Preparation of novel polymer-metal oxide nanocomposites with nanophase separated hierarchical structure

This article deals with preparation of nanocomposite which comprised of nanophase separated structure of polymer chains and metal oxide. By grafting poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(HEMA) on the surface of titanium which is covered by passive titanium oxide by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and executing anodic polarization, hierarchy nanophase separated structure with controlled thickness can be obtained. The titanium ions would be cationically charged and completely filled up the unoccupied binding sites of the polymer chains via electrochemical reaction, eventually covering the polymer chains with titanium oxide. However, this structure can be obtained when the anodic polarization is executed at initial applied voltage exceeding 10 V_SCE. The control of thickness is possible by controlling the initial applied voltage. These results prove that the conventional polymer can form composite structure with metal oxide without using fillers or special polymers designed for composite.     

Macrophages in normal cycling human ovaries; immunohistochemical localization and characterization

We evaluated the immunolocalization and characterization of macrophages in 28 normal cycling human ovaries. Two primary antibodies were used to detect the macrophages: PGM1, a general marker for macrophages, and 25F9 which is specific for phagocytosing macrophages. Spindle-shaped cells positive for PGM1 but negative for 25F9 were observed in the stroma (123.6 +/- 1.05 cells/10(-6) m2) and theca layer of the follicle (mean ranged from 22.61 to 53.79) and the number of these cells did not change throughout the cycle. After ovulation, PGM1 positive cells with ballooning bodies began to appear in the early corpus luteum (111.8 +/- 0.83). The number of these macrophages increased in the mid and late corpora lutea, and reached maximum in the early degenerating corpus luteum (1231.0 +/- 3.29). A lower number of PGM1 positive ballooning macrophages were observed in the atretic follicle (177.9 +/- 1.42). 25F9 positive cells were also observed among the PGM1 positive balloon-shaped cells. The number of cells double positive for 25F9 and PGM1 was observed in the mid corpus luteum (44.6 +/- 0.46), increased in the late corpus luteum and early degenerating corpus luteum, and reached plateau in the late degenerating corpus luteum (549.0 +/- 5.82). A lower number of these double positive macrophages were also observed in the atretic follicle (64.8 +/- 0.36). The ratio of 25F9 to PGM1 positive cells increased in parallel with ageing of the corpus luteum (0.19 in the mid corpus luteum, 0.39 in the late corpus luteum, and 0.37 in the early degenerating corpus luteum), and the great majority of PGM1 positive cells were also immunopositive for 25F9 in the late degenerating corpus luteum (0.81). These results suggest that in normal cycling human ovaries, macrophages are mainly involved in luteal regression as scavengers.     

Plasma-polymerized tetrafluoroethylene coatings on silica particles by atmospheric-pressure glow discharge

This paper presents a method of novel plasma treatment for fine particles by the atmospheric-pressure glow (APG) discharge, in which particles were circulated and repeatedly plasma-treated at atmospheric pressure. Using this method, plasma-polymerized tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) film formations on the porous granulated silica particles of 152 μm mean diameter were investigated. The XPS C(1s) spectrum of the treated surfaces deconvoluted into five peaks, which indicates that the films on the particles were composed of highly branched and crosslinked fluoro-carbon segments. The film-coated particles were very hydrophobic. Sound absorption measurements showed that the film-coated particles had a larger elastic coefficient than that of the untreated particles, indicating that dense films were coated on the porous silica particles.     

Cyclic changes of vasculature and vascular phenotypes in normal human ovaries

In order to study alterations of angiogenesis and blood vessel regression through ovarian cycle in human ovaries we quantitatively examined vascularity in various stages in 24 normal human ovaries. Vascular density (VD; vessel numbers/10(-7) m2) and endothelial area of each vessel (EA; 10(-12) m2/vessel) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry of CD34 and CAS 200 image analysis system. Small-sized vessels were sporadically observed in stroma adjacent to primordial or primary follicles (6.73 +/- 1.83 for VD and 113.58 +/- 21.80 for EA). Formation of capillary network was observed in the theca layer of preantral follicles (PA; 15.28 +/- 2.77 for VD and 113.58 +/- 21.80 for EA), and higher density of the capillary network was detected in non-dominant follicles in follicular phase (ND-F) and dominant follicles (DF; 29.33 +/- 3.84 for VD and 179.69 +/- 41.25 for EA). Dense capillary network was still present in non-dominant follicles in luteal phase (ND-L) and atretic follicles (AF; 26.88 +/- 3.36 for VD and 110.88 +/- 50.53 for EA). After ovulation, developing capillaries were also observed in the luteinized granulosa layers in early corpus luteum (21.95 +/- 2.06 for VD and 167.08 +/- 29.59 for EA). Vessel density markedly increased in mid corpus luteum, reached plateau in late corpus luteum (60.85 +/- 5.92 for VD and 70.99 +/- 15.57 for EA) and remained constant during degenerating corpora lutea. Vascular endothelial growth factor was immunohistochemically observed in the theca cells in PA, ND-F, DF and ND-L in follicular stages, and functioning corpora lutea. Immunoreactivity of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was detected only in post-capillary venules in early degenerating corpora lutea. These findings suggest that ovarian angiogenesis is a requirement for the early stages of folliculogenesis and luteal growth, and also plays an important role in the process of follicular atresia and luteal regression.     

