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Four kinds of porous mullite ceramics, named lotus ceramics because of the similarity of their microstructure with lotus roots, were prepared by an extrusion method using rayon fibers of four different diameters (8.1, 9.6, 16.8 and 37.6 μm) as the pore formers. The physicochemical properties of these samples were characterized to test their applicability for the generation of microbubbles. The lotus ceramic samples contained pores of 9.4, 10, 15.6 and 30 μm size and porosities of 45–48%. SEM micrographs confirmed that the cylindrical pores were oriented unidirectionally along the extrusion direction and the degree of alignment was greater with larger fiber diameter. The permeability for gaseous CO 2 increased with increasing pore size from 3×10 −13 to 8×10 −13 m 2 . The four lotus ceramic samples, a commercial air stone (72 μm) and two simple tubes (1000 and 3500 μm) were used to generate microbubbles in water under ambient conditions from a gas mixture of CO 2 and air. It was found that the bubble size could be decreased with bubblers of smaller pore size. In the bubble size measurements for pure CO 2 and air, the air bubbles were larger than the CO 2 bubbles due to partial dissolution of CO 2 into the water during bubbling. In order to generate smaller size bubbles using porous ceramic bubblers, the liquid must penetrate through the pores of the lotus ceramics before the gas is introduced into the system.

Al 2 O 3 filters for CO 2 gas separation were prepared by slip casting method. Average pore size and porosity of the obtained Al 2 O 3 filters were about 74 nm and 40%, respectively. To evaluate the pore size effect, the Al 2 O 3 filters having average pore size of 760 nm were also prepared. FE-SEM micrographs show fine new crystals on the pore surface. They were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment, and were identified to AlOOH by XRD and XPS. Both gas selectivity of the filter having larger pore size were about 1, which indicated that this filter has no gas separation capability. In contrast, the gas selectivity of the Al 2 O 3 filter with 74 nm pores became about 1.47 at 0.01 MPa. The N 2 /CO 2 gas selectivity was improved by controlling the pore size and the chemical properties of a pore surface precisely and by setting an appropriate gas permeation pressure.

Aluminosilicate nanotubes and Cu(II)-grafted TiO2 composites were prepared, and the acetaldehyde degradation activity of the composites was evaluated at various relative humidities. The aluminosilicate nanotubes were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by TEM, XRD, 27Al and 29Si NMR, FT-IR, N2 and water vapor isotherms. Their morphology was nanotubular with 3–5 nm outer diameter, and the specific surface area was 245 m2/g. The aluminosilicate had a strong affinity for water molecules, and the structure was determined to be an imogolite by 27Al and 29Si NMR. TiO2 and imogolite composites exhibited higher activity for the photodegradation of acetaldehyde under UV irradiation than TiO2, but was dependent on the relative humidity. Cu(II)-grafted TiO2 and imogolite composites exhibited higher activity for the photodegradation of acetaldehyde under visible light irradiation than Cu(II)-grafted TiO2, and were less affected by the relative humidity. These results show that Cu(II)-grafted TiO2 - imogolite composites exhibit very efficient absorption and photodecomposition of acetaldehyde in a variety of environments.

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) iplays a crucial role in the antiviral responses of Type I interferons (IFNs). The role of IFITM3 in the central nervous system (CNS) is, however, largely unknown, despite the fact that its expression is increased in the brains of patients with neurologic and neuropsychiatric diseases. Here, we show the role of IFITM3 in long-lasting neuronal impairments in mice following polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (polyI:C, a synthetic double-stranded RNA)-induced immune challenge during the early stages of development. We found that the induction of IFITM3 expression in the brain of mice treated with polyI:C was observed only in astrocytes. Cultured astrocytes were activated by polyI:C treatment, leading to an increase in the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines as well as Ifitm3. When cultured neurons were treated with the conditioned medium of polyI:C-treated astrocytes (polyI:C-ACM), neurite development was impaired. These polyI:C-ACM-induced neurodevelopmental abnormalities were alleviated by ifitm3(-/-) astrocyte-conditioned medium. Furthermore, decreases of MAP2 expression, spine density, and dendrite complexity in the frontal cortex as well as memory impairment were evident in polyI:C-treated wild-type mice, but such neuronal impairments were not observed in ifitm3(-) (/) (-) mice. We also found that IFITM3 proteins were localized to the early endosomes of astrocytes following polyI:C treatment and reduced endocytic activity. These findings suggest that the induction of IFITM3 expression in astrocytes by the activation of the innate immune system during the early stages of development has non-cell autonomous effects that affect subsequent neurodevelopment, leading to neuropathological impairments and brain dysfunction, by impairing endocytosis in astrocytes.

