Simulation and experimental analyses of electromagnetic transients behaviors of lightning surge on vertical conductors

Simulation of very fast surge phenomena in a three-dimensional (3-D) structure requires a method based on Maxwell's equations, such as the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method or the method of moments, because circuit-equation-based methods cannot handle the phenomena. This paper uses a method of thin-wire representation of the vertical conductor system for the FDTD method which is suitable for the 3-D surge simulation. The thin-wire representation is indispensable to simulate electromagnetic surges on wires or steel frames in which the radius is smaller than a discretized space step used in the FDTD simulation. In this paper, a general surge analysis program named the virtual surge test lab based on the Maxwell's equations formulated by the FDTD method, is used to simulate the surge phenomena of a vertical conductor, including the effects of horizontal wave incidence and vertical wave incidence. Experimental results on the reduced scale model have been presented in order to compare among the simulation results by the FDTD method and the results using numerical electromagnetic code based on the MoM.     

Inhibition of resistance to hemopoietic allo-grafts in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor transgenic mice

The measurements of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and trimethylammonium diphenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) fluorescence anisotropy in egg yolk lecithin (EYL) and of DPH anisotropy in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes containing different concentrations of oxidized and reduced ubiquinone (UQ) and plastoquinone (PQ) homologues have been performed. All the oxidized UQ homologues strongly induced ordering of EYL membrane structure, whereas in DPPC liposomes, above the phase transition temperature, the most pronounced effect showed UQ-4. PQ-2 and PQ-9 were less effective than the corresponding ubiquinones in this respect. The reduced forms of UQ and PQ homologues increased the order of membrane lipids to a smaller extent than the corresponding quinones both in the interior of the membrane and closer to its surface. Nevertheless, the investigated prenylquinols showed stronger increase in the membrane order than alpha-tocopherol or alpha-tocopherol acetate, which could be connected with binding of prenylquinol head groups to phospholipid molecules by hydrogen bonds. The strong ordering influence of ubiquinones on the membrane structure was attributed to methoxyl groups of the UQ quinone rings.     

Cloning of a novel signal-transducing adaptor molecule containing an SH3 domain and ITAM

We molecularly cloned a cDNA coding for a novel phosphotyrosine molecule with a 70 kDa molecular mass, named STAM (signal transducing adaptor molecule), which is tyrosine-phosphorylated rapidly after stimulation with various cytokines such as IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, GM-CSF, EGF and PDGF. STAM contains an SH3 (Src-homology 3) domain and the ITAM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif), suggesting that STAM acts as an adaptor molecule involved in signal transducing pathways from the cytokine receptors.     

氟化活性炭纤维对极性分子的吸附

将活性炭纤维（ACF）与氟气反应制备出氟化活性炭纤维（FACF），根据将FACF与参照试样XPS的对比，碳原子是以sp^3杂化轨道同氟原子形成共健键。αs图分析氮吸附等温线的线果表明，ACF氟化后其比表面积和微孔容积都显著降低，微孔宽度基本不变，ACF的水吸附等温线呈V型，而FACF对水的吸附量极小；FACF的微孔表面具有完美的憎水性和高稳定性，乙醇和甲醇在ACF上的吸附等温线是Ⅰ型，在FACF上接近于Ⅰ型，但吸附量显著降低。     

Recent developments of high-performance NEOMAX magnets

For further improvement in achieving extremely high magnetic properties of Nd- Fe- B sintered magnets, extensive investigation has been done to densify the magnet up to the theoretical value, to increase the volume fraction of the Nd ₂Fe₁₄B matrix phase, and to achieve a high degree of alignment. By controlling chemical composition and the amount of constituent phases,improving particle size distribution, and adopting the isostatic pressing method to get better alignment of fine particles, we have succeeded in obtaining a high-performance magnet having residual flux density (B_r) of 1.495 T (14.95 kG), maximum energy product [(BH)_max] of 431 kj/m³ (54.2 MGOe), and intrinsic coercivity (iH_c) of 845 kA/m (10.62 kOe).     

