On the possibility of SSR in longitudinal power systems

This paper presents a theoretical consideration on the possibility of subsynchronous resonance (SSR) in longitudinal power systems. Shunt capacitors are used for reactive power compensation in our country, but series capacitors are not used in general. The possibility of SSR is therefore small. However, if power transmission increases, and accordingly, if shunt compensation increases in amount, there is no guarantee that SSR will never occur. First, we investigate network impedance viewed from a generator. Its resonance frequencies become lower with increasing transmission power. One of them gets subsynchronous if the power exceeds a certain value. In this area, there is some possibility of SSR, which is confirmed with the damping property of the generator. The admittance matrix of the load buses is singular at the resonance frequencies. Their number is equal to the dimension of the matrix. The frequencies are common to all generators but not limited to one particular generator. One of them becomes equal to 60 Hz as we increase transmission power. We regard this power as a limit for SSR. However, steady‐state stability limit is lower than this limit, and steady operation is not possible at the limit. Therefore, it is impossible to enter the area of SSR. Thus, we conclude that SSR does not occur in shunt compensated systems. However, this property is easily lost if some series compensation is introduced. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 130(3): 30–38, 2000     

Polyether‐segmented nylon hemodialysis membrane. VII. Studies on surface structures of various poly(ethylene oxide)‐segmented nylon membranes

The relationships of the surface morphologies to the surface chemical compositions in poly(ethylene oxide)‐segmented nylon (PEO–Ny) membranes prepared by the phase‐inversion method were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS). The PEO–Ny's used were high semicrystalline PEO‐segmented polyiminosebacoyliminohexamethylene (PEO–Ny610), low semicrystalline PEO‐segmented poly(iminosebacoylimino‐m‐xylylene) (PEO–NyM10), and amorphous PEO‐ segmented poly(iminoisophthaloyliminomethylene‐1,3‐cyclohexylenemethylene) (PEO–NyBI). SEM observation showed that the surfaces of the PEO–Ny610 and PEO–NyM10 membranes were composed of crystalline spherulite and that the PEO–NyBI membrane surface had a nodular structure. ESCA analysis exhibited the enrichment of the PEO segment at the surfaces of the PEO–Ny610 and PEO–NyM10 membranes. On the other hand, the enrichment of the Ny segment was observed in the case of the PEO–NyBI membrane. SSIMS analysis revealed that the outermost surfaces of the PEO–Ny membranes except the PEO–NyBI membrane were almost covered with the PEO segment. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 517–528, 2000     

Evaluation of the Relationships between Intestinal Regional Lymph Nodes and Immune Responses in Viral Infections in Children

Viral infections increase the risk of developing allergies in childhood, and disruption of mucosal homeostasis is presumed to be involved. However, no study has reported a role for viral infections in such disruption. In this study, we clarified the mechanism of immunoglobulin A (IgA) overproduction in viral infections. Autopsies were performed on 33 pediatric cases, IgA and interferon (IFN)β levels were measured, and histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were conducted. Furthermore, we cultured human cells and measured IFNβ and IgA levels to examine the effect of viral infections on IgA production. Blood IgA levels in viral infections were higher than in bacterial infections. Moreover, IFNβ levels in most viral cases were below the detection limit. Cell culture revealed increased IgA in gastrointestinal lymph nodes, especially in Peyer’s patches, due to enhanced IFNβ after viral stimulation. Conversely, respiratory regional lymph nodes showed enhanced IgA with no marked change in IFNβ. Overproduction of IgA, identified as an aberration of the immune system and resulting from excessive viral infection-induced IFNβ was observed in the intestinal regional lymph nodes, particularly in Peyer’s patches. Further, increased IgA without elevated IFNβ in the respiratory system suggested the possibility of a different mechanism from the gastrointestinal system.     

Identification of Sperm-Binding Sites in the N-Terminal Domain of Bovine Egg Coat Glycoprotein ZP4

The species-selective interaction between sperm and egg at the beginning of mammalian fertilisation is partly mediated by a transparent envelope called the zona pellucida (ZP). The ZP is composed of three or four glycoproteins (ZP1–ZP4). The functions of the three proteins present in mice (ZP1–ZP3) have been extensively studied. However, the biological role of ZP4, which was found in all other mammals studied so far, has remained largely unknown. Previously, by developing a solid support assay system, we showed that ZP4 exhibits sperm-binding activity in bovines and the N-terminal domain of bovine ZP4 (bZP4 ZP-N1 domain) is a sperm-binding region. Here, we show that bovine sperm bind to the bZP4 ZP-N1 domain in a species-selective manner and that N-glycosylation is not required for sperm-binding activity. Moreover, we identified three sites involved in sperm binding (site I: from Gln-41 to Pro-46, site II: from Leu-65 to Ser-68 and site III: from Thr-108 to Ile-123) in the bZP4 ZP-N1 domain using chimeric bovine/porcine and bovine/human ZP4 recombinant proteins. These results provide in vitro experimental evidence for the role of the bZP4 ZP-N1 domain in mediating sperm binding to the ZP.     

