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Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were recently shown to modulate the development and functions of immune-related cells. However, the molecular mechanisms by which SCFAs regulate mast cells (MCs) are not fully understood. We found that the oral administration of valerate or butyrate ameliorated passive systemic anaphylaxis in mice. Butyrate and valerate suppressed the IgE-mediated degranulation of bone marrow-derived MCs, which were eliminated by pertussis toxin and by the knockdown ofGpr109a. A treatment with trichostatin A suppressed IgE-mediated MC activation and reduced the surface expression level of FcεRI on MCs. Acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin attenuated the suppressive effects of SCFAs on degranulation. The degranulation degree was significantly decreased by the treatment with PGE2whose release from MCs was markedly enhanced by SCFAs. The SCFA-mediated amelioration of anaphylaxis was exacerbated by COX inhibitors and an EP3 antagonist. The administration of niacin, a ligand of GPR109A, alleviated the symptoms of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, which was inhibited by COX inhibitors and the EP3 antagonist.Key MessagesShort chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate and valerate, suppress the IgE-mediated activation of mast cells (MCs)in vivoandin vitro.SCFAs enhance the release of PGE2from MCs, which inhibits the IgE-mediated activation of MCs.Niacin, a ligand of GPR109A, ameliorates IgE-dependent anaphylaxis.The administration of COX inhibitors or an antagonist of PGE2receptor 3 (EP3) inhibited the suppressive effects of butyrate and niacin on IgE-dependent anaphylaxis.

Mouse mast cell proteases (mMCP)-1 and -2 are specifically expressed in mucosal mast cells (MCs). However, the transcriptional regulation mechanism of the Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 genes induced in mucosal MCs is largely unknown. In the current study, we found that TGF-β stimulation drastically induced upregulation of Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 mRNA in mouse bone marrow–derived MCs (BMMCs). TGF-β–induced expression of Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 was markedly suppressed by transfection with small interfering RNA targeting Smad2 or Smad4 and moderately reduced by Smad3 small interfering RNA. We next examined the roles of the hematopoietic cell–specific transcription factors GATA1 and GATA2 in the expression of Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 and demonstrated that knockdown of GATA1 and GATA2 reduced the mRNA levels of Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 in BMMCs. The recruitment of GATA2 and acetylation of histone H4 of the highly conserved GATA–Smad motifs, which were localized in the distal regions of the Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 genes, were markedly increased by TGF-β stimulation, whereas the level of GATA2 binding to the proximal GATA motif was not affected by TGF-β. A reporter assay showed that TGF-β stimulation upregulated GATA2-mediated transactivation activity in a GATA–Smad motif-dependent manner. We also observed that GATA2 and Smad4 interacted in TGF-β–stimulated BMMCs via immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analysis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TGF-β induced mMCP-1 and -2 expression by accelerating the recruitment of GATA2 to the proximal regions of the Mcpt1 and Mcpt2 genes in mucosal MCs.

IntroductionNeonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important illness associated with death or cerebral palsy. This study aims to assess the safety and tolerability of the allogenic human multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring cell (Muse cell)-based product (CL2020) cells in newborns with HIE. This is the first clinical trial of CL2020 cells in neonates.Methods and analysisThis is a single-centre, open-label, dose-escalation study enrolling up to 12 patients. Neonates with HIE who receive a course of therapeutic hypothermia therapy, which cools to a body temperature of 33°C–34°C for 72 hours, will be included in this study. A single intravenous injection of CL2020 cells will be administered between 5 and 14 days of age. Subjects in the low-dose and high-dose cohorts will receive 1.5 and 15 million cells per dose, respectively. The primary outcome is the occurrence of any adverse events within 12 weeks after administration. The main secondary outcome is the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition score and the developmental quotient per the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001 at 78 weeks.Ethics and disseminationThis study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice. The Nagoya University Hospital Institutional Review Board (No. 312005) approved this study on 13 November 2019. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journal and reported in international conferences.Trial registration numbersNCT04261335, jRCT2043190112.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy cause maternal organ damage. Therefore, appropriate management with antihypertensive medication is required from the first trimester. We aimed to clarify the antihypertensive drug prescription trends in pregnant women with hypertension in Japan. The administrative data of pregnant outpatients aged 16-49 years who visited acute hospitals between 2013 and 2020 were included. The annual antihypertensive drug prescription trends were evaluated based on their prescription proportions. The most prescribed drug in 2020 was nifedipine, followed by methyldopa and amlodipine. The proportion of nifedipine prescriptions significantly increased from 33.5 to 40.8% during the study period, whereas that of methyldopa significantly decreased from 16.6 to 11.6%. There was no change in the prescription trend of amlodipine. Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers were the most commonly prescribed drug for pregnant women with hypertension.

