Fluctuation phenomena below the superconducting transition

The fluctuation propagator for the superconducting order parameter belowT _c is derived for a gapless superconductor. The fluctuation of the order parameter consists of two distinct modes: the fluctuations of the phase and the modulus of the order parameter. The former fluctuation obeys a phononlike dispersion, while the latter fluctuation is described by a damping diffusion type equation. The present theory gives an account of the fluctuation-induced Josephson effect belowT _c observed recently by Carlson and Goldman.     

Proposals for wastewater treatment by applying flocculating activity of cross-linked poly-gamma-glutamic acid

Cross-linked poly-gamma-glutamic acid (C-L gamma-PGA) markedly purified polluted water collected from rivers and ponds by flocculation and precipitation. This effect of C-L gamma-PGA occasionally required pretreatment with polyaluminum chloride (PAC). Components of polluted water in rivers or ponds are generally thought to be clay minerals, microorganisms and chemical compounds. In this study, the flocculating activities of C-L gamma-PGA against suspensions of bentonite, diatomaceous earth, Escherichia coli and Mycrocystis aeruginosa, and against solutions of crystal violet and bisphenol A were investigated. The mode of action of C-L gamma-PGA is thought to be based on electrostatic interaction between flocculants, C-L gamma-PGA and PAC, and the surface of polluted water components, which may lead to neutralization of the zeta-potential of those components.     

Voltage Balancing Control for a Three-Level Diode-Clamped Converter in a Medium-Voltage Transformerless Hybrid Active Filter

This paper discusses a transformerless hybrid active filter integrated into the 6.6-kV, 1-MW adjustable-speed motor drive having a three-phase diode rectifier at the front end. The hybrid filter consists of an active filter using a three-level diode-clamped pulsewidth modulator converter rated at 60 kVA, and a 250-kVA passive filter tuned to the seventh harmonic frequency. They are directly connected in series without a transformer. This circuit configuration enables one to use 1.2-kV insulated gate bipolar transistors because the dc voltage of the three-level converter is 1.32 kV (20% of 6.6 kV). Voltage balancing control characterized by superimposing a sixth harmonic zero-sequence voltage on the active filter voltage reference in each phase is introduced to the three-level converter with triangle carrier modulation. Experimental waveforms obtained from a 400-V, 15-kW downscaled system verify the viability and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid filter, keeping the two dc capacitor voltages well-balanced.     

Synthesis of a photoimmobilizable histidine polymer for surface modification

A novel photoreactive polymer with histidine polar groups was synthesized through the copolymerization of two types of methacrylic acid, one carrying histidine groups and the other carrying azidoaniline groups. The polymer was photoimmobilized on polyester disks for surface modification. The effect of the surface modification on the hydrophilic and biofouling properties was investigated. Static contact angle measurements showed that the polymeric surface was modified to be comparatively hydrophilic in the polymer‐immobilized region. Micropattern immobilization was carried out with a photolithographic method. Atomic force microscopy measurements showed that the polymer was formed on the disks in response to ultraviolet irradiation. Protein adsorption was reduced on the polymer‐immobilized regions, and in those regions, spreading and adhesion of mammalian cells were reduced in comparison with that in nonimmobilized regions. In conclusion, a novel histidine‐containing polymer was photoreactively immobilized on a conventional polymer surface, and it had reduced interaction with proteins and cells. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Transient phenomena of current and field distortion due to dynamics of packet‐like charges in LDPE films

Simultaneous measurements of space charge and external current were carried out using a PEA measurement system with an electrometer on the back of a grounding electrode in order to clarify the physical situation of a huge packet of positive space charges in LDPE films. A large number of positive charges from a semiconducting anode were accumulated at the interface between LDPE and an Al‐cathode at a mean applied field of 1.5 MV/cm and then finally disappeared. The results of simultaneous measurements showed that the external current kept a relatively high value during charge accumulation and further increased when the charges disappeared. Both the charge dynamics and the external current were restricted by addition of a low‐molecular‐weight paraffin wax, indicating that carrier transport was influenced by the microstructure of the polymer. The dynamics of the residual charges after short‐circuiting is also discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 179(4): 10–17, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21256     

Effect of re-oxidation on dielectric properties in Ni-MLCC

The effect of re-oxidation treatment on the solubility of dopants and the dielectric properties of rare-earths (La, Ho) and V-substituted BaTiO₃ solid solutions, assuming the shell phase of X7R dielectrics, was investigated. Ho-V-substituted samples showed larger increase of the lattice parameter and T _c by re-oxidation treatment compared with La-V-substituted samples. Electron spin resonance measurements revealed that the oxidation of V³⁺ to V⁴⁺ or V⁵⁺ appeared in the range in which the increase of lattice parameter by re-oxidation treatment was observed. This suggests that the increase of T _c is due to the change of preferential occupational site of Ho ion from A-site to B-site, being accompanied with the oxidation of V³⁺. We also investigated the effect of re-oxidation treatment on the electrical properties and microstructure in Ni-MLCC samples, using rare-earths (La, Ho, Yb) and acceptors (Mn, V) doped BaTiO₃ based X7R dielectrics. The change in temperature characteristic of the dielectric constant by re-oxidation treatment was observed for the MLCC samples containing V with smaller content. In the case of Ho-V- and Yb-V-doped samples showed larger increase of the dielectric constant at around 120 °C compared with La-V-doped samples. The relationship between the microstructure and electrical properties of the MLCC sample was investigated by impedance measurement at elevated temperature.     

Design and Experimentation of a Dynamic Voltage Restorer Capable of Significantly Reducing an Energy-Storage Element

This paper deals with a dynamic voltage restorer (DVR), or a voltage-sag compensator, which consists of a set of series and shunt converters connected back-to-back, three series transformers, and a dc capacitor installed on the common dc link. The DVR is characterized by installing the series converter on the source side and the shunt converter on the load side. This system configuration allows the use of an extremely small dc capacitor intended for smoothing the common dc-link voltage. This paper provides a design procedure of the dc capacitor under a voltage-sag condition and proposes a control method for the series converter, which is capable of reducing the voltage ratings of both the series converter and the series transformers. Experimental results obtained from a 200-V 5-kW laboratory system are shown to confirm the validity of the design procedure and the effectiveness of the control method.     

Effect of skimmed milk and its fractions on the inactivation of Escherichia coli K12 by high hydrostatic pressure treatment

We investigated the effects of skimmed milk and its protein fractions (casein, whey, globulin, and albumin) on the injury and inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment. The protective effect of skimmed milk on HHP-mediated inactivation and injury of E. coli increased with increases in the skimmed milk concentration. However, protein fractions derived from skimmed milk did not exhibit this protective effect. Microscopy analysis by DAPI/PI staining indicated that some cells were localized in the solid portion of skimmed milk, and some of these cells were alive. The coagulated fraction derived from the autoclaved whey fraction also showed a significant protective effect. We speculate that the solid portion in skimmed milk could provide the protective effect to bacterial cells.