A circuit simulator has been developed to design power losses of high-frequency power converters using GaN-based heterojunction field-effect transistors (GaN-HFETs). The simulator is based on a high-accuracy equivalent model of GaN-HFETs with peculiar device physics and high-speed loss calculation methods. The simulated power losses were consistent with measured results in dc-dc converters constructed by a GaN-HFET and a SiC Schottky diode with more than 93% accuracy. By utilizing the developed simulator, key requirements in heat-dissipation technologies, circuit parasitic inductances, and gate-drive technologies for next-generation converters are discussed.

Electrolytic in-Process Dressing (ELID) has been found to have wide application especially in superfine grinding, but its mechanism is still unclarified yet. Simulation experiments were conducted by using an electrolysis friction test machine, which is a ball-on-disk friction machine equipped with an electrolyzing system. Copper, which is one of the most widely used metal bond materials of super abrasive wheels, and iron, one of the most widely used bond materials in ELID, were tested in three different types of electrolyte: tap water, electrolyzed water, and solution of CG-7 to tap water. Experimental results showed that there was almost no detectable wear for both copper and iron when electrolysis was not implemented, and also the material removal was little when only electrolysis was applied. Strong synergistic effect between electrolysis and friction was observed for copper in both tap water and electrolyzed water, and for iron in electrolyzed water and CG-7 solution. The friction coefficient of Si3N4 ball against iron disk was lower than that against copper disk.

The regulation of the Il12b gene, encoding the shared p40 subcomponent for IL-12 and IL-23, is critical for innate immune responses and subsequent T cell polarization. This gene is robustly induced upon Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation, wherein an enhancer located 10kb upstream of the transcription start site is required for promoter activity; however, the underlying mechanisms that regulate this enhancer in cooperation with the promoter has remained elusive. We show here that the Il12b enhancer contains functional ISREs for recognition by interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), and provide evidence that TLR-activated IRF5 mediates cooperativity of the enhancer with the promoter which also contains ISREs. By contrast, IRF3 activated by cytosolic RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling binds to these ISREs and causes gene suppression. Consistently, IRF5 binding is accompanied with chromatin remodeling of both regulatory regions and the formation of a productive transcriptional complex containing other transcription factors, whereas these events are inhibited by IRF3 binding. We show that the ISREs embedded in the enhancer are indeed critical for its activation by IRF5. We also adduce evidence that the 5' sequences of the enhancer and promoter ISREs, all of which deviate from consensus ISREs, critically affect the function of IRF3. The dual commitment of these IRFs in the regulation of the Il12b enhancer and promoter is unique and may have implications for understanding the evolution of this gene.

After a rutile powder was modified with Au, visible-light photocatalytic activity of the powders before and after sonication treatment was evaluated using the decomposition of gaseous 2-propanol (IPA) to acetone. The modified powders possessed almost identical Au concentrations, and the difference of specific surface area before and after sonication was negligible. Au nanoparticles on the surface of rutile were grown and the wavelength of the peak attributable to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by Au was red-shifted 46 nm by sonication treatment. Photocatalytic activity measurements done by changing the wavelength range of illuminated light suggest that the wavelength of sensitivity for photocatalysis using LSPR under visible light is tunable by sonication.

The G72/G30 gene complex is a candidate gene for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, G72 and G30 mRNAs are expressed at very low levels in human brain, with only rare splicing forms observed. We report here G72/G30 expression profiles and behavioral changes in a G72/G30 transgenic mouse model. A human BAC clone containing the G72/G30 genomic region was used to establish the transgenic mouse model, on which gene expression studies, western blot and behavioral tests were performed. Relative to their minimal expression in humans, G72 and G30 mRNAs were highly expressed in the transgenic mice, and had a more complex splicing pattern. The highest G72 transcript levels were found in testis, followed by cerebral cortex, with very low or undetectable levels in other tissues. No LG72 (the long putative isoform of G72) protein was detected in the transgenic mice. Whole-genome expression profiling identified 361 genes differentially expressed in transgenic mice compared with wild-type, including genes previously implicated in neurological and psychological disorders. Relative to wild-type mice, the transgenic mice exhibited fewer stereotypic movements in the open field test, higher baseline startle responses in the course of the prepulse inhibition test, and lower hedonic responses in the sucrose preference test. The transcriptome profile changes and multiple mouse behavioral effects suggest that the G72 gene may play a role in modulating behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders.

