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The performance of nonthermal plasma processing for dilute (100 or 1000 ppm) trichloroethylene (TCE) decomposition in air was investigated in combination with titania (TiO/sub 2/) catalysts. One type of catalyst consisted of 2-3-mm-diameter spherical titania pellets coated with vanadium oxide, V/sub 2/O/sub 5/. Homemade various-sized titania pellets sintered at 400/spl deg/C and 1000/spl deg/C were also tested. Gas chromatograph mass spectrometer analysis of the plasma-processed gas suggested that the catalyst was effective in enhancing TCE-decomposing energy efficiency, but the catalyst caused the generation of some byproducts. These results indicate that the size and surface state of the catalytic particulates were very important in determining the barrier discharge mode, and the energy efficiency of the plasma process was strongly dependent on the discharge mode.

The purpose of this study was to compare, by mechanical in vitro testing, a regular 5-hole plate and a long 4-hole plate with a regular 4-hole plate, applied to stabilize a simulated mandibular angle fracture.The plates from the 2.0-mm titanium-based system were adapted and stabilized passively in the same site in both groups using four screws, 6 mm long. During the resistance-to-load test, the force was applied perpendicular to the occlusal plane at three different points: first molar at the plated side, first molar at the contralateral side, and between the central incisors.The regular 5-hole plates and longer 4-hole plates were superior to the regular 4-hole plates. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between the regular 5-hole plates and long 4-hole plate.The length and shape of plates did not interfere with the effectiveness to stabilize the fragments.The purpose of this study was to compare, by mechanical in vitro testing, a regular 5-hole plate and a long 4-hole plate with a regular 4-hole plate, applied to stabilize a simulated mandibular angle fracture.Study design The plates from the 2.0-mm titanium-based system were adapted and stabilized passively in the same site in both groups using four screws, 6 mm long. During the resistance-to-load test, the force was applied perpendicular to the occlusal plane at three different points: first molar at the plated side, first molar at the contralateral side, and between the central incisors.The regular 5-hole plates and longer 4-hole plates were superior to the regular 4-hole plates. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was found between the regular 5-hole plates and long 4-hole plate.Conclusions The length and shape of plates did not interfere with the effectiveness to stabilize the fragments.

The effect of the electrode material on the high voltage stoichiometry-polarization (“electrocoloration”) of Fe-doped SrTiO3 single crystals has been studied. For different electrode materials (150-nm Ag/15-nm Cr and 150-nm Au/15-nm Cr) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to measure the depth profile of the 18O-isotope after high-field stress. The results were compared with spatially resolved impedance measurements on electrocolored Fe-doped SrTiO3 single crystals. For Au/Cr as well as Ag/Cr electrodes a large dc voltage leads to moving color fronts which are usually correlated with a pronounced stoichiometry polarization of the samples due to electrodes blocking the ionic current. However, the local impedance measurements demonstrate that the conductivity profiles near the cathode depend on the electrode material. This finding is in accordance with the SIMS measurements which indicate that the Ag/Cr-electrodes are, in contrast to Au/Cr-electrodes not completely inactive for the oxygen incorporation into the Fe-doped SrTiO3. The results are discussed in terms of defect chemical models.

A simple model is developed to understand superconductivity in α ′ -TTF[Pd(dmit)2]2. We include electron-intra molecular and intermolecular phonon interactions as the mechanism of superconductivity. Intramolecular vibrations included are the eight symmetric Ag modes of the Pd(dmit)2 molecule. Intermolecular vibrations included are the longitudinal acoustic and transverse acoustic (LA and TA) modes of the Pd(dmit)2 column. All the electron-phonon coupling constants are calculated from first principles. We find that largest el-intramolecular vibration coupling is to the Ag mode with the highest frequency (1449 cm-1). The el-intermolecular coupling to the LA mode is found to be larger than the total el-intramolecular couplings. We also find el-(TA)phonon coupling to be at least an order of magnitude smaller than el-(LA)phonon coupling. Estimate of superconducting transition temperature is comparable to experimental result. We also provide a detailed discussion, employing the results of recent numerical calculations on two-chain Hubbard model and the specific material parameters, on the relative importance of el-ph and Coulomb-origin mechanisms of superconductivity in α ′ -TTF[Pd(dmit)2]2 and TTF[Ni(dmit) 2 ] 2 .

