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Textured Bi 0.5 (Na,K) 0.5 TiO₃-BiFeO₃ ceramics were prepared by the reactive-templated grain growth process, using platelike Bi4Ti₃O₁₂ particles. The effects of chemical composition in Bi 0.5 (Na,K) 0.5 TiO₃ on texture development and densification were examined. Textured ceramics were obtained by using Bi 0.5 K 0.5 TiO₃ as an end member of the solid solution but densification was limited. Dense ceramics were obtained by using Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO₃ but texture did not develop. Dense, textured ceramics were obtained by using Bi 0.5 (Na 0.5 K 0.5 ) 0.5 TiO₃.

Microstructure development in Bi 0.5 (Na 0.5 K 0.5 ) 0.5 TiO 3 prepared by a reactive-templated grain growth process was dependent on the sizes of platelike Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 (BiT) and equiaxed TiO 2 particles used as starting materials. Calcined compacts were composed of large, platelike template grains and small, equiaxed matrix grains, the sizes of which were determined by those of the BiT and TiO 2 particles, respectively. Texture was developed by the growth of template grains at the expense of matrix grains during sintering, and a new mechanism of grain growth was proposed on the basis of microstructure observation. The grain growth rate was determined by the template and matrix grain sizes, and a dense ceramic with extensive texture was obtained using small BiT and TiO 2 particles.

Mesoporous ZnO nanosheets were successfully prepared by pyrolytic transformation of zinc carbonate hydroxide hydrate, Zn4CO3(OH)6·H2O. The nanosheets were initially formed as assemblies on glass substrates during chemical bath deposition (CBD) in aqueous solutions of urea and zinc acetate dihydrate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate hexahydrate, or zinc sulfate heptahydrate at 80°C. It was key to induce heterogeneous nucleation of Zn4CO3(OH)6·H2O by promoting a gradual hydrolysis reaction of urea and controlling the degree of supersaturation of zinc hydroxide species. Morphology of Zn4CO3(OH)6·H2O was largely influenced by the anions present in the CBD solutions. The Zn4CO3(OH)6·H2O nanosheets were transformed into wurtzite ZnO by heating at 300°C in air without losing the microstructural feature.

Microstructure development was examined for BaBi4Ti4O15 prepared by the templated grain growth method, and the origin of texture development was discussed. The microstructure development in a compact composed of a platelike template and equiaxed matrix grains was characterized as follows: (1) the template grains thickened at an early stage; (2) the matrix grains changed their shape from equiaxed to platelike, and simultaneously, the plate faces aligned parallel to those of template grains; and (3) a group of large grains with mutually parallel alignment was formed by prolonged heating at high temperature. Texture developed during these microstructural changes, and process (2) made the greatest contribution toward texture development.

The properties of piezoelectric ceramics are enhanced by the development of crystallographic texture. One of the most convenient preparation methods for textured ceramics is the sintering of green compacts containing aligned anisometric particles. This review deals with the mechanisms of texture development by examining microstructure development in the compacts. The characteristics of microstructure development are summarized separately, depending on the preparation methods, which are divided into four groups: oriented consolidation of anisometric particles, templated grain growth, reactive-templated grain growth, and heterotemplated grain growth.

The cold tolerance of Cylas formicarius from five islands in the southwest of Japan was studied. The thermal threshold of the reproductive activity of adults tended to be lower and the supercooling point of the pupae was a little higher for the Okinawa-Honto population than for the others. The cold tolerance of the adult weevils was slightly accelerated by cold acclimation to 15°C for 4 d. Reproductive diapause induced under 10L : 14D increased cold tolerance significantly. Therefore, the cold tolerance of adult weevils would be accelerated by both cold acclimation at decreasing temperatures from autumn to winter and reproductive diapause induced by short daytime hours. When considering the increased cold-tolerence of C. formicarius through such mechanisms together with the temperature conditions in winter at the northern edge of its distribution area in the USA, C. formicarius probably has the capability to survive in the coastal zone of the Pacific Ocean in southern and central Japan.

