Phenotypic alterations of neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide and choline acetyltransferase in rat cultured chromaffin cells as effected by nerve growth factor and glucocorticoid

We assessed changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivities when neonatal rat chromaffin cells were cultured in a medium containing nerve growth factor (NGF), or the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX), examining whether their expression was correlated with the morphological changes induced by NGF and DEX. All of the chromaffin cells in culture were tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive regardless of whether they extended processes. TH-immunoreactive materials of NGF-treated chromaffin cells were distributed in all the cytoplasmic processes, even at the tips of growth cones. The percentage of NPY-positive chromaffin cells did not change markedly when treated with NGF or DEX throughout the 14 days in culture. The proportion of VIP-positive chromaffin cells increased gradually in the NGF-treated group and that of ChAT-positive cells in the group was similar to VIP. The morphological alterations induced by NGF were not correlated with the changes in proportions of NPY-, VIP- or ChAT-positive chromaffin cells. The percentages of VIP- or ChAT-immunopositive chromaffin cells in the NGF-treated group showed much greater increases than those in the DEX-treated group. These findings suggest that NGF might modulate the phenotypic changes of neuropeptides and amines in rat chromaffin cells.     

Monitoring Technology for Gamma‐Aminobutyric acid Production in Polished Mochi Barley Grains using a Carbon Dioxide Sensor

Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has many biological functions, including the inhibition of blood pressure increases and acceleration of growth hormone secretion. In this study, we discovered the utility of measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolved in the reaction solution, for development of a real‐time and convenient technique to estimate GABA production. In addition to mochi barley bran, we examined the polished grains of three species: mochi barley (a variant of hulless barley), barley, and Japanese millet, all soaked in l ‐glutamic acid (l ‐Glu) solution at pH 4.5. We found a positive correlation between GABA and CO₂ concentrations, and the production of CO₂ was suppressed in the absence of l ‐Glu at pH 4.5. These results suggest that GABA content can be easily predicted by measuring the aqueous CO₂ content using a CO₂ sensor, during the process of GABA production in polished mochi barley grains and bran.     

Practical Application of ±250‐kV DC‐XLPE Cable for Hokkaido–Honshu HVDC Link

The long‐term dc properties of DC‐XLPE insulation materials, which have been developed for dc use, were investigated. It was found that the lifetime of DC‐XLPE under dc voltage application is extended by the addition of nano‐sized filler. The time dependence of the space charge distribution at 50 kV/mm was observed for 7 days. Almost no accumulation of space charge in DC‐XLPE was found. The 250‐kV DC‐XLPE cables and accessories were manufactured and subjected to a type test and PQ test for use in the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link facility owned by the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. These tests were performed under conditions that included a polarity reversal test for line commutated converter (LCC) systems as recommended in CIGRE TB 219. The test temperature was 90 °C. The type test and PQ test were successfully completed. The DC‐XLPE cable and accessories were installed in summer 2012 for the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link. After the installation of the dc extruded cable system, a dc high‐voltage test at 362.5 kV (=1.45 PU) for 15 min was successfully completed in accordance with CIGRE TB 219. This dc extruded cable system was put into operation in December 2012 as the world's highest‐voltage extruded dc cable in service and the world's first dc extruded cable for a LCC system including polarity reversal operation.     

Evanescent-wave holography by use of surface-plasmon resonance

We report a method for evanescent-wave holography using surface-plasmon resonance from the illumination light. The device we have made consists of three layers: a prism of high refractive index, a thin metallic film, and a grating. Evanescent waves generated by the surface plasmons are diffracted with a prerecorded grating to reconstruct a three-dimensional image. The possibility of white-light illumination and the application to a flat display system with waveguides in the proposed method are discussed.     

Analysis of constant-volume shear tests based on precise measurement of stresses in powder beds

This study demonstrates a new constant-volume shear test configuration to analyze the stresses in powder beds and evaluate powder flowability. A novel cylindrical shear cell geometry and load cell arrangement allowed precise measurement of the normal stress acting on the shear planes of the powder beds. The stress transmission ratio between the top and shear planes decreased with increasing ratio of the powder bed height in the upper section of the shear cell to the shear cell diameter. This was due to friction between the powder bed and the side wall of the upper section of the shear cell. Using the measured values of the normal stress on the shear planes, the effects of the powder bed height and shear cell diameter were eliminated from the data. In addition, to evaluate the shear properties of the powder beds, the powder yield locus, consolidation yield locus, critical state line, shear cohesion, and void fraction were obtained from a single shear test. The powder yield locus data were used to obtain flow functions.     

Evanescent-field scanning microscope with fourier-transform infrared spectrometer

An evanescent-field scanning microscope for infrared microanalysis has been developed. This microscope uses an evanescent field produced by total internal reflection with a high refractive index prism to attain a high spatial resolution, better than the wavelength. This microscope was combined with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. The principle of the method and experimental results for edge detection at different absorption wavelengths are described.     

Electrical and Thermal Conductivity and Conduction Mechanism of Ge<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>5</Subscript> Alloy

Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy has drawn much attention due to its application in phase-change random-access memory and potential as a thermoelectric material. Electrical and thermal conductivity are important material properties in both applications. The aim of this work is to investigate the temperature dependence of the electrical and thermal conductivity of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy and discuss the thermal conduction mechanism. The electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy were measured from room temperature to 823 K by four-terminal and hot-strip method, respectively. With increasing temperature, the electrical resistivity increased while the thermal conductivity first decreased up to about 600 K then increased. The electronic component of the thermal conductivity was calculated from the Wiedemann–Franz law using the resistivity results. At room temperature, Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy has large electronic thermal conductivity and low lattice thermal conductivity. Bipolar diffusion contributes more to the thermal conductivity with increasing temperature. The special crystallographic structure of Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ alloy accounts for the thermal conduction mechanism.     

Effects of the introduction of the discrete energy loss process into Monte Carlo simulation of electron scattering

First, the single scattering model is briefly described. Next, the hybrid model is explained, which takes into consideration a part of the discrete energy loss processes. The Vriens or the Gryzinski cross section is used for core electron ionizations, and the Moller cross section for free electron excitations. The model is applied to the calculations of the energy distribution of transmitted electrons through a thin film and the depth distribution of generated x-rays. From comparisons among the calculated results with and without energy straggling and experimental data, it is found that the Gryzinski cross section shows the best result.     

Variant Selection in Grain Boundary Nucleation of Upper Bainite

The crystallography of bainitic ferrite nucleated at austenite grain boundaries was studied in an Fe-9Ni-0.15C (mass pct) alloy. The relationship between bainitic ferrite orientations (variants) and grain boundary characters, i.e., misorientation and boundary orientation, was examined by electron backscatter diffraction analysis in scanning electron microscopy and serial sectioning observation. Bainitic ferrite holds nearly the Kurdjumov–Sachs (K-S) orientation relationship with respect to the austenite grain into which it grows. At the beginning of transformation, the variants of bainitic ferrite are severely restricted by the following two rules, both advantageous in terms of interfacial energy: (1) smaller misorientation from the K-S relationship with respect to the opposite austenite grain and (2) elimination of the larger grain boundary area by the nucleation of bainitic ferrite. As the transformation proceeds, variant selection establishing plastic accommodation of transformation strain to a larger extent becomes important. Those kinds of variant selection result in formation of coarse blocks for small undercooling. This article is based on a presentation given in the symposium entitled “Solid-State Nucleation and Critical Nuclei during First Order Diffusional Phase Transformations,” which occurred October 15–19, 2006 during the MS&T meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio under the auspices of the TMS/ASMI Phase Transformations Committee.

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