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CaSiO 3 /high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites with flexibility and biocompatibility were prepared by a new surface loading method. CaSiO 3 powder was synthesized by coprecipitation method with heating at 1300 °C for 2 h. The obtained α-CaSiO 3 powder was sieved to 45–75 μm (sample M) and 75–150 μm (sample C). Fine powder sample (sample F) was prepared by grinding the powder being the average particle size of 2.9 μm. These powders were sprinkled on the melted HDPE sheets heated at 160, 180 and 200 °C. The amounts of sprinkled powder were only 50% in all the samples. Apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF) was observed by soaking for 5 days in sample F while within 1 day in samples M and C. The sample M retained flexible properties of HDPE together with excellent biocompatible properties.

Using particle image velocimetry, we directly observed the internal fluidity of water droplets with various masses sliding on a smooth fluoroalkylsilane (FAS-17) coating. The water droplets slid downward with acceleration by a caterpillar-like rotation with slippage on the solid-liquid interface. The sliding acceleration of the advancing contact line was estimated using the combination of the accelerations of each motion. The contribution of rolling motion is large in the sliding acceleration of large droplets, and the smaller droplets slide down mainly with a slipping mechanism.

The oxidation state of chromium in coir pith after Cr(VI) adsorption from aqueous solution was investigated using electron spin resonance (ESR). To elucidate the mechanism of chromium adsorption on coir pith, the adsorption studies of Cr(VI) onto lignin, alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith were also studied. ESR signals of Cr(V) and Cr(III) were observed in coir pith adsorbed Cr(VI) at solution pH 2, while ESR spectra of lignin extracted from coir pith revealed only the Cr(III) signal. In addition, ESR signal of Cr(V) was observed in alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith adsorbed Cr(VI). These results confirmed that lignin in coir pith reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) while alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from coir pith reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(V). The Cr(V) signal exhibited in ESR of alpha-cellulose and holocellulose might be bound with glucose in cellulose part of coir pith. In addition, xylose which is main in pentosan part of coir pith, indicated that it is involved in form complex with Cr(V) on coir pith. The adsorption kinetic of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution on coir pith was also investigated and described well with pseudo second order model. ESR and desorption experiments confirmed that Cr(VI), Cr(V) and Cr(III), exist in coir pith after Cr(VI) adsorption. The desorption data indicated that the percentage of Cr(VI), Cr(V) and Cr(III) in coir pith were 15.63%, 12.89% and 71.48%, respectively.

Using continuous coating with Si-alkoxide as a binder, Cs 2.5 H 0.5 PW 12 O 40 (Cs2.5) powder was prepared and immobilized onto a Pyrex glass plate. The Cs2.5 coating possessed an acid site on the film surface. Translucent TiO 2 –Cs2.5 hybrid films were prepared by laminating TiO 2 films with holes on the Cs2.5 coating using phase-separation of alkoxide. Photocatalytic decomposition of 1,4-dioxane in water revealed that the holes serve as adsorption fields for ethylene glycol diformate, an intermediate with poor affinity to TiO 2 . The TiO 2 –Cs2.5 hybrid films produced by this process are candidates for purification of water containing several chemicals with a slow decomposition rate in photocatalysis.

Porous mullite ceramics with unidirectionally oriented pores were prepared by an extrusion method to investigate their capillary rise properties. Rayon fibers 16.5 μm in diameter and 800 μm long were used as the pore formers by kneading with alumina powder, kaolin clay, China earthen clay and binder with varying Fe2O3 contents of 0, 5 and 7 mass%. The resulting pastes were extruded into cylindrical tubes (outer diameter (OD) 30–50 mm and inner diameter (ID) 20–30 mm), dried at room temperature and fired at 1500 °C for 4 h. The bulk densities of the resulting porous ceramics ranged from 1.31 to 1.67 g/cm3, with apparent porosities of 43.2–59.3%. The pore size distributions measured by Hg porosimetry showed a sharp peak at 10.0 μm in the sample without Fe2O3 and at 15.6 μm in the samples containing Fe2O3; these pores, which arose from the burnt-out rayon fibers, corresponded to total pore volumes ranging from 0.24 to 0.34 ml/g. SEM showed a microstructure consisting of unidirectionally oriented pores in a porous mullite matrix. Prismatic mullite crystals were well developed on the surfaces of the pore walls owing to the liquid phase formed by the Fe2O3 component added to color the samples. The bending strengths of the tubular samples ranged from 15.6 to 26.3 MPa. The height of capillary rise, measured under controlled relative humidities (RH) of 50, 65 and 85%, was greater in the ceramics containing Fe2O3 than in those without Fe2O3, especially in the thinner samples. The maximum capillary rise reached about 1300 mm, much higher than previously reported. This excellent capillary rise ability is thought to be due to the controlled pore size, pore distribution and pore orientation in these porous mullite ceramics.