The temporal trends in prescribing anti-seizure medicines (ASMs) for pregnant women with epilepsy are unclear. In this study, we investigated the trends in ASM prescriptions in pregnant Japanese women with epilepsy.Administrative data (as of December 2021), pertaining to Japanese pregnant outpatient women with epilepsy, aged 16-49 years, who visited hospitals between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 were included in the study. Annual prescription trends in ASMs during this period were calculated based on the proportions. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate the proportion of prescriptions for each ASM.The numbers of pregnant women with epilepsy were 404, 421, 368, 378, 386 for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. As of 2020, levetiracetam had the highest proportion of prescriptions, followed by lamotrigine and valproic acid. From 2016 to 2020, the proportions of levetiracetam and lamotrigine prescribed for pregnant women with epilepsy have increased significantly from 19.1% to 30.8% and from 12.1% to 18.4%, respectively. In contrast, there was no temporal change in the proportion of valproic acid prescribed, which was 12.4% in 2016 and 10.1% in 2020.Our findings suggest that the trends in the prescription of ASMs in Japanese pregnant women outpatients with epilepsy have shifted toward ASMs with a lower teratogenic risk.

Mast cells (MCs) play a central role in IgE-dependent immune responses. PPARγ is a nuclear receptor that is essential for adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. Although PPARγ is expressed in activated MCs, the effect of PPARγ suppression in IgE-mediated activation of MCs is largely unknown. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of PPARγ knockdown on the function of IgE plus antigen (Ag)-stimulated MCs using siRNA-transfected bone marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs). We found that the mRNA expression level of cytokines in IgE/Ag-stimulated BMMCs was significantly increased in PPARγ knockdown BMMCs, and IgE/Ag-mediated degranulation and the protein production level of TNF-α was moderately increased by PPARγ knockdown, whereas the cell surface expression level of FcεRI was not affected by PPARγ knockdown. Oral administration of pioglitazone (PPARγ agonist) significantly suppressed body temperature change of mice in passive systemic anaphylaxis, supporting the inhibitory functions of PPARγ in IgE/Ag-dependent activation of MCs in vivo. IgE-mediated up-regulation of mRNA levels of Ptgs2 (encoding COX-2) was drastically enhanced in PPARγ knockdown BMMCs. Although several prostaglandin (PG) derivatives are known to be ligands for PPARγ, treatment with a COX inhibitor, acetyl salicylic acid, up-regulated the IgE-mediated increase of Il13, Tnf and Ptgs2 mRNA levels in a synergistic manner with PPARγ siRNA. Knockdown of COX-1 and/or COX-2 by siRNA showed that suppression of IgE/Ag-mediated activation was mainly dependent on COX-1. Taken together, these results indicate that PPARγ suppresses IgE/Ag-induced transactivation of cytokine genes and the Ptgs2 gene in MCs in a manner distinguishable from that of PGs.

The current periodic table does not necessarily have a clear position for transition elements. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to use the basic principle discovered by Mendeleev as it is and to create a periodic ta ble with consistency for transition elements. By setting some hypotheses, it was found that transition elements also have regular periodicity, so we succeeded in clarifying the energy level of electrons in each orbit. In addition, by utilizing its periodic ity, the electron configuration for each orbit was predicted for unknown elements. In this paper, we did not take the conventional idea of electron orbitals, that is, the idea of forming a hybrid orbital, but assumed a new orbital.Since the state in which electrons fit in orbits and stabilize is defined as an octet, this idea was used as the basic principle in this paper, but the hypothesis that "there are only three orbits in each shell" was established and verified.The calculatio n of the energy level of the electrons on the orbit became extremely easy, and the order of each orbit could be clarified. It was also found that the three dimensional structure of the molecule may be visualizedby paying attention to the valence electrons of the outermost shell of the element and the octet of the stability condition. Therefore, in this paper, by slightly expanding the structural formula of Kekulé, it became possible to easily determine whether or not the molecule synthesized by the became possible to easily determine whether or not the molecule synthesized by the bond bebond between elements is stable.tween elements is stable. In addition, it has become possible to predict the three In addition, it has become possible to predict the three--dimensional structure of the dimensional structure of the molecule as well.molecule as well. Furthermore, not only will it be easier for students studying chemistry to understand Furthermore, not only will it be easier for students studying chemistry to understand complex chemical reactions, but it will complex chemical reactions, but it will also be useful for researchers in the development also be useful for researchers in the development and research of new drugs.and research of new drugs.

