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Notes: Blood flow stagnation is said to be an important factor for the incidence of dark eye circles, but there are few reports, which have studied dark eye circles and the relationship to blood flow. We have examined dark eye circles dermatologically using a non-invasive method and made clear the factor related to it. We have also studied the effect of newly developed cosmetics on improvement of dark eye circles. Melanin and haemoglobin content, haemoglobin oxygen saturation and blood flow rate were measured to compare dark eye circles with a normal control. An increased amount of haemoglobin and decreased haemoglobin oxygen saturation were observed at the site of dark eye circles. We also observed that the blood flow rate was slow at dark eye circles in comparison with cheek. From these results, blood flow stagnation seems to be one of the factors that could induce dark eye circles. In addition, the increase of melanin at dark eye circles was also observed in older subjects. It was considered that not only congestion but also an increase of melanin content in the skin could induce dark eye circles. On the basis of these results, we developed anti-dark eye circle cosmetics that can improve blood circulation, reduce melanin content and maintain high moisture retention in the skin. After 3 weeks’ usage of this product, it was confirmed that dark eye circles were improved, judging from the result of non-invasive instrumental measurements.

Notes: Previous studies have shown that nanoparticle chain aggregates (NCA) of titania are elastic [S. K. Friedlander, H. D. Jang and K. H. Ryu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 72, 1 (1998)]. The NCA were a few tenths of a micron long and composed of (approximately) 7 nm primary particles. They were produced by thermal decomposition of titanium tetraisopropoxide vapor in nitrogen. The goal of this study was to see whether the elastic behavior depends on (a) the material properties, (b) primary particle size, and (c) method of NCA formation. For this purpose, titania, alumina, and iron oxide NCA were generated by laser ablation. Rotating metal foil targets were mounted in a small cylindrical chamber and exposed to an excimer laser beam. The resulting aerosol was swept out by an oxygen stream. The generator was operated to produce NCA with similar mobility diameter and primary particle size. The NCA were deposited on the carbon or formvar films of an electron micrograph grid. Under the electron beam a hole develops in the carbon film in the neighborhood of the deposited NCA. The NCA then stretch and contract as described in our earlier study [S. K. Friedlander, H. D. Jang and K. H. Ryu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 72, 1 (1998)]. The titania, alumina, and iron oxide NCA generated by laser ablation all showed elastic behavior for primary particles smaller than about 10 nm. However, titania NCA composed of 36 nm primary particles did not exhibit elastic behavior indicating that very small primary nanoparticles are needed for this phenomenon to occur. The small scale stretching and contraction of chain segments were studied by measuring changes in the bond angles between adjoining particles and in the lengths of the segments studied. The elastic behavior is probably associated with local folding of chain segments due to van der Waals forces. Under tension, folded chains straighten but when the tension is relaxed, folds tend to reform but not reversibly. Rotation and sliding probably occur at the boundaries between particles during stretching. We hypothesize that elastic behavior is a general property of NCA composed of transition metal oxides with primary particles smaller than 10–15 nm; the phenomenon has now been observed for NCA produced in two ways, thermal decomposition and laser ablation. These phenomena may play a role in the action of nanoparticle additives such as fumed silica and carbon black used to improve the properties of rubber. NCA elasticity may also contribute to the ductile properties of nanoparticle compacts. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: It has been found that the exposure of a Si (100) surface to an As ionized cluster beam (ICB) is effective in the preparation of the surface prior to epitaxial growth of GaAs under conventional high vacuum conditions of 2×10−5 Pa. This process is achieved at a temperature as low as 600 °C. A clear 1×2 or 2×2 reflection high energy electron diffraction pattern observed after the procedure indicates good ordering of the sample surface. The cleaning process is attributed to chemical and physical sputtering by As ICB in the first stage and to the subsequent As termination of Si dangling bonds. It has been found that the optimum preparation conditions are an accelerating voltage of the As ionized cluster beam of 1.3 kV and a substrate temperature of 600 °C. GaAs films deposited on As ICB treated Si (100) substrates show good crystal quality with single domain structure.

Notes: Fluctuations of magnetic fields and related magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) phenomena are investigated in the TPE-1RM15 reversed-field pinch experiment [Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research, 1986 (IAEA, Vienna, 1987), Vol. 2, p. 453]. Mode analysis of fluctuations measured by multichannel coils reveals that nonlinear interactions between m=1 and m=0 modes, such as nonlinear coupling and phase locking, play significant roles during a dynamo event (i.e., the flux genertion process in the sustainment phase), resulting in transition from an unstable state to a stable state. Behaviors of these fluctuations are found to be toroidally asymmetrical due to strong nonlinearity. Study of the current ramping experiment shows that the inverse of global energy confinement time depends on the squared fluctuation level offset linearly, which is consistent with the prediction of the transport model based on the diffusion of stochastic field lines. By examining the dependence of the resistive part of the loop voltage on the fluctuation level, the input power to the electrons and ions are estimated to be about 70% and 30% of the total input power, respectively.

Notes: Needle-shaped quantum size microcrystals as thin as 10 nm have been selectively grown by employing reduced pressure organometallic vapor phase epitaxy using trimethylgallium and arsine as source materials. The microcrystals grown within a SiO2 window area have their growth axes along the [111] direction. Transmission electron diffraction analysis shows that the crystal structure of microcrystals is consistent with the zinc-blende structure of GaAs. The mechanism for growing the needle-shaped crystals is similar to a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) equilibrium phase growth model. From photoluminescence measurements at 4.2 K, it is found that the microcrystals show a very distinct spectra for free exciton and neutral acceptor-bound exciton recombinations, meaning good crystal quality.

