Generation of single-chain Fvs against detergent-solubilized recombinant antigens with a simple coating procedure

Antigen coating on polystyrene is prevented by detergent. We present here a simple procedure to coat detergent-solubilized antigen for subsequent panning selection of single-chain Fv (scFv), the target antigen of which was the hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein (NS) 4B, an integral membrane protein.     

Spot F positron source electro-deposited on a graphite rod

2.2 GBq of ¹⁸F (half-life 110 min) was effectively deposited on a graphite electrode of diameter 3 or 5 mm. The fraction of the electro-deposited ¹⁸F was as high as 97% of the total ¹⁸F produced in the solution. The fraction of the positrons emitted out of the electrode was 44% of the total β⁺. Thus, as much as 36% of the β⁺ from the produced ¹⁸F is available for the source of slow positron beams.     

Profile control of plastic sheet in an industrial polymer processing process

A control system was developed using a two-degree of freedom control structure with four input variables in the feedforward, and two inputs, the screw rotation speed and the gap of the forming roller, in the feedback loop. The feedforward signals were predetermined from first principles and the operators' heuristic rules for each changeover operation and prepared in a database. At the end of each changeover operation, the values in the database were rewritten by evaluating control performance. The magnitude of the true dead time changed as the production rate was changed. The rate of sampling and control action in the feedback control was adapted in each changeover operation so that the changing time delay was always expressed by a one-sampling-step time delay in the discrete models and dealt with by the controller robustness against parameter uncertainty. The developed control system was applied to an actual industrial plastic sheet production line and allowed one to easily perform the changeover operation and reduce material consumption.     

Converting far infrared image information to other physiologicaldata

Skin temperature is determined by blood-flow rate, structure of subcutaneous tissue, and activities of the sympathetic nervous system, which regulate heat dissipation from the body surface. Because of this, we can noninvasively detect distributions of many physiological functions from thermal images of the skin surface obtained by far infrared (FIR) imaging. If we can describe equations by which we calculate values of some functions from skin temperature, we might be able to analyze pathophysiological abnormalities by remote sensing. However, it is clear that we cannot convert a thermal image into other physiological function images unless we eliminate influences of many environmental conditions, structural variations, and other physiological parameters of skin-surface temperature. One solution is to introduce some physical, chemical, or neurohumoral stress to a patient and then take time-sequential thermal images. Dynamic fluctuation of such physiological functions might be revealed by sequential thermal images taken after stress is applied. We analyzed the theoretical backgrounds to determine regional skin temperature and thus developed application software to carry out the process. This article discusses algorithms we developed for detecting static abnormality or transient change of some physiological functions such as skin blood-flow rate, blood volume in cutaneous and subcutaneous vascular beds, and activities of the sympathetic nervous system     

Polypropylene-based nano-composite formation: Delamination of organically modified layered filler via solid-state processing

Solid-state processing for the preparation of polypropylene (PP)-based nano-composites having finely dispersed layered fillers was conducted. The mixture of PP and organically modified layered filler (OMLF) (95:5 wt./wt.) was subjected to the processing using alumina mortar heated 65 °C, below T_m of PP (i.e., PP is still at the solid-state), and ground for 8 h before melt compounding. On X-ray diffraction, the d₍₀₀₁₎ peak of OMLF was broaden and peak position shifted slightly. The mixture prepared by solid-state processing exhibited disorder and delaminated layer structure with the thickness of 3-7 nm into PP matrix through TEM observations. On the contrary, nano-composite prepared by melt compounding at 180 °C for 3 min (without solid-state processing) showed the large stacked silicate layers in the PP matrix. Furthermore, instead of using alumina mortar, we carried out solid-state processing using internal mixer. X-ray diffraction pattern and TEM observation exhibited similar results. The solid-state processing led to delaminate of the silicate layers and attained the discrete dispersion.     

Analysis of abnormal grain growth of oriented LiCoO2 prepared by slip casting in a strong magnetic field

The relationship between the development of the crystallographic orientation and the grain growth behavior were studied. The degree of orientations of the green compacts and sintered samples were evaluated by the Lotgering factor. The f(0 0 l) of all the samples were drastically increased with the increasing applied magnetic field strength. The f(0 0 l) of the samples sintered at 1223 K were improved in comparison to those of the green compacts. However, the f(0 0 l) value of the samples sintered at 1273 K were not increased at 4 T or lower. To characterize the grain growth process, these samples were analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The sintered samples prepared in the magnetic field at 4 T or lower showed abnormal grain growth. The samples with an applied magnetic field of 8 T or higher had no abnormal grain growth. It was revealed that the orientation angle of the particles has an effect on the grain growth.     

Simulation of Corrosion Crack in Pretensioned Prestressed Concrete Members

Corrosion of PC tendon embedded in concrete deteriorates performance of PC （prestressed concrete） members. Corrosion crack observed in pretensioned PC members is different from that in reinforced concrete and post tensioned PC members. The purpose of this study is to clarify mechanisms of corrosion crack in pretensioned PC members. Contribution of compressive stress induced by prestressing force and arrangement of PC tendons on corrosion crack in pretensioned PC members is investigated through experiment and numerical analysis. Three dimensional finite element analyses were carried out to simulate corrosion crack in PC specimen. Based on the analytical and experimental results, the influencing factor of corrosion crack in pretensioned PC members is discussed. It was concluded that the contribution of compressive stress in concrete by prestressing force on corrosion crack is not significant and that the dominant reason for wider corrosion cracks in pretensioned PC members is the arrangement of PC tendons with small intervals.     

Structures and field emission properties of heat-treated C60 fullerene nanowhiskers

The structures and field electron emission properties of C₆₀ fullerene nanowhiskers were investigated. The single crystalline C₆₀ fullerene nanowhiskers were straight, surrounded by facets, and had a uniform submicrometer diameter along the long axis. Heat treatment of the nanowhiskers drastically transformed the inner structure from C₆₀ crystal to glassy carbon, while the outer structure kept its original morphology despite heat treatment. Field electron microscopy images of the heat-treated nanowhiskers showed striped patterns, characteristic of an agglomerate of crumpled graphitic layers.     

Corrosion resistance and chemical stability of super-hydrophobic film deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31 by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

A super-hydrophobic film was successfully deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31 by the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) process. The film surface showed a static water contact angle of more than 150°. The hydrophobicity and root mean square roughness of the film surface increased with an increase in deposition time. The anticorrosion resistance of the deposited film was estimated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The EIS measurements and appropriate equivalent circuit models revealed that the super-hydrophobic film considerably improved the anticorrosion resistant performance of magnesium alloy AZ31. The anticorrosion mechanism of the super-hydrophobic film was also considered. Moreover, the chemical stability of the super-hydrophobic film in acidic, neutral, and alkaline aqueous solutions was investigated. The super-hydrophobic film showed high chemical stability in acidic and neutral aqueous solutions.