Magnetic torque of κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 single crystals

The magnetic torque ofκ-(BEDT-TFF)₂Cu(NCS)₂ was measured as a function of field directionθ with respect to thea ^*-axis under constant magnetic fields,H, up to 8 kOe in the temperature range from 1.3 to 8 K. A sharp cusp, C₁, in the irreversible region was found atθ _c1 near theH∥bc-plane between 1.3 and 7 K. In addition, extra cusps, C₂ and C₃, were observed atθ _c2 andθ _c3, respectively, between 2.5 and 6 K. At each temperature, the perpendicular component ofH giving each cusp is kept constant as $H\cos \theta _{cn} = const \equiv H_{cp_n } (n = 1,2,3),$ i.e., cusps C₁, C₂, and C₃ are ruled by the characteristic field perpendicular to thebc-planeH _cp1,H _cp2, andH _cp3, respectively. These behaviors are almost the same as those we found in the oxide superconductor Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈. These results suggest that the cusps are intrinsic for irreversible vortex states of these layered superconductors.     

Pilot Studies of Ozonation for Inactivation of Artemia salina Nauplii in Ballast Water

A pilot-plant study was conducted in the Republic of Croatia to determine the applicability of ozonation for inactivation of non-indigenous species and to provide necessary information regarding use of ozone as a ballast water treatment option. Nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina were used as model organisms to investigate the efficacy of ozonation at three different ozone dosages (2.4, 3.7 and 10.9 mg L^?1). Mortality of Artemia nauplii at 98.6%, was achieved after 3 h of exposure in ozone-treated water with the highest ozone dosage. Our results indicated that ozonation is a promising treatment for controlling non-indigenous and potentially invasive species; however, to draw more general conclusions, several species with higher level of resistance to ozone are required and will be studied in the future.     

Quantification of lowered cholesterol oxidation in guinea pigs with latent vitamin C deficiency

Fifty-two male guinea pigs fed on a scorbutigenic diet were divided into a control group (10 mg ascorbicacid per animal per day) and a group with latent vitamin C deficiency (2 weeks on the scorbutigenic diet only, followed by a maintaining dose of 0.5 mg ascorbic acid per animal per day). After 13 weeks, 26-¹⁴C-cholesterol was administered intraperitoneally to all the animals, in which the¹⁴C excretion in the expired CO₂ and the urine and cholesterol specific activity in the blood serum and liver were then studied at intervals of 24 hr and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 weeks. The ascorbic acid concentration in the liver and spleen of the control animals was five times higher than in vitain C-deficient animals. The total cholesterol concentration in serum and liver was significantly higher in the vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs. A two-pool analysis of the disappearance curves of serum cholesterol specific activity showed that the size of the cholesterol pool A (blood and tissues with rapid cholesterol exchange) was greater in the vitamin C-deficient animals. The rate of the transformation of cholesterol to bile acids was estimated as the ratio of¹⁴CO₂ expired to liver cholesterol specific activity. Latent vitamin C deficiency caused significant slowing down of this process (controls: 11.8±0.6; vitamin C deficiency: 8.3±0.4 mg/24 r/500 g w/w). A significant correlation between the liver ascorbic acid concentration and the rate of cholesterol transformation to bile acids was found. The results demonstrate that ascorbic acid is necessary for a normal course of cholesterol catabolism. In latent vitamin C deficiency, the rate of cholesterol catabolism slows down and cholesterol consequently accumulates in the blood and liver of vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs.     

Development of a magnetic corrosion probe for nondestructive evaluation of concrete against corrosion of reinforcing bar

A new magnetic corrosion probe has been developed for nondestructive evaluation of concrete against corrosion of reinforcing bar. Two types of probes, a thin iron wire (probe A) and an iron-plated copper bar (probe B) were tested whether their changes in residual magnetization with progress of corrosion of iron could be detected using a superconducting interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The preliminary tests carried out under an atmospheric condition showed that the residual magnetization became less intensive with progress of corrosion for both probes. Then the two types of probes were embedded in mortar for an accelerated corrosion test. The results showed that probe A scarcely corroded in mortar despite that reinforcing bar suffered from corrosion under the identical condition. The probe B corroded as reinforcing bar did, resulting in a sharp decrease in the residual magnetization. Thus, the probe of type B embedded in mortar can give a magnetic warning against degradation of surroundings regarding the corrosion of reinforcing bar.     