This study was designed to examine the effect of aging on bone formation induced by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) combined with a fibrous collagen membrane (FCM). Implantation was done subperiosteally in bilateral palatal grooves in 34 male Wistar rats divided into three age groups: a 10-week-old group (10w group), a 30-week-old group (30w group) and a 70-week-old group (70w group). RhBMP-2-combined FCMs were implanted on the left palatal grooves as BMP-implanted sites (BMP site), while rhBMP-2 was not implanted on the right palatal grooves as control sites. The rats were sacrificed 6 weeks after implantation, and histometric evaluations were performed. New bone formation was observed in every site of each age group and the new bone was almost completely continuous with the original bone. The new bone volume (NBV) of the BMP site was significantly higher than that of the control site in each age group. The NBV of both the control and BMP sites were highest in the 10w group and lowest in the 70w group. The disparity of NBV between the control and BMP sites, which indicated the response to implanted BMP excluding the effect of skeletal growth and surgical stimulation, did not significantly differ among the age groups. These results indicate that rhBMP-2-combined FCM has the ability to induce new bone formation continuous with original bone even in senescent rats. Furthermore, it appeared that, in the case of palatal subperiosteal implantation, the responsiveness to implanted BMP was independent of age, although the total volume of newly formed bone declined with aging.

This paper proposes a newly developed cooperative control scheme between an HVDC transmission system and a radially connected thermal power plant. The proposed control scheme aims at stable control of the generator frequency during and after the transition from AC/DC parallel connected operation to radially connected operation of the HVDC system and the thermal power plant due to loss of AC transmission. The advantage of the proposed control scheme is to minimize the loss of generation in the transition state by the high-speed cooperative control where control quantities, calculated based on the necessary data acquired prior to the occurrence of the loss of AC transmission, are applied. A prototype of the control equipment was manufactured and subjected to performance evaluation tests by means of a large-scale analog simulator.

Bicrystals of SrTiO3 with twisted boundaries were prepared by a HIP method and were observed with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The bicrystals exhibited different nonlinear current-voltage characteristics depending on twist angle. A Molecular dynamics calculation was applied in order to understand the detailed interface structure. The periodicity of the Σ5 twisted boundary was calculated to be 1.58 times longer than the lattice constant of SrTiO3 along the (130) axis, and agreed with the periodicity observed by TEM, i.e., 1.57. Coincidence sites formed between Ti ions of the TiO2 layer and O ions of the SrO layer at the interface and did not shift the positions predicted by a coincidence sites lattice model; such coincidence sites caused the structural periodicity along the interface.

Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) is associated with arterial and venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and recurrent fetal loss. We have reported previously that plasma with LAC activity induces apoptosis in endothelial cells and binds annexin V (Nakamura, N., Y. Shidara, N. Kawaguchi, C. Azuma, N. Mitsuda, S. Onishi, K. Yamaji, and Y. Wada. 1994. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 205:1488-1493). In this study, we separated two IgG antibody fractions, one with and one without affinity for annexin V, from 10 patients with LAC. LAC and apoptotic activities were localized in the annexin V-binding fraction in all 10 patients. DNA fragmentation was dose-dependent, paralleling the amount of IgG added to the human umbilical vein endothelial cell culture medium, and was inhibited by preincubation with annexin V. Removal of the antiphospholipid antibodies from patient IgG with phospholipid liposomes did not abolish the apoptosis-inducing activities or binding to annexin V. These results imply that patients with LAC often have antibodies that do not bind phospholipids and are responsible for the induction of apoptosis in endothelial cells.

k c2sT d within the Ginzburg-Landau-Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory and the Lawrence-Doniach model to the case of strong magnetic fields. From this equation, it follows that orbital effects of an electron motion along an open Fermi surface in a magnetic field start to restore superconductivity at magnetic fields higher than the quasiclassical upper critical field and result in the appearance of a reentrant phase with TcsH d. T c s 0 d . A stability of the reentrant phase against fluctuations is discussed. (S0031-9007(98)05633-6)

This paper proposes advanced frequency control strategies for the DC radial system with isolated generators. The DC power order in the DC radial operation is set by an automatic frequency regulator (AFR), which is composed of an integral function and a proportional function. The AFR balances DC transmitted power with mechanical output power of generators to maintain frequency deviation as close as the one in an AC radial link. Also, a universal and autonomous HVDC control strategy is proposed for the secure transfer of the generator operation from an AC-DC parallel to a DC radial. This control can suppress transient frequency within permissible limits, and matches with turbine generator speed controls and turbine over speed protection in a stable manner. A prototype controller is implemented to verify the strategies. The validity and effectiveness are confirmed through a factory test using a DC simulator.

This paper proposes unique DC control strategies to prevent dynamic commutation failures during and following faults, and to obtain better recovery from the faults. The strategy is based on an idea of sine-cosine components detector in which AC voltages are detected fast in terms of two components on the rotational reference frame synchronized with an AC system frequency. The controller quickly predicts a necessary control angle according to the magnitude, the phase angle, and involved harmonics that are calculated from these two components. The validity and effectiveness of the controller are confirmed through the EMTP simulations. The DC simulator results using the fabricated controller confirm the EMTP simulations.

