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A method for the determination of hymexazol in agricultural produdcts by gas chromatography with a highly sensitive nitrogen-phosphorus detector (GC-NPD) was investigated. Hymexazol was extracted with acetonitrile, and the acetonitrile layer was separated by salting-out. The water layer was loaded onto a Chem-Elutsup(TM) column. Hymexazol in the water layer was adsorbed on the column, and eluted with ethyl acetate. The acetonitrile layer and the eluate were mixed and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and the sample solution was cleaned up on a C18 column. Hymexazol in the eluate was analyzed by GC-NPD with a high-polarity capillary column (DB-FFAP) and highly deactivated inlet liner. Recoveries of hymexazol spiked in agricultural products (tomato, lemon, soybean and other samples) at the level of 0.1 microg/g ranged from 65.0 to 84.7%. The limit of detection was 0.02 microg/g.

A survey of pesticide residues in 316 baby foods on the Tokyo market from April 1999 to June 2005 was carried out. Fifteen kinds of pesticides, including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, pyrethroid and others, were detected between at levels Tr (below 0.01 ppm) and 0.55 ppm from 28 samples. The baby foods in which residual pesticides were detected were produced from flour, leaf vegetable and fruits. The pesticides were detected in baby foods produced with minimal processing, such as straining and squeezing. For the baby foods containing pesticides, the amounts of intake of the pesticides were calculated from the recommended servings, and compared with the ADI values. Residual pesticide levels in baby food were between 0.06 and 16.6% of the ADI. Therefore, these foods should be safe in normal usage.

Perilla ketone (PK), a potent lung toxin, in Perilla Herb was determined by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometory (capillary GC-MS). Without any cleanup, PK in ethyl acetate extract from a Perilla Herb sample was well separated by using a middle polar fused silica column (DB-17), and for the identification, mass chromatography monitoring m/z 166 from the molecular ion and m/z 110 and 95 from the fragment ions was carried out under an E.I. condition. Selective ion monitoring (SIM) of the both McLafferty rearrangement peaks, m/z 110 from PK and 112 from menthone added as an internal standard, allows sensitive and accurate quantification. The calibration curve was rectilinear in the range from 0.005 ng to 10 ng with the identification limit of 0.001 ng. The average recovery was 97.6% for PK added to Perilla Herb at the level of 300μg/500 mg. By this method, crude drugs on the market were analyzed : PK detected from 9 out of 25 samples (36%), and the amounts of PK ranged from 1.1 to 119.9 mg/100 g. It turned out that the PK doses taken in a day are less than 1/104-1/103 levels of LD50 to the mice.

A simplified method for the determination of forchlorfenuron in agricultural products by HPLC with UV detection was investigated. A chopped sample homogenate from agricultural products was extracted with acetone. The extract was filtrated and concentrated. The residues was loaded onto a Chem Elut column and extracted with ethyl acetate. The crude extract was purified on Oasis HLB and Bond Elut PSA mini-columns using a mixture of methanol and ethyl acetate. Forchlorfenuron was analyzed by HPLC with UV detection (263 nm). HPLC separation was performed on an ODS column with methanol-water as the mobile phase. Recoveries of forchlorfenuron from several agricultural products fortified at the level of 0.1 microg/g were in the range of 87.6-99.5%. The limit of detection (S/N=3) was 0.005 microg/g in the sample.