Highlights • We investigated trends in ASM prescriptions with children in Japan during 2013–2019. • Valproic acid, carbamazepine, and levetiracetam were most commonly prescribed. • A decline in valproic acid and carbamazepine prescriptions was observed. • An increase in levetiracetam prescriptions was observed. • ASM prescription in Japan has shifted toward the use of recently available ASMs., Temporal trends in prescriptions of anti-seizure medicines (ASMs) for children, including newer ASMs, are unclear. We investigated ASM prescription trends for pediatric outpatients in Japan. The MDV analyzer® was used to analyze the MDV database containing de-identified hospital administrative data. Administrative data as of June 2021 including pediatric outpatients (0–17 years) with epilepsy, visiting 123 acute diagnostic procedure combination hospitals during 2013–2019, were used. Annual ASMs prescription trends were calculated, based on proportions. The Cochran–Armitage trend test evaluated the proportion of prescriptions for each ASM. ASMs most often prescribed were valproic acid, carbamazepine, and levetiracetam, regardless of sex. In girls, the proportion of valproic acid and carbamazepine prescriptions decreased from 37.93% to 26.84%, and from 24.80% to 15.78%, respectively (p

We aimed to clarify the prescription trend of ADHD drugs in Japanese pediatric outpatients. From January 2012 to December 2018, we evaluated the trends of prescribing methylphenidate-osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system (OROS), atomoxetine, and guanfacine as monotherapy. In boys, methylphenidate-OROS and atomoxetine prescriptions decreased from 46.5 % to 37.2 % and 18.6 % to 15.6 %, respectively. Prescriptions of guanfacine increased from 0.0 % to 12.3 %. In girls, the methylphenidate-OROS prescriptions was not significantly different (37.0 % to 26.4 %); however, atomoxetine decreased from 23.1 % to 16.3 %, and guanfacine increased from 0.0 % to 12.8 %. Methylphenidate-OROS and atomoxetine prescriptions changed to guanfacine between 2012 and 2018.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in protection of cells from electrophile-induced toxicity through up-regulating phase II detoxifying enzymes and phase III transporters. We previously reported that oxidative stress induces up-regulation of interleukin-11 (IL-11), a member of the IL-6 family that ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity. However, a role for IL-11 in protection of cells from electrophile-induced toxicity remains unclear. Here we show that an environmental electrophile, 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), but not 15d-prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2) or tert-butylhydroxyquinone (tBHQ), induced IL-11 production. Consistent with a crucial role for prolonged ERK activation in H2O2-induced IL-11 production, 1,2-NQ, but not 15d-PGJ2 or tBHQ, elicited prolonged ERK activation. Conversely, inhibition of the ERK pathway by a MEK inhibitor completely blocked 1,2-NQ-induced IL-11 production at both protein and mRNA levels, further substantiating an intimate cross-talk between ERK activation and 1,2-NQ-induced IL-11 production. Promoter analysis of the Il11 gene revealed that two AP-1 sites were essential for 1,2-NQ-induced promoter activities. Among various members of the AP-1 family, Fra-1 was up-regulated by 1,2-NQ, and its up-regulation was blocked by a MEK inhibitor. Although NRF2 was not required for H2O2-induced IL11 up-regulation, NRF2 was essential for 1,2-NQ-induced IL11 up-regulation by increasing Fra-1 proteins possibly through promoting mRNA translation of FOSL1. Finally, intraperitoneal administration of 1,2-NQ induced body weight loss in wild-type mice, which was further exacerbated in Il11ra1−/− mice compared with Il11ra1+/− mice. Together, both Fra-1 and NRF2 play crucial roles in IL-11 production that protects cells from 1,2-NQ intestinal toxicity.

