Syntheses of Spinon Thermal Conductivity Materials in Sr–Cu–O System by Glass‐Ceramics Technique

We have synthesized spinon thermal conductivity materials in Sr–Cu–O system by glass‐ceramics technique. The materials are promising for active control of thermal energy in microelectronic devices because of high and anisotropic thermal conduction, its controllability, and electric insulation. Nevertheless, research on these materials has been limited to that concerning theoretical perspectives and investigation of physical properties using large single crystals. In this study, we adopt glass‐ceramics technique to synthesize these materials: We prepared melt‐quenched multicomponent oxides including SrO and CuO, and checked its glass‐forming ability and crystallization behaviors by heating. As a result, we have found that SrCuO₂ and Sr₁₄Cu₂₄O₄₁, known as the spinon thermal conductivity materials, are synthesized using SrO–CuO–?Li₂O–?Al₂O₃?–Ga₂O₃ system. This synthesis process for the system will provide practical application of the spinon thermal conductivity materials.     

Histamine modulates high-voltage-activated calcium channels in neurons dissociated from the rat tuberomammillary nucleus

Insects are known to be useful in estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). Here several cases are reported which show that a wide range of applications in medicolegal questions and hygiene together or apart from estimating the PMI can be answered by use of forensic entomology techniques, including close observation of larval development. Case 1 describes how blowfly larvae fell from a putrefied corpse, hid, and finally emerged from pupae three months after disinfection and renovation. In case 2, the entomological state of the decomposed corpse of a heroin user is described. Case 3 deals with a single adult Protophormia terranovae found in the skull of a partially mummified woman. Case 4 reports the finding of Serratia marcescens bacteria in red Muscina stabulans pupae which were found on a 5-day-old corpse. In case 5, blowfly eggs on the corpse of another heroin user are interpreted as an indication of the decedent being laid outside at night after his death in a flat. Case 6 deals with the finding of Parasarcophaga argyrostoma, which in Cologne might be an indicator species which tells if a corpse was lying outside at least for some time.     

Statistical identification for optimal control of supercritical thermal power plants

The use of a multivariate autoregressive model for the implementation of a new practical optimal control of a supercritical thermal power plant is discussed. The control is realized by identifying the system characteristics of the plant under the conventional PID control by the autoregressive model fitting and then implementing the digital control to correct the defect of the analog control. The procedure of identification and the controller implementation is described in detail by using the experimental results of a real plant. The results clearly demonstrate the advantage of the new controller over the conventional PID controller. The experience of the commercial operation of the plant confirms that the new controller is extremely robust against the gradual change of the plant characteristics, and this shows the practical utility of the identification procedure on which the design of the controller is based.     

A new look at the statistical model identification

The history of the development of statistical hypothesis testing in time series analysis is reviewed briefly and it is pointed out that the hypothesis testing procedure is not adequately defined as the procedure for statistical model identification. The classical maximum likelihood estimation procedure is reviewed and a new estimate minimum information theoretical criterion (AIC) estimate (MAICE) which is designed for the purpose of statistical identification is introduced. When there are several competing models the MAICE is defined by the model and the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters which give the minimum of AIC defined by AIC = (-2)log-(maximum likelihood) + 2(number of independently adjusted parameters within the model). MAICE provides a versatile procedure for statistical model identification which is free from the ambiguities inherent in the application of conventional hypothesis testing procedure. The practical utility of MAICE in time series analysis is demonstrated with some numerical examples.     

Lateral Inhomogeneity in the Electronic Structure of a Conjugated Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) Thin Film

How annealing influences the morphology of a highly regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (RR‐P3HT) film at the substrate interface as well as the lateral inhomogeneity in the electronic structure of the film are elucidated. Whereas previous studies have reported that high‐molecular‐weight (MW) RR‐P3HT films tend to show low crystallinity even after annealing, it is found that high‐MW RR‐P3HT does show high crystallinity after annealing at high temperature for a long time. Photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy, and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy results clearly resolve a considerable lateral inhomogeneity in the morphology of RR‐P3HT film, which results in a variation of the electronic structure depending on the local crystallinity. The PEEM results show how annealing facilitates crystal growth in a high‐MW RR‐P3HT film.     