Neotropical primates of the Cebidae and Callitrichidae, in their natural habitats, are frequently infected with a variety of trypanosomes including Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes a serious zoonosis, Chagas' disease. The state of trypanosome infection after a 30-day quarantine period was assessed in 85 squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) and 15 red-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas), that were wild-caught and exported to Japan as companion animals or laboratory animals, for biomedical research, respectively. In addition to many microfilariae of Mansonella (Tetrapetalonema) mariae at a prevalence of 25.9%, and Dipetalonema caudispina at a prevalence of 3.5%, a few trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) minasense were detected in Giemsa-stained thin films of blood from 20 squirrel monkeys at a prevalence of 23.5%. Although few T. minasense trypomastigotes were found in Giemsa-stained blood films from tamarins, a buffy-coat examination detected trypanosomes in 12 red-handed tamarins (80.0%), and PCR amplification of a highly variable region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU rDNA) for Trypanosoma spp. detected the infection in 14 of the 15 tamarins (93.3%). Nucleotide sequences of the amplicons were identical for trypanosomes from tamarins and squirrel monkeys, indicating a high prevalence but low parasitemia of T. minasense in imported Neotropical nonhuman primates. Based on the SSU rDNA and 5.8S rDNA, the molecular phylogenetic characterization of T. minasense indicated that T. minasense is closely related to trypanosomes with Trypanosoma theileri-like morphology and is distinct from Trypanosoma (Tejeraia) rangeli, as well as from T. cruzi. Using some blood samples from these monkeys, amplification and subsequent sequencing of the glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene fragments detected 4 trypanosome genotypes, including 2 types of T. cruzi clade, 1 type of T. rangeli clade, and 1 T. rangeli-related type, but failed to indicate its phylogenetic position based on the gGAPDH gene. Furthermore, species ordinarily classified in the Megatrypanum by morphological criteria do not form a clade in any molecular phylogenetic trees based on rDNA or gGAPDH genes.

Pesictide residues in 343 samples of domestic rice and 32 samples of imported rice purchased on the Tokyo market from April 1995 to March 2005 were investigated. Residues of eleven kinds of pesticides (including organophosphorus, organochlorine, carbamate, pyrethroid and organonitrogen pesticides and bromide) were detected at levels between trace and 1 ppm in 47 domestic rice samples. DDVP and bromide residues were detected at levels between 0.01 ppm and 5 ppm in 18 imported rice samples. For rice samples that were found to containing pesticides, the amounts of pesticide intake were calculated according to the daily intake of rice, and they were compared with the ADI values. Since residual pesticide levels were 17/10,000-2/5 of ADI, all the rice samples were considered to be safe for human consumption.

Three protein-coding loci in DNA of an Entamoeba histolytica strain (EHMfas1) isolated from cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) were sequenced; these loci corresponded to the genes for chitinase, the serine-rich E. histolytica protein (SREHP), and the 16 S-like small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S-like SSUrRNA). The nucleotide and deduced amino-acid sequences of chitinase and SREHP were compared with sequences from human isolates. EHMfas1 had several specific mutations in units in the polymorphic regions of the chitinase and SREHP loci, with some repetition of these mutated units. The sequence of the 16S-like SSUrRNA gene (16S-like SSUrDNA) was compared with other Entamoeba species. In phylogenetic analysis, EHMfas1 was not categorized in the E. histolytica cluster but between E. histolytica and E. dispar. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of E. histolytica isolated from cynomolgus monkey, and our results indicate that EHMfas1 may be a subspecies of E. histolytica that infects cynomolgus monkey.

In a DC to AC radiation converter (DARC) source, a short microwave wave pulse was emitted by the interaction between a periodic electrostatic field and a laser‐produced ionization front. An emission frequency was observed from 8 to 42 GHz and depended on a plasma density, a perpendicular DC magnetic field strength, and a cut‐off frequency (i.e., boundary effect) of the rectangular waveguide, respectively. The short THz pulse emission from a femtosecond‐laser‐pumped DARC source was also demonstrated by use of a 150‐fs Ti:sapphire laser pulse.