The paper describes the development of insulation structure and enhancement of insulation reliability of 500 kV DC GIS (gas insulated switchgear). Considering problems of metallic particles and charge accumulation on spacers, the developed insulation structure of GIS consisted of three regions, i.e. the spacer, particle scavenging and nonlevitating regions. Particles could be efficiently scavenged, and the developed GIS withstood all insulation specifications with sufficient margins under the clean and particle-contaminated condition. Now, a long-term site test for one year of the 500 kV DC GIS has been continued since October in 1995.

Instability of the arc in an HVDC circuit breaker was investigated both analytically and experimentally. The analytical work showed that the amplification coefficient and the frequency of the oscillation that leads to the current zero can be given as functions of parallel impedance and arc characteristics. The process to estimate the arc characteristics from the amplification coefficient and the frequency experimentally observed was proposed and the result was compared with the estimation of the same characteristics by the analysis of the current zero behavior. It was shown that a description of the DC arc by a simple Mayr type model could reproduce the initiation and the growth of the oscillation and the interruption of the current.

Among special insulation tests for DC power converter transformers, polarity reversal tests can be substituted by applied AC voltage tests from a stress similarity in oil ducts. In order to investigate equivalent levels of other insulation tests to polarity reversal tests, the dielectric strength of a transformer at polarity reversals was examined by use of a model of typical oil/paper composite insulation. From the comparison of polarity reversal and other insulation tests, it was found that dielectric strength of transformer insulation at polarity reversals is phenomenally similar to that under switching impulse stresses. Equivalent AC test voltage to polarity reversal test was also estimated from the experimental results. The breakdown characteristics of polarity reversal tests showed that partial discharges at polarity reversals impose less harmful stress on insulation barriers than those at usual AC or impulse tests.

GakuNin is a federation for constructing an academic authn & authz infrastructure by using single sign-on (SSO) technology in Japan and it consists of academic eresource providers and consumers, e.g. Universities, Electric Journal Publishers and so on. The expansion of SSO target systems causes several issues in its infrastructure. In this paper, we focus on the issues, (1) rapidly increasing the importance of the user credential at the identity provider, (2) its phishing risk at service providers and (3) the difficulty of choosing own identity provider from the large number of federated providers. We propose a framework to solve the problems using web browser add-on. We have implemented a prototype of the framework. We also discuss the issues in the current implementation.

The objective of this paper is to present a new hybrid margin angle control method for HVDC continuous operation under AC system fault conditions. For stable continuous operation of HVDC systems, the margin angle controller must be designed to maintain the necessary margin angle to avoid commutation failures. The proposed method uses the open loop margin angle controller (MAC) as the basic controller, and adds output from the closed loop MAC to correct the control angle. A fast voltage detection algorithm is used for open loop control, and margin angle reference correction using harmonics detection for closed loop control are also developed. The combination of open and closed loop control provides quick responses when faults occur with stable and speedy recovery after fault clearance. The effectiveness of the developed controller is confirmed through EMTP digital simulations and also with the experiments using an analogue simulator.

In order to discuss the dielectric performance of DC GIS, the flashover characteristics of gas-insulated bus were studied under conical- and disk-type spacers. The test involves the investigation on effect of electrification for charge to be accumulated in spacers and the effect of metallic particles. As the result, it was found that the dielectric characteristics of conical-type spacer are better than disk type. Moreover, the dielectric performance of DC GIS is more affected by the characteristics of coaxial electrode system than spacer surface with regard to metallic particle. On the basis of the results of these tests, this report presents the conception of insulation design for DC GIS.

A high voltage thyristor valve is the basic component of an HVDC transmission system. Development of a 500 kV valve for next generation HVDC transmission systems is described. First, the power loss of the valve is analyzed to decide a reasonable wafer size for the light-triggered thyristor. From these results, a six inch diameter wafer size is selected. A light-triggered thyristor, with ratings of 8 kV and 3.5 kA, is developed using the six inch wafer. The design of the valve employing the thyristor and test results with a prototype valve prove that a 500 kV valve can be realized by this design method.

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization of acyclic α-diazo-β-keto esters 1c,d provided stereoselectively the highly substituted cyclohexanones 3c,d respectively, by the [2,3]sigmatropic rearrangement via stereocontrolled nine-membered allylsulfonium ylides 2c,d. Further elaboration of 3d toward the cyclohexanone 36 accomplished asymmetric formal syntheses of the representative elemanoids, 37 and 38. The compound 3c was transformed into the cyclohexanone 34a and cyclohexene 43, which could serve as the key intermediates for the synthesis of natural products possessing contigously cis-arranged trimethylcyclohexanone and its related moieties, respectively.