This paper deals with the effects of preparation methods on the texture development and densification in textured SrBi4Ti4O15 (SBT) ceramics. The specimens were prepared by the oriented consolidation of anisotropic particles (OCAP), templated grain growth (TGG) and reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) methods. The specimens with extensive texture were obtained by all methods except for TGG with small template and large matrix particles. The origin of extensive texture development was the growth of aligned platelike particles. A characteristic of microstructure was the formation of colonies, in which platelike grains contacted face-to-face. The size of colonies was dependent on the preparation method, and determined the size of pores between colonies, which had a large effect on the sintered density. The OCAP and RTGG methods gave the green compacts composed of only platelike particles and large colonies and pores formed during sintering. The TGG method gave the green compacts composed of platelike and equiaxed particles and prevented the formation of large colonies and pores during sintering. Thus, the dense, highly-textured SBT ceramics were obtained by the TGG method.

The densiflcation behavior and microstructure development were examined for Pb1-xBaxNb2O6 (x = 0.0, 0.15, and 0.30) with the low-temperature rhombohedral form. The rhombohedral form transformed to the high-temperature tetragonal form during sintering. The phase transformation increased the rate of grain growth, which influenced the microstructure development and densiflcation. The densiflcation proceeded partly before the phase transformation occurred, and the microstructure changed by the sequential formation of necks, chainlike grains, and equiaxed grains. The microstructure just after the phase transformation was determined by the microstructure just before the phase transformation. The chainlike and equiaxed grains changed to elongated and large equiaxed grains, respectively. Pore shape also changed.

The densification behavior and microstructure development of ZnO matrices containing rigid Zro2 inclusions were studied, with special emphasis on the effect of inclusion shape and size. The inclusions retarded the densification of the matrix, regardless of the inclusion shape and size. For large inclusions with diameters of 10 μm, dense regions developed between inclusion particles. The inclusion particles and dense regions formed a continuous network, which constrained the densification of the composites. The inclusion shape had a small effect on the development of dense regions. Severe retardation in densification was observed for compacts containing inclusions with diameters of 10 μm. In these cases, dense regions between inclusion particles did not develop. The formation of the continuous network cannot be applicable to small inclusions as an origin of retardation of densification.

Bulk BaTiO3 ceramics with 〈111〉-texture have been prepared by the modified templated grain growth method, using platelike Ba6Ti17O40 particles as templates, and the mechanism of texture development is examined. The Ba6Ti17O40 particles induce the abnormal growth of BaTiO3 grains, and a structure similarity between {001} of Ba6Ti17O40 and {111} of BaTiO3 gives 〈111〉-texture to abnormally grown BaTiO3 grains. Thus, the 〈111〉-texture develops in the BaTiO3 matrix. The use of platelike Ba6Ti17O40 particles has been extended to a 0.65Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.35PbTiO3 matrix, but the matrix phase is decomposed by extensive chemical reactions between the matrix and template phases.

Based on an indication in the previous research that there is an ocean bacterium which can reduce iron red rust to magnetite extracellularly, it is attempted to develop a new recycling process employing such kind of bacteria. Two methods for producing very fine magnetite powder from red rust are presented by making up an artificial environment and shown to be successful. Bacteria participating in magnetite production are examined in detail, and are found to be microaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (coccus and bacillus), regarded as new types different from the GS-15 bacterium reported earlier. Their role is clarified and a mechanism of magnetite formation is presented.

The mechanisms of texture development were examined in the 〈0 0 1〉-textured bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics (BLSF) prepared by the templated grain growth (TGG) method using BLSF templates with the composition different from that of the matrix. The formation and growth of layers of matrix grains on the templates were main mechanism for the texture development. Another mechanism of texture development was the formation of face-to-face contact between platelike template grains and matrix grains grown to be platelike.

Grain-oriented Bi0.5(Na0.85K0.15)0.5TiO3-Pb(Zr1−xTix)O3 (BNKT-PZT) ceramics were prepared via the reactive templated grain growth method, using platelike Bi4Ti3O12 particles. Factors that determine the degree of orientation were examined. Prereacted PZT gave a larger degree of orientation than PZT raw materials (PbO, ZrO2, and TiO2) in the 75BNKT-25PZT (x= 0.5) system. Increases in the titanium concentration in the PZT of the 75BNKT-25PZT system and in the BNKT concentration in the yBNKT-(100 −y)PZT (x= 0.5) system increased the degree of orientation. The direction of material transport between BNKT and PZT was important to obtain ceramics with a large degree of orientation.

