A voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter with feedforward control of instantaneous power

In general, diode rectifiers with electrolytic capacitors on the dc side have been used as dc power supplies for voltage-source inverters. Rectifiers of this type, however, cause many problems such as poor power factor and harmonics. Recently, voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverters have been studied to provide the following advantages: (1) harmonic-free on both ac sides; (2) unity power factor on the input ac side; (3) power flow of either direction or power regeneration; (4) reduction of the dc capacitor. However, it is difficult for a conventional voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter to regulate the capacitor voltage on transient states because it has only a voltage feedback loop. This paper describes a voltage-source PWM rectifier-inverter with feedforward control of instantaneous power. Based on the pq theory, the instantaneous power which is calculated in the control circuit of the inverter is fed forward to the control circuit of the rectifier. The feedforward control of instantaneous power contributes greatly to sufficiently suppress voltage fluctuation of the dc capacitor on transient states. Transient characteristics are discussed, and some interesting experimental results of a laboratory model are shown.     

Rho-kinase phosphorylates COOH-terminal threonines of ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins and regulates their head-to-tail association

The ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins are involved in actin filament/plasma membrane interaction that is regulated by Rho. We examined whether ERM proteins are directly phosphorylated by Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase), a direct target of Rho. Recombinant full-length and COOH-terminal half radixin were incubated with constitutively active catalytic domain of Rho-kinase, and approximately 30 and approximately 100% of these molecules, respectively, were phosphorylated mainly at the COOH-terminal threonine (T564). Next, to detect Rho-kinase-dependent phosphorylation of ERM proteins in vivo, we raised a mAb that recognized the T564-phosphorylated radixin as well as ezrin and moesin phosphorylated at the corresponding threonine residue (T567 and T558, respectively). Immunoblotting of serum-starved Swiss 3T3 cells with this mAb revealed that after LPA stimulation ERM proteins were rapidly phosphorylated at T567 (ezrin), T564 (radixin), and T558 (moesin) in a Rho-dependent manner and then dephosphorylated within 2 min. Furthermore, the T564 phosphorylation of recombinant COOH-terminal half radixin did not affect its ability to bind to actin filaments in vitro but significantly suppressed its direct interaction with the NH2-terminal half of radixin. These observations indicate that the Rho-kinase-dependent phosphorylation interferes with the intramolecular and/ or intermolecular head-to-tail association of ERM proteins, which is an important mechanism of regulation of their activity as actin filament/plasma membrane cross-linkers.     

16 dB 80 GHz InGaP/GaAs HBT distributed amplifier

A high-gain and broadband distributed amplifier using high-performance high-reliability InGaP/GaAs HBTs is reported. A novel two-block configuration is used in gain cells in this distributed amplifier, which achieves a bandwidth of 80 GHz with a gain of 16 dB, resulting in a gain-bandwidth product of 504 GHz.     

Morphological characteristics of primary sensory and post-synaptic sympathetic neurones supplying the temporomandibular joint in the cat

The cells of origin of peripheral nerves that supply the temporomandibular joint were investigated by examining the centripetal transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Following WGA-HRP injection into the temporomandibular joint capsule of the cat, a large number of labelled neurones were observed in the trigeminal and superior cervical ganglia ipsilateral to the injection site, while no labelled neurones were detected in the cervical dorsal-root ganglia. Only one labelled neurone was seen in the stellate ganglion. Labelled neurones were primarily located in the posterolateral and dorsal regions of the trigeminal ganglion, but their distribution in the superior cervical ganglion was not localized to specific regions. The labelled neurones in the trigeminal ganglion were significantly larger than those in the superior cervical ganglion but the sizes of smaller neurones overlapped, suggesting that trigeminal ganglion neurones send both myelinated and unmyelinated fibres to the temporomandibular joint. The innervation of the temporomandibular joint by somatosensory and sympathetic fibres suggests that sympathetic nerves could be responsible for allodynia or neuropathic pain caused by temporomandibular disorders.     

