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Background Curcumin is a commonly used herbal supplement with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. Animal studies and small human trials suggest that curcumin reduces albuminuria in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Micro-particle curcumin is a new, more bioavailable formulation of curcumin. Methods To determine whether micro-particle curcumin versus placebo slows the progression of albuminuric CKD we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. We included adults with albuminuria [a random urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio >30 mg/mmol (265 mg/g) or a 24-h urine collection with more than 300 mg of protein] and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 15 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 within the 3 months before randomization. We randomly allocated participants 1:1 to receive micro-particle curcumin capsules (90 mg/day) or matching placebo for 6 months. After randomization, the co-primary outcomes were the changes in albuminuria and the eGFR. Results We enrolled 533 participants, but 4/265 participants in the curcumin group and 15/268 in the placebo group withdrew consent or became ineligible. The 6-month change in albuminuria did not differ significantly between the curcumin and placebo groups [geometric mean ratio 0.94, 97.5% confidence interval (CI) 0.82 to 1.08, P = .32]. Similarly, the 6-month change in eGFR did not differ between groups (mean between-group difference –0.22 mL/min/1.73 m2, 97.5% CI –1.38 to 0.95, P = .68). Conclusions Ninety milligrams of micro-particle curcumin daily did not slow the progression of albuminuric CKD over 6 months. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02369549.

Aim: Cisplatin causes acute kidney injury (AKI) in approximately one-third of patients. Serum creatinine and urinary output are poor markers of cisplatin-induced (AKI). Metabolomics was utilized to identify predictive or early diagnostic biomarkers of cisplatin-induced AKI. Methods: Thirty-one adult head and neck cancer patients receiving cisplatin (dose ≥ 70 mg m2 -1) were recruited for metabolomics analysis. Urine and serum samples were collected prior to cisplatin (pre), 24-48 hours after cisplatin (24-48h), and 5-14 days (post) after cisplatin. Based on serum creatinine concentrations measured at the post timepoint, 11/31 patients were classified with clinical AKI. Untargeted metabolomics was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Metabolic discrimination was observed between “AKI” patients and “no AKI” patients at all timepoints. Urinary glycine, hippuric acid sulfate, 3-hydroxydecanedioc acid, and suberate were significantly different between AKI patients and no AKI patients prior to cisplatin infusion. Urinary glycine and hippuric acid sulfate were lower (-2.22-fold and -8.85-fold), whereas 3-hydroxydecanedioc acid and suberate were higher (3.62-fold and 1.91-fold) in AKI patients relative to no AKI patients. Several urine and serum metabolites were found to be altered 24-48 hours following cisplatin infusion, particularly metabolites involved with mitochondrial energetics. Conclusion: We propose glycine, hippuric acid sulfate, 3-hydroxydecanedioc acid, and suberate as predictive biomarkers of predisposition to cisplatin-induced AKI. Metabolites indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction may serve as early markers of subclinical AKI.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent highly excreted in urine and known to cause acute kidney injury (AKI). As AKI diagnosis by serum creatinine (SCr) is usually delayed, endeavors for finding early AKI biomarkers continue. This study aims to determine if urine platinum (UP) concentration 24 hours after cisplatin infusion is associated with AKI, and to evaluate the association between urine platinum and tubular damage biomarkers: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Children treated with cisplatin in 12 Canadian centers (April 2013 to December 2017) were included. Urine from the morning after the first cisplatin infusion of the first or second cisplatin cycle was measured for urine platinum, NGAL, and KIM-1. SCr and serum electrolytes were used to detect AKI by either SCr elevation or urinary electrolyte wasting (potassium, magnesium, phosphate). The associations of urine platinum with AKI, NGAL, and KIM-1 were assessed. A total of 115 participants (54% boys, median age, 8.5 years; interquartile range, 4.0-13.4) were included, of which 29 (25%) and 105 (91%) developed AKI defined by SCr and electrolyte criteria, respectively. Higher urine platinum was associated with higher cisplatin dose (Spearman rho, 0.21) and with younger age (Spearman rho, -0.33). Urine platinum was not associated with postinfusion AKIor KIM-1, but was weakly associated with NGAL, particularly in participants without SCr AKI (Pearson's r, 0.22). Urine platinum may be a marker of mild tubular injury but is not likely to be a useful biomarker of clinically evident AKI.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive loss of renal function. The gradual decline in kidney function leads to an accumulation of toxins normally cleared by the kidneys, resulting in uremia. Uremic toxins are classified into three categories: free water-soluble low-molecular-weight solutes, protein-bound solutes, and middle molecules. CKD patients have increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), due to an assortment of CKD-specific risk factors. The accumulation of uremic toxins in the circulation and in tissues is associated with the progression of CKD and its co-morbidities, including CVD. Although numerous uremic toxins have been identified to date and many of them are believed to play a role in the progression of CKD and CVD, very few toxins have been extensively studied. The pathophysiological mechanisms of uremic toxins must be investigated further for a better understanding of their roles in disease progression and to develop therapeutic interventions against uremic toxicity. This review discusses the renal and cardiovascular toxicity of uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, hippuric acid, TMAO, ADMA, TNF-α, and IL-6. A focus is also placed on potential therapeutic targets against uremic toxicity.

