Hydration behavior of Na-smectite crystals synthesized at a pressure of 5.5 GPa and temperatures of 1400°–1500°C was examined by X-ray powder diffraction at various relative humidities (RH) in the range of 0–100%. The basal spacing of the Na-smectite crystal increased stepwise with increase in RH. The reflections observed were only normal reflections of a single or dual hydration states of smectite. No irrational, intermediate, or asymmetrical reflections were observed. The simple hydration behavior, not known for natural smectite with fine particle sizes and low crystallinity, indicates that the Na-smectite crystals are as perfect as common inorganic crystals with an ordered structure.

Smectite single crystals of superior quality were synthesized at high pressures and temperatures using a modified belt type high pressure apparatus. Pressure-temperature conditions were established for smectite formation by quenching experiments in the pressure range from 2–5.5 GPa and temperatures of 700°–1000°C. Smectite crystals with extraordinary quality were formed beyond 3 GPa and 1000°C with coexisting phases of coesite, kyanite, jadeite, and in some cases with mica and glass. Smectite was confirmed from the XRD taken after intercalation of ethylene glycol. The smectite crystals were considered to be quenched crystals metastably from the hydrous silicate melts formed at high pressures and temperatures.

Transformation of montmorillonite was experimentally investigated using a model system of montmorillonite-alanine at 100 MPa and up to 500°C. Sodium-montmorillonite changed to a mixed layer mineral of sodium- and ammoniumn-montmorillonites (Na/NH4-Mnt) in the temperature range from 150 to 400°C. Ammonium ions were the decomposition product of alanine above 150°C. The Na/NH4-Mnt transformed to regularly and randomly interstratified minerals of NH4-montmorillonite and NH4-mica (o. NH4-Mnt/NH4-Mic and d. NH4-Mnt/NH4-Mic) at 400°C. These mixed layered minerals transformed to ammonium-mica at 500°C. Ammonium-analcime appeared and coexisted with the smectites at temperatures over 200°C, and with albite for those over 400°C.

In comparison with the results of previous experiments in which there was no organic component, the present results revealed that (1) some uncommon mineral phases appeared by replacement of sodium ions in montmorillonite with ammonium ions, i.e., NH4-Mic, o. and d. NH4-Mnts, o. and d. NH4-Mnt/NH4-Mics, and (2) ammonium-analcime appeared. The mineral assemblages and alteration sequences correspond better with those observed in the natural system than those known from experimental results in aluminosilicate-water system.

We have investigated the adsorption of adenine, adenosine, ribose, and adenosine-5′-phosphate (5′-AMP) by allophane at pH 4, 6 and 8. Adenine, adenosine and ribose gave similar isotherms, i.e. adsorption increased regularly with solution concentration and decreased in the order: pH 8 > pH 6 > pH 4. Allophane had a greater affinity for 5′-AMP than for adenine, adenosine or ribose. Further, the extent of adsorption for 5′-AMP increased in the order: pH 8 ≪ pH 6 ≈ pH 4. The adsorption of 5′-AMP at pH 4 and pH 6 was about 60 times greater than at pH 8. The strong adsorption of 5′-AMP accords with the well known high phosphate-retention capacity of allophane and allophane-rich soils. The experimental data may be rationalized in terms of the pH-dependent charge characteristics of the organic solutes and allophane. The large propensity of allophane to retain 5′-AMP is ascribed to ligand exchange between the phosphate of 5′-AMP and the hydroxyl of (HO)Al(OH2) groups, exposed at perforations on the wall of allophane spherules, giving rise to a surface (chelation) complex. The high affinity of nucleotides for allophane has implications for the possible role of allophane in the abiotic formation of RNA-type polynucleotides although nucleotide ‘immobilization’ by surface complexation might hinder RNA oligomerization.

We study lc pairs polarized by a nef and log big divisor. After proving the minimal model theory for projective lc pairs polarized by a nef and log big divisor, we prove the effectivity of the Iitaka fibrations and some boundedness results for dlt pairs polarized by a nef and log big divisor.

We establish adjunction and inversion of adjunction for log canonical centers of arbitrary codimension in full generality.

