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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), originating mainly from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass and the leakage of petroleum products, are hazardous pollutants with adverse carcinogenic and mutagenic potential for marine organisms. The Yangtze River estuarine–inner-shelf area in the East China Sea is one of the largest reservoirs of PAHs and connected with the semi-enclosed Sea of Japan through the shallow, narrow Tsushima Strait. The main sources of PAHs in the Sea of Japan are the East Asian landmass and East China Sea, with the major PAH transport pathways being atmospheric transport of the westerly and northwesterly winter monsoon and marine transport in the Tsushima Warm Current. Investigation of the environmental behavior of PAHs in the Sea of Japan is critical in assessing the ecological risks of PAHs, as the sea is among the most fertile fishing grounds, however, the contributions of surface PAHs transported via atmosphere and ocean current are unclear. This study aimed to elucidate variation factor of dissolved PAHs in the surface Sea of Japan during 2017–2022, and analyzed 1) surface PAH distribution, 2) PAH source, 3) air-sea PAH exchange flux, and 4) ocean current driven PAHs flux through the Tsushima Strait. Surface seawater samples of 10–15 L were collected at 148 sites in the Sea of Japan, and its adjacent seas including the Tsushima Strait and Kuroshio Current area (Sesoko, Okinawa Island) from 2017 to 2022. Particulate and dissolved phases were separated by filtration through 0.5 µm glass fiber filter (GFF), and the latter was concentrated in C18 disks. Particulate and dissolved PAHs were respectively extracted from the GFF and C18 disks with dichloromethane and measured by HPLC system with fluorescence detector. Total concentrations of the 14 dissolved PAHs (Σ14PAHdiss) in the central Sea of Japan were in range 0.26–5.87 ng L−1, with the mean of 3.26±0.36 ng L−1 in 2017, 3.70±1.44 ng L−1 in 2019, 0.51±0.10 ng L−1 in 2020, 1.29±0.53 ng L−1 in 2021, and 0.69±0.35 ng L−1 in 2022. In 2020, although atmospheric PAH deposition flux were increased to 4.0 ton month−1 from 2019 (3.4 ton month −1) at the Sea of Japan, mean Σ14PAHdiss in the surface seawater were parallelly decreased to 0.51 ng L−1 at the central Sea of Japan, 0.86 ng L−1 at the Tsushima Strait, and 0.46 ng L−1 at the Kuroshio Current area. The contribution of PAH-rich and low salinity continental shelf water from the East China Sea in the Tsushima Strait was decreased to 36% in 2020 from 58% in 2019 on the basis of salinity mass-balance and ocean current simulation. Moreover, PAHs inflow flux through the Tsushima Strait were in range 2.2–8.8 ton month−1, and decreased to 2.2 ton month−1 in 2020. Thus, the decrease in surface Σ14PAHdiss levels at the central Sea of Japan in 2020 was mainly caused by the decrease in PAHs flux via the Tsushima Warm Current, which flow into the Sea of Japan from the East China Sea.

Clobetasol propionate ointment (CLP

PurposeThis paper proposes a model for detecting unexpected examination scores based on past scores, current daily efforts and trend in the current score of individual students. The detection is performed soon after the current examination is completed, which helps take immediate action to improve the ability of students before the commencement of daily assessments during the next semester.Design/methodology/approachThe scores of past examinations and current daily assessments are analyzed using a combination of an ANOVA, a principal component analysis and a multiple regression analysis. A case study is conducted using the assessment scores of secondary-level students of an international school in Japan.FindingsThe score for the current examination is predicted based on past scores, current daily efforts and trend in the current score. A lower control limit for detecting unexpected scores is derived based on the predicted score. The actual score, which is below the lower control limit, is recognized as an unexpected score. This case study verifies the effectiveness of the combinatorial usage of data in detecting unexpected scores.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies that utilize attribute and background data to predict student scores, this study utilizes a combination of past examination scores, current daily efforts for related subjects and trend in the current score.

Many failures of wind turbine blades and electrical equipments due to powerful lightning strikes have occurred. The lightning-induced wind turbine failures that have occurred in recent years can be classified into two main categories. The first is a mechanical component failure. The second is a failure or malfunction of electric or electronic equipments inside or around the wind turbine due to an increase in the potential of the wind turbine grounding system or the electromagnetic induction caused by the lightning strike. In the latter case, the equipments often fail owing to the potential increase of the grounding system, the method of suppressing the potential rise by laying a ground wire vertically or horizontally to the wind turbine foundation is adopted. We propose an empirical expression for the effective length of horizontal grounding wires connected to a large grounding electrode such as a wind turbine foundation, and verify the expression using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.

