The experimental procedure is illustrated in Fig. 1

The effect of a tramp element Cu on the hot workability of stee]s was investigated in this paper. The number of surface cracks occurring in the specimenswhich were tensi]e-deformed after oxidized was measured to assess the effect of small amounts of Cu (0.30/0)

The discovery of small and potent peptide antagonists of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor is described. Through the structure-activity relationship studies of 12-amino acid peptide corresponding to the C-terminal residues of astressin, we assumed that a particular surface of the alpha-helix was important for binding to the receptor. The small peptide containing d-Ala31 and cyclohexylalanine38 on that surface was as potent as astressin in binding to the CRF receptor and showed significant ACTH suppression when administered to rats.

The swimming pattern of bacteria with single polar flagella has usually been described as "run and reverse". We observed the swimming traces of monotrichously flagellated Vibrio alginolyticus cells and examined the relationship between the swimming pattern and the sense of progress. Swimming in regions other than a solid surface was confirmed to be linear run and reverse. Near a solid surface, the traces consisted of "run and arc"; the cells were found to curve sharply during backward swimming, while they progressed linearly during forward swimming. The "run and arc" swimming pattern may play an important role in the chemotaxis strategy of marine bacteria at solid surfaces.

The recent steep increase in the number of users of cellular phones is resulting in marked increase of exposure of humans to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Children are of particular concern. Our goal was to evaluate potential adverse effects of long-term whole-body exposure to EMFs simulating those from base stations for cellular phone communication. Pregnant rats were given low, high or no exposure. At the high level, the average specific absorption rate (SAR)for the dams was 0.066-0.093 W/kg. The SAR for the fetuses and the F(1) progeny was 0.068-0.146 W/kg. At the low level, the SARs were about 43% of these. The 2.14 GHz signals were applied for 20 h per day during the gestation and lactation periods. No abnormal findings were observed in either the dams or the F(1) generation exposed to the EMF or in the F(2) offspring. Parameters evaluated included growth, gestational condition and organ weights for dams and survival rates, development, growth, physical and functional development, hormonal status, memory function and reproductive ability of the F(1) offspring (at 10 weeks of age) along with embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in the F(2) rats. Thus, under our experimental conditions, whole-body exposure to 2.14 GHz for 20 h per day during gestation and lactation did not cause any adverse effects on pregnancy or the development of rats.