Notes: Background  Barium sulphate, a stable inorganic material, has been used in contrast media and cosmetic products because of its stability. As a negative external electric potential accelerates the skin barrier repair after barrier disruption, we hypothesized that topical application of barium sulphate may affect the skin barrier recovery rate depending on its ζ potential.Objectives  To investigate whether barium sulphate particles in aqueous solution have different ζ potentials depending on their surface structure, and to investigate the possible relation between ζ potential and skin barrier recovery rate.Methods  Mice were subjected to tape stripping to disrupt barrier function, or were treated with acetone and kept in a dry environment to induce epidermal hyperplasia. They were then treated with different forms of barium sulphate, and barrier recovery was monitored by measurements of transepidermal water loss.Results  There was a significant correlation between the barrier recovery rate and ζ potential of barium sulphate applied topically. Barium sulphate with a negative ζ potential significantly accelerated barrier recovery, but barium sulphate with a positive ζ potential did not accelerate or even delayed barrier repair. Barium sulphate with a negative ζ potential had an X-ray diffraction pattern different from that with a positive potential. The distribution of calcium in the epidermis was also influenced by the polarity of ζ potential.Conclusions  These findings suggest a new pharmacological approach towards altering barrier function or epidermal hyperplasia with inorganic particles in healthy and diseased skin.

Notes: Aim : To investigate the inhibitory effects on gastric acid secretion of three proton pump inhibitors, omeprazole, lansoprazole and rabeprazole, using a three-way crossover design in healthy Helicobacter pylori-negative,S-mephenytoin 4′-hydroxylase (CYP2C19) homo- and hetero-extensive metabolizers.Methods : Eight healthy Japanese male volunteers were enrolled. After the administration of rabeprazole (10 mg/day), lansoprazole (30 mg/day) or omeprazole (20 mg/day), intragastric pH monitoring was commenced from 24 h before the first proton pump inhibitor dose, and continued for days 1–3 after proton pump inhibitor administration. The pH electrode was used for 48 h and changed just before pH monitoring on day 2.Results : For the administration of 10 mg/day rabeprazole, the mean ratios of the 24-h pH ≥ 3 holding timewere 5.7 ± 1.1%,13.6 ± 2.2%, 35.3 ± 2.7% and 62.8 ± 3.1% for the pre-treatment day and days 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The same ratios for lansoprazole (30 mg/day) were 5.7 ± 0.7%, 7.4 ± 1.5%, 13.6 ± 3.4% and 26.6 ± 4.9%; the same ratios for 20 mg/day omeprazole were 5.9 ± 0.9%, 6.1 ± 1.2%, 11.4 ± 2.8% and 16.4 ± 4.6%. The mean ratio of the 24-h pH ≥ 3 holding time of days 1–3 increased significantly compared to the pre-treatment day (P 〈 0.01) with the administration of rabeprazole and lansoprazole. The magnitude of inhibition of gastric acid secretion after rabeprazole administration was stronger than that after lansoprazole. A significant elevation of the mean ratio of the 24-h pH ≥ 3 holding time was demonstrated on days 2 and 3 with omeprazole (P 〈 0.01).Conclusions : In H. pylori-negative CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers, rabeprazole (10 mg/day) shows a faster onset of rising intragastric pH and a stronger inhibition of gastric acid secretion than do lansoprazole (30 mg/day) or omeprazole (20 mg/day).

Notes: Myxobolus artus infection of carp is reported for the first time from Japan. In most cases, it took the form of interfibrillar pseudocysts in the skeletal muscle, some showing abnormal growth, imperfect encapsulation of the parasite by the host connective tissue and irregular development of the ectoplasm. Such atypical pseudocysts probably ruptured before the completion of sporogenesis, causing lysis of adjacent muscle fibres. Intrafibrillar pseudocysts were also present. After spore formation was complete or atypical pseudocytes were ruptured host reaction was initiated. Spores were phagocytosed and transported to the melanomacrophage centres in the kidney, liver, spleen etc. Phagocytosed spores were also observed in the capillaries and epithelial tissues of various organs, suggesting that the spores were transported there from the skeletal muscle through the host vascular system. They are thought to be discharged from the host through the skin and intestine.

Notes: The circulating antibody which reacted with sonicated spores of Myxobolus artus was detected in some naturally infected carp. However, some other fish had no detectable sign of infection, though they had the antibody. When carp were injected either with intact or sonicated spores, the antibody was not produced, while fish injected either with developing stages (presporogonic and sporoblast stages) of the parasite or sonicated spores with bovine serum albumin elicited the antibody production. The results of the injection experiments suggest that (1) developing stages have antigenicity to carp, and (2) spores have lost the antigenicity; sonicated spores are haptens, with which the antibody can react. In an indirect fluorescent antibody technique, sera positive for the antigen reacted with developing stages of the parasite, but not with the spore.The mechanism of the host immune response against M. artus is discussed in relation to a previous observation that the parasite sometimes underwent abnormal development, in which host encapsulation was imperfect or even lacking, probably leading to degeneration of pseudocysts before the completion of spore formation. It is plausible that the antibody was produced when pseudocysts which showed abnormal growth ruptured during their developing stages, resulting in exposure of the young parasite to the host immune system.