A systematic investigation of the polymerization of representative diphenylacetylenes with TaCl5 and cocatalysts suggested that low-valent Ta species, which are formed by in situ reduction of TaCl5 by the cocatalysts, are involved in the polymerization and that the polymerization reaction proceeds by an insertion ring expansion mechanism via the formation of tantalacyclopentadiene intermediates, rather than the previously considered metathesis mechanism. This polymerization mechanism indicates the production of unprecedented cis-stereoregular cyclic poly(diphenylacetylene)s. Indeed, the possibilities of a cyclic structure and high cis-stereoregularity of the resulting polymers were reasonably supported by the results of their detailed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and NMR analyses, respectively.

Following a rubella outbreak in 2011, Vietnam implemented a mass measles-rubella vaccination campaign for children aged 1–14 years in 2014–2015, further expanding the target age to 16–17 years in 2016; routine vaccination was introduced in 2014. However, there was concern that a substantial proportion of women of child-bearing age were still susceptible to rubella, with the fear of congenital rubella emergence. Thus, we conducted a prospective cohort study in Nha Trang, Vietnam, from 2017–2018 to investigate pregnant women’s susceptibility to rubella infection, the incidence of congenital rubella infection, and factors associated with susceptibility. Cord blood was tested for rubella-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG; neonatal saliva and cord blood specimens were examined for rubella-RNA. We analyzed 2013 mother-baby pairs. No baby was rubella-IgM or rubella-RNA positive. Overall, 20.4% of mothers were seronegative (95% confidence interval, 18.6%–22.1%). The seronegativity was significantly low among mothers aged

Critical chain length that divides small molecule crystallization from macromolecular crystallization is an important index in macro-organic chemistry to predict chain-length dependent properties of oligomers and polymers. However, extensive research on crystallization behavior of individual oligomers has been inhibited by difficulties in their synthesis and crystallization. Here, we report on the determination of critical chain length of macromolecular crystallization for structurally flexible polyketones consisting of 3,3-dimethylpentane-2,4-dione. Discrete polyketone oligomers were synthesized via stepwise elongation up to 20-mer. Powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that the critical chain length for polyketones existed at an unexpectedly short chain length, 5-mer. While shorter oligomers adopted unique conformations and packing structures in the solid state, higher oligomers longer than 4-mer produced helical conformations and similar crystal packing. The critical chain length helped with understanding the inexplicable changes in melting point in the shorter chain length region resulting from chain conformations and packing styles.

金沢大学ナノ生命科学研究所 / 金沢大学理工研究域物質化学系, The self-assembly of organic molecules at the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is a promising process for constructing molecular-scale architectures. However, selectable organic molecules are generally restricted to two-dimensional molecules with planar Ï-conjugated structures and alkyl chains. We herein present the formation of self-assembled monolayers of tetrakis(4-ethynylphenyl)methane (TEPM) having a three-dimensional (3D) tetrapod geometry on HOPG, which was achieved by utilizing a simple spin-coating method. The arrangements of TEPM molecules in the monolayers were investigated using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). The resulting subnanometer-resolution FM-AFM images revealed that the TEPM molecules formed linear rows with a periodicity of 0.85 nm oriented in a parallel configuration but with two alternating intervals of 0.7 and 1.0 nm. Moreover, the TEPM monolayers were classified into two chiral types with a relationship of mutual mirror-image symmetry, according to the observed molecular arrangements. Our results demonstrate the capability of TEPM molecules to act as 3D building blocks for the design of molecular-scale architectures at interfaces. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.

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.

Hydrogen production through the direct electrolysis of seawater is gaining attention as a method for achieving carbon neutrality. The Cl⁻ anion oxidation reaction (COR) in seawater, which occurs at the counter electrode (anode) of hydrogen production and generates active chlorine species with a corrosive nature, should be suppressed as much as possible for hydrogen production and replaced with the oxidation of water, i.e., oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The COR and OER proceed competitively at the anode; however, no studies have separately investigated their behavior in a pH region close to that of seawater. This study uses a simple electrochemical method with a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) to determine the independent behavior of COR and OER with respect to potential and pH in an aqueous NaCl solution, where IrO2 (COR dominant) and MnO2 (OER dominant) are used as catalysts. The results obtained based on the RRDE voltammetry in aqueous NaCl solutions at various pH values were consistent with the COR selectivity determined from product analysis. Thus, the described method will be a valid electrochemical protocol.