Oxyfluoride glass-ceramic thin films of nominal 90SiO2⋅10(Ba1−xEu x )MgF4 compositions were prepared by sol–gel method starting from mixtures of metal trifluoroacetates and silicon alkoxide precursor solutions. Films were deposited on silica glass substrates by spin-coating and heating at 750°C. Eu2+ ions were preferentially incorporated into BaMgF4 nanoparticles, which were dispersed in the silica glass matrix. The films exhibited broad-band blue photoluminescence (PL) in response to the ultraviolet light excitation. Addition of N,N-dimethylformamide to starting coating solutions resulted in a porous microstructure of the heat-treated films. Efficient UV excitation was promoted due to the Rayleigh scattering in the porous films; thereby the PL emissions could be strongly enhanced.

Pr 3+ -doped YF 3 (orthorhombic), YO 0.80 F 1.40 (orthorhombic), YOF (rhombohedral), and Y 2 O 3 (cubic) films were synthesized on quartz-glass substrates through pyrolysis of a single-source trifluoroacetate precursor at temperatures between 400° and 900°C in air. Phase-selective deposition was achieved by controlling heating temperature and time. YF 3 , which formed first from the precursor, was transformed to YO 0.80 F 1.40 , YOF, and Y 2 O 3 . Photoluminescent properties of Pr 3+ -doped films were examined using ultraviolet excitation. An intense green photoluminescence was observed in the YOF:Pr 3+ film, which was deposited at 700°C, through an efficient charge transfer (O 2 -Pr3 + ) excitation.

Nanocrystalline zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) was synthesized at low temperatures through the combination of a sol–gel processing and a polymer binder method. ZnTiO3 powders of ∼5 nm in size were obtained by heating pastes, which were composed of a Zn-Ti methanolic solution containing acetylacetone and an organic polymer binder, at 500°C in air. Thermal decomposition behavior of the pastes was analyzed by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis. Crystallinity of ZnTiO3 was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The BET measurement revealed that the powders had a relatively high specific surface area of 106 m2/g.

Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) and 0.94Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3·0.06BaTiO3 (BNT–BT) bulk ceramics with extensive 〈100〉 texture were prepared by the reactive-templated grain growth method, using platelike Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT) particles as templates for BNT. Calcined compacts were composed of matrix grains with random orientation and 〈100〉-oriented grains transformed from aligned BIT particles, and the texture developed by the growth of oriented grains during sintering. Ceramics with extensive texture were obtained by using the starting mixture containing the maximum concentration of platelike BIT to form the maximum volume fraction of oriented grains.

Porous metal oxide (Co3O4, NiO, or ZnO) films were fabricated by a self-template method using layered hydroxide metal acetates (LHMA; metal = Co, Ni, or Zn) as templates. LHMAs were initially grown on glass substrates through a chemical bath deposition in methanolic-aqueous solutions of metal acetates at 60°C. The template films had a unique, nest-like morphology consisting of interlaced flake-like particles as a result of two-dimensional crystal growth of LHMAs in supersaturated solutions. The templates were successfully converted into porous Co3O4, NiO, or ZnO films by heating at 500°C for 10 min in air without microstructural deformation.

The mechanism for texture development in bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics prepared by the templated grain growth method was examined using template and matrix grains with different chemical compositions. The template particles used were platelike Bi4Ti3O12 and Ba6Ti17O40 for SrBi4Ti4O15-matrix composites and platelike Ba6Ti17O40 and Sr3Ti2O7 for BaBi4Ti4O15-matrix. The 〈001〉-texture developed in all composites examined. The origins of texture development were the growth of matrix grains to be platelike and the formation of face-to-face contact between the template and matrix grains and also between matrix grains.

