The texture and anisotropy of hot extruded magnesium alloys fabricated via rapid solidification powder metallurgy

Rapid solidification magnesium alloy powders produced by spinning water atomization process were hot extruded into rectangular bars, from which tensile and compression samples have been cut at 0°, 45° and 90° angles from the extrusion direction to study their anisotropy. Electron back-scattered diffraction analysis has been used to investigate the texture evolution during the extrusion process. Texture parameters like the Schmid factor and the intensity of (0 0 0 1) basal plane in the pole figure have been evaluated and correlated to the mechanical properties. Results have shown that the extruded rods exhibited high strength and relatively less anisotropy compared to other previously reported values for wrought magnesium alloys. Tensile and compression yield stresses have shown very similar values to each other at all loading directions. This limited anisotropy could be linked to both the fine grained and inter-metallic-compound-dispersed microstructure of the extruded alloys. Dynamic recrystallization behavior during hot extrusion has also been investigated in the present study.     

Quantitative analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in Chinese drugs

This paper reports the GC determination of 20 organochlorine pesticides in Chinese drugs Flos Ionicerae and Moluodan etc by the present method of Japan for determinaing pesticide residues. The results suggest that except Folium Isatidis, Radix Codonopsis and Sanqi Pian all accord with the for provisions pesticide residues in Japanese foodstuffs.     

Multiple gene duplication and expression of mouse bcl-2-related genes, A1

Atrial reentrant tachycardia (ART) was ablated in an anatomically guided approach. Five patients with ART underwent 2 linear incisions without careful pace or activation mapping. One line was from an atrial activation site earlier than P wave onset to the nearest fixed anatomic conduction barrier, i.e., the inferior vena cava or coronary sinus ostium. The other line was made just above or closely crossed the first line vertically. Mean application time was 29 +/- 19 minutes, and the application energy was 14,001 +/- 12,322 joules. Mean follow-up after ablation was 15 +/- 10 months. Three patients underwent electrophysiologic study three months after and sustained ART was not induced. All patients were free of sustained tachycardia events without antiarrhythmic drugs during the postoperative clinical course. Although anatomically guided ablation for ART requires much time and energy, it is easily and effectively done without careful activation or pace mapping, and is indicated if ablation using activation mapping or entrainment technique fails to cure the ART.     

Preparation of peptides which mimic glycosphingolipids by using phage peptide library and their modulation on beta-galactosidase activity

We describe the use of a phage-displayed random pentadecamer peptide library for searching glycosphingolipid mimicking peptides. Two phage clones (AD-1 and AD-2) were selected by biopanning using monoclonal antibody AD117m, directed to lactotetraosylceramide (Lc4Cer). The amino acid sequences of the selected clones showed high homology (VPPXFXXXY) in 9-mer. Three phage clones were selected by using monoclonal antibody H11, directed to neolactotetraosylceramide (nLc4Cer), the linkage isomer of Lc4Cer, and the displayed amino acid sequences were compared. One of these peptides showed the same amino acid sequence as that of AD-2 except for one amino acid substitution. Pentadecamer, 9-mer and point mutated 9-mer peptides were synthesized on the basis of the displayed amino acid sequences. Binding activity of the peptides to the monoclonal antibodies or Ricinus communis lectin showed that 9-mer peptides are enough to mimic the epitope carbohydrate structure. Furthermore, six of the synthesized peptides inhibited Jack bean beta-galactosidase activity towards nLc4Cer at a high concentration of the enzyme, whereas at lower enzyme concentrations some peptides showed potent activation of the enzyme activity. This is the first report of carbohydrate mimicking peptides which modulate glycosidase activity.     

On an analytical solution for two-dimensional diffusion of silicon self-interstitials during oxidation of silicon

An analytical solution for two-dimensional diffusion of silicon self-interstitials during the oxidation of silicon is presented. The lateral effect of oxidation enhanced diffusion of boron in silicon is explained by the solution, because the increment of diffusivity is proportional to the incremental concentration of interstitials. Agreement between theoretical and experimental increments of the diffusivity is excellent.     

Selective detection of a catecholamine against electroactive interferents using an interdigitated heteroarray electrode consisting of a metal oxide electrode and a metal band electrode

We developed an interdigitated array electrode (IDAE) consisting of a metal oxide electrode and a metal band heteroelectrode and employed it for the selective detection of catecholamines. We used an indium-tin oxide (ITO) film as the oxidation electrode of the IDAE because the ITO was able to suppress response currents from L-ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), which are major electroactive interferents in biological fluids. However, the ITO film also suppresses the reduction of quinones including oxidized catecholamines. We developed a simple technique for fabricating our hetero IDAE, which also preserves the electrochemical properties of the ITO. When we compared hetero ITO-gold, homo ITO-ITO, and carbon-carbon IDAEs, we found that the hetero IDAE provided both high sensitivity and selectivity for DA detection. We achieved high selectivities for DA against AA and UA. The ratios of the response currents of AA and UA to DA were calculated as 6 and 5%, respectively.     

12.4--Development of the laser current transformer for the extra-high-voltage power transmission lines

Further developments and experiments of the laser current transformer for extra-high-voltage power transmission lines are described. A developmental model for reproduction of a large current waveform of extra-high-voltage is constructed by using a 6328-Å gas laser beam and a flint glass rod fixed on the top of 30-cm-diameter supporting insulators. It was tested at the Shiobara Laboratory of the Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry. Experiments under large current and/or high-voltage conditions of a 50-Hz continuous and impulse current basis reveal that the transformer will perform its functions satisfactorily in an extra-high-voltage line. A microwave current transformer (under development in Japan), which uses a Faraday rotation of a microwave instead of a laser beam for measuring a current of an extra-high-voltage wire, is compared with the laser current transformer.     

Influence of xyloglucan on gelatinization and retrogradation of tapioca starch

Dynamic and steady shear rheometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate effects of xyloglucan (XG) on gelatinization and retrogradation of tapioca starch (TS). The viscosity of TS/XG pastes immediately after gelatinization increased with increasing XG content at the total polysaccharide concentration of 3.5%. Gelatinized TS alone showed pseudoplastic flow at low shear rates and dilatant behavior at higher shear rates (about >1 s⁻¹), while mixtures with XG did not show dilatancy. Mechanical spectra of TS pastes containing XG were more liquid-like than those of TS pastes without XG. XG provides shear stability to the TS during storage. Increases in dynamic moduli during storage at 5 °C were suppressed in the presence of XG. In contrast, the retrogradation ratio determined based on DSC increased more rapidly in the presence of XG. These results suggest that XG forms a continuous liquid phase in a mixture to impart better mechanical stability during storage but to accelerate re-ordering of starch polysaccharides by effectively reducing the amount of water available for starch.