A modeling method and EMTP simulations of an inverter surge

A numerical simulation of the inverter surge is carried out using a frequency‐dependent model of a cabtyre cable. The frequency‐dependent model is based on the Semlyen line model in the EMTP, for which the required parameters are determined from the measured results of the wave propagation characteristic in the cable. A simple model of an induction motor is proposed considering resonances in the motor. The simulated result by the EMTP agrees reasonably well with the measured result. The proposed model can be useful for predicting the peak voltages observed at the motor terminal of inverter‐operated motors. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Feasible solution for dynamic economic load dispatch using feasible operation region

High penetration of renewable energy in the future power system will pose a big problem to the load dispatch operation. The large disturbance and high forecast error must be considered when scheduling a limited number of controllable generators to follow rapid change in load. This paper proposes a dynamic economic load dispatch (DELD) problem approach based on the concept of a feasible operation region (FOR). FOR is defined as the region that committed generators may operate in to match the load profile without violating the ramp‐rate constraints. The DELD problem is solved in two stages. In the first stage, FOR of each generator is computed using recent real‐time forecasted load as well as renewable energy generation. In the second stage, a generation schedule is determined by solving the DELD problem interval by interval while considering ramp‐rate constraints and FOR constraints. The method can gives feasible solution for feasible load and specify the amount of compensation required for feasible solution for infeasible load. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemical Composition of Cell Wall Material from Sweet Potato Starch Residue

Cell wall material was isolated from the residue obtained after the extraction of sweet potato starch by treatment with the α-amylase. The wall material was fractionated by successive extraction with various reagents. The pectic substance was mainly composed of uronic acid (47.1%) residues and contained galactose as the predominant neutral sugar residues. The hemicellulosic fraction was further fractionated by precipitation with iodine in the presence of calcium chloride to give two fractions, a iodine precipitatable-iodine complex (HC-IP) and a supernatant solution (HC-IS). The HC-IS fraction had a higher glucose content (53.4%), whereas the HC-IP fraction had a high content of xylose residues (35.1%). The HC-IP fraction consisted mainly of xylan, as judged by the degradation with purified xylanase.     

Screening chloride Li-ion conductors using high-throughput force-field molecular dynamics

The realization of high-energy-density all-solid-state Li-ion batteries requires materials exhibiting both high Li-ion conductivity and high deformability, as exemplified by Li₃MCl₆-type chlorides. Herein, we optimized the classical force-field (FF) parameters for 36 Li- and Cl-containing compounds to reproduce the results of high-precision first-principles calculations and performed rapid FF molecular dynamics (MD) calculations to determine their Li-ion conductivities. In addition, shear moduli were evaluated by first-principles calculations and used as a deformability index. Li₄Mn₃Cl₁₀ was selected based on its Li-ion conductivity, stiffness, and thermodynamic stability. In accordance with the low calculated shear modulus (11.7 GPa), the cold-pressed compact had a high relative density of 98%, which indicated good deformability. The room-temperature conductivity (3.9 mS cm⁻¹) was similar to that (1.6 mS cm⁻¹) obtained by high-precision first-principles MD calculations. The Li-ion conductivity of synthesized Li₄Mn₃Cl₁₀ (18 µS cm⁻¹) was relatively rather high compared to those of known chloride materials but much lower than the calculated value, which was ascribed to the fact that calculations were performed for the high-temperature phase, whereas synthesis yielded the low-temperature phase. The material screening method greatly increases the speed of material exploration and expands the application possibilities of chloride materials for all-solid-state batteries.     

Influence of the impregnating property on mechanical properties of commingled yarn composites

Three types of glass/nylon 6 intermediate material forms-film stacking, uncommingled yarn, and commingled yarm-were selected study the correlations between the impregnating property and mechanical properties. The size of the glass fiber block to be filled with matrix and the porosity in glass fiber bundles by spearing out the fiber bundle was different in these materials. Unidirectional glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites were fabricated by compression molding. The being test was performed by using the three-point loading system, and the fracture behavior and the degree of impregnation were observed to examine the influence of processing conditions on the bending properties, relative to the form of the intermediate material. Bending strength increased, in accordance with the impregnating property, least in the film stacking form, second most in uncommingled yarn, and most in commingled yarn. The impregnating property was affected by the size of fiber blocks and the porosity in fiber bundles, because bending strength was improved by spreading out the fiber bundles. Commingled yarn is an excellent intermediate materials, which has both the fineness of matrix/fiber mixing and large porosity in fiber bundles.     

Automatic parameter learning method for agent activation spreading network by evolutionary computation

Artificial Life and Robotics - A variety of planning research is being actively conducted in multiple research fields. The focus of these studies is to flexibly utilize both immediate and...