Cisplatin, a chemotherapy used to treat solid tumors, causes acute kidney injury (AKI), a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease and mortality. AKI diagnosis relies on biomarkers which are only measurable after kidney damage has occurred and functional impairment is apparent; this prevents timely AKI diagnosis and treatment. Metabolomics seeks to identify metabolite patterns involved in cell tissue metabolism related to disease or patient factors. The A Canadian study of Cisplatin mEtabolomics and NephroToxicity (ACCENT) team was established to harness the power of metabolomics to identify novel biomarkers that predict risk and discriminate for presence of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, so that early intervention strategies to mitigate onset and severity of AKI can be implemented.Describe the design and methods of the ACCENT study which aims to identify and validate metabolomic profiles in urine and serum associated with risk for cisplatin-mediated nephrotoxicity in children and adults.Observational prospective cohort study.Six Canadian oncology centers (3 pediatric, 1 adult and 2 both).Three hundred adults and 300 children planned to receive cisplatin therapy.During two cisplatin infusion cycles, serum and urine will be measured for creatinine and electrolytes to ascertain AKI. Many patient and disease variables will be collected prospectively at baseline and throughout therapy. Metabolomic analyses of serum and urine will be done using mass spectrometry. An untargeted metabolomics approach will be used to analyze serum and urine samples before and after cisplatin infusions to identify candidate biomarkers of cisplatin AKI. Candidate metabolites will be validated using an independent cohort.Patients will be recruited before their first cycle of cisplatin. Blood and urine will be collected at specified time points before and after cisplatin during the first infusion and an infusion later during cancer treatment. The primary outcome is AKI, defined using a traditional serum creatinine-based definition and an electrolyte abnormality-based definition. Chart review 3 months after cisplatin therapy end will be conducted to document kidney health and survival.It may not be possible to adjust for all measured and unmeasured confounders when evaluating prediction of AKI using metabolite profiles. Collection of data across multiple sites will be a challenge.ACCENT is the largest study of children and adults treated with cisplatin and aims to reimagine the current model for AKI diagnoses using metabolomics. The identification of biomarkers predicting and detecting AKI in children and adults treated with cisplatin can greatly inform future clinical investigations and practices.Le cisplatine, un agent utilisé en chimiothérapie pour traiter les tumeurs solides, entraîne de l’insuffisance rénale aiguë (IRA); un facteur de risque connu de néphropathie chronique et de mortalité. Le diagnostic de l’IRA repose sur des biomarqueurs qui ne sont mesurables qu’après l’apparition d’une lésion rénale et d’une déficience fonctionnelle; ce qui empêche le diagnostic et le traitement précoce de la maladie. La métabolomique s’efforce d’établir le profil des métabolites impliqués dans le métabolisme des tissus cellulaires en relation avec des facteurs liés à la maladie ou au patient. Une étude canadienne portant sur la métabolomique et la néphrotoxicité du cisplatine (ACCENT) s’est amorcée, elle explore la puissance de la métabolomique dans l’identification de nouveaux biomarqueurs permettant de prédire le risque de néphrotoxicité du cisplatine et d’en distinguer la présence. L’objectif étant de mettre en œuvre des stratégies d’intervention précoce, dès l’apparition de l’IRA, et de limiter la gravité de la maladie.Décrire la conception et la méthodologie de l’étude ACCENT. Cette étude vise à établir et à valider des profils métabolomiques, dans l’urine et le sérum, associés au risque de néphrotoxicité médiée par le cisplatine chez les enfants et les adultes.