Upgrading of shielding for rare decay search in CANDLES

In the CANDLES experiment aiming to search for the very rare neutrino-less double beta decays (0νββ) using 48Ca, we introduced a new shielding system for high energy γ-rays from neutron captures in massive materials near the detector, in addition to the background reduction for 232Th decays in the 0νββ target of CaF2 crystals. The method of background reduction and the performance of newly installed shielding system are described

Study on the Fostering of Creativity in Technology Education ―A Consideration about the Productive Practices in "Woodworking" Area―

The present study deals with basic information for fostering creativity in Technology Education. The creativity diagnosis tests in an experimental lesson curriculum were conducted before and after the practices in "Woodworking area" at a junior high school. (1)The values of "creativity" as a whole tend to increase after productive practices though slightly. Among the three structures constituting "creativity", the structure "creative attitude" has higher values than other two structures both before and after productive practices. (2)When the components for fostering creativity are classified in accordance with their average scores, the components (A) which have high values of average scores both before and after productive practices are "memory", "divergent thinking", "self-evaluation", "observation", "persistence", "openness" and "impulsiveness", the components (B) which show almost the same values as the mean value both before and after productive practices are "cognition of problems", "expression", "planning", "information collection" and "curiosity" and the component (C) which has low values both before and after productive practices is "convergent thinking"

Elementary Identification of Phenolic Allelochemicals from Dwarf Lilyturf Plant (Ophiopogon japonicus K.) and Their Growth-Inhibiting Effects for Two Weeds in Paddy Rice Field

Dwarf lilyturf (Ophiopogon japonicus K.), used as a weed-suppressing cover crop and a medicinal plant, was suggested to be a promising natural herbicide to control weeds in the rice field through its allelopathic potential. Allelopathic chemicals from the dwarf lilyturf were identified and their growth-inhibiting effects on two major weeds in the rice field in Japan were examined. High pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) analysis showed the existence of at least six allelopathic chemicals, viz., salicylic acid, syringic acid, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid, ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid and sinapic acid in dwarf lilyturf plant. The chemical detected at the highest concentration was salicylic acid (251.04 ¼g g-1), which occupied more than half of total allelopathic chemicals detected (317.16 ¼g g-1), followed by syringic acid (37.30 ¼g g-1), syringaldehyde(13.30 ¼g g-1) and sinapic acid (11.03 ¼g g-1). The chemicals detected at the lowest concentration was vanillic acid (1.69 ¼g g-1). Salicylic acid displayed the most inhibitory effects on germination and growth of both barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crusgalli L.) and monchoria (Monochoria vaginalis P.). This compound might play a key role in dwarf lilyturf allelopathy

Multinuclear NMR Studies on Translational and Rotational Motion for Two Ionic Liquids Composed of BF₄ Anion

Two ionic liquids (ILs) based on the BF₄^– anion are studied by ¹H, ¹¹B, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy by measuring self-diffusion coefficients (<i>D</i>) and spin–lattice relaxation times (<i>T</i>₁). The cations are 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIm) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIm). Since two NMR nuclei (¹¹B and ¹⁹F) of BF₄^– exhibit narrow lines and high sensitivity, the ¹¹B and ¹⁹F NMR measurements of <i>D</i>_BF4 and <i>T</i>₁(BF₄) were performed in a wide temperature range. The temperature-dependent behaviors of <i>T</i>₁(¹⁹F) and <i>T</i>₁(¹¹B) were remarkably different, although the values of <i>D</i>_BF4(¹⁹F) and <i>D</i>_BF4(¹¹B) almost agreed. Since the Arrhenius plots of <i>T</i>₁’s for ¹H, ¹⁹F, and ¹¹B exhibited <i>T</i>₁ minima, the correlation times τ_c(¹H), τ_c(¹⁹F), and τ_c(¹¹B) were evaluated. The <i>D</i>(cation) and <i>D</i>(BF₄) were plotted against 1/τ_c(¹H) and 1/τ_c(¹⁹F), respectively, and the relationships between translational and rotational motion are discussed. The translational diffusion of the cations is related to molecular librational motion and that of BF₄ is coupled with reorientational motion. The τ_c(¹¹B) derived from ¹¹B <i>T</i>₁ can be attributed to a local jump. From the plots of the classical Stokes–Einstein (SE) equation, the empirical <i>c</i> values, which were originally derived by theoretical boundary conditions, were estimated for each ion. The empirical <i>c</i>(BF₄) was about 4.4₅, while the <i>c</i> values of the cations were smaller than 4

Development of a Novel Enzyme-Targeting Radiosensitizer (New KORTUC) Using a Gelatin-Based Hydrogel Instead of a Sodium Hyaluronate

We recently developed Kochi Oxydol-Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Carcinomas (KORTUC) as a strategy to increase intratumoral oxygen concentrations and degrade antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase and catalase. We then developed KORTUC II, which uses sodium hyaluronate containing hydrogen peroxide as a radiosensitizer. KORTUC II requires twice-weekly administration to sustain its effects, but decreasing the frequency of radiosensitizer injections to once-weekly would reduce the burden on the patients and the physicians. The goal of this study was thus to develop a new formulation of KORTUC (New KORTUC) that only requires once-weekly administration. We performed experimental studies using a mouse tumor model and biodegradable hydrogel. C3H/He mice were allocated to control, KORTUC, or hydrogel groups. At 72 h after injection, each tumor was irradiated with a 6 MeV electron beam to a total dose of 30 Gy. During a 62-day observation period, changes in tumor volume and survival rates were assessed in each group. Tumor growth rate was slowest in the hydrogel groups. These data suggest that hydrogel could represent a useful adjunct as a long-acting radiosensitizer in place of sodium hyaluronate. New KORTUC, which contains hydrogen peroxide and hydrogel, exerted a radiosensitizing effect that persisted beyond 72 h following injection of the agent. Use of this new formulation allows radiosensitizer injections to be performed once-weekly with good effect