Using a laser beam and its reflection, we evaluated surface air layers on two superhydrophobic coatings with different roughnesses (Ra = 1900 and 74 nm) in a water-ethanol mixture. The reflected laser intensity decreased by increasing the ethanol concentration for the superhydrophobic coating with large roughness because of increased scattering by the surface structure of the solid. However, it was almost constant and slightly increased for the coating with small roughness, probably because the liquid-air interface becomes flatter as the liquid intrudes into the surface structure. Results demonstrated that the difference in surface structure provides different sustainability of the surface air layer.

Chalcone compounds have been widely studied for their anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-invasive and anti-proliferative activities in various cell lines. However, their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) are still largely unexplored. We have recently developed a bioconversion system using a recombinant Escherichia coli that enables us to produce chemical compounds that are naturally rare and usually difficult to chemically synthesize. One such compound is 3-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylpropan-1-one, a novel chalcone-diol. Here we show, for the first time, that the chalcone-diol enhanced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in cultured cortical neurons. Also, this chalcone-diol increased intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration, thereby enhancing phosphorylation of ERK and cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), and CRE-mediated transcription via the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) pathway in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Recent studies have demonstrated that PKA/CREB-dependent signaling, which is required for long-term potentiation, is inhibited by sublethal concentrations of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) in cultured hippocampal neurons. After treatment with the chalcone-diol at 50 muM prior to treatment with a sublethal concentration of Abeta(1-42), the Abeta(1-42)-induced inhibition of phosphorylation of PKA substrates and CREB was prevented in cultured hippocampal neurons, indicating the potential for protection against the Abeta-induced impairment of PKA/CREB signaling observed in Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, these results suggest that our present study provides a new approach for discovering novel lead compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative CNS diseases associated with impaired PKA/CREB signaling, including Alzheimer's disease.

Si plates were treated using two fluoroalkylsilanes (FAS17 and FAS3), and the internal fluidity of a water droplet sliding between two parallel plates on a slope was observed directly using particle image velocimetry (PIV) method with a high-speed camera system. The interfacial caterpillar-like rotation flows with slip motion at the solid–liquid interface were related to the combination of top and bottom wettabilities. The water droplets accelerated by a rolling and slipping motion on FAS17 coatings; the acceleration was dominated by a rolling motion on FAS3 coatings. A droplet's shape, solid–liquid molecular interaction, and the gravitic force will be important factors determining the sliding mode on a solid surface.

The current collapse of normally-off mode AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN double heterojunction field effect transistors was investigated in comparison with the normal AlGaN/GaN heterojunction filed effect transistors.

The effect of AlGaN surface traps on breakdown voltage VB and drain current collapse in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were investigated using experimental measurement and numerical simulation. The drain current transient due to surface traps was systematically measured and analyzed, and the activation energy of a surface trap was evaluated as approximately 0.7 eV. Results from the device simulation of VB in HEMTs were in good agreement with the experimental results when assuming surface traps. The results indicate that surface traps increase VB, and induce a crucial current collapse.

We used northern and western blotting to measure the quantity of glutamate and GABA transporters mRNA and their proteins within the hippocampal tissue of rats with epileptogenesis. Chronic seizures were induced by amygdalar injection of kainic acid 60 days before death. We found that expression of the mRNA and protein of the glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT-1 were down-regulated in the kainic acid-administered group. In contrast, EAAC-1 and GAT-3 mRNA and their proteins were increased, while GAT-1 mRNA and protein were not changed. We performed in vivo microdialysis in the freely moving state. During the interictal state, the extracellular glutamate concentration was increased, whereas the GABA level was decreased in the kainic acid group. Following potassium-induced depolarization, glutamate overflow was higher and the recovery time to the basal release was prolonged in the kainic acid group relative to controls. Our data suggest that epileptogenesis in rats with kainic acid-induced chronic seizures is associated with the collapse of extracellular glutamate regulation caused by both molecular down-regulation and functional failure of glutamate transport.

For this study, transparent sulfated TiO 2 thin films were prepared from Ti alkoxide. Vacuum ultraviolet illumination in air at 180 °C was demonstrated to be an effective pretreatment for reproducible preparation of crack-free sulfated TiO 2 thin films. The film provides a high photoinduced wettability conversion rate and photocatalytic decomposition efficiency on gaseous n -hexane under proper conditions. This result is attributable to the accelerated decomposition of intermediates by a strong inorganic acid on the surface or to the resultant high quantum yield by suppressing the recombination between electrons and holes on the film surface.

Using the layer-by-layer method, 12 tungsto(VI) phosphoric acid (PW12) and TiO2 hybrid thin films were prepared. In 2-propanol decomposition, two-bilayer thin films (ca. 15 nm) showed more rapid decomposition than control TiO2 and PW12 films under both UV and visible light illumination. Visible light illumination was required for continuous 2-propanol decomposition. Photocatalytic decomposition activity depends on the number of bilayer coatings, the top coating, and the organic compounds for decomposition. On the basis of the wavelength dependence of the hybrid thin films, a reaction scheme for this system was discussed.

