In order to carry out experiments many times on the Earth in consideration of the difference of gravitational acceleration to design the rover properly, we introduce similarity law to design and ...construct the experimental models. We have produced two experimental models of the planetary rover with 5-wheel suspension system (called "PEGASUS") and 4WD system under for 1G and 1/2G gravity. We have carried out a low-gravity flight experiment in various parameters using the model on the airplane. Assuming that similarity law is true under every gravity environment, we have made relative evaluation on a degree of mobility by the difference of mobility systems. In the result of the flight experiment, it is show that PEGASUS is able to successfully move better than 4WD.
The effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on previously induced hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) were examined. Acute experiments were performed on 33 adult, male rabbits. Field potentials in the ...dentate gyrus were elicited by single shocks to the perforant path, and LTP was induced by tetanic stimulation to the pathway without induction of seizure discharge. At a CBZ serum level of about 5 micrograms/ml (value +/- SD = 5.40 +/- 1.28 micrograms/ml), the previously induced LTP in population spikes (PSs) and population excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) was facilitated. At a CBZ serum level of about 15 micrograms/ml (value +/- SD = 14.28 +/- 1.29 micrograms/ml), the LTP in PS alone was decreased. The effects of carbamazepine on synaptic inhibition were examined by the paired-pulse test. The inhibition was enhanced with induction of LTP. After administration of CBZ, at a CBZ serum level of about 5 micrograms/ml the inhibition was further enhanced, while it was attenuated at a CBZ serum level of about 15 micrograms/ml. These results suggest that CBZ has a facilitative effect on previously induced LTP.
This paper presents a mobile robotic system designed to perform deep soil sampling for lunar subsurface exploration in the near future. Drilling robots have to carry the excavated regolith backward ...because of its high density. Therefore a new scheme is proposed, to move forward under the soil by making use of reactive force caused by pushing the discharged regolith. Simple experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The effects of various selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on muscle contractility and cyclic nucleotide content in the porcine coronary artery were investigated. Various selective PDE ...inhibitors, vinpocetine (type 1), erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA, type 2), milrinone (type 3), rolipram (type 4), Ro20-1724 (type 4), and zaprinast (type 5), inhibited U46619-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. The rank order of potency for the porcine coronary artery was rolipram > Ro20-1724 >milrinone > vinpocetine > zaprinast > EHNA, which was different from that of both the porcine carotid artery and aorta. Rolipram inhibited the U46619-induced muscle tension with a decreased Ca(2+)(i) level, but inhibited the high K(+)-induced contraction without a change in Ca(2+)(i) level. Rolipram increased cAMP but not cGMP content. Iberiotoxin restored the inhibition of muscle tension and the Ca(2+)(i) levels induced by rolipram. U46619 and caffeine induced a transient increase in the Ca(2+)(i) levels in a Ca(2+)-free solution, but rolipram only inhibited the U46619-induced Ca(2+) transient. In conclusion, rolipram is the most potent inhibitor in the porcine coronary artery, but not in the carotid artery and aorta. Moreover it is suggested that the mechanism by which rolipram causes relaxation is due to a decrease in the Ca(2+)(i) levels and of the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the contractile elements to cAMP.
The diterpenes from the plants of the genus Isodon (Labiatae) exhibited a relatively specific growth inhibitory activity against lepidopterous larvae. The α-methylene cyclo- pentanone moiety (D-ring) ...was essential for this activity. In addition, these compounds strongly inhibited the oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from silkworm midgut.
The rendezvous and landing missions are very significant for scientific explorations. In such missions, the navigation and guidance based on image data is very important. The spacecraft Hayabusa ...performed the descent flights to the target asteroid Itokawa in November of 2005. To accurately determine the spacecraft position, a landmark tracking scheme with the help of the ground operation was introduced and developed in the Hayabusa mission. The Hayabusa project team developed new tools that combined human assist with the computer aided terminal display. The proposed landmark tracking scheme contributed to the successful precise navigation to the specified area on the surface. This paper presents a visual navigation method with the landmark tracking used for the Hayabusa mission.
PDF
