Steady‐State Effective Normal Stress in Subduction Zones Based on Hydraulic Models and Implications for Shallow Slow Earthquakes

The spatial distribution of effective normal stress, σₑ, is essential for understanding the fault motion. Although Rice (1992, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0074-6142(08)62835-1) proposed a steady-state solution for a vertical strike-slip fault zone with constant fluid properties, models that are based on the concept by Rice (1992, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0074-6142(08)62835-1) and are applicable for other tectonic settings have not yet been developed. Such a model is particularly important in subduction zones because the relationship between low σₑ and slow earthquakes is often discussed. To quantitatively examine the causes of a local decrease in σₑ on a shallow region of the subduction zone, we performed model calculations that incorporated mechanisms characteristic to subduction zones. Our basic model, which considers the effect of smectite dehydration and the mechanical effect of subduction, yields results that are consistent with those reported by Rice (1992, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0074-6142(08)62835-1): the gradient of σₑ remarkably decreases with the increase in depth, whereas the realistic fluid properties rule out nearly constant σₑ at depth. We obtained a monotonic increase in σₑ with the increase in depth for the physically sound solutions and failed to generate a local decrease in σₑ . The presence of a splay fault and fluid leakage though it cannot decrease σₑ locally. We found that a local decrease in permeability decreased σₑ locally around an impermeable zone and, thus, possibly led to the occurrence of shallow slow earthquakes. The water release caused by the dehydration reaction may not be the dominant factor, although smectite dehydration releases silica and promotes its precipitation

Design Automation Of Centrifugal Compressors

LecturePg. 47-57.Centrifugal compressors used in various plants come in diverse specifications with regard to capacity, pressure and gas handled. In designing such compressors, important considerations are to shorten design time and save labor as well as to meet user's requirements. In view of these needs, the authors developed a design automation system and has successfully applied the system to the design of all centrifugal compressors for various chemical plants. Design automation of such centrifugal compressors are described

Electrochemical Enzyme Immunoassay Using Sequential Saturation Technique in A 20-μl Capillary: Digoxin as A Model Analyte

Capillary enzyme immunoassay with flow-injection analysis for digoxin using the sequential saturation technique has been developed. Glass capillary tubes (10 cm × 0.53 mm i.d.) with immobilized digoxin antibody were used as the immunoassay reactor. The product of enzymatic reaction. 4-aminophenol, was detected amperometrically. The digoxin and the labeled digoxin binding reaction with the immobilized digoxin antibody were completed in 2 and 10 min, respectively. Digoxin was determined in a 20-μl sample with a detection limit of 10 pg ml−1 (200 fg or 260 attomoles) and a 3 orders of magnitude range

Performance of segment type switched reluctance motor using grain-oriented

Authors developed a segment type switched reluctance motor (SRM) as a rare earth less motor. The object is to reduce the acoustic noise and vibration as well as improve the torque characteristics. In this paper, we propose the performance improve method using grain-oriented electric steel as the segment core. The validity is confirmed experimentally.15th International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems, ICEMS 2012; Sapporo; Japan; 21 October 2012 ～ 24 October 201

Role of Protein Farnesylation in Burn-Induced Metabolic Derangements and Insulin Resistance in Mouse Skeletal Muscle

Objective: Metabolic derangements, including insulin resistance and hyperlactatemia, are a major complication of major trauma (e.g., burn injury) and affect the prognosis of burn patients. Protein farnesylation, a posttranslational lipid modification of cysteine residues, has been emerging as a potential component of inflammatory response in sepsis. However, farnesylation has not yet been studied in major trauma. To study a role of farnesylation in burn-induced metabolic aberration, we examined the effects of farnesyltransferase (FTase) inhibitor, FTI-277, on burn-induced insulin resistance and metabolic alterations in mouse skeletal muscle. Methods: A full thickness burn (30% total body surface area) was produced under anesthesia in male C57BL/6 mice at 8 weeks of age. After the mice were treated with FTI-277 (5 mg/kg/day, IP) or vehicle for 3 days, muscle insulin signaling, metabolic alterations and inflammatory gene expression were evaluated. Results: Burn increased FTase expression and farnesylated proteins in mouse muscle compared with sham-burn at 3 days after burn. Simultaneously, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, Akt and GSK-3β was decreased. Protein expression of PTP-1B (a negative regulator of IR-IRS-1 signaling), PTEN (a negative regulator of Akt-mediated signaling), protein degradation and lactate release by muscle, and plasma lactate levels were increased by burn. Burn-induced impaired insulin signaling and metabolic dysfunction were associated with increased inflammatory gene expression. These burn-induced alterations were reversed or ameliorated by FTI-277. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that burn increased FTase expression and protein farnesylation along with insulin resistance, metabolic alterations and inflammatory response in mouse skeletal muscle, all of which were prevented by FTI-277 treatment. These results indicate that increased protein farnesylation plays a pivotal role in burn-induced metabolic dysfunction and inflammatory response. Our study identifies FTase as a novel potential molecular target to reverse or ameliorate metabolic derangements in burn patients

Inductive Effect of Palmatine on Apoptosis in RAW 264.7 Cells

Osteoporosis is a serious public health problem characterized by low bone density and deterioration of the bone microarchitecture. Current treatment options target either osteoclast resorption or osteoblast formation. It has been reported that berberine, a close structural analog of palmatine, inhibited bone loss in an osteoporosis model. In this study, osseous metabolism was observed in vitro with osteoclast bone resorbing cells. We proved that mouse preosteoclastic cell line (RAW 264.7) has a higher sensitivity to palmatine than mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1); the cell survival rates significantly decreased at 40 μM palmatine. The NO2- level, a metabolic product of nitric monoxide (NO), and iNOS mRNA expression, an osteoclast with NO induced enzyme, also increased with higher dosage of palmatine. Furthermore, it was recognized that the cell viability decrease from palmatine was caused by apoptosis rather than necrosis. Additionally, osteoclast apoptosis from palmatine did not occur when iNOS was inhibited with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (pan NOS inhibitor). These results indicate that palmatine plays an important role in osteoclast apoptosis via the NOS system. Hence, palmatine could be considered as a viable pharmaceutical candidate for osteoporosis bone resorption inhibitor