Preparation of a Near-Infrared Ray Absorption Film from N-Phenylthiocarbamoyl Chitosan Derivative

We recently observed that the decanoylation of N-phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan (2) with a mixture of decanoic anhydride and pyridine at 60 °C for 24 h afforded N,N-(decanoyl)phenythiocarbamoyl-/2-isothiocynato chitosan decanoate (3b) rather than the expected product N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan decanoate (3a). This result suggested that some of the N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarmbamoyl groups had been converted to isothiocyanate groups during the decanoylation process. The subsequent reaction of compound 3b with aniline gave N,N-(decanoyl)phenylthiocarbamoyl/N-phenylthiocarbamoyl chitosan decanoate (4) in high yield. A solution of compound 4 in CHCl₃ was then added to a solution of copper decanoate (5) in the same solvent, and the resulting mixture was cast onto a glass plate to give a cast film. The film was annealed at 200 °C in an oven to give a greenish film, which showed good near-infrared absorption characteristic in the range of 800–2200 nm.     

Characterization of pigmented granules in minocycline-induced cutaneous pigmentation: observations using fluorescence microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography

Ambiguous abdominal situs, asplenia/polysplenia and severe cardiac malformations characterize heterotaxy in humans. These anomalies result from the inability of the developing embryo to establish normal left-right asymmetry. We have studied an interesting family in which the heterotaxy phenotype segregates as an X-linked recessive trait. In order to map the heterotaxy locus (HTX), we have analysed 39 family members using highly-polymorphic microsatellite markers from the X chromosome. One of these markers, DXS994, shows no recombination with the disease locus in 20 informative meioses. Linkage analysis results in a maximum lod score of 6.37. Current genetic and physical mapping data assign the order of loci in Xq24-q27.1 as cen-DXS1001-(DXS994, HTX)-DXS984-tel. These results establish the first mapping assignment of situs abnormalities in humans.     

Analysis of brushless three-phase synchronous generator without exciter

Recently, a demand for small-capacity generators has been increasing as electric sources in small ships and automobiles or as portable electric sources driven by engines. It is desired that the structure of small-capacity generators be simple and robust, and that the generators be highly reliable, easily maintained and controlled. This paper describes an analysis of the original brushless synchronous generator without exciter. The output voltage can be adjusted in the wide range by controlling the stator dc current. To analyze the characteristics of this generator, the finite element method is applied. It is found that the results of theoretical analysis agree well with the experimental results.     

Fodrin is a constituent of the cortical lattice in outer hair cells of the guinea pig cochlea: immunocytochemical evidence

Localization of fodrin, a membrane skeletal protein, in the outer hair cell of the guinea pig cochlea was examined by immunocytochemical techniques. By immunofluorescence microscopy, fodrin was observed in the cuticular plate, in the infracuticular network and along the lateral wall. By immunoelectron microscopy of ultrathin cryosections, labeling for fodrin along the lateral wall was localized between the cell membrane and the outermost layer of the subsurface cisternae. Furthermore, pre-embedding immunoelectron microscopy of permeabilized specimens showed that most immunogolds for fodrin were on the thin cross-linking component of the cortical lattice. The results indicate that fodrin is a constituent of the cortical lattice which is thought to play an important role in outer hair cell motility.     

Multiple quasi-phase-matched device using continuous phase modulation of /spl chi//sup (2)/ grating and its application to variable wavelength conversion

We propose a new multiple quasi-phase-matched wavelength converter based on the continuous phase modulation of a /spl chi//sup (2)/ grating for use in variable wavelength conversion. A numerical study shows that the proposed device exhibits a high conversion efficiency, flexible design, and robust fabrication tolerance. A waveguide device fabricated by annealed proton exchange agrees well with the numerical design. Fine-tuning the device enabled us to demonstrate variable wavelength conversion between signals on the standard optical frequency grid. Using the device, we also demonstrated fast (<100 ps) wavelength switching of 4-channel 40-Gb/s signals. The obtained results clearly show that the proposed multiple quasi-phase-matched devices will be useful when constructing future flexible photonic networks.     

Evaluation of hydrological processes in a mountainous small basin using a quinone biomarker.

An applicability of quinone biomarker to the analysis of hillslope runoff was investigated. At first, quinone profiles of three streams as well as a hillslope runoff in a forested headwater catchment were compared. The quinone composition of hillslope runoff differed from others. Moreover, there were remarkable differences in quinone profile of hillslope runoff under different rainfall conditions. Then, the behavior of quinone biomarker during the increase and decrease of hillslope runoff after a rainfall event was examined. The fractional changes in Q-9 (H2), Q-10 (H2), Q-11, MK-6 and MK-10 suggested the effect of interflow.     

A 1.5-V full-swing BiCMOS logic circuit

A BiCMOS logic circuit applicable to sub-2-V digital circuits has been developed. A transiently saturated full-swing BiCMOS (TS-FS-BiCMOS) logic circuit operates twice as fast as CMOS at 1.5-V supply. A newly developed transient-saturation technique, with which bipolar transistors saturate only during switching periods, is the key to sub-2-V operation because a high-speed full-swing operation is achieved to remove the voltage loss due to the base-emitter turn-on voltage. Both small load dependence and small fan-in dependence of gate delay time are attained with this technique. A two-input gate fabricated with 0.3-μm BiCMOS technology verifies the performance advantage of TS-FS-BiCMOS over other BiCMOS circuits and CMOS at sub 2-V supply     

Silica removal from Mokai, New Zealand, geothermal brine by treatment with lime and a cationic precipitant

Preliminary experiments using two chemicals (CaO, a quicklime, and a cationic nitrogen-bearing precipitant, EC-004) to remove silica from geothermal brine were undertaken at the Mokai geothermal plant, New Zealand. The brine was mixed with the reagent (CaO or EC-004). The reaction was studied from the start of the experiment (NRT, 0 min, no retaining time) and after 15 min (15RT) at 90 °C. The concentration of silica in the brine was initially 954 mg/l, and decreased linearly with increasing reagent concentration. When CaO is added, the silica concentration at 15RT was 200 mg/l lower than at NRT and became almost zero on addition of 1.5 g/l. In contrast, when EC-004 is added, the total silica concentration nearly reaches the solubility of amorphous silica at 90 °C. In order to prevent silica scaling in Mokai brines cooled to 90 °C, the CaO and EC-004 added should be individually adjusted to 0.5 g/l and 80 mg/l, respectively.