Effects of UV illumination on a mixture of water and a methylene blue (MB) solution in a TiO 2 -coated microchannel were investigated by changing the illuminated section. The TiO 2 coating possessed photocatalytic activity. The mixing length of the liquids increased during UV illumination of an entire microchannel. However, the length became around 20% shorter than that before UV illumination when the UV illumination section was limited at the straight portion of the microchannel. The braking effect of liquid flow at the UV–dark border probably plays an important role in this phenomenon.

Chronic low-grade inflammation in macrophages and adipose tissues can promote the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Free fatty acids (FFAs) have important roles in various tissues, acting as both essential energy sources and signaling molecules. FFA receptors (FFARs) can modulate inflammation in various types of cells and tissues; however the underlying mechanisms mediating these effects are unclear. FFARs are activated by specific FFAs; for example, GPR40 and GPR120 are activated by medium and long chain FFAs, GPR41 and GPR43 are activated by short chain FFAs, and GPR84 is activated by medium-chain FFAs. To date, a number of studies associated with the physiological functions of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have reported that these GPCRs are expressed in various tissues and involved in inflammatory and metabolic responses. Thus, the development of selective agonists or antagonists for various GPCRs may facilitate the establishment of novel therapies for the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we summarize current literature describing the potential of GPCRs as therapeutic targets for inflammatory and metabolic disorders.

Objectives Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) has shown osteoinductive activities and is useful for clinical treatments, including bone regeneration. Regenerative procedures using a bioabsorbable collagen membrane (BCM) are well established in periodontal and implant dentistry. We evaluated the subsequent effects of the BCM in combination with OP-1 on bone regeneration in a rat mandibular circular critical-sized bone defect in vivo. Design We used 8 rats that received surgery in both sides of the mandible, and created the total 16 defects which were divided into 4 groups: Group 1; no treatment, as a control, Group 2; BCM alone, Group 3; BCM containing low dose 0.5 μg of OP-1 (L-OP-1), and Group 4; BCM containing high dose 2.0 μg of OP-1 (H-OP-1). Newly formed bone was evaluated by micro computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analyses at 8 weeks postoperatively. In quantitative and qualitative micro-CT analyses of the volume of new bone formation, bone density, and percentage of new bone area was evaluated. Results BCM with rhOP-1 significantly increased and accelerated bone volume, bone mineral density, and percentage of new bone area compared to control and BCM alone at 8 weeks after surgery; these enhancements in bone regeneration in the OP-1-treated groups were dose-dependent. Conclusions OP-1 delivered with a BCM may have effective osteoinductive potency and be a good combination for bone regeneration. The use of such a combination device for osteogenesis may result in safer and more predictable bone regenerative outcomes in the future.

Clusters of MnO x and CeO y were modified onto TiO 2 (rutile) surface by chemisorption calcination cycle processing. Then the decomposition activity on 2-naphthol in water was evaluated at 50 °C under visible light illumination or in the dark. The modification of MnO x and CeO y clusters provided decomposition activity on 2-naphthol in the dark. It was increased by visible light illumination. The decomposition activity in the dark was dependent on the reaction temperature. The synergy effect in the co-modification of these two clusters was inferred from the reaction constants. Although the activity in the dark decreased gradually through repeated use and resultant reduction of MnO x and CeO y clusters, it recovered by UV illumination and subsequent heating at 80 °C in ambient air.

Fluoroquinolones and propionic acid derivatives are widely used antibacterials and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, respectively, which have been reported to frequently trigger drug hypersensitivity reactions. Such reactions are induced by inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines. The present study investigated whether levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, and loxoprofen, a propionic acid derivative, have the potential to induce immune-related gene expression in dendritic cell-like cell lines such as HL-60, K562, and THP-1, and immortalized keratinocytes such as HaCaT. The expression of IL-8, MCP-1, and TNFα messenger RNA (mRNA) was found to increase following treatment with levofloxacin or loxoprofen in HL-60 cells. In addition, these drugs increased the mRNA content of annexin A1, a factor related to keratinocyte necroptosis in patients with severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Inhibition studies using specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and NF-κB suggest that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is the pathway principally involved in the induction of cytokines and annexin A1 by levofloxacin, whereas the involvement of MAP kinases and NF-κB in the loxoprofen-induced gene expression of these factors may be limited. Fluoroquinolones and propionic acid derivatives that are structurally related to levofloxacin and loxoprofen, respectively, were also found to induce immune-related gene expression in HL-60 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that fluoroquinolones and propionic acid derivatives have the potential to induce the expression of immune-related factors and that an in vitro cell-based assay system to detect the immune-stimulating potential of systemic drugs might be useful for assessing the risk of drug hypersensitivity reactions.

