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At the present, the grid-tied solar power system is the most promising as a renewable energy technology for replacing the fossil energy sources. The usage efficiency of the power conditioner system in the grid-tied solar power system is not high because the electricity generation from solar panels depends on the weather. The utilization rate of the power conditioner system can be increased by adding the small scale wind turbine to the existing grid-tied solar power system. We introduced a novel design solution in the previous study to connect the small wind turbine with the power conditioner system of the grid-tied solar power system by emulating technical characteristics of the solar panel in series connection mode. By which, the utilization rate of the power conditioner system has been increased. However, this improved utilization rate of the power conditioner system is not high in the cloudy and rainy days because the voltage of the solar panel changes slightly and the maximum input voltage of the power conditioner system is limited. Therefore, we propose a novel performance enhancement method for solar–wind hybrid power plant using photovoltaic cell emulating system in this research.

La vessie hyperactive (HV) est liée à un trouble de la fonction de stockage de la vessie qui provoque une envie soudaine d’uriner qui peut être difficile à arrêter, et qui peut conduire à la perte involontaire d’urine. Il est habituellement conseillé comme traitement de première ligne de débuter les stratégies comportementales (c.-à-d., adaptation des boissons, mictions programmées, révision des médicaments). Lorsque cette étape ne permet pas de contrôler suffisamment les symptômes, des traitements de deuxième et de troisième ligne sont disponibles. Toutefois, dans la population gériatrique hospitalisée, l’application des recommandations doit être raisonnée et raisonnable. Nous présentons une démarche structurée en 7 étapes qui permet de guider l’évaluation, l’élaboration des objectifs et la prise de décisions pour une prise en charge optimale de l’HV chez les patients âgés hospitalisés.

PurposeTo determine the correlation of the degree of aniseikonia with the retinal displacements and metamorphopsia in patients that have undergone successful epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery.MethodsSubjects were 28 eyes with an ERM in 28 patients. The New Aniseikonia Test (NAT) and M-CHARTS were used to quantify the degree of preoperative and postoperative aniseikonia and metamorphopsia. We also evaluated the distance between the intersections of 2 sets of retinal vessels situated vertically or horizontally by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images in 28 patients.ResultsThe vertical score of M-CHARTS (MV) was not significantly improved, but the horizontal score of M-CHARTS (MH) was significantly improved at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. The preoperative NAT score was significantly correlated with the preoperative MH. The NAT score at 3 months was significantly correlated with the MH at 3 months and the MV at 3 months. The preoperative NAT score was significantly correlated with the ratio of the vertical retinal displacement at 1 month and at 3 months after surgery. However, the NAT scores did not improve significantly at any postoperative times.ConclusionsThe degree of aniseikonia was significantly correlated with the degree of metamorphopsia and the tangential displacement of the retina after ERM surgery. Aniseikonia is difficult to improve and metamorphopsia may be a more sensitive parameter to detect the functional recovery after successful ERM surgery.

Afin d’optimiser nos pratiques en développant un programme interdisciplinaire de dépistage et de prise en charge des troubles fonctionnels urinaires avec incontinence urinaire (IU), cette étude prospective a permis d’évaluer les besoins qualitatifs et quantitatifs de nos patients âgés, polymorbides et polymédiqués. Tous les patients en miction spontanée hospitalisés dans l’unité de soins aigus aux seniors du CHUV entre le 1er février et le 31 mars 2016 ont été évalués à l’aide de l’ICIQ-UI-SF. Durant la période, sur les 87 patients évalués (âge moyen : 86,4±6,7ans ; 78,2 % de femmes), 41 avaient des pertes urinaires dont 23 présentaient des épisodes d’incontinence≥1/jour (56,1 %). Pour 20, l’abondance était de quantité moyenne à importante (48,8 %). Le score moyen à l’ICIQ-UI-SF était de 12,3±4,2 (min=0, max=21). Plus de la moitié des patients incontinents rapportaient des symptômes évoquant une IU d’effort ; 53,6 % déclaraient avoir des pertes avant de pouvoir arriver aux toilettes, sans que l’on puisse à ce stade distinguer une hyperactivité vésicale d’une origine fonctionnelle. Chez 11 patients, des épisodes de fuites urinaires nocturnes étaient rapportés. En comparaison aux autres, les patients avec IU étaient plus âgés (87,7±4,8 vs. 85,5±7,8ans, p<0,05) et présentaient plus de syndromes gériatriques (2,1±0,6 vs. 1,8±0,8, p<0,05). Les troubles de la marche et de l’équilibre, les troubles cognitifs et le risque de dénutrition protéinoénergétique étaient significativement plus fréquents. Si les patients avec une IU prenaient significativement plus de médicaments (9,1±4,0 vs. 8,4±3,5, p<0,05), il n’a pas été identifié de différence en termes de prévalence de prescriptions potentiellement inappropriées selon les critères STOPP/START. Cette étude apporte des réponses aux objectifs initialement posés et a conduit à l’élaboration d’un protocole interdisciplinaire et des recommandations thérapeutiques adaptées au profil de vulnérabilité des patients identifiés.

