Search

This paper presents a new technology for constructing cool roofs composed of fractal shapes. The roofs consist of many Sierpinski tetrahedron units and block 100% sunlight from a particular direction. The sunlight from other directions partly penetrates the roof, creating a leafy shaded area under the roof. Compared with ordinary flat roofs, these roofs greatly reduce surface temperature and consequently provide a cool environment without strong heat radiation. The fractal structure of the tetrahedron units is similar to that of natural trees. Three-dimensional measurements revealed that natural trees have a fractal dimension of approximately 2, which is similar to that of the Sierpinski tetrahedrons. In this study, fractal roofs made from different materials were tested at two sites. The results showed that they were very effective in reducing surface temperatures in sunlight.

IL-17, the hallmark cytokine of the Th17 population, mediates immunity to extracellular pathogens and promotes autoimmune immunopathology. The signaling mechanisms triggered by the IL-17 receptor (IL-17RA) and related receptors are strikingly different from other cytokine subclasses. Namely, IL-17Rs contain a conserved SEF/IL-17R (SEFIR) subdomain that engages Act1, leading to activation of TRAF6, NF-κB, and other events. Although the SEFIR is critical for signaling, the molecular details of the functional subdomains within IL-17RA remain poorly characterized. Here, we provide a detailed structure-function analysis delineating the C-terminal boundary of the SEFIR-containing region of IL-17RA. We show that functionality of this domain requires a large extension to the previously identified SEFIR motif. In contrast to the SEFIR, this extension is not conserved among IL-17R family members. Surprisingly, Act1 recruitment is not sufficient for downstream signaling activation, whereas ubiquitination of TRAF6 correlates tightly with functional receptors. We further demonstrate that IL-17RA exhibits signaling properties that are nonredundant with other IL-17R family members. Finally, we report that IL-17 signals synergistically with lymphotoxin-α3, using the same signaling motifs within IL-17RA. These studies provide new insight into the structure-function relationships of IL-17RA and reveal distinct signaling differences among IL-17R family members.

著者人数: 11名, 資料番号: SA1000651000

著者人数：31名, 資料番号: SA1001092000

著者人数：35名, 資料番号: SA1001093000

著者人数：31名, 資料番号: SA1001094000

In this study, we examined the subsurface structure in the vicinity of the active Atera fault beneath at least one monogenetic volcano that forms the Sakashita body of the Ueno basalts, central Japan. Microgravity and seismic reflection surveys over an area of about 3×3 km (horizontal)×1 km (vertical from surface) revealed that (1) a low-density body interpreted as the damaged zone of the Atera fault reaches a depth more than 200 m below sea level; and (2) a weak zone of crust that may exist about 1.5 km southwest of the Atera fault in a direction parallel to it. By combining the shape of the Sakashita body and (2), we propose that a dyke extending in a NW–SE direction with several vent alignments in the same direction may exist along this weak zone. This suggests that the studied area was governed in the NW–SE compressional and NE–SW extensional stress field when the Sakashita body formed.

Stacking several ten layers of thin CdTe devices is a new concept of a gamma-ray detector, featuring both good energy resolution and high efficiency. We have developed prototype models of the CdTe stacked detector which consists of 10 layers and 40 layers based on a newly-developed large CdTe diode. The energy resolution of the detector is measured to be 1–2% (FWHM) from 500 keV to 6 MeV . In addition to the gamma-ray spectroscopy, we propose to use the stack detector as a new type of range finder for gamma-ray sources below a few hundred keV. We demonstrate that the distance of a 57 Co radio active source, which is located 5 cm from the detector surface, is measured within the accuracy of 1–2 mm .

The transmission line consisting of non-zero dispersion shifted fibers (NZ–DSFs) and dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) modules has been proposed to enable the wide-band wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission. The NZ–DSFs with the effective area over 60 μm2 and the dispersion of +5–11 ps/nm/km (1500–1600 nm) have been developed to suppress the transmission penalty caused by the four-wave mixing. The DCF modules which compensate for the dispersion and the dispersion slope simultaneously have also been realized. To enhance the figure of merit (FOM) of the DCF by enlarging the absolute value of its dispersion is found to be an effective way to reduce the non-linear effects occuring in the DCF. The transmission line actually fabricated based on the optimized design exhibits an extremely low dispersion deviation of ±0.08 ps/nm/km in the C band.

The development of an aqueous thermodynamic model for the Pb2+–Na+–K+–Ca2+–Mg2+–Cl−–SO42−–H2O system is presented, which is valid to high ionic strengths at 25°C. The model is based on the equations of Pitzer and has been parameterized from existing solubility, osmotic, electromotive force (emf), and spectroscopic data. To accurately represent the aqueous thermodynamics of Pb2+ in concentrated chloride containing solutions required the inclusion of four Pb chloride species (i.e., PbCl+, PbCl2(aq), PbCl3−, and PbCl42−) along with the necessary Pitzer ion interaction parameters for these species with the major electrolyte ions. The reliability of the final equilibrium model is tested against experimental solubility data on PbCl2(c) and PbSO4(c) in high ionic strength Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) brines obtained as part of this study. On an overall basis the model accurately predicted the aqueous speciation, based on comparisons with our UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements, as well as the observed solubility. The model also proved satisfactory in predicting the observed solid phase assemblages, with the possible exception of those found in solutions high in KCl.

