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Please see the Editorial Comment by Brian M. Haas discussing this article. BACKGROUND. Acute exacerbation (AE) is a life-threatening complication of inter-stitial pneumonia (IP). Thoracic surgery m...

An unusually large thermopower (S) enhancement is induced by heterostructuring thin films of the strongly correlated electron oxide LaNiO3. The phonon-drag effect, which is not observed in bulk LaNiO3, enhances S for thin films compressively strained by LaAlO3 substrates. By a reduction in the layer thickness down to three unit cells and subsequent LaAlO3 surface termination, a 10 times S enhancement over the bulk value is observed due to large phonon drag S (Sg), and the Sg contribution to the total S occurs over a much wider temperature range up to 220 K. The Sg enhancement originates from the coupling of lattice vibration to the d electrons with large effective mass in the compressively strained ultrathin LaNiO3, and the electron-phonon interaction is largely enhanced by the phonon leakage from the LaAlO3 substrate and the capping layer. The transition-metal oxide heterostructures emerge as a new playground to manipulate electronic and phononic properties in the quest for high-performance thermoelectrics.

This paper considers ergodic, continuous-time Markov chains $\{X(t)\}_{t \in (\!-\infty,\infty)}$ on $\mathbb{Z}^+=\{0,1,\ldots\}$ . For an arbitrarily fixed $N \in \mathbb{Z}^+$ , we study the conditional stationary distribution $\boldsymbol{\pi}(N)$ given the Markov chain being in $\{0,1,\ldots,N\}$ . We first characterize $\boldsymbol{\pi}(N)$ via systems of linear inequalities and identify simplices that contain $\boldsymbol{\pi}(N)$ , by examining the $(N+1) \times (N+1)$ northwest corner block of the infinitesimal generator $\textbf{\textit{Q}}$ and the subset of the first $N+1$ states whose members are directly reachable from at least one state in $\{N+1,N+2,\ldots\}$ . These results are closely related to the augmented truncation approximation (ATA), and we provide some practical implications for the ATA. Next we consider an extension of the above results, using the $(K+1) \times (K+1)$ ( $K > N$ ) northwest corner block of $\textbf{\textit{Q}}$ and the subset of the first $K+1$ states whose members are directly reachable from at least one state in $\{K+1,K+2,\ldots\}$ . Furthermore, we introduce new state transition structures called (K, N)-skip-free sets, using which we obtain the minimum convex polytope that contains $\boldsymbol{\pi}(N)$ .

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) with cerebral vasculitis is rare, and its prognosis is unfavorable. High-dose glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide are widely used for the treatment of NPSLE, but cyclophosphamide has a risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and ovarian insufficiency, which may discourage its use in young women. We experienced a case of NPSLE with cerebral vasculitis and lupus nephritis that responded successfully to glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF might be a treatment option for NPSLE without concern for reproductive toxicity. However, there are only a few reports on the efficacy of MMF in NPSLE, and further investigations are needed.

A 61-year-old woman with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) and interstitial pneumonia (IP) was admitted to our hospital. She complained of sicca symptoms, polyarthralgia, and swollen joints. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjogren's syndrome. Methotrexate and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy were not utilized because of the inclusion of severe respiratory disorders among the complications and the neurological symptoms of HAM/TSP. Tocilizumab monotherapy improved the RA disease activity without exacerbating HAM/TSP. The present case suggests that tocilizumab might be a suitable treatment option in patients with RA and HAM/TSP.