Islet autotransplantation following total pancreatectomy differs from allograft transplantation with respect to the requirement of biliary reconstruction. Although it is known that careful consideration should be given to postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction, its direct effects on transplanted islets have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we developed a murine model of postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction with islet autotransplantation that involved syngeneic intraportal islet transplantation into chemically induced diabetic mice and common bile duct ligation. We assessed the viability and function of the transplanted islets. The impaired viability of transplanted islets and increased blood glucose levels indicated restoration of the diabetic state after common bile duct ligation in this murine model. Furthermore, impaired islet viability and function occurred earlier in the transplanted islets than in the surrounding liver tissues, which was consistent with the faster and higher expression of oxidative stress markers in the transplanted islets. Transplanted islets may be more vulnerable to oxidative stress caused by cholestatic liver injury than the surrounding liver tissue. Therefore, patients should be intensively managed after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation to preserve viability and function of the transplanted islets. In an animal model, the authors evaluate the influence of cholestasis on transplanted islets in the early postoperative period and find that management of the oxidative stress induced by cholestasis is critical to preserve the viability and function of the transplanted islets.

Islet autotransplantation following total pancreatectomy differs from allograft transplantation with respect to the requirement of biliary reconstruction. Although it is known that careful consideration should be given to postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction, its direct effects on transplanted islets have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we developed a murine model of postoperative cholestatic liver injury after biliary reconstruction with islet autotransplantation that involved syngeneic intraportal islet transplantation into chemically induced diabetic mice and common bile duct ligation. We assessed the viability and function of the transplanted islets. The impaired viability of transplanted islets and increased blood glucose levels indicated restoration of the diabetic state after common bile duct ligation in this murine model. Furthermore, impaired islet viability and function occurred earlier in the transplanted islets than in the surrounding liver tissues, which was consistent with the faster and higher expression of oxidative stress markers in the transplanted islets. Transplanted islets may be more vulnerable to oxidative stress caused by cholestatic liver injury than the surrounding liver tissue. Therefore, patients should be intensively managed after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation to preserve viability and function of the transplanted islets.

Enhanced ultrasonography using a nano/microbubble contrast agent is useful for evaluating engraftment and condition of transplanted islets by measuring echogenicity.

Recent basic and clinical studies have assessed the use of highly sensitive imaging modalities for visualizing transplanted islets. We investigated the utility of enhanced ultrasonography, combined with fluorescent acoustic liposome nano/microbubbles (FALs), for evaluating angiogenesis and the endocrine function of transplanted islets. BALB/c mice were classified into three groups: Diabetic mice that underwent syngeneic islet transplantation into the subrenal capsule and achieved normoglycemia (Tx group); those that failed to achieve normoglycemia (Tx-DM group); and those not receiving any treatment (DM group). Mice were examined by FAL-enhanced high frequency ultrasonography. The echogenicity of the islets increased rapidly within the first minute after injection of FALs and remained at a higher level in the Tx group, while small increases were observed in the other two groups. In histological assessments, fluorescently stained erythrocytes could be seen in and around the transplanted islets, indicating that the transplanted islets were enhanced by infusion of FALs via vessel networks between the engrafted islets and tissue. Furthermore, the echogenicity correlated significantly with endocrine parameters, including blood glucose (BG), serum insulin, and the BG change in the glucose tolerance test. In conclusion, the echogenicity of the islets under FAS-enhanced ultrasonosonography correlated with the endocrine status of transplanted islets.

