Estimations of the Maximum Tangential Velocity V_(θm) in the Vortex Core Region and also the Mean Rotational Velocity V_(oi) near the Concave Wall Surface in the Returned Flow Type Cyclone Dust Collector

There are many types of cyclone dust collectors for separating the fine solid and dust particles from gases in the various industries and also in the home used purposes. For estimating the power loss and the collection efficiency, one of the most important factors is the maximum tangential velocity Vθm in the vortex core region in the cyclone body. In order to determine Vθm by the simple method, it is useful to apply the mechanical balance of the angular momentum fluxes under the assumption of Ogawa combined vortex model which is composed of the quasi-forced vortex in the vortex core region and also the quasi-free vortex surrounded the vortex core region and also under the assumption of the introduction of equivalent length Heq corresponding to the cone spaces of the cyclone body and the dust bunker. On the other hand, the mean rotational velocity Voi near the concave wall surface is also estimated by the mechanical balance of angular momentum fluxes with the moment of viscous friction force. For confirming the general applications of the obtained equations, the returned flow types cyclones changed the throat diameter D3 are designed. The material of the cyclone is the transparent acrylic resin. Therefore the inner surface of the cyclone body can be regarded as smooth surface. The comparisons of the measured velocities Vθm and Voi by a cylindrical Pitot tube are shown in good agreement with those of the proposed equations. The above stated results are described in detail.     

Production and detection of fission-induced neutrons following fast neutron direct interrogation to various dry materials containing 235U

For better nuclear material accountancy, we had developed a non-destructive assay system dedicated to uranium waste drums (JAWAS-N: JAEA Waste Assay System at Ningyo-toge). The system is based on a fast neutron direct interrogation (FNDI) method. To clarify the characteristics of the FNDI method and the performance of JAWAS-N, experimental and computational mock-up tests were carried out using various dry materials that contained known amounts of natural uranium. As a result, linearity between the die-away time (τ₂) and the counts of fast neutrons attributed to ²³⁵U fission was confirmed. Moreover, the MCNP simulation was performed to discuss the radial and axial dependences of ²³⁵U fission probability, neutron detection efficiency, and sensitivity on uranium distributions in the drum. The simulation results agreed with the empirical results reported in a previous paper, providing valuable information on the practice of FNDI-based uranium determination. Furthermore, the nominal detection limits of natural uranium in JAWAS-N were estimated to be 15, 4, and 2 g for τ₂ = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 msec, respectively. The findings obtained here will contribute to the implementation of the FNDI method to assess the quantities of ²³⁵U in actual uranium waste drums.     

Integrated bistable optical multivibrator using electrooptically controlled directional coupler switches

An integrated bistable optical multivibrator based on two electro-optical directional coupler switches has been realised for the first time using Ti: LiNbO3 waveguides with two crossed feedback loops. The analysis and operation of the basic optical flip-flop are presented, and different feedback conditions and loops should provide other types of optical multivibrators, e.g. monostable and astable.     

Silicon-on-sapphire m.o.s.f.e.t.s fabricated by back-surface laser-anneal technology

Self-aligned aluminium-gate silicon-on sapphire (s.o.s.) m.o.s.f.e.t.s have been fabricated by applying laser-anneal technology from the back surface for activation of the ion-implanted channel layer. The threshold voltage and surface electron mobility were similar to the conventional silicon-gate m.o.s.f.e.t.s, but the low resistivity of gate and interconnection electrodes using aluminium is advantageous for high switching speed m.o.s. l.s.i.     

A study of living plant specimens by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy

Young fresh Tradescantia reflexa stamen hair cells were used to clarify the optimal conditions for direct viewing and taking photographs with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with a cryo-system. The rate of protoplasmic streaming in the cells was measured under an optical microscope after examining and photographing them in the SEM over a period of a few minutes. Almost the same rate of streaming (5.5 μm/second, 20°C) was observed in nonirradiated control cells and irradiated cells photographed in the SEM using an accelerating voltage of 10 kV with the cryo-stage at a temperature of – 15°C. (The specimen holder and specimen were not at this temperature, but, rather, probably somewhat higher.) Fresh plant organs, tissues, and cells were also tested under the same conditions. The fine structure was well preserved in detail. The procedures were as follows: (1) prompt attachment of fresh plant materials on an aluminum specimen holder with double-faced adhesive Scotch tape or a small amount of plastic adhesive for woodcraft; (2) setting the holder on the cryo-stage cooled to –15°C in advance and rapid evacuation; and (3) quick SEM examination and photography (within several minutes). The advantages of this method are summarized as follows: (1) high possibility of viewing living materials; (2) minimal artifacts: freedom from chemical fixation and additional procedures utilized in ordinary SEM specimen preparation; and (3) simplicity, speediness, and economy in preparation for viewing. Since the specimens were not likely to be frozen during quick examination and photography, this method might well be called “low-temperature SEM” (LT-SEM) as distinguished from “cryo-SEM”.     

