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SUMMARY: When a transformer is energized, inrush currents whose magnitudes may reach tens of its nominal current occur. Since the inrush currents lead to a voltage drop, this may cause stops and malfunctions of electrical appliances. In addition, the overcurrents may cause an unnecessary operation of an overcurrent relay and affect the power quality of the distribution system. Currently, distribution system operators use current‐versus‐time curves of transformer inrush currents for the studies of such phenomena. However, the studies based on the current‐versus‐time curve give approximate results, and studies based on the current‐versus‐flux curve is required so as to obtain accurate results. Considering this point, this report proposes a method to convert a given current‐versus‐time curve to a current‐versus‐flux one for the case of single‐phase transformers. Using the current‐versus‐flux curve obtained, detailed simulations can be performed using an electromagnetic transient analysis program such as XTAP. In this report, the proposed method is validated by experimental results using a single‐phase transformer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to determine the morphological and functional interaction between kisspeptin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal elements at the median eminence in female rats to clarify a possibility that kisspeptin directly stimulates GnRH release at the nerve end. A dual immunoelectron microscopic study of kisspeptin and GnRH showed that the kisspeptin-immunoreactive nerve element directly abutted the GnRH-immunoreactive nerve element, although no obvious synaptic structure was found between kisspeptin and GnRH neurones in the median eminence. The current retrograde tracing study with FluoroGold (FG) indicates that kisspeptin neurones are not in contact with fenestrated capillaries because no FG signal was found in kisspeptin neurones when the FG was injected peripherally. This peripheral FG injection revealed the neuroendocrine neurones projecting to the median eminence because FG-positive GnRH neuronal cell bodies were found in the preoptic area. Synthetic rat kisspeptin (1-52)-amide stimulated GnRH release from the median eminence tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the present results suggest that kisspeptin at least partly exerts stimulatory effects on GnRH release from the neuronal terminals of GnRH neurones by axo-axonal nonsynaptic interaction in the median eminence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined the circadian periodicity of ischaemic stroke (IS) onset and its relationship with conventional risk factors using 14-year stroke registration data. Methods: Ischaemic stroke event data were acquired from the Takashima Stroke Registry, which covers a stable population of ≈55 000 in Takashima County in central Japan. During 1990–2003 there were 637 (353 men and 284 women) cases with classifiable onset time. IS incidence was categorized as occurring at night (midnight to 6 am), morning (6 am to noon), afternoon (noon to 6 pm), and evening (6 pm to midnight). The OR (with 95% CI) of having an IS in the morning, afternoon, and evening were calculated, with night serving as reference. Results: There was significant diurnal variation in IS incidence ( P < 0.001). The proportion of events was highest in the morning (40.7; 95% CI: 36.9–44.5), and lowest in the night (14.0; 95% CI: 11.5–16.9). In the morning an excess incidence of IS was observed in both genders, in subjects <65 years and ≥65 years, and in all IS subtypes. The morning excess of IS incidence was similar across seasons and days of the week. For all IS, morning excess was higher (odds ratio: 2.91; 95% CI: 2.29–3.70) compared to the night period. Similar trends persisted after adjusting for age, gender, and risk factors. Conclusion: In the examination of circadian variation of IS onset, a predominant morning peak independent of conventional risk factors was observed in a Japanese population with similar pattern across seasons of the year and days of the week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In small ruminants, such as goats and sheep, a primer pheromone produced by males induces an out-of-seasonal ovulation in anoestrous females, a phenomenon known as the male effect. The male effect is unique in that an external chemical stimulus can immediately modulate the activity of the hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. We have established a monitoring method of the GnRH pulse generator activity in Shiba goat. Using this method as a sensitive bioassay to assess the male effect pheromone activity, we have shown that the male effect pheromone is synthesised in an androgen-dependent manner in the sebaceous glands or their vicinity in specific body regions in goats. Although chemical identity of the pheromone is yet to be determined, analyses of male goat hair extracts by gas chromatography fractionation suggest that the male effect pheromone is a volatile substance with relatively small molecular weight. From morphological and molecular biological studies in goats, it is suggested that the pheromone molecule is detected by a member of the V1R family located on both the olfactory neurones and the vomeronasal sensory neurones, and the pheromone signal is conveyed to the medial nucleus of amygdala via the main olfactory and vomeronasal pathways and, subsequently, to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator to enhance its activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:  This study was designed to compare professional oral care (POC) by a dental hygienist with tooth brushing and mouth rinsing by patients themselves according to the instructions of a nurse (control). Methods:  Forty patients were randomly assigned to