Porous ceramics for anti-heat island effect were prepared from mixtures of allophane and vermiculite (VA samples). Allophane and vermiculite which had been ground for 0.5–2 h was mixed in various mass ratios, formed into pellets by uniaxial pressing at 40 MPa, and heated at 600–800 °C to form porous ceramics. The large thermal expansion of the vermiculite upon explosive dehydration of interlayer water causes cracking of the pellets with higher vermiculite contents. However, this can be controlled by grinding the vermiculite prior to heating. Grinding the vermiculite for ≥2 h suppresses its expansion, enabling pellet samples with high vermiculite contents to be prepared without cracking. The bulk densities of samples prepared at 800 °C from vermiculite ground for 2 h decrease from 1.72 to 0.94 with increasing allophane content. The pore size distribution in these samples shows a distinct peak at about 1 μm irrespective of the mixing ratio. The number of smaller pores ( W a ) of the samples increases from 37 to 63% with increasing allophane content. This absorption rate is fast enough to absorb >90% of the W a within 1 min for samples of 10 mm O × 5 mm 3 size. By contrast, the release of the absorbed water is very slow, with 50% of the W a retained for ≥30 h in the VA samples at a relative humidity of 55% at 20 °C; this is slower than in pure allophane and much slower than in a reference sample of foamed glass (about 4 h). All these properties make the VA samples useful as water-retaining materials to combat “heat island” effects.

This study investigates the effects of a voltage swing interval on 1,4-dioxane decomposition in aqueous media. The concentration of 1,4-dioxane decreases with the decreasing voltage swing interval, but the change is small. In contrast, the concentration of EGDF increases with the decreasing interval. Its difference is much greater than that of 1,4-dioxane. These results suggest that the diffusion constant of EGDF in a pore structure differs from that of 1,4-dioxane and that the response to the voltage swing interval depends on the chemical species. For effective water purification using this system, proper material design and optimization of operation conditions are necessary.

私たちはアルツハイマー病（AD）の新しい予防法および原因療法の開発を目指して，ADの予防・治療効果を示す天然薬物を探索する研究を進めてきた．その結果，新しい抗認知症作用を有する天然薬物として，生薬陳皮（AURANTII NOBILIS PERICARPIUM）に含まれる，分子量402.39のポリメトキシフラボン，nobiletinを発見することに成功した．Nobiletinは，ADの原因物質のAβを脳室内に注入した急性ADモデルラットにおいて記憶障害改善作用を示し，Aβ1-40およびAβ1-42を過剰発現するアミロイド前駆体タンパク質トランスジェニックマウス（APP-SL7-5）において脳内のAβの蓄積を抑制し，Aβ誘発性記憶障害を改善させた．また，本天然薬物は，中枢コリン作動性神経の変性を伴う嗅球摘出誘発性記憶障害モデルマウスの神経変性を抑制し，記憶障害を改善する作用を示した．さらに，N-methyl-D-aspartate受容体遮断薬（MK-801）誘発性記憶・学習障害マウスにおいて，海馬でのERKの活性化により，MK-801誘発性記憶・学習障害を改善した．他方，培養ラット海馬ニューロンを用いてnobiletinの記憶障害改善作用のメカニズムを解析した結果，nobiletinが，培養海馬ニューロンにおいて，AMPA受容体の細胞膜への移行やPKA/ERK/CREBシグナル伝達を促進し，またAβによるグルタミン酸誘発性PKA/CREBシグナル伝達の阻害を抑制することが明らかとなった．このようなユニークな薬理作用を有するnobiletinは，種々の食用柑橘類果実に含まれており，それを応用した機能性食品の開発が可能になれば，ADなどの認知症の予防・改善に有効な代替療法が確立できると期待される．

Steel-making slag, a waste by-product of the Steel Industry, constitutes a major disposal problem. In the present study, excellent adsorbent materials for reducing eutrophication in wastewaters have been prepared from this slag. Heated samples of acid-treated slag and mixtures of slag with kaolinite and Al(OH)(3) were examined to determine their uptake capacities for NH(4)(+) and PO(4)(3-) from aqueous solutions. In general, the equilibrium pH of the solution increased in comparison to initial pH with the uptake of target ions, the sample activated slag-Al(OH)(3) showing the smallest change. The highest PO(4)(3-) uptake capacity was obtained with the slag-Al(OH)(3) mixture heated at 900 degrees C whereas the highest uptake of NH(4)(+) was found in the slag-Al(OH)(3) mixture heated at 800 degrees C. The uptake rates for PO(4)(3-) and NH(4)(+) by the slag-Al(OH)(3) mixture heated at 900 degrees C were 2.91 and 0.65 micro mol/(g min), respectively. It was shown that heating slag composites prior to incorporation into wastewater treatment filters resulted in an increased degree of NH(4)(+) and PO(4)(3-) uptake.