Collaborative operations of a hybrid dispersed power supply system using new energies such as photovoltaic power (PV) and wind power (WP), fuel cell (FC) as well as electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) are studied in this paper. FC is used to enable stable collaborative operation of this dispersed power supply in autonomous mode. Since the output of those natural energies is greatly variable, and FC cannot follow the rapid change of the load, then energy storages are required to operate this dispersed power supply in autonomous mode. As the energy storage, EDLC is used to enable rapid and deep charge/discharge operations. The collaborative operation methods were devised to minimize the EDLC capacity for the given FC rating, and the EDLC capacity was investigated by simulations using MATLAB/Simulink software

Application of the unified power flow controller (UPFC) to dispersed power supply system combined with fuel cell (FC), photovoltaic cell (PV) and electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) is studied in this paper. This system is operated in autonomous mode, taking account of time delay characteristics of FC. This system can meet the multiquality electric power requirements of customers, and compensate voltage stability and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) function as well. Moreover, the response characteristics of this system is confirmed with the simulation by software PSIM and the required capacity of EDLC to compensate load demand is clarified by the simulation using software MATLAB/Simulink. An improved EMAP model, provided with limiting function in addition to the original EMAP model, was used to realize further reduction of EDLC capacity.

In this paper, a home power supply system for collective houses consisting of fuel cell (FC) network and electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) is proposed. EDLC is required to operate the whole system in autonomous mode. The FCs for the collective houses are linked together. The network linking of the fuel cells contributes to get higher reliability of the system, and to reduce the capacity of inverter and EDLC by smoothing pulsive and intermittent loads. Load patterns including pulsive intermittent loads were modeled for simulations based on an actually measured data. The feasibility of this concept was confirmed by simulations using software MATLAB/Simulink.

Four unknown peaks were detected in GC chromatograms during analysis of organophosphorus pesticide residues in foods. They were identified by using GC/MS as triethyl phosphate (TEP), tributyl phosphate (TBP), diphenyl 2-ethylhexyl phosphate (DPEHP) and N-ethyltoluenesulfoneamide (NETSA), which are used as plasticizers or flame retardants in food packaging. These chemical substances were detected in the range of tr. (below 0.01 microg/g) to 11 micro/g from 29 samples, and they were also detected in the packaging. It was supposed that they were transferred to the foods from the packaging. Furthermore, they were detected in some cereals and cereal products which contain fat and had been preserved for a long time.

The cytotoxic alkaloids nordeoxyharringtonine (2), homodeoxyharringtonine (3), and bishomodeoxyharringtonine (4) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidence.

Application of the unified power flow controller (UPFC) to dispersed power supply system combined with fuel cell (FC) and electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) is studied in this paper. This system is operated in autonomous mode, taking account of time delay characteristics of FC. The modified Euler type moving average prediction (EMAP) model is introduced to reduce the capacity of EDLC. This system can meet the multi- quality electric power requirements of customers, and ensures voltage stability and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) function as well. Moreover, the response characteristics of this system are confirmed with the simulation and the required capacity of EDLC to compensate load demand is clarified by the simulation based on collaborative operation methods by a prediction model.

In this paper, a new type dispersed power supply system consisting of the photovoltaic (PV), the fuel cell (FC) as well as a superconducting magnetic energy storage system (SMES) is proposed. The basic philosophy of this concept is described, and the feasibility of this system is confirmed by computer simulation. In order to deal with the PV output fluctuation and the response time delay of FC, the modified Euler type Moving Average Prediction (EMAP) model is proposed, and the capacity of SMES for this system is examined with the simulation.

A simplified HPLC determination method for maleic hydrazide in agricultural products was developed, and commercial agricultural crops were investigated. The homogenate of agricultural products was extracted with water. The crude extract was purified on an ACCUCAT Bond Elut extraction cartridge using water. Maleic hydrazide was analyzed by HPLC with UV detection (303 nm). The HPLC separation was performed on a ZORBAX SB-Aq column with acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid(5:95:0.01) as the mobile phase. Recoveries of maleic hydrazide from 15 agricultural products fortified at 1.0 and 10 micrograms/g were in the ranges of 92.6-104.9% and 94.2-101.3%, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.5 microgram/g in samples. The proposed method was applied to the determination of 242 commercial vegetables and fruits. Maleic hydrazide was detected in 2 samples of imported onion at the levels of 4.9 and 7.2 micrograms/g.

