Growth Enhancement of Organic Nonlinear Optical Crystals by Femtosecond Laser Ablation

Takahashi H., Yamaji M., Ikeyama J., et al. Growth Enhancement of Organic Nonlinear Optical Crystals by Femtosecond Laser Ablation. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 125(15), 8391-8397, 22 April 2021: © 2021 American Chemical Society. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c10636.The impact of femtosecond (fs) laser ablation on the shape and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of organic crystals was investigated. fs laser ablation of a local region of a NLO crystal can selectively enhance the growth of targeted faces. Reflection imaging of crystal surfaces revealed that a number of new crystal steps are generated from ablated area, which induces the crystal growth enhancement. In addition, the evaluation of terahertz wave emission from ablated crystals shows that NLO properties are not deteriorated after fs laser ablation. We foresee that crystal shape control by such a damage-less ablation process will potentially improve the NLO properties of organic crystals

Effects of the development changes in dentition on the retention of mouthguards

Summary The use of mouthguards is one of the main strategies that are considered effective in preventing sports–related trauma.Although mouthguards are recommended for use in children during sports activities,little is known as to how growth and developmental changes in the oral cavity, jaw, and dentition affect the retention of mouthguards. In the present study, we designed mouthguards for primary,mixed(4 types),and permanent detention stages and performed tensile testing to determine the effects of dental growth and development on their retention.We also designed mouthguards for the left maxillary second milk molar,left maxillary second premolar, and left maxillary first molar to determine how the shape of the teeth affects their retention.Data was analyzed statistically,and the following results were obtained:1.Mouthguards for permanent detention stage had a significantly higher level of retention than those for primary and mixed detention stages.2.Mouthguards for primary detention stage had a significantly lower level of retention than those for mixed and permanent detention stages. 3.The retention of mixed detention stage mouthguards became poorer with the number of teeth requiring relief.4.Differences in the shape of the teeth(left maxillary second milk molar, left maxillary second premolar, left maxillary first molar)had no significant effect on the retention of mouthguards.These findings indicate that the level of mouthguard retention is lower in children at primary and mixed detention stages than in adults and children with complete eruption of central incisor to second molar.This difference may be attributed to the differences in the coverage areas of mouthguard

「農業体験学習事業」 農業体験を通した地域連携による家政学群学生の学び 平成23（2011）～ 25（2013）年度和洋女子大学教育振興支援助成成果報告

平成23年度から同25年度に和洋女子大学教育振興支援助成を受け、農業体験を通して家政学群学生の学びを促進した。体験実習にあたり、学外の農業従事者、自治体（長野県立科町、千葉県市川市、千葉県神崎町）の農業担当職員や農業委員、JA職員、農業に関するNPO法人スタッフ、静岡大学、千葉大学の関係者など、様々な地域の方々と交流し、指導されて実践した農業体験により、学生はコミュニケーション能力や連携力を身につけた。また、農作物や花を育てる方法を学び、食べ物や花を育てることは生きている植物を自然と共生しながら育てることであることを認識し、農業の大変さと喜びも体験した。学内では農業ファッション制作の活動も行い、農業する女性のための作業服づくりを初めて体験し、専門技術の修得にも繋げた。また、収穫物から加工食品を開発、販売する活動も行い、地域の人たちから高い評価を受けた。現場での作業体験は学生同士や教員と学生間の協力や協調の体験となり、同時に様々な活動体験から実践力、判断力などの育成に繋がった。これらの農業体験を通して実施した実践的学習は、家政学を学ぶ学生に大きな刺激と成長をもたらしたと考える。本稿では本取り組みにおける家政学群学生の学びの内容と学生の様子について報告した

A Case with no Hemodynamic Benefit from Right Ventricular Anodal Capture during Biventricular Pacing

This case report describes a patient with a biventricular pacing system in whom right ventricular anodal capture had no hemodynamic benefit. While controlling the ventricular output, three morphologies of the paced QRS complex were obtained: right ventricular stimulation, biventricular stimulation, and biventricular pacing with additional stimulation from the anodal electrode in the right ventricle. While the QRS duration was 5 ms longer, the left ventricular systolic pressure and dP/dtmax during biventricular pacing without anodal capture of the right ventricle were greater than that during biventricular pacing with anodal capture. To avoid useless high output settings, the hemodynamic and clinical data should be compared with and without right ventricular anodal capture in each individual patient

Microbial decomposition of biodegradable plastics on the deep-sea floor

Abstract Microbes can decompose biodegradable plastics on land, rivers and seashore. However, it is unclear whether deep-sea microbes can degrade biodegradable plastics in the extreme environmental conditions of the seafloor. Here, we report microbial decomposition of representative biodegradable plastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable polyesters, and polysaccharide esters) at diverse deep-sea floor locations ranging in depth from 757 to 5552 m. The degradation of samples was evaluated in terms of weight loss, reduction in material thickness, and surface morphological changes. Poly(l-lactic acid) did not degrade at either shore or deep-sea sites, while other biodegradable polyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and polysaccharide esters were degraded. The rate of degradation slowed with water depth. We analysed the plastic-associated microbial communities by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics. Several dominant microorganisms carried genes potentially encoding plastic-degrading enzymes such as polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerases and cutinases/polyesterases. Analysis of available metagenomic datasets indicated that these microorganisms are present in other deep-sea locations. Our results confirm that biodegradable plastics can be degraded by the action of microorganisms on the deep-sea floor, although with much less efficiency than in coastal settings