We present a microscopic model to understand the magnetoelectric and second-harmonic spectra of Cr 2 O 3 and the interference effect between the magnetic ( m ) and electric ( e ) second-order optical polarizations. The spin-orbit interaction and the crystalline fields of correct symmetry around the Cr 3ϩ ion, i.e., the axial and twisted crystalline field of C 3 symmetry, are treated as perturbation on the trigonal states of the d 3 system of Cr 3ϩ . By these treatments we attempt to describe the observed phenomena associated with the transitions between 4 A 2g and 4 T 2g states in Cr 2 O 3 . It is possible to reproduce the observed spectra of the polarization rotation and ellipticity, and the second-harmonic generation spectra described by the nonlinear susceptibilities m and e . The estimated theoretical magnitudes of these quantities are in reasonable agreement with the observed magnitudes.

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An extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) that could prevent death from hepatic encephalopathy in acute hepatic insufficiency was aimed to develop. A functional human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (FLC-4) was cultured in a radial-flow bioreactor. The function of the BAL was tested in mini-pigs with acute hepatic failure induced by alpha-amanitin and lipopolysaccharide. When the BAL system was connected with cultured FLC-4 to three pigs with hepatic dysfunction, all demonstrated electroencephalographic improvement and survived. Relatively low plasma concentrations of S-100 beta protein, as a marker of astrocytic damage, from pigs with hepatic failure during BAL therapy were noted. BAL therapy can prevent irreversible brain damage from hepatic encephalopathy in experimental acute hepatic failure.

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