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.

No abstract

The correlation between the hierarchical structure and electrical conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) was investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, conductive atomic force microscopy and the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity. Upon adding 3% ethylene glycol (EG), the electrical conductivity at room temperature significantly increased from 3 to 175 S cm − 1 , while a further increase in EG up to 20% resulted in a decrease in the electrical conductivity to 117 S cm − 1 . It was found that the improvement in the electrical conductivity could be explained from the changes in the hierarchical structure; a decrease in the insulating PSS shell, crystallization of the PEDOT and aggregation of the PEDOT/PSS particles, which affect both the intra-and interparticle transport of charge carriers.

No abstract

The following is a case study of a 36-year-old Japanese man with a trichoblastoma which exhibited a rippled-pattern on the left temporal region of the scalp. The histological findings of the tumor revealed lobular aggregations composed of immature follicular basaloid cells, lobules of squamous eddy-like foci of incomplete keratinization or small keratinous cysts, and multiple papillary mesenchymal bodies similar to hair germ. Interestingly, a rippled-pattern of basaloid cells and hyalinized matrixes resembling the Verocay bodies of neurilemmoma was also observed. We propose that the rippled-pattern of the basaloid cells and hyalinized matrices is caused by the characteristic stromal induction of trichoblastoma.

Highly conductive films made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) were prepared by casting the PEDOT/PSS aqueous dispersion of colloidal particles containing ethylene glycol (EG). By addition of 3% of EG, the electrical conductivity was significantly increased from 3 to 430 S/cm. The EG was crucially important for (i) removal of the insulating PSS from the surface of the PEDOT/PSS particles, (ii) crystallization of PEDOT molecules, and (iii) aggregation of the particles, which improved both intra-and inter-particle transfer of charge carriers. A further increase of the EG concentration, however, decreased the conductivity, which was due to the morphological inhomogeneity by the phase segregation.

Although color vision deficiency is very rare among Old World monkeys and apes, one male chimpanzee (Lucky) was identified as protanomalous by genetic and physiological analyses. This study assessed behavioral phenotypes of Lucky and four chimpanzees with normal color vision by discrimination task using the modified Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plates. Lucky could not discriminate the stimuli that the other chimpanzees could. This is the first behavioral evidence of color vision deficiency in chimpanzees.

We studied the thermal behavior and curing process of a cyanate ester resin (Cy)/epoxy resin (EP)/thermal latent polymeric hardener system based on a phenol–amine salt (PA-hardener) and the resulting cross-linked structure. Additionally, the physical properties of the cured product were evaluated. As a result, the curing system of Cy/EP with the PA-hardener was found to have unique thermal behavior, and an adhesion process was conducted in which the functionality and reactivity of the cyanate ester resin were utilized. The system cured rapidly at approximately 80 °C and could be completely cured at 120 °C in 1 h because the PA-hardener dissolved in the resins at an elevated temperature to give free amines, which could readily initiate the polymerization of cyanate ester resins and epoxy resins. The glass-transition temperature (T g) of the cured products increased with increasing a triazine-rich cross-linked structure derived from the cyclotrimerization of the cyanate ester resin as the curing proceeded at a relatively low temperature. The Cy/EP/PA-hardener system was found to have a rapid curing process and excellent adhesiveness, and it afforded a cured product with heat stability.