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Background: Salmonella enteritidis (SE) was the main cause of the pandemic of foodborne salmonellosis. The surface of eggs’ shells can be contaminated with this bacterium; however, washing them with sodium hypochlorite solution not only reduces their flavor but also heavily impacts the environment. An alternative to this is surface sterilization using low-energy electron beam. It is known that irradiation with 1 kGy resulted in a significant 3.9 log reduction (reduction factor of 10,000) in detectable SE on the shell. FAO/IAEA/WHO indicates irradiation of any food commodity up to an overall average dose of 10 kGy presents no toxicological hazard. On the other hand, the Food and Drug Administration has deemed a dose of up to 3 kGy is allowable for eggs. However, the maximum dose permitted to be absorbed by an edible part (i.e. , internal dose) is 0.1 Gy in Japan and 0.5 Gy in European Union. Materials and Methods: The electron beam (EB) depth dose distribution in the eggshell was calculated by the Monte Carlo method. The internal dose was also estimated by Monte Carlo simulation and experimentation. Results and Discussion: The EB depth dose distribution for the eggshells indicated that acceleration voltages between 80 and 200 kV were optimal for eggshell sterilization. It was also found that acceleration voltages between 80 and 150 kV were suitable for reducing the internal dose to ≤ 0.10 Gy. Conclusion: The optimum irradiative conditions for sterilizing only eggshells with an EB were between 80 and 150 kV.

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) which is a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries requires particle size reduction, carbon coating and granulation to improve its electrochemical performances and increase the energy densities. In addition, their composite granules desire a porous structure in order to assist the penetration of liquid electrolyte. Here, we report a facile preparation of porous LiFePO 4 /C composite granules by a mechanical method using an attrition-type mill. By the mechanical treatment of starting materials, LiFePO 4 /C composite granules with an average pore size of 20–30 nm were synthesized in one-step process without atmosphere control and external heating. This simple mechanical technique does not require additional pore forming agents. According to the cell tests, a favorable cycle performance was exhibited.

A new approach to prepare LiFePO4/C composite granule as cathode for lithium-ion batteries has been demonstrated. The LiFePO4/C composite granule was synthesized by one-step mechanical process under ambient atmosphere without external heating. The obtained granule consisted of nano-sized primary particles. The new synthetic method which is achieved by using an attrition-type mill does not require an inert gas to prevent iron oxidation. The initial electrochemical performance of the LiFePO4/C composite granule was also investigated.

It is known that grain refinement improves balance of strength and ductility of materials. As a technique to obtain fine-grained microstructure, dynamic recrystallization can be used in industrial processes. The authors reported that fine grains appear beneath the surface of Al-Mg alloy sheet by high-speed rolling. In this study, rolling conditions to form fine recrystallized microstructure were investigated. AA5052 alloy sheets were rolled at 500 m/min, 1000 m/min or 2000 m/min with thickness reduction of 30%, 50% or 70% at 473 K, 523 K, 573 K or 623 K. After the rolling, the sheets were water-quenched immediately. It is found that the critical strain for dynamic recrystallization is very large. For example, when the sheets are rolled at 1000 m/min and 623 K, thickness reduction greater than 76% is required for dynamic recrystallization.

The hydrogen isotope exchange reaction between HTO vapor and each amino acid has been observed in order to establish a method of estimation of the internal exposure of organically bound tritium in a heterogeneous system at 25∼70°C. Rate constants (k) for the amino acids have been obtained by applying the A″-McKay plot method. Using these k values, Arrhenius plots for both the COOH and NH2 groups are drawn, and linearity was obtained over the range of 25∼70°C. Comparing the rate constants, the following four statements can be made regarding the T-for-H exchange reaction. (1) The reactivity of the functional groups in amino acids increases with increasing temperature. (2) Applying Taft's equation, the ratio of polar effect to steric effect is 2:8 in the COOH group and 9:1 in the NH2 group at 25°C. (3) The A″-McKay plot method is useful for studying the reactivity of materials, not only with one (or the same kind of) functional group(s) but also with two different kinds of functional groups. (4) The method u...