Analytical study of the needle probe measurement of magnetic flux was performed on the basis of the electromagnetic theory to provide an advanced theoretical backbone for the measuring method. Provided that the flux change in the specimen is homogeneous, the electromotive force induced between the needles represents exactly the flux change in the area between the needles. The measuring error in the needle probe measurement is caused by lack of homogeneity in the flux change postulated in the theory. Among several possible causes of flux non-homogeneity, the existence of domain structure is most intrinsic in localized area measurements, so that in this study the measuring error due to this cause was calculated theoretically in detail. It can be concluded that even in the cases of large domain size often occurring in oriented core materials, the localized measurements by the needle probe provide fairly reliable measure of the flux change in the area.

A new inhibitor system of MnSe and AIN incorporating Sb has exhibited a strong inhibition effect, i.e.strong suppression of normal grain growth in 3% silicon steel. The texture of primary recrystallized grains was considerably improved by (1) rapid step cooling after the intermediate-annealing, (2) dynamic aging during second cold-rolling, and (3) retarded primary recrystallization owing to Sb addition. This improvement resulted in highly aligned secondary recrystallization within average mis-orientation angle less than 3° from the ideal (110). Finished material showed much improved magnetic properties : The iron loss of 0.27 mm thick material, domain-refined with grooves formed in the sheet surface, was less than 0.80 W/kg at 1.7T,50Hz. Model transformer experiments exhibited 12% lower iron loss with the improved material than conventional one.

Abstract: For realizing a premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) engine, the effects of bio-ethanol blend oil and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on PM-NOx trade-off have been investigated in a single cylinder direct injection diesel engine with the compression ratio of 17.8. In the present experiment, the ethanol blend ratio and the EGR ratio were varied focusing on ignition delay, premixed combustion, diffusive combustion, smoke, NOx and the thermal efficiency. Very low levels of 1.5 [g/kWh] NOx and 0.02 [g/kWh] PM, which is close to the 2009 emission standards imposed on heavy duty diesel engines in Japan, were achieved without deterioration of the thermal efficiency in the PCCI engine operated with the 50% ethanol blend fuel and the EGR ratio of 0.2. It is found that this improvement can be achieved by formation of the premixed charge condition resulting from a longer ignition delay. A marked increase in ignition delay is due to blending ethanol with low cetane number and large latent heat, and due to lowering in-cylinder gas temperature on compression stroke based on the EGR. It is noticed that smoke can be reduced even by increasing the EGR ratio under a highly premixed condition.

Context. A significant number of cataclysmic variables have been detected as hard X-ray sources in the INTEGRAL survey, most of them of the magnetic intermediate polar type.Aims. We present a detailed X-ray broad-band study of two new sources, IGR?J00234+6141 and 1RXS?J213344.1+510725, that allow us to classify them as secure members of the intermediate polar class.Methods. Timing and spectral analysis of IGR?J00234+6141 are based on an XMM-Newton observation and INTEGRAL publicly available data. For 1RXS?J213344.1+510725, we use XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations at different epochs, as well as INTEGRAL publicly available data.Results. We determine a spin period of 561.64?? 0.56?s for the white dwarf in IGR?J00234+6141. The X-ray pulses are observed up to ?2?keV. From XMM-Newton and Suzaku observations of 1RXS?J213344.1+510725, we find a rotational period of 570.862?? 0.034?s. The observations span three epochs where the pulsation is observed to change at different energies both in amplitude and shape. In both objects, the spectral analysis spanned over a wide energy range, from 0.3 to 100?keV, shows the presence of multiple emission components absorbed by dense material. The X-ray spectrum of IGR?J00234+6141 is consistent with a multi-temperature plasma with a maximum temperature of ?50?keV. In 1RXS?J213344.1+510725, multiple optically thin components are inferred, as well as an optically thick (blackbody) soft X-ray emission with a temperature of ?100?eV. This adds 1RXS?J213344.1+510725 to the growing group of soft X-ray intermediate polars.Conclusions. Though showing similar rotational periods and being hard X-ray sources, these two intermediate polars appear different in several respects, among which the presence of a soft X-ray component in 1RXS?J213344.1+510725. This source also emits circularly polarized light in the optical band, thus joining the group of soft and polarized intermediate polars as a fifth member. How the hard X-ray and polarized emission are thermalized in these systems is a timely question.

