The functions of the microstructures in water-in-oil microemulsion are elucidated. The electrostatic interation in the water-pools of the microstructures plays a key role in the solubilization of ionic solutes. A large internal interface of microemulsion contributes to the solubilization of less polar solutes. The curvature of the microstructures affects the local environment of less polar solutes entrapped in the internal interface. For polar macromolecules such as proteins, the microstructures have a function to recognize the size of solutes. The solubilization dynamics was also studied. These knowledge permits tailoring microemulsion for solubilization of solutes and chemical reactions in the microstructure

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The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of sepiolite is greatly enlarged by the ion exchange in an aqueous solution at a high temperature of 95°C as well as the precalcination of original sepiolite at temperatures over 500°C. The Ni ions incorporated for Mg ions in sepiolite crystal exist in the divalent state and are octahedrally-coordinated. An original sepiolite without metal-ion exchange iscompletely inert as a catalyst for any reactions. However, the fixation of Ni orZn confers higher catalytic activity on it for the dehydration of n-butyl alcohol or the benzylation of benzene, respectively.

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An in-house anomalous X-ray scatterig (AXS) method has been done for determiningcation distribution in ZnFe₂O₄, NiFe₂O₄ and NiAl₂O₄ spinels using the anomalous dispersion effect near the K absorption edges of Zn and Ni. When introduced the ratio (_x) of the number of divalent cations of M element, M_A, residing in the tetrahedral A-site to the total number of M element, x=M_A/M_total, the measured intensity ratios of three reflection peaks with two energies close to the K edge of Zn or Ni can be quantitatively explained only by assigning the case where ZnFe₂O₄ is the normal type (x=1.0) and NiFe₂O₄ is the inverse type (_x=0.0) spinel structure. On the other hand, the results for NiAl₂O₄ suggests that 15% of Ni²⁺ cations occupy the tetrahedral A-site (x=0.15) and the rest are octahedrally coordinated. The usefulness of the in-house AXS method is rather surprisingly well-recognized, particularly for obtaining the cation distribution in crystalline materials containing two elements of nearly the same atomic number.

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In order to elucidate the organization of visual information processing in visual cotrtex, the relation between signal type and receptor type in excitatory synaptic transmission to layer 5 neuron from layer 2/3 was studied using slice preparation of cat visual cortex. The effects of application of agonists and antagonists for gluamate receptor on EPSP evoked in layer 5 neurons by electrical stimulation of layer 2/3 were investigated since the type of synaptic potential depends on the combination of transmitter and receptor. The results showed that two types of receptors for glutamate were responsible for the generation of two types of EPSPs separately.

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Cost and safety considerations in the disposal of mine waste are first discussed.Then recent developments are described as follows: thickened tailings for waste dumps; high density slurry fill, paste fill, high density consolidated rockfill and centrifuge modelling for underground fill; and reduced oxygen and water access and wetland and limestone drain treatment for acid drainage.

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Pyrophyllite and talc structural alterations, induced after dry grinding, were studied by nitrogen adsorption, thermal analysis and by X-ray diffraction methods. Structural degradation after grinding for a short time was followed by particle breakdown. After prolonged grinding, particle breakdown resulted in about 0.04μm for pyrophyllite and about 0.02μm (lateral diameter) for talc and about 0.02μm and 0.01μm in thickness, respectively.

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The complex intergrated system of classification and identification of phyllosilicates and their structures has been outlined in this work. The identification of mineral species is developed. This is facilitated by the new projection system of chemical composition, as given by a crystallochemical formula, onto a field with orthogonal axes chosen for octachedral divalent cations, R²⁺, and Si (X, Y, respectively), and oblique axes for octahedral trivalent cations, R³⁺ and vacancies, (V, Z, respectively). The stoichiometry of compositions is controlled, at any point of the projection field by the crystallochemical formulae, valid equally well for di- and tri-octachedral species.
A notation common for all the silicate structures is based on the known Ramsdell symbols, which are combined with those related to the Subfamily and MDO group within homo-, meso-, hetero-octahedral Families. The symbols used have physical meaning as they correspond with the number of layers in the unit cell, symmetry system, and structural XZ and YZ projections.

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China is rich in resources of non-ferrous metals. For the sake of exploring these resources, a whole set of geological exploration methods has been developed. This paper mainly discusses the electrical methods and their applications.
Dual-frequency induced polarization methods, a special technique of geoelectro-chemistry invented by the author, has been widely applied in directly searching for non-ferrous metals. A great deal of are deposits, including copper, silver, gold, lead, zinc, molybdenum, uranium and manganese, have been found.
This technique surely has a bright future if the non-linear phenomenon of induced polarization can be adopted in distinguishing between sulfide and graphite. For the purpose of raising the sensitivity and accuracy, a special frequency domain method has been invented.
Electromagnetic sounding methods can be used to generate 3-D geoelectrical maps. The controlled source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) method has commonly been used because of deep penetration and excellent cost efficiency. Based on these maps, the distribution of rocks and structures can bedetermined, this significantly improving the predicted location of mineral deposits.

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The European Society for Biomaterials has defined [1] that “BIOMATERIAL” is “a non -viable materials used in a medical device, intended to interact with biological systems”. Biomaterials science is one of those areas of advanced technology and is considered inter-disciplinary within physical, chemical, and medical sciences. Even though a numerous efforts have been made to improve the biocompatibility and biofunctionality of biomaterials, still the reliabilities of medical devices are not always sufficient. The more careful biomechanical considerations and designs are required.

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Three large topics for recent soft magnetic materials, such as ultra thin grain oriented silicon steels, nanocrystalline magnetic materials and 6.5wt% Si-Fe alloy sheets are reported. The ultra thin grain oriented silicon steels are known to have extremely low iron loss. Lately, it is reported the domain width of the ultra thin grain oriented silicon steels can be controlled by changing grain size. By this method very low iron loss can be realized without additional domain refining technique. The nanocrystaline magnetic materials are made by recrystallizing the amorphous materials. Since the effective magnetic anisotropy of the material is small, the nanocrystaline materials have fine soft magnetic properties. The 6.5wt% Si-Fe alloy has properties of small magnetostriction and poor ductility. Recently the sheets are commercially developed and used for high frequency transformers.

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The studies on sintering Al₂O₃ are reviewed, highlighting epochs of historically commendable investigations of Coble, Kingery, Brook, Harmer, and Glaeser. The concepts of sintering map, sintering diagram of pore-grain boundary, and dihedral angle are discussed with reference to pore elimination. Further, quantitative treatment of the isotropic grain growth are also reviewed.

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