Crystallization of Polymers from Solution under ShearingStress III Polybutene-1

It was shown that the fibrous crystals of isotactic polybutene-l crystallized from solution under shearing stress are also composed of the central threads with an extended chain character and the epitaxally deposited lamellae with a folded chain character. The characteristic behaviors in this polymer exist in; (1) that the resulting crystals possess the hexagonal modification of form 1'; (2) that at low polymer concentrations the lamellar crystals with an orthorhombic modification of form Ⅲ are precipitated in similar fashion to the case in the absence of stirring; (3) that the morphology in surface replica of thick deposited film is very similar to that of melt extruded polyethylene film crystallized in a highly stressed state

Application of Business Gaming to Learning Financial Theory

近年，コンピュータを利用したビジネスゲーム手法がコンピュータサイエンスおよび企業における経営実務教育の分野において関心を集めつつある．本稿においては，ビジネスゲームの金融教育への応用に焦点を当て，関連研究について紹介する．また，ビジネスゲーム手法を金融教育へ応用した分析において，興味深い結果が得られたので，ビジネスゲーム手法そのものの紹介とともに分析結果の概略について報告する

Equilibrium-point control of human elbow-joint movement under isometric environment by using multichannel functional electrical stimulation

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is considered an effective technique for aiding quadriplegic persons. However, the human musculoskeletal system has highly nonlinearity and redundancy. It is thus difficult to stably and accurately control limbs using FES. In this paper, we propose a simple FES method that is consistent with the motion-control mechanism observed in humans. We focus on joint motion by a pair of agonist-antagonist muscles of the musculoskeletal system, and define theelectrical agonist-antagonist muscle ratio (EAA ratio) and electrical agonist-antagonist muscle activity (EAA activity) in light of the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, respectively, to extract the equilibrium point and joint stiffness from electromyography (EMG) signals. These notions, the agonist-antagonist muscle ratio and agonist-antagonist muscle activity, are based on the hypothesis that the equilibrium point and stiffness of the agonist-antagonist motion system are controlled by the central nervous system. We derived the transfer function between the input EAA ratio and force output of the end-point. We performed some experiments in an isometric environment using six subjects. This transfer-function model is expressed as a cascade-coupled dead time element and a second-order system. High-speed, high-precision, smooth control of the hand force were achieved through the agonist-antagonist muscle stimulation pattern determined by this transfer function model

Processes of Osteophyte Formation in Guinea Pigs with Spontaneous Osteoarthritis

In this study, we investigated osteophyte formation processes in guinea pigs with spontaneous osteoarthritis, histochemically and immunohistochemically. Serial thin frontal sections of right knee joints were prepared from Hartley guinea pigs aged 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 18 months. The severity of osteoarthritis was evaluated by safranin-O staining, and the animals were classified into 3 groups: mild, moderate and severe. In addition, immunostaining was performed by using primary antibodies against the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), type-I, -II and -III collagens, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 receptor. In the mild group, there was fibrous connective tissue continuous with the synovial membrane and covering the margins of the articular cartilage of the medial tibial condyle. This tissue contained spindle-shaped fibroblastic-like cells. These cells were positive for PCNA, type-I and -III collagens, IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor. In the moderate group, the chondrocytes beneath the fibroblastic-like cell layer had proliferated and were clustered together. These chondrocytes were also positive for PCNA, type-I and -III collagens, IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor. In the severe group, this marginal area had been replaced by type-II collagen-positive chondrophytes, which further changed to osteophytes due to the process of endochondral ossification. In guinea pigs, fibroblastic-like cells at the margins of the articular cartilage of the knee joints seemed to be totipotent immature mesenchymal cells. These cells may be the precursors of osteophytes, and IGF-1 appears to be involved in their formation

Crystallization of Polymers from Solution under Shearing Stress II Polypropylene

Isotactic polypropylene was crystallized in the form of fibrous crystals from solution under shearing stress. The fibrous crystals consist of the oriented cluster of micro fibrils. From the electron microscopy and the electron diffraction study, it was found that the fine texture of this fibrous crystals is also the two component systems which are composed of the central threads with an extended chain character and the lamellae with a folded chain character deposited on the threads, as in polyethylene. Relatively larger lamellar structure than that of polyethylene was observed. The effect of crystallization conditions to the formation of the fibrous crystals from solution of isotactic polypropylene was described briefly. A characteristic melting behavior due to the melting of the central threads with an extended chain character was observed from the thermogram of differential scanning calorimeter

Quantitative determination, by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, of aromatase mRNA in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

BACKGROUND: Estrogen is a mitogenic factor that is implicated in the genesis and progression of breast cancer via its binding to estrogen receptor (ER)-α. Synthesis of estrogen in situ is believed to be catalyzed mainly by aromatase. Previous studies comparing the relative contributions from tumor cells and stromal cells to local estrogen synthesis, as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis, were quite controversial and no consistent relationship was found between the presence of aromatase and any clinicopathologic factor. In addition, previous studies into aromatase gene expression and clinicopathologic factors are limited. METHODS: We assessed the level of expression of aromatase mRNA, using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, in 162 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Associations between aromatase expression and different clinicopathologic factors were sought. RESULTS: It was found that aromatase mRNA was expressed at significantly higher levels in patients older than 50 years, in those without axillary lymph node involvement, in those with tumor size less than 2 cm, and in ER-α positive tumors. However, no relationship was found between aromatase mRNA expression and any other clinicopathologic factor, including histologic grade and progesterone receptor status. Patients with high levels of expression of aromatase mRNA tended to have a better prognosis than did those patients with low expression. CONCLUSION: These findings imply that ER-α and aromatase may be coexpressed in endocrine responsive patients. They may also indicate that aromatase expression could be a marker of endocrine responsiveness, and it may have prognostic implications for breast cancer progression

Promotion of allergic immune responses by intranasally-administrated nanosilica particles in mice

With the increase in use of nanomaterials, there is growing concern regarding their potential health risks. However, few studies have assessed the role of the different physical characteristics of nanomaterials in allergic responses. Here, we examined whether intranasally administered silica particles of various sizes have the capacity to promote allergic immune responses in mice. We used nanosilica particles with diameters of 30 or 70 nm (nSP30 or nSP70, respectively), and conventional micro-sized silica particles with diameters of 300 or 1000 nm (nSP300 or mSP1000, respectively). Mice were intranasally exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) plus each silica particle, and the levels of OVA-specific antibodies (Abs) in the plasma were determined. Intranasal exposure to OVA plus smaller nanosilica particles tended to induce a higher level of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG and IgG1 Abs than did exposure to OVA plus larger silica particles. Splenocytes from mice exposed to OVA plus nSP30 secreted higher levels of Th2-type cytokines than mice exposed to OVA alone. Taken together, these results indicate that nanosilica particles can induce allergen-specific Th2-type allergic immune responses in vivo. This study provides the foundations for the establishment of safe and effective forms of nanosilica particles