Concentrations of 13 phase-partitioned polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater were monitored monthly off Oki Island, Japan, during 2015-2019 to elucidate seasonal variations, main source, and transport pathways of PAHs in the southwestern Sea of Japan. Total PAH (dissolved plus particulate) concentrations in surface seawater at 36°09.0'N, 133°17.3'E (site OK) were in the range 0.49-9.36 ng L

In this paper Pd-catalyzed intramolecular dehydrogenative C(sp3)–H amidation for the synthesis of isoindolinones is described. This method features the use of a Pd/C catalyst and the addition of a stoichiometric amount of oxidant is not necessary. A mechanistic study suggested the possible formation of H2 gas during the reaction.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a family of important drug-metabolizing enzymes, conjugating endogenous and exogenous compounds. Genetic polymorphisms result in the inter-individual variability of GST activity in humans. Especially, human GSTT1 and GSTT2 null alleles are associated with toxicity and various cancers derived from chemicals. Cynomolgus macaque, a nonhuman primate species widely used in drug metabolism studies, has molecular and enzymatic similarities of GSTs to the human orthologs; however, genetic polymorphisms have not been investigated in this species. In this study, resequencing of GSTT1 and GSTT2 in 64 cynomolgus and 32 rhesus macaques found 15 nonsynonymous variants and 1 nonsense variant for GSTT1 and 15 nonsynonymous variants for GSTT2. Some of these GSTT variants were distributed differently in Indochinese and Indonesian cynomolgus macaques and rhesus macaques. For analysis of functional relevance of the GSTT variants, 1-iodohexane and dibromomethane were determined to be suitable substrates for cynomolgus GSTT1 and GSTT2. However, the conjugation activities were roughly correlated with GSTT protein levels immunochemically quantified in cynomolgus liver samples with no statistical significances, implying the contributions of the GST genetic variants. Among the GSTT1 variants identified, the animals carrying R76C and D125G mutations showed lower conjugation activities toward dibromomethane than those of the wild-type in liver cytosolic fractions. Moreover, the recombinant R76C/D125G and D125G GSTT variant proteins showed significantly lower 1-iodohexane or dibromomethane conjugation activities than those of the wild-type protein. Therefore, inter-animal variability of GSTT-dependent drug metabolism is at least partly accounted for by GSTT1 and possibly GSTT2 variants in cynomolgus and rhesus macaques.

Aromatherapy with essential oils is one of the most popular complementary medical tools for improving sleep quality. However, only a few reports have objectively measured the effects of essential oils on sleep. Here, we used objective and subjective measures to analyze the effects of the essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) on the sleep quality of healthy university students. The participants were monitored for 15 consecutive nights as they inhaled lavender oil and sweet orange oil, in a crossover design. Their sleep was monitored objectively by actigraphy, and total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were analyzed. Their sleep was analyzed subjectively using Oguri–Shirakawa–Azumi (OSA) sleep inventory scores. Inhalation of an essential oil improved sleep measures only in participant whose sleep quality was poor in the control condition. Lavender seemed more effective than sweet orange in objective measures, especially in improving sleep latency. In the subjective sleep analysis, the essential oils improved sleep maintenance, dreaming, and sleep length in subjects who had poor sleep quality. Sweet orange seemed more effective than lavender in the subjective sleep measures. The difference between the two oils suggests that expectancy bias had little effect on the hypnotic effect of lavender on objective sleep. Although no obvious effect was observed in good sleepers, the inhalation of lavender oil could be effective for helping poor sleepers improve objective sleep quality., This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Sleep and Biological Rhythms. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-017-0121-y

A facile synthesis of benzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxamides from (ortho-alkynyl)phenyl methoxymethyl sulfides and isocyanates was realized. The method involves a tandem-type, cyclization–addition sequen...