The gut microbiota and its metabolites have been implicated in the regulation of host physiological functions such as inflammatory and metabolic responses. The short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) receptor is expressed in the kidney and blood vessels as well, and has been reported to function as a regulator of blood pressure (BP). This review highlights the role of SCFAs derived from gut microbial fermentation in the regulation of BP.Olfactory receptor 78 (Olfr78) is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor family, and it plays a key role as a chemosensor in various tissues. Both Olfr78 and G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) are expressed in smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and they recognize SCFAs. Oral administration of SCFAs was found to change BP in vivo, an effect that was altered in Olfr78 and GPR41-deficient mice.The regulation of BP via SCFA receptors has provided new insights into the interactions between the gut microbiota and BP control systems. We summarize these interactions and describe their contributions to a novel pathway involved in BP regulation. These recent findings could open new avenues for the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Gobo dietary fiber (GDF) obtained from the roots of edible burdock (Arctium lappa L.) was examined for its protective role against amaranth (Food Red No. 2, Am) toxicity in the upper gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the ileal end) of rats. Ileorectostomized rats were examined for their growth response to feeding with a purified basal diet containing 4% Am with or without 7.5% GDF. The transit half-time (TT50) through the upper gastrointestinal tract was also examined with ileostomized rats by recovering the small intestinal contents from the ileal end, using Cr-EDTA as a nonabsorbable water-soluble marker. Although feeding Am to the ileorectostomized rats resulted in a 50% mortality, concurrent feeding of Am and GDF not only protected the rats from death but also significantly promoted their growth rate when compared to the effect on the survivors fed only with the Am-containing diet. The results of TT50 measurements on ileostomized rats showed that the TT50 was decreased by half in the presence of Am, but was restored to the value for the control without Am when the Am-containing diet was supplemented with GDF. These and previous rsults imply that Am toxicity develops mainly in the upper gastrointestinal tract as a result of decreased availability of nutrients that is produced by the rapid transit and inhibitory effect of Am on the digestion-absorption process. The beneficial effect of GDF appears to be in normalizing the rapid transit through the upper gastrointestinal tract of chyme containing Am and not in the cecum or colon.

The acyl glucuronide (AG) metabolites of carboxylic acid-containing drugs are potentially chemically reactive and are suggested to be implicated in toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and drug hypersensitivity reactions. However, it remains unknown whether AG formation is related to toxicity in vivo. In this study, we sought to determine whether AG is involved in the pathogenesis of liver injury using a mouse model of diclofenac (DIC)-induced liver injury. Mice that were administered DIC alone exhibited significantly increased plasma alanine aminotransferase levels, whereas mice that were pretreated with the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase inhibitor (-)-borneol (BOR) exhibited suppressed alanine aminotransferase levels at 3 and 6 h after DIC administration although not significant at 12 h. The plasma DIC-AG concentrations were significantly lower in BOR- and DIC-treated mice than in mice treated with DIC alone. The mRNA expression levels of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), CXCL2 and the neutrophil marker CD11b were reduced in the livers of mice that had been pretreated with BOR compared to those that had been administered DIC alone, whereas mRNA expression of the macrophage marker F4/80 was not altered. An immunohistochemical analysis at 12 h samples revealed that the numbers of myeloperoxidase- and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex-positive cells that infiltrated the liver were significantly reduced in BOR- and DIC-treated mice compared to mice that were treated with DIC alone. These results indicate that DIC-AG is partly involved in the pathogenesis of DIC-induced acute liver injury in mice by activating innate immunity and neutrophils. Copyright © 2016 John WileySons, Ltd.

Excess energy is stored primarily as triglycerides, which are mobilized when demand for energy arises. Dysfunction of energy balance by excess food intake leads to metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Free fatty acids (FFAs) provided by dietary fat are not only important nutrients, but also contribute key physiological functions via FFA receptor (FFAR)-mediated signaling molecules, which depend on FFAs’ carbon chain length and the ligand specificity of the receptors. Functional analyses have revealed that FFARs are critical for metabolic functions, such as peptide hormone secretion and inflammation, and contribute to energy homeostasis. In particular, recent studies have shown that the administration of selective agonists of G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 40 and GPR120 improved glucose metabolism and systemic metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the anti-inflammation and energy metabolism effects of short chain FAs have been linked to the activation of GPR41 and GPR43. In this review, we summarize recent progress in research on FFAs and their physiological roles in the regulation of energy metabolism.

