Development of cable fault location method using fiber optic distributed temperature sensor

When ground-fault problems occur on a cable line, immediate fault location and restoration are required. Therefore, various new methods to locate the fault point instantaneously have been investigated to replace such conventional methods as the Murray loop method and the pulse radar method [1]. These methods require a long time to locate the fault point. One possible fault location method is to sense the temperature rise following a ground fault using a fiber optic distributed temperature sensor. Application of this method was found feasible through sensing the temperature rise at a ground-fault test using a thermocouple as a temperature sensor with test cables [4]. A power/optical composite cable was prepared experimentally and after verifying its thermal mechanical performance, the temperature rise at an incidence of a fault was determined and the anticipated performance was demonstrated in a ground-fault test. This article describes the outline of the test.     

REM sleep deprivation potentiates the effects of imipramine and desipramine but not that of clomipramine in the forced swimming test

The human amnestic syndrome associated with lesions of the hippocampus and amygdala is characterized by a selective impairment of recent (explicit, episodic) memory. Benzodiazepine (BZ) treated normal subjects demonstrate similar, marked impairments in episodic memory, but in addition, BZ also induces sedation and inattention. Thus, the amnestic effects of BZ may be secondary to drug-induced sedation. However, when subjects were pretreated with the specific BZ receptor antagonist, flumazenil, the sedative and attentional effects of diazepam were blocked, but a marked impairment in episodic memory still occurred. This demonstrates that, using neuropharmacological methods, it is possible to produce a dissociation of memory impairment from inattention and sedation. Such distinct patterns of cognitive dysfunction may serve as models for clinical cognitive syndromes.     

Effective sludge solubilization treatment by simultaneous use of ultrasonic and electrochemical processes.

Sludge disintegration treatment by using simultaneously ultrasonic irradiation and electrolysis was investigated experimentally. A lab-scale diaphragm cell irradiated with ultrasound at a constant oscillating frequency of 20 kHz was used as a reactor. The batch experiments were carried out under different conditions of electric outputs of the ultrasonic generator, electric current for the electrolysis and different initial SS concentrations. A simultaneous treatment in the cathodic compartment without any chemical doses considerably facilitated the sludge solubilization, compared to the sonication alone. An increase in the electric current up to 400 mA under a constant ultrasonic density decreased the specific energy by 55% within the experimental range. The specific energy consumption was also reduced when the initial SS concentration increased. In addition, before carrying out the simultaneous treatment, a brief electrolysis was effective for further reduction of the specific energy and the acceleration of soluble COD generation.     

Changes in the thermomechanical behavior of epoxy glasses under the state of strain aging

Changes in thermomechanical behavior with structural relaxation taking place in epoxy glasses were studied. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements and thermostimulated strain recovery tests were performed for specimens deformed and then aged under fixed strain. In the course of heating, the specimens started to absorb thermal energy, whereas plastic strain was still stable. At higher temperatures, plastic strain started recovery, which was accompanied by exothermic behavior of the specimen. With an increase in the aging duration, the endothermic peak signified and moved to a higher temperature. These results indicated that the longer the aging duration was, the harder the plastic strain and strain energy were frozen in the glassy structure. This freeze‐strain phenomenon was observed for crosslinked epoxy glass, as well as polymeric glasses with linear molecular structures, aged under strain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Cloning, functional expression and tissue distribution of rabbit alpha 1d-adrenoceptor

We attempt to determine the utility of CERAD in detecting early Alzheimer's disease (AD). CERAD battery was administered to a group of 14 control subjects, 12 patients with possible dementia prodromes and to patients with Alzheimer's disease stratified according to severity (16 mild, 8 moderate). Other measures as some subtest of the Wechsler memory scale and the Rey Complex Figure Test were also applied. Delayed recall as well as logical memory of Wechsler memory scale were found to be the best discriminators for detecting very mild cases of AD (Prodromes) (p < 0.05). None of the memory test proved of value in staging the disorder. Visuospatial functions are better determinants of the progression of the illness. Fluency also distinguish between control subjects and very mild cases. These findings suggest that delayed recall memory and probably executive function are the most useful and sensitive indicators of Alzheimer's disease.     

News: Environmental biotechnology meetings bring developers, manufacturers, users together

Technology.     

Sound-velocity measurements for HFC-134a and HFC-152a with a spherical resonator

A spherical acoustic resonator was developed for measuring sound velocities in the gaseous phase and ideal-gas specific heats for new refrigerants. The radius of the spherical resonator, being about 5 cm, was determined by measuring sound velocities in gaseous argon at temperatures from 273 to 348 K and pressures up to 240 kPa. The measurements of 23 sound velocities in gaseous HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) at temperatures of 273 and 298 K and pressures from 10 to 250 kPa agree well with the measurements of Goodwin and Moldover. In addition, 92 sound velocities in gaseous HFC-152a (1,1-difluoroethane) with an accuracy of ±0.01% were measured at temperatures from 273 to 348 K and pressures up to 250 kPa. The ideal-gas specific heats as well as the second acoustic virial coefficients have been obtained for both these important alternative refrigerants. The second virial coefficients for HFC-152a derived from the present sound velocity measurements agree extremely well with the reported second virial coefficient values obtained with a Burnett apparatus.Paper dedicated to Professor Joseph Kestin.     

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-3-acetic acids. A new class of nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonists

On the basis of structural information for the cyclic hexapeptide endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist, TAK-044, a series of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione derivatives bearing a carboxyl group and aromatic rings that were important for receptor binding were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for ET receptor binding affinities and inhibitory activities against ET-induced vasoconstriction. Optimization of each substituent in the thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring led to the discovery of a novel and potent nonpeptide ET receptor antagonist, 6-(4-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-5-methylsulfonylaminomethyl-1-(2- methylthiobenzyl)-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-d]p yrimidine-3- acetic acid (32 g), which binded to human ETA and ETB receptor subtypes with affinities (IC50) of 7.6 and 100 nM, respectively. Compound 32 g effectively antagonized ET-induced vasoconstriction and the inhibitory effect mediated by the ETB receptor was more potent than that of bosentan, while the inhibitory effect mediated by the ETA receptor was slightly less potent than that of bosentan.