Étude de cohorte prospective.Six centres canadiens d’oncologie (trois centres pédiatriques, un centre pour adultes et deux centres mixtes).L’étude porte sur 300 adultes et 300 enfants pour qui un traitement par cisplatine est prévu.L’IRA sera confirmée par mesure de la créatinine et des électrolytes dans le sérum et l’urine au cours de deux cycles de perfusion de cisplatine. De nombreuses variables relatives au patient et à la maladie seront recueillies prospectivement avant et pendant le traitement. Les analyses métabolomiques des échantillons de sérum et d’urine seront effectuées par spectrométrie de masse. Une approche métabolomique non ciblée sera utilisée pour analyser les échantillons avant et après les perfusions de cisplatine pour identifier les biomarqueurs candidats d’une IRA découlant du traitement par cisplatine. Les métabolites candidats seront validés dans une cohorte indépendante.Les patients seront recrutés avant le premier cycle de cisplatine. Le sang et l’urine seront recueillis à des moments précis, soit avant et pendant le traitement; plus précisément lors de la première perfusion, puis d’une perfusion subséquente au cours du traitement contre le cancer. Le principal critère d’évaluation est la présence d’IRA, laquelle sera établie selon la définition classique fondée sur la mesure de la créatinine sérique et d’une autre définition fondée sur les anomalies électrolytiques. Un examen des dossiers trois mois après la fin du traitement par cisplatine sera effectué afin de documenter la santé rénale et la survie des patients.Il pourrait être impossible de corriger tous les facteurs confusionnels mesurés et non mesurés lors de l’évaluation de la prédiction de l’IRA à l’aide de profils de métabolites. La collecte de données sur plusieurs sites sera un défi.ACCENT est la plus vaste étude portant sur des enfants et des adultes traités avec le cisplatine; cette étude tente de revoir le modèle actuel en utilisant la métabolomique pour diagnostiquer l’IRA. L’identification de biomarqueurs permettant de prédire et de détecter l’IRA chez les enfants et les adultes traités par cisplatine pourrait grandement éclairer les futures études et pratiques cliniques.ClinicalTrials.gov, insuffisance rénale induite par le cisplatine, NCT04442516.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and oxidative stress are critical to embryonic coronary artery development. Maternal diabetes increases oxidative stress and reduces eNOS activity in the fetal heart. Sapropterin (Kuvan®) is an orally active, synthetic form of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and a co-factor for eNOS with antioxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of sapropterin on fetal coronary artery development during pregestational diabetes in mice. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin to adult female C57BL/6 mice. Sapropterin (10 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to pregnant mice from E0.5 to E18.5. Fetal hearts were collected at E18.5 for coronary artery morphological analysis. Sapropterin treatment to diabetic dams reduced the incidence of coronary artery malformation in offspring from 50.0% to 20.6%. Decreases in coronary artery luminal diameter, volume and abundance in fetal hearts from diabetic mothers, were prevented by sapropterin treatment. Maternal diabetes reduced epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and expression of transcription and growth factors critical to coronary artery development including hypoxia-inducible factor 1a (Hif1a), Snail1, Slug, β-catenin, retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh1a2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial group factor receptor 2 (Vegfr2) in E12.5 hearts. Additionally, eNOS phosphorylation was lower while oxidative stress was higher in E12.5 hearts from maternal diabetes. Notably, these abnormalities were all restored to normal levels after sapropterin treatment. In conclusion, sapropterin treatment increases eNOS activity, lowers oxidative stress and reduces coronary artery malformation in offspring of pregestational diabetes. Sapropterin may have therapeutic potential in preventing coronary artery malformation in maternal diabetes.