Eimeria tenella is recognized worldwide as a significant pathogen in the poultry industry. However, a lack of methods for isolating developing schizonts has hindered the use of transcriptome analyses to discover novel and developmentally regulated genes. In the present study, we characterized the long-term successive development of E. tenella in infected chicken caeca and assessed the utility of laser microdissection (LMD) for the isolation of schizont RNA. Developmental stages, including those of the first, second, and third-generation schizonts and gametocytes, were synchronous. Using LMD, only the mature second-generation schizonts were successfully excised from the lamina propria, and non-degraded RNA was purified from the schizonts. E. tenella-specific genes were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These results augment our understanding of the E. tenella life cycle, and reveal LMD as a potentially useful tool for gene expression analyses of the intracellular stages of E. tenella.

This manuscript reports an uncommon case of inferior third molar facial abscess with purulent secretion drainage through the left external acoustic meatus. The patient's left external acoustic meatus was filled with a purulent secretion observed on a CT scan. He underwent surgery to drain the facial abscess. Despite facial abscesses being routine occurrences, the literature does not contain many case reports of odontogenic facial abscesses with drainage via the external acoustic meatus. These situations occur in two possible ways: multiple fissures in the anterior wall of the cartilaginous portion of the external acoustic meatus; and congenital defects that are occasionally present in the anterior-superior aspect of the external acoustic meatus, known as the foramen of Huschke, which allow communication between the external acoustic meatus and mandibular fossa. These defects may also predispose the patient to the spread of the infection or tumour from the external auditory canal to the infratemporal fossa and vice versa. No otological sequelae were observed in this case. The authors conclude that the hypothesis of bone malformation cannot be excluded, and affirm that any facial abscess requires appropriate and immediate treatment for adequate resolution, by removing the causal factor and providing systemic support.

The impurity behavior in solid oxide fuel cells is discussed in terms of the thermodynamic characteristic properties in particular on the basis of acid–base concept in theoretical consideration and in terms of actually observed quantities of impurities with SIMS techniques. The thermochemical stability of cathodes can be represented in the chemical potential diagrams where the thermodynamic activity of basic oxides (SrO, La2O3) are used. By adopting the same axes, this makes it possible to compare thermodynamic properties for different elements in the La–Sr–M–O system (M = elements). By using this diagram, the acidity of respective impurity elements are defined and compared with the main transition metal element in cathode materials. The impurity behavior inside SOFC stacks is also examined by using the diagram with temperature and oxygen potential axes. This makes it possible to see the interaction of the cell component with impurities as functions of temperature and oxygen potentials. Examples are given for Ni–S–O–H system. Finally, the impurity behavior in actual stacks detected by SIMS was examined and compared with thermodynamic prediction with the emphasis on the interaction between impurities and the main component as functions of fuel utilization and other fuel cell conditions. Keywords: thermodynamic properties; thermodynamic diagram; impurity; acid–base relation; volatile species; reactivity; cathodes; Ni anode; Ni–S interaction; SIMS

In this article, we introduce secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) technique as a powerful tool to analyze the trace of mass transport at the interface of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) components. SOFC consists of several complex oxides and metals that are considered to be more stable than other types of fuel cells. However in a long term operation, the mass transport that occurs on the surface and interfaces of SOFC components will severely affect the degradation of cell performance, even though the flux of mass transport was very small. SIMS has many disadvantages as an analysis apparatus; its advantages are very unique. By combining the conventional scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDX) analyses, one can get more precise and new results for small concentration changes in the vicinity of surface and interfaces. The application of such combined analysis technique will be very important to investigate the degradation mechanism of SOFCs. In the following chapter, we show some examples of the SIMS application. Keywords: secondary ions mass spectrometer; SIMS; SOFC; mass transport; diffusion; degradation; depth profile; imaging

Treatment of the diazomalonates (9a-d) of 2-phenylthio-3-butenol derivatives with catalytic rhodium acetate resulted in the [2,3]sigmatropic rearrangement of six-membered allylsulfonium ylides to provide γ,δ-unsaturated seven-membered lactones (10a-d) in good yields

The rhodium(II)-catalysed cyclisation of acyclic α-diazomalonate 1b and α-diazo-β-keto esters 1c, d give stereoselectively the highly substituted δ-lactone 3b and cyclohexanones 3c, d, respectively, by [2,3]sigmatropic rearrangement via the stereocontrolled nine-membered allylsulfonium ylides 2b–d.

The rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclization of acyclic α-diazo-β-keto esters 1c,d provided stereoselectively the highly substituted cyclohexanones 3c,d respectively, by the [2,3]sigmatropic rearrangement via stereocontrolled nine-membered allylsulfonium ylides 2c,d. Further elaboration of 3d toward the cyclohexanone 36 accomplished asymmetric formal syntheses of the representative elemanoids, 37 and 38. The compound 3c was transformed into the cyclohexanone 34a and cyclohexene 43, which could serve as the key intermediates for the synthesis of natural products possessing contigously cis-arranged trimethylcyclohexanone and its related moieties, respectively.

