Post-lunch nap as a worksite intervention to promote alertness on the job.

A worksite study was conducted to examine whether a 15-min nap during a post-lunch rest period would affect subsequent alertness, performance, and nocturnal sleep in eight factory workers under a 3-week protocol. Subjects were asked to take the nap at 12:30 h on a reclining chair during the nap week, and to remain awake during the no-nap week. The order of these 2 weeks was counterbalanced between the subjects. During the third, follow-up week, each subject determined whether or not she/he would nap. Alertness on the job and nocturnal sleep were assessed using a sleep diary. Wrist activity was also recorded during sleep at night. Choice reaction time task (RT) was performed at 10:00 and 15:00 h every day of the nap week and every other day of the no-nap and follow-up weeks. Perceived alertness was significantly higher in the afternoon after nap than after no nap at the end of the week. Similar effects were observed during the follow-up week where almost half of the subjects napped. No significant differences between the three weeks were found for RT performance or nocturnal sleep. Workers' attitudes toward the nap were favourable. Although further intervention research is required, our results suggest that post-lunch napping may have the potential to promote daytime alertness at work.     

Neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy based on chemosensitivity tests for locally invasive bladder cancer

We investigated the clinical usefulness of individualization of chemotherapeutic regimen in neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy for locally invasive bladder cancer. Anticancer drugs were selected according to the results of an in vitro chemosensitivity test (collagen matrix assay or succinic dehydrogenase inhibition test). Nine patients with locally invasive bladder cancer received 1 to 4 courses of neoadjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy, followed by radical cystectomy. Histopathological responses in the cystectomized specimens were grade 3 in 3 cases, grade 2 in 2, grade 1b in 2 and no response in 2. Pathologically, a complete response and downstaging were observed in 3 and 4 cases, respectively. Seven of the 9 patients were alive no evidence of disease with a mean follow-up period of 38.9 months, whereas 2 patients died of metastasis within 2 years. Six of the 7 patients who showed a complete response or down staging have been free of recurrence. These findings suggest that our chemotherapeutic strategy may improve the prognosis for locally invasive bladder cancer.     

Phenol novolac/poly(4- hydroxyphenylmaleimide) blend hardeners for DGEBA-type epoxy resin

Phenol novolac/poly (4-hydroxyphenylmaleimide) (PHPMI) blends were used as an epoxy resin hardener. The curing behavior of the above system and the thermal and mechanical properties of the cured epoxy resin were studied. It was not necessary to use a curing accelerator for this system, because PHPMI caused acceleration of the curing reaction. The curing mechanism of this system was investigated by using model compounds. Test pieces from the neat resins and the glass fiber reinforced resins were evaluated in terms of thermal and mechanical properties, respectively. It was found that heat resistance and mechanical properties were improved by increasing the amount of PHPMI in the hardener.     

Hydrothermal upgrading of wood biomass: Influence of the addition of K2CO3 and cellulose/lignin ratio

The hydrothermal treatment of two different wood biomass samples such as cherry (hard wood) and cypress (soft wood), whose composition is different i.e. lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose were performed at 280 °C for 15 min with aq. K₂CO₃ with different concentrations (0–1 M). The soft wood biomass contains higher lignin content than hard wood biomass. The cellulose rich cherry wood biomass produced higher proportion of acetic acid than cypress. The lignin rich cypress produced the hydrocarbons with major portion of phenolic hydrocarbons and derivatives than cherry. The total oil yields from both cherry and cypress wood biomass produced 50 wt% of liquid hydrocarbons at 280 °C for 15 min with 0.5 M K₂CO₃ solution. The volatility distribution of liquid hydrocarbons showed the characteristic features of soft and hard wood biomasses.     

The effects of 18 alpha,beta-glycyrrhetinic acid on the hormonal induction of tyrosine aminotransferase in rat primary cultured hepatocytes

Complementary medicine (CM) is popular with patients but physicians do not feel at ease with this situation and some fear that the patient might be the loser. Their fear is based on the perception that some CM practitioners have dubious qualifications and competence and that too little is known about the efficacy and safety of many complementary therapies. It follows that, in the interest of the patient and all other parties involved, we urgently need more and better research to fill the void. Integration of complementary medicine into mainstream care requires a minimum of essential evidence. As in all areas of medicine, there can be no short cut to rigorous research.     

Formation of monodispersed Ta2O5 powders

The Ta₂O₅ powders synthesized by the hydrolysis of tantalum pentaethoxide, Ta(OC₂H₅)₅ in alcoholic solution were monodispersed fine oxide particles, which were a uniform, spherical shape, non-agglomerate, and had a narrow size distribution. They grew to 1.2m after ageing for 1 h after hydrolysis. Powder X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysisthermogravimetric analysis showed the particles were amorphous and hydrated. These particles lost the water at 290° C and gave well-crystalline Ta₂O at 740° C. Throughout these thermal processes, the particle morphology was kept almost the same.     

Effect of cation structure on the electrochemical and thermal properties of ion conductive polymers obtained from polymerizable ionic liquids

Several onium cations having vinyl group formed ionic liquids after coupling with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. These monomers were polymerized, and the relation between onium cation structure and properties of thus polymerized ionic liquids was investigated. The polymerized ionic liquid having ethylimiadzolium cation unit showed the highest ionic conductivity of around 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 30 °C among the obtained polymers reflecting the lowest glass transition temperature of −59 °C. These polymers were thermally stable and their decomposition temperatures were about 350 °C. The ionic conductivity of the polymerized ionic liquids decreased by both the addition of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and the polymerization in the presence of cross-linker. However, the polymerized ionic liquid having 1-methylpiperidinium cation structure showed good lithium ion transference number of 0.43 at room temperature.