Polycrystalline Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) ceramics with 〈111〉-texture were prepared by the templated grain growth (TGG) method using the platelike Ba6Ti17O40 (B6T17) particles as templates. Textured PZT was obtained by sintering of green compacts containing matrix PZT, aligned B6T17, and excess PbO. Excess PbO formed a liquid phase and promoted the dissolution of PZT grains and the precipitation on B6T17 grains. A similarity of the arrangement of ions on (001) of B6T17 and (111) of PZT gave 〈111〉-texture to matrix PZT.

Micro/nano-textured ZnO thick films were synthesized through deposition and pyrolysis of layered hydroxide zinc acetate (LHZA), Zn 5 (OH) 8 (CH 3 COO) 2 ·2H 2 O. LHZA films having a unique, rose-like morphology were initially deposited on conducting glass sheets in a chemical bath composed of methanol and zinc acetate dihydrate at 60 °C under neutral conditions. Pyrolysis of the LHZA films resulted in formation of ZnO without destroying the original morphology. Pyrolysis temperatures were found to greatly influence grain sizes and specific surface areas of the ZnO films. Photoelectrochemical performance of the films as ZnO/eosin Y electrodes was investigated in dye-sensitized solar cells using an I − /I 3 − redox electrolyte solution. The cell using the ZnO film pyrolyzed at 150 °C exhibited overall light to electricity conversion efficiencies of 2.0 and 3.3% under an AM-1.5 illumination at 100 and 10 mW cm −2 , respectively. While microscale pores in the electrodes facilitated mass transfer of fluid electrolytes in the depth direction, nanoscale pores contributed to an increase in the amount of adsorbed dye. The maximum incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of the electrode reached 84.9% at a wavelength of 530 nm.

Perovskite-type barium lithium fluoride (BaLiF3) was synthesized by pyrolysis of metal trifluoroacetates. The reaction temperature necessary for producing a single-phase material was found to be 600°C, which was lower than that for a conventional solid-state reaction or a melting method. Eu-doped BaLiF3 was also prepared and characterized to examine the suitability of trifluoroacetates for precursors in synthesizing homogeneous complex metal fluoride materials. It was demonstrated that trivalent Eu3+, which was used as acetate for a starting material, was reduced to divalent Eu2+ in the pyrolysis process of BaLiF3, as indicated by a broad blue emission due to an allowed 4f65d→4f7 transition at 408 nm with a ultraviolet excitation at 254 nm. The concentration quenching of the blue emission occurred at 5 at% of Eu in BaLiF3, indicating that Eu was homogeneously dispersed in the BaLiF3 host lattice. Mechanisms of the formation and reduction process of BaLiF3 were discussed based on pertinent chemical reactions.

Nanocrystalline ZnO particles were prepared from alcoholic solutions of zinc acetate dihydrate without using base such as NaOH or LiOH through a colloid process carried out at a low temperature of 60°C. A comparative study of chemical reactions from zinc acetate dihydrate to ZnO was made using different types of monool solvents, i.e. methanol, ethanol, and 2-methoxyethanol. It was revealed that layered hydroxide zinc acetate was formed as an intermediate and its transformation into ZnO was a key reaction step in any of the solutions. Reaction time necessary for the precipitation of ZnO was greatly influenced by the solvents used. Methanol was useful for the preparation of the ZnO nanoparticles, which were chemically pure in terms of cation impurities and exhibited green photoluminescence by the ultraviolet excitation.

Transparent, luminescent sol–gel silica films were fabricated on the basis of a SiO2–(Gd,Eu)F3 nanocomposite structure, in which (Gd,Eu)F3 nanocrystals were dispersed in a silica matrix. The films were coated on silica glass substrates at low temperatures of 300–500 °C using trifluoroacetic acid as a fluorine source. Doping Eu3+ ions into the films led to narrow emission lines upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation, indicating that Eu3+ was selectively incorporated into the GdF3 or GdOF nanocrystals. While magnetic dipole 5D0 → 7F1 transitions were dominant in the SiO2–(Gd,Eu)F3 films that were heat-treated at 300 or 400 °C, forced electric dipole 5D0 → 7F2 transitions had a higher probability in the SiO2–(Gd,Eu)OF film that was heat-treated at 500 °C. The efficiency of the UV light excitation at 274 and 256 nm was promoted by the energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+ and the charge transfer from O2− to Eu3+ in photoluminescence, respectively.

