Study of asynchronizing phenomena using generator model with field mutual leakage reactance

This paper describes the effect of mutual leakage reactance in the rotor circuit on the analysis of generator transient characteristics. The authors derive a detailed equivalent circuit model for a 48P‐15,750‐kVA generator, analyze sudden short circuits and asynchronization phenomena of the generator by simulations with an electromagnetic transients program (ATP‐EMTP), and compare the results with experimental data. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(3): 31–40, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20147     

The BCR/ABL oncogene alters interaction of the adapter proteins CRKL and CRK with cellular proteins

The Philadelphia chromosome translocation generates a chimeric oncogene, BCR/ABL, which causes chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In primary leukemic neutrophils from patients with CML, the major tyrosine phosphorylated protein is CRKL, an SH2-SH3-SH3 adapter protein which has an overall homology of 60% to CRK, the human homologue of the v-crk oncogene. In cell lines transformed by BCR/ABL, CRKL was tyrosine phosphorylated, while CRK was not. We looked for changes in CRK- and CRKL-binding proteins in Ba/F3 hematopoietic cell lines which were transformed by BCR/ABL. Anti-CRK II or anti-CRKL immunoprecipitates were probed by far Western blotting with CRK II- or CRKL-GST fusion proteins to display CRK- and CRKL-coprecipitating proteins. There was a striking qualitative difference in the proteins coprecipitating with CRKL and CRK II. In untransformed cells, three major proteins coprecipitated with CRKL, identified as C3G, SOS and c-ABL. Each of these proteins was found to interact with the CRKL-SH3 domains, but not the SH2 domain. After BCR/ABL transformation, the CRKL SH3-domain binding proteins did not change, with the exception that BCR/ABL now coprecipitated with CRKL. Compared to CRKL, very few proteins coprecipitated with CRK II in untransformed, quiescent cells. After BCR/ABL transformation, both the CRKL- and CRK-SH2 domains bound to a new complex of proteins of approximate molecular weight 105-120 kDa. The major protein in this complex was identified as p120CBL. Thus, in these hematopoietic cell lines, CRKL is involved to a greater extent than CRK II in normal signaling pathways that involve c-ABL, C3G and SOS. In BCR/ABL-transformed cells, CRKL but not CRK II, appears to form complexes which potentially link BCR/ABL, c-ABL, C3G, and SOS to the protooncoprotein, p120CBL.     

Regurgitation through the morphologically pulmonary valve after additional aortopulmonary anastomosis

OBJECTIVE: Oesophagectomies have a high morbidity rate, mainly related to pulmonary complications. The aim of this work was to assess whether the thoracoscopic approach could reduce this morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of the results of 26 attempts of esophagectomy using a right thoracoscopic approach. There were 17 males and 9 females having an average age of 47. The indication was a squamous cell carcinoma in 19 patients, an adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, a melanoma in 1 patient and a caustic stenosis in 5. The whole oesophagus was mobilized thoracoscopically, and the eosophagectomy was completed through the abdomen. The reconstruction was achieved using a gastric pull-through and a cervical anastomosis. RESULTS: There were 5 failures for the following reasons: unresectable carcinoma (1 case), large tumour making a thoracoscopic dissection unsafe (1 case) and incomplete lung collapse making the exposure of the posterior mediastinum difficult (2 cases). The average time of the thoracoscopic procedure was 135 min. The post-operative course was uneventful in all but 5 patients who had a pulmonary complication: atelectasis (3 cases), right purulent pleural effusion (1 case), acute respiratory distress syndrome (1 case). The latter complication was lethal. Four out of 5 respiratory complications occurred in patients for whom the dissection was considered as difficult. Among the other complications, there were 5 anastomotic leakages and 3 laryngeal nerve palsy. The mortality rate was 3.8%. CONCLUSION: These initial results do not show a real benefit of the thoracoscopic approach for eosophageal dissection, especially for difficult oesophagectomies. Further evaluation of the technique is needed.     

Neural activity of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease patients

The neural activity pattern of the subthalmic nucleus (STN) was investigated in five patients with Parkinson's disease who were scheduled for electrode implantation for chronic stimulation of the STN. The initial target was placed 8 mm or 10 mm lateral to the midline, 3 mm to 4 mm posterior to the midcommissural point, and 5 mm to 6 mm below the intercommissural (AC-PC) line. The STN was identified by semi-microelectrode recordings with a trajectory moving laterally in 2-mm steps. The amplitudes of multi-unit activities were relatively low at depths from 8 mm to 5 mm above and from 1 mm to 4 mm below the target, while those 4 mm to 0 mm above the target were significantly higher than at the other sites (ANOVA, Fisher's test, p < 0.05), with the highest amplitude at 2 mm above the target (91.0 +/- 23.3 mu v, n = 15). In the mediolateral direction, amplitudes were relatively higher in the lateral portion, and amplitudes at 14 mm lateral to the midline were significantly higher than at the other sites (ANOVA, Fisher's test, p < 0.05). The target for chronic electrical stimulation was determined to be at the midpoint of the hyperactive STN, i.e., 12 mm lateral to the midline in three patients and 13 mm lateral in two patients. Movement-related neural activity was observed at 5 sites, i.e., 3 sites responded to passive movement of the contralateral wrist and 2 sites to passive knee and/or ankle movement. In conclusion, our data show that the lateral part of the STN is hyperactive in PD, and recordings of neural activities contributed greatly to identifying the STN and determining the target for chronic stimulation within it.     