トリチウム(3H又はT)が生態系に及ぼす影響と水素を含む化合物との反応性を定量的に評価するために，L-ノルバリンとHTO蒸気との間の水素同位体交換反応(T-for-H交換反応)を，50～70℃の温度範囲で固-気系で観測した。得られたデータにA″-McKayプロット法を適用することで，この反応における各官能基の速度定数を求めた。これらの速度定数を相互比較した結果，以下のことが明らかになった。(1)L-ノルバリンの官能基の反応性は温度の上昇と共に増加する。(2)L-ノルバリンにおける各官能基の温度依存性はCOOH基＞NH2基であり，COOH基の反応性はNH2基のそれの約2.2倍である。(3)COOH基の反応性に及ぼす置換基の影響はNH2基の反応性に及ぼすものに比べ大きい。(4)アミノ酸の反応性はTaft式に従うと考えられる。(5)Taft式を適用すると，L-ノルバリンの反応性に与えるアミノ酸の極性効果と立体効果の影響はNH2基では10：0，COOH基では3：7である。(6)A″-McKayプロット法を使うことで，Tの挙動をマスク剤なしで非破壊的，定量的に複数の官能基を持つ物質を各官能基別に同時解析することができる。(7)本研究で用いた手法は，物質における官能基の反応性を迅速に求めるための手法として役立つことが期待される。

The patient was a 67-year-old male who had been treated for several years with 150 mg fluvoxamine maleate due to depression. He visited our hospital with primary symptoms of swelling of the right upper extremity and dyspnea in August, XXXX. As a result of examinations, he was diagnosed with stage IIIB extended small cell lung cancer(T4N3M0). One course of carboplatin/etoposide(CBDCA/VP-16)therapy was started on October 1. Since the tumor size was reduced, thoracic effusion disappeared, and superior vena cava syndrome was alleviated, the therapy was changed to cisplatin/irinotecan (CDDP/CPT-11)on October 23, and the 3rd course was initiated on November 22. Anxiety and tremor appeared on the 4th day of the 3rd course and because they were exacerbated, and myoclonus appeared, a diagnosis of serotonin syndrome was made on the 38th day, and the administration of fluvoxamine maleate was discontinued. The symptoms were alleviated after the discontinuation, and the 4th course could be implemented. In this patient, serotonin syndrome was considered to have been induced by serotonin secretion promoted by the CDDP administration, and by serotonin in the brain increasing abnormally due to the SSRI.

SUMMARY Ontogenetic studies of epileptogenic process were carried out in albino rats ranging in age from birth to 45 days. Experimental epilepsy was produced by two different procedures and the results were compared with each other. Tungstic acid gel was applied to the motor area of the left side of the cortex, and the following results were obtained. The latency of the seizure appearance was long during 10 days after birth, became progressively short thereafter and reached the minimum in about 20 days of age, and gradually returned to the adult level again by 45 days of age. No obvious seizure was exhibited until five days of age. Seizure patterns developed from tonic or twitch-like jerky convulsion (10 days old) to rhythmic or clonic type of seizure (13 days old), and the seizure patterns similar to those in the adult rat were observed in about 20 days of age. Cortical seizure activity was initially observed in about 10–day-old rats; single high amplitude slow wave appeared and small spikes became superimposed on it in the course of maturation. Atypical spike and wave complexes were observed after 20 days of age. Electrical stimulation was applied to the left cortical motor area by constant current stimulator, and the following seizure patterns were observed: No obvious seizure could be elicited in newborn rat, whereas from three days of age, tonic seizure of the whole body, and from seven days old twitch-like convulsion of extremities were observed. In ages from 10 to 20 days, seizure induced by electrical stimulation was mainly tonic in pattern; extension of forelimbs and flexion of hindlimbs in most cases were observed before 13 days old, but both fore- and hind-limbs were extended thereafter. Tonic-clonic seizure patterns were exhibited after 20 days of age. From these results, it was considered that tonic convulsions and high voltage slow cortical seizure activities were produced from the activities of the local cortical neuro-nal connections, and rhythmic and/or clonic seizure patterns and spike and wave seizure activities were elicited from the more complex, i.e. cortico-subcortical neuronal circuits. Possible contributing factors for the determination of seizure susceptibility in immature rats were also discussed.