Using two ray multipath model for microwave link budget analysis

A two-ray ground multipath deterministic model for worst-case fading-depth prediction in microwave link budget analysis is presented. Simple formulas, providing insight into fading depth as a function of geometrical and electrical parameters, are derived. A detailed analysis shows that, in many cases, the fading depth depends mainly on the path-clearance angle. Comparison with the Olsen-Segal model shows that both models have roughly the same path-clearance-angle factor. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this can be considered the first theoretical justification of the path elevation factor in the Olsen-Segal model     

Differential regulation of N- and Q-type Ca2+ channels by cyclic nucleotides and G-proteins

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels play a central role in controlling neurotransmitter release at the synapse. They can be inhibited by certain G-protein-coupled receptors, acting by a pathway delimited to the membrane. In addition, modulation of Ca2+ channel activity by protein kinases also contributes to the dynamic regulation of neuronal physiology. Recently, differences in these modulations between Ca2+ channel subtypes have been shown in several neuronal preparations. Here we show that two types of presynaptic Ca2+ channel (N-type and Q-type) are differentially regulated by cAMP and G-proteins using a Xenopus oocyte expression system. Treatment to increase cytosolic cAMP concentration with forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) markedly potentiated Q-type channel current, and the enhancement was reversed by protein kinase A inhibitors. Much smaller enhancement was observed in N-type channel current after the cAMP elevation. When large depolarizing prepulse was applied to the oocytes for evaluation of the tonic inhibition of Ca2+ channels by intrinsic G-protein activity, N-type channel current elicited a large prepulse facilitation but Q-type channels did not. The tonic inhibition of N-type channels was abolished by an intracellular perfusion with a 'cut-open' recording configuration, or by co-expression with G(alpha o). When kappa opioid receptors were co-expressed and stimulated with agonists, depolarization-resistant inhibition was more apparent in Q-type channels than in N-type channels. These results suggest that Q-type channels are more susceptible to the protein kinase A-mediated facilitation than N-type channels, and that activity of N-type channels can be more highly regulated in a voltage-dependent manner by G(betagamma) than that of Q-type channels. These differences may account for the selective regulation of neurotransmitter release by these Ca2+ channels.     

On the linearity and efficiency of outphasing microwave amplifiers

A new approach for the analysis of the efficiency and linearity of Chireix-outphasing combiners is presented. The approach takes into account, in an explicit manner, the effect of impedance mismatch between the amplifiers and the lossless combining structure. It is shown that the impedance mismatch leads to new expressions for the output voltages from both branches of the amplifier. These expressions explain the origin of the lack of linearity reported in the literature for the Chireix architecture and lead to a new expression for the instantaneous efficiency of a Chireix combiner. Various simulations using a commercial simulator are performed and their results are compared to those predicted by the derived equations. A quasi-exact agreement between the simulator and derived equations is found for all simulations conducted, including voltage expressions, linearity analysis, and instantaneous and average efficiency calculations for a code-division multiple-access signal. The impact of combiner parameters on its linearity and efficiency is also studied.     

Bradykinin generation triggered by Pseudomonas proteases facilitates invasion of the systemic circulation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

To elucidate the mechanism of bacterial exoprotease in promotion of the intravascular dissemination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we examined the possible involvement of bradykinin (whose generation is induced by pseudomonal proteases in septic foci) in the invasion by bacteria, and in access of bacterial toxins to systemic blood circulation. P. aeruginosa 621 (PA 621), which produces very little protease, was injected intraperitoneally into mice together with pseudomonal exoproteases (elastase/alkaline protease). Dissemination of bacteria from the peritoneal septic foci to the blood was assessed by counting viable bacteria in the blood and spleen by use of the colony-forming assay. The results showed that pseudomonal proteases markedly enhanced (10- to 100-fold) intravascular dissemination of bacteria in mice. This enhancement was induced not only by pseudomonal proteases but also by bradykinin. More importantly, the increased spread of PA 621 induced by pseudomonal protease and bradykinin was significantly augmented by the addition of kininase inhibitors, indicating the direct involvement of bradykinin in bacterial dissemination. Similarly, bradykinin caused effective dissemination of pseudomonal toxins such as endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) and exotoxin A when the toxins were injected into the peritoneal cavity with bradykinin. Furthermore, the lethality of the infection with PA 621 was strongly enhanced by pseudomonal proteases given i.p. simultaneously with PA 621. On the basis of these results, it is strongly suggested that pseudomonal proteases as well as bradykinin generated in infectious foci are involved in facilitation of bacterial dissemination in vivo.