Development of a 275-kV liquid cooling-type gas-insulated transformer

Construction of 275-kV and 500-kV substations in densely populated areas is thought to be necessary in the future to maintain a stable supply of electricity. The use of gas-insulated transformers is now considered for substations because such transformers are non-flammable and nonexplosive. Since the completion of the 77-kV gas-insulated transformer in 1979, we have continued research to develop gas-insulated transformers applicable to a higher voltage level up to 500 kV. As the results of the research, 275-kV, 300-MVA a liquid cooling-type gas-insulated transformer has been developed.     

Computer-controlled microcirculatory support system for endothelial cell culture and shearing

Endothelial cells (ECs) lining the inner lumen of blood vessels are continuously subjected to hemodynamic shear stress, which is known to modify EC morphology and biological activity. This paper describes a self-contained microcirculatory EC culture system that efficiently studies such effects of shear stress on EC alignment and elongation in vitro. The culture system is composed of elastomeric microfluidic cell shearing chambers interfaced with computer-controlled movement of piezoelectric pins on a refreshable Braille display. The flow rate is varied by design of channels that allow for movement of different volumes of fluid per variable-speed pump stroke. The integrated microfluidic valving and pumping system allowed primary EC seeding and differential shearing in multiple compartments to be performed on a single chip. The microfluidic flows caused ECs to align and elongate significantly in the direction of flow according to their exposed levels of shear stress. This microfluidic system overcomes the small flow rates and the inefficiencies of previously described microfluidic and macroscopic systems respectively to conveniently perform parallel studies of EC response to shear stress.     

Development of a frequency-detuned interferometer as a prototype experiment for next-generation gravitational-wave detectors

We report on our prototype experiment that uses a 4-m detuned resonant sideband extraction interferometer with suspended mirrors, which has almost the same configuration as the next-generation, gravitational-wave detectors. We have developed a new control scheme and have succeeded in the operation of such an interferometer with suspended mirrors for the first time ever as far as we know. We believe that this is the first such instrument that can see the radiation pressure signal enhancement, which can improve the sensitivity of next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.     

Photo-induced electron transfer of a chlorophyll—liquid crystal electrode to water

A platinum plate was coated with a thin layer of chlorophyll and liquid crystal in order to make it photo-excitable. The chlorophyll—liquid crystal electrode immersed in water was found to shift its electrode potential to a more positive value on light irradiation. Furthermore light irradiation increased cathodic current. Liquid crystals such as N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p′-butylaniline markedly enhanced a photo-response in electrode potential and current. A prominent photo-response of the electrode appeared in an acidic solution around pH 4. A possibility of a direct electron transfer from a photo-excited chlorophyll—liquid crystal electrode to water, ie, photo-decomposition of water, is suggested.     

Contrasting diurnal variations in fossil and nonfossil secondary organic aerosol in urban outflow, Japan

Diurnal variations of fossil secondary organic carbon (SOC) and nonfossil SOC were determined for the first time using a combination of several carbonaceous aerosol measurement techniques, including radiocarbon (1?C) determinations by accelerator mass spectrometry, and a receptor model (chemical mass balance, CMB) at a site downwind of Tokyo during the summer of 2007. Fossil SOC showed distinct diurnal variation with a maximum during daytime, whereas diurnal variation of nonfossil SOC was relatively small. This behavior was reproduced by a chemical transport model (CTM). However, the CTM underestimated the concentration of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol (ASOA) by a factor of 4-7, suggesting that ASOA enhancement during daytime is not explained by production from volatile organic compounds that are traditionally considered major ASOA precursors. This result suggests that unidentified semivolatile organic compounds or multiphase chemistry may contribute largely to ASOA production. As our knowledge of production pathways of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is still limited, diurnal variations of fossil and nonfossil SOC in our estimate give an important experimental constraint for future development of SOA models.     

Marked Effect of Mo and Fe Addition Upon Liquid Phase Methanol Reforming with Water Over Al2O3 Supported Pt Catalysts

Successively impregnated Pt–Mo/Al₂O₃ and Pt–Fe/Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited large enhancement effect in H₂ formation rate of liquid phase methanol reforming. Added Mo oxide forms monolayer on Al₂O₃ and facilitates the higher dispersion of Pt particles. In the case of Fe, formation of some surface bimetallic clusters between Pt and Fe was confirmed by XAS analysis, which causes the enhancement effect of H₂ formation in MeOH–H₂O reaction.     

Synthesis and Properties of Gemini-type Cationic Surfactants Containing Carbonate Linkages in the Linker Moiety Directed Toward Green and Sustainable Chemistry

Gemini-type cationic surfactants containing carbonate linkages as biodegradable and chemically recyclable segments, consisting of two long-chain alkyl groups, two quaternary ammonium groups and a linker moiety, were designed and synthesized as novel green and sustainable cationics with improved physicochemical and biological activities. The gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage showed lower critical micelle concentration values compared to the corresponding single-type cationics. Also, the gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage in the linker moiety showed strong antimicrobial activities. The biodegradability of the gemini-type cationics was significantly improved when a carbonate linkage was introduced into the linker moiety. The maximum biochemical oxygen demand-biodegradability of the gemini-type cationics containing a carbonate linkage in the linker moiety exceeded 70% after a 28-day incubation. Furthermore, the gemini-type cationics containing both a carbonate linkage and an n-dodecyl group showed a chemical recyclability using a lipase (E.C. 3.1.1.3).

On-chip cell sorting system using laser-induced heating of a thermoreversible gelation polymer to control flow

We have developed a microfabricated fluorescence-activated cell sorter system using a thermoreversible gelation polymer (TGP) as a switching valve. The glass sorter chip has Y-shaped microchannels with one inlet and two outlets. A biological specimen containing fluorescently labeled cells is mixed with a solution containing a thermoreversible sol-gel polymer. The mixed solution is then introduced into the sorter chip through the inlet. The sol-gel transformation was locally induced by site-directed infrared laser irradiation to plug one of the outlets. The fluorescently labeled target cells were detected with sensitive fluorescence microscopy. In the absence of a fluorescence signal, the collection channel is plugged through laser irradiation of the TGP and the specimens are directed to the waste channel. Upon detection of a fluorescence signal from the target cells, the laser beam is then used to plug the waste channel, allowing the fluorescent cells to be channeled into the collection reservoir. The response time of the sol-gel transformation was 3 ms, and a flow switching time of 120 ms was achieved. Using this system, we have demonstrated the sorting of fluorescent microspheres and Escherichia coli cells expressing fluorescent proteins. These cells were found to be viable after extraction from the sorting system, indicating no damage to the cells.     

Novel Enantiocomplementary C2‐Symmetric Chiral Bis(imidazoline) Ligands: Highly Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indoles with Ethyl 3,3,3‐Trifluoropyruvate

Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylations of a variety of indoles with ethyl 3,3,3‐trifluoropyruvate catalyzed by novel chiral m‐phenylenebis(imidazoline)‐copper(II) complexes or the bis(imidazoline)‐achiral acid combination afforded products with high enantioselectivity. Both enantiomers of indole derivatives can be prepared with high enantioselectivities by tuning the N‐substituents of the imidazoline.