Oral Administration of Bovine Milk from Cows Hyperimmunized with Intestinal Bacterin Stimulates Lamina Propria T Lymphocytes to Produce Th1-Biased Cytokines in Mice

The goal of this study was to examine the effects of oral administration of bovine milk from cows hyperimmunized with a proprietary bacterin (immune milk “Sustaina”) on mucosal immunity in the intestine of adult mice. C57BL/6 mice were orally given immune or control milk for two weeks, and then lymphocyte population and the cytokine production in lamina propria of colon in normal mice and mice induced colitis by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) were detected. We found that the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 increased, but the levels of IL-17A and IL-4, decreased in lamina propria of colon in immune milk-fed mice as compared with those in control milk-fed mice. Interestingly, oral administration of immune milk partially improved the acute colitis induced by DSS. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ increased, but IL-6, IL-17A and IL-4 decreased in lamina propria (LP) of colon in immune milk-fed mice with DSS-induced colitis. Our results suggest that immune milk may stimulate CD4⁺ T cells to polarize towards a Th1 type response, but contrarily suppress Th17 and Th2 cells responses in large intestinal LP of mice. The results indicate that this kind of immune milk has is able to promote the maintainance of intestinal homeostasis and enhance protection against infection, and could alleviate the symptoms of acute colitis in mice.     

Influence of output power out of a synchronous generator installed in a customer system on current limiting effects due to a fault current limiter

In this paper, it was assumed that a synchronous generator in a customer system was connected to a distribution system via the fault current limiter (FCL). We theoretically investigated the influence of the output power of the generator on the limiting effect of the fault current when a three‐phase short‐circuit fault occurs. It was shown that the fault current out of the customer system, limited by the FCL, rises with the output power of the generator. It was found that the larger the output, the higher the fault current at the fault point is when the limiting resistance is less than 15 Ω in the case of the resistive‐type FCL. On the other hand, the fault current at the fault point decreases with an increase in the output power for a limiting resistance more than 15 Ω. In contrast, it was found that the suppressing effect on the fault current at the fault point due to the inductive‐type FCL hardly depends on the output power. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(3): 15–24, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10357     

Cholesterol-lowering activity of plant sterol-egg yolk lipoprotein complex in rats

Free plant sterols cannot be dissolved in oil or water. Using free plant sterols and egg yolks, we developed a plant sterol-egg yolk lipoprotein complex (PSY) that can be dispersed in water and considered suitable for use in processed foods. The cholesterol-lowering activity of PSY was equal to that of free plant sterols and plant sterol esters. Consumption of a freeze-dried PSY-containing omelet reduced serum and hepatic cholesterol concentrations. The results suggest that PSY has cholesterol-lowering activity equivalent to that of free plant sterols and plant sterol esters. Moreover, the cholesterol-lowering activity of PSY was maintained in processed foods.     

Risk assessment for optimum low‐voltage distribution facilities constructed by using genetic algorithms

The influences of uncertainty of the load growth rate and interest rate on the total cost of low‐voltage distribution facilities was investigated. We assumed that the total cost was composed of the initial construction cost, the improvement cost, and the cost of power loss. We also assumed that the distribution facilities were operated for 30 years. Genetic algorithms were used to determine how to construct cost‐effective distribution facilities that did not compromise power quality. Two investment methods were compared: one in which the utility cut down the initial construction cost and improves the initial facilities along with the load growth, and one in which the utility bears the large initial cost without the improvement cost. It was found that the lower cost method depends on the load growth rate and the interest rate. It was also found that the influence of uncertainty in the load growth rate increases with an increase in the differential between the actual load growth rate and the expected one. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 172(2): 10–19, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20976     

Distribution voltage rise at dense photovoltaic generation area and its suppression by SVC

An SVC is proposed as a reactive power compensation device to suppress the rise in the customer voltage due to photovoltaic power generation systems. The SVC produces a reactive power by controlling a thyristor. The effect of the SVC on the rise in the customer voltage has been investigated. Calculation results show that installing an SVC on the low‐voltage side is more effective for suppressing the rise in the customer voltage compared to an SVC located on the high‐voltage side. As far as the calculation conditions are concerned, it is found that the rated capacity of the SVC needed to maintain the customer voltage within 101±6V is over ±11.1kVA. The slope reactance required to suppress the customer voltage lower than 107 V is found to be under 1.28%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 47–53, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20478     

Deliverable‐power dependence on distribution‐line resistance and number of loads in low‐voltage DC distribution system

In this paper, we show that in a low‐voltage DC distribution system the deliverable power to a load has an upper limit P_lim due to the voltage instability at the receiving ends. On the basis of the previously derived concept of P_lim, we obtain the dependence of P_lim on the distribution line resistance R. In addition, we investigate the influence of the number of loads on P_lim. The result shows that a distribution line of lower R causes P_lim to be lower. This reduction in P_lim becomes more distinct for a larger number of loads. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Note: Light output enhanced fast response and low afterglow 6Li glass scintillator as potential down-scattered neutron diagnostics for inertial confinement fusion

The characteristics of an APLF80+3Ce scintillator are presented. Its sufficiently fast decay profile, low afterglow, and an improved light output compared to the recently developed APLF80+3Pr, were experimentally demonstrated. This scintillator material holds promise for applications in neutron imaging diagnostics at the energy regions of 0.27 MeV of DD fusion down-scattered neutron peak at the world's largest inertial confinement fusion facilities such as the National Ignition Facility and the Laser Me?gajoule.     

A novel approach to deliverable power in low‐voltage DC distribution system on the basis of voltage stability

This paper proposes that a deliverable power through a low‐voltage DC distribution system has an upper limitation. The upper limitation of the deliverable power, P_lim, is explained on the basis of a voltage instability phenomenon occurring for the load with a voltage sensitivity below 1. From theoretical‐calculation results, it is pointed out that P_lim diminishes with augment in the distribution‐line length. This phenomenon becomes more distinct for the higher distribution‐line inductance per unit length. Connection of the capacitor to the receiving end of the distribution line is discussed as a method for rising P_lim. Measurements of the voltage waveform at the load terminals successfully support P_lim derived from the theoretical calculation. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Migration of 1,3-diazacyclohexane sub-rings in ring-contracted macrocyclic silver(I) complexes

Mononuclear and dinuclear silver(I) complexes with contracted macrocyclic ligands were synthesized ([AgL^d]BPh₄, 1, and [Ag₂L^b](BPh₄)₂ · 2(DMF), 2). X-ray structural analysis revealed that in 1 the coordinated ligand L^d adopted a ring-contracted cis-form, with two 1,3-diazacyclohexane sub-rings positioned in a cis-configuration with respect to the macrocyclic ring center, while in 2 the ligand L^b adopted a ring-contracted trans-form. ¹H NMR and X-ray structural analysis revealed that the cis- and trans-forms are interconvertible depending on whether the complex is mononuclear or dinuclear and whether it is in crystalline form or in solution; i.e., the 1,3-diazacyclohexane sub-ring is capable of migration in ring-contracted macrocyclic silver(I) complexes.