Photo‐response orientation behaviors of polyethylene imine backbone structures with azobenzene side chains

Polyethylene imines (PEIs) with azobenzene side groups, PEI6M and IP‐DAz, were synthesized and the effects of the substitution degree of the PEI backbone structures on the photoresponse properties and the orientation behaviors were investigated. The phase transition temperatures are closely related to thermal stability in orientational order. IP‐DAz showed only the smectic phase in a much broader range between 53 °C and 170 °C and the thermal stability was significantly improved compared with PEI6M. Reversible changes in absorption spectra relating to photoisomerization behavior for both polymers were observed by UV and visible light irradiation. Uniaxial orientation for the selective direction was induced by irradiation by linearly polarized light and the anisotropic properties were investigated by measurements of the order parameter and birefringence. Rapid photoresponses for molecular orientations were demonstrated for both polymers. Although the order parameter of IP‐DAz was lower than that of PEI6M, the birefringence of IP‐DAz for in‐plane orientation was as high as for PEI6M and is related to the stable orientational order. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

In vitro assessment of the cytotoxicity of anti-allergic eye drops using 5 cultured corneal and conjunctival cell lines

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of anti-allergic eye drops for human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) and commercially available ocular surface cells. A primary HCEC culture was derived from human eye bank specimens. SIRC (rabbit corneal epithelium), BCE C/D-1b (bovine corneal epithelial cells), RC-1 (rabbit corneal epithelium), and Chang (human conjunctival cells) were obtained commercially. The WST-1 assay was used to measure HCEC viability, and the viability of other cells was measured using the MTT assay. Cells were treated with 7 commercially available anti-allergic eye drops for 48 h and cell viability was measured and calculated as a percentage of control. The degree of toxicity for each eye-drop solution was based on the cell viability score (CVS). HCECs treated with a 1000-fold dilution of the eye-drop solution had a viability score of 67% for Rizaben and ≥80% for the other solutions with Zepelin being the least toxic. Cell viability in response to eye-drop solutions preserved with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) was dependent on the concentration of the drug solution and exposure time. Treatment of ocular surface cells with a 20-fold dilution of the eye-drop solution resulted in the following order of cell viability as determined by their CVS: Zepelin > Ketas = Zaditen ≥ Tramelas PF = Patanol ≥ Rizaben ≥ Livostin. This order was similar to that observed for HCECs, and cell viability was found to be concentration-dependent. Based on the penetration of the drug into eye tissues, HCECs are only likely to be pharmaceutically damaging in rare cases. Epithelial cell viability depends primarily on the concentration of BAK rather than on the action of the active component in the eye-drop solution. CVS values were useful for comparison of toxicity.     

Organic solvent based TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> dispersion paste for dye-sensitized solar cells prepared by industrial production level procedure

In order to prepare the TiO₂ liquid dispersions for the electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells with industrial mass production level at a reasonable cost, the present study investigates the preparation of TiO₂ liquid dispersions by a general industrial dispersion technique using readily available P25. To determine the TiO₂ dispersion offering the best light–electricity energy conversion efficiency, the suitability of various types of solvents and resins for use in TiO₂ dispersion are tested. In general, organic solvent based TiO₂ dispersions are found to allow the formation of more uniform thin films in comparison with water-based dispersions. A preparation using ethyl cellulose as the resin and the terpineol as the solvent is found to exhibit the best conversion efficiency. We have also found that using two kinds of resins of different molecular weights gave rise to better efficiency. Among 26 metal compounds tested in this study, the best metal dopant was Ag. XRD and XPS measurements confirm that the Ag exists as metal Ag and silver oxide.     