Objectives We aimed to assess the clinical features of human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of HTLV-1 infection on incidences of serious infections requiring hospitalisation (SIH) and malignancies. Methods A total of 150 sex- and age-matched HTLV-1-negative and 50 HTLV-1-positive RA patients were enrolled from the HTLV-1 RA Miyazaki Cohort Study. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from this cohort database. The incidence rate (IR) for SIH and malignancies from 2015 to 2020 was analysed. Results The median age and female ratio in the study population were 70 years old and 80%, respectively. Although no differences were found in inflammatory marker values between the two groups, the patient global assessment and Health Assessment Questionnaire scores were higher in HTLV-1-positive RA patients. In HTLV-1-negative RA patients, the IR for SIH was 6.37/100 person-years (PY) and 1.32/100 PY for malignancies. In HTLV-1-positive RA patients, SIH occurred in 11.1/100 PY and malignancies in 2.46/100 PY. The crude IR ratio comparing SIH between two groups was 1.74 (95% confidence interval, 1.04–2.84), which was a significant increase. Conclusions HTLV-1-positive RA patients may worsen RA symptoms. HTLV-1 may be a risk factor for SIH.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tickborne infectious disease in China, Korea, and Japan caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS has a high mortality rate due to multiorgan failure. Recently, there are several reports on SFTS patients with mycosis. Here, we report a middle-aged Japanese SFTS patient with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) revealed by an autopsy. A 61-year-old man with hypertension working in forestry was bitten by a tick and developed fever, diarrhea, and anorexia in 2 days. On day 4, consciousness disorder was appearing, and the patient was transferred to the University of Miyazaki Hospital. A blood test showed leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, as well as elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase. The SFTSV gene was detected in serum using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. On day 5, respiratory failure appeared and progressed rapidly, and on day 7, the patient died. An autopsy was performed that revealed hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and bleeding of several organs. IPA was observed in lung specimens. SFTSV infection may be a risk factor for developing IPA. Early diagnosis and treatment of IPA may be important in patients with SFTS.

BACKGROUND:CD4-positive T cells are the main target of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Interferon-γ release assays rely on the fact that T-lymphocytes release this cytokine when exposed to tuberculosis-specific antigens and are useful in testing for latent tuberculosis infection before initiating biologic therapy, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. However, the reliability of interferon-γ release assays in detecting tuberculosis infection among HTLV-1-positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of the T-SPOT.TB assay in HTLV-1-positive RA patients. METHODS:Overall, 29 HTLV-1-positive RA patients and 87 age- and sex-matched HTLV-1-negative RA patients (controls) were included from the HTLV-1 RA Miyazaki Cohort Study. Results of the T-SPOT.TB assay for latent tuberculosis infection screening were collected from medical records of patients. RESULTS:Approximately 55% of the HTLV-1-positive RA patients showed invalid T-SPOT.TB assay results (odds ratio: 108, 95% confidence interval: 13.1-890, p < 0.0001) owing to a spot count of >10 in the negative controls. HTLV-1 proviral load values were significantly higher in patients with invalid results compared with those without invalid results (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION:HTLV-1 infection affects T-SPOT.TB assay results in RA patients. Assay results in HTLV-1 endemic regions should be interpreted with caution when screening for latent tuberculosis infection before initiation of biologic therapy.

This paper considers the computation of the conditional stationary distribution in Markov chains of level-dependent M/G/1-type, given that the level is not greater than a predefined thresho...

We propose a novel annealing technique in order to improve the dark characteristics for CMOS image sensor without deteriorating the transistor characteristics. Microwave annealing (MWA) has been studied as an alternative annealing technique for diffusion-less dopant activation and implantation damage recovery in advanced CMOS technology. We employed MWA technique in order to recover crystalline defects in CMOS image sensor (CIS) process. We demonstrate that MWA can be implemented a low thermal budget to obtain the effect of repairing the ion-implantation damage equivalent to conventional furnace annealing (FA). MWA can repair the process damage without transistor performance degradation by additional thermal treatment. MWA is promising technique for repairing crystalline defects in high performance image sensing devices with high frame rate, low power and excellent dark characteristics..

