In an attempt to separate homologues, cis-trans isomers, and decomposition products of the isoprenoid quinones, phylloquinone, menaquinone-4, and ubiquinone-10, high-speed liquid chromatographic method was investigated. Homologues of the isoprenoid quinones could be separated by using Permaphase ODS with methanol-water or dioxane-water. In both mobile phases, the plot of log k'vs. the number of carbon atoms in the isoprenoid side chain gave a linear relationship. Separation of decomposition products of the isoprenoid quinones was also achieved using the same condition as above. In the case of phylloquinone and menaquinone-4, the plot of log VR of the decomposition products vs. percent modifier gave a linear relationship. cis-trans isomers of the isoprenoid quinones was separated using Zorbax SIL with isopropyl ether-n-hexane.
AC flashover voltage in air (ACFOV) decreases, when nylon string is attached on PMMA insulator surface which has a backside electrode. The decrease in ACFOV by the attachment is explained by the generation and the propagation of the negative surface leader along the string. When the contact angle between the H. V. electrode and the insulator surface is in a range from 90° to 120°, some of the negative surface leaders generated proceed along the string to the earthed counter electrode. The magnitude of the negative leader along the string is stronger than that of the leader on the insulator without a string. In the range of the contact angle from 120° to 180°, the negative surface leader which does not appear on the insulator without a string is generated along the string by the attachment. In the both ranges of the contact angle, the negative leader along the string promotes the flashover.
Little information is available on the kinematics of the normal knee in deep flexion. The purpose of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging to analyze the patellofemoral articulation in deep flexion.Axial scans were made of the patellofemoral joint of twenty healthy Japanese volunteers with the knee in approximately 90 degrees of flexion, in maximum active flexion (mean [and standard deviation], 140 degrees +/- 10 degrees ), and in maximum passive flexion (mean, 156 degrees +/- 5 degrees ). A fat-suppressed, three-dimensional, fast low-angle shot sequence was used to visualize the articular cartilage. The patellofemoral contact area was determined on sequential images and was reconstructed three-dimensionally.At 90 degrees of flexion, the contact area on the patella was continuous over the medial and lateral facets in fourteen knees and was located in the proximal half of the articular surface. At maximum active and passive flexion, the odd facet engaged in fifteen and eighteen knees, respectively. At maximum passive flexion, the contact area of the lateral facet moved distally and decreased significantly (p = 0.0002). From 90 degrees of flexion to maximum active flexion, the mean total contact area remained constant (3.43 +/- 0.70 and 3.62 +/- 0.72 cm (2), respectively); it then decreased significantly in maximum passive flexion (2.96 +/- 0.78 cm (2), p = 0.04).The contact area on the patella was divided into two parts (the odd and lateral facets) and moved distally in deep knee flexion. The size of the contact area on the lateral facet significantly decreased in maximum passive flexion.
AC surface PDs in air from a triple junction (TJ) of cylindrical insulator with a backing electrode were decreased by a use of the hollow type electrode. The voltage applied was changed in a range from 1 to 1.5 times of an initiation of PD (Vpd). The thickness of the insulator was changed in a range from 2mm to 7.5mm. In the cases of 1.2x(Vpd) of the applied voltage and 7.5mm of the thickness, the integrated magnitude of the PD pulses for the electrode with hollow was about 80% smaller than that for the electrode without hollow; the integrated number of the pulse event was 40-50% smaller than that for the one without hollow; the PD pulses of which magnitude was stronger than approximately 7×10-1 C were suppressed significantly. The computing calculation of an electric field around the TJ suggested that the generation and propagation of the PD pulse resulted from the increase in potential and strength of the vertical field component on the surface of an insulator near the TJ. It was observed from dust figures that the propagation of PDs on the insulator with the hollow was controlled their length about 50% shorter than that on the insulator without the hollow.
Between April 1984 and March 1988, a comparative randomized phase II study was performed to compare the effects of (2''R)-4'-0-Tetrahydropyranyl-adriamycin (THP) and adriamycin in combination with vincristine (VCR) and ACNU in 60 previously untreated and evaluable patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Arm AVA was constituted by adriamycin, VCR and ACNU, and arm TAVA by THP, VCR, ACNU. Of the 30 patients treated with AVA, there were 20 partial responses, 7 with no change and 3 with progressive disease, for an overall response rate of 66.7%. On the other hand, of the 30 patients on TAVA, one complete response and 22 partial responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 76.7% Median survival time of AVA was 10.0 M, that, of TAVA was 9.3 M. But significant differences between the two arms was not found. During induction therapy, leukopenia was the main side effect. Over WHO Grade 3 leukopenia was seen in 53.3% of patients on AVA and 70.0% of those on TAVA. Moderate hair loss (Grade 2) was significantly less frequent with TAVA than AVA. In conclusion, the results indicated that THP is active in SCLC with the same level of adriamycin, and has less toxicity. THP is a suitable drug as a first line combination chemotherapy for SCLC.
A new utility-connected photovoltaic inverter called "LINE BACK", which is suited to small-scale photovoltaic generation systems for use in private households, has been developed. The inverter converts DC power generated by rooftop photovoltaic cells into AC power, and provides it to house loads connected to the utility line. When photovoltaic power is greater than the loads, the excess power is fed to the utility line through a reverse power flow. The inverter has several special functions such as a utility protection relay, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control, automatic operation with photovoltaic power, detection of islanding operation, and utility voltage compensation for reverse power flow. These functions and characteristics conform to the "Utility-Connected System Technical Guidelines" revised by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry in March 1993.< >
AC flashover voltage (ACFOV) between insulation surfaces coated with surfactant and interrupted by an air gap depends on the surfactant. The surfactants used are alkyl-benzene sulfonate (Neogen T®), alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride (Catiogen L®) , and polyoxyethylene-sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20®). The insulating material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). In the ac prebreakdown discharge, the luminescence at the positive phase is streamer-like and that at the negative phase is glow-like. The intensity of the positive streamer luminescence for the coatings increases in the order: Catiogen L, Tween 20, Neogen T. This ordering may be caused by two factors: polarity difference of ions in the surfactant, or mobility difference between the surfactant ion and its counter ion. When violent positive prebreakdown discharge is generated, ACFOV should be lower than that for weak discharge. For this reason, ACFOV of an air gap between insulation surfaces decreases in the order shown above. Non-coated specimens have almost the same ACFOV as Tween 20 coated ones.
The study of gaseous discharges leads one to the surface streamer channel. If the propagation of the generated streamer could be interrupted by some method, the surface leader would be eliminated. To achieve high reliability of HV insulation, a method is established for elimination of negative leaders, even when the streamers appear. A hollow insulator is designed to interrupt the streamer's propagation. Surface insulation abilities are studied using the hollow insulator. The elimination of negative surface leaders and increase in flashover voltage under AC voltage in air are reported.< >
In order to study cis-trans photo-isomerization of phylloquinone (K) and menaquinone-4 (MK-4), a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of cis-trans isomers was developed. After removal of the surface active agent and photo-decomposition products, cis-trans isomers were separated on a Nucleosil 50 (particle size ; 5 μm) column using di-n-butyl ether-n-hexane (6 : 94) as a mobile phase. The internal standards used were MK-4 for K and K for MK-4. When either cis or trans compound of K and MK-4 were photo-irradiated in benzene, cis⇌trans photo-isomerization was observed and an equilibrium favoring the trans isomers was attained. Trans→cis photo-isomerization of MK-4 was also observed in injection and in infusion solution. Photo-isomerization and photolysis in their solution were inhibited considerably by using a light-intercepting shade.
