Effect of surface roughness on friction behaviour of steel under boundary lubrication

The friction behaviour of grinded and polished surfaces was evaluated by using a reciprocal sliding tester under lubrication with PAO, PAO + ZnDTP and PAO + ZnDTP + MoDTC. Friction coefficients on the smooth surfaces showed higher values compared to those on the rough surfaces. For lubrication incorporating PAO and PAO + ZnDTP + MoDTC, friction coefficients on both the smoothest and the roughest surfaces decreased with sliding time. On the other hand, friction coefficients between these extremes decreased with sliding time. In this paper, the effects of surface roughness on friction behaviour are discussed

Baxter's Q-operators and operatorial Backlund flow for quantum (super)-spin chains

We propose the operatorial form of Baxter's TQ-relations in a general form of the operatorial B\"acklund flow describing the nesting process for the inhomogeneous rational gl(K|M) quantum (super)spin chains with twisted periodic boundary conditions. The full set of Q-operators and T-operators on all levels of nesting is explicitly defined. The results are based on a generalization of the identities among the group characters and their group co-derivatives with respect to the twist matrix, found by one of the authors and P.Vieira [V.Kazakov and P.Vieira, JHEP 0810 (2008) 050 [arXiv:0711.2470]]. Our formalism allows a systematic and rather straightforward derivation of the whole set of nested Bethe ansatz equations for the spectrum of quantum integrable spin chains, starting from the R-matrix

Serum vitamin D in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Objectives: To determine the relevance of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D3), and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and various stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Materials and Methods: The study included 230 participants (>74 years) allocated to three main groups: 1-healthy subjects (HS, n = 61), 2-patients with MCI (n = 61), and 3- patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) subdivided into three stages: mild (n = 41), moderate (n = 35), and severe AD (n = 32). The cognitive status was evaluated using MMSE. Serum 25 (OH)D3 (ng/ml) and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations (pg/ml) were determined by competitive radioimmunoassay. Results: MMSE scores and 25(OH)D3 were decreased in MCI and all stages of the AD in both genders. MMSE variability was due to gender in HS (11%) and to 25(OH)D3 in MCI (15%) and AD (26%). ROC analysis revealed an outstanding property of MMSE in diagnosis of MCI (AUC, 0.906; CI 95%, 0.847–0.965; sensitivity 82%; specificity, 98%) and AD (AUC, 0.997; CI 95%, 0.992–1; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98%). 25(OH)D3 exhibited good property in MCI (AUC, 0.765; CI 95%, 0.681–0.849; sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 54%) and an excellent property in diagnosis of AD (AUC, 0.843; CI 95%, 0.782–0.904; sensitivity, 97%; specificity, 79%). Logistic analyses revealed that, in MCI, MMSE could predict (or classify correctly) with 97.6% accuracy (Wald, 15.22, β, −0.162; SE, 0.554; OR = 0.115:0.039–0.341; p =.0001), whereas 25(OH)D3 with 80% accuracy (Wald, 41,013; β, −0.213; SE, 0.033; OR = 0.808: 0.757–863; p =.0001). 25(OH)D3 was the only significant predictor for the severe AD and contributed to MMSE variability. Age and gender were significant predictors only in the moderate AD. In patients with MCI, 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were correlated men, but in case of the AD, they were correlated in women. Conclusions: MMSE and serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations could be useful biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of MCI and various stages of the AD. The results support the utility of vitamin D supplementation in AD therapy regimen. © 2018 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Locally continuously perfect groups of homeomorphisms

The notion of a locally continuously perfect group is introduced and studied. This notion generalizes locally smoothly perfect groups introduced by Haller and Teichmann. Next, we prove that the path connected identity component of the group of all homeomorphisms of a manifold is locally continuously perfect. The case of equivariant homeomorphism group and other examples are also considered.Comment: 14 page

PROPOSAL OF NEW K-FACTOR FUNCTION IN LIGHTNING IMPULSE TEST FOR ELECTRIC POWER EQUIPMENT

Ultra high voltage (UHV) systems are increasingly being planned and constructed, hence studies are promoted on the standard for high-voltage test techniques for UHV-class equipment. For the lightning impulse voltage test, a study is being conducted on the application of a method of evaluating the test waveform through conversion using the test voltage function (k-factor function) that was adopted in IEC 60060-1. The existing k-factor function was established based on the experimental results for more compact models, as compared with the insulating structure of UHV-class equipment, mainly with a breakdown voltage of about 100 kV. To determine whether this k-factor function can also be used for the test of UHV-class equipment, the experimental results for large-sized models were needed. In the present paper, to address this issue, the authors initially obtained k-factor values experimentally using the largest possible model (UHV model) assuming UHV-class equipment. Substantially, a study was conducted on a new k-factor function based on these experimental results. First, in the study, several ideas for the k-factor function were shown and applied to various waveforms to clarify their advantages and disadvantages. Next, in addition to these results, a study was conducted on a k-factor function suitable for UHV-class equipment with considering the actual UHV facilities. Consequently, it was concluded that the form of the function should be the same as that of the existing one but that it would be reasonable to adopt a relatively lower k-factor function for UHV-class equipment by revising the constant. Further, this new function could replace the existing one in 60060-1 for all voltage classes to consider the breakdown voltage ranges as a basis and LIWV (Lightning Impulse Withstand Voltage) values.20th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering, August 28 - September 01, 2017, Buenos Aires, Argentin

Vsop2/Astro-G Project

We introduce a new space VLBI project, the Second VLBI Space Observatory Program (VSOP2), following the success of the VLBI Space Observatory Program (VSOP1). VSOP2 has 10 times higher angular resolution, up to about 40 micro arcseconds, 10 times higher frequency up to 43 GHz, and 10 times higher sensitivity compared to VSOP1. Then VSOP2 should become a most powerful tool to observe innermost regions of AGN and astronomical masers. ASTRO-G is a spacecraft for VSOP2 project constructing in ISAS/JAXA since July 2007. ASTRO-G will be launched by JAXA H-IIA rocket in fiscal year 2012. ASTRO-G and ground-based facilities are combined as VSOP2. To achieve the good observation performances, we must realize new technologies. They are large precision antenna, fast-position switching capability, new LNAs, and ultra wide-band down link, etc.. VSOP2 is a huge observation system involving ASTRO-G, ground radio telescopes, tracking stations, and correlators, one institute can not prepare a whole system of VSOP2. Then we must need close international collaboration to get sufficient quality of resultant maps and to give a sufficient quantity of observation time for astronomical community. We formed a new international council to provide guidance on scientific aspects related of VSOP2, currently called the VSOP2 International Science Council (VISC2).Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, proceedings of The Universe under the Microscope Astrophysics at High Angular Resolutio