Background Autoantibodies (abs) directed against Ro52/TRIM21 are common in systemic sclerosis (SSc) but their clinical significance remains uncertain. Some reports suggested that anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-positive SSc patients present interstitial lung disorders (SSc-ILD). However, it is not clear whether positive for anti-Ro52/TRIM21 related to other clinical manifestations in patients with SSc. Objectives The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs in patients with SSc. Then, we investigated the clinical manifestations between anti-Ro52/TRIM2 abs-positive and negative patients with SSc. Methods This study is a retrospective case control study. The medical records of 42 patients who were diagnosed as having SSc admitted to our hospital were reviewed. We evaluated the clinical manifestations at the first-onset of SSc such as Rodnan skin score, digital ulcer, abnormal subcutaneous calcification, esophageal reflux, pulmonary hypertension, myositis and arthralgia. Co-existing rheumatic diseases were also reviewed such as Sjogren syndrome (SjS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and polymyositis. All subjects underwent SSc –associated abs testing using EUROLINE immunoblot assay. The autoantibodies include anti-Scl-70, anti-centromere A and B (CENP-A, CENP-B), anti-RNA polymerase III (RP-11, RP-155), anti-fibrillarin (U3RNP), anti- 90-kd nucleolar protein (NOR-90), anti-Th/To, anti-PM/Scl-100, anti-PM/Scl-75, anti-Ku, anti-platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and tripartite motif–containing protein 21(Ro-52). The association between clinical features and autoantibody profile was evaluated. Diagnosis of ILD was evaluated by chest high-resolution CT (HRCT). Results Thirty-five patients with SSc are female (87%). Twenty-one and nineteen patients with SSc are positive and negative for anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs, respectively (47 v.s 52%). There is no difference in population of diffuse type of SSc between anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-positive and negative SSc patients. In addition, the prevalence of ILD is not different between two groups (57 v.s 52%, p=0.76). The prevalence of SjS is tended to be higher in anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-positive SSc patients than in negative SSc patients (68 v.s 33%, p=0.05). Unexpectedly, 57% of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-negative SSc patients present poly-arthralgia at the onset of SSc. In addition, there were not any complications such as osteoarthritis and RA in anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-negative SSc patients. The prevalence of arthralgia was higher in anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-negative SSc patients than in positive SSc patients (p=0.02). Conclusions The prevalence of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs in SSc patients of this study seems to be high compared to other reports. In addition, there seems to be no difference in the prevalence of ILD regardless of existence of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs in SSc patients. Anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-negative SSc patients were tended to present poly-arthralgia. This musculoskeletal disorder of anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs-negative SSc patients may be not associated with other rheumatic diseases such as SjS and RA in this study. It is necessary the large number study to clarify whether anti-Ro52/TRIM21 abs involve in the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal disorders in patients with SSc. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The quality of communication between a teacher and students is deeply related to the cultivation of students’ motivation, autonomy, and creativity in a university education. It is important to evaluate such communication and improve it to enhance faculty development. In this study, a system for measuring this communication has been developed. To implement the system, an application for measuring students’ body movements using the acceleration sensor of a smartphone was developed. At the same time, a server-side web system that visualizes the measured data was developed. Using this measurement system, the communication in a seminar of a university laboratory was measured. The results show that the activities of a presenter and audience can be clearly detected by the raw and frequency-analyzed accelerometer data. Moreover, the correlation between the sonograms of the presenter and of the audience members became stronger when they had constructive discussion. These results suggest that the synchronization between a presenter and the audience is related to their level of rapport.

To date, few studies have examined uric acid in saliva or dental calculus. The purpose of this study is to examine the uric acid concentration in saliva and serum. Saliva and blood samples were collected from 244 participants. We divided them into four groups: untreated or treated group in normal or abnormal serum uric acid concentration groups. Within the untreated group, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between salivary and serum uric acid concentrations. We compared uric acid concentrations between saliva and serum, or between untreated and treated groups using the paired or unpaired student’s t-test. In the untreated group, uric acid concentrations in saliva and serum were significantly and positively correlated (r = 0.503, P < 0.01). Within the untreated group, those with abnormal serum uric acid concentrations had significantly higher uric acid concentrations in serum and saliva compared to those with normal serum uric acid concentrations (P < 0.01). Within the untreated group, uric acid concentrations in serum were significantly higher than that in saliva (P < 0.01). Uric acid concentrations in saliva of the treated group were significantly higher than that of the untreated group (P < 0.01). Within the treated group, uric acid concentrations in saliva were significantly higher than that of serum, particularly in users of benzbromarone (P < 0.01). Uric acid concentrations in saliva were lower than that in serum among non-users of benzbromarone. In contrast, uric acid concentrations in saliva of patients taking benzbromarone were higher than that in serum. We surmise that URAT1 may influence uric acid excretion in the salivary gland.

