Nutrient balance in a paddy field with a recycling irrigation system.

We studied nutrient balance in a paddy field that had a recycling irrigation system and evaluated the effect of the irrigation system on nutrient balance during the irrigation period, from April to August 2002. Chemical fertilizer was the main input of phosphorus; the soil absorbed about 56% of it. The amount of nitrogen supplied by the irrigation system was higher than in a representative paddy field, and the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used was decreased because the irrigation water was partly reused. About 20% of applied nitrogen was lost by denitrification. The net outflows of phosphorus and nitrogen were -0.37 and -3.98 kg ha(-1), respectively. These results indicate that our study paddy field performed well in removing phosphorus and nitrogen compounds from runoff water. A recycling irrigation system can be considered an effective way of reducing the amounts of water and fertilizer used and reducing the outflow nutrients.     

Silica-sol-based spin-coating barrier layer against phosphorous diffusion for crystalline silicon solar cells

The phosphorus barrier layers at the doping procedure of silicon wafers were fabricated using a spin-coating method with a mixture of silica-sol and tetramethylammonium hydroxide, which can be formed at the rear surface prior to the front phosphorus spin-on-demand (SOD) diffusion and directly annealed simultaneously with the front phosphorus layer. The optimization of coating thickness was obtained by changing the applied spin-coating speed; from 2,000 to 8,000 rpm. The CZ-Si p-type silicon solar cells were fabricated with/without using the rear silica-sol layer after taking the sheet resistance measurements, SIMS analysis, and SEM measurements of the silica-sol material evaluations into consideration. For the fabrication of solar cells, a spin-coating phosphorus source was used to form the n⁺ emitter and was then diffused at 930°C for 35 min. The out-gas diffusion of phosphorus could be completely prevented by spin-coated silica-sol film placed on the rear side of the wafers coated prior to the diffusion process. A roughly 2% improvement in the conversion efficiency was observed when silica-sol was utilized during the phosphorus diffusion step. These results can suggest that the silica-sol material can be an attractive candidate for low-cost and easily applicable spin-coating barrier for any masking purpose involving phosphorus diffusion.     

Simultaneous projection and detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry in Large Helical Device

A simultaneous projection/detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) was developed for three-dimensional observation of electron density fluctuations in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The microwave with four frequency components at 60.410, 61.808, 63.008, and 64.610 GHz is projected in a continuous-wave mode to illuminate the target LHD plasma. A two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (2D HMA) receives the reflected wave from the plasma as well as the wave from the local oscillator operating at 55.800 GHz. The first intermediate frequency (IF) signals at 4.610, 6.008, 7.208, and 8.810 GHz were confirmed to be obtained by downconversion of these microwaves using the 2D HMA. Each of these first IF components is filtered from each other and downconverted again for the superheterodyne detection. It was confirmed that both the amplitudes and the phases of the detected signals reflect the fluctuations in LHD plasmas.     

A New Approach for Reversible RNA Photocrosslinking Reaction: Application to Sequence‐Specific RNA Selection

On and off in a flash : We describe a novel, ultrafast, reversible, interstrand RNA photocrosslinking reaction via 3‐cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside. The interstrand RNA‐photocrosslinking reaction showed a high degree of sequence specificity and can be used in the selection of a target RNA sequence.

     

Analysis of meat pigments with tissue spectrophotometer TS-200

The colour of meat and rice flour pastes containing known amounts of myoglobin and the colour of intact beef and pork samples were analyzed with tissue spectrophotometer TS-200. The differences in the spectra of myoglobin among three types of derivatives were successfully distinguished with this instrument. In addition, there is a close relationship between I_HB value, a parameter for estimating the content of pigments in animal tissues, and myoglobin content in model systems (rice flour paste and meat paste). Especially, the I_HB value is proportional to myoglobin content in intact beef and pork meat whose myoglobin is mostly in the state of oxymyoglobin and/or deoxymyoglobin: Y = 208·26 x + 6·72, where y is the I_HB value, x is the myoglobin content (%) and R = 0·94.     

A deflection yoke for projection TV with reduced geometrical distortion

Abstract— We have succeeded in coping with raster‐distortion and deflection‐defocusing problems in CRT projection TV by utilizing a longer horizontal coil and uniquely shaped windings. The field distribution along the tube axis was also modified and optimized to achieve minimum raster distortion and deflection defocusing simultaneously. The position of the centering magnet was shifted towards the screen side to minimize the defocusing of the spot.     

Arsenic lipids in the digestive gland of the western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus: an investigation by HPLC ICP-MS.

The digestive gland of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, was shown to contain phosphatidylarsenocholine and a phosphatidyldimethylarsinylriboside by HPLC ICP-MS examination of lipid materials rendered water-soluble by hydrolysis. Water-soluble arsenic material in the digestive gland was chiefly arsenobetaine but the deacylated analogue of the phosphatidyldimethylarsinylriboside and an unidentified compound were also present.