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow. Revised-International Staging System (R-ISS) is generally used as a predictor in newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) since 2015. R-ISS combines ISS with chromosomal abnormalities (CA) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). R-ISS I is defined as ISS I without high risk CA and normal LDH, R-ISS III is defined as ISS III with high risk CA or high level LDH, and R-ISS II includes all of the other possible combinations. Therefore, about 60% of NDMM are classified to R-ISS II. However, MM is a highly heterogeneous disease, so the clinical outcome of MM with R-ISS II also must be heterogeneous. Therefore, factors stratifying the majority of MM is needed. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used inflammatory marker. In particular, highly sensitive (hs) CRP detects lower concentration of CRP as compared with the conventional method, and has been reported to be associated with mortality of lung, breast, and renal cell cancers. In this study, we evaluated the predicting potential of hs-CRP in MM in the novel agent era to see if hs-CRP can develop the stratifying power of R-ISS. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study examined 80 patients with symptomatic NDMM who had been diagnosed at our institution between April 2006 and September 2019. Patients with infection and/or amyloidosis were excluded. Linkable anonymizing data, including age, gender, immunoglobulin type, symptoms, R-ISS, hs-CRP at diagnosis, time to next treatment (TNT) of the initial treatment, and overall survival (OS) were collected. The concentration of hs-CRP was measured by quantitative latex agglutination turbidimetric immunoassay. The lower detection limit of hs-CRP is 0.01 mg/dL, while that of conventional CRP was 0.10 mg/dL. We analyzed these data using the Kaplan-Meier method, Fisher's exact, multivariate cox proportional hazard models, and log-rank test. P-values ≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. This retrospective study was approved by institutional review board in University of Fukui, Japan (No. 20190101). Results: Among 80 patients, 39 (48.8%) were male. Median age at diagnosis was 71 years (range: 36-89 years). IgG, IgA, and BJP types were 56.8%, 25.9%, and 17.3%, respectively. Median follow-up was 29 months (range: 1-120 months). All of the patients were treated with bortezomib and/or lenalidomide-based regimens throughout their clinical courses. R-ISS I, II, and III were 7.3%, 76.4%, and 16.4%, and median OS in patients with R-ISS I, II, and III were unreached, 67, and 15 months, respectively (p0.1 mg/dL, n=38). No significant difference in gender, age, immunoglobulin type was observed between 2 groups according to Fisher's exact test. The levels of hs-CRP appeared to be associated with the presence of bone lesions, not hypercalcemia, renal dysfunction, and anemia. There was not significant correlation between hs-CRP and TNT of the initial treatment, due to the variation of the used regimens. However, Kaplan-Meier curves showed that low hs-CRP group had significantly better OS than high hs-CRP group (64 months vs. 54 months, p=0.0116). Multivariate analysis indicated that both R-ISS (hazard ration (HR), 6.19) and hs-CRP (HR, 7.03) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Moreover, comparing the patients with R-ISS II divided by median hs-CRP, OS was significantly longer in R-ISS II with low hs-CRP than R-ISS II with high hs-CRP (median OS: 81 months vs. 54 months, p=0.0009) (Figure 1). Similarly, in the patients with R-ISS III, OS tended to be longer in low hs-CRP group than high hs-CRP group (median OS: 21 months vs. 5.5 months). All the patients with R-ISS I survived within the follow-up period. Conclusions: Hs-CRP enabled to detect 0.01-0.1 mg/dL, that is not measured by the conventional CRP method. The superiority of hs-CRP contributes to the role as a powerful predictor in MM. The novel staging system that combines hs-CRP and R-ISS may establish better understanding of prognosis in NDMM. Disclosures Yamauchi: Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka: Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria; Abbie: Research Funding; Solasia Pharma: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Astellas: Research Funding.

The common marmoset is an important primate species used in drug metabolism studies. However, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), essential drug-metabolizing enzymes involved in the conjugation of various endogenous and exogenous substrates, have not been identified or characterized in this species. In this study, 20 GSTs [including 3 microsomal GSTs (MGSTs)] were identified and characterized in marmosets. Marmoset GSTs had amino acid sequences highly identical (86-99%) to human GSTs, except for GSTA4L, which had lower identities (59-62%) with human GSTAs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that marmoset GSTs were closely clustered with their human counterparts. Marmoset GSTs had gene and genomic structures generally similar to their human counterparts, with some differences in GSTA, GSTM, and GSTT clusters. Marmoset GST mRNAs exhibited distinct tissue expression patterns: GSTA1, GSTA3, GSTA4L, GSTK1, GSTT1, GSTZ1, and MGST1 mRNAs were expressed most abundantly in liver. Other GST mRNAs were expressed most abundantly in small intestine, lung, brain, or kidney. Expression of GSTT4 and GSTT4L mRNAs was detected only in testis. Among all 20 marmoset GST mRNAs, the most abundant mRNAs were GSTA1 mRNA in liver, small intestine, and kidney; GSTM3 mRNA in testis; and MSGT3 mRNA in brain and lung. All 20 GSTs mediated the conjugation of GST substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane; styrene 7,8-oxide; and/or 1-iodohexane, but with different activity levels. Kinetic analyses showed that marmoset GSTM2/GSTM5 and GSTM5/GSTT1 effectively conjugated styrene 7,8-oxide and 1-iodohexane, respectively, with the highest affinity. These results suggest that the 20 newly identified marmoset GSTs were functional drug-metabolizing enzymes able to conjugate typical GST substrates.

