A New Technique for High Contrast Development in Rapid Processing

A rapid developing system with a high contrast comparable to that of the lith system is described. The mechanism of the high contrast development has been investigated by using a model system. It has been found that a considerable amount of semiquinone is formed in a high pH and high-sulphite developer and a specific retardation effect by some antifogging agents enhances a contrast of a characteristic curve. By use of this system “fine line reproduction in superimposition” and other contact printing works can be better achieved with rapid access.     

An electrospray ionization source for integration with microfluidics

We have demonstrated a new electrospray ionization (ESI) device incorporating a tip made from a shaped thin film, bonded to a microfluidic channel, and interfaced to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). A triangular-shaped thin polymer tip was formed by lithography and etching. A microfluidic channel, 20 microm wide and 10 microm deep, was embossed in a cyclo olefin substrate using a silicon master. The triangular tip was aligned with the channel and bonded between the channel plate and a flat plate to create a microfluidic channel with a wicking tip protruding from the end. This structure aided the formation of a stable Taylor cone at the apex of the tip, forming an electrospray ionization source. This source was tested by spraying several solutions for mass spectrometric analysis. Because the components are all made by lithographic approaches with high geometrical fidelity, an integrated array system with multiple channels can be formed with the same method and ease as a single channel. We tested a multichannel system in a multiplexed manner and showed reliable operation with no significant cross contamination between closely spaced channels.     

SnO-SnO2 modified two-dimensional MXene Ti3C2Tx for acetone gas sensor working at room temperature

Acetone,as widely used reagents in industry and laboratories,are extremely harmful to the human.So the detection of acetone gas concentrations and leaks in special environments at room temperature is essential.Herein,the nanocomposite combining SnO-SnO2 (p-n junction) and Ti3C2Tx MXene was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method.Because of the existence of a small amount of oxygen during the hydrothermal conditions,part of the p-type SnO was oxidized to n-type SnO2,forming in-situ p-n junctions on the surface of SnO.The hamburger-like SnO-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx sensor exhibited improved acetone gas sensing response of 12.1 (Rg/Ra) at room temperature,which were nearly 11 and 4 times higher than those of pristine Ti3C2Tx and pristine SnO-SnO2,respectively.Moreover,it expressed a short recovery time (9 s) and outstanding reproducibility.Because of the different work functions,the Schottky barrier was formed between the SnO and the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets,acting as a hole accumulation layer (HALs) between Ti3C2Tx and tin oxides.Herein,the sensing mechanism based on the formation of hetero-junctions and high conductivity of the metallic phase of Ti3C2Tx MXene in SnO-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx sensors was discussed in detail.     

Mid-infrared spectroscopic measurement of ionic dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway

We determine the pH dependency of the mid-infrared spectra in aqueous solution of the organic dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway: saccharide phosphates (G6P, F6P), adenosine, and its phosphates (ATP, ADP, AMP). The series of molar absorbance spectra for these reagents were obtained in a pH range of about 2 to 11 with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer equipped with a horizontal diamond attenuated total reflection (ATR) sampling accessory. We also provide a method of infrared spectral extraction of ionic dissociative materials by performing a linear least-square fitting utilizing the formulas of ionic dissociation equilibrium shift, and we obtain the infrared spectrum of each ionic species of the dissociative materials: G6P-, G6P2-; F6P-, F6P2-; ATP2-, ATP3-, ATP4-; ADP-, ADP2-, ADP3-; AMP, AMP-, AMP2-; and adenosine+, adenosine0. The infrared spectral structure of each ionic species of the dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway are discussed. Additionally, the possibility for a quantification system of the concentrations of the organic dissociative materials in varying pH is suggested.     

Changes in serum levels of sialoglycoproteins in mice exposed to UV-B radiation

In the acute phase reaction, hepatocytes in the liver are activated and increase the plasma levels of acute phase reactants. Our previous study has shown that plasma sialic acid, an acute phase reactant, was increased following exposure of mice to UV-B radiation. Plasma sialic acid is derived from many plasma components. To clarify the type of plasma sialic acid that is increased by exposure to UV-B radiation, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis and staining for sialic acid. Consequently, the increases in haptoglobin and hemopexin were marked and 90% or more of the increased sialic acid was derived from these two glycoproteins after exposure to UV radiation. The increase in alpha1-acid glycoprotein levels was slight and did not contribute to the total increase in plasma sialic acid after exposure to UV radiation. Plasma levels of several proteins including antichymotrypsin (ACT), were reduced following exposure to UV radiation. The discrepancy between our results and published ones regarding ACT levels are discussed in terms of the type of cytokine.     