Status of engineering design of liquid lithium target in IFMIF-EVEDA

In International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF), intense neutron flux (4.5 × 10¹⁷ n/m² s) with a peak energy of 14 MeV are produced by means of two deuteron beams with a total current of 250 mA and maximum energy of 40 MeV that strike a liquid Li target circulating in a Li loop. Major design requirement is to provide a stable Li jet at a speed of 10–20 m/s with a surface wave amplitude on the Li flow less than 1 mm for handling of an averaged heat flux of 1 GW/m² under a continuous 10 MW deuterium beam deposition. The target system consists of a target assembly, a replaceable back-plate, a Li main loop and a Li purification loop. In July 2007, Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (EVEDA) started under Broader Approach. In this paper, status of the engineering design of the IFMIF Li target system performed in 2007/2008 is described. The future EVEDA tasks to develop the target system are also summarized.     

Molecular basis for the interaction between human IgM and staphylococcal protein A

To examine the relationship between VH gene usage and reactivity of immunoglobulins, we cloned B cells from peripheral blood from adults and from human neonatal cord blood by EBV transformation. Nearly one-third of the B cell clones from both sources produced IgM reactive with staphylococcal protein A (SPA). None of such IgM reacted with other antigens, except for the crude extract of Staphylococcus aureus. All of 22 B cell clones producing IgM reactive with SPA expressed VH3 genes, while none of the control 15 clones secreting IgM nonreactive with SPA expressed VH3. The IgM proteins reactive with SPA could be clearly divided into two subjects based on the differential binding avidity to solid-phase SPA. Both kappa and lambda light chains were used in each subset of SPA-reactive IgM. Sequence analysis of the PCR products from seven VH3-IgM clones revealed that the VH3 genes were used in nearly germline configuration. The D and J gene usage was diverse. Comparison of amino acid sequences between antibodies with high and low avidity to SPA suggests that the differential avidity is related to amino acid sequence differences in the complementarity determining region 2 and framework region 3. The high frequencies of B cells committed to the production of SPA-reactive IgM in normal blood and the restricted use of VH3 heavy chain genes in nearly germline configuration in these cells support the notion that SPA behaves like a superantigen toward human B cells.     

Numerical analysis of electromagnetic scattering from 3D dielectric objects using the Yasuura method

In order to calculate 3D electromagnetic scattering problems by dielectric objects which we need to solve a large‐size simultaneous linear equation, we present a rapid algorithm on the Yasuura method where we accelerate the convergence rate of solution by using an array of multipoles as well as a conventional multipole. As a result, we can obtain the radar cross sections of dielectric objects in the optical wave region over a relatively wide frequency range and a TDG pulse response. Furtherrmore, we analyze the scattering data about dielectric objects by using the pulse responses cut by an appropriate window function in the time domain and clarify the scattering processes on dielectric objects. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 39–45, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.10292     

Acute sympathetic hyperfunction in overlapping syndromes of systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis

A 20-year-old woman with arthralgia, serositis, thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, muscle weakness, elevated creatinine kinase, and positive anti-Sm antibody was diagnosed as having polymyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had persistent high temperature, sinus tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, mydriasis, visual disturbance, hallucination, and loss of consciousness. Levels of plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were all high. A diagnosis of sympathetic hyperfunction accompanied by central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SLE was made parenteral. Pulse administration of high dose corticosteroid therapy was effective. This is the first reported case of a connective tissue disease with CNS involvement manifesting as sympathetic hyperfunction with high plasma catecholamine levels.     

Turbulent Effects on the Settling Velocity of Suspended Sediment

The mean settling velocities of suspended sediments in turbulence have been examined. The settling velocities in a flume are directly measured by using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The results indicate the same trend as previous work in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. In addition to the flume experiment, the numerical experiments were conducted in the velocity field of homogeneous isotropic turbulence simulated by Kraichnan’s technique. The experimental and numerical results show that at high turbulence intensity the relative settling velocity increases with the increasing relative turbulence intensity regardless of the Stokes number. At intermediate turbulence intensity, it seems that the settling data bifurcate, i.e., the particles at the large Stokes number tend to be slowed, whereas the settling velocity of particles is increased at the small Stokes number.