Albumin has reportedly enhanced cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated drug oxidation rates in human liver microsomes. Consequently, measurements of clearances and fractions metabolized could vary depending on the experimental albumin concentrations used. In this study, the oxidation rates of diclofenac and warfarin by human liver microsomes were significantly enhanced in the presence of 0.10% (w/v) bovine serum albumin, whereas those of tolbutamide and phenytoin required 1.0% and 2.0% of albumin for significant enhancement. Values of the fractions metabolized by P450 2C9 for four substrates did not markedly change in the presence of albumin at the above-mentioned concentrations. The oxidation rates of bupropion, omeprazole, chlorzoxazone and phenacetin in human liver microsomes were reportedly enhanced by 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 2% of albumin, respectively. Analysis of reported intrinsic clearance values and suitable albumin concentrations for the currently analyzed substrates and the reported substrates revealed an inverse correlation, with warfarin as an outlier. Suitable albumin concentrations were multivariately correlated with physicochemical properties, that is, the plasma unbound fractions, octanol-water partition coefficient and acid dissociation constant (r = 0.98, p

Tributyltin (TBT), a common organotin environmental pollutant, has been widely used as a component of marine antifouling paints. We previously reported that exposure to TBT inhibits the expression and DNA binding of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and causes neurotoxicity. In the present study, we focused on the epigenetic effects of TBT and investigated whether TBT decreases NRF-1 expression via epigenetic modifications in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. First, we found that exposure to 300 nM TBT decreases NRF-1 expression. We examined epigenetic changes induced by TBT, and showed that TBT causes hypermethylation of the NRF-1 promoter region, increases the amount of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) bound to the NRF-1 promoter, and alters the expression of DNA methyltransferases and ten-eleven translocation (TET) demethylation enzymes. These results suggest that epigenetic changes play an important role in regulation of NRF-1 expression. Next, we investigated effect of NRF-1 expression decrease on cells, and TBT reduces mitochondrial membrane potential and overexpression of NRF-1 rescued this reduction in membrane potential. Thus, we suggested that NRF-1 is important for maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential. Our study indicates that TBT causes epigenetic changes such as hypermethylation, which increases recruitment of MeCP2 to the NRF-1 promoter and probably lead to decreased of NRF-1 expression and mitochondrial membrane potential. Therefore, this research provides new evidence of the epigenetic action caused by organotin.

The composition dependence of gravitational constant $G$ is measured at the millimeter scale to test the weak equivalence principle, which may be violated at short range through new Yukawa interactions such as the dilaton exchange force. A torsion balance on a turning table with two identical tungsten targets surrounded by two different attractor materials (copper and aluminum) is used to measure gravitational torque by means of digital measurements of a position sensor. Values of the ratios $\tilde{G}_{Al-W}/\tilde{G}_{Cu-W} -1$ and $\tilde{G}_{Cu-W}/G_{N} -1$ were $(0.9 \pm 1.1_{\mathrm{sta}} \pm 4.8_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-2}$ and $ (0.2 \pm 0.9_{\mathrm{sta}} \pm 2.1_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-2}$ , respectively; these were obtained at a center to center separation of 1.7 cm and surface to surface separation of 4.5 mm between target and attractor, which is consistent with the universality of $G$. A weak equivalence principle (WEP) violation parameter of $\eta_{Al-Cu}(r\sim 1\: \mathrm{cm})=(0.9 \pm 1.1_{\mathrm{sta}} \pm 4.9_{\mathrm{sys}}) \times 10^{-2} $ at the shortest range of around 1 cm was also obtained., Comment: submitted to Class. Quantum Grav