We prepared line-patterned hydrophobic surfaces using fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS) then investigated the effect of line direction on sliding behavior of water droplets by direct observation of the actual droplet motion during sliding. Water droplets slide down with a periodic large deformation of the contact line and sliding velocity fluctuation that occurred when they crossed over the 500-μm ODS line regions in FAS regions on a Si surface tilted at 35°. These behaviors are less marked for motion on a 100-μm line surface, or on lines oriented parallel to the slope direction. Smaller droplets slide down with greater displacement in the line direction on 500-μm line patterning when the lines were rotated at 13° in-plane for the slope direction. This sliding behavior depended on the droplet size and rotation angle, and is accountable by the balance between gravitational and retentive forces.

Mesoporous silicas (MesoPSs) were hydrothermally synthesized from calcined and selectively acid-leached kaolinites with a range of crystallinity, using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTABr), to investigate the effect of the kaolinite crystallinity on the porous properties of the resulting MesoPSs. Four kaolinites were used, with Hinckley indices ranging from 0.51 to 1.20 and (001) crystallite sizes ranging from 20 to 37 nm. After calcination at 600 °C for 24 h they were selectively leached with 2.5 M H2SO4 at 90 °C for 2 h to prepare microporous silica (MicroPSs). The Si/Al ratios of these MicroPSs varied from 21 to 82 and their specific surface areas (SBET) ranged from 169 to 370 m2/g, these parameters tending to increase with decreasing Hinckley index of the kaolinite. MesoPSs were synthesized by reacting the resulting MicroPSs with CTABr in NaOH solution under hydrothermal conditions. The MicroPS was mixed with CTABr, NaOH and water in the molar ratio (MicroPS):CTABr:NaOH:H2O = 1:0.1:0.3:150. The synthesis was carried out by stirring the suspension at room temperature for 24 h, aging for 24 h, hydrothermal treatment at 110 °C for 24 h and calcination at 560 °C for 6 h to remove the surfactants. The SBET values of the resulting MesoPSs ranged from 932 to 1240 m2/g, correlating with the SBET values of the precursor MicroPS and the crystallinity of the kaolinite starting materials.

The microbial retardation of the spin adduct, DMPO-OH, formed in a copper(II)–hydrogen peroxide–DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) solution was examined in relation to copper biosorption. A hydroxyl radical is formed in the solution through two steps, the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by H2O2 and the Fenton-type reaction of Cu(I) with H2O2. The resultant radical is trapped by DMPO to form DMPO-OH. Microbial cells retarded the DMPO-OH in the Cu(II)–H2O2–DMPO far more significantly than in the UV-irradiated H2O2–DMPO solution. Egg albumin showed a higher DMPO-OH retardation than microbial cells both in the Cu(II)–H2O2–DMPO and the UV-irradiated H2O2–DMPO solutions. These results indicated that the retardation effect is related to organic matter and not to microbial activity. Microorganisms having higher affinities for copper ion retarded DMPO-OH more significantly. The linear relationship between the amounts of copper biosorption and the inverse of the median inhibitory doses for DMPO-OH indicated that the microbial cells inhibited the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by H2O2, followed by the decrease of hydroxyl radical formation and the retardation of DMPO-OH. These results also suggest that the coupling between microbial cells and Cu(II) ion can be estimated from their ability to retard DMPO-OH.

Mesoporous silicas were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of selectively acid-treated saponite (an ideal structural formula: Na(1/3)Mg(3)(Si(11/3)Al(1/3))O(10)(OH)(2)), having a 2:1 type layered structure as the silica source and its porous properties were examined and compared with that from kaolinite (an ideal structural formula: Al(2)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4)), having a 1:1 type layered structure. Synthetic saponite was selectively leached in H(2)SO(4) solutions with various concentrations (0.05-1 M) at 70 degrees C for 0.5 h. The resulting products (precursors) were mixed with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr), NaOH and H(2)O, hydrothermally treated at 110 degrees C and removed the CTABr by calcining at 560 degrees C. A hexagonal mesoporous phase was obtained with higher Si/(Al(+Mg)) ratios of the resulting precursors. The XRD patterns of these products show the peaks assigned by a hexagonal lattice with a(0)=4.0-4.6 nm and the crystallinity becomes higher with higher Si/(Al(+Mg)) ratios of the precursors. The specific surface area (S(BET)) values of the present mesoporous silicas range from 800 to 1100 m(2)/g at CTABr/precursor=0.1 and although they are not as high as those from precursors prepared from calcining and acid-treatment of kaolinite (1420 m(2)/g), they are increased to 1400-1500 m(2)/g by increasing the ratio CTABr/precursor 0.2. The reason for the difference in the optimum preparation conditions between saponite and kaolinite may be attributed to the difference in the linkage of the SiO(4) tetrahedra in these precursors (i.e. layered or framework structures), which result in great differences in the selective leaching rates and structures of the resulting silica-rich products.

