In this study, the mechanism of resist pattern collapse during the resist development process is investigated. Resist pattern collapse occurs while the rinse liquid is being dried off. This conclusion was reached after observing the resist pattern before and after the rinse-liquid drying process. The resist pattern in the rinse liquid was observed using an atomic force microscope. The source of resist pattern collapse is the surface tension of the rinse liquid. The force increases with decreasing space width between resist patterns. To avoid the resist pattern collapse problem, the use of a low-surface-tension rinse liquid, a rinse liquid with contact angle ∼90° at the resist surface, or a rigid and highly adhesive resist material is effective.

Caldesmon was originally purified from gizzard smooth muscle as a major calmodulin-binding protein which also interacts with actin filaments. It has an alternative binding ability to either calmodulin or actin filaments depending upon the concentration of Ca2+ ("flip-flop binding"). Two forms of caldesmon (Mr's in the range of 120-150 kDa and 70-80 kDa) have been demonstrated in a wide variety of smooth muscles and nonmuscle cells. Immunohistochemical studies suggest that caldesmon is colocalized with actin filaments in vivo. Considering its abundance, the Ca2+-dependent flip-flop binding ability to either calmodulin or actin filaments, and its intracellular localization, caldesmon is expected to be involved in contractile events. Recent results from our laboratory have led to the conclusion that caldesmon regulates the smooth muscle and nonmuscle actin-myosin interaction and the smooth muscle actin-high Mr actin-binding protein (ABP or filamin) interactin in a flip-flop manner. It might function in cell motility by regulating the contractile system.

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The prevalence of AD in Japanese elementary schoolchildren was about 10%, three-quarters of those being mildly affected. This is the first nation-wide study made of Japanese elementary schoolchildren examined by dermatologists to evaluate the frequency of AD.

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Sweating aggravates itch in atopic dermatitis, but the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we examined the involvement of type I hypersensitivity in the aggravation of atopic dermatitis by sweating. Skin tests with autologous sweat were positive in 56 of 66 patients (84.4%) with atopic dermatitis, but only in 3 of 27 healthy volunteers (11.1%). Sweat samples from both patients and healthy volunteers induced varying degrees of histamine release from basophils of patients with atopic dermatitis. However, the histamine release was impaired by removal of IgE on the basophils. Incubation of basophils with myeloma IgE before sensitization with serum of patients blocked the ability to release histamine-induced sweat. IgE antibody against antigen(s) in sweat may be present in serum of patients with atopic dermatitis. Key words:

Caldesmon150, a protein composed of the Mr

In this paper, the mechanism of resist pattern collapse during the resist development process is investigated by the use of atomic force microscope measurement of a pattern in the rinse liquid. The resist pattern collapse occurs during the rinse liquid is dried off, and the cause of collapse is the capillary force of the rinse liquid.