Performance prediction of a hybrid‐excitation synchronous machine with axially arranged excitation poles and permanent‐magnet poles

This paper presents a method of predicting the steady‐state performance of a new hybrid‐excitation synchronous machine (HESM) theoretically. The field pole of this HESM is axially divided into two parts; one is an excitation part and the other a permanent‐magnet (PM) part. A nonlinear equivalent circuit, which can include the saliency of the rotor and the magnetic saturation due to the iron core, is derived. Based on this equivalent circuit, the steady‐state performance of the HESM is calculated, and the results are confirmed through experiments. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(2): 43–49, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20033     

Electron transport in InGaO3(ZnO)m (m=integer) studied using single-crystalline thin films and transparent MISFETs

We have investigated the characteristics of transparent metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MISFETs) fabricated using InGaO₃(ZnO)_m (m=integer) single-crystalline thin films as n-channel layers and amorphous alumina as gate insulator films. The MISFETs exhibit good characteristics such as insensitivity to visible light illumination, off-current as low as ∼1 nA with a positive threshold voltage of ∼3 V and on/off current ratio of 10⁵. The field-effect mobility increased from ∼1 to ∼10 cm² (V s)⁻¹ as the m-value increased. Room temperature Hall mobility also increased. However, unexpectedly these values were lower than the field-effect mobility. It is explained by existence of shallow localized state in the homologous compounds.     

Effects of nondensifying inclusions on the densification and microstructure of zinc oxide matrix composites

The densification and microstructure development of ZnO containing Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂, ZrO₂, and aggregated ZnO were investigated to elucidate the effect of nondensifying inclusions on the sintering of ceramic/ceramic composites. The inclusion retarded the densification, and the degree of retardation was found to depend on the chemical species of inclusion; Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ had the largest effect, followed by ZrO₂ and then aggregated ZnO last. The experimental results for aggregated ZnO was explained by the theory which predicts the generation of backstresses. The backstresses give a less significant effect on the densification. For Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ and ZrO₂, the microstructure of the matrix varied with distance from an inclusion particle; much porosity was observed in the region surrounding the inclusion. Circumferential voids, which are responsible for the suppression of densification, form during the initial stage of sintering. Inclusion particles generate an anchoring effect which retards the densification of the matrix immediately surrounding the inclusion particle during the intermediate stage.Supported by the Inamori Foundation.     

The effects of R-75,317 on antiglomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis in rats

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inflammatory mediator which is released by various inflammatory cells and produced by certain tissues, including the kidney. PAF has been shown to increase glomerular permeability to protein and to decrease glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by contracting mesangium. On the basis of these observations, it has been suspected that PAF may play a role as mediator of glomerular damage in glomerular nephritis. To examine this possibility, we studied the effects of a specific PAF antagonist, R-75,317, on the development of an experimental model of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis was initiated by injecting rabbit anti-rat GBM serum into rats. Proteinuria gradually developed after serum injection, plateaued at week 2, and remained at the high level of week 2 throughout the experimental period (6 wk). Chronic treatment with R-75,317 (10 mg/kg/day i.p.) tended to delay the onset of proteinuria and significantly accelerated the recovery phase. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) fell to 40% at week 3. R-75,317 treatment completely prevented this decline of Ccr. Histological changes in this model (glomerular hypertrophy, proliferation of mesangial matrix and interstitial fibrosis) were also ameliorated by the R-75,317 treatment. The results suggest that PAF may play a role in the development of glomerulonephritis and that PAF antagonists could be used in the treatment of human renal disease. Based on a paper presented at the Third International Conference on Platelet-Activating Factor and Structurally Related Alkyl Ether Lipids, May 1989.     

Preparation of SiB4±x and SiB6 plates by chemical vapour deposition of SiCl4 + B2H6 system

SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates were prepared by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) using SiCl₄, B₂H₆ and H₂ gases under the conditions of deposition temperatures (T _dep) from 1323–1773 K, total gas pressures (P _tot) from 4–40 kPa and B/Si source gas ratio (m _B/Si=2B₂H₆/SiCl₄) from 0.2–2.8. The effects of CVD conditions on the morphology, structure and composition of the deposits were examined. High-purity and high-density SiB_4±x and SiB₆ plates about 1 mm thick were obtained at the deposition rates of 71 and 47 nm s⁻¹, respectively. The lattice parameter, composition and density of CVD SiB_4±x plates were dependent on their non-stoichiometry. The lattice parameter,a, was 0.6325 nm, butc ranged from 1.262–1.271 nm.The B/Si atomic ratio ranged from 3.1–5.0, and the density ranged from 2.39–2.45×10³ kg m⁻³. The CVD SiB₆ plates showed constant values of lattice parameters (a=1.444 nm,b=1.828 nm,c=0.9915 nm), composition (B/Si=6.0) and density (2.42×10³ kg m⁻³), independent of CVD conditions.     