Blind people generally use cane or highly trained guide dogs for safe walking. In the case of the existing blind cane, there is a disadvantage that it cannot cope quickly with each changing situation. There is a cost for managing guide dogs. In this paper, we propose smart glasses using deep learning and stereo camera to overcome these disadvantages. A stereo camera calculates the distance between the user and the obstacle and then informs the dangerous level by the vibration motor and sound. In addition, the location of user is informed using LED to prevent accidents at night. We use YOLO v3 (You Only Look Once version 3), one of the deep learning algorithms, to inform the type of obstacle to the user. The experimental results indicate that the proposed smart glasses overcome the existing blind guidance system disadvantages and may be helpful when the user recognize and avoid obstacles.

Nonrenal clearance pathways such as drug metabolism are decreased in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although the mechanism remains elusive, uremic toxin retention and an altered gut microbiota are suspected to influence cytochrome P450s (CYPs) contributing to the unpredictable pharmacokinetics in patients with CKD. We characterized dysbiosis and uremia in CKD to elucidate associations between CYP expression and CKD progression. Rats fed control or CKD-inducing adenine diet were subsequently studied at five time points over 42 days. CYP expression and activity were compared to alterations in the 1) plasma and liver metabolome and 2) gut bacterial microbiota. CYP3A2 and CYP2C11 were downregulated in CKD by ≥76% (pTuricibacter and Parabacteroides were identified as being characteristic of CKD. In conclusion, CYP3A2 and CYP2C11 are downregulated before dysbiosis and correlate with select uremic toxins.

The eating and drinking culture has recently been developed with the improvement of living standards. The importance of refrigerated vehicles is increasing due to the demand of courier services for frozen foods both on-line and off-line. Since existing temperature recorders receive temperature data using wires, it is necessary to correct the resistance error according to the cable length. In addition, there is a problem that accuracy of temperature recording is lowered in a low temperature range as a low-priced NTC temperature sensor is used. In this paper, we propose the method for correcting the error due to cable resistance using digital processing and CAN communication to overcome these problems. The problem of NTC temperature sensor is also solved by using PT-1000 which is platinum sensor. The experiments show that the proposed temperature measurement and control system is useful for refrigerated vehicle.

The problem of traffic light detection and recognition is investigated in this paper. Most algorithms used in traffic light detection and recognition are based on color detection. The color-based approach has some difficulties in that if the color of the traffic lights is changed by external factors, they will not be recognized and errors will occur. We propose an algorithm for traffic light detection and recognition based on Haar-like features in this paper. We use Haar-like features to learn about the traffic light image and detect the candidate area based on the learning data. The detected candidate image is verified by the pre-learned SVM(Support Vector Machine) classifier, and binarization and morphology operations are performed on the verified candidate image for detection of the traffic light object. The detected traffic light is divided into respective signal areas to determine the current on/off status of traffic lights. The signal signs in the respective areas are defined by regulation and the sign of traffic lights can be recognized by recognizing on/off of the signals in the respective areas. The experimental study is performed to show that it is possible to detect and recognize traffic lights irrespective of color changes.

Sulfonation of polyglycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) chains grafted onto nonwoven polypropylene fabric is investigated in detail. Sulfonation reaction consists in implantation of sulfonate groups via epoxy ring-opening of PGMA chains grafted onto nonwoven polypropylene fabric by reaction between the GMA-grafted sample and sodium hydrogensulfite in water–dimethylformamide solution. On the basis of analyses of IR spectra of the appropriate samples and data of backward titration, two simultaneous processes are demonstrated to take place during the sulfonation reaction. These processes are the implantation of sulfonate groups via opening of the GMA epoxy rings and hydrolysis of the GMA epoxy rings with α-glycol groups formation. The main peculiarities of the sulfonation reaction in depending on the GMA grafting degree are reported. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007

Thermodynamic adsorption parameters of 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were determined using several alkane media ranging from pentane to decane. In the range from pentane to decane, as the number of carbon atoms in the alkane decreased, the standard affinity (−Δ μ 0 ) increased. From the results of the enthalpy change (Δ H 0 ) and the entropy change (Δ S 0 ), it is found that when adsorbed in the longer chain of alkane medium than in the shorter one, the dye molecules were more strongly embedded within the PET substrate. The diffusion coefficient ( D T ) of the dye decreased and the activation energy ( E D ) increased with increasing number of carbon atoms in the alkane.

Dyeing properties of the easy dyeable polyester (EDP) and the polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) were investigated in terms of their thermodynamic and kinetic factors, such as standard affinity (−Δμ0), enthalpy change (ΔH0), entropy change (ΔS0), diffusion coefficient (DT) and activation energy of the diffusion (ED). The results were compared with corresponding properties of the PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The −Δμ0 of the EDP and the PTT showed a little higher value than that of the PET. PET displayed the highest negative values of the ΔH0 and the ΔS0, while PTT showed the lowest negative values of them. For all three polyester types, as the temperature increased, the DT increased. PTT had the highest DT at every temperature and PET showed the lowest values of the DT. The ED of the EDP and the PTT was lower than that of the PET.

