Evaluation of method for simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by collaborative study

A collaborative study involving 8 laboratories was conducted to evaluate a method for the simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in 6 types of fruits and vegetables (spinach, tomato, apple, radish, cabbage and carrot). The method of analysis was the same as reported by Kakimoto et al. in 2003. One hundred and thirty-nine pesticides were spiked by each of 8 laboratories at levels of 0.1 microg/g (pesticides analyzed by GC/MS) or 0.5 microg/g (pesticides analyzed by HPLC) into the 6 kinds of samples. Statistical analysis showed that 111 pesticides could be analyzed with practical precision by this method. For screening purposes, the method could analyze 118 pesticides. The median values of the limits of detection were 0.001-0.041 microg/g. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.5-5 microg/mL for most pesticides with median correlation coefficients of 0.983-1.000.     

A new desk-top encounter-type haptic device with an actively driven pen-tablet LCD panel

In conventional haptic devices for virtual reality (VR) systems, a user interacts with a scene by handling a tool (such as a pen) using a mechanical device (i.e. an end-effector-type haptic device). In the case that the device can ‘mimic’ a VR object, the user can interact directly with the VR object without the mechanical constraint of a device (i.e. an encounter-type haptic device). A new challenge of an encounter-type haptic device is displaying the visuals and haptic information simultaneously on a single device. We are proposing a new desk-top encounter-type haptic device with an actively driven pen-tablet LCD panel. The proposed device is capable of providing pseudo-3D visuals and haptic information on a single device. As the result, the system provides to the user a sense of interaction with a real object. To develop a proof-of-concept prototype, a compact parallel mechanism was developed and implemented. The aim of this research is to propose a new concept in haptic research. In this paper, the concept, the prototype, and some preliminary evaluation tests with the proposed system are presented.     

A rejection system for interference in TV reception caused bysporadic-E ionospheric propagation

A method to cancel interference waves by extracting them from TV signals through quadrature synchronous detection and then transforming the signals with a Hilbert transform method is introduced. The system eliminates interference waves at any frequency within the TV signal band. It is easily applied to rebroadcast stations, since it is possible to cancel interference waves at the intermediate-frequency stage. The system automatically eliminates a maximum of five interference waves. It suppresses interference waves by more than 40 dB at a desired-to-undesired signal ratio of 10 dB. The system will greatly contribute to eliminating abnormal interference waves caused by the sporadic-E layer as well as other undesired interference with TV signals     

A comparison of alternate immunization regimes for measles in vaccinated populations

Infants today lose maternal measles antibody sooner than in the past. This is related to demographic changes in maternal immunization. Data for rates of decay of maternal antibody and seroconversion after measles vaccination for infants born to naturally immune (Group 1) or vaccinated (Group 2) mothers have been used to evaluate two vaccination schedules: Regime 1, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) at 1 year of age and Regime 2, monovalent measles at 6 months followed by MMR at 15 months of age. Regime 2 costs less because MMR can be administered at 15 months with the last pentavalent booster. Months of protection/1000 children aged 0-15 months (child-months of protection) were estimated for infant populations ranging from 0 to 100% Group 1 for Regimes 1 and 2. Regime 1 provides more child-months of protection only for 100% Group 1 populations. For the study population Regime 2 provided at least 17% more child-months of protection than Regime 1. Regime 2 provides increased medical and financial benefits in proportion to the number of Group 2 infants in the population and thus is ever more advantageous for today's increasingly vaccinated populations.     

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Continuously Graded MoSi2–ZrO2(2Y) Materials Using Wet-Molding

Continuously graded MoSi₂-ZrO₂(2Y) materials with high density (97.5% of theoretical) have been fabricated by uniaxial wet-molding, followed by hot pressing (1000°C/1 h/30 MPa) and hot isostatic pressing (1400°C/2 h/196 MPa). Their composition profiles are greatly influenced by the viscosity of mixed solutions of glycerin and ethanol used as a dispersion medium; a linear compositional gradient from MoSi₂/ZrO₂(2Y) 70/30 to 20/80 mol% is obtained from the solution (50/50 vol%) with a viscosity of 20 mPa s. Vickers hardness (Hv) and fracture toughness (KIC) increase from 9.7 to 12.4 GPa and from 5.1 to 12.5 MPa m1/2, respectively, with increasing ZrO₂(2Y) composition.