Chronic low-grade inflammation in macrophages and adipose tissues can promote the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Free fatty acids (FFAs) have important roles in various tissues, acting as both essential energy sources and signaling molecules. FFA receptors (FFARs) can modulate inflammation in various types of cells and tissues; however the underlying mechanisms mediating these effects are unclear. FFARs are activated by specific FFAs; for example, GPR40 and GPR120 are activated by medium and long chain FFAs, GPR41 and GPR43 are activated by short chain FFAs, and GPR84 is activated by medium-chain FFAs. To date, a number of studies associated with the physiological functions of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have reported that these GPCRs are expressed in various tissues and involved in inflammatory and metabolic responses. Thus, the development of selective agonists or antagonists for various GPCRs may facilitate the establishment of novel therapies for the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we summarize current literature describing the potential of GPCRs as therapeutic targets for inflammatory and metabolic disorders.

Porous TiO2 sphere particles were prepared by impregnating titanium (IV) oxysulfate solutions into organic monolith particles, with subsequent calcination in air. The powder possessed pores of meso-order. Its crystalline phase was anatase. Then, 12 Tungsto(VI) phosphoric acid (PW12) was present in the mesopores. The entire surface was modified to be hydrophobic by octadecylphosphonic acid (ODP). Subsequent UV illumination in water removed the PW12 and ODP adsorbed onto the outer sphere surface. The obtained spherical TiO2 particles with hydrophobic acidic nanopores exhibited high photocatalytic performance against the removal of 1,4-dioxane in water. Detailed analysis revealed that this material removed both 1,4-dioxane and ethylene glycol diformate (EGDF), the main intermediate of the photocatalysis of 1,4-dioxane. Results suggest that hydrophobic acidic nanopores enhance adsorption of EGDF in water and play an important role in the overall photocatalytic performance of this system.

The photonic bands of various TiO2 2D photonic crystals, i.e., cylindrical, square and hexagonal columns connected with/without walls and filled with acetonitrile, were investigated from the perspective of dye-sensitized solar cells. The finite-difference time-domain methods revealed that two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals with rods connected with walls composed of TiO2 and electrolytes had complete photonic band gaps under specific conditions. This optimally designed bandgap reaches a large Δω/ωmid value, 1.9%, in a triangular array of square rods connected with walls, which is the largest complete 2D bandgap thus far reported for a photochemical system. These discoveries would promote the photochemical applications of photonic crystals.

Fluid friction in a cylindrical glass pipe coated with TiO2 was investigated before and after UV illumination. The crystalline phase of TiO2 was anatase. Its coating thickness was about 90 nm. The frictional drag was evaluated by measuring the pressure loss in the pipe. Before UV illumination, the pressure loss changed gradually from a laminar flow to the turbulent one in the transition range, where the Reynolds number was around 3,300. However, the pressure loss after UV illumination maintained a laminar flow until the Reynolds number was 6,000. The reduction rate of the frictional drag increased concomitantly with increasing flow velocity. Particle image velocimetry analysis revealed that the fluid friction would be reduced by suppressing unstable flow around the wall of the glass pipe. These results imply that highly hydrophilic TiO2 surface effectively reduced fluid friction in a large Reynolds number range effectively, and that suitable surface wettability for the reduction of the fluid friction depends on the flow velocity.

Although the mechanisms by which innate pathogen-recognition receptors enhance adaptive immune responses are increasingly well understood, whether signaling events from distinct classes of receptors affect each other in modulating adaptive immunity remains unclear. We found here that the activation of cytosolic RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) resulted in the selective suppression of transcription of the gene encoding the p40 subunit of interleukin 12 (Il12b) that was effectively induced by the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). The RLR-activated transcription factor IRF3 bound dominantly, relative to IRF5, to the Il12b promoter, where it interfered with the TLR-induced assembly of a productive transcription-factor complex. The activation of RLRs in mice attenuated TLR-induced responses of the T helper type 1 cell (T(H)1 cell) and interleukin 17-producing helper T cell (T(H)17 cell) subset types and, consequently, viral infection of mice caused death at sublethal doses of bacterial infection. The innate immune receptor cross-interference we describe may have implications for infection-associated clinical episodes.