The MTV (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation) experiment is running at TRIUMF-ISAC (Isotope Separator and ACcelerator), searching for a large T violation in polarized Li-8 beta decay via measurements of the triple vector correlation, R, in the beta decay rate function. The left/right backward scattering asymmetry of Mott scattering from a thin metal foil is measured using an electron tracking detector including a cylindrical drift chamber (CDC). To achieve 10-ppm precision in the Mott scattering asymmetry, we performed multiple studies on the expected systematic effects. The sources of the systematics have been identified and calibration systems have been developed to evaluate the fake effects. The first physics data was collected in 2016 and significantly improved on the result of our previous measurement, which achieved 100-ppm precision in 2010 using the first generation detector (planer drift chamber) at TRIUMF. The data measurement status, together with the results of the systematics studies, is described here. In addition to the T violation, we are preparing to test the Lorentz invariance in the weak sector via our Mott analyzer system. Unexplored Lorentz violating correlations can be tested using the MTV experimental setup. The testing principle and preparation status are also described here.

西宮市災害対策課との官学連携で，武庫川女子大学生活環境学科黒田研究室所属学生8名と有志の学生7名で取り組んだ「津波啓発サイン」のデザインプロセスを報告している。このサイ ンは，450mm角のキューブを5段に積んだ立体サインである。東日本大震災の津波被害を教訓とし，南海トラフ地震が起こった場合，それに伴う津波に備えて，市民の防災意識を喚起し高めていく(啓発する)ことを目的する。大学側は，完全なボラン ティアという立場で取り組んだ。2012年11月，ワークショップという形式で開始し，2013年2月，武庫川女子大学案を西宮市に提出した。しかしながら，それを受けて西宮市が作成した案に，サインとして，情報提供の観点から問題がみられた。そのため，年度を超えて大学側が 継続的に関わることになった。研究室では，問題がみられる理由として，立体であるにもかかわらず，立体としての検討が十分ではないことが原因ではないかと考えた。そこで，西宮市案の原寸模型を作製し，問題解決の方向を検討した。さらに，原寸模型で大学案を作成し，2013年9月に大学側の最終案を西宮市に提出した。ほぼ，最終案にそうデザインで，2014年3月，立体サインが設置された。

A new experiment named MTV-G, probing a large electron spin-precession due to a possible strong gravitational field, which predicted by large extra dimension model, is started at TRIUMF from 2011. In an electron-nuclear scattering experiment, a strong gravitational field is tested as a large spin precession effect caused by geodetic precession predicted by general relativity theory as a result of a warped space-time around nuclei. Experimental design using spin polarized electron source and Mott-spin analyzer, commissioning experiment and the preliminary results are described.

The MTV experiment (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation Experiment) is running from 2009 at TRIUMF, which aims to search a large non-standard T-Violation in polarized nuclear beta decay. Existence of transverse polarization of electrons emitted from polarized 8Li nuclei, which are produced at TRIUMF-ISAC and stopped inside an aluminum stopper, is investigated. We utilize a Mott polarimeter consists of a planer drift chamber, measuring backward scattering left-right asymmetry from a thin lead analyzer foil. In this paper, preliminary results from the first physics run performed in 2010 are described.

Time-resolved luminescent spectra of ionic liquids of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanoaurate ([C4mim][Au(CN)2]) and N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanoaurate ([P14][Au(CN)2]) at different excitation wavelengths (310 and 340nm) were measured using a streak camera. Immediately after photoexcitation, an intense luminescence band appeared at ~380nm that rapidly decayed with a time constant of 31 ps for [C4mim][Au(CN)2] and 71 ps for [P14][Au(CN)2]. With the decay of this band, another luminescent band appeared at ~460nm that slowly decayed (88ns for [C4mim][Au(CN)2] and 1.2μs for [P14][Au(CN)2]). The peak position of this second band shifted to a longer wavelength over time for both ionic liquids. The time profile of the peak showed a multi-exponential decay and depended on the excitation wavelength and the cation species. The peak shift is discussed in terms of the aggregation of anions. The excitation wavelength dependence was supposed to reflect the distribution of the larger oligomer in the ground state and the structural heterogeneity of the ionic liquids. The difference as a result of the cation is discussed in relation to the viscosity and the structure of the ionic liquids.