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of stereoisomeric bile acids as their UV-sensitive esters

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of a series of mono-, di- and trihydroxylated 5β-cholanic acids which differ only in position and configuration of hydroxyl groups at positions C-3, C-7 and/or C-12, is reported. The C-24 free acids were derivatized to four different classes of UV-sensitive esters, i.e.,p-bromophenacyl (BP),m-methoxyphenacyl (MP), 4-nitrophthalimidemethyl (NPM) and 9-anthrylmethyl (AM) esters, and chromatographed on two, variants of C₁₈ reversed-phase columns (Nova-Pak C₁₈ and Zorbax ODS) with methanol-water systems as mobile phase. Separation efficiency and elution order of some isomeric pairs were influenced by both the structure of the C-24 ester groups and the nature of the columns used. Excellent chromatographic properties were found for those derivatives, particularly for the NPM esters.     

Enzymatic degradation of esters of dichloropropanols: removal of chlorinated glycerides from processed foods

The esters of dichloropropanols from the byproduct of hydrolysates during food processing were degraded by the cell-free extracts of a dichloropropanol-assimilating bacterium of Pseudomonas sp. OS-K-29. 1-Acyloxy-2,3-dichloropropane was hydrolysed into the corresponding carbonic acid and 2,3-dichloropropanol, and then the dichloropropanol was dechlorinated. The esterase activity of the cell-free extracts was effective for the esters of the dichloropropanols and monoacylglycerides, but not for hydrolysing the lipase substrates such as triacylglycerides and Tween 60. A comparative study using a series of octanoyl glycerides and the esters of the dichlopropanols showed that the substrate specificities of the cell-free extracts were similar to the monoacylglyceride lipase from Penicillium camembertii.     

Development of a new evacuation method for emergencies: Control of collective behavior by emergent small groups.

A new evacuation method for emergencies, the Follow Me method, in which each leader takes only one evacuee to an exit without gesturing or loudly directing many evacuees toward the exit, was compared, in two field experiments, with a traditional method, the Follow Directions method, in which each leader indicates the direction with a loud voice and vigorous gestures. Results showed that the Follow Me method was more effective when the leader-to-evacuee ratio was relatively small, such as 1:4, and less effective when the ratio was large, such as 1:8. Effective evacuation by the Follow Me method was shown to be caused by the drawing power of emergent small groups. Generating from around a leader, other evacuees rapidly formed a collective stream toward the exit. Small groups can be used as a lever in moving a larger collectivity in an emergency, as well as in activating a large formal organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design of nonlinear controllers for active vehicle suspension with state constraints

Design of active vehicle suspension has tradeoffs between three main performance metrics (passenger comfort, suspension deflection and road holding ability). It has been known that each performance can be achieved by H _∞ controller and they can be gathered by LPV (Linear Parameter Varying) method. However, because the suspension deflection limit was not explicitly considered, this limit may be exceeded. In this paper, the authors propose a “reference shaping“ based method in order to improve the control performance. In this approach, a “virtual reference” signal is imposed to the system such that the suspension deflection is kept small. The effectiveness of the approach is examined by numerical simulations. This work was presented in part at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008     

Pectoralis major tendon avulsion in association with a proximal humerus fracture

We report a very rare case of an avulsion of the pectoralis major tendon in association with a two-part proximal humerus fracture. Pectoralis major tendon avulsion was confirmed intraoperatively during open reduction and internal fixation of the humerus fracture. In retrospect, the preoperative radiographic finding of posterolateral and proximal displacement of the humeral shaft suggested an injury to the pectoralis major. Because others have reported that the best treatment of a pectoralis major tendon avulsion is surgical repair, we feel that it is important to suspect such an injury in a proximal humerus fracture when this anatomic displacement is present.