Assembly of hair keratins in transfected epithelial cells

To define the interactions required for the filament assembly of differentiation-specific keratins, active copies of mouse hair keratin mHa1 and mHb4 genes were introduced into a rat kangaroo kidney epithelial cell line (PtK2) and a rat stratified squamous epithelial cell line (rat epidermal keratinocyte). In PtK2 transient transfectants, when introduced individually or in combination, mHa1 and mHb4 formed aggregates of ring-like structures of various sizes at the perinuclear region with no evidence of organization into a keratin network. These aggregates altered the distribution of the endogenous keratins and vimentin. In most of the cells carrying the ring-like structures of mHa1 and mHb4 around the nucleus, the endogenous keratin network collapsed and localized around the nucleus. Furthermore, the densely accumulated endogenous keratin surrounded the ring-like aggregates with partial co-localization. However, when transfected into the rat epidermal keratinocytes, mHa1 and mHb4 were able to co-localize with the well-developed cytoskeleton of endogenous keratins. These results showed that, in contrast to keratin pairs K5/K14 and K8/K18, the mHa1/mHb4 pair is unable to develop an extensive keratin network on its own and that there are possible differential abilities among these hair keratins and other keratins to form well-developed cytoplasmic networks.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin/luteinizing hormone: differential role of oligosaccharides in luteinizing hormone- and follicle-stimulating hormone-like activities

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) consists of highly glycosylated alpha- and beta-subunits and belongs to the glycoprotein hormone family that includes LH and FSH. eCG is a unique member of the gonadotropin family because it elicits response characteristics of both FSH and LH in other species than the horse. To determine the biological role of the N-linked oligosaccharide at Asn 56 of the alpha-subunit and O-linked oligosaccharides at the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of the beta-subunit, two mutant eCGs, in which Asn 56 of the alpha-subunit was replaced with Gln (eCG alpha 56/beta) or CTP was deleted (eCG alpha/ beta-CTP), were produced by site-directed mutagenesis and transfecting chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells. LH- and FSH-like activities were assayed in terms of testosterone production and aromatase activity in primary cultured rat Leydig cells and granulosa cells, respectively. The wild type eCG showed similar LH- and FSH-like activities to native eCG in the in vitro bioassays. The LH-like activity of eCG alpha 56/beta was greatly reduced, whereas that of eCG alpha/beta-CTP was unaffected, demonstrating that the oligosaccharide at Asn 56 of the alpha-subunit of eCG plays an indispensable role in LH-like activity. Interestingly, the FSH-like activity of eCG alpha 56/beta was increased markedly in comparison with the wild type, and that of eCG alpha/beta-CTP was also considerably increased. These data indicate that the dual activities of eCG, LH- and FSH-like activities, could be separated by removal of the N-linked oligosaccharide on the alpha-subunit Asn 56 or CTP-associated O-linked oligosaccharides.     

Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical assessment for the prediction of preterm delivery

To determine the usefulness of transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical assessment for the prediction of preterm delivery in an apparently normal population, 729 pregnant women (between 15 and 34 weeks' gestation) were randomly enrolled in the study in ten tertiary perinatal centers in Japan. Cervical parameters, including cervical length, internal os dilatation, and funneling depth, were measured by transvaginal ultrasound. The predictive values of these measurements for preterm delivery were investigated in a prospective fashion. Among various cervical parameters, cervical length showed the best correlation with pregnancy outcome. Cervical length (mm) was gradually decreased as the gestational age progressed, the regression line being y = 41.21-0.22x. When the mean cervical length minus 1 standard deviation at each gestational age was chosen as a cut-off value, the group with a shortened cervix showed a significantly high preterm delivery rate exclusively in the primigravidae (odds ratio: 4.86, 95% CI: 1.85-12.72). Internal os dilatation, in contrast, was a useful predictor in multiparous women (odds ratio: 6.00, 95% CI: 1.65-21.71). It was concluded that tranvaginal ultrasonographic cervical assessment, especially the measurement of cervical length, was effective for the prediction of preterm delivery in the primigravidae.     

Biodegradability of Azo and Triphenylmethane dyes by Pseudomonas pseudomallei 13NA

Biodegradability of dyes by Pseudomonas pseudomallei 13NA was examined by spectrophotometric and thin layer chromatographic methods. The results are summarized as follows:

• (i) Pseudomonas pseudomallei 13NA intact cells were responsible for the decolorization of p–aminoazobenzene, C. I. Acid Orange 7, C. I. Acid Orange 12, C. I. Acid Orange 20, C. I. Acid Red 88, C. I. Direct Red 28, C. I. Direct Yellow 4, C. I. Basic Violet 1, C. I. Basic Violet 3 and C. I. Basic Orange 21.
• (ii) The half–decolorization time of the azo dyes used in this experiment showed good correlation with their molecular weights.
• (iiii) The detection of the reaction products of p–aminoazobenzene and C. I. Basic Violet 3 was examined by spectrophotometric and thin layer chromatographic methods. The results indicate the possibility of biodegradation of these dyes by Pseudomonas pseudomallei 13NA.