The Critically Endangered tamaraw Bubalus mindorensis is endemic to Mindoro Island, Philippines, and little is known of its ecology. During 2006–2011 we used community-based monitoring to examine the population status and ecology of tamaraw in the species’ core habitat of Mount Iglit–Baco National Park. Each year, for 5 consecutive days at the end of the dry season, trained local volunteers and rangers or project staff were allocated to 18 vantage points in the study area (c. 160 km2). Tamaraw were categorized as adult (> 5 years), juvenile (2–5 years) or calf (< 2 years), and sexed when possible. During the study period the population was 239–314 (mean 271), with no significant fluctuations in age structure (percentage of adults, juveniles and calves: 57.8, 21.0 and 21.3%) or estimated adult female reproductive rates (29.1%). In adults, but not in juveniles, the sex ratio was biased towards females (1 : 1.86, P < 0.01). Bulls were often solitary (32.2% of sightings), whereas the majority of cows (94.7%) formed small groups of 2–12 individuals of different ages, with or without bulls (53.4 and 46.6%, respectively). These results demonstrate that the population remained relatively stable, maintaining a constant age structure and reproductive rate, and that long-term community-based monitoring was effective for quantitative characterization of the tamaraw's social behaviour, which is critical for conservation and management of the species.

We investigated electronic structure of one-dimensional biradical molecular chain which is constructed by exploiting the covalency between organic molecules of a diphenyl derivative of s-indacenodiphenalene (Ph2-IDPL). To control the crystallinity, we used gas deposition method. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) revealed developed band structure with wide dispersion of the one-dimensional biradical molecular chain.

In previous comparative studies of buffaloes and temperate cattle, a greater increase in rectal temperature (RT) and skin temperature (ST), and a greater decrease in haematocrit (Ht) have been observed in buffaloes than in temperate cattle with an increase in ambient temperature (AT). Our series of previous experiments suggested that great changes in RT, ST and Ht are induced in buffaloes by a marked increase in blood flow from the body core to the surface, which accelerates dissipation of heat from the skin surface. On the basis of these suggestions, the present study was undertaken to compare fluctuations in RT, ST and Ht between buffaloes and tropical cattle. Fluctuations in the aforementioned parameters, particularly RT and Ht, were greater in buffaloes than in cattle. Moreover, the correlation for RT or Ht v. AT was significant for buffaloes (r=0·33 and −0·37, respectively) but not for cattle. The correlation coefficient for ST v. AT was significant in both species, but was greater in buffaloes (r=0·63) than in cattle (r=0·56). These results demonstrate that with changes in ambient temperature, RT, ST and Ht fluctuate much more in buffaloes than in tropical cattle, as found previously for temperate cattle. Therefore, the distinctive thermoregulatory responses of buffalo are confirmed as being specific to this species.

We have confirmed that grain boundaries are related to leakage problems in Ta2O5/SiON capacitors for high dielectric DRAMs. XRD studies using an intensity ratio of (200) to (001) showed that the crystallographic structure of Ta2O5 film was strongly dependent on preparation conditions. As the (200) oriented grains grew faster than the other grains, it became important to control its grain growth in forming uniform grain boundaries. TEM observation has shown that Ta2O5 film with a high intensity ratio of (200) to (001) was made up of large size grains and had SION interface intruding into grain boundaries. By using the current-mode AFM, we could monitor leakage current directly through grain boundaries on Ta2O5 film.

In order to study mechanism of laser ablation, the time-of-flight spectra of monovalent ions generated by ablation of alkaline earth metals are measured. The obtained spectra show that the ion generation is caused by 5-, 4- and 3-photon processes for Ca, Sr and Ba, respectively, when ArF excimer laser is used as a light source. This behavior suggests that laser ablation of alkaline earth metals is triggered by excitation of electrons at the highest inner-core level. Control of layer-by-layer growth processes by monitoring emission from the ablation plume is also reported. The emission measurement is utilized for estimation of each layer thickness in layer-by-layer growth. This conventional technique is very effective for automatic control of layer-by-layer growth.

As a means of selectively removing pathogenic macromolecular substances, an affinity adsorbent or immunoadsorbent has been investigated in experimental and clinical studies on blood purification in the treatment of immune diseases. There are several affinity adsorbents currently available for clinical application. The authors developed physicochemical affinity adsorbents Immusorba IM-TR and IM-PH, whose experimental and clinical evaluations have been satisfactory in several immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis.

Absorptive cell separation, for leucocyte-free blood transfusion or for cytapheresis, has been developed using a leucocyte removal filter, whose container has fine, long fibers of polyester which are densely packed. The filters Sepacell and Cellsorba are used for erythrocyte transfusion and cytapheresis, respectively. In experimental and clinical trials, they provide efficient removal of leucocytes. Erythrocytes can be recovered virtually without loss. Clinical evaluation is now being conducted.

In conclusion, the above-mentioned new methods provide promising immunomodulations for the treatment and for the clearification of pathphysiology of immune diseases.