In order to examine the color change of the disazo acid dyeings on wool fibers, C.I. Acid Blue 113 having disazo groups within the molecular structure was used and its characteristics of the color change were studied. The dye degradation was attributed to the reducing effect of the sulfur-containing amino acids within the wool fibers. The degraded moiety of the disazo dye was analyzed using an LC/MS. The mass spectrum showed that the mass of 326.1 corresponded to the dye moiety having monoazo group, which was formed by a reductive degradation of the disazo dye. From the model studies using cystine and cysteine, it was also found that the formation of the monoazo moiety was attributable to the reducing effect of the cystine and the cysteine.

The influence of the major grafting parameters (irradiation dose, reaction time, and inhibitor concentration) on graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate from its 10% solution in methanol onto nonwoven polypropylene upon irradiation with an electron accelerator in air was studied.

Liquid ammonia is effective at improving the strength, shrink resistance, and hand of cotton fabric. In this study, we apply a liquid ammonia (NH3) treatment to three regenerated cellulosic fabrics—rayon taffeta, cupro taffeta, and polynosic broadcloth— and subsequently process these with hot water and dry heat. We investigate the effect of the processes on crystal form, crystallinity, moisture regain, water absorption, and dyeing properties. Also, the mechanical properties of the NH3-treated fabrics are measured in relation to fabric hand. The diffraction intensity profiles of the rayon taffeta are unchanged by the NH3 treatment and subsequent heat processing. The profile of cupro taffeta is not changed by the NH3 treatment, but it is transformed to cellulose IIIII by subsequent hot water and dry heat processes. On the other hand, although the profile of polynosic broadcloth is transformed to cellulose IIIII by the NH3 treatment, the profile is not changed by hot water and dry heat. Furthermore, fabric crystallinity decreases with the NH3 treatment and increases somewhat after the hot water and dry heat processes. Water absorption and equilibrium dye uptake decrease with the NH3 treatment. Excellent washing shrinkage resistance is obtained with the NH3 treatment. The shearing and bending parameters of the rayon and cupro fabrics decrease somewhat with the NH3 treatment, so this treatment of regenerated cellulosic fabrics is effective at improving hand as well as washing shrinkage.

Various non-aqueous media were employed to examine the adsorption and solubility properties of disperse dyes on poly(ethylene terephthalate). The dye adsorptions in alkane media were much higher than those in other non-aqueous systems. The adsorption of disperse dyes on poly(ethylene terephthalate) increased with decreasing number of carbon atoms of alkane groups. In the case of relationships between dye adsorption and dye solubility in various non-aqueous media, the adsorption of the dye is linearly and inversely proportional to the dye solubility in the logarithmic plot. The adsorption dependency on the solubility of dyes was shown to have a similar pattern for different disperse dyes.

Cation-exchange adsorbent based on polypropylene nonwoven fabric carrying sulfonate functional groups was synthesized by radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) with subsequent chemical modification of the epoxy groups of poly-GMA graft chains with sodium hydrogensulfite in water–dimethylformamide solution at 70 °C. The effect of various polymerization parameters on the GMA grafting degree as well as experimental conditions for the effective incorporation of sulfonate groups were investigated. The conversion of the epoxy groups into the functional groups was investigated as a function of the degree of GMA grafting. The ion-exchange characteristics of the resultant cation-exchange adsorbent were determined.

Applying the electron-beam preirradiation method in air the cation -exchange fabric (CEF) containing sulfonic acid (R-SO 3 H) groups was prepared by graft copolymerization of sodium styrenesulfonate with acrylic acid onto non woven polypropylene fabric. The effect of reaction conditions on the grafting yield and reaction mechanism was examined. The ion-exchange properties towards Cu(II) and Co(II) ions of the CEF were investigated depending on the form of the CEF and a pH of the solution. It was found that the synthesized CEF contains both strong acid groups (R-SO 3 H) and weak acid (R-COOH) groups in almost equal proportion. The utilization of the CEF in Na + form allows to make the best use of its ion-exchange capacity.

Cotton fabric was dyed with a reactive dye in water/dichloromethane two-phase immiscible solvent media. In order to minimize dye loss due to its hydrolysis, the reactive dyeing was carried out in dichloromethane containing a small amount of water. With only 2 mL of water in 23 mL of dichioromethane, 1 g of cotton fabric could be dyed perfectly. The uptake ratio increased greatly compared with that of normal reactive dyeing in a water medium. It would seem that the hydrophobic solvent, dichloromethane, can assist the even dyeing as it disperses a small amount of dye-dissolved water phase and conveys this water phase to the fabric entirely and uniformly.