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of triazolo[1,5-a]triazine derivatives inhibiting eosinophilia

In continuation of our previous work on eosinophilia inhibitors, we synthesized an additional series of inhibitors, which consisted of 5-amino-1-[(methylamino)thiocarbonyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole derivatives and a newly developed series of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine derivatives. We evaluated their inhibitory activity on the airway eosinophilia model, which was induced by the intravenous (iv) injection of Sephadex particles. In the 1,2,4-triazole series with various substituents at the 3 position of the triazole ring such as 2-furyl, pyridyl, and phenoxy, none of derivatives had comparable activity to the previously reported compound GCC-AP0341, 5-amino-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[(methylamino)thiocarbonyl]-1H-1,2, 4-triazole. In the triazolo[1,5-a]triazine series, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]-1,3, 5-triazine-7(6H)-thione (3h) was highly potent, and when given orally it had an ID50 value of 0.3 mg/kg, which is comparable to that of GCC-AP0341. The fact that the structure-activity relationship of these two series was quite similar suggests that a common substructure, such as the 1,2,4-triazole ring with a substituted phenyl ring at the 3 position and a thiocarbonyl moiety at the 1 position, could contribute to the activity. Our selected compound 3h was less active than GCC-AP0341 in the antigen-induced hyper-responsiveness model in guinea pigs; however, we plan to carry out further studies on eosinophil functions, especially on their activation, using our two compounds, 3h and GCC-AP0341.     

Characteristics of short primary linear induction motor with a partially adopted wound secondary member

This paper describes single‐sided linear induction motors (LIMs) with a short primary member. In these machines a solid‐plate conductor is usually used for the secondary. We here propose the partial adoption of wound secondary members in LIMs. The characteristics of such machines are summarized as follows. 1. Basic characteristics: The wound secondary shortens the magnetic clearance and makes the characteristics of the machine superior to those of the solid‐plate conductor version. In addition, we can improve the thrust and efficiency characteristics by applying the proportional shifting method. 2. Primary and secondary winding scheme: Parallel connection is appropriate for the primary and independently shorted‐circuit scheme in order to obtain stable performance. 3. Transient phenomena at the boundary between the wound secondary and the solid‐plate secondary: Undesirable phenomena develop at the boundary, especially at the end of the solid‐plate conductor. Thus, we propose a novel boundary structure that yields stable transient performance. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(3): 48–55, 2001     

Reproductive biology of the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle,Psacothea hilaris (pascoe) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). III. Identification of contact sex pheromone on female body surface

A major component of female contact sex pheromone of the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle,Psacothea hilaris (Pascoe), was isolated from the elytra and identified as (Z)-21-methyl-8-pentatriacontene. The synthetic compound released the typical mating behavior including holding, mounting, and abdominal bending in males, although its activity was considerably lower than the extract of female elytra when treated on a gelatin capsule as an artificial female model.To whom correspondence should be addressed. Midori Fukaya is a postdoctoral fellow of the Research Development Corporation of Japan.     

Structural changes and dyeability of silk fibroin fiber following shrinkage in neutral salt solution

The fine structural changes of Bombyx mori silk fibroin fibers, induced by shrinking with concentrated calcium chloride aqueous solution at elevated temperature were investigated as a function of shrinking rate. Tensile strength decreased and elongation at break increased in the shrinkage range 13–67%, the shape of the stress–strain curve changing from rubberlike to brittle at high shrinkage values (70–90%). The birefringence gradually decreased over the entire shrinking range examined, the curve becoming steep as the shrinkage exceeded about 67%. The behavior of isotropic refractive index (n_iso) closely resembled that of birefringence (Δn) in the shrinking range 13–67%. Beyond shrinkage of 67%, the n_iso showed a tendency to increase, especially for the sample with 80% shrinkage. Dichroism measurements showed that the molecular orientation within the amorphous regions decreased sharply at the beginning of the shrinking treatment, within the range 0–13%, then attained a saturation at about 55%. The position and intensity of the major X-ray diffraction peak at 20.5° remained essentially unchanged regardless of the shrinking treatment. The results of dyeing behavior showed that the saturation value attained by shrunk silk fibers was significantly larger than that of the untreated control sample. Both standard affinity and the heat of dyeing increased slightly for the shrunk silk fibroin fiber, suggesting that a larger number of reactive sites became available for the interaction between dye molecules and fibroin chains. A schematic model is proposed for explaining the relation between structural changes and enhanced dyeability of the silk fibers following shrinkage in neutral salt solution. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A new control law of bilinear DC-DC converters developed by directapplication of Lyapunov

The state space averaging models of boost, buck-boost and Cuk converters are shown to be bilinear systems. Because of the difficulties in analyzing such bilinear systems, most of the previous work dealing with such converters in the state space are confined to the discussions of their linear approximated systems (small signal model). A new control law based on the bilinear large signal models, not linearly approximated, is proposed for achieving the output regulation of these converters. The control law is derived from directly applying the Lyapunov stability theory to the bilinear large signal models, so that the closed loop systems possess excellent output properties, some of which are illustrated by numerical simulations