either the POC group ( n = 20) or control group ( n = 20). The presence of plaque and bacteria was assessed clinically. Results:  One patient in the POC group and three patients in the control group dropped out because of exacerbation of underlying disease or death. Plaque control record scores were significantly lower in the POC group than in the control group on the fifth hospital day and the day of discharge. There was no significant difference between the groups in the detection rate of Candida species; and nosocomial pathogens on either day. Conclusions:  Professional oral care by a dental hygienist is more effective than tooth brushing and mouth rinsing by patients themselves according to the instructions of a nurse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied whether delivering postoperative analgesia, using a patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) device was effective and safe in elderly patients. We enrolled 40 patients aged > 65 years (elderly group) and 40 patients aged 20–64 years (young group) scheduled for elective major abdominal surgery. PCEA infusion was started following completion of surgery. Mean (SD) fentanyl consumption (10.7 (3.7) compared with 10.5 (2.7) μg.kg−1, p = 0.76) and number of times patients pressed the bolus switch (32 (36) compared with 44 (38), p = 0.16) during the first 24 h postoperatively were similar in the two groups. Pain scores, which were similar in both groups at rest, were significantly lower in the elderly on coughing (at 24 h, p < 0.05). In addition, average pain scores were similar at the time of PCEA bolus demands in the two groups. Elderly and young adult patients therefore required similar amounts of patient-controlled epidural fentanyl to produce satisfactory pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the interaction between motion parallax and binocular disparity cues in the perception of surface shape and depth magnitude by the use of the random dot stimuli in which these cues specified sinusoidal depth surfaces undulating with different spatial frequencies. When ambiguous motion parallax is inconsistent with unambiguous disparity cue, the reasonable solution for the visual system is to convert the motion signal to the flow on the surface specified by disparity. Two experiments, however, found that the visual system did not always use this reasonable solution; observers often perceived the surface specified by a composite of the two cues, or the surface specified by parallax alone. In the perception of this composite of the two cues, the apparent depth magnitude increased with the increase of the depth magnitude specified by both cues. This indicates that the visual system can combine the depth magnitude information from parallax and disparity in an additive fashion. The interference with parallax by disparity implies that the parallax processing is not independent of the disparity processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation electron density of ferroelectric sodium nitrite has been determined from X-ray diffraction data at 30 K. using Hirshfeld deformation functions. Owing to the strong correlation between odd terms of the deformation coefficients, constraints were imposed in the refinement. The net charges for Na, N and O atoms were estimated to be 0.27. 1120 and -0.24 e, respectively. The calculated spontaneous polarization using these net charges and atomic dipole terms. 7.8 µC cm-2, is much closer to the recently measured value. 12 µC cm-2, as compared with the value calculated from the formal point charges (74µC cm-2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation electron density of ferroelectric sodium nitrite has been determined from X-ray diffraction data at 30 K. using Hirshfeld deformation functions. Owing to the strong correlation between odd terms of the deformation coefficients, constraints were imposed in the refinement. The net charges for Na, N and O atoms were estimated to be 0.27. 1120 and -0.24 e, respectively. The calculated spontaneous polarization using these net charges and atomic dipole terms. 7.8 µC cm-2, is much closer to the recently measured value. 12 µC cm-2, as compared with the value calculated from the formal point charges (74µC cm-2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optically active 12- d-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) gives a thermally reversible organogel in several organic solvents. When a small amount of lecithin coexists with 12-HSA in organic solvents, the mechanical strength of the organogel is remarkably reduced. Interaction of lecithin with 12-HSA was studied by using infrared (IR) spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Incorporating lecithin into 12-HSA reduced the absorbance in IR spectra, derived from hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups and the carboxyl groups of 12-HSA molecules. Based on NMR measurements, the polar head groups of lecithin associate with the carboxyl groups of 12-HSA in a 1:1 molar ratio. SEM showed that the shape of the fibrous aggregates varied from a helically extended form to a spherical form. These results suggest that intermolecular 1:1 complexes were formed between lecithin and 12-HSA, which caused a structural change in the fibrous network in the 12-HSA organogel and consequently induced gel deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This anterior-located LLP with S-finding caused to massive bleeding which massive blood transfusion and 3 times UAE were needed. Surprisingly, almost all LLP located on posterior wall; anterior-located low-lying placenta showed miserable outcome on delivery. S-finding correlated with cervical length, suggesting that failed uterine lower segment extension contribute to placenta migration can be predicted from this ultraspound finding. [Extracted from the article]