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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: The growth process, crystal structure, and optical properties of ultrathin GaAs and InAs wires (whiskers) as thin as 15–40 nm and about 2 μm long are reviewed and discussed. Experimental results for growing whiskers using Au as a growth catalyst during metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and the shape and growth direction of whiskers provide new insight into growth control of GaAs and InAs whiskers. The crystal structure of whiskers, Au behavior during MOVPE, and their growth mechanism are reviewed and discussed on the basis of transmission electron microscopic analysis. The photoluminescence spectra of GaAs wires are compared with those of a GaAs epitaxial layer, and the effect of surface treatment on the luminescence peak energy shift is discussed. The time dependent photoluminescence of GaAs wires is also discussed. The application of GaAs whiskers to light emitting devices is reviewed because a semiconductor wire structure employing quantum size effects is a very important element of electronic and optical devices. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.

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: An in-plane gate field-effect transistor is characterized by ultrafast electro-optic sampling. The transistor is monolithically integrated with photoconductive switches in coplanar waveguide and 〈0.5 ps measurement time resolution is achieved. The gate-drain capacitance of the transistor is obtained as 1.8 fF at zero drain voltage from displacement current transients. The gate-drain capacitance is dominated by parasitic capacitance and the intrinsic gate-drain capacitance is estimated as less than 0.2 fF. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: We fabricated screen-printed Ag-(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox monofilament and multifilament tapes with filament number 1≤N≤5. As N increases, the critical current Ic increases monotonically until it reaches 54 A (77 K, 0 T) for N=5, while the critical current density Jc is around 1.6×104 A/cm2 (77 K, 0 T) nearly independent of N. The bend strain tolerance is found to decrease with increasing N. For monofilament tapes the strain tolerance is 2%–3% strain while for multifilament tapes it decreases to ∼1% at N=3 and ∼0.4% at N=5. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: Background We have recently demonstrated that the transfer of interleukin (IL)-5-producing CD4+ T cell clones into unprimed mice is sufficient for the development of eosinophilic inflammation in the bronchial mucosa upon antigen inhalation.Objective The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible contribution of mast cells in eosinophilic inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), and to discriminate between the roles of CD4+ T cells and mast cells.Methods Mast cell-deficient mice (WBB6F1-W/Wv) and their congenic normal littermates (WBB6F1−+/+) were immunized with ovalbumin and challenged by inhalation with the relevant antigen.Results Airway eosinophilia was induced with equivalent intensity in +/+ and W/Wv mice 6, 24, 96 and 216 h after antigen inhalation. In contrast, 48 h after antigen challenge, eosinophilic infiltration into the bronchial mucosa was significantly less pronounced in W/Wv mice than in +/+ mice. Anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), anti-IL-5 mAb, and cyclosporin A were administered next, demonstrating that the airway eosinophilia of W/Wv mice induced 48 h after antigen challenge was almost completely inhibited by each of these three treatments, but that of +/+ mice was significantly less susceptible. Bronchial responsiveness to acetylcholine was increased 48 h after antigen challenge and was not significantly different between +/+ and W/Wv mice. Administration of anti-IL-5 mAb completely inhibited the development of BHR in both +/+ and W/Wv mice.Conclusion These results indicate that, in mice, mast cells do have a supplemental role in the development of pulmonary eosinophilia but not BHR. CD4+ T cells totally regulate these responses by producing IL-5.

Notes: Pathological changes in cultured tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, with emaciation disease in Kyushu, Japan were studied histologically. In most cases, diseased fish were heavily infected with at least one of three myxosporeans (Myxidium fugu, Myxidium sp. and Leptotheca fugu) and two unidentified hyperparasitic microsporeans, attached to, or in, the intestinal epithelium. Myxidium fugu attached to the surface of the epithelium, caused no noticeable effects on the host tissue, irrespective of its infection with the hyperparasite. Myxidium sp., which proliferated in the epithelium, induced severe pathological changes including accumulation of cell debris between the epithelium and lamina propria and resultant detachment of the epithelium. Leptotheca fugu, another histozoic myxosporean, induced degeneration of the epithelium, associated with massive infiltration of macrophages into the epithelium to encapsulate parasites. When L. fugu was infected with its hyperparasitic microsporean, shortened villi were also observed. This is probably because passage of macrophage-parasite aggregates through the basement membrane of the epithelium severely damaged the epithelial structure. It is evident histologically that, unlike epicellular M. fugu, histozoic Myxidium sp. and L. fugu with or without hyperparasitic microsporeans, were highly pathogenic to host fish. This strongly suggests that they are causative agents of the emaciation disease.

Notes: A vital staining technique with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI) was used for determination of viability of myxosporean stage spores of Myxobolus artus and actinosporean stage spores of M. cultus. Viable spores stained green with FDA and non-viable spores stained red with PI were clearly distinguishable in M. artus myxosporean spores released from live infected fish, while the spores collected from pseudocysts were not well stained with FDA. Immediately after release from the oligochaete, Branchiura sowerbyi, actinosporean spores of M. cultus, stained bright green in the sporoplasms and red in the spore processes. In vitro survivability tests revealed that the longevity of M. artus spores was 5 months at 25°C and 15 months at 18°C. Drying and ultraviolet irradiation (36 000 mW s cm–2 for M. artus myxosporean spores, 600 mW s cm–2 for M. cultus actinosporean spores) were most effective as sporicidal treatments.

Notes: Glugea plecoglossi (Microspora) is a significant cause of economic loss in cultured ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, in Japan, due to the unsightly appearance of infected fish harbouring xenomas in the body cavity. Modes of transmission of G. plecoglossi via the skin and digestive tract were studied in an experimental infection model using rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Combined with Uvitex 2B and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays, the early development of G. plecoglossi was successfully traced. Following a bath exposure of fish Uvitex 2B-labelled G. plecoglossi spores were observed to attach to microscopic injuries (trypan blue-positive sites) of fish skin, after which ISH-positive sporoplasms were found to invade the epidermis as early as 5 min post-infection (PI), migrating rapidly to the subdermis. It was also shown that G. plecoglossi entering via the skin does not spread into the internal organs but develops into subdermal xenomas. After rainbow trout were exposed to G. plecoglossi spores by oral intubation, spores germinated in the intestinal lumen, followed by penetration of sporoplasms into the gut mucosal epithelium 5 min PI. In vitro trials determining stimulation factors (fish mucus, changes in pH, digestive enzymes) for the extrusion of the polar tube were inconclusive. The present study indicates that skin wounds and the gut epithelium can be portals of entry of G. plecoglossi and that natural infection in fish seems to occur perorally rather than via the skin.