Recent Progress in Gas Barrier Thin Film Coatings on PET Bottles in Food and Beverage Applications

This article presents a short history and the recent advancement of the development of chemical vapor deposition technologies to form thin film gas barrier coatings on PET bottles and other plastic containers in food and beverage containers. Among different gas barrier enhancement technologies, coating can show unique performance where relatively high gas barrier enhancement is possible to various gas permeants. In this article, technologically common and different points of the current thin film coating methods in this field are summarized. This article also refers to recent market situations and technological challenges in the Japanese market

シボウ サイボウ ノ カガク

Adipose tissue secretes a variety of bioactive molecules (adipocytokines) that directlycontribute to the development of life-style related diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension,and cardiovascular diseases. TNF-α is a well - known inhibitor of insulin signaling and PAI(plasminogen activator inhibitor) - 1 contributes to thrombus formation. Adiponectin has anaction both insulin sensitivity and anti - atherogenic action. Interestingly, low plasmaadiponectin concentrations were observed in patients with obesity, coronary artery disease(CAD), and type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin from the plasma adhered to the injured arteryand suppressed the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules, the proliferation ofvascular smooth muscle cells, and the transformation of macrophage to foam cells. Thesefindings support that accumulation of fat produces not only insulin resistance but alsoatherosclrosis in obese subjects

Extending the Operating Distance of Inductive Proximity Sensor Using Magnetoplated Wire

Inductive proximity sensors are noncontact sensing devices used to detect the approach of a target by an increase in coil resistance due to eddy current loss. Extending the operating distance of these sensors is demanded. In this paper, we propose the use of a magnetoplated wire (MPW) as a sensing coil. The MPW is a copper wire, whose circumference is plated with a magnetic thin film. We analyze the impedance of a proximity sensor using a copper wire (COW) and MPW coils by a finite element method. The use of the MPW results in a decrease in AC resistance due to the proximity effect, an increase in inductance, and the generation of a higher flux than when the COW is used. Therefore, it is possible to increase the quality factor Q of the MPW coil. As a result, the operating distances of the MPW and COW coils are 5.0 and 3.8 mm, respectively. The operating distance of the MPW coil is 1.3-fold that of the COW coil.ArticleIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS. 45(10):4463-4466 (2009)journal articl

Approach to novel functional foods for stress control : 3. Establishment of stress-resistant rat model and its mechanism

A stress-resistant rat model was introduced. SPORTS (Spontaneously-Running-Tokushima-Shikoku) rats showed significantly shorter time of immobility in the forced swim test compared to control Wister rats. Increase norepinephrine concentration secondary to decreased activity of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) in hippocampus was observed in this model rats. This model rats are considered to be useful for studying the mechanism of psychological stress

Immunological and Psychological Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage

This preliminary investigation compares peripheral blood cell counts including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD16(+) lymphocytes, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio, hematocrit, humoral parameters including serum interferon-γ and interleukin-6, salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA). Psychological measures including the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) between recipients (n = 11) of carrier oil massage and aromatherapy massage, which includes sweet almond oil, lavender oil, cypress oil and sweet marjoram oil. Though both STAI and SDS showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) after treatment with aromatherapy and carrier massage, no difference between the aromatherapy and control massage was observed for STAI and SDS. Aromatherapy, in contrast to control massage, did not significantly reduce RBC count or hematocrit. However, aromatherapy massage showed a significant (P > 0.05) increase in PBLs, possibly due to an increase in CD8(+) and CD16(+) lymphocytes, which had significantly increased post-treatment (P < 0.01). Consequently, the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The paucity of such differences after carrier oil massage suggests that aromatherapy massage could be beneficial in disease states that require augmentation of CD8(+) lymphocytes. While this study identifies the immunological benefits of aromatherapy massage, there is a need to validate the findings prospectively in a larger cohort of patients

Validity and Reliability of the Japanese Version of the 12-item Self-administered World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 in Patients with Schizophrenia

It is necessary to assess functional impairment when treating schizophrenia. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) has been adopted as a measure of functional disability in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This study was a secondary analysis from a cross-sectional study of health-related behaviors among patients with schizophrenia. We examined the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 when self-administered by such patients. Participants were 350 outpatients with schizophrenia from a psychiatric hospital. The standard six-factor structure of the WHODAS 2.0 showed a good fit for these participants. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.858, showing good internal consistency. The WHODAS 2.0 showed moderate correlations with the modified Global Assessment of Functioning and Kessler 6 scales (r=−0.434 and 0.555, respectively). The results of this study show that the Japanese version of the 12-item self-administered WHODAS 2.0 has good internal consistency and convergent validity among patients with schizophrenia. Further exploration of the usefulness of WHODAS 2.0 in clinical settings is needed

コウウンドウセイ モデル ラット SPORTS ノ カイバ ニオケル ノルエピネフリン ドウタイ ト ジハツ ウンドウリョウ

Reduced physical exercise activity contributes to the development of several metabolic disorders including obesity, type ２ diabetes and hypertension. Especially in the developed countries, many people choose not to be active physically, possibly because of a reduced motivation to participate in exercise activities. Thus, augmentation of exercise motivation and subsequent increase in the physical activity would reduce an incidence of these metabolic disorders. In order to clarify the psychological mechanisms responsible for an increased exercise activity, we have generated and established a line of SPORTS （Spontaneously-Running-Tokushima-Shikoku） rat for high levels of voluntary wheel running. Male SPORTS rats run voluntarily in the running wheel almost six times longer than control Wistar rats. Here we examined the relation of the running activity of SPORTS rat with the hippocampal norepinephrine （NE） system including the levels of NE, adrenergic receptors, and degradation enzymes for monoamines. In the hippocampus of SPORTS rats, the level of NE in extracellular fluid was augmented, whereas the level in the homogenate of the whole tissue was decreased even for sedentary conditions. The level of striatal dopamine has not altered in both groups. The protein expression and the activity levels of monoamine oxidase A （MAOA）, a critical enzyme for the degaradation of NE, were decreased in the hippocampus of SPORTS rats to increase extracellular NE level. Thus, inhibition of oxidase activity in normal Wistar rats markedly increased wheel running activity. Our results indicate that the hippocampal NE determines the neural basis of the psychological regulation of exercise behavior in SPORTS rats. Modulation of NE transmission in the hippocampus will be a good method for enhancing the exercise behavior both in clinical patients and in healthy humans