Necroptosis is a regulated form of necrosis that depends on receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). While danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP)s are involved in various pathological conditions and released from dead cells, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we develop a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensor, termed SMART (a sensor for MLKL activation by RIPK3 based on FRET). SMART is composed of a fragment of MLKL and monitors necroptosis, but not apoptosis or necrosis. Mechanistically, SMART monitors plasma membrane translocation of oligomerized MLKL, which is induced by RIPK3 or mutational activation. SMART in combination with imaging of the release of nuclear DAMPs and Live-Cell Imaging for Secretion activity (LCI-S) reveals two different modes of the release of High Mobility Group Box 1 from necroptotic cells. Thus, SMART and LCI-S uncover novel regulation of the release of DAMPs during necroptosis., Necroptotic cells activate MLKL and release inflammatory DAMPs, although the underlying regulatory mechanisms of this process are poorly understood. Here, Murai et al. develop a necroptosis-specific FRET sensor (SMART) that monitors MLKL membrane translocation to identify two modes of DAMP release.

Background The indications for ductus arteriosus ligation in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) with persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are unclear. Increased left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) is commonly found in patients with PDA. Here, the enlargement of LVDd in term and preterm neonates without congenital heart disease was estimated by two-dimensional echocardiography. Methods The value of the measured LVDd was divided by the normal LVDd as an index (LVDd ratio) to compare 30 patients who underwent PDA ligation with 30 patients treated with indomethacin and 30 patients who did not undergo radical therapy. Results An LVDd ratio between 122% and 197% (mean, 142%) was considered to be an indication for the ligation procedure. The proportion of patients exceeding 130% in the LVDd ratio was 87% (26/30) in those patients who underwent ligation. Catecholamines and/or vasodilators were required in 83% patients for the treatment of low ejection fraction or hypertension after operations, suggesting that patients had been in preload and/or afterload remodeling failure during the operation. The percentage of patients with less than 115% in the LVDd ratio was 90% in the non-radical-therapy patients. The LVDd ratios of 130% and 115% were regarded as cut-off values for surgical ligation and indomethacin treatment. Conclusion The LVDd ratio is a useful measure to determine the treatment of VLBWIs with PDA.

Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) is a very rare syndrome characterized by vertebral malformation and rib deformity. Some of the patients with SCD have other birth defects in the central nervous system, the genitourinary tract, diaphragm or heart and so forth. There have been reported SCD with complex congenital heart disease, such as pulmonary atresia, double outlet right ventricle, and d-transposition of great arteries. However, there have been no reported SCD patients with confirmed tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Here, a patient with SCD having a very rare combination of rib defects on the right side and left-sided scoliosis, tetralogy of Fallot, and diaphragmatic spleen herniation, which had not been reported before, was described.

Background A delicate balance between cell death and keratinocyte proliferation is crucial for normal skin development. Previous studies have reported that cellular FLICE (FADD-like ICE)-inhibitory protein plays a crucial role in prevention of keratinocytes from TNF-α–dependent apoptosis and blocking of dermatitis. However, a role for cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein in TNF-α–independent cell death remains unclear. Objective We investigated contribution of TNF-α–dependent and TNF-α–independent signals to the development of dermatitis in epidermis-specific Cflar -deficient (Cflar E-KO ) mice. Methods We examined the histology and expression of epidermal differentiation markers and inflammatory cytokines in the skin of Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a +/− and Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice. Mice were treated with neutralizing antibodies against Fas ligand and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand to block TNF-α–independent cell death of Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice. Results Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice were born but experienced severe dermatitis and succumbed soon after birth. Cflar E-KO ;Tnfrsf1a +/− mice exhibited embryonic lethality caused by massive keratinocyte apoptosis. Although keratinocytes from Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice still died of apoptosis, neutralizing antibodies against Fas ligand and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand substantially prolonged survival of Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice. Expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as Il6 and Il17a was increased; conversely, expression of epidermal differentiation markers was severely downregulated in the skin of Cflar E-KO ; Tnfrsf1a −/− mice. Treatment of primary keratinocytes with IL-6 and, to a lesser extent, IL-17A suppressed expression of epidermal differentiation markers. Conclusion TNF receptor superfamily 1 (TNFR1)–dependent or TNFR1-independent apoptosis of keratinocytes promotes inflammatory cytokine production, which subsequently blocks epidermal differentiation. Thus blockade of both TNFR1-dependent and TNFR1-independent cell death might be an alternative strategy to treat skin diseases when treatment with anti–TNF-α antibody alone is not sufficient.

