha 5 beta 1 and other focal adhesion-associated proteins vinculin, talin, paxillin, and focal adhesion kinase. Immunostaining and confocal microscopy revealed that dystrophin, alpha-sarcoglycan, integrin alpha 5 beta 1, and vinculin exhibited overlapping distribution in the sarcolemma, especially at focal adhesion-like, spotty structures. Adhesion of cells to fibronectin- or collagen type I-coated dishes resulted in induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycans but not beta-sarcoglycan. The same proteins were also tyrosine-phosphorylated when L6 cells in suspension were exposed to Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser peptide. All of these tyrosine phosphorylations were inhibited by herbimycin A. On the other hand, treatment of L6 myotubes with alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycan antisense oligodeoxynucleotides resulted in complete disappearance of alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycans and in significant reduction of levels of the associated focal adhesion proteins, which caused about 50% reduction of cell adhesion. These results indicate the existence of bidirectional communication between the dystrophin-containing complex and the integrin adhesion system in cultured L6 myocytes.     

Luminescent passive-oxidized silicon quantum dots as biological staining labels and their cytotoxicity effects at high concentration

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) hold some advantages over conventional organic fluorescent dyes. Due to these advantages, they are becoming increasingly popular in the field of bioimaging. However, recent work suggests that cadmium based QDs affect cellular activity. As a substitute for cadmium based QDs, we have developed photoluminescent stable silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) with a passive-oxidation technique. Si-QDs (size: 6.5 ± 1.5?nm) emit green light, and they have been used as biological labels for living cell imaging. In order to determine the minimum concentration for cytotoxicity, we investigated the response of HeLa cells. We have shown that the toxicity of Si-QDs was not observed at 112?μg?ml(-1) and that Si-QDs were less toxic than CdSe-QDs at high concentration in mitochondrial assays and with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Especially under UV exposure, Si-QDs were more than ten times safer than CdSe-QDs. We suggest that one mechanism for the cytotoxicity is that Si-QDs can generate oxygen radicals and these radicals are associated with membrane damages. This work has demonstrated the suitability of Si-QDs for bioimaging in lower concentration, and their cytotoxicity and one toxicity mechanism at high concentration.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of ferulic acid and gamma-oryzanol on integument color and suppression of oxidative stress in cultured red sea bream, Pagrus major

The effects of ferulic acid (FA) and gamma-oryzanol (OZ) supplementation on cultured red sea bream were examined. Commercial brown fish meal diets supplemented with FA (0.01-0.5%) or OZ (0.05-0.5%) were given to zero-year, cultured red sea bream for 98 days. After the experiment, the brightness of the integument color ("L" value) of FA- and OZ-administrated fish was higher than that of control fish. Furthermore, 2-Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver of FA- and OZ-administrated fish was lower than in control fish. These results indicate that FA and OZ suppressed not only dark-color pigmentation but also oxidative stress in cultured red sea bream.     

Use of a highly sensitive latex reagent with amino acid spacer for determination of C-reactive protein concentration in a variety of liver diseases

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein, which is extremely important in inflammatory disease diagnosis. CRP is rapidly elevated in various diseases as a result of tissue injury, infection and inflammation. Recently, many reports have shown its usefulness as a risk marker for arteriosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. However, the lack of sensitivity of existing CRP assays has hampered CRP testing in conditions associated with viral infections, where CRP levels typically elevate only marginally. In this report, we prepared a novel, ultra-sensitive latex-based CRP test using amino acid spacers with a high sensitivity and a wider assay range. Our method of conjugating latex beads enabled us to measure CRP in the range of 5-500?ng/mL in patient sera. Furthermore, we studied CRP levels in patients with various liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, in order to examine the correlation between severity of liver dysfunction and CRP levels, and to examine the likelihood of recurrence of liver dysfunction. The reagent was simple to prepare and sensitive during clinical investigation, where it discriminated clearly between normal subjects and those with liver diseases. Therefore, we conclude that our ultra-sensitive CRP assay will contribute greatly to the clinical study of hepatic disorders.     

Enhanced piezoelectricity around the tetragonal/orthorhombic morphotropic phase boundary in (Na,K)NbO3–ATiO3 solid solutions

The high density perovskite titanates-modified potassium–sodium niobate solid solutions (1?x)(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃?xBaTiO₃ and (1?x)(Na_0.5K_0.5)NbO₃?xSrTiO₃ have been prepared by the solid state reaction method. The phase diagram summarized from the dielectric property measurement reveals that there exists a tetragonal/orthorhombic morphotropic phase boundary for both the solid solutions. The piezoelectric properties show enhanced behavior at around the tetragonal/orthorhombic morphotropic phase boundary. It is believed that the origin for the high piezoelectric performance (Na,K)NbO₃-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics is the same as that for the lead zinc niobate-lead titanate solid solution.