Cloud detection for the Far East region using NOAA AVHRR images

A new automatic cloud detection method to process the large data sets required for long-term trends in AVHRR time series images is described and tested over the Far East region. In the cloud detection method, a simple NDVI test was used to roughly separate land from ocean. After the NDVI test we carried out two tests: a visible or near-infrared test and an infrared test. Results from the cloud detection method over the Far East region are presented. In order to assess the cloud detection method, a comparison was carried out between the method presented and the Saunders and Kriebel daytime procedure using the N-Land database. We found that in general, the method presented has better performance than the Saunders and Kriebel procedure by about 0.5% to 10.5%.     

Mechanism for high singlemode stability of gain-coupled DFB laserswith periodically etched quantum wells

The sidemode suppression ratio of gain-coupled DFB lasers with periodically etched quantum wells is analysed by a more accurate model for amplified spontaneous emission. It is shown that the periodic etching of quantum wells is very effective for providing a high side-mode suppression. The mechanism for the high singlemode stability is explained by the effective modal gain. which has an enhancement at the longer wavelength side of the Bragg stopband     

TAK-603 selectively suppresses Th1-type cytokine production and inhibits the progression of adjuvant arthritis

Lipopeptides carrying a farnesyl thioether or a palmitic acid thioester and a farnesyl thioether were prepared from S-farnesyl cysteine methyl ester by N-terminal extension of the peptide chain employing the base labile Fmoc blocking group of the palladium(0) sensitive Aloc urethane. By means of this technique a lipohexapeptide representing the completely functionalized, i.e. palmitoylated and farnesylated C-terminus of the human N-Ras protein, was prepared. If acid labile blocking functions like the Boc group were used, upon deprotection an undesired addition of the acid to the double bonds of the farnesyl residue occurred. Therefore, acid labile blocking groups should not be employed in the synthesis of farnesylated lipopeptides. The lipopeptide methyl esters which carry only a farnesyl group do not inhibit protein farnesyl transferase, whereas palmitoylated peptides are weak inhibitors of this enzyme.     

Structural phase transitions of methane+ethane mixed-gas hydrate induced by 1,1-dimethylcyclohexane

Methane+ethane+1,1-dimethylcyclohexane+water system was investigated by using Raman spectroscopy and isothermal phase equilibrium measurements under four-phase (gas+aqueous+large guest species+hydrate phases) equilibrium conditions at 288.15 K. The results suggest that three kinds of hydrate structures emerge at 288.15 K in the methane+ethane+1,1-dimethylcyclohexane+water system. The hydrate structure for this system changed from structure-H to structure-I via structure-II with increase in the mole ratio of ethane to methane.     

Performance of a new low‐cost laser disdrometer with rainfall intensity correction in heavy rainfall

Recently, a new low‐cost disposable laser disdrometer with the capacity for hydrometeor imaging was proposed by the authors. The laser disdrometer has the drawback of detecting false raindrops, which are splashed droplets and pooled water drops on the housing. Actual raindrops can be sorted from false raindrops by their different fall speeds, but the large size and slow falling speed of false raindrops induce significant observational dead time, affecting the raindrop capture rate and the number density of the raindrops. The ratio between the actual number of raindrops and the total number of drops including the false raindrops provides a reasonable rain intensity correction. This report describes the performance of a laser disdrometer with rain intensity correction in heavy rainfall. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microprocessors in electric power systems

The present status of microprocessor applications in various fields of electric power systems is summarized. Special attention is directed towards development trends in the protection field where microprocessor applications are expected to cope with the increasingly stringent requirements for electric power supply reliability. Also discussed are the history, roles, design philosophy and basic schemes of microprocessor-based protective relaying systems. Only recently has their application reached a practical stage after long-term study and repeated field tests.     

Using Turmeric Oil as a Solvent Improves the Distribution of Sesamin-Sesamolin in the Serum and Brain of Mice

Accumulation of amyloid-β peptide is associated with Alzheimer's dementia. Previously, we reported that sesamin and sesamolin inhibited β-secretase activity in vitro, and each was transported to the serum and brain in mice after oral administration. However, the bioavailability of sesamin and sesamolin was poor in mice. In this study, we aimed to improve the bioavailability of sesamin and sesamolin. We found that the levels of sesamin and sesamolin in mouse serum and brain were higher after the administration of a mixture of sesame extract and turmeric oil (MST) than those after administering sesame extract alone. Serum sesamin and sesamolin contents in the MST-treated group were 23-fold and 15-fold higher, respectively, than those in the sesame extract-treated group. Brain sesamin and sesamolin contents in the MST-treated group were 14-fold and 11-fold higher, respectively, than those in the sesame extract-treated group. These results suggest that turmeric oil is an effective solvent to enhance the bioavailability of sesamin and sesamolin.     

Feasibility study on cellular network analysis with patterned cell culture microdevice

In order to realize cellular network analysis on a chip-based system, our group has been developing a patterned cell culture microdevice with pillars in an array for tapping cells into space surrounded by the pillars. The pillar structures has advantages to trap both adhesive and non-adhesive cells and to precisely control positions of cells and distances between cells for understanding effects of various cell patterns on functions of a cellular network such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and network formation. In this paper, HeLa cell cultivation with the patterned cell culture microdevice having a pillar array fabricated by dry film of thick negative photoresist SU-8 on a glass substrate was executed as a feasibility study on a cellular network analysis. The results revealed that the device performance was found to be enough to culture HeLa cells for more than 48 h. In addition, relative extensibility of blocks of multiple cells compared with single cells tapped on the device was observed. Thus, the patterned cell culture microdevice proposed here could be applicable to analysis of cellular functions.     

Microanalyses on the RuO2 Particle–Glass Matrix Interface in Thick-Film Resistors with Piezoresistive Effects

The piezoresistive mechanisms of composite thick films based on RuO₂ particles and both calcium-borosilicate and bismuth-borosilicate glass matrices were investigated by chemical and electrical microanalyses. The resistor based on bismuth-borosilicate glass showed higher sensitivity than that based on calcium-borosilicate glass. It was confirmed that the diffusion of ruthenium into glass affects the binding state of RuO₂ at the interface of the glass. Furthermore, an intermediate resistive layer is detected around the RuO₂ particle. These results suggest that the piezoresistive effect is related to a change in the electrical conductivity of the interfacial reaction layer caused by the diffusion of ruthenium into glass.