The pathological mechanisms of various CNS diseases are closely related to glutamate neuronal excitotoxicity following NMDA receptor activation. To verify this relationship, in vivo microdialysis in the hippocampus of rats was applied to ESR spectroscopy during NMDA perfusion. Microdialysis co-perfusion of 0.1 mM NMDA dissolved in 150 mM POBN for 60 min revealed six-line carbon-centered radical ESR spectra. The hfc values were a N = 15.7 G and a H β = 2.5 G, corresponding to the values produced from the generation of lipid radicals. The antioxidant activity during the freely moving state was examined utilizing the principle that systemically applied nitroxide radicals are reduced and lose their paramagnetism by antioxidant activity in the brain. ESR analysis of sequential changes in the signal amplitude of nitroxide radicals in both the NMDA group and the control group revealed an exponential decay. The half-life of the nitroxide radical was significantly longer in the NMDA group than in the control group. The homeostasis of a steady redox balance was destroyed by acute NMDA infusion, which resulted in the generation of lipid radicals and the reduction of antioxidant ability in the hippocampus. The redox imbalance induced by the activation of NMDA-R was recovered by the inhibition of PLA 2 and NOS. These results indicated that NMDA-R activation caused the shift to oxidized condition of the redox state, which subsequently leads to neuron death in the hippocampus in the model of glutamate-associated neuronal disease.

The mechanism of drain current collapse in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) was investigated. Current collapse was clearly observed for TiO2 passivated HEMTs. However, no evidence of current collapse was apparent for SiNx passivated HEMTs. This suggests that AlGaN surface traps play a major role in current collapse. The experimental results were compared with numerical device simulation results. The device simulations were performed taking into account hot electron generation and deep traps at the AlGaN surface. The simulated drain current transients were consistent with the degradation and recovery behavior of the experimental results. These results indicate that current collapse is caused by the trapping of hot electrons in deep levels at the AlGaN surface.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is emerging as an important modulator of the function of the central nervous system (CNS). We have demonstrated that TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile, a TNF-alpha inducer, inhibits methamphetamine-induced rewarding effects and sensitization. In this study, we investigated the effects of TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile on morphine (MOR)-induced rewarding effects and sensitization.Levels of TNF-alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Effects of TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile on MOR-induced rewarding effects and sensitization were investigated by conditioned place preference and locomotor activity tests. Extracellular dopamine levels were examined using in vivo microdialysis. Effects of TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile on MOR-induced antinociceptive effect and withdrawal symptoms were examined by hot plate test and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal.Morphine induced TNF-alpha mRNA expression via dopamine and opioid receptors. Posttreatment with TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile attenuated the MOR-induced place preference and sensitization even after their development, as well as pretreatment with TNF-alpha or Leu-Ile blocked them. An inhibitory effect of Leu-Ile on MOR-induced place preference was not observed in TNF-alpha knockout mice. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha or Leu-Ile inhibited the increase in extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens induced by repeated MOR treatment.These results suggest that TNF-alpha inhibits MOR-induced rewarding effect and sensitization by regulating extracellular dopamine levels, and Leu-Ile inhibits them via the induction of TNF-alpha.

Photocatalyst materials were prepared as a hybrid between TiO2 /SiO2 via low temperature hydrothermal method (150oC) without further heat treatment. Porous silica from rice husk ash was used as a support for fine TiO2 particles which acted as a photocatalyst when radiated with a UV light. TiO2-deposited SiO2 was successfully prepared through hydrolysis of TiOSO4 solution by controlling synthesis parameters such as pH ,concentration of TiOSO4, temperature and time under hydrothermal treatment. The obtained products were characterized for physical and chemical properties by means of XRD, XRF, BET and TEM . It was found that pH had an influence on the crystallization of TiO2, and under an appropriated pH, only anatase presented along with amorphous phase. High crystallinity of nano-crystalline anatase ( about 5 nm) deposited on silica surface was observed through TEM. Adsorption and photocatalytic performances of the prepared catalyst were evaluated in methylene blue aqueous solution in the dark and under ultraviolet ray irradiation, respectively. Due to the synergetic functions of adsorption by porous substrate and decomposition by TiO2 photocatalyst, an enhancing of photocatalytic activity for decomposition of organic pollutants in water under UV rays was obtained.

Smooth (Ra approximately 0.1 nm) and rough (Ra approximately 20 nm) coatings of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (FAS-17) were prepared by controlling process conditions. The water contact angles for the smooth and rough coatings were similar (107 degrees and 110 degrees, respectively), but their sliding angles differed considerably (10 degrees and 27 degrees, respectively). The surface potential on the smooth coating, assessed using Kelvin force microscopy, showed a sharp distribution, but that on the rough coating ranged widely, implying large chemical heterogeneity including residual SiOH groups. The freezing temperature of a supercooled water droplet on the rough coating was higher than that on the smooth coating.

