身近な材料を用いたルビー結晶の育成

The author reports the activities and issues on the Smart Science School (SSS) for junior high students. The junior high school students have learned at Gunma National College of Technology and carried out several experiments. In this paper, study on growth of ruby crystals synthesized by familiar aluminium sources is reported. The participants learned the synthesis and characterization of the ruby crystals. Relatively large crystals were obtained with MoO3 and Li2CO3 fluxes

家庭用電子レンジを用いたセラミックス合成

The author reports the activities and issues on the Smart Science School (SSS) for junior high students. The junior high school students have learned at National Institute of Technology, Gunma College and carried out several experiments. In this paper, synthesis of fluorescent ceramics using a domestic microwave oven is reported. The participants learned the synthesis and characterization of the fluorescent ceramics. YVO4:Eu3+ fluorescent ceramics were prepared using a domestic microwave operated with 730 W. When the mixture of starting materials is a pellet form or the mass of them is larger, the desired phosphors were obtained after the irradiation of microwave. The X-ray diffraction patterns are in good agreement with those reported by other workers and the desired YVO4:Eu3+ phosphors could be prepared as single-phase materials

Useful Extend-release Chitosan Tablets with High Antioxidant Activity.

The antioxidant properties of different low molecular weight (LMW) chitosans (CS1; 22 kDa, CS2; 38 kDa, CS3; 52 kDa, CS4; 81 kDa) were examined for possible use in extended-release tablets. The criteria used were the ability of the chitosans to reduce Cu2+, and hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and N-centered radicals derived from 1,1\u27-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, via the use of ESR spectrometry. CS2 showed the highest scavenging activity. CS1 and CS3, however, were much less effective and CS4 was not a viable antioxidant. The results suggest that CS2 could be useful in combating the development of oxidative stress. A series of chitosan tablets were prepared using a spray drying method and evaluated as an extended-release matrix tablet using theophylline (TPH) as a model drug. The release of TPH from the different MW chitosan tablets increased with increasing MW of the chitosan used. CS2, CS3 and CS4 showed a reasonable release activity, but CS1 showed the shortest release activity. Moreover, the CS2-TPH tablet showed the highest scavenging activity of the three chitosan tablets (CS2-CS4) using 2,2\u27-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals. These results suggest that a CS2-TPH tablet could be potentially useful in an extended-release matrix tablet with a high antioxidant activity.The antioxidant properties of different low molecular weight (LMW) chitosans (CS1; 22 kDa, CS2; 38 kDa, CS3; 52 kDa, CS4; 81 kDa) were examined for possible use in extended-release tablets. The criteria used were the ability of the chitosans to reduce Cu2+, and hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and N-centered radicals derived from 1,1\u27-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, via the use of ESR spectrometry. CS2 showed the highest scavenging activity. CS1 and CS3, however, were much less effective and CS4 was not a viable antioxidant. The results suggest that CS2 could be useful in combating the development of oxidative stress. A series of chitosan tablets were prepared using a spray drying method and evaluated as an extended-release matrix tablet using theophylline (TPH) as a model drug. The release of TPH from the different MW chitosan tablets increased with increasing MW of the chitosan used. CS2, CS3 and CS4 showed a reasonable release activity, but CS1 showed the shortest release activity. Moreover, the CS2-TPH tablet showed the highest scavenging activity of the three chitosan tablets (CS2-CS4) using 2,2\u27-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals. These results suggest that a CS2-TPH tablet could be potentially useful in an extended-release matrix tablet with a high antioxidant activity