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This study estimated genetic parameters for fatty acids of different sites of fat tissue, meat production, and meat quality traits of Duroc pigs selected during 7 generations for ADG, LM area, backfat thickness (BF), and intramuscular fat (IMF). For this study, 394 barrows and 153 gilts were slaughtered at 105 kg of BW. High heritabilities for C18:0 of outer and inner subcutaneous fat tissue were estimated, respectively, as 0.54 and 0.51; those of intermuscular and intramuscular fat were 0.40 and 0.51, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations of ADG and BF with saturated fatty acids of outer and inner subcutaneous fat were positive, but those with C16:1 and C18:2 were negative, and those with C18:1 were nearly zero. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between LM area and respective fatty acids showed opposite results. Respective genetic and phenotypic correlations of melting points with C18:0 and C18:1 were positive and high, and negative and high, respectively. Genetic correlations between cooking loss and SFA (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) of IMF were positive and moderate: 0.56, 0.47, and 0.47, respectively. On the other hand, monosaturated fatty acid of C18:1 was highly and negatively correlated with cooking loss (−0.61). Moreover, high genetic correlation between meat color (pork color standard and lightness) and fatty acid compositions of IMF suggest that the SFA (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) were correlated genetically with meat lightness and that unsaturated fatty acid compositions (C18:1 and C18:2) were correlated with meat darkness. Results of this study suggest that the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue is correlated genetically with meat production and meat quality traits.

A heat-driven distillation (HDD) system, in which each rectifying stage is divided into an evaporator and a condenser, was proposed for improving both the separation performance and the energy-saving effect. In this system, the mass transfer can be controlled by the internal flows of vapor and liquid, which are generated by the supply of heat to the evaporator and the release of heat from the condenser, respectively. Binary distillation of methanol and ethanol by a HDD system with 12 sets of evaporators and condensers was computed. The separation performance was improved by increasing the internal flow rates. When the internal flow rates were increased 5 times (from 1 to 5 mol/s), the overall separation factor of methanol at the appropriate recycle ratio was increased ~22 times. Then, the energy consumption was also increased in proportion to the increase in the internal flow rates; however, it was reduced drastically by introducing the internal heat-exchange processes, in which heat generated by the isentropic compression of the vapor phase in the condensers is utilized for the vaporization of liquid in the evaporators. The pressures of the condensers were adjusted under the condition that total exergy loss was minimized. Then, the heat supplied to the evaporators was close to zero. The energy consumption is only the compression work of the condensers and is evaluated as ~10% of the heat supplied to the reboiler of a conventional distillation system with the same separation factor, under the conditions that the internal flow rates and the heat transfer area of internal heat exchangers are 2 mol/s and 5 m², respectively. A large energy-saving effect is expected for the HDD system.

Flash welding, through conferring a number of important advantages, such as high productivity, good-quality welds, and suitability for welding of components with large cross-sections, is extensively used for shop welding of rails, plating of hot coils, welding of wheel rims, etc.1-3 More compact welding facilities are also being sought through further exploitation of mechanical control technology for practical applications in job-site welding of rails, H-steel sections, etc.4

