The microbial community in a 2,4-dinitrophenol-digesting reactor as revealed by 16S rDNA gene analysis

The microbial community of a 2,4-dinitrophenol-digesting reactor was investigated using different molecular biological techniques based on 16S rDNA gene sequences. A PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the bacterial community in the reactor showed that one strong and five minor bands were observed in the DGGE profile. The results of excising and sequencing DGGE bands suggested that members of Rhodococcus, Nocardioides, and Nitrospira species were present in the reactor. Partial sequencing of cloned 16S rDNAs revealed diversity among the six main divisions--the alpha, delta subclasses of Proteobacteria, Nitrospira, Cytophagal Flexibacter/Bacteroides, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria--in the reactor. Two cloned sequence types were not closely affiliated with any described bacterial divisions. The isolation and phylogenetic analysis of 2,4-DNP-degrading bacteria from the reactor revealed that isolated strains were classified into two types of bacteria having different 16S rDNA sequences. One of these strain types was identified as a relative of Rhodococcus koreensis, and the other was identified as a relative of Nocardioides simplex FJ21-A.     

A precision digital instantaneous heart rate meter with a wide range

A precision digital instantaneous heart rate meter with a wide range of 0-1023 beats/min was developed for converting the time interval between two successive heart beats to frequency. The resolution of this device is 1 beat/min, and the maximum nonlinearity error is less than 0.06 percent relative to full scale. Therefore, this device has two advantages, i.e., it is more precise and it has a wider range than other conventional tachometers.     

An ultrasonic motor driven by the phase-velocity difference between two traveling waves

This paper presents a new ultrasonic motor in which the rotor rotation speed is locked by the phase-velocity difference between the two traveling waves propagating on the stator and the rotor. First, the unique construction to excite two traveling waves both in the stator and the rotor is described. Then, the operation principle of the present motor is revealed by our careful experiments. Dynamics of the two traveling waves are measured by an in-plane laser Doppler vibrometer under various conditions, as well as the motor performances. Our experiments show that the rotation speed of the motor is equal to the phase-velocity difference between the two traveling waves on the contact surfaces of rotor and stator. It is confirmed that the rotor rotates so as to cancel the phase-velocity difference between the traveling vibrations along the circumferences of the rotor and stator. If the load does not exceed the maximum torque that is determined by the vibration amplitude, the rotation speed is subject only to the phase-velocity difference.     

Determination of metallic impurities in high-purity type IIa diamond grown by high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis using neutron activation analysis

Metallic impurities in high-purity type IIa and conventional type Ib diamond single crystals grown by high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) synthesis were determined by neutron activation analysis using thermal neutrons. Metallic impurities of Fe, Co, Cr and other minor elements were detected in the high-purity type IIa diamond crystal. The typical quantities of these metallic impurities were a few ppb. The influence of these metallic impurities on the electrical properties of the type IIa diamond crystal was practically negligible compared with nitrogen and boron impurities behaving as a donor and an acceptor, respectively. In addition to the impurities detected in the type IIa diamond crystal, Ni impurities of several hundreds of ppb were detected in conventional type Ib diamond crystals. A difference in molten metal solvents used in the synthesis of each diamond crystal resulted in the difference in metallic impurities.     

Detection and discrimination of aquacultural facilities in Matsushima Bay,Japan, for integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning using full polarimetric L-band airborne synthetic aperture radar

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and marine spatial planning (MSP) have been proposed for sustainable development of coastal zones. To implement ICZM and MSP, there is a need to establish database and informational networks to collect, share and disseminate information of the present situation of coastal zones. One permanent and concentrated use of coastal zones is hosting aquacultural facilities. This study aimed to develop a method to detect and discriminate aquacultural facilities in Matsushima Bay, Japan, using L-band polarimetric and interferometric airborne synthetic aperture radar (Pi-SAR-L2). Three-component-scattering model and eigenvalue–eigenvector decomposition were applied. The volume-scattering component images of the three-component-scattering model showed raft, longline, and rack aquacultural facilities from the sea surface in good contrast. The double-bounce-scattering component percentage discriminated rack aquacultural facilities from raft and longline aquacultural facilities. The size difference in the raft and longline aquacultural facilities was helpful for discriminating the type.     

Asynchronous communication model based on linear logic

We propose a new framework called ACL for concurrent computation based on linear logic. ACL is a kind oflinear logic programming framework, where its operational semantics is described in terms ofproof construction in linear logic. We also give a model-theoretic semantics based onphase semantics, a model of linear logic. Our framework well captures concurrent computation based on asynchronous communication. It will, therefore, provide us with a new insight into other models of asynchronous concurrent computation from alogical point of view. We also expect ACL to become a formal framework for analysis, synthesis and transformation of concurrent programs by the use of techniques for traditional logic programming. ACL's attractive features for concurrent programming paradigms are also discussed.     

Early stage of development in testicular choriocarcinomas

Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant among germ cell tumors in the testis. However little is known about the early stage of its development. To understand the development of testicular choriocarcinomas, twenty cases of testicular choriocarcinoma were studied histologically and immunohistochemically. It was found that in the early stage of development, choriocarcinomas imitate the morphologic or functional differentiation of normal trophoblasts. It was also found that some choriocarcinomas regress spontaneously in the early stage. The majority of choriocarcinomas seemed to develop by first going through the embryonal carcinoma phase. However, there were some choriocarcinomas that showed no relationship with embryonal carcinoma.     

Application of a dispersed autonomous voltage control system to a real high‐voltage distribution network

This paper focuses on the application results of the dispersed autonomous voltage control system, which the authors have proposed, to a real distribution network. This system is effective for regulating the supply voltage of an entire HV line within an optimum range. In the system configuration, an SCC is installed together with an SC and/or ShR on the line. Individual SCCs autonomously control the operation of SCs and/or ShRs based on the voltage measured where the SCs and/or ShRs are located on the line. A field test on a real high‐voltage distribution network found that the proposed system could sustain a high fault tolerance ability and also be cost‐effective in regulating line voltage. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(1): 27–36, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10252