Attributions of mental illness and judgments about help seeking among Japanese-American and White American students.

Perceived causes of mental illness and help-seeking preferences among Japanese-American and White American college students (72 men and 72 women in each ethnic group) were compared in order to investigate the reported underuse of mental health services by Japanese Americans. Results of a 2 (ethnicity of S)?×?2(severity of disorder)?×?2(gender of person with disorder)?×?2(gender of S) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that Japanese-American students were more likely than White American students to attribute mental illness to social causes, to resolve problems on their own, and to seek help from family members or friends or both. Possible barriers to use of services by this sample of Japanese Americans include both a preference for informal resources and the stigmatization of mental illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Development of quality of life questionnaire for patients with colorectal cancer in surgical area--a study of reliability and validity of Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version

We developed a new questionnaire in the surgical area based on a core quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. In this study, we investigated the validity and reliability of a QOL questionnaire (Tokyo Yamabuki Forum Version) for patients with colorectal cancer. The questionnaire was composed of 17 items including 5 scales (basic sensory scale, psychological scale, physiological scale, defection-related scale and active scale) and a face scale as an global scale. The time needed to answer questionnaires was expected to be around 7 minutes and the questionnaires should basically be answered by the patients themselves everyday in the hospital. The study was performed in 10 hospitals in the Tokyo area, and 394 samples collected from 21 patients with rectal and colonic cancers were analyzed. A number of respondents failed to answer the question "Do you feel your foods tasty?", so we judged this item inappropriate and deleted it from the analysis. Fifteen items, including 5 scales showed satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity in correlation and factor analyses. Performance status showed a low correlation between each item, each scale and the global scale, while SDS and STAI showed an inordinately negative correlation with the fundamental and physical scales. Especially, SDS revealed an extremely close correlation with the active scale, and STAI showed an excessive correlation with the psychological scale. In the time course of QOL under chemotherapy, reductions (aggravations) were observed in both the total score of 15 items and global scale within one week postoperatively, but after that recovered to preoperative levels at 2 weeks postoperatively. A tendency to QOL improvement was observed 2 weeks after starting chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy. QOL of 13 patients was measured over 3 months, and the longest term was 8 months. The results suggested that this QOL questionnaire has sufficient reliability and validity to be usable for patients with colorectal cancer in the surgical area and that this model is applicable for long-term QOL surveys and frequent measurement.     

Spinel CuFe2O4: a precursor for copper catalyst with high thermal stability and activity

Spinel CuFe₂O₄ has been studied as a precursor for copper catalyst. The spinel CuFe₂O₄ was effectively formed on the SiO₂ by calcination in air at 800 °C with the atomic ratio of Fe/Cu = 2. The spinel CuFe₂O₄ on the SiO₂ was reduced to fine dispersion of Cu and Fe₃O₄ particles by the H₂ reduction at 240 °C. After H₂ reduction at 600 °C, sintering of Cu particles over the CuFe₂O₄/SiO₂ (Fe/Cu = 2) was inhibited significantly, while fatal sintering of Cu particles over the Cu/SiO₂ (Fe/Cu = 0) occurred. The CuFe₂O₄/SiO₂ catalyst exhibited much higher activity and thermal stability for steam reforming of methanol (SRM), compared with the Cu/SiO₂ catalyst. The spinel CuFe₂O₄ on the SiO₂ can be regenerated after an intentional sintering treatment by calcination in air at 800 °C where the activity is also restored completely. Based on these findings, we propose that spinel CuFe₂O₄ is an effective precursor for a high performance copper catalyst in which the immiscible interaction between Cu and Fe (or Fe oxide) plays an important role in the stabilization of Cu particles.     

Alternative human role in manufacturing

The limits of Taylorism are alive and well in today's manufacturing systems. Automation does have to constrain human ability creativity, judgement and skill, and undermine human dignity. The paper presents an interactive concept of manufacturing. Human-Oriented Manufacturing Systems (HOMS), which aims to achieve high flexibility and quality of production while creating an environment for happy working and joyful living.Presented at conference on Ecology of Science and Technology, Japan Science Foundation, Tokyo, 1992.