An in vitro translation system, based on cell components of the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Thermococcus kodakaraensis, has previously been developed. The system has been optimized and applied for protein production at high temperatures (60-65 degrees C). In this paper, we have examined the possibilities to utilize this system at a lower temperature range using green fluorescence protein (GFP) as the reporter protein. By optimizing the composition of the reaction mixture, and adding chaperonins from the mesophilic Escherichia coli, the yield of protein production at 40 degrees C was increased by fivefold. For liposome encapsulation of the optimized system, water-in-oil cell-sized emulsions were prepared by adding the translation system/GFP mRNA mixture to mineral oil supplemented with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn -glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC). Giant liposomes were formed when these emulsions passed across a water/oil interface occupied with DOPC. The liposomes were incubated at 40 degrees C for 90 min, and fluorescence was examined by laser confocal microscopy. A significant increase in average fluorescence intensity was observed in liposomes with GFP mRNA, but not in those without mRNA. Our results indicate that the T. kodakaraensis in vitro translation system is applicable for protein production within giant liposomes, and these artificial cell models should provide the methodology to reconstitute various cell functions from a constitutional biology approach.

The impact of open crop residual burning on O3, CO, Black Carbons (BC), and Organic Carbons (OC) concentrations over Central Eastern China (CEC) during the Mount Tai Experiment 2006 (MTX2006) was evaluated using the regional chemical transport model, the Models-3 Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ). To investigate these pollutants during the MTX2006 period in June, daily gridded emissions from open crop residual burning were developed based on a bottom-up methodology and using land cover and hotspot information from satellites. This model system which involves daily emissions from open biomass burning, captured monthly-averaged observed concentrations and day-to-day variations in the patterns of O3, CO, BC, and OC with good correlation coefficients between models and observations, ranging from 0.54 to 0.66. These results were significantly improved from those using annual emissions. For monthly-averaged O3, the simulated concentration of 81.5 ppbv was close to the observed concentration (82.5 ppbv). The period of MTX2006 was roughly divided into two parts: 1) polluted days with heavy open crop residual burning in the first half of June; 2) cleaner days with negligible field burning in the latter half of June. Additionally, the first half of June was defined by two high pollution episodes during 5–7 and 12–13 June, and a relatively cleaner episode during 8–10 June between these two high pollution episodes. In the first polluted episode, this model captured high O3, CO, BC, and OC concentrations at the summit of Mount Tai which were affected by open crop residual burning in the south of CEC and northward transport. For this episode, the impacts from open crop residual burning were 12% for O3, 35% for CO, 56% for BC, and 80% for OC over CEC. The daily emissions from open crop residual burning were an essential factor to evaluate the pollutants during the MTX2006. These emissions have a large impact not only on primary pollutants but also on secondly pollutions, such as O3, in the first half of June over northeastern Asia. On the other hand, this model did not capture the second polluted episode and underestimated observed CO and BC. Improvements of both anthropogenic and open burning emissions and CO inflow from model boundary are necessary to improve both anthropogenic and open burning emissions and CO inflow to evaluate the pollutants using this model.

The superconducting transition is studied in a two-band model which has an interband pair-transfer interaction between the conducting band and a hidden band not crossing the Fermi level. The interband ladder-diagram process enhances the effect of the pair-transfer interaction, remarkably reducing the effective on-site Coulomb energy and leading to high- T c superconductivity with a negative U . The isotope effect is shown to weaken with increasing T c if in addition we take account of the BCS interaction. The tendency of increase of T c with decrease of the Madelung potential difference Δ V M between Cu and O sites in cuprates is understandable in the present model.

Maternal plasma concentrations of immunoreactive endothelin (ir-ET) during pregnancy, labour and after birth were measured by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of ir-ET in the umbilical artery, umbilical vein, amniotic fluid and neonatal urine were also examined. The mean (± s.e.m.) plasma ir-ET concentration in early pregnancy (4–7 weeks) was 13·7±0·5 pmol/l, which was significantly higher than that in non-pregnant women (5·9±0·3 pmol/l). During pregnancy, plasma ir-ET concentrations gradually decreased to a minimum of 11·5±0·4 pmol/l in weeks 20–23, and then increased again towards term (12·5±0·4 pmol/l after 36 weeks of pregnancy). In women undergoing vaginal delivery, the mean plasma ir-ET concentration (17·1±0·7 pmol/l) increased significantly, compared with that in late pregnancy. After delivery, the plasma ir-ET concentration decreased abruptly to 4·0±0·2 pmol/l on the first day. Plasma ir-ET concentrations in umbilical vessels were significantly higher than those in maternal plasma. In addition, concentrations in the umbilical artery were significantly higher than those in the umbilical vein in cases of vaginal delivery. Concentrations of ir-ET in amniotic fluid were much higher than those in maternal or fetal plasma. ir-ET concentrations in neonatal urine on day 1 after birth were below the detection limit (< 0·1 pmol/l) by radioimmunoassay in 70% of the cases examined but on day 5 after birth ir-ET was present at measurable concentrations in all cases. It is suggested that endothelin may act as a circulating hormone during pregnancy and labour in both maternal and fetal circulations. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 129, 301–307