In order to survey the possibility of an organic solvent as a dyeing medium, the dye uptake of C.I. Disperse Violet 1 on polyester fiber in 31 kinds of solvents including water was investigated. The dye uptake in alkanes was observed to be much higher than that in other organic solvents. As the number of carbon atoms in alkanes decreased, the dye uptake increased drastically. It was shown that dye uptake was linearly and inversely proportional to the solubility of the dye in various organic solvents in a logarithmic plot. It is very interesting that unless their flammable properties some alkanes are considered to be the excellent dyeing media for a non-aqueous dyeing system. Besides the practical aspects, the results obtained in this study may be beneficial in assisting the further development of non-aqueous dyeing systems.

Cotton and wool fabrics were treated with low temperature oxygen plasma or en zymes or both and examined for their mechanical and dyeing properties. Plasma- treated cotton showed reduced strength, while the rate of weight loss in subsequent cellulase treatments decreased compared with untreated cotton. Equilibrium uptake of a direct dye remained unchanged regardless of plasma or cellulase treatment. The rate of dyeing increased, however, although the difference was slight, in the order of plasma treatment < untreated < cellulase treatment = plasma/cellulase treatment. Plasma pretreatment of wool caused an increase in strength and a higher rate of weight loss in the subsequent protease treatment. When wool was dyed with a leveling acid dye, equilibrium dye uptake did not change with plasma or protease pretreatment, but the dyeing rate increased with the plasma pretreatment With a milling acid dye, both increased greatly in the order of untreated < protease treatment < plasma treat ment < plasma/protease treatment. From these results, we assumed that plasma attacks the surface of the fiber, and the enzyme affects mainly the inner part of the fiber. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The polymerization of enzyme with a water-soluble carbodiimide did not show any strength retention effect in enzymatic treatment of cotton and wool.

Sold bump mold fabrication using Excimer laser (KrF, 248 nm) source for patterning method is presented. The mold is designed to make reflowed solder bump with diameter of 115 ?m for 8 inch wafer. We have developed CrOx / Cr binary metal masks which allow for obtaining circular cavities with diameter of 160 ?m, depth of 50 ?m and pitch of 300 ?m. We have obtained the characteristics of patterned etch mask with diameter of 60 ± 3 ?m, pitch of 300± 2 ?m by laser method. Cavities are performed with a dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution, having the diameter of 160 ± 3 ?m, depths of 50 ±1 ?m. These results indicate that solder bump mold fabrication using laser method enables cavity formation with good uniformity.

Nylon 6, heat-set nylon 6 and nylon 66 have been treated with aqueous formic acid solutions of various concentrations for a predetermined time at a fixed temperature. The changes in weight loss, water absorption, shrinkage, crystallinity, crystallite size were measured in order to estimate the change in amorphous and crystalline regions of the fibers, and the structural change in fibers was related to the dyeability for C. I. Disperse Violet 1 (1, 4-diaminoanthraquinone). These parameters, except the dyeability, increased with increasing the concentration of formic acid until the fibers were dissolved completely in concentrated formic acid solutions (ca. 59% solution for nylon 6, ca. 62% solution for heat-set nylon 6, and ca. 68% solution for nylon 66). In particular, the loss in weight gradually increased when the samples were treated with formic acid solution at a concentration lower than 50%. Correspondingly, the dyeability gradually increased at a concentration lower than 50%. However, the dye uptake showed a marked decrease when the loss in weight was markedly observed. From results obtained the relationship between the dyeing behaviors and the changes in fine structure has been discussed.

Aptitude de ces polymeres a fixer le methyle orange a 5, 15, 25 et 35°C en solution aqueuse

Powdered Nylon 66 was prepared as a model of amorphous polymers. The resultant powder polyamide was composed of only amorphous regions. The extent of uptake of the acid azo dyes, a homologous series of methyl orange derivatives, by the polymer was measured in an aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding were evaluated. The thermodynamic behaviors obtained are very similar to those of crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. The favorable free energy of the binding is accompanied by an entropy gain and an exothermic enthalpy change. The shorter the alkyl chain of the dyes, the more negative is the enthalpy change and, hence, the smaller is the entropy change. The thermodynamic data for butyl orange showed that the binding process is athermal and is wholly an entropic effect. The binding of the dyes to the matrix is entropically favorable as a result of the operation of the hydrophobic effect. In addition, an electrostatic force is operative between the sulfonate group on the dyes and the terminal amino groups on the polyamide.