The performance of a 12kV planar Clustered Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (CIGBT) is compared to an equivalent IGBT in 4H-SiC through extensive 2D numerical simulations. The CIGBT shows 40% reduction in Eoff-Vce(sat) trade off losses with a short circuit endurance time of more than 10µs.

The characteristics of the spin-trapping reaction in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)-electron spin resonance (ESR) assay were examined, focusing on the kind of spin traps. 2,2-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) was used as a free radical initiator. The spin adducts of the AAPH-derived free radical were assigned as those of the alkoxyl radical, RO· (R=H(2)N(HN)C-C(CH(3))(2)). Among the spin traps tested, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), 5,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (4PDMPO), 5-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propoxycyclophosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (CYPMPO), and 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO) were applicable to the ORAC-ESR assay. Optimal formation of spin-trapped radical adduct was observed with 1 mM AAPH, 10 mM spin trap, and 5 s UV irradiation. The calibration curve (the Stern-Volmer's plot) for each spin trap showed good linearity, and their slopes, k (SB)/k (ST), were estimated to be 87.7±2.3, 267±15, 228±9, and 213±16 for DMPO, 4PDMPO, CYPMPO, and DEPMPO, respectively. Though the k (SB)/k (ST) values for selected biosubstances varied with various spin traps, their ratios to Trolox (the relative ORAC values) were almost the same for all spin traps tested. The ORAC-ESR assay also had a very good reproducibility. The ORAC-ESR assay was conducted under stoichiometric experimental conditions. The present results demonstrate the superiority of the ORAC-ESR assay.

The spontaneous motion of a nitrobenzene droplet combined with iodine and potassium iodide on an aqueous phase containing a cationic surfactant (stearyltrimethylammonium chloride) was activated by the addition of a small amount of chlorobenzene into the droplet. The highest speed of droplet motion was observed when it was composed of 60% nitrobenzene and 40% chlorobenzene. To explore the factors affecting this activation, for the oil phase, the density and viscosity, the solubility of the surfactant and the interfacial tension of the oil/aqueous phase for various concentrations of nitrobenzene–chlorobenzene were evaluated. The aggregates produced at the oil/water interface were subjected to elemental and melting point analyses. These results were carefully compared with those of previous theoretical studies. The analyses revealed that the balance of the kinematic properties of the oil phase solution and the rate of the electrophilic substitution reaction is the most important factor contributing to the activation.

The kinetics of photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye by titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) powder were investigated using elementary reactions. TiO 2 powders were prepared by a selective leaching method consisted of processes of CaHPO 4 precipitation, heat treatment, and acid leaching to obtain high crystalline anatase. The obtained TiO 2 samples had wide ranges of specific surface areas (5–23 m 2 /g) and densities of Ti 3+ defects (90–480×10 12 spin/g) without a significant change in the anatase phase ratio ranging 0.86–0.91 in mass ratio. The MB photodegradation rate was expressed as functions of specific surface area and density of Ti 3+ defects under the experimental condition that the photodegradation rate was proportional to UV irradiation intensity and the adsorbed MB amount was proportional to specific surface area. A proposed equation for calculation of photodegradation ate demonstrated greater effect of specific surface area than density of Ti 3+ defects for MB photodegradation.

Porous Al 2 O 3 ceramics were prepared using a two-step sintering method. Green bodies were prepared using the slip cast method. The average pore size and porosity of the obtained samples were, respectively, 73 nm and 42%. The porosities and the average pore size of the samples prepared using a one-step sintering method decreased concomitantly with increasing sintering temperature. The porosity was mostly constant at temperatures higher than 1300 °C. The T 1 and T 2 temperatures were set, respectively as 1150 °C and 1000 °C for two-step sintering tests. Under these conditions, the pore size was controllable by sintering time without porosity change. The average pore size of the obtained samples was 61–76 nm without porosity change.

During evaporation, shape changes of nanoliter-scale (80–100 nL) water droplets were evaluated on two superhydrophobic surfaces with different random roughness (nm-coating, μm-coating). The square of the contact radius and the square of the droplet height decreased linearly with evaporation time. However, trend changes were observed at around 170 s (nm-coating) and around 150 s (μm-coating) suggesting a wetting mode transition. The calculated droplet radii for the wetting mode transition from the average roughness distance and the average roughness height of these surface structures were approximately equal to the experimental values at these trend changes. A certain level of correlation between the roughness size and droplet radius at the wetting mode transition was confirmed on surfaces with random roughness.

