Discharge characteristics and low‐voltage driving of high‐Xe‐content PDPs

Abstract— High‐Xe‐content PDPs attain improved luminous efficiency, but with sacrifices of higher sustain and address voltages and slower discharge build‐up. By examining PDPs with 3.5–100% Xe contents, it was revealed that space‐charge priming as well as wall‐charge accumulation are effective in obtaining low‐voltage and high‐speed operation. In addition, it was found that the effectiveness is emphasized for higher‐Xe‐pressure PDPs. In this respect, erase addressing is more favorable than write addressing, especially for high‐Xe‐pressure PDPs. The formative time lag of the discharge and diffusion/drift of the space charges are shorter for high Xe contents. In this respect, high‐Xe‐content PDPs have a potential for high‐speed addressing, if driven adequately. The use of space‐charge priming, however, is limited by the duration between the priming and scan pulses. Accumulation of wall charges is limited by ignition of a self‐erase discharge with which all the wall charges are dissipated. Although the highest efficiency and luminance are attained with a 100%‐Xe panel, the optimum Xe gas content, considering the sustain pulse voltage and drive voltage margin, would be 70% Xe + Ne.     

State difference feedback for stabilizing uncertain steady states of non-linear systems

Supposing a non-linear system is subjected to parametric uncertainties, the present paper aims at stabilizing its unstable steady states. A distinctive feature of the problem is that exact information about the steady state is unavailable. To cope with the difficulty, we have examined the applicability of the state difference feedback which uses the difference between the present state x(t) and the past state x(t-T). A rigorous stability analysis has been executed for the case where state deviations are controllable by a single input variable. The stability analysis has led to a favourable conclusion that if the number of unstable modes is just two, and if they are not associated with the origin in the complex plane, we are always able to find a controller which stabilizes the deviations from the unknown steady state. Design process is illustrated by using two kinds of pendulum systems.     

Beam-shape correction in deployable phased arrays

Deployable phased-array antennas-antennas that are receiving great attention-have a major problem in that they possess the possibility of an incomplete deployment and antenna shape distortion. These effects cause a displacement of the element antenna positions that results in deviation of the phase distribution on the antenna aperture, eventually causing antenna beam deflection. We have investigated how to correct this beam deflection by observing the phased-array antenna from certain directions. There are cases when more than one observation point is necessary to carry out the proposed method depending on the extent of the antenna shape distortion and the number of the points is consulted. This correction method makes it possible to correct the deflection of the main beam and also to determine the displacement of relative element positions     

The Effects of Insulin on Immortalized Rat Schwann Cells,IFRS1

Schwann cells play an important role in peripheral nerve function, and their dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy and other demyelinating diseases. The physiological functions of insulin in Schwann cells remain unclear and therefore define the aim of this study. By using immortalized adult Fischer rat Schwann cells (IFRS1), we investigated the mechanism of the stimulating effects of insulin on the cell proliferation and expression of myelin proteins (myelin protein zero (MPZ) and myelin basic protein (MBP). The application of insulin to IFRS1 cells increased the proliferative activity and induced phosphorylation of Akt and ERK, but not P38-MAPK. The proliferative potential of insulin-stimulated IFRS1 was significantly suppressed by the addition of LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor. The insulin-stimulated increase in MPZ expression was significantly suppressed by the addition of PD98059, a MEK inhibitor. Furthermore, insulin-increased MBP expression was significantly suppressed by the addition of LY294002. These findings suggest that both PI3-K/Akt and ERK/MEK pathways are involved in insulin-induced cell growth and upregulation of MPZ and MBP in IFRS1 Schwann cells.     

Studies on the method of combining an analog simulator and a real‐time digital simulator for power system analysis

An advanced real‐time power system simulator consisting of a conventional real‐time analog simulator and a real‐time digital simulator has been developed. EMTP simulations were carried out to verify the advanced power system simulator concept and to evaluate the effects of various parameters. A prototype of the advanced power system simulator using the Bergeron method was tested. The test results confirmed the feasibility of the real‐time power system simulator. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(3): 49–57, 2001     

Studies on anti-inflammatory agents. V. Synthesis and pharmacological properties of 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5- [4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]pyrazole and related compounds

A series of novel 1,5-diphenylpyrazole derivatives bearing hydrophilic substituents was prepared. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of these compounds were evaluated by using the adjuvant arthritis and Randall-Selitto assays in rats, and the structure-activity relationships were studied. The optimal compound was 3-(difluoromethyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-[4-(methylsulfinyl)phenyl]pyraz ole (10) with oral ED50 values of 0.31 and 2.6 mg/kg on adjuvant-induced arthritis and carrageenin-induced foot edema, respectively. Compound 10 showed analgesic activities not only toward inflamed paw but also toward normal paw (ED30 = 0.55 and 1.8 mg/kg, respectively) in the Randall-Selitto assay, and moreover, 10 was effective in the tail-pinch assay (ED50 = 21 mg/kg) similarly to morphine. The asymmetric synthesis and pharmacological properties of the enantiomers of 10 are also reported.     

Experimental study on a single particle trap with a pneumatic vibrator matrix

This paper describes a fundamental study on a pneumatic particle trap with a vibrator matrix. The particle trap device consisted of pneumatic vibrators and a trap chamber used to trap a particle. The entire structure was fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The particle in the trap chamber was manipulated and trapped in the equilibrium region by exploiting the geometrical symmetry of the vibrators. The x-axial velocity of the viscous fluid induced by the deformation of the flexible diaphragms was eliminated or minimized at the center of two vibrators. Therefore, a particle could be trapped in the central capturing region by two or four vibrators. The trapping of static and dynamic single particles was observed to verify the proposed operational method.     

Novel π-conjugated organoboron polymers: Poly (ethynylene-phenylene-ethynylene-borane)s

Summary Novel poly(ethynylene-phenylene-ethynylene-borane)s were prepared by polycondensation between bifunctional lithium acetylide and aryldimethoxyborane. The polymers obtained are expected as a novel type of organoboron π-conjugated polymers via vacant p-orbital of boron atom. The polymerization between dilithium 2,5-didodecyloxybenzene- 1,4-diethynilide and tripyldimethoxyborane [tripyl=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl] gave the corresponding polymer in 67% yield. From gel permeation chromatographic analysis (THF, PSt standards), the number-average molecular weight of the polymer was found to be 2700. In the UV-vis spectrum of the polymer (in chloroform at room temperature), an absorption maximum was observed at 397 nm. The fluorescence emission spectrum (in chloroform, room temperature, excitation wavelength at 400 nm) showed its λ_max at 456 nm in the visible blue region. The polymers obtained were very soluble in common organic solvents such as THF, chloroform and benzene. Received: 11 April 2000/Accepted: 22 April 2000