Backscattered electron image of osmium‐impregnated/macerated tissues as a novel technique for identifying the cis‐face of the Golgi apparatus by high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy

The osmium maceration method with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled to demonstrate directly the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of membranous cell organelles. However, the polarity of the Golgi apparatus (that is, the cis–trans axis) can hardly be determined by SEM alone, because there is no appropriate immunocytochemical method for specific labelling of its cis‐ or trans‐faces. In the present study, we used the osmium impregnation method, which forms deposits of reduced osmium exclusively in the cis‐Golgi elements, for preparation of specimens for SEM. The newly developed procedure combining osmium impregnation with subsequent osmium maceration specifically visualised the cis‐elements of the Golgi apparatus, with osmium deposits that were clearly detected by backscattered electron‐mode SEM. Prolonged osmication by osmium impregnation (2% OsO₄ solution at 40°C for 40 h) and osmium maceration (0.1% OsO₄ solution at 20°C for 24 h) did not significantly impair the 3D ultrastructure of the membranous cell organelles, including the Golgi apparatus. This novel preparation method enabled us to determine the polarity of the Golgi apparatus with enough information about the surrounding 3D ultrastructure by SEM, and will contribute to our understanding of the global organisation of the entire Golgi apparatus in various differentiated cells.     

A Study Regarding Failure Detection for String Monitoring Systems in Photovoltaics. Field Trial at the F Onomichi Photovoltaic Power Plant

Solar power business has been expanding rapidly in Japan since the new feed‐in tariff began in July 2012. Generally, monitoring for failure detection and total electric generating capacity is performed by the power conditioning system (PCS) in a large‐scale photovoltaic (PV) power plant. Although PCS monitoring can detect its own failure or a reduction in power generation amount, it is difficult to monitor in a PV string/panel. In this paper, a new failure detection method effective for detection in PV strings, by collecting the current value of each string measured at each terminal and analyzing these data, is proposed. The data collection is performed utilizing the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications wireless communication method, realizing easy installation in both existing and new PV power plants. Finally, the effectiveness of this proposed method is shown in real‐facility demonstration experiments using the F Onomichi PV power plant.     

Calcium-doping effect on temperature coefficients of dielectric constants in SrTiO3 capacitors

SrTiO3 ceramic capacitors were studied to improve the temperature coefficient, τ, of dielectric constants without decreasing the dielectric constants. It was indicated that an addition of calcium in an insulating reagent improved τ. From scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis measurements, the origin of this improvement was ascribed to the following layers: (1) the oxide layers which were formed at the grain boundaries, and (2) the bismuth-oxide layers which were formed on the sample surface. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

伺服压力机的发展现状及其应用

介绍了伺服压力机的结构特点、工作原理和应用范围.指出伺服压力机在不远的将来,将会取代传统机械压力机而成为塑性加工装备的主流.