Recent Progress in Electrical Insulation Techniques for HTS Power Apparatus

AbstractThis paper describes the electrical insulation techniques at cryogenic temperatures, i.e. Cryodielectrics, for HTS power apparatus, e.g. HTS power transmission cables, transformers, fault current limiters and SMES. Breakdown and partial discharge characteristics are discussed for different electrical insulation configurations of LN2, sub-cooled LN2, solid, vacuum and their composite insulation systems. Dynamic and static insulation performances with and without taking account of quench in HTS materials are also introduced

Phytohormone-mediated interkingdom signaling shapes the outcome of rice-Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae interactions

Background: Small-molecule hormones are well known to play key roles in the plant immune signaling network that is activated upon pathogen perception. In contrast, little is known about whether phytohormones also directly influence microbial virulence, similar to what has been reported in animal systems. Results: In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that hormones fulfill dual roles in plant-microbe interactions by orchestrating host immune responses, on the one hand, and modulating microbial virulence traits, on the other. Employing the rice-Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) interaction as a model system, we show that Xoo uses the classic immune hormone salicylic acid (SA) as a trigger to activate its virulence-associated quorum sensing (QS) machinery. Despite repressing swimming motility, sodium salicylate (NaSA) induced production of the Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF) and Diffusible Factor (DF) QS signals, with resultant accumulation of xanthomonadin and extracellular polysaccharides. In contrast, abscisic acid (ABA), which favors infection by Xoo, had little impact on DF- and DSF-mediated QS, but promoted bacterial swimming via the LuxR solo protein OryR. Moreover, we found both DF and DSF to influence SA-and ABA-responsive gene expression in planta. Conclusions: Together our findings indicate that the rice SA and ABA signaling pathways cross-communicate with the Xoo DF and DSF QS systems and underscore the importance of bidirectional interkingdom signaling in molding plant-microbe interactions

The Elliptic Algebra U_{q,p}(sl_N^) and the Deformation of W_N Algebra

After reviewing the recent results on the Drinfeld realization of the face type elliptic quantum group B_{q,lambda}(sl_N^) by the elliptic algebra U_{q,p}(sl_N^), we investigate a fusion of the vertex operators of U_{q,p}(sl_N^). The basic generating functions \Lambda_j(z) (j=1,2,.. N-1) of the deformed W_N algebra are derived explicitly.Comment: 15 pages, to appear in Journal of physics A special issue - RAQIS0

Regulation of gonadotropin secretion and puberty onset by neuromedin U

AbstractNeuromedin U (NMU), an anorexigenic peptide, was originally isolated from porcine spinal cord in 1985. As NMU is abundant in the anterior pituitary gland, we investigated the effects of NMU on gonadotropin secretion. Both NMU and its receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2, were expressed in the pituitary gland. NMU suppressed LH and FSH releases from rat anterior pituitary cells. Moreover, NMU-deficient mice exhibit an early onset of vaginal opening. The LHβ/FSHβ ratio, which is an index of puberty onset, is high in young NMU-deficient mice. These results indicate that NMU suppresses gonadotropin secretion and regulates the onset of puberty

Elliptic Quantum Group U_{q,p}(\hat{sl}_2), Hopf Algebroid Structure and Elliptic Hypergeometric Series

We propose a new realization of the elliptic quantum group equipped with the H-Hopf algebroid structure on the basis of the elliptic algebra U_{q,p}(\hat{sl}_2). The algebra U_{q,p}(\hat{sl}_2) has a constructive definition in terms of the Drinfeld generators of the quantum affine algebra U_q(\hat{sl}_2) and a Heisenberg algebra. This yields a systematic construction of both finite and infinite-dimensional dynamical representations and their parallel structures to U_q(\hat{sl}_2). In particular we give a classification theorem of the finite-dimensional irreducible pseudo-highest weight representations stated in terms of an elliptic analogue of the Drinfeld polynomials. We also investigate a structure of the tensor product of two evaluation representations and derive an elliptic analogue of the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. We show that it is expressed by using the very-well-poised balanced elliptic hypergeometric series 12V11.Comment: 42 page

Ectopic varices in a right diaphragm that ruptured into the pleural cavity.

The term ectopic varices is used to describe dilated portosystemic collateral veins in unusual locations other than the gastroesophageal region. We recently experienced a rare case of ectopic varices that developed in the right diaphragm and ruptured into the pleural cavity. A 68-year-old female with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with liver cirrhosis was admitted due to an acute onset of dyspnea and right bloody pleural effusion. Because of the patient's advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and poor condition, conservative therapies such as hemostats and blood transfusion were selected. Even though the bleeding to the pleural cavity stopped spontaneously, the patient died due to a progression of liver failure. Autopsy revealed a huge collateral vein in the right diaphragm. The etiology, prevalence, relationship with portal hypertension, and treatment of ectopic varices are discussed herein