Solid dispersion particles of tolbutamide prepared with fine silica particles by the spray-drying method

Solid dispersion particles of tolbutamide (TBM) were prepared by formulating nonporous (Aerosil 200 (hydrophilic), Aerosil R972 (hydrophobic)) or porous (Sylysia 350 (hydrophilic), Sylophobic 200 (hydrophobic)) silica as a carrier and applying the spray-drying (SD) or evaporation (Eva) method. In the solid dispersion particles prepared by the SD method, TBM existed in a meta-stable form (Form II) irrespective of the type of silica. On the other hand, when the Eva method was used, various crystalline forms of TBM were observed in the solid dispersion particles according to the type of silica. Polymorphs of Forms III and IV were prepared with Aerosil 200 and Aerosil R972, respectively, while crystalline Form II was obtained when either of the forms of porous silica, Sylysia 350 or Sylophobic 200, was formulated. The dissolution property of TBM in the solid dispersion particles prepared with hydrophilic silica was remarkably improved compared with those of the original TBM crystals (Form I) or spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II). In the case of hydrophobic silica, the release rate of TBM from the solid dispersion particles was much slower than that of original TBM. The meta-stable form of TBM in the solid dispersion particles was stable for at least 4 weeks when stored at 60 °C and 0% RH, while the spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II) was gradually converted to the stable form (Form I) under the same storage conditions. Under the humid storage conditions (60 °C, 75% RH), the spray-dried TBM without silica (Form II) immediately converted into the stable form (Form I) within 1 day, while TBM (Form II) in the solid dispersions in a matrix of silica was stable for at least 1 week.     

Advanced glycation end products in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus and have been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we examined the immunohistochemical localization of AGEs, amyloid beta protein (A beta), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and tau protein in senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases (progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick's disease, and Guamanian amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism-dementia complex). In most senile plaques (including diffuse plaques) and CAA from Alzheimer's brains, AGE and ApoE were observed together. However, approximately 5% of plaques were AGE positive but A beta negative, and the vessels without CAA often showed AGE immunoreactivity. In Alzheimer's disease, AGEs were mainly present in intracellular NFTs, whereas ApoE was mainly present in extracellular NFTs. Pick's bodies in Pick's disease and granulovacuolar degeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases were also AGE positive. In non-Alzheimer neurodegenerative diseases, senile plaques and NFTs showed similar findings to those in Alzheimer's disease. These results suggest that AGE may contribute to eventual neuronal dysfunction and death as an important factor in the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.     

Phenotypes and invariant alpha beta TCR expression of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells

A novel subset of peripheral T cells, peripheral NK T cells, is found to be a major population comprising 5% of splenic T and 40% of bone marrow T cells. The majority of peripheral NK T cells are characterized by the expression of an invariant TCR-alpha encoded by V alpha 14/J alpha 281 with a one nucleotide N region. Moreover, a specific reduction of V alpha 14+ NK T cells has been demonstrated to be tightly associated with various autoimmune diseases, indicating their decisive role in autoimmune disease development. In this study, we investigated the phenotypes of peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells and their TCR-beta repertoire. Peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells, comprise two populations, i.e., small and large sized cells, at an equal frequency, belonged to the CD4- CD8- fraction, and are heat stable antigen(bright), macrophage-1bright, B220bright, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, but CD5-, distinct from thymic NK T cells. TCR-beta analysis clearly showed that peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells utilized two to three dominant invariant TCR-beta, such as V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1 in the spleen and liver, V beta 8.2 D beta J beta 2.5/V beta 8.3 D beta J beta 2.2/V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.6 in the bone marrow, and V beta 7 D beta J beta 2.1/V beta 3 D beta J beta 1.2 in intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes. Judging from the unusual surface phenotypes, such as heat stable antigen, macrophage-1, B220, CD45RBdim, and Mel-14dim, which are known to be T cell activation markers, peripheral V alpha 14+ NK T cells may always be activated under physiologic conditions, resulting in the oligoclonal expansion of V alpha 14+ NK T cells with different invariant TCR-beta in different peripheral organs. The unique features of V alpha 14+ NK T cells are discussed.     

A self‐commutated back‐to‐back system and its performance under a single line‐to‐ground fault condition

This paper deals with a self‐commutated BTB (Back‐To‐Back) system for the purpose of power flow control and/or frequency change in transmission systems. Each BTB unit consists of two sets of 16 three‐phase voltage‐source converters, and their AC terminals are connected in series to each other via 16 three‐phase transformers. Hence, the BTB unit uses totally 192 switching devices capable of achieving gate commutation. This results in a great reduction of voltage and current harmonics without performing PWM control. Simulation results verify the validity of the proposed system configuration and control scheme not only under a normal operating condition but also under a single line‐to‐ground fault condition. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 143(3): 68–78, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10124