Surface modification using light is one of the most powerful methods for controlling the physical and chemical properties of functionalized surfaces. In this paper, we report on systems where soft UV irradiation (λ = 365 nm) converts a “low” activity fluorocarbon to a “high” activity amine-functionalized surface. An amine-functionalized SAM (self-assembled monolayer) is first masked using a tertiary amine catalyzed reaction with an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbonyl reagent. This mild, room-temperature reaction introduces a hydrophobic photocleavable nitrobenzyl “protecting group” terminated with a fluorocarbon end-chain. UV irradiation (λ = 365 nm) of this hydrophobic/fluorocarbon surface cleaves the nitrobenzyl residue, returning the surface to the original hydrophilic/amine-functionalized state. This provides a mild, generic method of producing surfaces with hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterns or patterned with amine functional residues. Two different protecting groups, one terminated with a single and the other with three fluorocarbon end chains, are compared. In the case of the more bulky protecting group, only a small proportion of the amine residues react, but the surface is equally hydrophobic and the amine residues equally well shielded from further reaction. Surfaces are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry, surface potential, and contact angle measurements. Images of the photopatterned SAMs were obtained using scanning electron microscopy.

The dynamics of the reaction, Y O2→ YO O was studied by using the crossed-beam technique at several collision energies from 10.3 to 52.0 kJ mol−1. The Y atomic beam was generated by laser vaporization and crossed with the O2beam at a right angle. Among the energetically accessible electronic states of YO, the formation of the A2Π and A′2Δ states was observed by their chemiluminescence at all collision energies. By analyzing the chemiluminescence spectra of YOA2Π12,32–X2Σ, vibrational state distributions and relative populations of spin–orbit states were determined for YOA2Π12,32. At low collision energies, the vibrational distributions agree quite well with those expected from the statistical energy partitioning, while a little deviation from the statistical expectation was observed at the highest energy, 52.0 kJ mol−1. The populations of two spin–orbit states are in good agreement with the statistical expectations at all collision energies. The vacuum ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence VUV-LIF technique was employed to determine the distributions of spin–orbit states of the product O3PJ at two collision energies, 20.7 and 52.0 kJ mol−1. The line shapes of the O atom transitions were analyzed to determine relative branching ratio of the ground state to the excited states of YO, i.e.YOX2Σ O3PJvs. YOA2Π and A′2Δ O3PJ. The results showed that the electronically excited YO was formed with comparable amount with the ground state which is statistically more favorable, and suggested the occurrence of two mechanisms taking place in the title reaction.

Prolactin (PRL) is a single-chain polypeptide hormone that is generally secreted from prolactin cells of the anterior pituitary gland into the blood circulation. However, recent studies indicate that the gene expression of prolactin is ectopic in several tissues across several species. These studies found that lymphocytes also produce PRL, which is involved in the immunoregulatory system. Here, we searched for PRL messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blotting in the spleens of mice at various growth stages. We also localized mouse prolactin (mPRL) and its mRNA in the spleens of 30- and 60-day-old mice by immunohistochemistry and in situhybridization respectively. The mPRL gene was expressed in all spleen samples at 0–60 days postpartum. We localized mPRL mRNA in the sheathed artery, periarterial lymphatic sheath and the marginal zone of the spleen. Moreover, we detected mPRL in essentially the same area as its mRNA. Furthermore, we performed double-fluorescence immunohistochemical staining for mPRL and mouse CD4 that is specifically produced in helper T cells, or for mPRL and mouse CD19 or CD40 specified B cells. We colocalized mPRL immunoreactivity only in some CD4-immunopositive cells. These results clearly suggest that T cells synthesize mPRL in the mouse spleen.

The energetics of electron transfer in the photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodopseudomonas viridis was studied using the density functional theory (DFT). By examining the basis set-dependence and the accuracy of the DFT for calculating adiabatic electron affinity, single-point calculations with 6-31+G(d) basis sets, at the geometry optimized with 6-31G(d) basis sets, were found to be almost independent of the basis set. In gas-phase calculations, bacteriopheophytin (H) had the greatest electron affinity among the three chromophores:  H, menaquinone (MQ), and ubiquinone (UQ). However, the order of the electron affinity was reversed to be UQ > MQ > H by including residues that interacted with the chromophores through hydrogen bonding. Based on the QM/MM optimized geometries, cluster models for the binding sites were constructed. The computed reaction energy was comparable to values obtained experimentally. The reaction energy can be decomposed into a vertical electron affinity term and a relaxation energy term using a driving force analysis. The most important term was the vertical electron affinity of the chromophores. Based on optimization, there was little structural reorganization. The present results indicate that, with regard to the energetics of electron transfer, local interactions between the chromophores and proteins play a decisive role by tuning the electron affinity of the chromophores, whereas the effects of distant residues are of secondary importance.

