Power extraction using flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder placed near another fixed cylinder

We conducted an experiment in a towing tank to investigate the performance of an energy extraction system using the flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder. This experiment tested three different cases involving the following arrangements of cylinder(s) of identical diameter: the upstream fixed–downstream movable arrangement (case F); the upstream movable–downstream fixed arrangement (case R); and a movable isolated cylinder (case I). In cases F and R, the separation distance (ratio of the distance between the centers of the two cylinders to their diameters) is fixed at 1.30. Measurement results show that while cases F and I generate vortex-induced vibration (VIV) resonance responses, case R yields wake-induced vibration (WIV) at reduced velocity over 9.0, which is significantly larger than that of the VIV response, leading to the induction of higher electronic power in a generator. Accordingly, primary energy conversion efficiency is higher in the case involving WIV.     

Phosphopeptide-dependent labeling of 14-3-3 ζ proteins by fusicoccin-based fluorescent probes

Fluorescent combination: Cell-penetrating probes derived from the diterpene fusicoccin can form ternary complexes with 14-3-3 proteins and phosphopeptide ligands, whereupon the probes site-specifically attach a fluorescent tag onto the surface of the 14-3-3 proteins.     

Group chase and escape with conversion from targets to chasers

We study the effect of converting caught targets into new chasers in the context of the recently proposed ‘group chase and escape’ problem. Numerical simulations have shown that this conversion can substantially reduce the lifetimes of the targets when a large number of them are initially present. At the same time, it also leads to a non-monotonic dependence on the initial number of targets, resulting in the existence of a maximum lifetime. As a counter-effect for this conversion, we further introduce self-multiplying abilities to the targets. We found that the longest lifetime exists when a suitable combination of these two effects is created.     

Umbelliferose Isolated from Cuminum cyminum L. Seeds Inhibits Antigen-Induced Degranulation in Rat Basophilic Leukemia RBL-2H3 Cells

Cuminum cyminum L. (cumin) is an annual plant of the Umbelliferae family native to Egypt. We previously showed that the aqueous extract of cumin seeds suppresses degranulation by downregulating the activation of antigen-induced intracellular signaling molecules in rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. However, the active substances in the extract have not yet been identified. Accordingly, herein, we aimed to ascertain the water-soluble substances present in cumin seeds that inhibit degranulation, which led to the identification of umbelliferose, a characteristic trisaccharide present in plants of the Umbelliferae family. Our study is the first to reveal the degranulation-suppressing activity of umbelliferose, and quantification studies suggest that cumin seed powder contains 1.6% umbelliferose. Raffinose, an isomer of umbelliferose, was also found to significantly suppress antigen-induced degranulation, but less so than umbelliferose. Both umbelliferose and raffinose contain sucrose subunits in their structures, with galactose moieties bound at different sites. These differences in structure suggest that the binding of galactose to the sucrose subunit at the α1-2 bond contributes to its strong degranulation-inhibiting properties.     

Two Paths Joining Given Vertices in 2k-Edge-Connected Graphs

Let k≥2 be an integer and G = (V(G), E(G)) be a k-edge-connected graph. For X⊆V(G), e(X) denotes the number of edges between X and V(G) − X. Let {s_i, t_i}⊆X_i⊆V(G) (i=1,2) and X₁∩X₂=∅. We here prove that if k is even and e(X_i)≤2k−1 (i=1,2), then there exist paths P₁ and P₂ such that P_i joins s_i and t_i, V(P_i)⊆X_i (i=1,2) and G − E(P₁∪P₂) is (k−2)-edge-connected (for odd k, if e(X₁)≤2k−2 and e(X₂)≤2k−1, then the same result holds [10]), and we give a generalization of this result and some other results about paths not containing given edges.     

Synthesis of soluble quinacridones

The synthesis of 4,11-dialkylthioquinacridones and 5,12-dialkyl-4,11-dialkylthioquinacridone from o-alkylthioanilines and diethyl 2,5-dioxo-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate is described. These compounds are easily soluble in organic solvents in contrast to unsubstituted quinacridone.     

Two color oscillations of TE-CO2 laser and applications to two photon process of optically pumped FIR laser

We have developed the resonance system which is able to operate a TE-CO₂ discharge tube in two color emission source. The two color source is excellent in pumping efficiency, spacial overlap and time synchronization of the two emission CO₂ lines.We indicate that the competitive operation of the two emissions is well explained by a simple model.When a TE-CO₂ laser operates at the total pressure of below half atmospheric pressure, we make clear in this work that the operation of a TE-CO₂ laser forms depression like hole burning, with regards to the J of the upper laser level by J-J collisional relaxation during the laser emission.As an example of the two-photon source, two-photon pumping of NH₃ and FIR emissions are given in this paper.     

Every 4k-edge-connected graph is Weakly 3k-linked

We prove:

1. Fork ≥ 2 andα = 0, 1, every (4k + 2α)-edge-connected graph is weakly (3k + 2α)-linked.
2. IfG is ak-edge-connected graph (k ≥ 2),s, t are vertices andf is an edge, then there exists a pathP betweens andt such thatf ? E(P) andG ? E(P) ? f is (k ? 2)-edge-connected, whereE(P) denotes the edge set ofP.