An evaluation method of PV systems

Data evaluation methods have wide adaptations, such as feedbacks to PV system operation management and design. The authors have already developed sophisticated verification method (SV method) of PV systems, which is a simple evaluation method to identify six kinds of system loss rates using basic information and simple four measurable data. This time, the authors introduced quality diagnosis to our previous model for compensating the measurement errors in field data, and improved the algorithm of the model. Consequently, validity of the evaluation result became better than the previous model.     

Flexible scheduling in a machining center through genetic algorithms

In this paper, as a practical application, we focus on a scheduling problem of a machining center which produces a variety of parts with a monthly processing plan. In order to take account of flexibility, such as partial troubles of a machining center, urgent orders and so forth, some parameters which reflect the decision maker's judgements for due-dates are introduced into objective functions of scheduling problems. Realizing that a direct application of conventional simple genetic algorithms to the formulated problems does not always give acceptable results, we introduce a genetic algorithm which is suitable for the formulated scheduling problems. Effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through some numerical simulations.     

Formation of Metastable Rare-Earth Iron Garnet by Splat Quenching

The droplet with Nd _x Sm_{3− x} Fe₅O₁₂ composition was undercooled in an aerodynamic levitator and splat quenched by copper anvils in order to obtain a metastable garnet with a solubility limit larger than the phase equilibrium solubility limit, x =0.375, for the Nd _x Sm_{3− x} Fe₅O₁₂ system. The peaks of the garnet were identified with the peaks of the perovskite by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), although the peak intensity for the garnet decreased with increasing the Nd substitution from x =0.43 to 0.2, and finally disappeared at x =2.2. When the garnet was annealed at 1570 K for 24 h in air, it transformed into a mixture of perovskite and hematite, which indicates that the garnet obtained was the metastable phase. Moreover, the amorphous phase was found in the central part of all the samples even at x =2.2, which was confirmed by micro-focus XRD. The formation of the constituent phases in the as-quenched sample was discussed using a continuous cooling transformation diagram.     

Thermal behavior of aluminum-coated 22MnB5 in hot stamping under dry and lubricated conditions

The hot stamping of aluminum-coated 22MnB5 has usually been conducted under dry condition, for which the forming load is high since the coefficient of friction is over 0.5. In order to decrease the forming load, the authors previously proposed the use of a lubricant to decrease so that the coefficient of friction from over 0.5 to 0.3. However, it is necessary to understand the heat transfer property in hot stamping under lubricated condition. The purpose of this paper is to examine the heat transfer property of aluminum-coated 22MnB5 in hot stamping under dry and lubricated conditions. In this study, the die and specimen temperatures were measured during compression and compression-sliding tests under dry and lubricated conditions using the hot flat drawing test simulator. In the compression test, the die and specimen temperatures measured under dry and lubricated conditions were the same. On the other hand, in the compression-sliding test up to a sliding distance of 70 mm, the die temperature under lubricated condition was lower than that under dry condition, and it was found that the heat transfer under lubricated condition is superior to that under dry condition. Consequently, there is a difference between the specimen temperatures under dry and lubricated conditions. However, from the results of the tensile test, there is no difference between the tensile strengths under dry and lubricated conditions.     

Completely Chemically Synthesized Long DNA Can be Transcribed in Human Cells

Chemical ligation reaction of DNA is useful for the construction of long functional DNA using oligonucleotide fragments that are prepared by solid phase chemical synthesis. However, the unnatural linkage structure formed by the ligation reaction generally impairs the biological function of the resulting ligated DNA. We achieved the complete chemical synthesis of 78 and 258 bp synthetic DNAs via multiple chemical ligation reactions with phosphorothioate and haloacyl-modified DNA fragments. The latter synthetic DNA, coding shRNA for luciferase genes with a designed truncated SV promoter sequence, successfully induced the expected gene silencing effect in HeLa cells.     

A Practical Method for Analysis of Triacylglycerol Isomers Using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

Triacylglycerol (TAG) isomers have been reported to have differing physical and nutritional properties. The analysis of TAG isomers is therefore important for understanding the physical properties of lipids as well as their digestion and absorption. However, methods for the quantitative analysis of TAG regioisomers and enantiomers in vegetable oils and biological samples are still under development. Recently, methods using recycle high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and silver ion column-HPLC have been reported. However the recycle HPLC method requires more than 1 hour, in general, for each sample that is analyzed. Furthermore, existing methods are unable to quantify regioisomers and enantiomers simultaneously. Thus, we aimed to develop a practical method to simultaneously quantify regioisomers and enantiomers of TAG. Three isomers of sn-POO, OPO, and OOP were separated by supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (SFC/MS/MS) using a CHIRALPAK^® IG-U column with acetonitrile and methanol as mobile phase. The separation was completed in 40 min, which is a shorter run time than the conventional techniques published to date. Linear calibration curves with standards were obtained and used to quantify sn-OPO, sn-POO, and sn-OOP in extra virgin olive oil, refined olive oil, palm oil, palm olein, and interesterified palm olein.     