The three-element resonant network has various topological alternatives, one of which, a prospective compound topology, is investigated in detail. The converter uses one capacitor (C) and two inductors (L2), to form a compound type CL2 network. Various advantages and limitations of the converter are detailed, and a new design procedure for such converters is also introduced. The converter may be controlled by varying the switching frequency or by pulse-width modulation. An experimental prototype has been produced and an excellent performance in the lagging power-factor mode has been confirmed.

To develop a new technology for CO2 capture with less or even no energy penalty, we have proposed a novel combustion, which may make a breakthrough in CO2 capture by use of no special CO2 separation equipment and no energy penalty. The fundamental reaction kinetics of the solid−gas reactions in natural-gas-fueled chemical-looping combustion was examined by means of a designed and manufactured fixed-bed reactor with an elevated pressure. The solid looping media, which have not only good reactivity but also sufficient mechanical strength, are synthesized for chemical-looping combustion. NiO/NiAl2O4 and CoO−NiO/YSZ were found to be promising candidates for the medium in this combustor. Especially, NiO/NiAl2O4 had good reactivity and excellent resistance against carbon deposition in the atmosphere of H2O/CH4 = 2.0. With the development of suitable material and the selection of good reaction conditions, the valuable data for the design of a practical reactor were obtained.

Aims:The relationship between the pre-operative nutritional condition and the outcome of the surgical treatment in patients with oesophageal carcinoma has been discussed diversely. The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the relationship between pre-operative nutritional condition and post-operative complications and prognosis following surgical treatment for oesophageal carcinoma.

The effect of solvent species (i.e., cyclohexanol, nitromethane, and α-furan aldehyde) on the extraction of acetic acid from its aqueous solution is analyzed with a new graphical method using a material-utilization diagram (or MUD) for each individual component. The abscissa and ordinate of MUD are a flow rate and a logarithm of concentration, respectively. Their scales are properly set to have a common scale of area on MUDs. This new method graphically and precisely provides important properties such as changes in concentration of each component in two phases, the distribution coefficient, selectivity, and exergy loss. MUDs for both water and acetic acid reflect the effect of the solvent species. They depict a factor of selectivity attained in the system. Changes in the concentration of a solvent give rise to a large exergy loss, indicating the importance of the solvent selection. The small exergy loss is accomplished by cyclohexanol in a countercurrent multistage scheme. This relates to a small amount of solvent supplied and to the selectivity in the system. MUD for every component exhibits characteristic features of extraction depending on the solvent species.

Abstract: A series of N-acetyl-L-glutamic acid oligopeptide benzyl esters with exact residue numbers 4, 6, and 12 has been synthesized by a stepwise procedure. For these oligopeptide–dioxane binary systems, the behavior of the liquid-crystalline phases has been examined␣by the use of 2H NMR, and the results indicate that highly ordered aggregates formed by these oligopeptides in dioxane are in an alignment similar to that in a nematic mesophase.

Abstract: Structures of the micelles which are formed by the chiral oligopeptide surfactant N-dodecanoyl-L-proline tripeptide anions have been examined using small-angle neutron scattering spectral analysis. Results show that the chiral N-dodecanoyl-L-proline trimeric anions may form a spherical micelle with an aggregation number of 36 and that the oligopeptide portions with a poly-L-proline I-type helical structure are saturated with water.

N-Acetyl-l-glutamic acid oligomeric benzyl esters with various residue numbers (N_p=4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) have been synthesized by a stepwise procedure. The microstructures of these oligopeptide aggregates in dioxane or benzene have been investigated by IR, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) spectra. It has been confirmed from the IR spectral data that preferential stabilization of antiparallel-type β-sheet structures occurs above the critical aggregation concentration and that the population of this antiparallel β-sheet increases with an increase in concentration. On the basis of these IR results, the model of the rod-like aggregate, in which the disk-like β-sheet monomers are one-dimensionally stacked antiparallel to each other, has been presented for analysis of the observed SANS and SAXS intensity profiles. The best fit intensity profiles, calculated with variation only of the aggregation number and with fixed molecular parameters based on the assumption of polydispersity, have furnished the monomer–monomer bond energies (ακT), corresponding to the hydrogen bonding energies, the number-average aggregation numbers, and the number-average molecular weights for these oligopeptide aggregates. Thus, the rod-like aggregates, formed by these oligopeptides in dioxane or benzene, can be regarded as supramolecular aggregates.