The cofactor CIITA is a master regulator of MHC class II expression and several transcription factors regulating the cell type-specific expression of CIITA have been identified. Although the MHC class II expression in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) is also mediated by CIITA, the transcription factors involved in the CIITA expression in pDCs are largely unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the role of a hematopoietic lineage-specific transcription factor, PU.1, in CIITA transcription in pDCs. The introduction of PU.1 siRNA into mouse pDCs and a human pDC cell line, CAL-1, reduced the mRNA levels of MHC class II and CIITA. When the binding of PU.1 to the 3rd promoter of CIITA (pIII) in CAL-1 and mouse pDCs was analyzed by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, a significant amount of PU.1 binding to the pIII was detected, which was definitely decreased in PU.1 siRNA-transfected cells. Reporter assays showed that PU.1 knockdown reduced the pIII promoter activity and that three Ets-motifs in the human pIII promoter were candidates of cis-enhancing elements. By electrophoretic mobility shift assays, it was confirmed that two Ets-motifs, GGAA (-181/-178) and AGAA (-114/-111), among three candidates, were directly bound with PU.1. When mouse pDCs and CAL-1 cells were stimulated by GM-CSF, mRNA levels of PU.1, pIII-driven CIITA, total CIITA, MHC class II, and the amount of PU.1 binding to pIII were significantly increased. The GM-CSF-mediated up-regulation of these mRNAs was canceled in PU.1 siRNA-introduced cells. Taking these results together, we conclude that PU.1 transactivates the pIII through direct binding to Ets-motifs in the promoter in pDCs.

Fast Breeder Reactor had been interested to be developed over the world because it inexhaustible source energy, one of those is CANDLE reactor which is have strategy in burn-up scheme, need not control roads for control burn-up, have a constant core characteristics during energy production and don’t need fuel shuffling. The calculation was made by basic reactor analysis which use Sodium coolant geometry core parameter as a reference core to study on minimum core reactor radius of CANDLE for long life Pb-Bi cooled, also want to perform pure coolant effect comparison between LBE and sodium in a same geometry design. The result show that the minimum core radius of Lead Bismuth cooled CANDLE is 100 cm and 500 MWth thermal output. Lead-Bismuth coolant for CANDLE reactor enable to reduce much reactor size and have a better void coefficient than Sodium cooled as the most coolant for FBR, then we will have a good point in safety analysis.

Several methods for evaluating left ventricular stroke volume (SV) in neonates using echocardiography have been reported. However, no studies on methodologic comparison of SV with three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography are available. This is the first detailed report on a methodologic comparison of SV in the early neonatal period. The study group included 70 normal neonates (35 boys and 35 girls). An iE33 echocardiograph and Q-LAB supplied by Philips Electronics were used to examine and calculate volumes. Comparisons of SV were performed using Teichholz (T), the velocity time integral (VTI), Pombo (P), modified Simpson (MS), and 3D methods with normal neonates who had no persistent ductus arteriosus less than 7 days after birth. The mean SVs were 33.7 mL/m(2) (T), 30.6 mL/m(2) (VTI), 22.0 mL/m(2) (P), 17.5 mL/m(2) (3D), and 14.9 mL/m(2) (MS) using Haycock's formula of body surface area. The stroke volumes differed significantly depending on the different methods. The correlation coefficient was highest between the MS and 3D methods. The SVs of the T and VTI methods were significantly greater than those previously reported, and it seemed inappropriate to evaluate volumes in neonates. The 3D and MS methods were appropriate for measuring SV in neonates during the early neonatal period.

Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) is a very rare syndrome characterized by vertebral malformation and rib deformity. Some of the patients with SCD have other birth defects in the central nervous system, the genitourinary tract, diaphragm or heart and so forth. There have been reported SCD with complex congenital heart disease, such as pulmonary atresia, double outlet right ventricle, and d-transposition of great arteries. However, there have been no reported SCD patients with confirmed tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Here, a patient with SCD having a very rare combination of rib defects on the right side and left-sided scoliosis, tetralogy of Fallot, and diaphragmatic spleen herniation, which had not been reported before, was described.

