Cavitation Characteristics of Restriction Orifices (Experiment for Shock Pressure Distribution by Cavitation on Restriction Orifices and Occurrence of Cavitation at Multiperforated Orifices Due to Interference of Butterfly Valve)

This paper presents two experimental investigations for cavitation characteristics of restriction orifices. The first experiment is about the spatial distribution of cavitation shock pressure in a pipe at the downstream of restriction orifices. The second experiment is the investigation of butterfly valve throttling to the cavitation in a multiperforated orifice installed piping. From the results of the experiment for the cavitation shock pressure, it is concluded the maximum shock pressure remarkably increases with the decrease of cavitation number regardless of the orifice types. The maximum shock pressure becomes smallest on cone type orifice, and largest on single hole orifice. Multiperforated orifice is between this two. The results of the experiment for occurrence of cavitation due to the interference of butterfly valve show that the cavitation occurs at a relatively high cavitation number when the multiperforated orifice is placed at 1D downstream of the butterfly valve. The butterfly valve throttling accelerates the cavitation at the multiperforated orifice because of the closed orifice installation

Gas Exchange Rates Decrease and Leaf Temperature Increases in Nicotiana benthamiana Leaves Transiently Overexpressing Hemagglutinin in an Agrobacterium-Assisted Viral Vector System

In this study, gas exchange characteristics and temperature of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves transiently overexpressing hemagglutinin (HA), an influenza vaccine antigen, with an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-assisted viral vector were investigated. Inoculation of leaves with an empty viral vector not containing the HA gene decreased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (T) from 2 to 3 days post-infiltration (DPI) in the A. tumefaciens suspension. Expression of HA with the vector decreased Pn and T to much lower levels until 4 DPI. Such significant decreases were not observed in leaves infiltrated with suspension of A. tumefaciens not carrying the viral vector or in uninfiltrated leaves. Thus, viral vector inoculation itself decreased Pn and T to a certain extent and the HA expression further decreased them. The decreases in Pn and T in empty vector-inoculated and HA expression vector-inoculated leaves were associated with decreases in stomatal conductance, suggesting that the reduction of gas exchange rates was caused at least in part by stomatal closure. More detailed gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence analyses revealed that in HA vector-inoculated leaves, the capacity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase to assimilate CO2 and the capacity of photosynthetic electron transport in planta were downregulated, which contributed also to the decrease in Pn. Leaf temperature (LT) increased in viral vector-inoculated leaves, which was associated with the decrease in T. When HA vector-inoculated leaves were grown at air temperatures (ATs) of 21, 23, and 26°C post-infiltration, HA accumulated earlier in leaves and the days required for HA content to attain its peak became shorter, as AT was higher. The highest LT was found 1–2 days earlier than the highest leaf HA content under all post-infiltration AT conditions. This phenomenon could be applicable in a non-destructive technique to detect the optimum harvesting date for individual plants to determine the day when leaf HA content reaches its maximum level, irrespective of spatiotemporal variation of AT, in a plant growth facility

Serotonin enhances the production of type IV collagen by human mesangial cells

Serotonin enhances the production of type IV collagen by human mesangial cells.BackgroundThe plasma concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in diabetic patients is higher than that in normal subjects. Since recent reports have demonstrated the presence of 5-HT2A receptor in glomerular mesangial cells, it is possible that 5-HT may be involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy through the 5-HT2A receptor in mesangial cells. Because expansion of the glomerular mesangial lesion is a characteristic feature of diabetic nephropathy, we examined the effect of 5-HT on the production of type IV collagen by human mesangial cells.MethodsHuman mesangial cells were incubated with 5-HT with or without 5-HT receptor antagonists, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) antibody. Type IV collagen mRNA and protein concentration in medium were measured by Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. TGF-β mRNA and bioactivity in the medium were measured by Northern blot analysis and bioassay using mink lung epithelial cells, respectively.Results5-HT stimulated the production of type IV collagen by human mesangial cells, which was inhibited by ketanserin and sarpogrelate hydrochloride, 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, but not by ondansetron, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. 5-HT increased the bioactivities of both active and total TGF-β. However, the 5-HT-enhanced production of type IV collagen was completely inhibited by an anti-TGF-β antibody. Furthermore, a PKC inhibitor, calphostin C, inhibited the 5-HT-induced increase in type IV collagen secretion, and the activity of membrane PKC was increased by 5-HT. Phorbol ester activated type IV collagen production as well as active and total TGF-β. Calphostin C completely inhibited the 5-HT-enhanced activity of active TGF-β, but did not inhibit exogenous TGF-β-induced increase in type IV collagen secretion.ConclusionsOur results suggest that 5-HT-enhanced production of type IV collagen by human mesangial cells is mediated by activation of PKC and subsequent increase in active TGF-β activity