To estimate the effect of tree planting on atmospheric C2–C5 aldehydes, a study was made on the absorption of, and tolerance to, C2–C5 aldehydes by various tree species. The absorption rates ranged from 10.2 for acetaldehyde (Japanese black pine) to 107 ng dm−2 h−1 ppb−1 for n-valeraldehyde (locust) at 1000 μmol of photons m−2 s−1. The absorption rates of C2–C5 aldehydes increased in the following order: coniferous tree species

The hydrolysis and carbonate complexation of the alkaline earth cations Ca 2+ and Sr 2+ were investigated by using a combined experimental and modeling approach. The modeling approach uses both macroscopic thermodynamic models and molecular modeling at the density functional theory (DFT) level. The molecular modeling calculations identify possible speciation schemes in the thermodynamic modeling and provide molecular level insight into the macroscopically observed thermodynamic measurements. In order to develop accurate thermodynamic models valid to high electrolyte concentration and to test for the possible existence of species suggested by the molecular models, experimental measurements were made on the solubility of Ca(OH) 2 , Sr(OH) 2 ·8H 2 O, and carbonate compounds extending to high base molality (≈5 mol kg −1 ), or carbonate molality (≈2 mol kg −1 ). A thermodynamic model is developed that satisfactorily explains the macroscopic aqueous thermodynamic data and correlates with the molecular modeling results. The first published values of the equilibrium constants for the formation of Sr(CO 3 ) 2− 2 (aq) and Ca(CO 3 ) 2− 2 (aq), and of the solubility product of Sr(OH) 2 ·8H 2 O are also provided. In certain cases, specifically when the DFT calculations suggest that the hydroxyl groups are more closely associated with the first hydration layer of water molecules than directly with the central alkaline earth cation, the thermodynamic relations for these cation–hydroxyl interactions are described by means of Pitzer ion-interaction parameters, rather than by the explicit introduction of an aqueous hydrolysis species.

Dispersion shifted fiber with a high nonlinearity coefficient (20.4 W-1 km-1) and low attenuation (0.51 dB/km) was successfully fabricated. 500 m of the fabricated fiber efficiently generated four-wave mixing, and nearly constant wavelength conversion efficiency over 20 nm was demonstrated.

著者人数: 18名, 資料番号: SA1000339000

Mixtures of ZrO 2 or ZBLAN/NH 4 FHF were mainly analyzed in the range of room temperature to 600 o C by TG-DTA and mass spectroscopy simultaneously in order to determine the best temperature for the fluorination process. Four endothermic peaks with weight reduction were found by TG-DTA, and clearly assigned by mass spectrum. The first peak around 100 o C is caused by the ZrO 2 /NH 4 FHF reaction, and the second to fourth peaks are attributed to decomposition of (NH 4 ) x-4 ZrF x

Nd3+-doped ZBLAN single-mode fibers have been fabricated and optical amplification around 1340 nm has been obtained. However no gain has been observed in the 1300 nm region, which is used in most of the current telecommunication systems. This problem is because of the existence of the excited state absorption (ESA). In order to improve gain characteristics around 1300 nm, ESA and fluorescence wavelengths must be controlled by changing the ligand field around Nd3+ ions. Some Nd3+-doped fluorozirconate-based glasses, in which other alkali elements were substituted for Nd were prepared and absorption, fluorescence and lifetime characteristics of the Nd3+ ions in the glasses were examined. As a result, it was found that the ESA wavelength was shifted by the alkali elements systematically.

The zero resistance behavior of a SrxCuO2-σ film sandwiched with YBa2Cu3O7−z films has been examined. The transition temperatures of the sandwiched-type-SrxCuO2-δ, which was deposited optimally at x=0.1 and with thickness ≈2200A, was Tc-end=93.8K and Tc-on=99.0K.

This paper concerns the tendency of a few natural surfactants at the oil/water interface to induce spontaneous emulsification. N-paraffin (n-dodecane), liquid triglycerides (oleic safflower oil and corn oil), and liquid fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) were used as the oil phase and distilled water was used as the water phase. Natural surfactants such as cholesterol, lecithin, and oleic acid were applied to the systems as the oil-soluble additives. Lecithin was the most strongly effective in reducing the interfacial tension of the oil/water systems, and cholesterol was effective at the second strength. The oil/water interface of the systems containing the oil-soluble additives changed in various ways as observed by microscopy and the unaided eye. The most remarkable change was found in the system of glycerides containing cholesterol in contact with water, in which crystals of cholesterol were formed at the interface. 13 references.

An 11-year-old boy with multiple dentigerous cysts in the maxilla and mandible is described. Other findings seen in the face, plantar skin, skeletal system and oral cavity indicated the lesions to be due to the basal cell nevus syndrome. This was further con- firmed by the presence of similar abnormalities in his father and brother.