A digital application of chaotic oscillation modes in Josephson circuit

Novel digital circuits utilizing the chaotic oscillation and its associated oscillations produced in a Josephson junction (JJ) circuit are proposed, as an application of chaotic oscillations in JJ circuit. To begin with, what oscillation modes can be produced in a JJ circuit are described in detail. Next, a novel idea showing the possibility of digital circuits by use of chaotic oscillations is proposed. As an example, the fundamental digital circuits performing AND, NAND, Exclusive-OR, and so on are shown. The simulation results of these novel digital circuits show that reliable and high performance circuits can be realized by utilizing chaotic behavior. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rocket-triggered lightning experiments on zinc oxide arresters and their applications to power transmission lines

In measurements of rocket-triggered lightning current and voltage performed between 1986 and 1995 on the mountain top of Okushishiku in the Kanazawa area, the authors succeeded in artificially inducing winter lightning to arresters. Using the data obtained from those measurements, we analyzed the energy absorption characteristics of surge arresters, such as are installed on every transmission line tower for three phrases, by EMTP. The energy withstand capability of an individual arrester was verified to be approximately the same as the expected value. The analysis results for the energy share of each arrester connected in parallel showed that the usual light duty arresters installed on every tower have the possibility to be able to absorb extreme winter lightning energy even if the lightning hits the power line directly. © 1998 Scripta Technica. Electr Eng Jpn, 122(4): 25–33, 1998     

Tensile test of poly(vinyl chloride) filled with ground calcium carbonate particles

The fracture behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) filled with ground calcium carbonate particles during a tensile test was studied. The particles were prepared by crushing natural raw crystalline limestone. For this purpose, 10–50 parts of the particles having two different mean sizes (2 and 8 μm) without further surface treatment were mixed with 100 parts of poly(vinyl chloride) and 3 parts of lead stearate as a stabilizer using a mixing roll. A tensile test was carried out using a dumbbell specimen. As a result, the yield stress decreased with increase in the particle content; however, there was no significant influence of particle size. From scanning electron microscopic observations of the specimen's surfaces during the tensile test, it was found that the particle/matrix interfaces were delaminated and formed voids around the particles when the applied stress approached the yield stress, that is, the particles acted as voids and the matrix around the voids was plastically deformed effectively. These observations appear to be the reason for the decrease of yield stress by the incorporation of the particles. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 311–316, 1998     

Experimental investigation of falling film evaporation on horizontal tubes

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation relating to heat transfer during evaporation of thin liquid films falling over horizontal tubes. Experiments were conducted using 25 mm o.d. copper tubes heated by internal electrical cartridge heaters so that a uniform heat flux was generated on the outside tube surface. Five heated tubes were arrayed on a vertical plane with a pitch of 50 mm. Freon R-11 preheated to the saturation temperature at 0.2 MPa was supplied to the topmost heated tube through feeding tubes. Heat transfer characteristics on each heated tube were clarified in a range of film Reynolds number from 10 to 2000 and the measured data are presented in the form of correlations. Deterioration of heat transfer due to film break down was also considered. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Inc. Heat Trans Jpn Res, 27(8): 609–618, 1998     

A practical soft switching power supply with self-oscillating circuit and resonant converter using a cross transformer

Recently, soft switching power supplies using resonant converters have been attracting notice owing to their high efficiency and low noise characteristics. Conventional resonant-type converters have a complex control circuit, and we solved this problem by using a cross transformer. Various types of switching power supplies which have a simple structure can be realized by a combination of a self-oscillating driving circuit and a resonant converter. This paper presents our development process and describes the latest technology of soft switching power supplies making use of super-small-sized cross transformers. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 121(1): 60–69, 1997     

Preparation and electrooptical properties of liquid crystal dispersed film by electron-beam irradiation

Polymer films consisting of nematic liquid crystal (LC) droplets and polymer networks were prepared by using a low-energy electron beam to irradiate a homogeneous mixture of nematic LC and bifunctional methacrylate monomer. Influences of such polymerization conditions as polymerization temperature, monomer concentration, and radiation energy on electrooptical properties of the compound films were examined. The polymer yield, affecting to a large extent the film properties, depended on the monomer concentration and the radiation energy. Compound films, which have a switching function from the scattering state to transparency by applying approximately 20–30 V between the two sides of the film, were obtained. In addition, it was found that a compound film with excellent electrooptical properties was prepared by changing impure LC in the droplets into pure LC. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1675–1681, 1997     

Characterization of an Exo-Maltotetraose-forming Amylase of Pseudomonas stutzeri and Application in p-Nitrophenyl β-D-Galactosyl-α-Maltooligosaccharides Production

Some kinetic characteristics and hydrolytic action patterns on various β-D -galactosyl-maltooligosaccharides (Gal-Gn), ranging in size from D.P. (degree of polymerization) 5 to 8, of an exo-maltotetraose-forming amylase of Pseudomonas stutzeri (G4-amylase) were examined to produce a few p-nitrophenyl β-D -galactosyl-α-maltooligosaccharides (Gal-GnP, n = 4,5). The relative hydrolytic reaction rates for larger Gal-Gn by the enzyme were larger than those for smaller saccharides tough the values for unmodified linear maltooligosachharides were almost same. Michaelis constants (Km) for hydrolysis of Gal-G4, Gal-G5, Gal-G6 and Gal-G7 by the enzyme were 1.3, 1.9, 1.3 and 1.3mM, and apparent molecular activities (ko) for these saccharides were 5.9, 38, 91 and 126s⁻¹, respectively. The values of ko/Km for them were remarkably smaller than those for unmodified linear maltooligosaccharides. The G4-amylase cleaved 2 points of the α-1,4-glucosidic linkage in β-1,4-Gal-G4 to give β-1,4-Gal-G2 and -Gal-G3 in the molar ratio of 3:1, whereas the enzyme attacked 3 points of the linkage in β-1,4-Gal-G5, -Gal-G6 and -Gal-G7 to form β-1,4-Gal-G2,-Gal-G3 and Gal-G4 in the molar ratios of 2:5:1, 1:3:6 and 1:3:6, in the early stage of the reaction, respectively. On the other hand, the enzyme showed no action on β-1,6-Gal-G4 and formed β-1,6-Gal-G4 solely from β-1,6-Gal-G5, and β-1,6-Gal-G4 and -Gal-G5 were from β-1,6-Gal-G6 and -Gal-G7 in the ratios of 8:1 and 2:1, respectively. The enzyme also catalyzed the transfer action to produce Gal-G3P, Gal-G4P and Gal-G5P, of which the formation ratio was coincided well with the hydrolytic action pattern on each Gal-Gn, from Gal-Gn tested as a donor and p-nitrophenyl α-glucoside (GP) as an acceptor in an aqueous solution containing 40% (v/v) methanol. By using this novel reaction, Gal-G5P is now producing on an industrial scale to apply as a substrate for the assay of human α-amylase.