For this study, we evaluated photoinduced surface roughness variation of polycrystalline anatase thin films under different atmospheres using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A TiO 2 thin film with large grains was prepared using the sol–gel process and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation before firing. Upon UV illumination, the surface image became blurred with an apparent surface roughness increase in ambient air. The appearance of this image change was delayed in dry air, and was not observed in dry nitrogen. These results imply that this photoinduced surface change is related to water adsorption from the atmosphere.

A novel FP structure, namely the floating field plate (FFP), is proposed to obtain a high breakdown voltage (VB) in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The FFP is characterized by electrically floating metals that are placed between the gate and drain electrodes beside a conventional field plate (FP). An optimization procedure for the FFP structure using an analytical model was investigated. Our numerical simulations yielded a VB value for the optimized FFP-HEMTs of more than 2 kV, which is twice that of a conventional FP-HEMT. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We used western blotting to measure the quantity of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters proteins within hippocampal tissue obtained from rats who had undergone epileptogenesis. Chronic seizures were induced by amygdalar injection of FeCl(3). We found that the glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT-1 were down-regulated at 60 days after initiation of chronic and recurrent seizures. However, the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC-1 and the GABA transporter GAT-3 were increased. We performed in vivo microdialysis in freely moving animals to estimate in vivo redox state. We found that the hippocampal tissues were oxidized, resulting in even further impairment of glutamate transport. Our data show that epileptogenesis in rats resulting in chronic and recurrent seizures is associated with collapse of glutamate regulation caused by both the molecular down-regulation of glial glutamate transporters combined with the functional failure due to oxidation.

Glass-ceramics were prepared from sludge generated in a water purification process. The main constituents of this sludge were SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 , with considerable amounts of Fe 2 O 3 and MnO also present. The batch composition of the parent glass was adjusted to be close to the composition of the eutectic point in the CaO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 system by mixing the sludge with CaCO 3 and waste soda-lime glass. The samples were melted at 1300 °C for 2 h and quenched in water. The resulting glass cullet was ground to 850 °C, forming gehlenite (Ca 2 Al 2 SiO 7 ) and wollastonite (CaSiO 3 ) above 900–950 °C. The color of the sample changed from black to yellow-brown upon crystallization. The average four-point bending strength and Vickers microhardness of the glass-ceramics heated at 1000 °C (99 MPa and 5.2 GPa) was comparable with the values of commercial glass-ceramics. The chemical durability in acid and alkali solutions was 17.7 and 0.23 mg/cm 2 , respectively, showing excellent durability in alkali solution.

A complementary study of hydroxyl radical formation in the depleted uranium (DU)-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system and the effect of biosubstances on the system were examined using the spin-trapping method. Hydroxyl radical was formed in the uranyl ion (UO22+), 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mixture solution. The pseudo first order rate constants of DMPO-OH formation were estimated to be 0.033 s−1 for UO22+-H2O2-DMPO solution and 0.153 s−1 for UO2+-H2O2-DMPO solution. The obtained results indicated that the hydroxyl radical formation in the UO22+-H2O2 solution could be described as a stepwise reaction process including the reduction of UO22+ to UO22+ by H2O2 and the Fenton-type reaction of UO2+ with H2O2. Biosubstances, such as proteins, amino acids and saccharides, decreased the DMPO-OH formation, which was caused by the direct hydroxyl radical scavenging and the suppression of hydroxyl radical formation by coupling with uranyl ion.

Tannin, which contains polyhydroxy groups, has a high affinity for uranium. Various tannin–protein complexes were prepared to develop new adsorbents for uranium recovery from seawater. Albumin tannate has a high ability to adsorb uranium from seawater. Tannin was immobilized on matrices which have multiple active amino groups, such as aminopolystyrene and poly(vinyl-4,6-diamino-s-triazine)—poly VT. Of these complexes, tannin immobilized on poly VT adsorbed uranium most efficiently from seawater and highly selectively from a solution containing various heavy metals; the uranium adsorption was very rapid and was pH dependent. This adsorbent therefore appears to have potential for use in a commercial process for uranium recovery from seawater or from uranium-containing waste water.

We investigated the gate-length dependence of room-temperature DC operation in submicron-gate AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs). The threshold voltage was reduced by the short-channel effect, which is only dependent on the aspect ratio of the gate length to the barrier-layer thickness. On the other hand, the transconductance was restricted by the source resistance, and was dependent on not only the gate length LG but also the source?gate length LSG. The transconductance was increased by reducing LSG rather than LG in the submicron-gate HEMTs.

The uranium adsorbing abilities of various biopigments were investigated. Extremely high adsorption capacities for uranium were found in melanin and bioflavonols (quercetin and morin) having chelating positions with uranium. As a step towards improving the adsorption characteristics of the bioflavonols, quercetin and morin were immobilized on both Bemberg rayon fiber and polyaminostyrene, and the basic features of uranium adsorption by the immobilized bioflavonols were studied. The bioflavonols immobilized on Bemberg rayon fiber have a highly selective capacity adsorb uranium. Uranium recovery from seawater by the immobilized bioflavonols was markedly affected by the pH value of the seawater, and the uptake at pH 8, which is the pH value of natural seawater, was difficult. However, this adsorbent can accumulate large amounts of uranium from non-saline water. Thus it can be used to remove and recover uranium from uranium refining waste water and other waste sources.