自立性，希釈抵抗と充填性に優れた可塑状グラウトが，建設工事における空洞充填工事で実用化されている．充填範囲，充填圧といった施工仕様の検討にあたっては，実施事例，実験的検討に基づく知見に加え，理論的，数値解析的検討が有効と考えられる．本論文では，可塑状グラウトの流動挙動に適した数値流体解析手法を提案し，その適用性を検討した．静置状態や一様流動状況に対しては，数値解析結果と理論値の比較を通し手法の妥当性を確認した．また，充填試験のシミュレーションでは，解析結果が充填状況や充填圧を精度よく表現できること，及びセメントの水和反応の影響を念頭に置いたレオロジー変化を導入することで，実測に見られた注入圧～注入量の関係をうまく説明できることを示した．

Hachi-mi-jio-gan extract (Harncare®; HE), a galenical produced from the traditional Chinese herbal mixture Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan, has been reported to improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients. The present study was undertaken to clarify the pharmacological effects of HE on smooth muscle contraction and on pharmacologically relevant (muscarinic, 1,4-DHP and purinergic) receptors in the rat bladder. Additionally, the effects of repeated oral treatment with HE on the hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and on blood biochemical values in rats were examined. HE (10 mg/ml) inhibited significantly the acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated rat bladder strips. The pD2 value in the absence and presence of HE (10 mg/ml) was 5.14±0.16 and 3.99±0.17, respectively. HE (0.1 to 10 mg/ml) inhibited the specific binding of [N-methyl-3H]scopolamine methyl chloride ([3H]NMS), (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 and αβ-methylene ATP [2,8-3H]tetrasodium salt ([3H]αβ-MeATP) in the rat bladder in a concentration-dependent manner. The respective IC50 values were 6.85±0.94, 7.08±0.72 and 1.34±0.23 mg/ml. Based on IC50 values, the binding activity of HE for purinergic receptors was shown to be significantly (about 7 times) greater than that for muscarinic and 1,4-DHP receptors. Repeated oral administration of HE (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks had little or no effect on the level and activity of hepatic CYP or on blood biochemical values in rats. In conclusion, the present study has shown that HE exerts significant binding activity for pharmacologically relevant receptors in the rat bladder and a relaxant effect on the acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated muscle strips. HE seemed to exhibit little pharmacokinetic interaction with drugs.

We propose a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based method to ensure both robustness to variations in facial pose and real-time processing. Although the robustness of CNNs has attracted attention in various fields, the training process suffers from difficulties in parameter setting and the manner in which training samples are provided. We demonstrate a manner of providing samples that results in a better network. We consider four methods: 1) subset with augmentation, 2) random selection, 3) fixed-person subset, and 4) the conventional approach. Experimental results indicate that the subset with augmentation technique has sufficient variations and quantity to obtain the best performance. Our CNN-based method is robust under facial pose variations, and achieves better performance. In addition, since our networks structure is simple, processing takes approximately 10ms for one face on a standard CPU.

The characteristics of leakage current observed in the pixels of pinned photodiode CMOS image sensor with negative transfer-gate bias operation are investigated, taking metal contamination into account. Simulation results show that interface states between insulator and the pinned layer in the vicinity of transfer gate, acting as hole traps, are responsible for negative transfer-gate bias dependence of the dark current.

This paper aims to describe a framework implementing Multi-Class Support Vector Machine (MCSVM)-based motion intention recognition. To this end, we primarily constructed a wearable exoskeleton robot of lower body (TTI-Exo) which is employed as the experimentation platform to test the proposed method of motion intention recognition based on MCSVM and the assist effectiveness as well. Experiments of stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand movements were carried out to test the MCSVM method and TTI-Exo's motion assist. Having disclosed prototype development, experimental results are presented. We verified that our proposed method based on MCSVM obtained a better recognition accuracy than a conventional method based on threshold values. Muscle activities when subjects wearing TTI-Exo were much smaller than when subjects not wearing the exoskeleton, thus implying the assist efficacy of our power assist system.