A 3-D regional chemical transport model, the Nested Air Quality Prediction Model System (NAQPMS), with an on-line tracer tagging module was applied to study the source of the near-ground (

A pyridoxalated hemoglobin-polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP) is an oxygen carrier prepared from outdated human red cells through chemical modifications of hemoglobin (Hb). PHP was evaluated as a physiologic oxygen carrier. PHP was synthesized from a pyridoxalated hemoglobin (PLP-Hb) and an activated diester of polyoxyethylene (POE). The average numbers of molecules of PLP and POE conjugated to a Hb molecule were 3.3 and 6.2, respectively. The p50 of PHP was 20.4 torr, which was much higher than the 14.0 torr of stroma-free Hb. At a Hb concentration of 6 g per dL, PHP had a physiologic colloid osmotic pressure (29 torr) and a lower viscosity (2.6 cP at 37 degrees C) than whole blood (4.2 cP at 37 degrees C). At temperatures below 20 degrees C, the p50 of PHP was higher than that of the red cells. PHP, which had an average molecular weight of 90,000, consisted of 83 percent monomeric PLP-Hb-POE conjugate, 12 percent dimeric PLP-Hb-POE, and 4 percent trimeric PLP-Hb-POE. The consistency of the relative contents of the components was well controlled through seven lots, and each component had sufficient oxygen-carrying capacity. The dimeric and trimeric components contributed to the prolongation of the residence of PHP in the circulation. The results indicate that PHP has favorable properties as an oxygen-carrying blood substitute and perfusate.

Components of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are always exposed to high temperature and large gas pressure under operation, which leads gradually degradation in the performance of SOFC. One of the factors for degradation is attributed to the phase transformation in Ni-doped 8Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (8YSZ) which is used for the electrolyte. 8YSZ originally takes a cubic structure with the Ni particles inside the lattice structure. Once fuel gas is injected to the anode, Ni particles of the 8YSZ electrolyte leave in the reduction atmosphere, which makes 8YSZ hexagonal structure. The electric properties changes according to such phase transformation. Therefore, it is important to simulate the distribution of oxygen potential considering the phase transformation in 8YSZ for the predication of the electric property of SOFC. In order to simulate oxygen potential in 8YSZ including the phase transformation, we employ the electro-chemo analyses developed in our previous report [1]. In the simulation, we use diffusion-reaction equations representing the evolutions of potentials of oxygen ion and electron. These evolution equations are coupled in the terms of the time based on the theory of local equilibrium law for the potential of oxygen. The equations have reaction terms to present the reaction currents generating due to the electrode reaction in electrodes. The non-stationary terms are modelled with the capacitance of oxygen and electron. The relation between electro-chemical potentials and currents of oxygen ion and electron are described by the Ohm’s law in this model. The material properties such as electric conductivities, capacitances and reaction currents of oxygen ion and electron depend on both the temperature and partial pressure of oxygen. These governing equations are solved after the discretization into finite elemental equations. In the previous report [1], the experimental data are used for the material properties in the calculation. However, the degradation due to phase transformation is not be considered. In this study, evolution equations for the electric conductivities of oxygen ion and electron are proposed. The equations represent the temporary deterioration in 8YSZ in terms of the electric conduction. The effects of the control period can be taken into account in the evolution equations. The phase transformation occurs depending on the equilibrium partial pressure of oxygen between Ni and NiO. The time constants, which are related to the duration of degradation of materials, are different in Ni and NiO, i.e., cubic structure or tetragonal structure material. The hole conductivity is also considered in the electric conductivity of electron. The time constants are associated with the temperature both in the materials before and after transformation. The tendencies of oxygen potentials calculated for 8YSZ are discussed with the experimental data. Based on the present model, the calculations are conducted for the 8YSZ electrolyte with Ni-YSZ for anode and LSCF for cathode in the both sides end. The boundary conditions of oxygen ion and electron are given as Neumann conditions with zero flux at both the end of anode and cathode, which is considered as the open circuit voltage (OCV) condition. The temperature is set as 1173K during the calculation, and partial pressure of oxygen is changed to 1.0×10-19 atm from 0.21 atm while partial pressure of hydrogen is changed to 0.97 atm to 1.0×10-19 atm during the initial 200s. Then, the 0.21 atm of partial pressure of oxygen and 1.0×10-19 atm of partial pressure of hydrogen are kept. As the result, the phase transformation due to the equilibrium pressure between Ni-NiO and degradation during long period control are reproduced. The phase transformation occurs in the area between the center of electrolyte and anode. After the completion of phase transformation, the gap of the oxygen potential migrates to anode due to the degradation of 8YSZ. [1] K. Terada, T. Kawada, K. Sato, F. Iguchi, K. Yashiro, K. Amezawa, M. Kubo, H. Yugami, T. Hashida, J. Mizusaki, H. Watanabe, T. Sasagawa and H. Aoyagi, “Multiscale Simulation of Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Coupling Behavior of PEN Structure under SOFC Operation”, ECS Trans., 35, 923-933 (2011).