Metabolism of tetramethrin isomers in rat: IV. Tissues responsible for formation of reduced and hydrated metabolites

1. To identify the sites of formation of the reduced metabolites, 3-hydroxy-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboximide (3-OH-HPI-1 and -2), 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (TCDA) and 1-hydroxy-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1-OH-HPA), in rat treated with 14C-labelled (1RS, trans)-tetramethrin, [3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimidomethyl (1RS, trans)-chrysanthemate], bile-duct cannulated animals were orally or intravenously administered 14C-labelled 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide (TPI) or 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid (THPA), precursors of these metabolites, and bile, urine and faeces were collected for analysis. 2. 3-OH-HPI-1 and 3-OH-HPI-2, which are cis-form reduced metabolites, and 1-OH-HPA were detected in bile and urine samples of the bile-cannulated rat treated intravenously and orally with 14C-labelled TPI, indicating their formation in tissues or blood. TCDA, a trans-form reduced metabolite, was not detected in bile, urine or faeces of the bile-cannulated rat treated intravenously with 14C-THPA, but was found in the faeces after oral application, indicating formation in the gastrointestinal tract. 3. To clarify whether 1-OH-HPA is produced from THPA via TCDA (hydroxylation via reduction) or by direct addition of H2O to its double bond (hydration), rats were orally administered 14C-labelled TCDA, and metabolites in urine and faeces were analysed. The observed lack of 1-OH-HPA indicated formation by direct addition of H2O to the double-bond of THPA. 4. To specify which tissues form reduced and hydrated metabolites, in vitro metabolism studies were carried out. Reduction to the cis-form was found to take place in blood cells, reduction to the trans-form took place in the gastrointestinal tract contents, and hydration took place in the liver and the intestinal tract contents.     

TRVs and fault clearing stresses in extra-high-voltage radial networks

To cope with the high rate of increase of power demand in the main industrialized districts in Japan, 550-kV transmission systems covering the districts have been reinforced, with most of the main power plants connected directly to these systems. Through 550-/300-kV substations, the majority of power to the districts is supplied by 300-kV systems. To limit the excess short-circuit capacity in the 300-kV systems, they tend to be reconstructed as so-called radial networks. In radial networks with high short-circuit capacity and relatively small number of transmission lines connected to the substation busbars, the rate of rise of TRV can be far higher than standard value. This paper analyzes the transient recovery voltages (TRV) in such extra-high-voltage radial networks in Japan, together with the relevant stresses to circuit-breakers during fault clearings. Future system conditions have also been introduced. As the typical rate of rise of the TRV values, more than twice that of today's standard ones are probable.     

The 100 G capturing robot - too fast to see

This paper discusses the capturing robot with the maximum acceleration of 100 G in design specification. We aim find the combination of the arm with a mass of 0.1 kg and the spring capable of producing the initial compressed force of 100 N, in order to achieve the 100 G. To reduce the total capturing time, we propose an arm/gripper coupling mechanism where the spring energy initially accumulated in the arm is transferred to the kinetic energy of the arm and continuously to the kinetic energy for closing the gripper at the capturing point without any time lag. The experimental results show the maximum acceleration of 91 G and the capturing time of 25 ms were achieved. Experiments on capturing a dropping ball were also executed with the assistance of the 1 ms-vision.     

Effect of oxygen on the wettability of sapphire by liquid palladium

The surface tension of liquid palladium and the contact angle between liquid palladium and sapphire have been measured at 1833 K as a function of oxygen pressure by the sessile drop method. Oxygen acted as a surface-active element on the surface of liquid palladium and at the interface between liquid palladium and sapphire, resulting in the decrease of the surface tension and the contact angle. The work of adhesion calculated from their values increased with increasing oxygen pressure, and had a constant value above 400 Pa. The maximum excess concentration of oxygen was estimated to be 7.3×10^–6 mol m^–2 for the surface and 6.9×10^–6 mol m^–2 for the interface.     

Requirement for transglutaminase in progesterone-induced decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells

Differentiation of endometrial stromal cells (decidualization) is essential for embryo implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. By sequential complementary DNA subtractive hybridization, one of the messenger RNAs (mRNA) induced by progesterone in human endometrial stromal cells decidualized in vitro was identified as that of a tissue transglutaminase type II (TGase). TGase mRNA was induced within 6 h after the addition of progesterone to the culture, and the effect was dose dependent. Both the TGase inhibitor monodansylcadaverine and oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to the TGase mRNA inhibited the decidualization, as assessed by PRL production and morphological transformation. Expression of TGase mRNA in human decidua and endometria exposed to high levels of progesterone in vivo was demonstrated by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. These data suggest that TGase is necessary for the decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells and that clarification of the mechanism of action of TGase will facilitate further insight into the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.