We investigated the determination of N-methylcarbamate pesticides and their metabolites in agricultural products by HPLC with post-column fluorescence detection after clean-up with an SPE cartridge. The homogenate of agricultural products was extracted with acetone. The crude extract was partitioned between 5% sodium chloride solution and dichloromethane, and the dichloromethane layer was concentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved with a mixture of acetone and n-hexane, and purified by using Supelclean ENVI-Carb SPE, Bond Elut Extraction Cartridge PSA and SAX in series with a mixture of acetone and n-hexane. N-Methylcarbamate pesticide was analyzed by HPLC with post-column reaction and fluoresce detection. N-Methylcarbamate pesticide in citrus fruits and various kinds of agricultural products could be analyzed accurately by the presented method. Recoveries of N-methylcarbamate pesticides added to several agricultural products at the level of 0.10 ppm were mostly in the range of 60-110%. The limit of detection was 0.005 ppm.

Four kinds of barbaloin (BA)-related compounds (A, B, C, D) in aloe drinks were isolated by using preparative HPLC. LC/MS analyses of these compounds showed the identical quasimolecular ion peak at m/z 833 [M-H]-. The chemical structures were mainly determined by NMR, including 1H-1H two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (COSY), nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy (NOESY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), and heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity (HMBC) experiments. They were identified as BA-related compounds A (10R, 10"S), B (10S, 10"S), C (10S, 10"R), and D (10R, 10"R) coupled through a C-10 to C-7' linkage, and newly found in nature. These results suggested that BA is converted to dimers during storage of aloe drinks.

We examined the effects of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (Japanese name: Hochu-ekki-to, HET), a traditional Chinese medicine, on IgE production and histamine release in mice immunized intraperitoneally with a mixture of ovalbumin (OA) and aluminum hydroxide (alum adjuvant). Three groups of mice were orally administered 0, 1.7 or 17 mg of HET on day 13 after the first immunization with a mixture of 1 microg OA and 1 mg alum adjuvant. They were again immunized with the same dose of OA plus alum adjuvant on day 14. The immunological changes in mice treated with OA alone or OA plus HET were examined, and the following findings were obtained. In the HET-treated mice, the elevation of anti-OA IgE in serum, and histamine release from basophils in blood, were significantly suppressed. A significant suppression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) secretion and proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in primary culture was also observed. A tendency to suppress the elevation of anti-OA IgG1 in serum and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion from splenic lymphocytes was observed in the HET-treated mice. These findings suggest that oral administration of HET suppresses IgE antibody production and histamine release in type I allergic reaction in mice immunized with OA plus alum adjuvant; this shows the efficacy of HET in treating type I allergic diseases, such as asthma.

Three alkaloids, neoharringtonine, homoneoharringtonine and 3'S-hydroxyneoharringtonine, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including two-dimensional NMR and CD spectra, and their antileukaemic activity was evaluated using P-388 leukaemia cells.

Electrochromism synchronous to the charge/discharge of a novel Li ion battery having Li3Fe2(PO4)3 and Li4Ti5O12 thin-film electrodes fabricated by a chemical process, the molecular precursor method, was discovered. A cathode of transparent Li3Fe2(PO4)3 thin film with a thickness of 80 nm was fabricated by heat treating a precursor ethanol solution including a Li(I) complex of nitrilotriacetic acid, an Fe(III) complex of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and (dibutylammonium)2H2P2O7 ⋅ 0.5H2O at 550°C for 10 min in air. An anode of transparent Li4Ti5O12 thin film with a thickness of 90 nm was fabricated by heat treating a precursor ethanol solution including a Li(I) complex of nitrilotriacetic acid, a Ti(IV) complex of the identical organic ligand, and hydrogen peroxide at 550°C for 30 min in air. The precursor films for both electrodes were fabricated with a spin-coating method. The thermal reactions of the novel precursors were examined in detail by means of thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis in order to examine the components and heat-treatment temperature. The crystal structure and surface morphology of the thin-film electrodes fabricated on glass substrates pre-coated with a fluorine-doped tin oxide film were examined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The rechargeable function of the assembled sandwich-type battery using an electrolytic solution containing LiPF6 was measured by the repeated charge and discharge test at a constant current of 10 μA; a maximum voltage of 3.6 V was recorded. The color changes of the transparent thin-film battery between colorless before charging and a blue-gray color after charging occurred synchronously and repeatedly with the charge/discharge cycles. The intercalation of Li+ ions into the Li4Ti5O12 thin-film anode may be related to the drastic color change and the unprecedented visualization of the electrochemical reaction of a novel Li ion battery.