Tannin, which is a ubiquitous and inexpensive material, was immobilized on agarose gel to produce an excellent adsorbent for uranium recovery from seawater. Optimal conditions for the immobilization of tannin on agarose gel by both the epichlorohydrin and cyanuric chloride coupling procedures were examined in detail. The resulting immobilized tannin has a highly selective ability to adsorb uranium and applicability in both column and batch systems. This adsorbent can recover uranium from natural seawater with high efficiency. The maximum adsorption capacities were 1850 μg uranium g−1 adsorbent for the tannin immobilized on agarose gel by the epichlorohydrin coupling procedure and 1062 μg g−1 adsorbent for that produced by the cyanuric chloride coupling procedure.

Various polymer esters were screened to determine which adsorb uranium the best. Polyvinyl polyacrylate adsorbed uranium extremely well and its behaviour was investigated in detail. Polyvinyl polyacrylate can selectively accumulate uranium from a solution containing various heavy metals. The uptake of uranium is very rapid and is markedly affected by pH, but not by the co-existence of the carbonate ion. As it can adsorb uranium in the pH region 4 to 7, it can be used to remove and recover uranium from uranium refining waste water. It can recover uranium almost completely from solution at pH 6 and almost all uranium adsorbed is desorbed easily with 0.1 M HCl. Thus, polyvinyl polyacrylate can be used repeatedly in adsorption-desorption process.

Background There are few efficacious medications for drug dependence. We investigated the potential of Leu-Ile, which induces the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as a novel therapeutic agent for methamphetamine (METH)-induced dependence. Methods The levels of GDNF and TNF-α messenger RNA (mRNA) were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme immunoassays and immunohistochemistry were employed to determine levels of these proteins. Effects of Leu-Ile on METH-induced rewarding effects and sensitization were investigated with conditioned place preference and locomotor activity tests. Extracellular dopamine (DA) levels and DA uptake into synaptosomes were examined with an in vivo microdialysis and trititated thymidine ([ 3 H]) DA uptake assay. Results Leu-Ile induced the expression of not only GDNF but also TNF-α. Pretreatment with Leu-Ile blocked the acquisition of METH-induced place preference and sensitization. Interestingly, post-treatment with Leu-Ile attenuated them even after their development. An inhibitory effect of Leu-Ile on METH-induced place preference was observed in neither GDNF heterozygous nor TNF-α knockout mice. Leu-Ile inhibited DA release in the nucleus accumbens and the decrease in synaptosomal DA uptake in the midbrain induced by repeated METH treatment. Conclusions These results suggest that Leu-Ile inhibits METH-induced rewarding effects and sensitization by regulating extracellular DA levels via the induction of GDNF and TNF-α expression.

We have attempted to explore the neuroprotective effectiveness of PBT by measuring anti-oxidant ability in the hippocampus of rats in a freely moving state. Anti-oxidant ability was examined utilizing the principle that blood–brain barrier-permeable nitroxide radicals (PCAM) injected i.p. lose their paramagnetism in an exponential decay correlated with anti-oxidant ability in the brain. The half-life of PCAM was used as the indicator of the hippocampal anti-oxidant ability. While the half-life was statistically prolonged when infused with 0.1 mM NMDA without PBT, the half-life was almost the same as in the control when infused with NMDA under anesthesia with PBT. In addition, the half-life under only PBT anesthesia was the shortest of all the groups. Our findings, therefore, suggested that PBT anesthesia not only suppresses NMDA-R activated free radical generation but also synergistically enhances the increased basal endogenous anti-oxidant ability in the hippocampus.

Study design Morphologic analysis was performed by 3-dimensional (3D) CT in 75 patients with congenital scoliosis exhibiting formation failure. Objectives The objectives of this study were to conduct 3D analysis of the morphology of spinal malformation and to elucidate the association between malformed vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae. Summary of background data The morphology of spinal malformation has conventionally been evaluated by plain radiograph radiography. Although the usefulness of 3D CT has recently been reported, these reports have only demonstrated that this technique allows more detailed evaluation than plain radiography. Methods We examined the morphology of the posterior components in spinal malformation of formation failure and evaluated the association between the anterior and posterior components by 3D CT. We clarified the morphologic variations of the posterior components in spinal malformation by dividing 75 cases of formation failure into solitary and multiple numbers of malformed vertebrae and into simple and complex modes of malformation between anterior and posterior components. Results Thirty-three patients exhibited a single malformed vertebra in the entire spine (solitary malformation group), while the other 42 had multiple malformed vertebrae (total, 102 malformed vertebrae: multiple malformation group). The multiple malformation group consisted of 26 patients (57 malformed vertebrae) in whom the cause of scoliosis could be explained separately for each of the malformed vertebrae and 16 patients (45 malformed vertebrae) in whom the structure was complicated and the cause of scoliosis could not be explained for each of the malformed vertebra. Conclusion There were morphologic variations of the posterior components of malformed vertebrae. A completely new complex malformation in which the mechanism of formation failure may differ from the conventionally proposed mechanisms was also found.

