Carbon composites were prepared with pitch-based round, C, hollow-type carbon fibers and pitch matrix. The thermal conductivities parallel and perpendicular to the fiber axis were measured by steady-state method. It was found that the thermal conductivities depended on the cross-sectional forms of the reinforcing fibers as well as the reinforcing orientation and carbon fiber precusors. Especially, mesophase pitch-based hollow carbon fiber-carbon composites had the most excellent thermal anisotropy, which was above 100.

Construction of the Virtual Observatory (VO) is a great concern to the astronomical community in the 21st century. We present an outline of the concept and necessity of the va and the current status of various VO projects including the 15 national ones and the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). We summarize the possible science cases that could be solved by using the VO data/tools, real science cases which are the results of using current VO tools, and our own work of using AstroGrid, the United Kingdom national VO, for a research on star formation history of galaxies.

The latest scientific highlights obtained with the Subaru telescope are given together with its current status and on-going instrumentation. We have been successfully operating the telescope and 8 observatory instruments (including an adaptive optics system) since January 1999, when the first light was accomplished. Open-use of Subaru began in December 2000. Subaru has a unique capability of its prime focus among other 8-10 meter class telescopes and has an excellent imaging performance as a result of its sophisticated active optics combined with the high stability of the sky at Mauna Kea. Scientific highlights are given on the discoveries of the most distant galaxies, spiral structure on a protoplanetary disk around AB Aur, and planetesimal belts in the debris disk around β Pic. Brief summaries are given for three new instruments: the Multi-Object Infrared Camera and Spectrograph (MOIRCS), 188 element adaptive optics system, and Fiber Multi-Object Spectrograph (FMOS)

The mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (Mes V) contains cell bodies of primary afferent sensory neurons that relay proprioceptive information from the periodontium and masticatory muscles and function as typical sensory neurons or potentially as integrative interneurons. In the present study, we studied these two potential functions using combined experimental approaches of retrograde labeling and whole cell patch clamp recording. Mes V neurons that presumably originate from periodontal nerve fibers in subsets of Mes V nucleus were identified by retrograde labeling with a fluorescent dye, DiI, which was applied onto inferior alveolar nerve. These cells were elliptical perikarya shaped cells about 40μmin diameter. In these neurons, we measured high voltage-activated calcium channel (HVACC) currents GABAв agonist, baclofen, inhibited calcium currents, and the HVACC currents inhibition by baclofen was voltage-dependent, exhibited prepulse facilitation, indicating that it was mediated by Gi/Go protein. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Mes V neurons not only have cell bodies originating from periodontium, but also receive synaptic inputs including GABAergic neurons suggesting that Mes V neurons function as both primary sensory neurons and integrative interneurons.

원자력연구시설의 핫셀 내 바닥이나 장치표면에 부착된 고방사능분진의 제거를 위해서 PFC제염기술을 적용한다. 고가인 PFC 용액의 재사용을 위해서는 여과장치의 개발이 필요하고 제염종료 후 이차폐기물의 양을 최소화할 필요가 있다. PFC 제염폐액 내 방사성 입자를 제거하기 위해 핫셀 내의 고방사능분진의 오염 특성을 조사했다. 여과 막을 이용한 입자의 제거효율 측면에서 보면 세라믹 , PVDF, PP 막 모두가 95 이상의 높은 여과 성능을 보였다. 기공 크기가 같은 동일 여과 막에서는 입자가 크거나 가하는 압력이 높을수록 좀더 높은 제거효율을 나타내었고, 3psi이하에서는 PVDF의 제거효율이 다른 막에 비해 작게 나타났다. 플럭스 성능은 PVDF 막이 가장 높은 수준을 나타냈고 세라믹과 PP 막에서는 다소 낮은 성능을 보였다. PVDF 막은 낮은 압력과 짧은 여과시간으로 최대(한계)플럭스에 도달함을 확인하였다. 세라믹 막은 모의입자의 제거 효율은 높지만 다소 낮은 Flux 성능을 나타냈다. 또한, 막 자체의 비싼 가격과 쉽게 부서지는 성질의 단점을 지니고 있지만 무기화합물의 재질로 되어있기 때문에 알파방사능 환경에서 H, 가스를 발생하는 고분자 막인 PVDF, PP 막과 비교하여 훨씬 안정적이었다. 그리고 이들 소수성 여과막들의 특성 비교를 바탕으로 세라믹 막을 적용한 PFC 실증 여과장치의 공정도를 살펴보았다.