A planetary-type mixer using a container equipped with stainless steel mesh has been developed. For various slurries (Al2O3 in water), each modeled as Newtonian fluid, the shear stress was calculated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) under various mixing conditions and with different equipment properties. The meshed-geometry included more than 100,000 nodes with hexahedral cells in one zone, with quadrilateral cells in the remaining zones. The fluid viscosity, rotation rate, and mesh opening affected the maximum shear stress. The shear stress increased concomitantly with increasing fluid viscosity. The container rotation rate and the maximum shear stress share a proportional relation. For a fluid with 9.2 mPa s, the shear stress was 134 Pa or more for a 0.81 mm and larger mesh opening, as observed at the bottom of the container. Mesh having an opening smaller than 0.81 mm generated high shear stress on the mesh surface. The maximum shear stress increased with decreasing mesh opening size. The particle size distributions of the Al2O3 particles in the slurries after treatment by the mixer were estimated under conditions similar to those of the calculations. Results show peaks in the particle size distributions of the Al2O3 particles in the slurries before treatment at 0.2 and 2–70 μm because of the primary particle size and agglomerates. The amounts of the agglomerate decreased concomitantly with the decreased mesh opening size. When slurries pass through the small mesh openings, high shear stress is generated. That achieves the good dispersion of the sub-micron sized Al2O3 particles in the slurry.

In some industrial inspection processes, multiprocess-handling workers are required to enter the results of visual inspection tests without using their hands because of efficiency or hygiene reasons. We have developed a hands-free visual inspection system by using saccadic latency, a temporal characteristic of saccadic eye movements. The proposed system is free from the Midas touch problem (i.e., the difficulty in developing an eye-typing interface owing to the difficulty in differentiating between intentional blinks and gazes and natural ones). For verifying the system, an experiment was conducted in which ten subjects performed a visual inspection task. The average defect detection rates were 99.4%, and no Midas touch–related errors were observed. Results of the error analysis showed that redesigning the system interface would lead to a further enhancement of the system performance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of pectin on Fe bioavailability in ileorectomised rats or caecectomised rats. In Expt 1, rats were divided into the following two groups: ileorectomised rats fed a fibre-free diet (FF diet) and ileorectomised rats fed a FF diet supplemented with 5 % (w/w) pectin (pectin diet). Apparent Fe absorption in ileorectomised rats fed the pectin diet was significantly lower compared with ileorectomised rats fed the FF diet. In Expt 2, caecectomised rats and sham-operated rats were given one of the following diets for 3 weeks: diet containing ferrous iron (FeII diet), diet containing pectin at 50 g/kg diet (pectin diet) and diet containing a mixture of FeII and product prepared by the enzymatic degradation of pectin (FeII–OGA diet), which were presumed to be oligomers of galacturonic acid. The Fe content of these diets was 7·6, 8·1 and 7·7 mg/kg diet, respectively. The bioavailability of Fe in rats fed the FeII diet was not affected by caecectomy. In contrast, in rats fed the pectin diet, where Fe bound to pectin was the only Fe source, Hb gain and Hb regeneration efficiency were significantly decreased by caecectomy. The bioavailability of Fe from the FeII–OGA complex was not affected by caecectomy. These results suggest that Fe in pectin might be released by microbial degradation and subsequently made available for absorption in the large intestine, although pectin might decrease Fe absorption in the small intestine.

In this paper, thermal fusion of polymer spherical particles was examined to prepare ring structures on a solid substrate. Polystyrene particles (200 nm diameter) were two-dimensionally arrayed by an evaporation-driven method. The self-assembled structures, i.e., two-dimensional colloidal crystals, were kept under 50°C for 20 minutes. Three peeling methods were tried after the thermal fusion treatment: manual peeling, peeling by polydimethylsiloxane adhesion and mechanical peeling. We show that using these peeling methods we were able to obtain the ring structures as well as other interesting structures.

Transparent ZnO were prepared using solutions with various trisodium citrate concentrations by a spin-spray method at 90°C. The morphological and structural characteristics, as well as photocatalytic activity of the resulting ZnO films were examined with respect to the added trisodium citrate concentration. Photocatalytic activities of the ZnO films were evaluated from photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution. With increasing citrate concentrations, the ZnO films came to have higher transmittances in visible region but lower MB decomposition rate. Both high transmittance and high photocatalytic activity were achieved in the ZnO film prepared in the citrate concentration of 0.5 mm. The possible mechanism for the difference in photocatalytic activity by the samples prepared with the various concentrations of citrate was discussed from the viewpoint of film texture, crystal orientation and surface chemical state.