Electronic Communication in the Mixed-valence States of Cyclobutadienecobalt Complexes having Two Ferrocenes and Two Anthraquinones

Two geometric isomers, Z and E forms of (η⁴-cyclobutadiene)(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl) cobalt simultaneously containing two ferrocene moieties and two anthraquinone moieties, 1 and 2, respectively, were synthesized, and their crystal structures were determined. These molecules formed double mixed-valence states caused by ferrocene–ferrocenium and anthraquinone–anthrasemiquinone electronic communications. In both 1 and 2, the thermodynamic stability of the mixed-valence state for the ferrocene moieties was higher than that of the anthraquinone moieties because of the orbital coupling of the CB–Co bridging unit. The comproportionation constant, K _c, for the ferrocene moieties was similar between 1 and 2, whereas the mixing coefficient, α, and the off-diagonal matrix-coupling element in the Marcus-Hush two-state model, H _AB, evaluated from analysis of the intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band were larger for 1 than for 2. These results suggest the existence of higher electrostatic repulsion between two ferrocenium cations in 1 than in 2 and the occurrence of through-bond electronic communication. K _c for the anthraquinone moieties in the E form is smaller than that of the Z form, probably due to the through-space electronic interaction.     

Effect of γ-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex on the Absorption of R-α-Lipoic Acid in Rats

R-α-lipoic acid (RLA) is an endogenous organic acid, and works as a cofactor for mitochondrial enzymes and as a kind of antioxidant. Inclusion complexes of RLA with α-, β- or γ-cyclodextrins (CD) were prepared and orally administered as a suspension to rats. Among them, RLA/γ-CD showed the highest plasma exposure, and its area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of RLA was 2.2 times higher than that after oral administration of non-inclusion RLA. On the other hand, the AUC after oral administration of non-inclusion RLA and RLA/γ-CD to pylorus-ligated rats did not differ. However, the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA/γ-CD was 5.1 times higher than that of non-inclusion RLA, and was almost comparable to the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA-Na solution. Furthermore, the AUC after intraduodenal administration of RLA/γ-CD was not affected by biliary ligation or co-administration of an amylase inhibitor. These findings demonstrated that RLA was absorbed from the small intestine effectively when orally administered as a γ-CD inclusion complex, which could be easily dissolved in the lumen of the intestine. In conclusion, γ-CD inclusion complex is an appropriate formulation for supplying RLA as a drug or nutritional supplement with respect to absorption.     

Demonstration of the cold sintering process study for the densification and grain growth of ZnO ceramics

With the cold sintering process (CSP), it was found that adding acetic acid to an aqueous solution dramatically changed both the densities and the grain microstructures of the ZnO ceramics. Bulk densities >90% theoretical were realized below 100°C, and the average conductivity of CSP samples at around 300°C was similar to samples conventionally sintered at 1400°C. Frequently, ZnO is also used as a model ceramic system for fundamental studies for sintering. By the same procedure as the grain growth of the conventional sintering, the kinetic grain growth exponent of the CSP samples was determined as N=3, and the calculated activated energy of grain growth was 43 kJ/mol, which is much lower than that reported using conventional sintering. The evidence for grain growth under the CSP is important as it indicates that there is a genuine sintering process being activated at these low temperatures and it is beyond a pressurized densification process.     

Fatty acid-specific, regiospecific, and stereospecific hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 (CYP152B1) from Sphingomonas paucimobilis: Substrate structure required for α-hydroxylation

Fatty acid α-hydroxylase from Sphingomonas paucimobilis is an unusual cytochrome P450 enzyme that hydroxylates the α-carbon of fatty acids in the presence of H₂O₂. Herein, we describe our investigation concerning the utilization of various substrates and the optical configuration of the α-hydroxyl product using a recombinant form of this enzyme. This enzyme can metabolize saturated fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of more than 10. The K _m value for pentadecanoic acid (C₁₅) was the smallest among the saturated fatty acids tested (C₁₀–C₁₈) and that for myristic acid (C₁₄) showed similar enzyme kinetics to those seen for C₁₅. As shorter or longer carbon chain lengths were used, K _m values increased. The turnover numbers for fatty acids with carbon chain lengths of more than 11 were of the same order of magnitude (10³ min⁻¹), but the turnover number for undecanoic acid (C₁₁) was less. Dicarboxylic fatty acids and methyl myristate were not metabolized, but monomethyl hexadecanedioate and ω-hydroxypalmitic acid were metabolized, though with lower turnover values. Arachidonic acid was a good substrate, comparable to C₁₄ or C₁₅. The metabolite of arachidonic acid was only α-hydroxyarachidonic acid. Alkanes, fatty alcohols, and fatty aldehydes were not utilized as substrates. Analysis of the optical configurations of the α-hydroxylated products demonstrated that the products were S-enantiomers (more than 98% enantiomerically pure). These results suggested that this P450 enzyme is strictly responsible for fatty acids and catalyzes highly stereo- and regioselective hydroxylation, where structure of ω-carbon and carboxyl carbon as well as carbon chain length of fatty acids are important for substrate-enzyme interaction.