Indicators of transport stress were investigated in blood parameters of five male cynomolgus monkeys obtained from abroad. They underwent air and ground travel-related stress in transport cages for a 15-hour transit time. On arrival, hematological parameters of white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit values were within the limits of reference range, indicating that these parameters were not typical changes derived from transport stress loading. An increase in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio with a marked increase in neutrophils and a decrease in lymphocytes was observed on arrival, and the increased N/L ratio returned approximately to the normal level 1 week after arrival. The serum cortisol level markedly increased on the day of arrival and it returned to normal 1 week after arrival. These findings indicate that the transport process was stressful for animals, showing increases in N/L ratio as well as cortisol level. Thus, it is possible that an increase in N/L ratio may be utilized as an indirect indicator of transport stress in newly acquired cynomolgus monkeys, as it has the similar pattern of change in cortisol with an increased cortisol level on the day of arrival.

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Superconducting oxides of Tl2Ba2Ca n-1Cu n O2n+4 with n=1, 2 and 3 were synthesized, and their structure and chemical composition were examined by X-ray powder diffraction, EPMA, Rietveld analysis and electron microscopy. Partial substitution of Tl with Ca was confirmed, but the production of holes in Cu layers expected from this substitution was rather small for a 120 K superconductor. Charge transfer of Tl3-δ-Cu2+δ would provide both the hole in the Cu-O bond required for high T c and s-like electron of Tl atoms for stabilization of layered structures.

Changes in the electronic states for Ba1-xKxBiO3- delta ( delta =0 and 0.5) due to various surface treatments (fracturing, scraping and ion sputtering) have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that marked spectral changes occur as a result of scraping and sputtering; the core levels are broadened and the intensity at the top of the valence bands is reduced. These results are discussed in terms of the reduction of elements and damage in the surface region. The above results cause the authors to conclude that fracturing these samples is suitable as a cleaning procedure for this system. The Bi 4f, Ba 4d and O 1s core levels have very low binding energies and are shifted by 0.2-0.4 eV to lower binding energies on 50% substitution of K for Ba. The Bi 4f line seems to contain a single chemical state for BaBiO3- delta , and more than one chemical state for Ba0.5K0.5BiO3- delta . The top of the valence band is found to be 0.5 eV below the Fermi level for BaBiO3- delta , while a clear Fermi edge appears for the K-doped material in the valence band spectra from both X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. The electronic states of BaBiO3- delta and K doping effects are discussed and compared with band calculations.

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