Person identification is one of the most important problems fo highly advanced present computer system for its security. It is absolutely necessary to keep off trespassers at the computer room. the materials room. etc.. Fingerprint is usually used for gate security because it has the highest reliability for personal identification. but it has fear to infringe on privacy. In this paper, a new gate security method using the length of joints of hand fingers is proposed and the result of fundamental experiment using 50 person's data is shown. Since these features have not so high reliability as fingerprint. it has little faer to infringe on privacy. This method consists of two ways. that is. the first is identification by similarity degree, second is identification by Euclid distance. From the result of the experiment. it can be said that the probability of keeping off the trespassers is 84.2 (%) when the proposed method is used for gate security. If the method is used together with an ID card and a password. very high reliability can be obtained.

Hachi-mi-jio-gan extract (Harncare; HE), a galenical produced from the traditional Chinese herbal mixture Ba-Wei-Die-Huang-Wan, has been reported to improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients. The present study was undertaken to clarify the pharmacological effects of HE on smooth muscle contraction and on pharmacologically relevant (muscarinic, 1,4-DHP and purinergic) receptors in the rat bladder. Additionally, the effects of repeated oral treatment with HE on the hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and on blood biochemical values in rats were examined. HE (10 mg/ml) inhibited significantly the acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated rat bladder strips. The pD(2) value in the absence and presence of HE (10 mg/ml) was 5.14+/-0.16 and 3.99+/-0.17, respectively. HE (0.1 to 10 mg/ml) inhibited the specific binding of [N-methyl-(3)H]scopolamine methyl chloride ([(3)H]NMS), (+)-[(3)H]PN 200-110 and alphabeta-methylene ATP [2,8-(3)H]tetrasodium salt ([(3)H]alphabeta-MeATP) in the rat bladder in a concentration-dependent manner. The respective IC(50) values were 6.85+/-0.94, 7.08+/-0.72 and 1.34+/-0.23 mg/ml. Based on IC(50) values, the binding activity of HE for purinergic receptors was shown to be significantly (about 7 times) greater than that for muscarinic and 1,4-DHP receptors. Repeated oral administration of HE (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks had little or no effect on the level and activity of hepatic CYP or on blood biochemical values in rats. In conclusion, the present study has shown that HE exerts significant binding activity for pharmacologically relevant receptors in the rat bladder and a relaxant effect on the acetylcholine-induced contraction of isolated muscle strips. HE seemed to exhibit little pharmacokinetic interaction with drugs.

We present a development of a high image quality color VGA CMOS image sensor with 4-micron pixel pitch, especially focusing on reduction of image lag. In order to eliminate image lag, improvement of charge transfer efficiency from photodiode (PD) to floating diffusion (FD) is a key point. We implemented two novel techniques for this purpose. The first technical point is an optimum design of pixel layout, which provides both high fill factor and a large channel width of transfer gate transistor (TG). We achieved both high fill factor of 42% without microlens and large TG channel width of 1.79um, which is 2.4 times larger than the minimum channel width allowed by design rule. The second technical point is a new device structure of TG by a novel Boron implantation process. This brings a wide path of charge transfer from PD to FD. High-quality images with low image lag, less than 0.75%, were obtained. Moreover, we also achieved a CMOS image sensor with high-temperature operability. In order to stabilize an adequate black level, we developed a new scheme of a black level control that adjusts offset voltages of amplifiers with feedback signal from analog-digital converter (ADC). An adequate black level was realized up to 100 degrees centigrade for a 5.6-micron pitch monochrome CIF sensor.

A copolymer having reactive primary amino groups was synthesized by the copolymerization of styrene and N-methyl-N-(4-vinylphenethyl)ethylenediamine (1). Polymerization of N-carboxy amino acid anhydrides (NCA's) of L-alanine, γ-benzyl-L-glutamate, or β-benzyl-L-aspartate was initiated by the primary amino groups of this copolymer to give a novel polyvinyl-polyamino acid graft copolymer.

A flat-panel display control IC with 150-V drivers is realized in high-voltage analog/digital IC technology utilizing a low-cost p-n junction isolation process. An improved semiwell isolation structure that has an epitaxial layer of two different thicknesses is used. In order to achieve high-voltage push-pull operation, totem-pole-type output circuits are formed in the structure's thick, high-resistivity epitaxial area. A compact complementary transistor logic circuit is successfully integrated in the n-wells of the structure's thin epitaxial area to meet the high-speed requirement for control logic. A stacked circuit is used to reduce the standby power needs of the logic circuits.