Crystallographically textured ferroelectric and piezoelectric ceramics are prepared by tape casting of slurries containing powder particles with shape anisotropy. This paper describes the overview of these methods and the application of reactive-templated grain growth (RTGG) method to (100)-textured Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT) and 96Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -6BaTiO 3 (BNT-BT) ceramics.

Introduction Les etudes Inpulsis™ sont deux essais identiques de phase III de 52 semaines, randomises, en double aveugle, controles par placebo, menes chez des patients atteints de fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique (FPI) ayant une capacite vitale forcee (CVFp) ≥50 % de la valeur theorique a l’inclusion. Ces etudes ont montre une reduction significative du taux annuel du declin de la CVF–critere principal) dans le groupe nintedanib 150 mg deux fois par jour par rapport au groupe placebo. Methodes Une analyse post-hoc de sous-groupes a ete menee chez les patients presentant une CVFp initiale >90 % vs ≤90 % en utilisant les donnees groupees des deux etudes. Resultats Au total 274 patients (nintedanib 166, placebo 108) presentaient une CVFp >90 % et 787 patients (nintedanib 472, placebo 315) une CVFp ≤90 %. Pour les patients dont la CVFp initiale etait >90 %, l’âge moyen etait de 67,9 ans, 71,5 % etaient des hommes et la DLco moyenne etait de 52,6 %. Pour les patients dont la CVFp initiale etait ≤90 %, la moyenne d’âge etait de 66,4 ans, 82 % etaient des hommes et la DLco moyenne etait de 45,5 %. Il n’a ete observe aucune interaction significative du traitement en fonction du sous-groupe ( p = 0,5300) sur le critere principal. Chez les patients avec une CVFp initiale >90 %, la moyenne ajustee du taux annuel de declin de la CVF (mL/an) etait de–91,5 avec le nintedanib et de–224,6 avec le placebo (difference : 133,1 [IC a 95 % : 68,0, 198,2]) ; pour les patients avec une CVFp initiale ≤90 %, les valeurs etaient de–121,5 avec le nintedanib et de–223,6 avec le placebo (difference : 102,1 [IC a 95 % : 61,9, 142,3]). Conclusion L’analyse de sous-groupes a montre que le nintedanib 150 mg deux fois par jour a ralenti le declin de la fonction pulmonaire chez les patients atteints de FPI, independamment de la severite de l’alteration de la fonction pulmonaire a l’inclusion, suggerant que les patients avec une alteration encore legere de la CVF peuvent aussi beneficier d’un traitement par nintedanib.

A prenatally diagnosed aneurysm of the vein of Galen was presented in the fetus of a patient referred to our hospital at 31 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography demonstrated polyhydramnios, cardiomegaly, dilatation of the right atrium and superior vena cava, tricuspid valve regurgitation, hydrocephalus, and a large hypo-echoic mass with blood flow in the suboccipital region. Skin edema was shown thereafter. A 3262-g male was delivered by cesarean at 35 weeks of gestation. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated a large mass in the suboccipital region, after which thrombocytopenia appeared and the neonate died at 18 days of age.

Red thin-film phosphors were fabricated based on a ZnO:(La,Eu)OF nanocomposite structure where (La,Eu)OF nanoparticles were dispersed in a ZnO film matrix. The films were deposited on glass substrates by a sol-gel method at a low temperature of 600 °C using trifluoroacetic acid as a fluorine source. Doping gallium into the films suppressed the grain growth of ZnO, increased the optical band gap, and decreased electrical resistivity, which indicates that Ga3+ was selectively incorporated into the ZnO lattice. Eu3+ was practically doped in the LaOF lattice. As a result, strong red emissions due to the 5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+ were observed in both photo- (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements. The efficiency of ultraviolet light excitation at 274 nm was promoted by the charge transfer from O2− to Eu3+ in PL. Ga doping was found to increase the CL intensity of the film, which was attributed to suppression of charge accumulation on the films.

