The functional implications of the dimerization of the catalytic subunits of the mammalian brain platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (Ib)

The mammalian brain contains significant amounts of the cytosolicisoform Ib of the platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase(PAF-AH), a unique type of PLA2. This oligomeric protein complexcontains three types of subunits: two homologous (63% identity)26 kDa catalytic subunits (     

Far infrared optical properties of amorphous semiconductors As−S systems

Far infrared reflection, Raman, and Brillouin spectra of amorphous semiconductor As?S systems are measured. From the reflection spectra, the optical constants are calculatured by the Kramers Kronig analysis. The existence of some intermediate range interaction among molecular units AsS₃ is suggested. From the analysis of the Boson peak at low frequency region in Raman scattering, the correlation length is obtained to be ca. 6 Å. From the absorption coefficient in the low frequency region about 3% fluctuation of charge is suggested for As₂S₃ by schlömann theory.     

Heat capacities and thermal conductivities of AmO2 and AmO1.5

The thermal diffusivity of AmO₂ was measured from 473 to 773 K and that of AmO_1.5 between 473 and 1373 K using a laser flash method. The enthalpy increment of AmO₂ was measured from 335 to 1081 K and that of AmO_1.5 between 335 and 1086 K using drop calorimetry. The heat capacities of AmO₂ and AmO_1.5 were derived from the enthalpy increment measurements. The thermal conductivity was determined from the measured thermal diffusivity, heat capacity and bulk density. The heat capacities of AmO₂ was found larger than that of AmO_1.5. The thermal conductivities of AmO₂ and AmO_1.5 were found to decrease with increasing temperature in the investigated temperature range. The thermal conductivity of AmO_1.5 with A-type hexagonal structure was smaller than that of AmO₂ with C-type fluorite structure but larger than that of sub-stoichiometric AmO_1.73.     

Annealing behavior of (Pu,Cm)O2 lattice and bulk expansion from self-irradiation damage

In order to investigate the effect of self-irradiation damage and accumulation of He on oxide fuel pellets containing minor actinides, the expansion and annealing behavior of (Pu_0.95Cm_0.05)O₂ lattice and bulk were examined comparatively. Since the lattice and bulk expansion at room temperature showed a similar dependence on the storage duration, the main factor of bulk expansion was found to be the lattice expansion due to the generation of point defects. The lattice parameter recovered to the undamaged value by annealing at 1429 K for 2 h, whereas the bulk expanded again by annealing at 1433 K and did not recover to the undamaged value. In the micrographs of the fracture surface of the annealed pellet, the formation of gas bubbles along grain boundaries was confirmed. The He gas bubble formation resulted in the pellet swelling, and it may affect the pellet thermal conduction.     

New sensitivity-enhancing scheme for a fibre-optic interferometerutilising two optical loops

To improve the sensitivity or dynamic range of fibre-optic interferometer systems a new scheme utilising two optical loops is presented. The validity of the scheme is also experimentally confirmed by a tentative bulk-optic configuration     

Oxygen potential measurements of Am0.5Pu0.5O2−x by EMF method

The dependence of the oxygen potentials on oxygen non-stoichiometry and temperature of Am_0.5Pu_0.5O_2−x has been obtained by the electromotive force (EMF) method with the cell: (Pt) air |Zr(Ca)O_2−x| Am_0.5Pu_0.5O_2−x (Pt). The x value of Am_0.5Pu_0.5O_2−x was changed at 1333 K over 0.02 < x ? 0.25 by the coulomb titration method. The temperature dependence of the oxygen potential was also measured over the range of 1173-1333 K. It was found that the oxygen potential decreased from −80 to −360 kJ mol⁻¹ with increasing x from 0.021 to 0.22 at 1333 K and that it remained almost constant at −360 kJmol⁻¹ around x = 0.23. It was concluded that Am_0.5Pu_0.5O_2−x should be composed of the single fluorite-type phase over 0.02 < x ? 0.22 and the mixed phases of fluorite-type and (Am, Pu)₉O₁₆ at around x = 0.23.     

Restoration of solid oxide fuel cell stacks after failure of partial cells

We investigated a solid oxide fuel cell stack that employs anode-supported planar cells in which two intermediate plates are installed every 10 cells to determine the influence of the separation and reconnection of the intermediate plates after high temperature operation. We showed that this separation and reconnection caused no significant degradation in stack performance. A 30-cell stack, which was constructed by removing two 10-cell sub-stacks from a 50-cell stack that had operated stably 1200 h, functioned well. The difference between the average voltages of the cells in the 50- and 30-cell stacks was less than 3% when the current density, fuel utilization, and oxygen utilization were 0.30 A cm⁻², 60%, and 15%, respectively. The 30-cell stack operated stably for about 1200 h with almost no degradation. These findings indicate that our stack can be restored after cells in the stack have broken down simply by removing the 10-cell sub-stacks that contain the broken cells and replacing them with undamaged 10-cell sub-stacks.     

Self-organized lightwave network based on waveguide films for three-dimensional optical wiring within boxes

This paper presents core technologies for a self-organized microoptical system (SELMOS) within optoelectronic computers; mass-productive fabrication processes of waveguide films and new types of self-organized lightwave networks (SOLNETs) for three-dimensional (3-D) optical wiring with optical Z-connections. Waveguide films are fabricated by the built-in mask method, which is reusable and can construct surface-normal mirrors/filters at one time within photolithographic accuracy. Beveled core edge walls are made by the tilted ultraviolet (UV) exposure through the built-in mask using a photodefinable material. Near- and far-field patterns reveal that the walls act as micromirrors for optical Z-connections. SOLNET is a network consisting of self-organized coupling waveguides between misaligned optical devices. The self-organization is generated in a photorefractive material by self-focusing of the two write beams from the two devices. Direct SOLNET, where wavelengths of the write beam and the signal beam are the same, is demonstrated using a laser diode. Reflective SOLNET, where one of the two write beams is replaced with a reflected write beam from the edge of the coupled device, realizes two-beam-writing SOLNET in a one-beam-writing configuration. It is especially effective when the coupled device cannot transmit write beams. The proof-of-concept is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. These results indicate a possibility to form 3-D optical wiring simply in SELMOS.