Ultraviolet absorption capabilities of Fe-containing mesoporous silicas (Fe-MPSs) synthesized using different Fe sources, template removal methods, and types of Fe-MPSs were studied. Further, the potential of Fe-MPSs as ultraviolet protecting agents was considered by UV transmittance of thin films of the samples, their color and also photo-catalytic activities. Calcined MCM-41 type Fe-MPS which is synthesized via iron (III) acetylacetonate showed the best ultraviolet absorption capability but is slightly brown when Fe/Si mole ratio ≥ 0.02. Contrastingly, both MCM-41 and HMS type Fe-MPS using Fe(acac)₃ as the iron source and removing the template by solvent extraction yielded white powder even though ultraviolet absorption was relatively low. Furthermore, the UV transmittances of thin films of aqueous slurries of the suggested calcined Fe-MPS (Fe/Si mole ratio = 0.02) were equal to that of aqueous slurry of silica surface treated TiO₂. In addition, there was no photocatalytic activity detected in Fe-MPSs synthesized by both suggested methods. These results indicate that Fe-MPSs synthesized by the conditions suggested in this study have the potential for use as new ultraviolet protecting agents.

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We show an evaluation method of tactile feels and friction properties of the skins washed with soaps. When subjects touched the artificial skins washed with soap and hard water, the moving behavior of fingers and the friction force on artificial skins were evaluated. The present method is useful to design novel cleansing products.

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UV curing technology is used in various fields utilizing its advantages such as quick curing, tough tolerance of the coatings, and solvent-free. The UV curing type ink used for the printed matter seen daily life gives required performance and physical properties depending on the purpose, and offers the products which match the needs of the market. Differentiation of the printed matter has been achieved by using a UV curing type printing system (that can add some values). Moreover, in consideration of environmental preservation, the ink design has been performed from various approaches. Also in the optical field, UV curing technology has been developed, and the hard court agent which gives some functions is used in market. This paper describes the fields that use these UV curing type ink and the UV curing type hard court agents in a market, its features and so on.

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Despite the importance of thickness control to guarantee paint qualities, there was no effective tool to measure thickness of each layer without contact.
We here propose the use of terahertz wave as a new measurement tool for paint thickness. Terahertz wave comprises electromagnetic waves with the frequency, around 1 THz, and the wave penetrates paint layers easily with its remarkable transparency. We demonstrate the echo-pulse thickness measurement like sonar, using 100 fs (1×10⁻¹³ s) terahertz pulse, of which ultrashort temporal duration leads to high depth resolution of 10 μm. The thickness of each layer can be measured individually at a time.
Our system, which is based on fiber laser technology, is compact, stable, and capable to be used by setting to the edges of the robot arms. Furthermore, this method is noncontact measurement, so that it can measure thickness under both dry and wet conditions. This technology will realize the real-time measurement of paint thickness in a paint booth. We hope our technology, using terahertz wave, will make a contribution to paint quality control in near future.

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We developed a nine-layered (9-L) skin tissue model for Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) of light propagation in skin. Using MCS with the 9-L model, skin spectral reflectance can be simulated and we confirmed that the simulated spectra agree well with measured spectra. As an example of the application of this simulation, we introduce a novel method to reconstruct a skin image by synthesizing the original texture component with a generated color component which is obtained by the MCS using the 9-L model.

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Significant progress has been made in the instrumentation and the applications of scanning probe microscope (SPM) over the last thirty years since scanning tunneling microscope was first realized in 1981. Computers and related technology have recently opened up a new dimension of the science and technology of SPM, and measurement modes of SPM has also largely diversified. A few measurement modes derived from atomic force microscopy are especially useful to acquire detailed information concerning surface of substances and materials, which cannot be obtained with other methods. This paper briefly describes a few types of SPM such as friction force microscope, magnetic force microscope and scanning Kelvin probe microscope and so on.

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