The effect of cold rolling parameters on the recrystallization texture of non-oriented electrical steel

The effect of cold rolling condition on magnetic properties of non-oriented electrical steel was investigated. For evaluation of cold roiling condition, utilizing rolling shape factor (RSF) was proposed. In the case of small RSF, magnetic induction was improved. Development of ND ∥ <111< components was suppressed in the recrystallized texture near the surface, and the vicinity of the {100}<001> component was developed after grain growth. The relation between RSF and cold-rolling condition was examined by computer simulation; such results were attributed to the increment of shear strain in the surface texture. Magnetic properties would be improved by adequate control of cold-rolling condition.     

Finite element creep analysis of PCRVs and comparison with experimental results

In order to investigate the validity and application of a finite element creep analysis program developed for the design of PCRV, a creep test was carried out on a scale model of a PCRV and the results were compared with those from numerical analysis. Based on the rate of flow method, the creep strain of concrete is divided into two components: flow strain (irreversible creep) which is assumed to be a linear function in the logarithmic scale of t, and delayed elastic strain (reversible creep) which is expressed as an exponential function of flow strain. The analysis program is based on the finite element method in which triangular constant strain elements for solids of revolution are used and the time-step analysis function, in the form of the initial strain method, is provided. In the analysis of the PCRV model constant creep Poisson's ratios of 0.17, 0.3 and 0.5 are assumed for the purpose of comparison. The constitutive model based on the rate of flow method satisfactorily modelled the uniaxial creep behaviour of test cylinders and the computed strains simulated the characteristics of the strain histories of the PCRV model fairly well in the qualitative sense.     

A measurement of very fast transition durations due to gapdischarge in air using distributed constant line system

Very fast transition durations (rising time in positive polarity and falling time in negative polarity) due to starting of gap discharge were investigated in time domain. The gap space was set very small for voltages below 1500 V as a simulation of the charged device model (CDM) electrostatic discharge (ESD) and the gap discharge of switch devices. The measurement system consists of a distributed constant line system with a tapered coaxial electrode, which has a matched impedance for the characteristic impedance of the distributed constant line system. The insertion loss of the tapered coaxial electrode was within -3 dB in the frequency range below 4.5 GHz. The atmosphere around the electrode is ordinary air. This experimental system enables one to measure the high-speed transients of about 100 ps due to gap discharge in time domain. As a consequence of the experiment, the relationship between the discharge voltage and transition duration was confirmed. The voltage rise time was slowed down gradually in positive polarity, while the voltage fall time was slowed down remarkably in negative polarity for the 0.1-mm needle     

Relationships between the number of small follicles prior to superovulatory treatment and superovulatory response in Holstein cows

In order to determine relationships between the number of small follicles prior to superovulatory treatment and superovulatory response, a total of 55 superovulations were induced in Holstein cows. The ovaries were examined ultrasonographically once 0-1.5 days before the initiation of superovulatory treatment. The number of small follicles 3-6 mm in diameter on both ovaries before superovulatory treatment was found to be significantly correlated with the numbers of corpora lutea after superovulation (r = 0.440, P < 0.001), total ova recovered (r = 0.503, P < 0.001) and transferable embryos recovered (r = 0.482, P < 0.001). These results indicate that a single ultrasonographic examination of follicles 3-6 mm in diameter prior to superovulatory treatment can be utilized to predict superovulatory response.     

Balanced realisations and model reduction of periodicallytime-varying state-space digital filters

The authors discuss balanced realisations and model reduction of periodically time-varying (PTV) state-space digital filters. Controllability and observability Grammians of PTV state-space digital filters are discussed. It is extremely interesting to notice that although PTV state-space digital filters can be implemented by using a group of time-invariant coefficient sets, controllability and observability Grammians cannot be evaluated independently by using any one set of these time-invariant coefficients. Also, important physical interpretations of controllability and observability Grammians are considered. Based on these analysis results, balanced realisations of PTV state-space digital filters are defined and a synthesis method for balanced realisations is proposed. As one application of balanced realisations, a reduced-order model of a PTV state-space digital filter can be obtained by taking a subsystem of balanced realisation of the PTV state-space digital filter. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the balanced model reduction procedure