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is one of the most promising next-generation energy conversion devices having high energy conversion efficiency. For its full-scale commercialization, oxygen reduction kinetics at the SOFC cathode, which frequently governs the performance of SOFC, should be improved. In order to achieve high performance of the SOFC cathode, it is necessary to optimize its material and structure. When a porous electrode consisting of a mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxides, such as (La,Sr)CoO3 and (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3, is used as an SOFC cathode, electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction occurs not only at the electrode/electrolyte interface but also on the surfaces of the oxide particles. In other words, the area where the electrode reaction occurs, i.e.the effective reaction area, expands to a certain distance from the electrode/electrolyte interface. It is believed that the effective reaction area in a porous mixed-conducting oxide electrode is controlled by the resistance of the surface reaction at the oxide surfaces and the resistance of the oxide ion diffusion in the oxide bulk. Based on this idea, many numerical simulations have been carried out to evaluate the effective reaction area in SOFC electrodes. However, as far as we know, no experimental evaluations of the effective reaction area have been done so far. From the backgrounds mentioned above, in this work, we tried direct observation of the effective reaction area in a SOFC cathode by using experimental manners. The (La,Sr)CoO3 was chosen as a mixed conducting oxide. For quantitative evaluation, the patterned thin film electrode, which was a kind of a columnar electrode modeling the porous electrode, was used. The in situ micro X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and the 18O/16O isotope exchange measurements under polarization were applied to determine the effective reaction area. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were also performed with the same patterned thin film electrode, and the results were compared with those obtained by the XAS and the isotope exchange measurements. A patterned La0.6Sr0.4CoO3- d (LSC) dense film was fabricated on a Ce0.9G0.1O1.95(GDC) electrolyte by means of lithographic techniques. The LSC film was prepared by the pulse laser deposition (PLD) and its thickness was approximately 400 nm. The porous platinum electrodes were used as a reference and a counter electrodes. XAS measurements were carried out at the beam line BL37XU, SPring-8, JASRI, Japan. In this beam line, the incident X-ray from the synchrotron can be focused into micro or sub-micro meter size. The beam size used in this work was typically 0.8 x 0.5 mm. By using the focused X-ray beam, XAS measurements with the high special resolution of less than 1 mm became possible. During the cathodic polarization, the oxygen potential is reduced at the effective reaction area. Such an oxygen potential decrease accompanies the partial reduction of oxides, and the amount of the oxygen potential drop varies with the distance from the electrode/electrolyte interface depending on the amount of the reaction current. In this work, the partial reduction of the LSC electrode was evaluated as a function of the distance from the electrode/electrolyte interface by using in situ micro XAS measurements at the Co K-edge, and then the effective reaction area was determined. In 18O/16O isotope exchange measurements, the cathodic bias was applied to the patterned electrode after the pre-annealing at a desired temperature and p(O2) at least for 1 hour, and then 18O2 was introduced for 5 min. The cell was quenched down to room temperature immediately after the bias was terminated. The distributions of 18O and 16O were investigated by the secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements. All the measurements were performed in the temperature range of 873-1073 K and the oxygen partial pressure p(O2) range of 10-4-1 bar under cathodic polarization of -0.1-0.25 V. At 873 K, both XAS and oxygen isotope exchange measurements suggested that the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction takes place in the area of approximately 20 μm from the electrode/electrolyte interface under p(O2) of 1 bar and cathodic bias of -0.2 V. The effective reaction area tended to expand with increasing temperature, decreasing p(O2), and increasing cathodic bias. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements will be also given at the presentation.

We investigate the two-dimensional Hubbard model by the variational Monte Carlo method. We consider off-diagonal wave functions where we improve the Gutzwiller wave function by multiplying off-diagonal factors. In the 4×4 system, we compare our results with the exact diagonalization. The variational energies are fairly close to the exact values. We show the results for the 10×10 Hubbard model.