The possibilities for developing a new type of material processing using a microbiogenic function are investigated with a microbial corrosion test of metals under the sea. The behavior of microorganisms in the corrosion of metals (mild steel, copper and aluminum sheets) is examined, and their action on these metals is discussed. As a result, three processing methods (biomachining, biodeposition and biorecycling) are proposed and discussed.

Luminescent rare-earth oxyfluoride materials were prepared by a sol-gel method using trifluoroacetic acid as a fluorine source. Crystalline (La, Eu)OF powders and thin films were obtained by heating gels at typically 600–800°C. Transparent SiO2-LaOF glass-ceramic thin films were also prepared by mixing the trifluoroacetate sols and silica sols, spin-coating on silica glass substrates and heating at temperatures 600–900°C. Eu3+ ions doped in the oxyfluoride materials exhibited a strong red 5D0 → 7F2 emission (611 nm) by a charge-transfer (O2−-Eu3+) excitation with ultra-violet radiation (265 nm). It was strongly suggested that the Eu3+ activators were preferentially incorporated into the crystalline LaOF phase in the SiO2-LaOF glass-ceramics.

Nanocomposite thin films where ZnGa2O4 nanoparticles were dispersed in fluorides, MgF2 or LaF3, were prepared by a sol-gel method using metal acetates and nitrates as starting reagents and trifluoroacetatic acid as a fluorine source. ZnGa2O4 and the fluorides such as MgF2 and LaF3 were formed simultaneously after the heat treatment of the spin-coated gel films as evidenced by X-ray diffraction. The films were transparent in the visible region. With decreasing the ZnGa2O4 content, absorption edges showed blue-shift. All the films exhibited a broad-band blue emission around 430 nm by ultra-violet excitation at 254 nm. The intensity of the blue emission in the PL spectra increased with decreasing the ZnGa2O4 content. These phenomena were attributed to the quantum size effects (the increased band-gap) and the surface effects (the increased luminescent center) in the nano-sized ZnGa2O4. The mechanism of the emission was discussed in view of surface states in the oxide nanoparticles.

Cesarean section and the resultant Cesarean scar are known to be associated with obstetric complications in subsequent pregnancies. Cesarean scar is also associated with gynecological conditions that can adversely affect the patient’s quality of life. We describe a very rare case of Cesarean scar abscess that developed 8 years after a Cesarean delivery, which was managed by emergency hysterectomy.

Introduction Period 1 of the TOMORROW trial was a phase II, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of four doses of nintedanib (50 mg qd, 50 mg bid, 100 mg bid, 150 mg bid) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) over 52 weeks. Results suggested that nintedanib 150 mg bid was associated with a reduced decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and fewer acute exacerbations versus placebo. After completing period 1, patients could continue treatment in a further blinded treatment phase (period 2). Methods In period 2, patients treated with nintedanib in period 1 continued their dose, and placebo-treated patients switched to nintedanib 50 mg qd. Here we present descriptive data on FVC, acute exacerbations, mortality and adverse events for the nintedanib 150 mg bid and comparator (placebo/nintedanib 50 mg qd) groups during periods 1 and 2. Results Of 428 patients treated in period 1 (nintedanib 150 mg bid n = 85, placebo n = 85), 316 patients completed period 1 and 286 patients (nintedanib 150 mg bid n = 48, comparator n = 54) continued treatment in period 2. Mean total duration of exposure was 14.2 months for nintedanib 150 mg bid and 16.8 months for comparator. The mean observed change from baseline in FVC over time was consistently lower in the nintedanib 150 mg bid group compared with comparator across periods 1 and 2 (Figure 1). The incidence of acute exacerbations was lower in the nintedanib 150 mg bid group compared with comparator (3.2 vs. 13.4 per 100 patient-years). Overall, 14 patients (16.3%) died in the nintedanib 150 mg bid group and 19 patients (21.8%) died in the comparator group. The safety and tolerability of nintedanib 150 mg bid was similar between periods 1 and 2. The proportion of patients reporting an adverse event across periods 1 and 2 was similar in the nintedanib 150 mg bid and comparator groups (97.6% and 94.1%, respectively). Conclusion In the TOMORROW trial, the effect of nintedanib on slowing disease progression in patients with IPF was maintained up to week 76. No relevant changes in the safety and tolerability of nintedanib were observed with treatment up to week 76 compared with week 52.