We have investigated the adsorption of D- and L-alanine, and their respective dimers, by three allophanes with different Al/Si ratios. The Kanuma (Al/Si = 1.2) and Kitakami (Al/ Si = 1.5) allophanes were from Japan whereas the Te Kuiti (Al/Si = 1.6) sample came from New Zealand. The three allophanes differed in their capacity for adsorbing alanine but none of the samples showed a clear preference for either the D- or the L-form. In the case of alanyl-alanine both Kanuma and Kitakami allophanes gave a hint of preferring the L- to the D-enantiomer. On the other hand, the allophane sample from Te Kuiti showed a clear preference for L-alanyl-L-alanine. In keeping with this observation, circular dichroic spectrometry indicated that solutions of a racemic mixture of alanyl-alanine, after equilibration with Te Kuiti allophane, became relatively enriched in the Denantiomer. The size, intra-molecular charge separation, and surface orientation, of L-alanyl-Lalanine zwitterions apparently combine to confer ‘structural chirality’ to the complex (adduct) with Te Kuiti allophane. As a result, the mineral-organic complex develops a preference for the L-form of alanyl-alanine. This finding points to a possible role of certain allophanes in the origin of biochirality.

The adsorption of DL-alanine at pH 4, 6 and 8 by a soil allophane has been determined. Two sets of experiments were carried out: (1) in which the allophane had been kept in a moist state throughout; and (2) in which the mineral had previously been dried at 50°C. In both instances, the adsorption isotherms showed three distinct regions as the concentration of alanine in solution was increased: (1) an initial, nearly linear, rise at low equilibrium concentrations; (2) a levelling off to a plateau at intermediate concentrations; and (3) a steep linear increase at high concentrations. For comparable concentrations of alanine in solution, adsorption decreased in the order pH 6 > pH 8 > pH 4. Irrespective of pH, however, more alanine was adsorbed by the ‘wet’ allophane than by its ‘dry’ counterpart. These observations are interpreted in terms of the morphology and aggregation of allophane unit particles together with the pH-dependent charge characteristics of allophane and alanine. The results are compared with published data on the adsorption of alanine by montmorillonite.

We have determined the adsorption of RNA components (adenine, cytosine, uracil, ribose and phosphate) by Mg2+-exchanged montmorillonite. The isotherms for adenine, cytosine and uracil were of the C-type, the amount adsorbed increasing linearly with the equilibrium solute concentration. All three nucleic acid bases were apparently adsorbed by coordination to Mg2+ ions through a water bridge. Very little ribose was adsorbed by Mg-exchanged montmorillonite. The isotherm for phosphate was of the L-type. The plateau value of about 0.012 mmol g–1 indicated that phosphate adsorbed on the edge surface of montmorillonite. At comparable solute concentrations, adsorption decreased in the order adenine > cytosine > uracil. This observation reflects differences in basicity, size, and aqueous solubility among the three compounds.

Background: We evaluate long-term post-operative hippocampal volume (HV) on non-epileptic hippocampus using MR volumetry as well as the neuropsychological outcome in patients with surgery for unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and achieved seizure-freedom. Methods: We studied 1.5-Tesla MRI before and after epilepsy surgery in 24 patients with MTLE. Serial MRI studies were scheduled at 4 post-operative consecutive periods; 6m-1y; 1-2y; 2-3y; 3-5y. We compared neuropsychological outcomes for memory and estimated IQ at the same periods with serial MRI up to 3 years. Results: The pre-operative non-epileptic HV was significantly smaller than HV in age-matched controls (n=14) (p<0.05). The HV became progressively atrophic after the surgery (p<0.05), correlating with the age at surgery (p<0.05) and pre-operative larger non-epileptic HV (p<0.05), but not with seizure duration. In 14 patients with non-dominant MTLE, the smaller dominant HV at 2-3y period correlated with decline of verbal memory (p<0.05). Conclusions: Post-operative progression of non-epileptic hippocampal atrophy was found with significantly more pronounce in patients with older age at surgery and larger pre-operative non-epileptic hippocampus. After the epileptogenic hippocampus is resected, the remaining hippocampus alone might exhaust to maintain the memory, especially in elders.

Two major earthquakes struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan in April 2016. Disaster response was immediately provided, including disaster medical services. Many hospitals were damaged and patients needed immediate evacuation to alternative facilities. The hospital bed capacity of Kumamoto Prefecture was overwhelmed, and transportation of more than 100 patients was needed. Hospital evacuation was carried out smoothly with the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies. The overall operation was deemed a success because patients were transported in a timely manner without any significant adverse events. Upon repair of facilities in Kumamoto Prefecture, patients were returned safely to their previous facilities. The management of inpatients after this natural disaster in Kumamoto Prefecture can serve as a model for hospital evacuation with multi-agency coordination in the future. Future efforts are needed to improve interfacility communications immediately following a natural disaster. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:517–521)