Porous ZrO2–SiO2 composite sphere particles were prepared by impregnating precursor solutions into organic monolith particles, with subsequent calcination in air. The porous spheres possessed uniformly sized pores of around 10 nm. Addition of SiO2–ZrO2 decreased the ZrO2 crystallinity and increased the specific surface area. The acid amount on the surface of the composite spheres was increased by treatment with H2SO4. The acid strength and its amount, including the Lewis/Bronsted acid ratio, depended on the SiO2/ZrO2 ratio and the H2SO4 concentration. The powder treated under an optimum condition exhibited higher solid acidity than the reference solid acid catalyst. The prepared porous SO4 2−/ZrO2–SiO2 spheres showed higher saccharization activity than the reference solid acid catalyst did.

Titanium dioxide thin films were prepared by using four water-soluble titanium complexes of titanium-lactate, tartalate, malate and salicylate complex solutions. The crystalline phases detected in the films were anatase. The surface microstructures of the four film samples were different in their grain sizes. Photocatalytic decomposition activity of the four films was almost the same, but their photoinduced hydrophilicities were different. The film prepared using titanium-salicylate complex exhibited lower hydrophilic conversion rate than the other films. Grain size and stress yielded to the film are considered to be important factors on the photoinduced hydrophilicity.

Photoinduced surface friction variations of the polished surface of polycrystalline rutile ceramics under UV illumination in different atmospheres was evaluated using FFM. When UV was irradiated onto the rutile surface, the surface friction force first increased and then decreased. Once the water contact angle of the rutile surface reached the lower limit, the surface friction force increased gradually. Increased friction force on the surface in the early stage of UV illumination was attributable to decomposition of the surface organic contaminant and the resultant increase of surface energy from the fitting of calculated contact angles to practical values. However, the friction force decrease and gradual increase after a certain period of UV illumination are attributed to the lubrication effect and either a capillary effect or the increased adsorbed water layer by humidity control. From the force curve measurement on the highly hydrophilic rutile single crystal (1 0 0), the repulsion force was detected from 2 to 3 nm separation distance.

A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping system for post-column on-line detection of the superoxide radical scavenging activity of column eluates was developed. A cyclic nitrone-type spin-trapping reagent, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), was used for detection of the superoxide radical, which was produced by riboflavin-dependent photo-reduction of molecular oxygen in the presence of an electron donor. The reaction conditions were optimized by monitoring the ESR signal intensity of the spin-adduct of DMPO. HPLC–ESR chromatographs were recorded for the standard sample solution, which included three phenolic compounds, gallic acid (Gal), 4-hydroxycoumaric acid (Cou), and caffeic acid (Caf).

The reaction between 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (PCAM), which is a blood–brain-barrier (BBB) permeable stable cyclic nitroxide, and ascorbic acid was examined in a low dissolved oxygen-phosphate buffer (low DO-PB, 0.1 mM DO) under 8% oxygen in a glove bag or in an ordinal dissolved oxygen-phosphate buffer (ordinal DO-PB, 0.3 mM DO) under 21% oxygen in an open atmosphere with and without diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). In PB with DTPA, no difference was observed between the results in the low DO-PB and those in the ordinal DO-PB. In the ordinal DO-PB without DTPA, the rate constant of the PCAM decrease was half that in the low DO-PB without DTPA. The present results indicate that high DO and coexisting transition metal ions caused the oxidation of ascorbic acid, which degraded the PCAM reduction. The stable nitroxide-ascorbic acid system without DTPA was found to be applicable to an in vitro model for the acute hypoxia ischemia.

Technologies related to hydrophobic coatings have been applied to various industrial items for droplet formation and removal from solid surfaces. However, for such surfaces, excellent water-shedding properties and droplet control in a desired direction are not easily attainable merely by reducing their surface energies. Success requires the design and control of a nanolevel surface structure with appropriate chemical composition. Various hydrophobic surfaces have been developed to date, and their static hydrophobicity has been investigated carefully. Moreover, studies of dynamic hydrophobicity of droplets have increased recently because of the rapid advance and availability of high-speed cameras, facilitating direct evaluation of droplet motion. This paper presents a review of recent studies investigating the design of hydrophobic surfaces for liquid droplet control, specifically focussing on recent studies of dynamic hydrophobicity.