Recent studies have indicated that learning-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is required for consolidation of the resultant learning. These findings raise an idea that control of ERK signaling may be a potential target for treatment of cognitive dysfunction. Our recent studies have demonstrated that nobiletin, a polymethoxylated flavone from Citrus depressa, enhances cAMP/protein kinase A/ERK signaling in cultured rat hippocampal neurons and PC12D cells. Here, we, for the first time, present the evidence that this natural compound reverses learning impairment associated with NMDA receptor antagonism by activation of ERK in the hippocampus. Treatment with 50 mg/kg nobiletin reversed the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine maleate)-induced learning impairment in mice. Western blot analysis also showed that nobiletin reversed MK-801-induced inhibition of learning-associated ERK activation in the hippocampus of the animals. Furthermore, consistent with these results, in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, nobiletin restored MK-801-induced impairment of NMDA-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, the present study suggests that compounds that activate ERK signaling improve cognitive deficits associated with NMDA receptor hypofunction and that nobiletin may give us a new insight into therapeutic drug development for neurological disorders exhibiting cognitive impairment accompanied by a hypofunction of NMDA receptor-ERK signaling.

Mixing bioactive ceramic powders with polymers is an effective method for generating bioactivity to the polymer-matrix composites but it is necessary to incorporate up to 40 vol% of bioactive ceramic powder. However, such a high mixing ratio offsets the advantages of the flexibility and formability of polymer matrix and it would be highly advantageous to lower the mixing ratio. Since surface loading of ceramic powders in the polymer is thought to be an effective way of reducing the mixing ratio of the ceramic powder while maintaining bioactive activity, CaSiO(3)/poly-lactic acid (PLA) composites were prepared by three methods; (1) casting, (2) spin coating and (3) hot pressing. In methods (1) and (2), a suspension was prepared by dissolving PLA in chloroform and dispersing CaSiO(3) powder in it. The suspension was cast and dried to form a film in the case of method (1) while it was spin-coated on a PLA substrate in method (2). In method (3), CaSiO(3) powder was surface loaded on to a PLA substrate by hot-pressing. The bioactivity of these samples was investigated in vitro using simulated body fluid (SBF). Apatite formation was not observed in the samples prepared by method (1) but some apatite formation was achieved by mixing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the PLA, producing a porous polymer matrix. In method (2), apatite was clearly observed after soaking for 7 days. Enhanced apatite formation was observed in method (3), the thickness of the resulting apatite layers becoming about 20 microm after soaking for 14 days. Since the amount of CaSiO(3) powder used in these samples was onlyor =0.4 vol%, it is concluded that this preparation method is very effective in generating bioactivity in polymer-matrix composites by loading with only very small amounts of ceramic powder.

The molecular regulation of palatogenesis continues to be an active area of investigation to provide a foundation for understanding the molecular etiology of cleft palate. Transforming growth factor (TGF) -β type III receptor (TβR-III) has been shown to be specifically expressed in the medial edge epithelium at critical stages of palatal shelf adherence during palatogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine TβR-III mRNA localization and expression levels in vivo and to determine the requirement for TβR-III expression during palatal fusion in vitro. TβR-III gene expression was analyzed by in situ hybridization in tissue specimens and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using specific cells in the palatal shelf isolated by laser capture microdissection. TβR-III was knocked down in embryonic day (E) 13 palatal shelves in organ culture. Palatal shelf organ cultures were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) at final concentrations of 300, 400, and 500 nM, respectively. The treatment with siRNA specific for TβR-III decreased the amount of protein by approximately 75%. The reduction in TβR-III resulted in a delay in the process of palatal fusion compared with control. The protein expression of phospho-Smad2 was decreased in the TβR-III siRNA group. In addition, palatal organ cultures treated with TβR-III siRNA + rhTGF-β3 completely fused by 72 hr in vitro. These results support our hypothesis that TβR-III has a critical role in the process of palatal fusion. Developmental Dynamics 236:791–801, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of TiO 2 powder addition on sonochemical destruction of 1,4-dioxane in water were investigated through comparison of a SiO 2 powder that had similar specific surface area. Results show that addition of TiO 2 is more effective for decomposition of 1,4-dioxane in water than addition of SiO 2 . The contribution of photocatalytic destruction through sonoluminescence is not a dominant mechanism for acceleration of sonochemical reactions by adding TiO 2 . Sonication of TiO 2 -added water generated thermally excited holes in this case. Moreover, intrinsic oxygen vacancies in TiO 2 surface play an important role in achieving high decomposition efficiency by producing cavitation. The addition of reduced TiO 2 powder increases both the ultrasonication energy that is consumed in water and the destruction efficiency of 1,4-dioxane.