This paper describes a novel IC structure and its fabrication process for 150V high voltage consumer ICs. A color TV vertical deflection output IC which operates with a transformerless voltage source has been developed.

This paper reports capless annealing of Cd-implanted GaAs performed using a halogen and a mercury lamp, which emit infrared and ultraviolet rays, respectively. Sheet carrier concentrations depended on annealing time and the lamps. At the beginning of annealing, the implanted Cd was lost to a greater extent on the samples annealed by the mercury lamp than on the samples annealed by the halogen lamp. GaAs surfaces decomposed during prolonged annealing using both lamps. The carrier concentration with annealing was suppressed by the thermal decomposition of GaAs.

Some bicyclic ethers containing a cyclopropane ring, i.e., 3-oxabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane derivatives, have been synthesized. Two methods have been used in the syntheses of these compounds. One of them has been the dehydration of cis-1,2-dimethylolcyclopropane derivatives, and the other, the addition of some carbenes to 2,5-dihydrofuran. The Simmons-Smith method has also been adopted. The NMR spectra of these bicyclic ethers have been examined. The types of their spectra are fairly simple. The chemical shifts and the coupling constant of some protons have also been measured. Attempts to polymerize these bicyclic ethers, unfortunately, have been unsuccessful.

1,2-ジビニルシクロプロパン型化合物の合成原料として,1,2-ジアセチルシクロプロパンおよび1,2-シクロプロパンジアルデヒドの合成について検討した。トランス- 1, 2-シクロプロパンジアルデヒドは, トランス- 1 , 2 - シクロプロパンジカルボン酸塩化物を水素化トリ- tert - ブトキシアルミニウムリチウムを用いて還元する方法, あるいはRosenmund 法によって合成した。いずれの方法においても,アルデヒドへの変化率は約50%程度であった。1,2-ジアセチルシクロプロパンの合成については,トランス-1,2-シクロプロパンジカルボニトリル,あるいはトランス-N,N,N',N'-テトラエチル1,2-シクロプロパンジカルボン酸アミドと,グリニャール試薬との反応による方法を試みた。この反応で単離された生成物は, いずれの場合も一方の置換基のみ反応したモノアセチル誘導体であった。また, トランス- 1 , 2 - ジベンゾイルシクロプロパンとWadsworth 試薬との反応生成物は, モノオレフィンのみであることを確認した。

The reactions of cyclohexyl isocyanide with some radical sources, such as perbenzoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, t-butyl perbenzoate, N-nitrosoacetanilide, potassium phenylazoformate and di-t-butyl peroxide, have been studied. The isocyanide does not contribute kinetically to the mechanism of the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide, but the lone pair electrons existing on the carbon atom of isocyanide react very easily with free radicals, especially with acyloxy radicals. In the reaction with benzoyl peroxide, t-butyl perbenzoate or the N-nitrosoacetanilide acyloxy radical chiefly contributes to the reaction. With potassium phenylazoformate, the phenyl radical is the main reacting species. However, in the case of perbenzoic acid, the reaction is heterolytic, and the main product is cyclohexyl isocyanate.

Polyvinyl/polypeptide graft copolymers having microdomain structure on their surfaces were newly synthesized for the development of a specific cell separator, and the adhesion behavior of rat lymphnode lymphocytes with these materials was examined by column method. Morphologic change of lymphocytes adherent to the graft copolymers was found to be less than that of cells adherent to corresponding homopolymers, i.e., polystyrene and poly (gamma-benzyl L-glutamate). Separation of lymphocyte subpopulations (B cell and T cell) was examined in the absence of serum proteins. The adhesion selectivity for B cell was found to depend on the microdomain structure, since the highest value, 2,2, was observed for the graft copolymer with the polypeptide content of 50 wt%. Synthetic polypeptide derivatives may be promising materials which substitute for a conventional system with nylon fiber and fetal calf serum.