TiO 2 films, promising photocatalytic materials to assist in solving the global warming problem due to excess atmospheric CO 2 , were prepared by an ion beam assisted reactive deposition (IBARD) method. Ti evaporation and simultaneous Ar + ion bombardment at 10 keV were conducted on SnO 2 – coated glass substrates as well as stainless steel substrates in an oxygen atmosphere of 10 -2 Pa. A maximum photocurrent density of 1.8 mA/cm 2 was obtained for the IBARD – TiO 2 films. However, this value was much less than the one reported for anatase-type TiO 2 films prepared by a sol-gel method (8 mA/cm 2 ). XRD (x-ray diffraction) and TDS (thermal desorption spectroscopy) results suggested that this poor photocurrent performance of the TiOx films depends primarily on a different crystalline structure (rutile), which might be caused by argon atom incorporation in the films.

The binding energies of gold, silver and copper adatoms and their clusters to each (111) surface have been calculated. The binding energy EN of an N-adatom cluster can be roughly written as EN=3NE1+mE2, where 3E1, is the binding energy of a single adatom to the (111) surface and m is the number of bonds within the cluster and E2 is the binding energy of the bond within the cluster. It was found that E1=0.95eV, E2=0.42–0.49eV for gold, E1=0.62eV, E2=0.38-0.44eV for silver and E1=0.81eV, E2=0.43–0.49eV for copper (by use of a newly determined N-body embedded atom potential). The activation energies of motion of these adatom clusters on each (111) surfaces have been calculated by use of a newly determined N-body embedded atom potential and molecular dynamics method.

Unstable output of the photovoltaic power generation system caused by insolating fluctuation is likely to give some unfavorable impact on the existing electric power distribution system (utility line). In order to mitigate the output fluctuation of PV, the modified moving average processing method is introduced. In this system, low frequency component of the net PV output is separated from high frequency component.

Cephalotaxidine (1), a novel Cephalotaxus dimeric alkaloid, has been isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea, and its structure has been elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses. Alkaloid 1 has a unique CC bridge between the two mother skeletons which are composed of homoharrigtonine and its oxygenated congener.

Drupangtonine ( 1 ), a novel Cephalotaxus alkaloid, has been isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea , and its structure has been elucidated based on spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 strongly inhibits the growth of P-388 leukemia cells.

Ti1- x Al x N films were prepared using a dynamic ion mixing apparatus with two electron beam evaporation sources. The Ti and Al contents of the films were changed by independent control of the evaporation rates of the two sources at a constant N concentration of 30 at%. The chemical shifts of the films determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were smaller than those of the standard TiN and AlN, because one N atom combined with a Ti and an Al atom. The hardness and wear resistance of the Ti1- x Al x N films were determined, and it was found that an increase in the Al content of the films resulted in a decrease in the hardness and the wear resistance. The hardness and wear resistance changed drastically with change in x from 0.5 to 0.64 despite no such changes of XPS and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was obvious from SEM images that the film with x=0.5 had a results of denser cross-sectional structure and a smoother surface than the film with x=0.64. From the results of mechanical tests, the optimum composition for a film having excellent mechanical properties was concluded to be (Ti0.5Al0.5)N0.3.