Synthesis of Polythiophen Cluster in Lattice Space of Hexagonal Faujasite

Encapsulation of thiophen and bithiophen in two kinds of hexagonal faujasites (Na-EMT and H-EMT) with various concentration of Cu(2+) ions have been investigated and characterized by means of themoanalytic and spectroscopic methods. From the results, it was found that the progress of polymerization of thiophen and bithiophen in the lattice space depended on Cu(2+) contents, and the encapsulation of thiophen in Na-EMT and H-EMT with Cu(2+) ions yielded polythiophen clusters with electron states of bipolaron. On the other hand, polythiophen clusters synthesized by the encapsulation of bithiophen in H-EMT were found to be mostly polaron states

Modelling the dynamics and control of Schistosoma japonicum transmission on Bohol island, the Philippines

We have investigated a mathematical model for the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in the infested region of northeastern Bohol island in the Philippines. The development of transmission models is important for planning control strategies. Since S. japonicum has a complicated mode of transmission, the rates of transmission among its hosts cannot be measured directly by field observation. Instead, they have been estimated through model analysis. The model takes into account the seasonal variations and includes a function of control measures. In 1981, a project to eliminate schistosomiasis started on Bohol island. The prevalence decreased dramatically and has kept low level less than 1%. The simulations based on the model predicted that there is little probability of resurgence of an epidemic in the northeastem endemic villages of Bohol island due to the fact that the project has attained a high coverage of selective mass treatment based oil stool examination accompanied by a successful snail control operation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</p

Durability Analysis of the REIMEI Satellite Li-ion Batteries after more than 14 Years of Operation in Space

The satellite REIMEI was launched in August 2005, this is one of the first satellites to use Li-ion batteries. REIMEI is a small scientific satellite designed for carrying out aurora observations using three different cameras. The main scientific mission of the satellite ended in 2013. More than 14 years have passed, and the batteries have experienced over 78,100 charge/discharge cycles. REIMEI remains in operation with a new mission dedicated to analyzing its Li-ion battery. In this work, we present a durability analysis for the REIMEI battery based on telemetry data

The evaluation of control measures against Schistosoma mekongi in Cambodia by a mathematical model

We constructed a mathematical model for the transmission of Schistosoma mekongi in Cambodia. The simulation of the model will be instrumental in planning schistosomiasis control measures. The model includes two definitive hosts, humans and dogs, as animal reservoirs. Dogs are recognized to play an important role in schistosomiasis transmission in Cambodia. For the purpose of dealing with age-specific prevalence and intensity of infection, the human population was classified into eight age categories in the model. To describe the seasonal fluctuation of the intermediate host population of S. mekongi, the "Post-Spate Survival" hypothesis was adopted for the population dynamics of Neotricula aperta present in the Mekong River. We carried out simulations to evaluate the effect of universal treatment (UT) and targeted mass treatment (TT) with praziquantel on the reduction in prevalence of S. mekongi. The simulations indicated that biyearly UT for 8 years or yearly TT for 5 years after three courses of yearly UT could reduce the prevalence to below 5% when a UT or TT coverage of 85% of inhabitants was achieved. The simulation suggested that the suppression of S. mekongi in Cambodia would be possible by UT or TT with a high coverage rate.</p