Bi0.5(Na1-xKx)0.5TiO3 (BNKT) bulk ceramics with a preferred orientation were prepared using the reactive templated grain-growth method with platelike Bi4Ti3O12 particles as templates for BNKT. The potassium concentration (x value) had a large effect on the degree of orientation, and highly oriented ceramics were obtained for the specimens with x= 0.10 and x= 0.15, whereas the specimen with x= 0.00 had a small degree of orientation. Increased potassium concentration from x= 0.00 to x= 0.15 decreased the grain-growth rate and changed the grain shape from irregular to cubic. These factors were responsible for the increased degree of orientation.

Thrombin is known to regulate vascular tone. We analyzed and compared mechanisms of thrombin action in primate renal and uterine arteries.Isolated Japanese monkey renal and uterine arteries were suspended in Ringer-Locke solution for tension recordings.Renal arteries responded to thrombin with relaxation, which was inhibited by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine or indomethacin and reversed to contractions by the combination. The relaxations were also reversed to contractions by endothelial denudation. Conversely, thrombin caused uterine arterial contractions that were unaffected by endothelial denudation. Relaxations in both renal arteries and contractions in uterine arteries were suppressed by hirudin (a specific thrombin inhibitor). Relaxant responses to A23187 (Ca(2+) ionophore), nitroprusside sodium (nitric oxide donor), and beraprost sodium (prostacyclin analogue) did not differ between renal and uterine arteries.Thrombin-induced relaxation of renal arteries appears to be mediated by nitric oxide and vasodilator prostaglandins liberated from the endothelium, whereas uterine arterial contraction is caused by an endothelium-independent mechanism.

BaMgF 4 –Eu 2+ thin films were prepared from trifluoroacetate precursor solutions by a sol–gel method and their violet luminescence was investigated. A (Ba,Eu)MgF 4 phase was obtained by heating the spin-coated precursor films at temperatures of 550–650°C. The reduction of Eu 3+ , which originated from Eu(CH 3 COO) 3 ·4H 2 O in the precursor, to Eu 2+ in the heat-treated films was evidenced by the strong, broadband 4f–5d excitation at 290 nm and emission at 420 nm in photoluminescence measurements. The intensity of violet luminescence of Eu 2+ depended on the heating temperature, heating time and the Eu concentration. The strongest violet emission was observed with the BaMgF 4 –Eu (15 mol%) film that was heated at 650°C for 10 min under the present experimental conditions.

The effects of pre-sintering conditions were investigated on the final density and texture of piezoelectric Bi0.5(Na, K)0.5TiO3 (BNKT) ceramics prepared by the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method. Bi4Ti3O12 (BiT) platelets were used as a reactive template for the fabrication of BNKT with a preferred orientation. The application of cold isostatic pressing (CIP) after the in-situ formation of regular perovskite-type BNKT was effective to increase green density before sintering and thus to increase the final density. The CIP treatment after the completion of in-situ conversion from layered perovskite into regular perovskite, however, resulted in sintered ceramics with the lower degree of orientation. The CIP treatment after the partial in-situ formation of perovskite phase produced both dense and highly textured BNKT ceramics.

The densification and microstructure development were studied for Ag-matrix composites containing dispersed Al2O3 particles to examine the effect of inclusions on the densification of composites. The incorporation of Al2O3 particles into Ag matrix hindered densification. Microstructure observation revealed that pores larger than those in the matrix formed around Al2O3 particles during sintering. The pore morphology was dependent on the number density of Al2O3 particles. When the number density was low, pores remained around an Al2O3 particle and coalesced to a large circumferential void at high temperatures. When the number density was intermediate, clusters made of a few Al2O3 particles formed and pores within and around clusters remained up to high temperatures. When the number density was high, the distance between clusters became small and the clusters were connected, forming continuous pores (pore channels). The three-dimensional connectivity of Ag was decreased, and the shrinkage between Ag particles resulted in thickening of pore channels. The presence of these large pores was the origin of the hindrance in densification.