浄化槽処理水の間欠ばっ気運転における窒素除去効果の検討

This study was performed using the Johkasou system installed at the Gunma National College of Technology, which uses a contact aeration process to effect water treatment. This system does not have denitrification capabilities. Several intermittent aeration modes were surveyed to investigate their effects on the total nitrogen (T–N) removal performance and energy efficiency. The water temperature was significantly correlated with the decreased velocity of dissolved oxygen (DO); the decreases at 25 and 23°C were 1.4 and 1.2 mg・(L∙hr)−1, respectively. The aeration time required to achieve DO 0 mg・L−1 was more than 6 h. The time required upon restarting to reacquire the DO value observed during aeration was 30 min. It was thought that an aeration period exceeding 3 h was necessary for denitrification. Intermittent aeration times of 3 and 6 h exhibited good biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values at more than 25°C. However, at water temperatures lower than 20°C, the effluent BOD was approximately 3 times higher, denitrification did not proceed, and the NH4-N concentration became high. The denitrification effect was not able to expect the big effect in comparison with consecutive aeration mode. As a result of this study, we concluded that the most suitable operating conditions for intermittent aeration would employ a 3 h application from December to April, and a 6 h application from May to November. The energy costs were calculated to be 1,120,000 yen∙year−1 based on the most suitable operating conditions. In comparison to the consecutive aeration mode, the energy, environmental, and cost savings with intermittent aeration were calculated to be 38,500 kWh, 15.6t-CO2, and 730,000 yen per year

Multiplexed Molecular Profiling of Lung Cancer Using Pleural Effusion

Introduction:Pleural effusion is frequently observed in patients with advanced lung cancer. Although effusion can be obtained less invasively and repeatedly, its use in multiplexed molecular profiling has not been fully investigated.Methods:Between July 2011 and April 2013, pleural effusion samples were obtained from patients with lung cancer at Shizuoka Cancer Center. They were analyzed for EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, NRAS, MEK1, AKT1, PTEN, and HER2 mutations, EGFR, MET, FGFR1, FGFR2, and PIK3CA amplifications, and ALK, ROS1, and RET fusion genes using pyrosequensing and/or capillary electrophoresis, quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, respectively.Results:One hundred and two samples from 84 patients were analyzed. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological subtype (82%). Genetic abnormalities were detected in 42% of patients. The most common abnormality was EGFR mutation (29%), followed by EML4-ALK rearrangement (5%), KRAS mutation, and EGFR amplification (4%, each). Concordance rates between pleural effusion and matched formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples were 88%. Among 11 patients who provided samples at multiple time points, changes in molecular profile over the course of treatment were observed in five patients.Conclusions:The use of pleural effusion for multiplexed molecular testing and real-time monitoring in lung cancer was demonstrated

Thyroid Ultrasound Findings in Children from Three Japanese Prefectures: Aomori, Yamanashi and Nagasaki

Due to the likelihood of physical and mental health impacts following the unprecedented accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the Fukushima prefectural government decided to conduct the Fukushima Health Management Survey to assist in the long-term health management of residents. This included thyroid ultrasound examination for all children in Fukushima. For appropriate evaluation of ultrasound screening of the thyroid, it is important to understand its reference data of thyroid findings in children in general. In order to analyze the frequencies of specific thyroid findings, we conducted ultrasound screening of the thyroid by the same procedures as used in Fukushima in 4,365 children, aged 3 to 18 years, from three Japanese prefectures. Overall, thyroid cysts were identified in 56.88% and thyroid nodules in 1.65% of the participants. Thyroid cysts and nodules with a maximum diameter of more than 5 mm were identified in 4.58% and 1.01%, respectively, and age-adjusted prevalences were 3.82% and 0.99%, respectively. Although the prevalence of cysts and nodules varied among the examination areas, no significant differences were observed among the three examination areas in the prevalence of cysts and nodules with a maximum diameter of more than 5 mm. Also, the prevalence of thyroid cysts and nodules, especially those with a maximum diameter of more than 5 mm, significantly increased with age, and showed a female predominance. We also identified ectopic thymus (1.95%), diffuse goiter (1.40%), ultimobranchial body (0.73%), lymph node swelling (0.21%) and thyroid agenesis (0.05%). This is the first ultrasound description of the age-adjusted prevalence of thyroid cysts and nodules, or of the prevalence of abnormalities other than cysts and nodules, such as ectopic thymus, in relation to age, in the general Japanese child population. We contend that this can provide relevant information for the Fukushima Health Management Survey and future population studies