Demetalation of three synthetic zinc cyclic tetrapyrroles that possess identical peripheral substituents, zinc methyl bacteriopyropheophorbide a (zinc bacteriochlorin 1), zinc methyl 3-devinyl-3-acetyl-pyropheophorbide a (zinc chlorin 2), and zinc methyl 3-devinyl-3-acetyl-protopyropheophorbide a (zinc porphyrin 3), was kinetically analyzed under acidic conditions to examine the effects of macrocyclic structures on demetalation without peripheral substitution effects. Zinc bacteriochlorin 1 exhibited much slower demetalation kinetics than zinc chlorin 2 and zinc porphyrin 3. These results indicate that the bacteriochlorin skeleton provides significant resistance to the removal of the central metal from the tetrapyrrole ligand. Comparison of demetalation kinetics of 3-acetyl zinc complexes 2 and 3 with that of 3-vinyl zinc complexes under the same reaction condition demonstrated that the relative ratio (5.0 × 10(-2)) of the demetalation rate constant of the 3-acetyl zinc chlorin 2 to that of the corresponding 3-vinyl zinc chlorin 4 resembled the case of the 3-acetyl zinc porphyrin 3 to the 3-vinyl zinc porphyrin 5 (the relative ratio was 6.8 × 10(-2)). These suggest that the electron-withdrawing 3-acetyl group slows down the demetalation from the tetrapyrrole ligands more than the 3-vinyl group and that the 3-acetyl effect is analogous in both chlorin and porphyrin π-systems.

Audible sound with a low-frequency vibration brings about hydrodynamic alignment of a supramolecular nanofiber in solution. Design of the nanoscale molecules and molecular assemblies, which can sense a wide range of frequencies of the audible sound wave with high sensitivity, develops sound-driven molecular machines and sound-responsive nanomaterials, and is also interesting for investigation of unknown physical interactions between the molecules and audible sound vibrations. In this study, it was found that a supramolecular nanofiber, composed of an anthracene derivative AN, in an n-hexane solution aligned upon exposure to an audible sound wave at frequencies up to 1000 Hz, with quick responses to the sound and silence, and to amplitude and frequency changes of the sound wave. These properties are of great advantage to sense dynamic changes of fluid flows, such as those induced by the sound of music. Music is composed of multiple complex sounds and silence, which characteristically change in the course of its playing time. When classical music was playing, the AN nanofiber aligned itself in harmony with the sound of the music. Time course linear dichroism spectroscopy revealed the dynamic acoustic alignments of the AN nanofiber in the solution upon playing the music. The sound vibrations of music, which generate acoustic streaming flows in liquid media, allowed shear-induced alignments of the nanofiber.

This paper discusses results of a computer simulation study of chlorine and alkali dose control in water purification plants. The authors have developed a computer program to acquire an understanding of unwelcome events in water purification plant such as sudden increases of chlorine consuming substances (ex. ammonia) and frequent changes of buffer capacity of raw water. The performance of chlorine and alkali dose control during unwelcome events was simulated by computer. These experiments provided useful insight concerning unwelcome events. The results of experiments indicate that computer simulation is a useful tool for water quality management, and is capable of improving the method of chemical dose control in water purification plants.

There is an increasingly strong demand for acquiring understanding about changes in water qualities that are occurring in tap water distribution systems. An attempt at dynamic water quality modeling, in which a water quality model was combined with a hydraulic model for water distribution system, is described in this paper. The model was applied to an old city distribution system that has been expanded successively over a long period of time, and includes many rural satellite areas. Residual chlorine concentrations were predicted with this model, water flow times from point to point. and pressures at individual nodes as well as at end nodes. Several simulation experiments were conducted to analyze the ability to control supplied water chlorine concentrations in such a manner as to prohibit unnecessarily strong levels, suggesting the necessity to install chlorine feed equipment in some satellite zones.

Mathematical modelization for the addition of chemicals in water filtration plant is attempted. A new model of coagulation process is developed by simulating the jar-test results, which compute optimal dosages as a function of input variables, i.e., temperature, turbidity, PH-value and alkalinity of feed waters. In-situ performance of this model gives promise of successful computer control of coagulant, acid and base.