There are many methods of metal surface modification, including ion plating, ion cluster beam evaporation, ion dynamic mixing and ion static mixing.Ion dynamic mixing is superior to other methods because the thin film produced has excellent properties, and adheres strongly to the base metal.Producing a thin film by ion dynamic mixing, requires equipment having a large-bore ion-beam outlet. We conducted many tests on thin films produced using such equipment.The equipment was used to make thin films of TiN and AlN by ion dynamic mixing, ion static mixing, and ion implantation, and the films were comparead. The results showed that thin films made by ion dynamic mixing were superior to those made by other methods, and that thin films of AlN were inferior to those of TiN.

Hardness and wear resistance properties of TiN coating films formed by a newly-designed, large current ion implantation machine were studied. The ion beam of this machine has current and a diameter larger than conventional implantation machines in order to improve surface layer properties of metals and others. This machine provides the maximum ion current of 0.2 A (continuously) at 40 kV or 0.4 A at 20 kV.Compared with other samples, implantation doses of 6×1017 N+ /cm2 into titanium deposited films of 0.3 micrometer thickness on SUS304 plate give the best friction coefficient within 6 meter long dry sliding length under heavily weighted condition. Optimum relation between ion doses and thicknesses of titanium layer was found. The coated surfaces of the samples were observed by a scanning electron microscopy and were analyzed by an electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA).

The induction repulsion-type superconducting levitation system is being studied for a 500 km/h ultrahigh-speed railway. The effects of various damping methods on the induction repulsion-type coil track system using a superconducting magnet are discussed. Two cases are considered in analyzing the characteristics of active damping, i.e., where one of four superconducting coils on one side loses its superconducting state and where the exciting current of one normal-conducting ground coal is interrupted. An analysis of magnetic damping and magnetic damping characteristics are presented.

In the proposed method, the electromagnetic forces concerned are obtained by differentiating the magnetic coupling (or manual inductance) between a pair of vehicle and ground coils with respect to vehicle coil position variables. The magnetic thrust and the magnetic damping force are also derived from the interchange between magnetic and mechanical energies. (TFD)

This experiment was carried out to obtain the optimum conditions for TiN film preparation by the dynamic mixing method using 1 keV N2+ ions. Dynamic mixing is a system which involves ion implantation during evaporation. The N:Ti elemental ratios and chemical shifts of films were determined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TiN prepared by ion plating was used as a standard sample for the XPS and hardness measurements. Although the same measurement results of the XPS were obtained as for the standard TiN, the hardness of the film prepared at the ambient temperature was less than one-half that of the standard sample. Otherwise the film prepared during the heating of a substrate at 500°C was as hard as the standards sample. Then an N2+ ion flux of 2.5 × 1015 ions cm−2s−1 under a titanium deposition rate of 1 nm s−1 was used and the coloration of this film became yellowish bronze. The differences between films prepared at two temperatures, i.e. of the ambient and 500 °C, were investigated by X-ray diffraction and thermal desorption spectroscopy.

A multifilamentary Nb/sub 3/Sn coil is wound with a 1.8 mmm diameter Nb-tube processed Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor and subsequently reacted. This magnet coil was fabricated and tested with an NbTi back-up. The insert has a 38-mm bore, 138 mm outer diameter and 223 mm length, whereas the NbTi back-up is 150 mm in length. Both magnets were connected in series and charged simultaneously at 4.2 K: 15.5 T was attained after many premature quenches, due to debonding between the bore tube and the coil winding. The current density at 15.5 T is 131 A/mm/sup 2/ for Nb/sub 3/Sn, and 142 A/mm/sup 2/ for NbTi. >

Nitrogen ions with 6 keV incident energy at a pressure of 5×10 −6 Pa up to a fluence of 9.6×10 16 ions/cm 2 were implanted into several transition metals. After the implantation, the surface N/Me (Me: metal) ratios of the metals were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental N/Me ratios of most metals were smaller than those obtained by calculations in which the sputtering during the ion implantation was taken into account. The saturation value of the N/Me ratio increased with decreasing Gibbs free energy of nitride formation. These results imply that the nitrogenation of the metals by ion implantation is influenced by the chemical reactivity between the metal and nitrogen.