Measurement of critical temperature as a function of field

The critical temperature has been measured for various magnet conductors as a function of the perpendicular applied magnetic field. The isothermal environment was provided by a variable temperature cryostat which fits into the bore of a 10 telsa solenoid. The temperature gradient across the sample volume was measured to be less than 25 millikelvins. The superconducting to normal state transition was measured resistively, using sample current densities from 0.01 to 2 A cm^?2. The maximum applied magnetic field was 10 T and varied less than 0.5% in the sample volume. The critical transport current range of the samples measured from tens to thousands of amperes in the presence of a 10 T perpendicular magnetic field at 4.2 K.     

A preliminary report of the raman scattering study of LiKC4H4O6 H2O (LPT)

Preliminary results of Raman scattering study of LiKC₄H₄O₆ H₂O (LPT) at room temperature and 80 K are presented. Low-lying mode frequencies of LPT are quite similar to those of LiNR₄C₄H₄O₆ H₂O (LAT), though in the former the low-lying response found in the latter is not noticeable.     

Contents of phthalate in polyvinyl chloride toys

The presence of plasticizers in PVC toys obtained in October 1998 was investigated. Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), dinonyl phthalate (DNP), diheptyl phthalate (DHP), and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) were detected. The phthalates were found in all of the 68 samples. The principal phthalate found in toys was DINP, which was present in 48 of 68 samples. The DINP content ranged from 15 mg/g to 580 mg/g, and mean content was 308 mg/g. The highest content was found in a pacifier toy. DEHP was present in 20 of 68 samples and the content ranged from 2.0 mg/g to 380 mg/g. The mean content was 162 mg/g. It was found in 60% of domestic toys.     

Efficient expression, purification and characterization of mouse salivary alpha-amylase secreted from methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris

We constructed a secretion vector of mouse salivary alpha-amylase, pPAM, using the AOX1 promoter-terminator and the secretion signal of 128 kDa pGKL killer protein, for an alternative yeast, Pichia pastoris. Taking advantage of multicopy insertion of the expression cassette and optimized growth conditions, we succeeded in highly efficient extracellular production (approximately 240 microg/ml) of mouse alpha-amylase in the 10 ml scale by conventional flask culture: this efficiency was about 90-fold higher than that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Growth temperature of cells was critical for efficient production of alpha-amylase. P. pastoris transformants secreted both core-glycosylated and non-glycosylated alpha-amylase molecules with a glycosylated:non-glycosylated ratio of about 20:80. Both glycosylated and non-glycosylated alpha-amylases were purified separately to apparent homogeneity. The signal sequence was correctly processed in both species, and the molecular masses of glycosylated and non-glycosylated alpha-amylase were determined to be 58 600 and 56 300, respectively, by mass spectrometry. We further studied the outer chain glycosylation of engineered mouse alpha-amylase secreted by P. pastoris.     

Effects of type of lubricant and shape of tooth profile upon efficiency of gear drives

To reduce energy consumption, it is important to increase the efficiency of gears used for power transmission. In the present work, the efficiencies of gear drives with standard and profile shifted involute gears are measured by changing the type of lubricating oil. A new equation for calculating efficiency is derived by taking into account the additional friction torque that depends on the shape of the teeth. The efficiencies calculated with the new equation agree well with those obtained by experiments conducted using two planetary gear drives with different tooth shapes and with different reduction ratios (u = 4. 89 and 151). The new equation is applicable to the design of gear drives with higher efficiency.