Blood flow to the gravid uterine horn of seven multiparous Holstein cows (mean±SD, BW = 625.5±82.4kg; age = 4.7±1.7 yr; parity = 2.9±1.1 yr) was measured from d 225 of gestation to parturition using transit-time ultrasonic blood flow probes placed around the middle uterine artery. Surgery was conducted on d 215 of gestation. The cows were sedated with xylazine and local anesthesia (procaine or bupivacain hydrochloride) during surgery. The surgical operations were conducted at the flank of standing cows. A transit time ultrasonic flow probe (“S” series, diameter 12 or 14mm, Transonic Systems Inc., Ithaca, NY) was fitted surgically around the uterine artery of each cow. Surgery was completed within 2h of anesthesia, and the animals recovered rapidly following surgery. Uterine blood flow (UBF, L/min) was recorded at 10-s intervals for 1395min; these values were averaged to determine UBF. Cows exhibited normal gestation lengths (279.1±7.4 d), gave birth to normal healthy calves (birth weight = 40.6±6.6kg), and had no retained placentas. The UBF increased significantly (P<0.01) from d 225 (6.67±2.47) to d 249 (8.23±2.89) of gestation, but the latter UBF was similar to that of d 266 (8.38±2.70). The increased UBF after d 225 indicates increased demand of nutrients of fetus with the progress of gestation. The range of mean UBF varied widely among individual cows from 4.1 L/min to 12.2 L/min. Our method is useful for chronic measurement of UBF in cows for nutritional or physiological studies and does not require sophisticated facilities or special surgical technique.

A structurally diverse assortment of 60 environmental estrogens was divided into two main clusters (“A”, “B”) and a pair of subclusters (“C1”, “C2”) by applying principal component analysis to selected 1D and 2D molecular descriptors and subjecting the PCs to hierarchical cluster analysis. Although clustering was predicated solely on physicochemical properties, the dependence on particular physicochemical parameters of xenoestrogen binding affinities (pKi) to murine uterine cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER) proved greater for compounds within (sub)clusters than for compounds between (sub)clusters. Quantitative structure-binding affinity relationships derived using molecular descriptors and PCs suggested differences in the driving forces for xenoestrogen-ER binding for different (sub)clusters. The modeling power for xenoestrogen-ER binding affinities of a combination of TLSER and WHIM 3D indices was much greater than that of combinations of 1D and 2D molecular descriptors or the PCs derived therefrom. The clusterings obtained using PCs also proved applicable to the 3D-QSARs.

The temperature distribution of the intracluster medium (ICM) in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies has been derived from extensive mapping observations with ASCAcovering an area of 19 deg2. In the spectral analysis, the inner region within a radius of ~60' from M87 is characterized by an ICM temperature of kT~ 2.5 keV with little variation. On the other hand, the outer regions indicate significant variation of the temperature with an amplitude of about 1 keV. The temperature map was produced from the hardness ratio (HR) values with a resolution of about 5'. Besides the previously reported hot region with kT> 4 keV between M87 and M49, several hot regions with kT= 3-4 keV are detected in the cluster outskirts. The autocorrelation function for the HR variation shows that the temperature variation is correlated within a size of about 300 kpc, suggesting that gas blobs falling in the Virgo Cluster have a typical size of groups of galaxies. A correlation with the velocity dispersion of member galaxies shows that only the northwest region indicates an unusually large ?specvalue of 2-4. The upper limit for extended nonthermal emission in the Virgo Cluster is obtained to be LX~ 9 × 1041ergs s-1in the 2-10 keV band. We discuss that these features consistently indicate that the Virgo Cluster is in a relatively early stage of the cluster evolution.