Texture Development in Barium Titanate and PMN–PT Using Hexabarium 17-Titanate Heterotemplates

Bulk BaTiO₃ ceramics with 〈111〉-texture have been prepared by the modified templated grain growth method, using platelike Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ particles as templates, and the mechanism of texture development is examined. The Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ particles induce the abnormal growth of BaTiO₃ grains, and a structure similarity between {001} of Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ and {111} of BaTiO₃ gives 〈111〉-texture to abnormally grown BaTiO₃ grains. Thus, the 〈111〉-texture develops in the BaTiO₃ matrix. The use of platelike Ba₆Ti₁₇O₄₀ particles has been extended to a 0.65Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.35PbTiO₃ matrix, but the matrix phase is decomposed by extensive chemical reactions between the matrix and template phases.     

Antioxidative properties and flavonoid composition of Chenopodium quinoa seeds cultivated in Japan

To evaluate the nutritional advantages of quinoa seeds (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivated in Japan, antioxidative properties and flavonoid composition were determined and compared to corresponding data for conventionally-used cereals and pseudo-cereals, including quinoa seeds from South America. The antioxidant activities of these grains against DPPH radicals were strongly associated with the total phenolic content of the tested samples. The crude extracts of quinoa seeds cultivated in Japan exhibited higher antioxidative effects than those from South America and other cereals, excluding buckwheat. Four flavonol glycosides were isolated and identified from the Japanese quinoa seeds, and the chemical composition of the flavonoids – quercetin and kaempferol 3-O-(2″,6″-di-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranosides (1 and 4), quercetin 3-O-(2″,6″-di-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside (2), and quercetin 3-O-(2″-O-β-apiofuranosyl-6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranoside (3) – was evaluated through quantitative determination. Trioside 2 was isolated for the first time from quinoa seeds. These glycosides were not detected in extracts from any of the tested grains except quinoa. The aglycone quercetin content of the Japanese quinoa seeds is higher than in the seeds from South America and buckwheat. The amounts of quercetin and kaempferol formed via acidic hydrolysis in quinoa are much higher than those of conventionally-used edible plants. The quinoa seeds cultivated in Japan are the most effective functional foodstuff – in terms of being a source of antioxidative and bioactive flavonoids – among cereals and pseudo-cereals.     

Development of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Kudoa septempunctata in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Kudoa septempunctata is a newly identified myxosporean parasite that infects the trunk muscles of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and a causative agent of the increasing number of foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks with unknown etiology which have occurred in Japan over the last few years. Here, we developed a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assay for the detection of K. septempunctata 18S rDNA in olive flounder muscle tissue samples. Additionally, we compared the relative efficacy of four DNA extraction methods, including two commercial kits, and assessed intrafish variability in the distribution of K. septempunctata spores in flounder using this QPCR method in order to establish a more accurate quantitative measurement. Our QPCR assay displayed high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, and had good correlation with a microscopic detection method. Our data also indicated that the DNeasy? Blood & Tissue Kit was more efficient method for the extraction of K. septempunctata DNA than the three other methods (heating, alkaline lysis, and FastDNA? SPIN Kit method). We believe that our method would be useful for investigating foodborne outbreaks caused by K. septempunctata and for the monitoring and quantification of this parasite in retail or aquacultured olive flounders to prevent such outbreaks.     

Candesartan (CV-11974) dissociates slowly from the angiotensin AT1 receptor

The mechanisms of the insurmountable antagonism of 2-ethoxy-1-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]1H-benzimid azole -7-carboxylic acid, candesartan (CV-11974), an angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, on angiotensin II-induced rabbit aortic contraction were examined in contraction and binding studies. Preincubation of the rabbit aorta with CV-11974 (0.1 nM) for 30 min reduced the maximal contractile response to angiostensin II by approximately 50%. This insurmountable antagonism of CV-11974 was reversed in the presence of losartan (1 microM), a surmountable angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of CV-11974 on angiotensin II-induced contraction persisted longer after washing than did that of losartan but was irreversible. Scatchard analysis of [3H]CV-11974 binding in bovine adrenal cortical membranes indicated the existence of a single class of binding sites (Kd = 7.4 nM). Competition binding studies using angiotensin II receptor agonists and antagonists have demonstrated that [3H[CV-11974 binding sites may be identical to angiotensin AT1 receptors. The dissociation rate of [3H]CV-11974 binding (t1/2 = 66 min) was 5 times slower than that of [125I]angiotensin II binding (t1/2 = 12 min). These results suggest that the insurmountable antagonism by CV-11974 is due to its slow dissociation from angiotensin AT1 receptors.     

