A novel method for induction and detection of anaphylactic reaction using the mouse abdominal wall (AW method)

We found that an antigen-specific anaphylaxis was induced by antigen challenge to the abdominal wall, ear auricle, or subcutaneous tissue in mice sensitized 9 days previously with antigen and adjuvant. The anaphylactic reaction was detected by vascular permeability at the injected site 7 minutes after challenge, which was the best time for estimation. A novel method (AW method) for induction and detection of the anaphylactic reaction in mice was established using the abdominal wall as the challenge site. This method could detect the anaphylactic response in mice 1 to 3 weeks after sensitization. The increase in vascular permeability was completely inhibited by administration of diphenhydramine.     

Electrical Properties of 1.7-MeV-Electron-Irradiated Sulfur-Doped GaP

The electrical properties of 1.7-MeV-electron-irradiated sulfur (S)-doped GaP were studied by using Hall effect and resistivity measurements. It was found that the concentration of S donors decreased and the deep acceptors were introduced by 1.7-MeV electron irradiation. The decrease of the concentration of S donors could be understood by considering the formation of a complex center of radiation-produced defects with S. A complex center acted as a deep acceptor and recovered in the stage centered at 150°C anneal. The introduction rate of this center was ~2.1 cm-1. From the isothermal annealing experiments, it was found that the recovery for this center approximately obeyed first-order kinetics and its activation energy was ~1.7 eV. Furthermore, another complex center involving S, which was a non-compensating defect in n-type GaP, was introduced. This center was seemed to be a deep donor.     

Chitosan and marine phospholipids reduce matrix metalloproteinase activity in myeloma SP2 tumor‐bearing mice

An animal experiment was conducted to assess the antitumor effects of chitosan‐coated liposomes on myeloma SP2. The animal experimental groups designed for myeloma SP2 tumor‐bearing BALB/c mice were provided with five different drinks: (I) control (double‐distilled water); (II) squid phospholipid liposomes alone 1.0 mg/mL; (III) chitosan alone 5.0 mg/mL; (IV) squid phospholipid liposomes 1.0 mg/mL with chitosan 5.0 mg/mL in the form of a simple mixture; and (V) squid phospholipid liposomes 1.0 mg/mL coated with chitosan 5.0 mg/mL. At 20 days after implantation of the myeloma SP2 cells into mice, oral administration of the experimental drinks was provided for 35 days. There was significant suppression of tumor growth when chitosan and squid phospholipids were administered simultaneously in a simple mixture or as chitosan‐coated liposomes. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 activity was significantly less in the serum of mice that consumed chitosan‐coated liposomes than in control mice. We found that decreased tumor burden was related to MMP secretion. Therefore, chitosan‐coated marine phospholipid liposomes might be useful as potential agents for the treatment of myeloma SP2.     

Universals and cultural differences in the judgments of facial expressions of emotion.

We present here new evidence of cross-cultural agreement in the judgment of facial expression. Subjects in 10 cultures performed a more complex judgment task than has been used in previous cross-cultural studies. Instead of limiting the subjects to selecting only one emotion term for each expression, this task allowed them to indicate that multiple emotions were evident and the intensity of each emotion. Agreement was very high across cultures about which emotion was the most intense. The 10 cultures also agreed about the second most intense emotion signaled by an expression and about the relative intensity among expressions of the same emotion. However, cultural differences were found in judgments of the absolute level of emotional intensity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optical triode switch module with a nonlinear etalon

An all-optical device in which a nonlinear etalon is operated stably as a triode switch at a high on-off ratio is discussed. A nonlinear etalon is sandwiched between two quarter-pitch GRIN (graded index) lenses. Detuning is adjusted by using the position-to-angle conversion feature of the lens. Two orthogonally polarized beams are used to obtain a high on-off ratio (~10:1) even for a weak signal beam by completely separating a control beam from an output beam     

Electrolytic removal of ammonia from brine wastewater: scale‐up,operation and pilot‐scale evaluation

Brine wastewater with a high ammonia content from an iodine processing plant (commonly called kansui in Japan) was treated by electrolysis. The system, which can be considered as an indirect electrolytic treatment process, generates chlorine at the anodes and initiates the formation of mixed oxidants like hypochlorous acid. The oxidants then act as agents for ammonia destruction. Laboratory‐scale experiments showed that high ammonia concentrations (as much as 200 mg dm^?3) could be completely removed within a few minutes, and could be considered a good alternative for efficient ammonia removal from saline wastewaters. From laboratory‐scale experiments in the batch and continuous modes, the charge dose was analyzed and used as the operating and scale‐up factor. The value of the charge dose was not severely affected by changes in operating conditions such as electrode spacing and temperature. The charge dose from batch and continuous runs was found to be in the range of 23 C (mg NH₄‐N removed)^?1 to 29 C (mg NH₄‐N removed)^?1. Using the charge dose obtained from laboratory‐scale continuous electrolysis experiments as the scale‐up factor, a pilot‐scale reactor was designed, and the operating conditions were calculated. In the pilot‐scale reactor tests at different flow rates, the effluent ammonia concentrations were reasonably close to the calculated values predicted from the charge dose equation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Theoretical considerations on the sensitivities of electron beam resists

A theoretical study has been carried out in order to explain the sensitivities of electron beam and X-ray resists. A preliminary investigation reveals that the behavior of these resists, on irradiation by high energy radiation, may be considered to be the electronically-excited species in the polymer. To elucidate the chemical reactions in the excited states the adiabatic potential curves are calculated by the INDO/S procedure, which considers all the valence electrons and all the singly excited electronic configurations. Polyethylene and polyisobutylene were chosen as representative of crosslinkable and degradable polymers, respectively, since there is a parallelism between the beam sensitivity of resists and the effects of high energy radiation on polymers. Polyisobutylene has many antibonding curves favorable for the main chain scission in the excited states and polyethylene does not except for one improbable state. It was concluded that degradability is explainable by the ease of bond fission in the excited states; the crosslinkability is considered to be nondegradable property.     

New Frontiers in Materials Science Opened by Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) including ambient‐temperature molten salts, which exist in the liquid state even at room temperature, have a long research history. However, their applications were once limited because ILs were considered as highly moisture‐sensitive solvents that should be handled in a glove box. After the first synthesis of moisture‐stable ILs in 1992, their unique physicochemical properties became known in all scientific fields. ILs are composed solely of ions and exhibit several specific liquid‐like properties, e.g., some ILs enable dissolution of insoluble bio‐related materials and the use as tailor‐made lubricants in industrial applications under extreme physicochemical conditions. Hybridization of ILs and other materials provides quasi‐solid materials, which can be used to fabricate highly functional devices. ILs are also used as reaction media for electrochemical and chemical synthesis of nanomaterials. In addition, the negligible vapor pressure of ILs allows the fabrication of electrochemical devices that are operated under ambient conditions, and many liquid‐vacuum technologies, such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of liquids, electron microscopy of liquids, and sputtering and physical vapor deposition onto liquids. In this article, we review recent studies on ILs that are employed as functional advanced materials, advanced mediums for materials production, and components for preparing highly functional materials.