Proposal of Series‐Parallel Continuously Regulated Chopper Suitable for Auxiliary Power Supply of Railway Vehicle

The conventional auxiliary power supply (APS) of a railway vehicle is directly connected to the catenary through the LC filter. Hence, the switching devices of the APS must have a high breakdown voltage to account for catenary voltage fluctuation. On the other hand, low‐voltage switching devices have better characteristics that are desirable for low‐loss and high‐frequency operation. Therefore, a step‐down converter is incorporated between the LC filter and inverter to adapt to catenary voltage fluctuations when using low‐voltage switching devices. This paper proposes the series‐parallel continuously regulated chopper as a novel step‐down converter. First, the fundamental operation characteristics and output voltage control method of the proposed chopper are introduced. The simulation and experimental results for the fundamental characteristics are then described; the simulation and experimental values were almost the same as the theoretical values. The proposed chopper controls the output voltage at the expected value without dramatic fluctuation regardless of the input voltage fluctuation. In addition, a resonance damping control for a constant power load is proposed. The operational characteristics were considered under different potential distributions or load conditions.     

The stumptailed macaque as a model for baldness: effects of minoxidil

Topical application of minoxidil in bald scalps of stumptailed macaques successfully induced regrowth of terminal hairs. The rate and degree of hair growth by minoxidil are much greater in the early stage of baldness in adolescent and young adults. Minoxidil also prevented the development of baldness when applied on non-bald scalps of peri-adolescent animals. Morphometric analysis of hair follicles (folliculograms) has brought a new aspect in observing cyclic dynamics and growth (transformation) of hair follicles. Using this analytic method and autoradiographic observation of DNA synthesis of hair follicles, the action of minoxidil appears to be a potent mitotic stimulator of the follicular as well as peri-follicular germinal (or reserve) cells, thus inducing an enlargement of vellus follicles through the process of cyclic growth and maintaining anagen follicles in the growing phases. Most importantly, minoxidil has no influence in epidermal keratinocytes, sebaceous glands and other dermal components. During almost 3 years of consecutive treatment, the animals showed no detectable local or systemic side effects when examined by laboratory tests of blood cells, chemistry, steroid hormones, measurement of blood pressure and EKG test.
Le macaque a queue courte: exemple de calvitie     

Correction Factor of Come-up Heating Based on Mass Average Survivor Concentration in a Cylindrical Can of Heat Conduction Food

A mathematical expression is derived to estimate a correction factor for come-up heating, which may be used to calculate mass average survival concentrations. For this derivation, analytical heat conduction formulae are used to estimate transient state temperature distributions in a cylindrical can of heat conduction food. Through the dimensional analysis of the derived analytical expression, 12 dimensionless groups are formulated in order to examine the Influence of various process conditions as well as of food properties on the correction factors. Theoretical correction factors are then computed for various numerical combinations of these dimensionless groups. Through the nonlinear regression analyses of these computed factors, we obtain algebraic equations for representing these factors as a quadratic function of the dimensionless groups. There is fair agreement between the correction factors estimated by using the algebraic equations and by using heat penetration data collected experimentally.     

Independent trafficking of flavocytochrome b558 and myeloperoxidase to phagosomes during phagocytosis visualised by energy‐filtering and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy‐scanning transmission electron microscopy

When polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) phagocytose opsonised zymosan particles (OPZ), free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed in the phagosomes. ROS production is mediated by NADPH oxidase (Nox), which transfers electrons in converting oxygen to superoxide (O₂^?). Nox‐generated O₂^? is rapidly converted to other ROS. Free radical‐forming secretory vesicles containing the Nox redox center flavocytochrome b558, a membrane protein, and azurophil granules with packaged myeloperoxidase (MPO) have been described. Presuming the probable fusion of these vesicular and granular organelles with phagosomes, the translation process of the enzymes was investigated using energy‐filtering and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy‐scanning transmission electron microscopy. In this work, the primary method for imaging cerium (Ce) ions demonstrated the localisation of H₂O₂ generated by phagocytosing PMNs. The MPO activity of the same PMNs was continuously monitored using 0.1% 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine‐tetrahydrochloride (DAB) and 0.01% H₂O₂. A detailed view of these vesicular and granular structures was created by overlaying each electron micrograph with pseudocolors: blue for Ce and green for nitrogen (N).     

群居空间里的单身部落

名古屋是日本第五大城市，而这间公寓就坐落在距离名古屋1小时车程的农村地区。公寓里面一共住着9个人，都是单身，他们各自为政。     

Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of MEMS Deformable Mirror Actuated by Electrostatic Piston Array

In this report, we constructed a simple mathematical analysis model for a new MEMS deformable mirror using an electrostatic piston array. The deformable mirror has been developed as a wavefront compensation device in adaptive optics for retinal observation. The device realizes a large convex deformation with a low operation voltage because of moving bottom electrodes on the pistons. The constructed model is based on the plate theory and simple superposition of the actuation components. The calculated deformation analyzed using this model agrees well with that analyzed using the finite element method not only in deformation shape but the peak‐valley deformations. In addition, the calculation time is much shorter, so the model can be used for design optimization of the device.     

ESTIMATION OF DAILY INTAKE OF CHLOROFORM BY JAPANESE HOUSEWIVES

Duplicate portions of daily meals consumed by 21 housewives were collected for 3 consecutive days at Nagoya-city and Asuke-cho in Japan. The 24 h duplicate meals were analyzed for chloroform. Thirty grams of samples, 170 mL of water, 1 mL of phosphoric acid, and 0.5 g of ascorbic acid were mixed in a distillation flask which was heated under nitrogen gas flow. The purged chloroform was trapped in n-pentane cooled at 0° C. The pentane solution was analyzed to by electron capture gas chromatography. Confirmation of chloroform was carried out by GC-MS.
The concentration of chloroform in each of the 24-h duplicate meals were in the range of 1.7 to 45.8 ppb and the average concentration was 13.7± 9.6 ppb.
Daily dietary intake of chloroform by housewives were in the range of 7.5 to 51.9 μg and the mean intake was 26.4 ± 11.8 μg.