The MTV (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation Experiment) experiment at TRIUMF-ISAC (Isotope Separator and ACcelerator), which aims to achieve the highest precision test of time reversal symmetry in polarized nuclear beta decay by measuring a triple correlation (R-correlation), is motivated by the search for a new physics beyond the Standard Model. In this experiment, the existence of non-zero transverse electron polarization is examined utilizing the analyzing power of Mott scattering from a thin metal foil. Backward scattering electron tracks are measured using a multi-wire drift chamber for the first time. The MTV experiment was commissioned at ISAC in 2009 using an 80%polarized 8Li beam at 107 pps, resulting in 0.1%statistical precision on the R-parameter in the first physics run performed in 2010. Next generation cylindrical drift chamber (CDC) is now being installed for the future run.

The MTV experiment (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation Experiment) is running at TRIUMF, to search for a large T-violating transverse electron-polarization in polarized 8Li β-decay. We aim at reaching precision of 10−4 for the R-correlation, which is defined as a T-violating triple vector correlation in the β-decay rate function. A Mott polarimeter system using a CDC (Cylindrical Drift Chamber) is used to measure the left-right scattering asymmetry in the Mott scattering from a thin metal foil. In the present study, we aim to discuss systematic effects in Mott polarimetry using the CDC.

A new FPGA based data acquisition (DAQ) and trigger combined system is developed for the MTV experiment (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation Experiment). The MTV experiment measures backward Mott scattering events by detecting the incident and scattered tracks using a drift chamber. For the backward scattering probability is as small as less than 0.1%, efficient triggering system is required to select the desired events. An intelligent Level-2 trigger system reading hitting pattern together with its digital readout system are built in a custom FPGA system. In this paper, design overview and results from performance tests are described.

We study the detection capability of the weak-value amplification on the basis of the statistical hypothesis testing. We propose a reasonable testing method in the physical and statistical senses to find that the weak measurement with the large weak value has the advantage to increase the detection power and to reduce the possibility of missing the presence of interaction. We enhance the physical understanding of the weak value and mathematically establish the significance of the weak-value amplification. Our present work overcomes the critical dilemma of the weak-value amplification that the larger the amplification is, the smaller the number of data becomes, because the statistical hypothesis testing works even for a small number of data. This is contrasted with the parameter estimation by the weak-value amplification in the literature which requires a large number of data., Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures

Methods for the chemical recycling of polycarbonate (PC) wastes in the forms of bisphenol A (BPA) and cyclic heterocarbonates, such as 1,3-dithiolan-2-one (DTO), 1,3-dithiane-2-one (DTA), and cyclic unsymmetric heterocarbonates, were investigated to prove that PC can be utilized as a phosgene equivalent for industrial purposes. Treatment of PC pellets or waste PC compact discs with 1,2-ethanedithiol and a catalytic amount of base (e.g., 1.5 mol % NaOH) in dioxane for a short period at 40°C produced DTO and BPA, both in nearly quantitative yields. The reaction could also be carried out in DTO, which saved the use of conventional solvents. Other cyclic heterocarbonates, that is, DTA, 1,3-oxathiolan-2-one, 1,3-thiazolidine-2-one, and N-methyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-one, were prepared in high yields under analogous conditions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2959–2968, 2003

The Mott polarimetry for T-violation (MTV) experiment tests time-reversal symmetry in polarized nuclear [Formula: see text]-decay by measuring an electron’s transverse polarization as a form of angular asymmetry in Mott scattering using a thin metal foil. A Mott scattering analyzer system developed using a tracking detector to measure scattering angles offers better event selectivity than conventional counter experiments. In this paper, we describe a pilot experiment conducted at KEK-TRIAC using a prototype system with a polarized 8Li beam. The experiment confirmed the sound performance of our Mott analyzer system to measure T-violating triple correlation (R correlation), and therefore recommends its use in higher-precision experiments at the TRIUMF-ISAC.

This document briefly reviews recent short-range gravity experiments that were performed at below laboratory scales to test the Newtonian inverse square law of gravity. To compare sensitivities of these measurements, estimates using the conventional Yukawa parametrization are introduced. Since these experiments were triggered by the prediction of the large extra-dimension model, experiments performed at different length scales are compared with this prediction. In this paper, a direct comparison between laboratory-scale experiments and the LHC results is presented for the first time. A laboratory experiment is shown to determine the best limit at $M_D > 4.6 \;\rm{TeV}$ and $\lambda, Comment: submitted to Class. Quantum Grav. as topical review