Silicon ribbons made by roller quenching methods

Polycrystalline silicon ribbons were prepared by Roller Quenching Methods. Ribbons were obtained flexible and of virtually continuous length, 20μ m to 200μ m in thickness, and 1 mm to 50 mm in width. Microscopic observations of etched ribbon surfaces showed that the average grain sizes were 20μ m to 30μ m. Cross-sectional views showed the ribbons to have a columnar grain structure. Unwanted impurities were undetectable by Auger analysis, except very thin oxygenated layer was present on the surface of the ribbons. By means of DC conductivity and Hall measurements of intentionally doped silicon ribbons, it was found that the active carrier concentration of the ribbons was nearly the same as the doped carrier concentration, from 10¹⁴/cm³ to 10²⁰/cm³ , the resistivity of the ribbons were about one order of magnitude higher than that of silicon single crystals, and the Hall mobility parallel to the ribbon axis and perpendicular to the ribbon plane was 1 to 150 cm² · V^-1 · sec⁻¹ and 50 to 700 cm² · V^−l · sec⁻¹, respectively. A solar cell using the present ribbon was made by means of a CVD silicon deposition method. Satisfactory diode characteristics and a conversion efficiency of about 5 % were obtained.     

A coherent all-solid-state laser array using the Talbot effect in athree-mirror cavity

Lateral mode coupling in a diode-pumped Nd:YAG microchip laser array is demonstrated with a Talbot cavity for the first time. The relatively low laser gains of solid-state lasers compared with diode lasers and CO₂ lasers, to which the Talbot cavity has already been applied successfully, are solved by employing a novel auxiliary Talbot cavity configuration. A brighter twin-peak far-field pattern indicating an out-of-phase array mode, whose spot is 9.3 times smaller than that obtained by incoherent superposition of the individual microchip laser outputs, is obtained from the phase-locked microchip laser array with a mode-selecting slit. Without the mode-selecting slit, a far-field pattern with a single narrow peak is obtained, showing that the array is locked in an in-phase mode, presumably because of multiple reflections in the auxiliary Talbot cavity     

Relationship between apneic episodes and destruction of temporomandibular joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

There have been only a few investigational reports of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although it may not be a rare condition and may be life-threatening occasionally. The factor precipitating SAS in such patients is thought to be destruction of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) from RA processes. To assess the relationship of the degree of destruction of the TMJs to the frequency of apnea, we examined them in 10 RA patients who complained of snoring. Those patients were classified as classical RA according to the criteria of American Rheumatism Association. They consisted of 3 males and 7 females with a mean age of 57.8 + 11.0 years and a mean disease duration of 15.9 +/- 9.4 years. In order to numerically evaluate the degree of destruction of the mandibular rami, we quoted a method from the literature (Redlund-Johnell I, Scand J Rheumatol 16:355, 1987) and measured the vertical distance (= ramal height) from the mandibular angle to the palato-occipital line on the lateral view film of the cervical spine in each patient. The mean values of ramal height (RH) of the normal material (we studied in Japanese) are 46.0 mm in males and 38.3 mm in females. There were 8 cases of SAS out of the 10 RA patients studied. Their mean total apneic episode (TAE) was 289.9 mm with a range of 0-611. The mean ratio (%) of RH to mean value of the normal material (%RH) was 68.8 +/- 22.2% for all. There was a significant statistic correlation between TAE and %RH (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ionic conductivity and morphology of complexes formed by polyurethanes and lithium perchlorate

Summary Segmented polyether urethane (SEU) and urethaneurea (SEUU) were synthesized using ABA type triblock copolymer as a prepolymer, where A stands for poly(oxyethylene) and B stands for poly(oxytetramethylene). Lithium perchlorate was dissolved in SEU or SEUU to prepare LiC10₄ complexes (SEU/LiC10₄ and SEUU/LiC10₄) in film form. The highest conductivities observed here were 5.13x10^-6 S cm^-1 at 30°C and 3.34x10^-5 S cm^-1 at 50°C for LiC10₄/SEUU (oxyethylene-units content, 31 mol%). The ionic conductivity of these complexes was found to show the Arrhenius type temperature dependency. The effect of lithium perchlorate dissolution on the morphology of SEU and SEUU were also discussed.     

Refractory Protection by High Speed Blowing in a PS Converter

In researching development of a high productivity converter, a six-ton Peirce-Smith converter with six tuyeres was constructed. The apparent speeds of a blast and an oxygen-enriched blast through the tuyeres were tested from MACH (MN) 0.3 to 2.5. It was found that at a speed of more than MN 1.0, tuyere blockage no longer occurs. Consequently, accretions around the tip of the tuyere did not disturb blowing, eliminating the need for punching. The life of the refractory around the tuyere zone was triple that experienced with a normal blast speed. But even with high speed blowing, refractory erosion remained severe when using oxygen enrichment in excess of 40%. This high speed blowing technique also caused an increase of splash from the converter mouth. Oxygen efficiency was, however, kept at a high level.