Increased plasma levels of substance P and disturbed water excretion in patients with liver cirrhosis

We describe a surgical technique for replacing the hip joint capsule using synthetic mesh after oncological resections of the proximal femur that resulted in gross intraoperative instability of the prosthetic reconstruction. The results of its use in 13 patients, 6 of whom also had pelvic resections, are described. These patients were selected from a total group of 88 patients undergoing proximal femoral replacement, 75 of whom did not require capsular replacement (none of these 75 patients have experienced dislocation). In the group requiring capsular reconstruction, 1 of 4 patients with bipolar hemiarthroplasty and 4 of 9 patients with total hip replacements experienced dislocation after operation. Of the dislocated total hip replacements, 1 remains chronically dislocated, and 3 were successfully stabilized by open reduction with further capsular augmentation. Given that the resections involved removal of most of the soft tissues stabilizing the hip joint, we believe that the technique of capsular reconstruction is useful in this difficult group of patients.     

Uniform characteristics with low threshold and high efficiency fora single-transverse-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser-typedevice array

Vertical-to-surface transmission electrophotonic devices with a vertical-cavity are described. The individually accessed 12×4 arrays are characterized and demonstrated to have uniform room-temperature continuous-wave operating characteristics for a threshold current of ~2.8±0.15 mA and a slope efficiency of ~0.18±0.012 W/A with a single transverse mode. Both low threshold and high efficiency with 5% and 7% deviation, respectively, are achieved simultaneously. These devices can be used to constructing two-dimensional massively parallel optical interconnections     

Multiple myeloma developing myelodysplastic syndrome with thrombocytosis

A 64-year-old woman with multiple myeloma, IgG lambda type Durie-Salmon Stage II, was admitted because of gradually developing anemia and increased blasts with abnormal karyotype in her bone marrow after 10 years of treatment. The chromosomal analysis showed 44, XX, del(5q), del(7q), -9, add(12p), -21, typical of secondary MDS due to the cumulative alkylating agents. Thrombocytosis concomitantly occurred with emergence of chromosomal abnormality, but the serum interleukin 6 level was not elevated, which suggested that it was related to development of secondary MDS.     

Thermodynamic properties for the quaternary system H2O + CH3OH + LiBr + ZnCl2

The thermodynamic properties (solubility, vapour pressure, density, viscosity, heat capacity and heat of mixing) of the H₂O + CH₃OH + LiBr + ZnCl₂ (9:1 H₂O:CH₃OH and 1:1 LiBr:ZnCl₂ by mass) system using H₂O + CH₃OH as the working media and LiBr + ZnCl₂ as the absorbents were measured. The solubility data were obtained in the temperature range from 270.35 to 389.55 K. The measurements of vapour pressure, density, viscosity and heat capacity were carried out at various temperatures and absorbent concentrations. The differential heat of dilution and differential heat of solution at 298.15 K were measured for solutionw with absorbent concentrations from 0 to 75.2 wt%. The integral heat of mixing data at 298.15 K were obtained from both sets of experimental data. The integral heats of mixing for this quaternary system showed exothermic behaviour. The vapour pressure data were correlated with an Antoine-type equation. An empirical formula for the heat capacity was obtained from experimental data. The experimental data for the basic thermodynamic properties of this quaternary system were compared with those of the basic H₂O + LiBr system.     

C-Mode Scan and Resolution Improvement Techniques for Ultrasonic Diagnosis

This paper presents a new method for obtaining plane images perpendicular to the axis of the transducer and discusses some resolution improvement techniques utilizing a computer. The method, called C-mode scan, is carried out by successive application of a conventional B-mode scan, and supplies more information such as the outline, size, and extent of a lesion such as a breast tumor. To improve the resolution of a transducer, a deconvolution technique together with non-linear filtering are employed from a spectral point of view. Several clinical images produced by C-mode and the computer improvement of resolution are demonstrated.     

Establishment of total cavopulmonary connection without use of cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJECTIVE: To minimize deleterious postoperative influences of cardiopulmonary bypass on the pulmonary circulation immediately after the Fontan type procedure, total cavopulmonary connection was achieved without use of cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Since April 1996, 15 patients including five patients with visceral heterotaxy, in whom no intracardiac procedure was needed, have undergone this operative maneuver. Age at operation ranged from 1.2 to 44.6 years. Construction of a systemic to pulmonary shunt had been previously employed in seven patients, banding of the pulmonary trunk in two patients, and the Norwood procedure in one patient. The superior caval vein was initially anastomosed to the pulmonary arteries in bidirectional fashion under temporary bypass from the superior caval vein to the atrium. The channel for draining the inferior caval vein was subsequently constructed with the aid of temporary bypass from the inferior caval vein to the atrium, using a Goretex tube in ten patients, using a pedicled autologous pericardial roll in four patients, and directly anastomosing the pulmonary trunk to the orifice of the inferior caval vein in one patient. In patients with visceral heterotaxy and an independent hepatic venous drainage, redirection of the blood flow via the caval vein as well as the hepatic vein could be successfully achieved by placing dual temporary bypasses into these veins. RESULTS: Postoperative courses were excellent in all patients. Superior caval venous pressure was 11 +/- 2 mmHg at 12 h after the operation. No blood transfusion was needed in nine patients(60%). CONCLUSION: This alternative operative procedure is undoubtedly attractive when establishing the Fontan circulation in patients undergoing no intracardiac maneuvers.