Field test results of multi-channel digital tv transmission at 15 and 30 Mb/s through an intelsat satellite using a PSK/FDMA system

This paper describes field test results of multi-channel digital TV transmission using a PSK/FDMA system and the related subjective test results of received TV pictures. The picture quality of the multi-channel 15 or 30 Mb/s transmission for both NTSC and PAL systems through the INTELSAT POR satellite are subjectively evaluated for various bit-error rates. In addition, subjective evaluations were made at various values of earth-station e.i.r.p. to compare the picture quality of digital transmissions with that of current half-transponder FM transmission.     

TETHER-LINKED [60]FULLERENE-DONOR DYADS

A series of [60]fullerene bis-adducts having a π-electron-rich aromatic ring as a donor in a face-to-face arrangement were synthesized by the bis-cyclopropanation of [60]fullerene with tether-linked bis-malonates. One of the bis-adducts showed a photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer which caused the dramatic quenching of its fluorescence in a polar solvent.     

Nanotrap and mass analysis of aromatic molecules by phenyl group-modified nanoparticle

To functionalize the surface of nanoparticles with phenyl groups for subsequent cross-linking with aromatic molecules by mutual interactions, we prepared functional nanoparticles (d = 3 nm) by silanization with phenyl-triethoxysilane. The nanoparticles had Fe(2)O(3) cores conjugated to phenyl groups; this was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and absorption spectrophotometry. The typical C-H and C-C peaks and the absorption at 240 nm, which corresponds to aromatic rings, were detected in the spectroscopic results for the phenyl group-modified nanoparticles. The nanoparticles could ionize aromatic (colchicine, reserpine, and bradykinin peptide) and nonaromatic (L-α-phosphatidylethanolamine,dioleoyl, and polyethylene glycol) molecules by nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The nanoparticles worked as a selective trap and an ionization-assisting reagent in mass spectrometry for the aromatic molecular targets.     

Suppression of cell growth by ectopic expression of N-cadherin

We found that ectopic expression of N-cadherin in 3Y1 caused tight association of cells and, thereby, substantially suppressed cell growth. N-cadherin expression inhibited neither tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, GTP uptake onto Ras, nor activation of MAP kinase, suggesting that it does not directly interfere the Ras-MAP kinase pathway. However, co-expression of N-cadherin with dominant negative Ras, S17N Ras, showed synergestic growth inhibitory effect, suggesting that N-cadherin signaling antagonizes the Ras-MAP kinase signaling. In addition, we found that N-cadherin yielded cell-cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. These results strongly suggest that N-cadherin cell adhesion machinery works as a negative controller of cell cycle in 3Y1 and this growth suppressive function of cadherin is distinct from the epithelial morphogenetic function.     

Variation of Fructooligosaccharides and their Metabolizing Enzymes in Onion Bulb (Allium cepa L. cv. Tenshin) During Long-term Storage

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the status of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) in onion bulbs ( Allium cepa L. cv. Tenshin) and their metabolizing-enzymes—1-fructoexohydrolase (1-FEH), 1-kestose hydrolyzing enzyme (1-KH), fructan:fructan 1^F-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT) and fructan:fructan 6^G-fructosyltransferase (6G-FFT)—during storage at 15°C. Fructose varies slightly, whereas 1-kestose peaked after 6 wk and then decreased progressively during the last 18 wk of storage. Lower degree of polymerization (DP) 3 to 6) FOS, higher (DP 7 to 12) FOS, total FOS, and total carbohydrates showed similar and close patterns during 24 wk. They varied slightly at the beginning of the storage period; afterward they decreased progressively and regularly during the last 20 wk of storage. 1-FEH and 1-KH activities were low but peaked abruptly after 12 and 16 wk, respectively, after which they decreased to levels higher (1-FEH) or similar (1-KH) to those observed at the beginning of the storage. Surprisingly, 1-FFT activity showed similar pattern to the variation of 1-KH hydrolyzing activity; on the other hand, 6G-FFT, although higher, was stable during 16 wk but decreased after that. The results allowed us to associate FOS to the dormancy and sprouting states, and the peaks of the degrading enzymes were shown to signal the release of dormancy of onion bulb.     

Development of a deep-hole, laser-guide boring tool: the boring of workpieces with a thin wall and an inclined prebored hole

A laser-guided BTA tool has been developed to prevent axial hole deviations. Four kinds of experiments were conducted to examine the performance of this tool in detail and to determine its practical application using a duralumin (A2017-T4) workpiece with a prebored 108-mm diameter hole. The first experiment was performed to examine the conditions of the hole deviation in the case of normal deep-hole boring. The second was to examine whether the tool corrects for the stated hole deviation. The third was to examine whether the tool can go straight through to the target without shifting toward a thin wall (t = 0.7 mm) on one side of the workpiece. The fourth was to examine whether the tool can be guided toward the target without affecting a prebored hole, which was inclined to radial direction at 100 μm for a hole length of 100 mm. The experiments were performed with a rotating tool-stationary workpiece system. Rotational speed was 270 rpm and feed ws 0.125 mm/rev. Tool diameter was 110 mm. The results show that the tool can be guided to go straight through toward the target despite the disturbances.