Background: We have shown that measurement of mRNA for cytotoxic attack proteins perforin and granzyme B in urinary cells is a noninvasive means of diagnosing acute rejection of human renal allografts. Urinary cell mRNA studies have yielded useful information in other patient populations such as patients with cancer. The isolation of sufficient and high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) from urinary cells however is problematic. RNAlater, an RNA stabilization solution, has been reported to optimize RNA isolation from tumor tissues stored at room temperature and from pigment-rich ocular tissues. Methods :W e explored whether the addition of RNAlater to urine cell pellets improves RNA yield, enhances purity and facilitates measurement of low abundance mRNAs. We measured, with the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, levels of expression of a constitutively expressed gene 18S rRNA and mRNA for granzyme B and transforming growth factor-h1 (TGF-h1) in urine specimens and renal biopsies obtained from renal allograft recipients. Results: RNAyield (P

To develop a new flue gas treatment device by using the pulse electron beam, an experiment of NO/sub x/ removal from the atmospheric pressure gas was performed. The pulse electron beam with energy of /spl les/160 keV, beam current of 140 A, current density of 2 A/cm/sup 2/, pulse width of 0.7 /spl mu/s and electron beam power of 12.6 J/pulse, or the electron beam with the energy of /spl les/120 keV, 10 A, 2.5 /spl mu/s and 2.8 J/pulse was injected into the gas cell filled with atmospheric pressure NO/N/sub 2/ or NO/N/sub 2/+O/sub 2/(20%) gas. When the electron beam of 12.6 J/pulse was injected into NO(=200 ppm)/N/sub 2/ gas, twenty percent of NO was removed by one pulse and 90% by 8 pulses with the efficiency of 180 nmol/J (=58 eV/molecule) in the gas cell of 1.7l. The efficiency depended on the removal ratio, the volume of the gas cell, initial NO concentration and the electron beam power. Efficiencies of 370 nmol/J at the removal ratio of 50% in relatively large gas cell of 6.2 l, 580 nmol/J for large NO (=2000 ppm) concentration at the ratio of 20% and 527 nmol/J for long pulse (2.5 /spl mu/s), 2.8 J/pulse of electron beam injection were obtained. When the electron beam was injected into the gas mixture of NO (=200 ppm)/N/sub 2/ with O/sub 2/(20%), the oxidization of NO to NO/sub 2/ was highly activated. When the water was added to the gas mixture, NO/sub x/ was removed through the process of nitric acid production. When the wall of the gas cell was covered with the wet cloth and the pulse electron beam was injected, NO/sub x/ of 40% was removed by the process of acid production and the absorption of NO/sub 2/ into the wet cloth with the total efficiency of 570 nmol/J. When NH/sub 3/ was added by the ratio of NH/sub 3/:NO=1:1, NO/sub x/ of 95% was removed with efficiency of 160 nmol/J.

Position detectors which use the lateral photo effect are used for position detection and positioning on a X-Y-Z stage. Lasers (He-Ne, 632.8 nm) are used as light sources, and position sensing devices are used as light receptors. These devices are applied to absolute position detection on the X-Y-Z stage and to pattern recognition. >

The overvoltage on the thyristor elements is of particular interest for practical design. Dependence of the behavior of the overvoltage on characteristics of the anode reactor was investigated mostly by numerical simulation by transient voltage program. The point in the valve, to which the core of the anode reactor is connected, critically changes the voltage that appears on the thyristor elements. The stray capacitance of the winding to the core is another important characteristic value. A structure supported thyristor valve for DC transmission of /spl plusmn/500 kV, 2800 MW was developed with the aid of the understanding about this voltage behavior.

A control system that can make an AC motor or stepping motor perform positioning simply was developed. This system can be satisfactorily applied to a positioning system with a minimum increment of 1.8 degrees/pulse, and if an encoder with 10000 pulses/rev is applied, positioning accuracy of even 1 mu m can be possible with the use of a ball screw of 10 mm/rev. On the other hand, in stage position control with the use of a stepping motor, by absolute position control in combination with a light position sensor, a maximum error of within 1.8 mu m can be realized even with a 2 mm/pitch ball screw. >

The pupil is innervated by the autonomic nervous activity. With the easiness of observation, it has been utilized as a possible monitor of the autonomic nervous system activity. In this paper, two possible methods for evaluating the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous activity are proposed. One of them is an improved version of the conventional method which has been developed and used by neuro-ophthalmologists to diagnose the autonomic nervous diseases. The other one employs the inverse dynamic model of the pupil muscle system. Validity of each method is confirmed by the drug experiment or comparison with directly measured autonomic nervous system activity to the pupil. Finally, the result of an application of the new method is described.

Decomposition performance of dilute (100-1000 ppm) trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated in air by using nonthermal plasma processing combined with catalyst or indirect plasma processing was newly studied. Some catalysts, such as vanadium oxide (V/sub 2/O/sub 5/) or tungsten oxide (WO/sub 3/), improve decomposition performance but byproducts by that process must be confirmed. Indirect plasma processing (plasma processed pure air is mixed with TCE contaminated air) suggests the existence of very active oxidation radicals after the plasma process whose generation is strongly related with the existence of oxygen molecules. The lifetime of that radical is about a few minutes but details are not yet clear.